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[PUBLISHED BY SPECIAL ABBASGBMSST.] THE GIRLS OF THE HOUSE, By F. FRANKFORT MOORE. Author of "A Whirlwind Harvest," "I Forbid the Banna," &C., &e. [COPYRIGHT.] CHAPTER XXIV. "I am afraid that-that-my sister but' we were made to believe that the house was unin- habited just now, and these rooms being empty we thought that-that-perhaps I am suro that we should apologise for opening the piano." I Muriel was arranging her brashes while she was speaking. She felt exactly as she had done a good many years before when a faithful governess ) had discovered her in the still room at Selwood sampling the pots of new-made jam, and with her pmafore coloured like the palette she now held in her hand, only in less subdued tones. "Why should you apologise?" said Mr. Meadows. "You were only the audience, and so was I. If anyone should apologise for being an auditor I should do so, the fact being that I was unauthor- ised. But I don't feel called on to make an apology, only to—thank the singer." He went towards Joan, saying, "I hope that you will allow me to compliment you on your idea of 'Casta Diva,' Miss—Miss I'm afraid that I was idiotic enough to neglect asking Foxoroft what your name is, Miss—Miss—" Here he looked towards Muriel. After all she was the one with whom he was doing business: he had not entered into a contract with the other one to sing; he rather wished that he had. "Selwood-our name is Selwood," said the busi- ness one swiftly. "I have got one panel done; I am working at the second. That is the finished one. I hope you don't think the sky between the clouds too blue." She clearly meant to talk business. She pointed to the finished panel and stood before it. She feared as she looked at the blue spaces between the lace-work of the filmy clouds that he would jsay the word which sprang to her lips—the word '"Reckitt's. "It will not be so blue in another month," said he. "And in any case it is as well that we who live in London should, be reminded that the sky is blue somewhere. The rest of the colourin. charming—quite charming—full of tenderness and delicacy; and the design-why, 'it is quite ex- quisite, Miss Selwood. When Foxcroft shewed me the canvas which you submitted to me I told him that he should have raved to me about you. He was wise enough to refrain from raving." "I am so glad that you are satisfied—sir," said the artist. It only occurred to her at the last moment to say that "air," and she said it just a little too late, so that any one would have known that she had never before in her life addressed a man as "sir." The man who occupied this unique position laughed, and so did Joan-she was pulling on her gloves and buttening them carefully, giving a glance now and again to the door of the room behind her. She had a vague idea that if the em- ployer were to become greatly interested in his criticism of the work of the employed, she might be able to escape behind him with masterly unos- tentatiousnees. She had inherited an appreciation of the strategical possibilities of a situation. .But he did not seem ready to give her such a chance. He had turned to look at her even before Muriel had said "sir." "Foxcroft did not say a word about singing," remarked Mr. Meadows. "Oh:" said the singer. "Why should he say anything about singing? If you had asked him to recommend you to a singer he would probably have mentioned—someone else—may be Melba." "Yes; most likely Melba," said he. "You do not sing under your own name, Miss Selwood. I would have been certain to remember it." "I am not a professional singer," said she, "though I was one for a fortnight," she added. "I was a failure." "Oh, you were a failure?" said he. "Did you ever sing 'Casta Diva' in public?" "No; when I sang for money I was bound down body and soul to something they called a 'coon son; said she. "And you failed over the 'coon song'? I con- gratulate you," said he. "I can't really say that I failed so far as the actual singing was concerned," said she, with some. conscientiousness. "No, I only failed to get the money without writing humiliating letters. That is why I ceased to sing professionally." "And it appears to me to be quite a sufficient reason: you know more about musical than mer- cantile art," said he. "And may I ask if you have taken up any other form of art as a profession?" "Oh, I am a cook, now," she replied. "I get paid regularly and without humiliation as a cook." "That is satisfactory," said he, without emotion. She thought that his voice would change colour when he heard that he was chatting to a menial; but it did not do so. "Yes," he continued thought- fully, "I have heard that people who would be indignant at the imputation of neglecting to pay their cooks would be equally indignant were a pro- fessional singer or a professional painter or a pro- fessional pianist to ask them for the money they owe them. And that is why you became a cook? Miss Selwood?" "Yes; you see there are plenty of singers, but too few cooks," said she. "That is true enough, indeed," he assented. "And then-then" —he appeared to be thinking what he could say to her still further to emphasise his view of the profession of cookery- "then, it must not be forgotten that the cook'a is the most spiritual of all the arts." "Oh, I am afraid it is sometimes forgotten," said she. "As a matter of fact I don't think that I ever remembered it-I really never heard that before." "But it is true," said he. "We owe all our ideas of the spirit world to cooks. Do you fancy that anyone ever saw a ghost-and dozens of people have seen dozens of ghosts—except through the agency of his cook? The idea cannot be main- tained for a moment. The seeing of a spirit is altogether dependent upon the condition of one's eyesight; and the condition of one's eyesight is altogether dependent upon one's diet. It was the unscientific cookery of the middle ages that orig- inated the idea of unhappy spirits and their place of abode. Personally, I have known of a house be- ing haunted by ghosts for years until one strong- minded clergyman who was consulted on the ques- tion of exorcising them began his operations by exorcising the cook. She cleared out and took the ghosts with her 'batterie de cuisine.' "Cooks and spooks—I had no idea that there was so close a connection between the two," cried Joan. "r feel greatly comforted to know that I forsook the materialism of vocalism for the spirit- ism of cooking." "It must be your aim to make men less vision- ary," said he. "But in that case you must be careful that no one overhears your singing. There is i a good deal to be said in favour of music as a spiritual influence." sp "Would you place it next to cookery," Mr. Meadows?" she asked with great seriousness. "If, for instance, you heard awful shrieks sounding through the empty rooms of your house, would you give your cook a month's notice, or would you turn out the vocalist whom you found lurking about the passages?" She was actually talking to him now as if he were an ordinary acquaintance whom she had met at dinner, and not the employer, whom her sister had very properly addressed as "sir;" and so in- terested had she become that she did not notice the expression on the face of her sister at the ehange in her attitude in regard to Mr. Meadows. "I think," said Mr. Meadows, "that, in respect of your problem, if I found that the cook and the vocalist were combined in the same individual, I should ask her-what she thought of the piano. I wonder, by the way, what you think of the piano, Miss Selwood?" Joan laughed, and her laugh rang like a song through the empty rooms. "I think that it is my time for leaving off work," said Muriel. "I h.pe that I did not take a liberty in asking my sister to come with me here while I am doing my painting, Mr. Meadows," she added, adopting more severely than before the somewhat constrained attitude of the employe in addressing the employer. She felt that it was necessary for her to become more strenuously for- mal in order to counteract the undue familiaTitv of Joan. Joan was treating him as an equal, whereas he was Mr. Meadows and they were but- "I hope that you will bring your sister every day- hat is, as often as she is good enough to come, said he. "And I hope that she will not neglect her vocalism for the sake of her cooking. I consider that my having the piano here was verv fortunate. I daresay, if you are kind enough to pay thf house another visit I shall manage to find a more suitable piano stool than the one you were forced tn use. By the way, you have not yet told me whit you thought of the piano, Miss Selwood." He had turned once more to Joan. Joan had 'been conscious of the rebuke administered to her volubility by the changed tone of Muriel's voice, so she now said quite formally and without enthusi- asm enthusiasm is quite out of place between employer and employe: "I am sure that it could not be surpassed. I think it was the brilliancy of the tone of the piano that lured me on to sing. Of course I felt sure that the house was auite empty. These rooms were at any rate. There are some people who cannot be trusted alone in an empty room. No matter how poor one's voice may be it sounds quite operatic if the room is only big enough and empty enouprh." "Operatic?" said he. "You are not going far. I have hear d singers in opera, and if you were to I place them in any room of people and they were to sing, the room would soon become empty enough. I hope you will come back-as often as you plase: and sing as often aa—M I Qtease You m t find your work lonely, MiM see —h e had ud I to Muriel, who was folding up her paintin* blouse I "Of course I like having my sister with me," said she. "Of cotirse-only-Well, you are a cook,"—He v u are a coo l E, 6 e had gone back to Joan. "Are you out of a place I just n° She caught up the thread of his smile where he dropped it. but he held on to the other end; it was a silken bond between them. sa d s h t-. "I am in just too good a place now/ said she. "I am an assistant to a lady who goes out to cook dinners that are meant to be very recherche. "I fancv I have heard of that lady-her name is Mrs. Romer," said he. "Is not that her name? "Yes. Of course, I am not near!y so good as she is; every 'plat-' that she has is absolutely unique. You will never gPP it on any carte except such as. she prepares. I have only six altogether; but these are also unattainable without me. I have one salad ef my own," she added in a. spirit of vain glory. "I hope you may be able to retain the copy- right," said he. "A salad is the sonnet of the cuisine. It must be exquisite—short—complete in itself down to the faintest flavour. -It should have the flavour of a sonnet, and convey the same idea that a sonnet conveys to the appreciative. And it should be equally beautiful to the eye as to the ear." ear. i "Oh," she sighed, "all that I can dai, m for may salad is that it is the 'violin obligato' to a song by Gounod." He laughed, and Muriel gave another glance at Joan-a glancethat defined the relative positions of the employer and the employe—it was meant even to include the position of the employe s sister. She said: "Now I am ready. Joan." He opened the door of the room for them, but refrained from shaking hands with either of them. He felt, and so did they, that there would be a suggestion of patronage in its worst sense in the act. "1 cannot speak too highly of your work, Miss Selwood," he said to Muriel when they were all at the head of the staircase together. "The colour- ing, the design, the drawing of the figures-it would be impossible to say too much about all that you have done." "I was only afraid of that bit of blue sky," said Muriel. "You need not be afraid of bringing a bit of blue sky into my house, Miss Selwood," said he; and now he was not smiling, but was quite serious. He saw them downstairs, and a footman opened the glass door of the porch. And this was the incident of the day which Joan had described with such vivid incoherence to Chris, when she and her sister had eaten their lunch. And then the coming of the tea and the little hot cakes had brought Muriel back to the room, where she had only been part of the time that Joan was complaining of the silliness of the inci- dent of being caught by such a man as Mr. Meadows in the act of flooding his empty rooms with unauthorised song. "Yes, I think that on the whole he should have been bitter—epigrammatically bitter," said Joan, musingly, while Chris was explaining something to Muriel on the subject of the operations which had begun east of Bloemfontein, with a view of inter- cepting the Boers, who were shewmg a certain amount of anxiety-to trek from the Free State to the Transvaal. Somehow Joan seemed to be thinking more than was Muriel about the contre- ] temps—Muriel had alluded to it as a contretemps —o f the day; and this was not without its queer side for it did not matter anything to Joan if Mr. Meadows thought her bold and forward-she had nothing to lose whatever he might think. It was Muriel who might have forfeited her com- mission, if Mr. Meadows had chosen to think that sho had taken a liberty in introducing one of her relatives into his house without first asking his permission to do so. But Muriel had contented herself with saying a few severe things to her sister about her thoughtlessness in starting her singing, and then upon her forgetfulaess of the fact that their relations with Mr. Meadows were— well, as she had defined them in more than one glance. But Joan was not content with an expres- sion of hope that her attitude in regard to Mr. Meadows would not prejudice him against her sister, who wanted to make a good deal of money out of him, she had gone on to express her honest doubt that the sister of the employe stood on the same plane as the employe herself, and had then talked for half-an-hour to Chris about the whole matter. And now she was returning to it again. "Yes; I think it would on the whole have been pleasanter for us all if he had been sarcastic," she said. "Is he ever sarcastic with you, Chris? "Is who ever sarcastic with me?" asked Chris. "Heavens! Whom were we talking about, if not Mr. Meadows?" she oried. "But I thought we had finished talking about Mr. Meadows," said he. "Is he sarcastic with me? Of course he is not. You see he pays me a pretty large salary now and I keep him under my thumb in that way. If a man pays you a big l enough salary you can always terrorise him in that way. It is only with the men you pay two pounds a week to that you can afford to be sarcastic." "I don't quite see what a question of salary has to do with it," said Joan, after a thoughtful pause. "That is because you are an extremely ignorant young woman," said he. "I had no notion that newspaper proprietors were such young men," said she, musingly. "They are not," said he. :How old do you think Mr. Meadows is?" she inquired with extreme carelessness. "Oh, I should say about fifty-two or three, said he. 3* "Nonsense," she cried, not without a suggestion of indi t':ation. "Why, he has not got a grey hair in his .d." "Well, I admit that does look suspicious," said he. "But he cannot be more than a year or two over what I say." Joan said nothing further about Mr. Meadows that day. CHAPTER XXV. A few days later Chris got a note from Mr. Vickers marked "confidential." It embodied a request that Mr. Foxcroft would have the good- ness to make an appointment with the writer with a view to consider a rather important point in connection with the Selwood property. Mr. Vickers would be happy to place himself at the disposal of Mr. Foxcroft at any hour and place that would 18e convenient to the latter. Mr. Foxcroft begged leave to acknowledge re- ceipt of Mr. Vickers's communication and ven- tureq to suggest that Mr. Vickers's office ( ffer id a convenient place for talking over any matter of businesg, and he hoped that between the hours of three and four o'clock on the following day would suit Mr. Vickers's arrangements. During the remainder of the day and up to three o'clock on the next Chris was left to guess what was the particular point upon which Mr. Vickers wanted to consult him. His first thought was, naturally, that the solicitor was anxious to induce him to make an effort to influence the two daughters of Colonel Selwood in favour of Mr. Mellor as a tenant; and up to the moment of his setting out for Lincoln's Inn inelds he could not suggest to himself any other objeot that Mr. Vickers could possibly have for a consultation with him alone. He felt sure that Mellor was not the sort of man to abandon at the first rebuff his intention of leasing one of the finest places in England. He rather fancied that he appreciated some traits in the character of Mr. Mellor. He knew that if Mr. Mellor had made up his mind to lease Selwood he would not allow himself to be set aside on account of any prejudice that a couple of girls might have for his personality. It was not by his supersonsitiveness that Mellor had succeeded in life. If Nature had dealt more parsimoniously with the rhinocerous in regard to the thickness of its skin, that animal would have ceased long ago to occupy the commanding position it at present holds in the jungle. If the hippopotamus were affected by the sharpness of the jagged points of the aloes through which it occasionally passes, the class pachydermata would long ago have been diminished by one of its most ponderous examples. And. then, nearly all pachydermata have found it to their advantage to add still further to the thickness of their skin by rolling themselves in mud and allowing it to cake upon them. These rudimentary earthworks they find very pro- tective. That was another trait which Mr. Mellor had in common with his brother pachyderms. He had early accustomed himself to the mud bath, and everyone knows that the value of the mud bath is becoming gradually recognised in modern therpeutics. He had found out by a continuous series of experiments that, so far from suffering by any intimate contact with mud, he had actually benefited by its oaking on him; and so, as Chris Foxcroft knew, he had not considered himself to be greatly hurt when Colonel Selwood had kicked his chair from under him—Chris had been made acquainted with the exact facts of this incident-and assuredly he would feel deeply wounded by any refusal on the part of Colonel Selwood's daughters to countenance his offer to lease him the place on which he had set his mind. Chris knew that Mellor had good reason for believing in the power of money to overcome the prejudices of men and women, no matter what those prejudices were directed against. What about the Duke of Cinque Ports? Was it pos- sible that he had taken kindly to Mr. Mellor from the first? And Lord de Crecy and Poictiers —did he find himself drawn to Mr. Mellor by any common sympathies? He declined to do these distinguished members of the Peerage the in- justice of believing that they had been prejudiced otherwise than against Mellor; and yet he had by his money induced them to become his most intimate associates, and to feel proud of his patronage. These, and many other cases, had proved to Mr. Mellor-if he had ever had a doubt on the matter-that his money could accomplish every- thing that he sought to accomplish, and he had therefore made up his mind that all that the daughters of Selwood needed to break down their opposition to him as a tenant of their historic house was an increase of his original offer for the five years' lease. To live beneath the roof of a great historio house even for five years would go far to making him historical, Mr. Mellor felt. And Chris knew it. Therefore he went to keep his appointment, feeling certaip that Mr.'Vickers eould have no surprise in store for him. "I have asked you to favour me with this interview, Mr. Foxoroft," said the lawyer, bo- cause I fancy that two men of business such as we are can look at the business aspects of a matter that should be looked at from no other stand- point. very much more easily if we are alone than if the young ladies were present." "I am certain of that, Mr. Vickers," said- Chris, and he was certain of it. He thought so highly of the young ladies as to be quite positive on this point. I knew that you would agree with me," said Mr. Vickers. "The fact is that neither of the young ladies understands business as you and I understand it," Mr. xcroft." You "pay them a graceful compliment, Mr. Vickers. "Well, perhaps-but for that matter the Sel- wood family—but it is all a matter of training, I suppose: an, appreciation of business does not come all at once." I "It would be a terrible thiii- it did, Mr. Vickers." N,, I am not a believer in instantaneous conversion*. Men do not gather figs from thistles. You cannot put new witic, into old bottles-and so forth. You remember what the gardener in one of the quadrangles at Oxford "aid. when an American visitor asked him for a receipt for such a perfect lawn?-' You have nothing to do except water it day and night and keep it well rolled for three hundred years and the lawn will be all right.' Well, one oouldadapt the story to the making of a business man. "Or the making of a gentleman." Mr. Foxcroft, it is much easier to turn a busi- I ness man into a gentleman than it is to turn a gentleman into a business man." That is rather fortunate—considering that there are so many more applicants among business men who want to be made gentlemen than among gentlemen who want to be made business men." Chris was now quite positive that Mr. Vickers was anxious to influence him on the subject of some new offer from Mr. Mellor for the Selwood lease. Yes," continued Chris, wishing to make the man's work easier for him. "Yes; there is that Mr. Mellor, for instance he has had no difficulty obtaining the amplest recognition as a gentleman. I suppose the association of one's name with a peer in the flotation of a company is quite sufficient to obtain for anyone the amplest recog- nition as a gentleman. But Mr. Mellor is in the tbit of slapping peers on the back and calling them 'old chap'; so that, as some of these peers have got two or three extra titles that they have no use for, Mellor's claim is reduplicated. He does not merely get a pass degree, he takes a double first." I am glad we have got upon Mr. Mellor," said Mr. Vickers. "I was just coming to him. Mr. Foxcroft, I think it right to tell you-in con- fidence, of course-that the Selwood estate is in a very much worse condition financially than the young ladies believe it to be in-it is even worse than their father has any notion of." I feared as much, Mr. Viokers." Ah; you have not closed your eyes to the possibilities-the very grave possibilities of the situation. It is all very well to give instructions to pay that army of servants week after week- outdoor servants, indoor servants—those people with the ridiculous names—but where is the money to come from? If I continue paying the servants up to the end of the year I shall not have enough left to pay the interest on all the mortgages; and then-heaven knows what then, Mr. Foxcroft." Mr. Vickers raised his hand4 above his head. The attitude had some subtle patriarchal sug- gestion about it in Chris's eyes-was it the print of Moses in the act of blessing the Congregation ? —or was it Elisha the Prophet in the act of watching the departure of Elijah? He shook his head, and then nodded slowly to shew Mr. Vickers that he was a sympathetic auditor. "The young ladies assumed an attitude of hostility to Mr. Mellor which grieved me greatly," continued the lawyer, "knowing as I do what is coming, and having, as I have, the best interests of the state at heart. They would not listen to any suggestion of a proposal for Mr. Mellor to become the tenant of Selwood." I am afraid that I looked at the question from their standpoint also," said Chris. You did, Mr. Foxcroft, and I must say that your doing so surprised me. Mr. Foxcroft, let me tell you that the attitude of the young ladies had only delayed by a year or two the entrance of Mr. Mellor, not as a tenant, bnt as the owner of Selwood." Mr. Vickers spoke with great solemnity, lean- ing across his desk with outstretched ha^id and a ivger upraised. He meant to impress his visitor, and he succeeded amply. Chris was almost afraid. You tell me that Mellor-owner-owner of Selwood—Mellor?" he said, and his voice fal- tered it had taken its tone from his heart. His heart had stood still at the terrible picture Mr. Vickers had painted for him. Chris had, since the days of his childhood, thought of Selwood as the consolidation of all things solid. It was told of him that once, when he had reached his theo- logical period—he was between ten and twelve- he had questioned the Rector on some points in the Apocalypse. Yes, his father had said, in the Dies Irae everything in the world would be de- stroyed utterly. 0 What," he had cried, "and Selwood too? Oh, no; not Selwood." His faith was shaken in a prophecy which represented such indiscrimination of judgment as to include in the scheme of general annihilation the destruction of Selwood. That was the feeling which prevailed through- out the country, and Chris positively felt its in. fluence upon him now that Mr. Vickers assured him that "Mene-mene-tekel-upharsin" was written, if not on the walls of Selwood, on the parchments which Mr. Vickers kept in his strong room. Then Mr. Vickers got upon his feet and raised one hand while he spoke—Chris recognised his gesture as that of the angel in the picture--the angel who swore that time should be no more. "Mr. Foxcroft, I tell you honestly that I know no way by which the sale of Selwood can be averted, unless we obtain a tenant for the mansion, or at least for some of the farms. The application will be made to one of her Majesty's judges and in due course an order will be made for the sale of the property, and you may be sure that Mellor will buy it. He has set his heart on it." Then Mr. Vickers sat down. There was no need for him to stand any longer. The angel had spoken his prophecy. "Mr. Mellor is still anxious to become a ten- ant?" said Chris, after a reasonable pause. It would have been indecent for him to speak im- mediately after an Apocalyptic utterance. v "He might be brought back to it," replied Mr. Vickers. "It is quite possible that he might be led gently up to consider the matter again. Of course I had to resort to evasion in my answer to his agent regarding the negotiations for the tenancy of the mansion. I believe I said that I had found that no steps could be taken until the return of Colonel Selwood from South Africa. But I have had an interview with Mr. Mellor him- self since I wrote." "With a view to induce Colonel Selwood's daughters to look at the matter from a purely business standpoint?" "Well, not exactly. He said, of course, that it was a pity I had not found out how I stood in regard to the letting of the property before com* mencing negotiations. He had sent his surveyor down to Selwood, and these things are not done without the expenditure of money." "That is perfectly true." "He then said that his surveyor had reported- to him regarding Drellincourt Farm, and a pretty bad report it was that he had received." "Which proves that his surveyor was a compe- tent man." Mr. Vickers smiled sadly. "The young ladies were extremely anxious that I nothing should be concealed from a possible tenant in respect of that farm," said he. "They were under the impression that I might try to prove it to be a marvel of fertility." "I did not think that there would be much ground for anxiety in regard to this particular matter," said Chris. "Well, I suppose that his surveyor's report put Mellor altogether off the idea of the farm?" "Curiously enough," said Mr. Vickers, "the unfavourable character of the report seems to have stimulated him to get the better of that farm." "You amaze me." "Most people would certainly feel amazed to hear that a business man such as Mr. Mellor would be willing But if I mistake not, I gave the young ladies to understand that there was a possibility of his taking the farm out of pure— that is-" "Pure cussedness—that is the word you are looking for. Yes, you did undoubtedly suggest that there were men with theories of high farming and the rest." "I thought you would recollect. It requires one to know men if one hopes to attain success in my profession, Mr. Foxcroft. Yes, Mr. Mellor seems to be positively attracted to Drellincourt Farm on account of the difficulties it presents to him. He has—happily for us-a farming fad, and he would like to be able to point to Drellincourt as a proof of his capacity. To take up a farm that has been unlet for years—that has cost its proprietor between ten and twelve thousand pounds, to say nothing of the loss of rental, trying to work it up to a paying point-and to make a great success out of it, would be an enterprise after Mr. Mellor's own heart. "He would boast of it for the rest of his life. And he actually made you an offer for the farm?" "He made us what I consider a handsome offer for it. Mr. Foxcroft—but, of course, to a man with Mr. Mellor's wealth an extra ten or twenty thou- sand pounds is nothing. I suggested-withotit prejudice, of course, and subject to my Obtaining the consent of my clients-the sum of thirty I thousand pounds as the selling price of the farm with the buildings and machinery, and he said he thought that twenty thousand was too niuch for it. Well, after some talk and a certain amount of firmness on my part and obstinacy on his, we parted on the understanding that he would give twenty-five thousand pounds for the title-deeds." "I had no notion that Mr. Mellor was equal to that," said. Chris. "I thought of him as a prac- tical man-a prosaic man." "Now, Mr. Foxcroft, do you not agree with me that it would be flying in the face of Providence to reject such an offer as that, simply on a point of sentiment?" "Simply because Co-ionel Selwood found it I necessary to kick the chair from under him. I do agree with you most cordially, Mr. Vickers; and I think that Colonel Selwood s daughters will a-so look at the matter in this light. You see, my dear Mr. Vickers, there is a considerable difference be- tween selling a perfectly worthless farm like Drellincourt and leasing a historic house like Sel- wood-a house every room in which, every comer in which, every stone of which has its associations so far as the family of Selwood are concerned." "Undoubtedly. Still young women are young women. "Sometimes." "Ah, I daresay you would suggest that they are sometimes angels, Mr. Foxcroft." "Not I, Mr. Vickers. Angels have no sense of humour; whereas young women-but if we begin to talk of young women in all their aspects—Well, I suppose you dine about eight. Mr. Vickers, I congratulate you on your adroitness in performing an almost impossible task. I think I may pro- visionally agree to do my best to induce Miss Sel- wood and her sister to agree to Mellor's offer. Of course something may occur to alter the view I take of the transaction, but just now I think with you that such a chance may not occur again." "Take my word for it, Mr. Foxcroft, it will never occur again.. I knew that you would look at' the transaction in its proper light, and without prejudice. After all, Mr. Mellor is a man of great capacity. "And so is & shark, Mr. Vickers. The question to be considered has, happily, no bearing on Mr. Mellor's capacity." 'i L Chris shook hands with Mr. Vickers and went away. (To be continued.)
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ATHLETIC -NEWS. I
ATHLETIC NEWS. I CRICKET NOTES. I Boughton Hall gave a sample of what they are capable of doing on Saturday, when they met the j Knutsford eleven at Boughton Hall. Going in first, the homesters gave a capital display of bat- ting, six out of the nine batsmen who visited the crease obtaining double figures. Of these Howell- Evans (61) and Churton (not out 55) were the highest contributors, and treated the spectators to some fine hitting. This was Churton's first ap- pearance for Boughton Hall this season, and his performance was therefore all the more creditable. Gore (33), Darby (27), Romney (17 not out) and Hodkinson (14) also batted well, and the closure was applied with the score at 223 for seven wickets. Knutsford commenced with Hartley and Jack- son, the bowling being entrusted to Howell-Evans and Hack. The start was most disastrous for the visitors, as Hartley was dismissed by the first ball sent down, and Harlow, who filled the vacancy, was also sent back in the same over, Howell-Evans being the trundler. Matters still continued to go badly with Knutsford, wickets falling in quick suc- cession. Forty-three runs only had been regis- tered for the loss of six wickets when Fennell came upon the scene. This batsman soon got to work, and made the bowling look remarkably easy. Lay- ing about him in fine style, he soon credited him- self with 91, out of the total of 175. It was a splendid effort, in which he was ably assisted by Rivaz, Caldicutt and Hanna, who each secured double figures. Darby took one wicket for one run, Trampleasure two for 15, and Howell-Evans six for 46. The Eaton Park ground was the scene of a close and interesting game on Saturday, when the Crewe Permanent Way Department were the visitors. The visitors bad first use of the willow, and after commencing badly ran up a score of 94. Towards this Williams and Winby contributed 17 and 20 respectively, and it was mainly owing to their effort that the score reached the dimensions it did. The pair became associated when two wickets had fallen for 15 runs, and were not separated until 56 runs had been recorded. No other member of the team succeeded in obtaining double figures, but Mr. Extras chipped in with the nice little item of 21. Of the bowlers tried by Eaton Hall Aldis was most successful. He was put on when two wickets only had to fall, and in one over succeeded in dismissing two batsmen for no runs. Maude took three for 23, and Killick four for 28. The homesters commenced even worse than their opponents, 33 runs only being recorded for the loss of five batsmen. Aldis and Nelson, however, improved matters considerably, scoring 19 and 38 respectively. Nelson's effort was a very timely one, and included in his score of 38 were no fewer than eight fours. Warner was the only other batsman to obtain double figures, scoring 11, not out, and the innings concluded for 90. The visitors thus won by the narrow margin of four runs, but most of the credit of the win must go to Timmis, who did excellently with the leather. This trundior bowled throughout, and was most successful in disposing of no tewer than nine batsmen at a very small cost. Tatteuhall were rather weakly represented in their return encounter with Cnester Vic- toria at Saughall-road on Saturday, while the homesters were without the brothers Roberts, their places being taken by L. Hales and C. Jones. The home captain won tge toss and elected to take first turn with the willow, sending B. Johnson and J. G. Jones to face the bowling of W. Jones and R. H. Davis. With the score at three Johnson was run out, and Hales joined Jones. Runs seemed hard to get, both batsmen displaying the utmost caution, and the score was slowly carried to 18 before Jones fell a victim to his namesake. Chris Jones was the new-comer, and he quickly got to work, he and Hales putting on iy more runs before the latter was out, also bowled by Jones. Grice came next, but lost Jones at 44, and none of the later batsmen making much show the innings, with a liberal contribution of extras, closed for 65. C. Jones 16, Hales 12 and Grice 11 all played good cricket, and well deserved the runs. Of the Tattenhall bowlers W. Jones ob- tained a great triumph, taking eight wickets for eight runs, but Davies was ineffective. On going in to bat the Tattenhall men made a determined effort to pull the game round, but were not quite successful, being beaten by 10 runs. Jones was top scorer with 14, but his display was marred by an easy chance when only seven. The Rev. Arnold offered a long resistance to the bowl- ing, and succeeded in putting together 10, none of the other batsmen reaching double figures, al- though a number of smaller scores brought up the total to 55. Four bowlers were tried, and of these C. Jones took two wickets for three runs and Hales and Fletcher had each three for 13, Lloyd cap- turing only one. Liverpool 2nd were the visitors to the Helsby ground on Saturday, meeting the local premier eleven in the first of the season's fixtures between these clubs. Splendid weather prevailed, and as I there was every anticipation of a good game a fair number of spectators was present. The visitors have never yet beaten the homesters, who I have one win to their credit, the remainder of the games having ended in draws. With a view no doubt of reversing this record the visitors brought a,strong eleven, including Cookerill (pro.), while the home side was well represented. The home- sters had the first turn at the wickets, but failed in an unaccountable manner against the bowling of Harrison and Cockerill, the whole side being dismissed for a paltry 49. The Rev. C. R. McKee with 11 runs was top scorer, and the only one to reach double figures. Harrison obtained six wickets for 21 runs, Cockerill's three costing 19 runs. Liverpool 2nd were not disposed of until 104 runs had been recorded, and thus won easily. Molladew 41, Davidson 27, and Harrison 15 were the chief contributors to this total. The Helsby 2nd had also to accept defeat at the hands of Alvanley, whom they met on the latter s ground. The visitors only scored 31 runs, while the homesters were little better, their score total- ling 37. T. Booth bowled most successfully for the home team, securing seven wickets for 16 runs. Harding, for the visitors, secured four wioket* for 11 runs, C. Nield two for four, and A. Turner four for 20. Tilstone Lodge played the return match against Arnold House on the ground of the latter, and again defeated them, the scores being for the visitors 94, and for the homesters 37. The visitors were placed at the wicket first, and made 30 be- fore the first wicket fell, Wright being in fine form, making 44. J. Cadman helped up the score with a useful 18. Arnold House had secured the services of W. Roberts and J. Roberts, who, how- ever, were unfortunate, W. Roberts being soon bowled without having scored, and J. Roberts be- ing caught for four. For the homesters Ashcroft made a needful 12. Cross was very effectual, taking six wickets for 14 runs, and Lyons took three for 15 runs. Widnes premier team paid their initial visit to the Frodsham Athletic Ground on Saturday, and the weather being fine, and the wicket good, a close game was anticipated. The home team again had the fortune to name the coin and took first turn with the bat, Cross and Heyward facing Lewis and Callon. Both men started well, and some good cricket was shewn until Heyward got across a curly one from Callon and had to go with nine to his credit. Linaker fared worse as he did not get Ifiold of a ball sufficiently, and was out to a skier without troubling the scorers. Howard got his legs where his bat should have been, and Sbaw and S,Iby were both clean bowled for three and eight respectively, and matters appeared none too rosy for the homesters. H. Wright, however, put a much better aspect on the game with some nice free cricket, but could not got any one to stay with him, the last three men each getting a duck. He was eventually finely caught and bowled at the second attempt by Callon after making the top score of 22. The innings realised 65, Lewis and Callon both bowling throughout, and taking five wickets each at a small cost. For the visitors Hampson kept wicket in fine style. Hampson and Norris Jones (formerly captain of the Frodsham team) were the Widnes first pair. Wright and Jeacock sharing the attack. The start was disastrous, Jones playing a ball from Jeacock on to his wicket, and Gardiner given Ibw off the same trundler. Callon joined Hampson, and the pair took the score up merrily, getting the upper hand of the bowling. Ashworth, Heyward, Rogers, and Linaker were tried, but the bat beat the ball all through the innings. Hampson retired when he had made 24 with free cricket, and Metcalf, and after- wards Lewis, again made useful stands. Callon was top scorer with a well-played 39, while Metcalf added 35 and Lewis 25 The bowling on the home side was undoubtedly weak all through. Widnes made 162 for seven wickets, "Lowis and Smith being not out. The second string of the Frodsham Athletic .Club met Widnes junior team at the latter ilLe. Winning the toes the hom? tea* tooS ,.t innings and after making 158 for eiglk wickets declared, and Frodsham replyio? wi*h | 53ouly (Robinson top scorer with 22) Jeft the Widnesiaus easy winners by 105. FIXTURES. I The following fixtures will be played on the I ground of the first-named club to-day (Satur- day):— Boughton Hall v. Birkdale Frodsham v. Boughton Hall 2nd Eaton Park v. Sefton Park (extra XI.) Mollington v. Saughall Famdon v. Cholmondeley Ince v. Barrow Neston and District v. Wallasey Wallasey 2nd v. Neston and District 2nd Malpas v. Tilstone Lodge Ellesmere Port v. Chester St. Mary's Chester St. Mary's 2nd v. Christleton Tarporley v. Northwich Hoole v. Chester Victoria Nannerch v. Mold 2nd BOUGHTON HALL V. KLIUTS.FOPD.-PISYOd at Chester on Saturday. Score:- BOUGHTOH HALL. I KIIUTSIFORD. Rev J C Trampleasure b H Hartley c Gore b Eivaz 4 Ho-all-Evans 0 H J Howeli-Evaua b Har T Jackson b Howell. Eva's 7 low 61 G Harlow c Herman b 1-w .?. 'i*???" 0 HoweU-Evana 0 G P Gore c Speakmaa b F C Rivaz b Howell-Evausl3 Bivaz I L CaMecutt at Gore b E Darby c Fennel b Har- Trampleasure 19 low 27 T F Speukmun c Blather- H G Heasman c Sub b wick bHoweH-Evaua. 3 Harlow 0 I J E T Dean b Howell W Churton not out 55 Evans 6 E Hodklusou b Kiraz l4 I Rev W W FenneM c & b L Komney not out .17 Darby 91 i I J Simpson e Darby b Tratupleasure. 6 H Baird b Churton 4 P W Hanna not out.13 Extras 12 Extras .13 Total (for 7 wkts). »223 Total 175 -Innings deeiared closed. EATON PAKK V. CREWE PERMANENT WAY £ >KPA&T!CBXT—Played at Eaton Park on Satur- day. Score:— CBEWE PERMANENT WAT. EATON. J Lyon b KULick 6 T Caswell b Timmis 0 S Timmis c Nelson b J B Fuller c & b Timmw. 7 XilUck 5 £ Wells b Timmis 7 J M Williams run out 17 W Aldis b Timmia .19 J Al Williams run out ::20 G Killick b Timris 0 S Winby c & b Killick 20 G Kmick b Timmia 0 H Wood house c Maude b H W Maude c Ttmmi?b XUIick 1' Williams 0 W ?veleii b Maude 2 A N?lboa c Welch b ?i H G Allu b Maude 5 Tunmis .30 Lee c Killiak b Maude 3 1 S W Warner not out .il C R Irving e Maude b I H Baillie c Court b Aldis 5 Timmis 0 J B ¿;t''ë"b'iidi I T Ë;b'Tii" 0 i R court c c, 0 o 1 T H Craiao Extras A Simon not out 0 H Crane b Timmis 0 Extras 211 Extras & Total 94 Total 96 CHESTER VICTORIA V. TATTENHALL.—Played at Saugball-road on Saturday. Score:— VICTOBIA. I TATTENHALL. B Johnson run out 1 W Jones b Hales .14 J G Jones b W Jones 6 J Welch b Hales 2 L Hales b Jones .12 W Woolley lbw b Lloyd. 4 C Joues c Davis b iones..16 Rev C L Arnold b C JoneslO G Grioe b Jones 11 I B H Davis b Hales 2 B Lloyd b Jones 0B Lipsham b Fletcher 1 W Fletcher b Jones 0 S Welch run. out 6 H Lightfoot c & b Jones.. 3 J Breen b Fletcher ti W Clegif b Jones I W R Challinor b Fletcher 1 J Phillips not out 3 Donovau b C Jones 0 E P Hallmark b'.A.rnold. 1 Evans not out 1 Extras 11 Extras 9 Tt tal. 66 Total 5& OLD ST. MARY'S (CHESTER) Y. FARNDON.— Played at Chester on Saturday. Score:— ST MAHY'8. FARNDON, H Martin b J ?k. i 12 W Boose b H Martin .H K Speare b J Baker 1 J Joues b H Martin 0 B Eardley c B >ose bBaker23 McKindJey c W Davies b H Asbury c Carr b Ha.td? I Martin 1 in? 9 Harding b Asbury .17 W Davies c Harding b R Carr c W Davies V I WB. 1 R Asbury 0 T Delaney c Boose b I W Woolley c & b Asbury. 4i Hardiniz .ta B luce b Asbury 1:' E Webster c Woolley b J Pennington b,Spea;re 0 Harding Õ J Carr run out 3- J K Jones b Harding 0 I J Baker b Asbury. 0 J Wildig not out i J Davies not out 1 W H Davies b Harding 3 W Carter c Baker b Hard- ing 2 Extras 6 Extras 8 Total 74 Total 44 ARNOLD BOUSE V. TILSTONE LODGE.—Played at Arnold House on Saturday. Score :— TILSTONE LODGE. I ARNOLD HOTJSK, H Wright b J Roberts .44 W Hamley b Cross 2 I B Hewitt b J Roberts 8 B F James rnn out a J Hewitt b Ashcroft 0 W Roberts b Crow  0 F Cross b J B .berts 4 J Roberts c Wright b (J Goulding b Ashcroft b Lyons 4 W Lyons b J Roberts.. 0 ) A T Watts b Cross a J Cadman c Watts b W 1 F Asboroft b Lyons 12 lio IS ) H i Moore b Cross. 2 W Quinsuy c J Roberts b ) C Edwards cCross bLyons- 2 W Roberta 3 G Chantry b Cross 1 W Hewitt b J Boberts 6 j U Walker Jones not out.. 0 A Jons lbw b J Rborts. 4 G Niunis b Cross 1 T Palmer not out 1 j Extras 1 < Extras ft Total 94 Total „37 DODLESTON V. ST. MART'S A TEAM.-Played I at Dodleston on Saturday. Score :— ST. MABY'S. ) DODLUSTOW. S Blake b Yarwood 6 ) J Evans b Walters 2 W Walters b Yarwood 0 j F Uweu b J Dryland 0 ACatherall c J Evans b J Yarwood b 8 Blake. 36 Yarwood 0 A Evans c Tremlett b J F Taylor c Smith b A I Dryland 0 Evaus 13 J Jones c J Dryland b A Dryland c Bmmall b Walters 0 Yarwood 2 J Smith b Walters 2 W Ee b -i I G Melton c Tremlett b J Evans 4 I Dryland 1 J Dryland run out 6 | D Dulmnston c W Blake 2 J Evans c A Evans b i J Bramall c Palin b Taylor 2 Yarweod 41 B Beckett b S Blake 1 Yarwood 4 si H (Iiuham not out 31 W Pahn b A Evans 4 H GiUham not out 3 J Pritchard not out 2 G Iremlett c J Jones b Yarwood 3 Extras 10 Extras 2 Total 54 Total 51 FRODSHAM V. WIDNES.—Played at Frodsham I on Saturday. Score :— FEODSHAM. WIDNKS. 8 Cross c Gallon b Lewis..13 B Hampson retired 24 PRODSHAbK L' ewis..13 9 I N Joikes b Jeacock 0, B Heywood b C?lou 9 N Jones b Jeacock 0 C E ?maker c Metcalf b 1 A Gardiner lbw b Jeacock 7 IWTHowardlbwbC&I?**0 A Callon 0 Limker b W T Howard Ibw b Gallon 51 Jeacoek. S9' W haw b Callon 3 I D Jones c Cress b Hay* D•j r Selby b Lewis 8 | ward 7 8 w6rd 7 H Wh?ht e & b C&Uon ..22 H Metcalf b Bo?era 3& T Rogers not out O H Wall c Howard b A Ashworth b Lewis 0 I Wright 1 ¡ B Jeacock c D Jones b 1 H Lewis not out .26 • Lewis. 0 J Smith not out .?11 T Booth b Gallon 0 J Jones did not bat < ) H Callon Extraa 5 1 Extras .13 Total .65 I Total (for 6 wkta) 162 HBLSBT V. LIVERPOOL 2ND. Played at Helsby on Saturday. Score :— HBLSBT. I LxvzRPOOL 2HD. Nicbon c Harrison b CM Kinueas o White b Cockerill 3 Holford 8 Halford c Parker b C S Parkes b Cowap 1 Harrison 4 S E Wilsou c Taylor b Ilarrison ?'g  ? 4 Cowap J Crosland c & b Harrison 4 Cowap 0 Rev C R McKee b B C Harrison b Halford 15 CockeriU .11 E H Garuett b Halford • j F Cole c Bingham b K J Bingham c Cole b Harrison 4 Halford 1 F Cartwright j E :ïa1;üid"b 1 I E Crosland b Cookerill 6 Cowap .41 J Taylor c & b Harrison 0  H Crean b Cowap. 3 H ?ownp b Harrison 0 J Davidson Ibw Cowap 127 H?ycratt not out 0  K E Goodacre b Cowap 0 H White c 001CR ockerill (pro) not out 0 "Mriaou O t Extras 9 Extras 8 Total .49 j Total 104 I EASTHAM V. MOLLINGTON.—Played at East- hava on Saturday. Score:— E?STRAM.  MOLLINGTON. T Horner b J WiHiamH 0 J WDIiamB c Bradbum b F Reynolds b J Williams. 0 ) Porrer .15 Bradbura lbw J Williams. 0 L Roberts 0 Howard b Nolan b Dunning .h( Bmdburn 19 Tnnley Ibw b J WtHiams. 7 t G Dunning c Tnniey b ) Turner b Dunning 0 I Porter 2 Porter c bpruce b J F Williams at Turner b Williams 6 Po, ter .11 A Weston c Spruce b J A Spruce b Porter i Dunning 3 F Dutton c Weston b K'n?b Dunning  0 J Bradburn .25 J Howard c Nioklin b J I H Hayes lbw B Bradburn.. 0 Williams 9 J Miushall not out 2 H Jones not out 1 B D Nicklin c Turner b ) t Horner 0 ) H Williams c Tunley b  Horner 0 ) F A Davies run out. 1 Extras 7 Extras 14 j Total 43 71 Total 93 HELBBY 2ND V. ALVANLKT.—Played at Alvanley on Saturday. Score :-Helsby 2nd: A. Roberts 0 Britland b Harnaman 6. C. Nield b T. Booth 0, W. H. Jones c Green b Booth 1, T. Harding c Greenway b Booth 1, A. Cooke b Harnaman 0, T. Hinde run ) out 2, A. Turner b Booth 3, H. Cooper b Booth 0, A. Millinchamp b Booth 6, F. Griffiths not out 6, A. Cowap b Booth 4, extras 2, total 31. Alvanley A. Booth b Harding 3, S. Leech c Cooke b Turner i 0, T. Rowles b Turner 0, W. J. Britland b Turner 3, H. Greenway.b Turner 10, T. Booth 0 Nield b Harding 7, H. Wright 0 Cowap b Nield 5, W. Green 0 Turner b Harding 1, S, Littlemore b Nield 2, A. Noden not out 3, J. M. Harnaman c Hinde b i Harding 1, extras 2. total 37. ) BARROW V. CHOLMONDICLEY.-Played at: Barrow on Saturday. Score :-Barrow: M. Leonard c Hopley b Jones 0, A. Carroll c Brassey b Jones 0, R. Bull b A. Dodd 3. W. Jones b Jones 0, J. Okell b Jones 35, F. Dodd b W. Dodd 15, A. 0E, llis b W. Dodd 1, G. Wright c Davis b Jones 32, J. Gregory b A. Dodd 6, W. Vernon c Delarney b I Jones 1, J. Owen not out 0. extras 5. total qR. Cholmondeley A. Dodd b Leonard 6, W. Dodd b Leonard 4, W. Delarney b Leonard 8, E. Bird c Wright b Carroll 12, A. Jones c Dodd b Carroll 1, R. Brassey b Leonard 10, J. F. Lanceley c Jones b Leonard I, C. Hopley c Jones b Carroll 8, C. Davis o Leonard b Carroll 7, T. Dodd 0 and b Leonard 0, T. Lanceley not out 0, extras 6, total 63.
IA PINT OF LEMON BLANC-I MANGE…
I A PINT OF LEMON BLANC- I MANGE FREE. For the benefit of those who appreciate a good Blanc-Mange, we wish to make it as widely known aa possible that a pint of most delicious Lemon Blanc-Mange, delicately tinted, and exquisitely flavoured with Lemon can be made from a Id. packet of "Eiffel Tower" Lemon Blanc-Mange Powder. You should obtain it from your Grocer. But for those who cannot get it we may say that Messrs. Foster, Clarke and Co., 3578, "Eiffel Tower Factory, Maidstone (who are also the makers of the celebrated It Eiffel Tower Lemon), are wisely sending sufficienc to make a pint free on receipt of a postcard-we say wisely, because those who once try it will certainly continue to use it.
[No title]
—♦ THE PENRHYN DISFUTB.— A demonstration was hoid by the Penrhyn quarry men still on strike on Saturday,,in the districts where the majority of the secessionists reside. A con- siderable force of police was on duty, but noth- ing occurred to call for their active interference in the proceedings. At a mass meeting it was stated that the rumours as to workmen continu- ally returning to the quarry were entirely un- founded, and were circulated merely for the purpose and in the hope of disheartening the strikers. The latter, however, were still rosolved to stand together. The Relief Com- mittee at Bethesda have issued a further appeal for financial help, in which they severely criti- cise Lord Penrhyn's policy.
AGRICU LTU RE.
AGRICU LTU RE. THE WEATHER AND THE CROPS. The position of affairs in regard to agricultural matters has altered little on the week, except that the fine weather has enabled fair progress to be made in the hay fields. June went out in typical style in this respect, and the cry was for more rain; the land, being very dry and baked, requiring a good soaking, which, happily, has now been sup- plied. Farmers were complaining of the short- ness of water. In many instances the ponds and water-courses were almost dried up, what little water remained being "greened" with the sun and muddy, entirely unfit for the cattle to drink, and water has had to be carried in some instances for long distances. As illustrating the changeful nature of our climate, the "Times" of the other day made reference to the fact that hay- makers might have been seen recently at work in their coats and jackets; and it is on record that during last week two severe frosts occurred in the marsh land and Trent side districts, which did considerable damage to some hundreds of acres of potatoes. The early sown mangolds are looking well, and the wheat continues promising, but barley and oats are in many instances ragged in appearance and very short in the straw. There can be no doubt that dairy farmers, if they axe not in the position already, will soon be hard pressed, and the hitherto; short make of cheese stands a chance of being shorter still. The drought has had an effect on the cheese markets already,, increasing the demand for Colonial and other pro., ducts.. Reports from the cheese centres represent busi- ness as improving all round. The new stock is, arriving in good condition and fairly plentiful, while prices are looking upi with inquiry and firmer quotations. A notable feature with the English product is that really fine Cheddars are not to be found, secondary errades only being in quiet de- mand at 64s. to 68s., good 58s. to 60s., loaf 62s. to 64s. For Canadian the demand is firm at prices Is. dearer on the week; the finest new white and coloured being quoted at 47s. per. 1121b. same for American. There have been no fresh arrivals of New Zealand, but the demand is fair at an ad- vance on the week; finest white 48s. to 49s., co loured 44s. to 45s. "WHITE EARS" AMONG GREEN CUKIS. I I,- ?. The "Times," in recently calling attention to this subject, says the mischief is probably caused by the insect known as the corn thrips, a very small black creature with fringed wings. In its attack it appears to sever the portion of the ear- stalk that is within the sheath, find, as nutriment is thus cut off the ear withers. Other gramineous plants are liable to the same kind of attack, re- sulting in what is termed "silver top" in the United States, where the mischief is commonly perpetrated by the American fly Meromyza Americana. The latest information on the sub- ject comes from Finland, where Dr. Reuter has compiled a monograph on the \inséct attacks which result in the blasting of the heads of grasses, timothy graas and meadow foxtail being the species to which observation was mainly directed. Half a dozen insects are specially mentioned as causing injury of the nature indicated, one of them being a tortrix, allied to the small oak leaf-roller moth, which infests the foliage of oak trees in this country. Another destructive insect, named Pediculoides graminum, is believed to be new. The females were found in the middle of July on Timothy grass, and from then until far into the autumn on couch grass. Altogether eighteen species of insects, representing five different orders, as also five species of mites, have been deteoted at this destructive work. There is no known remedy for this trouble, as the plants are too far advanced when the attack takes place. In the case of an infested corn crop, however, various agricultural measures can be taken to prevent attacks in subsequent seasons. SUFFOLKS FOR SHEEP CROSSING. I Agricola, in the "Field," remarks:—Mr. Ernest Prentice, in one of his characteristic pseans, has stated that "one of the best judges end most influential sheepmen in Scotland, after making a critical examination of the beautiful pen of Suffolk ewe lambs, exhibited by the Earl (f E '*ltsrnere at the Kelso meeting of the High- land and Agricultural Sooiety of Scotland," made the following declaration: What we want, and what we must have, is quality, and these are the sheep to give it." Evidently the fact of these iambs carrying off first prize in a olass open to all breeds at the Highland Show had the effect of exciting attention very extensively to the high character of the breed, for its reputation that year and the next extended greatly, and the high prices of rams at the auctions of 1899 were only surpassed in sensational effect by Mr. H. Dudding realising 1,000 guineas for a Lincoln ram. Thus a Suffolk ram-lamb realised 145 guineas, Suffolk ewes sold so high as 214 per head, and an average of B7 4s. 7d. was obtained for a breeder's outcome of no fewer than 120 ewes sold at publio auction. I THE UTILITY OF SHOW STOCK. I I A writer in a contemporary points out tnat while it can hardly be disputed that showing, or, more correctly, the excessive feeding that it in- volves, is detrimental to the breeding or utili- tarian qualities of cows, and appreciably increases the attendant risks, it would be a grievous mis- take to hold that a noted show career is neces- sarily incompatible with success in the other directions indicated. Instances of famous show cows having produced healthy calves, which in turn have obtained a distinction in the leading exhibitions, are far from rare. To mention a few recent examples, it will be remembered that at the York Royal Show last year the champion cow was the dam of the most admired, if not the, most highly honoured, yearling bull in a huge olass, and few animals have undergone a longer or more searching career than Mr. Hosken's superb Countess of Oxford 14th. The Hereford' cow that has beaten all previous records by realising £ 1,000 in America, it is significantly and with a oertain air of triumph emphasised, was accompanied by a promising calf, while Hereford; owners at home are noting with satisfaction that the unbeaten heifer of last year, Leinthall Beauty, has just produced a healthy calf. AGRICULTURAL LABOUR. I While the subject of the "agricultural exodus" has been agitating men's minds not a little there have not been wanting many old-fashioned farmers and others conspicuous for their foresight who have been pretty firm in their convictions that the matter would work its own cure in course of time. Whether this is coming about at present or not it would be risky to attempt to determine, but we have it on good authority that the supply of agricultural labourers is now more nearly in keeping with normal requirements than was the case a few years ago. Whether from depression in certain classes of work or from the labourer's inherent dislike of an urban existence, there seem3 to be a considerable number of men returning to, the land, and farmers are duly grateful for the unexpected development. The turn has not yet been sufficiently pronounced to warrant the belief that it is permanent or more than transitory; nevertheless, the fact that a reverse movement has occurred has inspired a well-founded hope that things have about reached their limit in rural de- population. THE PRESIDENT OF THE ROYAL ON CO- OPERATION IN TRANSIT. Earl Cawdor, the president of the Royal Agri- cultural Society, last week, at the Royal Show at Cardiff, issued a pamphlet, drawing the atten- tion of farmers to the great benefit to be derived by the co-operative collection and distribution of produce, and pointing out the concessions, which the Great Western Railway Company, of which he is chairman, have granted. He has pointed out that no farmer on the Continent single-handed could send his produce to the London market and there sell it at a priee low enough to beat the English farmer. The cost of carriage would swallow up all the profit. How the foreign pro- ducer gets over the difficulty is by co-operating with his neighbours in sending produce to foreign markets. Taught the principles of their business, j they arrange among themselves with a view to have their farm produce collected and packed and conveyed to some, central railway station, whence I it is carried to the nearest port and conveyed by steamer to England. Nothing is left to chance. ) Every item in the programme is carried out in accordance with a well-thought-out plan. The foreign producer sends his goods regularly to the central station, and as regularly receives payment for his consignments. The whole scheme works I with as little friction or loss or risk as possible, and in it lies the secret of the success which at- tends the efforts of the foreign producer. It is I by co-operating with his fellows he is able to oust from his own market the British farmer. If, therefore, the latter wishes to hold his own and to recover lost ground, he must do as his foreign competitors are doing. I EARL SPENCER ON AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION. Earl Spencer, Chancellor of Victoria Ujbiversity, last week opened the new educational "buildings erected at the Manor Farm, Garforth, near Leeds, by the County Councils of the East and West Ridings of Yorkshire. In proposing Success to the Agricultural Department of Yorkshire College" at the luncheon, his lord- ship remarked: They all knew that agriculture was in keen competition with other countries, and they knew that agriculture had in past years gone through a great deal of depression and a great many difficulties. He had hoped that things were better, but at the same time agri- culture was not as flourishing as it was in the memory of many of the older men present, and the agricultural world needed all the knowledge that it acquired. He believed a great deal could be done by bringing science to bear on the in- dustry and art of agriculture. He ventured to think that education went on all through, the life of a man, and education went on in the life of any and every industry, and as science advanced and opened out new fields, it was shewn that they all had something to learn from the improved science which was brought into practice. Were they in the agricultural world not sometimes too ptone to disbelieve that they could do as well as their ancestors? They forgot that through science things might be cheapened and improved. He had had a lesson tausrht him that dav. He did I not pretend to be so learned in agriculture, or as I practical an agriculturist as many of the gentle- men whom he was glad to see present, but he was quite certain that the work which these county councils, together with the Yorkshire College-which he was proud to say was one of the colleges belonging to the Victoria University —were doing, must be of enormous benefit to agriculture, not'only in Yorkshire, where it was placed, but as an example to all agriculturists in other parts of the country. PITCH OIL IN SHEEP DIPS. I A statement is being circulated by the Scottish I Chamber of Agriculture warning flock masters against the evil effects of using pitch oil in sheep dips. It seems not uncommon for northern flock- owners to employ dips containing this material, and an investigation of the question has revealed indisputable depreciation of the wool to be an inevitable result. According to the report pre- pared by the expert deputed to investigate the matter, pitch oil oauses atains in the wool that are nearly as fast as those of aniline dyes, and the wool produots of districts in which the use of pitch oil is common have fallen into disrepute with textile manufacturers in consequence. It is said that Russian merino wool has similarly lost its hold in the market as a result of its liability to develop pitch oil stains in process of manu- facture.
THE RISKS OF MILK-DEALERS.…
THE RISKS OF MILK-DEALERS. IMPORTANT PROSECUTION AT RUNCORN. [BY OUR OWN REPORTER, j A prosecution of considerable importance to Cheshire milk producers and dealers was heard on Monday, at Runcorn Petty Sessions, before Messrs. G. L. Davies 4presiding) and F. J. Norman. James Guildford, engine driver on the London and North-Western Railway, residing at 64, Stephen-street, Wavertree, was summoned for feloniously stealing two quarts of milk, value Is., belonging to Robert cihep- herd, farmer, Aston-by-Sutton, on the 1st uf April, at Sutton Weaver Station. The prose- cution, which is the first of its kind that has been heard in Cheshire, was instituted by the Cheshire Milk Producers' Assooiatieu on behalf of the complainant. Defendant,, who pleaded not guilty, was legally rwpreaeated by Mr. W. Quilliaui, of Liverpool. Mr. E. Brassey, solicitor, Chester, appeared for the cotnplaiuanc and the Cheshire Milk Producers' Association. tie remarked that al- though it migiltboulb a somewhat omtt norctinary thing to prosecute an engine driver for such a small theft as this, the consequences of buch thefts as that of which he was alleged to be guilty were of the gravest importance to a farmer like his client. Mr. baevliord, who owned between 150-and 180 cows, was one of the largest milk dealers in this part of the country. The defendant was charged with stealing the milk on the railway, by taking it out of a tankard. The Bench would well under- stand that the railway companies did not allow milk to be booked carriage forward, and a farmer was responsible for his milk up to the time it arrived at the end of its jpurney. H anyone, therefore, tampered with one of his cans while in transit, and took off the cream the consequence was tnat the milk would not pass the analytical test to which it had to be ub- jected at Liverpool. Had the complainant's milk which had been tampered with been bub- jected to an analysis on that particular day the result would have been that it would have been found deficient in its creum, and Mr. Shepherd would have beeq fined, The question ot the tampering with milk, while in transit was a most important one throughout the country. On the day in question a farmer named Joseph Wilkinson took his, milk to Sutton Weaver Station,, and at the same time the complainant's milk was taken, to that station by a boy. The milk train by which these cans were to travel arrived, at the station about 5 32 in the evening and was driven by the defendant. Almost before the train stopped Mr. Wilkinson saw the defendant jump irom his engine, walk towards the milk-van, open the door, and seize hold of three of the tankards, one after the other, and tipped them on one side with the object of getting the milk to run out without takiuti oft) the lid. tie had in bid hand a suuali can to bold the milk. Failing to obtain any milk from, those tankards, he next tried a tourth in a similar Luttuner. The peculiarity of this fourth can was that when it was full of milk as it was on the day in. question" the milk would flow out of the air holes on the top and from the side when the tankard was turned upon one side. The defendant was therefore able, to fill his can with milk. Mr. Wilkinson, who saw all that transpired, remarked to defendant, "I should like to know what Mr. Dent (the superintendent at Lime-street) would say if he saw you do that," The defendant replied "I don't care for Mr. Dent" and returned to his engine. Complainant had hesitated for some time in prosecuting in this case, and he did not wish to do the engine- driver an injury. He thought, in view of the fact that milk in transit was in the custody of the railway guards all over the country, that if the railway company would give this subject of tam- pering with milk cans more serious attention, and exhibit notices at the, stations cautioning people against abstracting milk from the cans on the railway, it would be of mora benefit to him and his fellow-farmers than a prosecution. He en- deavoured to persuade, the company to adopt such a suggestion, but they would not, and he was therefore obliged to take legal proceedings. This was a case of grave, importance, not only to the complainant, but to milk producers through- out the country, and the tampering with milk cans on the railway was a source of loss to farmers throughout the country of thousands of pounds a year. One could hardly take up a local paper without finding that some unfortunate farmer was fined for not having sufficient cream in his 'milk. The Cheshire Milk Producers' Associa- í tion, for whom he (Mr. Brassey) appeared, de- ¡ sired to impress upon the magistrates the im- i portance of the case. It appeared that the de- fendant's explanation was that he saW some milk on the top of tha tankard, and somebody on the platform gave it ta him. The suggestion that- the engine-driver thought that any loafer on the platform could give him milk was absurd. Evidence was then given by the complainant, who pointed out that the case was of great im- portance to him, because if milk that' had been tampered with had been subjected to an analysis afterwards the result would have spelt ruin to his business.Cross-examiued: It was quite pos- sible that the oscillation of the cans in being moved along the platform might cause some of the milk to flow out of the holes. Joseph Wilkinson, farmer, residing at Park Farm, Sutton Weaver, deposed to witnessing the theft under the circumstances narrated by Mr. Brassey. As soon as the train arrived he saw defendant jump off his engine and walk down, the platform towards the milk tankards. Witness was then occupied in putting his milk' in the train. He saw defendant lift three tankards sideways, and noticed that he had brought a can with him from the engine. De- fendant then "tried" a fourth can, and filled his can with milk from it. Witness saw the milk flowing from it. After drinking the milk the engine-driver again filled his can from the tankard, and just then the stationmaster came up. In the stationmaster's presence witness said to defendant "You would look well if Mr. Dent was in the train and saw you do that," and de- fendant replied that he did not care for Mr. Dent, and he took his second can of milk to the engine. Witness saw no milk on the top of the can before defendant tampered with it; in fact he did not see any milk on the tops of any of the tankards.—Cross-examined: There were six men on the platform who witnessed what had trans- pired, including the guard of the train, the stationmaster's son, and a porter. There were between nine and twelve cans on the platform. Nobody spoke to defendant except witness. Before defendant touched the cans he did not hear him say to somebody Joe, can I have a drop of milk from the top of the can?" or the reply "All right." Witness could not tell whether defendant's can was full of milk. Wit- ness did not give information of the theft to the stationmaster (Mr. Lepts) in the presence of the engine-driver. He thought it was the station- master s place to report the matter, as he was present. He did not speak to Mr. Lepts until the defendant's train had left the station, and Mr. Lepts then told him that he would not report the case. Mr Quilliam: Because he .did not see any- thing? Witness: He might have said that. Witness reported the matter to Mr. Dent the same night by letter. Re-examined, witness added that he mentioned the theft to the stationmaster half-an-hour after it occurred, and Mr. Lepts said he was not going to report it, but did not say he would not do so because he did not see what took place. He pointed out to Mr. Lepts that the milk was in his charge while it was on the platform, and he said he would report the matter. John Spruce, labourer in the employment of complainant, who took the cans to the station. also deposed to seeing the theft. He saw the milk flowing through the hole in the lid of the can into the can in defendant's hand. Defendant drank one can full, and filled another and took it to the engine. There was no stray milk on the lids of any of the cans. Witness was quite sure that defendant spoke tct nobody before he took the milk. Mr. Quilliam, for the defence, said he did not minimise the gravity of the case, and it was of course of the highest importance that milk should not be tam- pered with, but it was of still higher importance that persons in the employment of the railway companies should be strictly honest. That wtes the grave matter' at issue, for the defendant was a man who had been in the service of his company j for many years, and against whose character there was not the slightest stain. It appeared from the statement of Wilkinson about defendant having "tried" first one can and then another that there had been a custom of getting milk in that way, but whatever was done was done openly and without secrecy, in a way that shewed the man had no idea he was doing wrong. Defendant con- tended that he got off his engine for the purpose of assisting in putting the-cans into the train, which was no uncommon thing for him to do. He had purchased a pint of tea, at the station prior to then, and when he came on the platform he had it in his hand. He saw on the top of one of the cans a quantity of milk, not more than half a tea- cup full. Some people were on the platform whom he thought were in charge of the milk, and he said to one, "May I have some of that milk from the top?" and he replied "Certainly," whereupon defendant simply poured it into his tea, thinking he was doing a perfectly honest thing. What the witnesses saw him drinking was tea, with some of the milk he had poured into it from the top of the can. He denied taking a second lot of milk. Mr. Wilkinson made no complaint to the stationmaster in his presence, though it was true he made a com- plaint to him afterwards. Defendant might have been guilty of an error of judgment, but he had no felonious intent when he took the milk. I Defendant then gave evidence in support of his ¡ advocate's statement, and said he did not hear Wilkinson address a word to him. William Taylor, defendant's fireman, stated that Guildford left the engine with the can filled with tea in his hand. When he got near the oans on the platform he addressed one of a group of men standing near them, and afterwards poured some milk into his can, apparently from the top of the tankard. Levi Kitohen, guard of the train. said he did not see defendant touch any of the milk cans, and no, observation was made to his knowledge by Wilkin- son to the engine-drivar. Mr. Lepts, the stationmaster, also gave evidence. After a lengthy private consultation the magis- trates expressed the opinion that although de- fendant had taken the milk, which he had no right to do, he had no felonious intent in doing so, and they therefore dismissed the case. They thought, however, that it was a case which the railway com- pany ought to take some notice of. Mr. Quilliam: That will be done, your worships.
ARMY REFORM.
ARMY REFORM. DEFENCE OF VOLUNTEERS. AMERICAN ARMY PRAISED. In the House of Lords on Friday, theadjourned debate on Army Reform was resumed by Lordi Monkswell, and contmued by Viscount Hampden. The Marquis of Lansdowne assured the House' that the Government was not likely to ask Parlia- ment to consent to conscription for foreign service. The Government did not contemplate that as a solution of the difficulties. He explained that the six Army corps' system had been recommended be- cause before this war it was never contemplated that we should require to send out more than two Army corps. Having to look forward to such a contingency arising again, was it unreasonable that they should organise the troops which remained, and thus avoid the confusion and expense incurred last year? The Government had put forward a reasonable, though not professedly a complete, scheme. He deprecated the manner in which the Duke of Bedford had attacked the Volunteers, who, he thought, deserved great credit for coming forward as they had done. The Government pro- posals were not to be taken as exhausting the sub- ject, or as leaving nothing to be dealt with, but were an honest attempt to deal, so far as time per- mitted, with the military problems which con- fronted them. Viscount Wolseley congratulated the Secretary for War on the manner in which he had dealt with this subject, and said the defence of this country must not, in his opinion, be altogether trusted to, the auxiliary forces. They must have a strong centre composed of Regular forces. A better sup- ply of officers was required in the Regular Army, and more money was required for instruction in, the autumn manoeuvres, eto. He was glad the Secretary for War had no intention of touching the Army Reserve, as, had it not been for the 80,000 Reserve men who had taken part in the late war, they would never have been able to despatch such an army as-they sent out to South Africa. In the course of his remarks he said: One of the lessons of the war was that our Army was small. There were only two ways of main- taining a proper army: one by compulsory ser- vice—but he thought the time had not come for that; the other was simply a question of £ s. d. The American Army was the finest in the world, because the authorities by offering a fair wage ob- tained the men they required. It wculd be worth the while of the country to increase the present rate to a considerable extent. The Duke of Devonshire said, with regard to the proposed increase of pay, he did not think the enormous expense involved would be commen- surate with the results which would blf gained. The Earl of Wemyss protested against the re- marks of the Duke of Bedford with regard to the Volunteers, and gave notice of a motion for July 29th with regard to the Militia. The Duke of Bedford then withdrew the motion.
POLO AT HOOTON.
POLO AT HOOTON. The final match for thao: cup offered in con- nection with the County Polo Association took. place on Saturday afternoon on Hooton Race- course,, under conditions which offered a re- markable contrast to those of the event decided a week previously on the same ground. This time fine weather favoured the event to the utmost, and it attracted, a large and fashionable onlooking of ladies and gentlemen, who watched. the proceedings throughout, both as regards the initial match and the sports, with intense interest. The final for the County Cup lay between Wirral and Middlewood Polo Clubs respectively. Wirral was represented by W. H. Underwood (back), A. Tyrer, G. G. Lockett, and L. S. Watson. The Middlewood team consisted of 0. Ellison (back), R. Wormald, J. Mitchell and A. Wormald. The match consisted of six periods of ten minutes' play. Middlewood was the first to score, but Lockett, on behalf of Wirral,, succeeded in equalising. In the second period fortune again favoured the contestants equally, though in re- versed turn, Wirral scoring first and Middlewood afterwards. During the first two periods the, competitors appeared to be putting forth their best efforts, and the pace was a hot and exhaust- ing one, which relaxed somewhat in the inter- mediate periods and resumed its full power in the last two. At the end of the fifth ten minutes Wirral was leading by one goal, the score at that point beng 4 and 3 respectively, and the hopes of sympathetio onlookers were naturally high and, applausive. From this point, however, Middle- woid, putting in all they knew, scored two additional goals in the fifth and one in the sixth period, retiring as victors of the event with six. goals to their credit against four. The Wirral team was identical with that whioh played Middle- wood earlier in the season, but Middlewood in." the later event had. substituted R. Wormald for Whitworth. As the winners of the event, Middle- wood team are entitled to compete against the Southern Division. The umpires were Messrs. W. A. Bell and T. W. H. Mitchell. Of the gymkana events which followed, the first was one in which the award was for the best horse or pony in single harness and driven by a lady. It was earned, by Mr. Walter Glynn's Oddity, driven by Miss Glynn. In the figure-of- eight competition, twice round posts forty yards apart, Mr. W. A. Ball won with his Blair. In the Victoria Cross Race, in which competitors, had to jump a hurdle, dismount and pick up a, dummy, remount, jump another hurdle, and gallop in, Captain G. W. Hobson, of 12th Lancers, won with his Vixen; while the special prize to tho lady who prepared the best dummy was awarded to Miss Ismay. The mathematical racft was one in which the competitors were required to ride the full; length of the ground with a sealei., envelope oontaining a. calculation which a lady, had to make before the rider was at liberty to resume his race for gpal. An essential condition to success was that the mathematical problem should have been correctly solved. The winner was Mr. G. G. Lockett. The leading race was, one of about 600 yards, depending not only upon, the speed of the ridden horse, but of the pace- and: tractability of one led on a halter. The winner of the race was H. Johnson. In one case a ledi horse broke clear away, but had sagacity enough to bolt for tho race-ground stables. Another- episode. having, points of resemblance was that of a runaway hocse attached to a brougham, which. was seen, tearing away driverless along the high- way to Bromborough, with considerable hazard; to passers-by. A sixth event in the recorded programme was a needle-threading race, for which there was a large entry, but which did not coma off, as it was said most of the competitors had unwarrantably relied upon their lady friends for the adjuncts of the sartorial art. The attendance at the polo events included, Sir Wiiuam and Lady Forwood, and along, with their lrfHy friends the following gentlemen among o.thers:-Messrs. W. Glynn G. Nicholson, Bower Ismay, Duckworth, Tyrer, J. R. Grant, Alderman Oakshott, Messrs. Barnett, Blain, Collard" Patterson, Eaton, Lonsdale. F. Fox. Hollins. ate The sports starter was Mr. J. Ravenscroft, and the judge Mr. J. W. Blain. The Bromborough Pool Village Band, conducted by Mr. A. Sk 11 Smith, played spirited selection ai suitable intervals.
YOU CAN PROVE THIS.
YOU CAN PROVE THIS. r BECAUSE IT HAPPENED HERE IN J CHESTER. If it bad happened somewhere else you might of course believe it, but you could not prove it, and that mp. kes all the difference. You must have seen many such statements before, but yon took very little notice of them. because you neither knew the persona mentioned, nor the towns they were supposed to live in. But here are the words of a Chester man, spoken for the good of Chester people, and that is why we say you can prove this. About 18 months ago," says Mr. Leonard Pearson, of 136, Foregate-street, Chester, I was attacked with disorder of the kidneys. I suffered a good deal ofpiD. especially in the small of my back and loins, and when stooping I often bad hard work to straighten myself again. "At times I used to come over giddy, my head used to SWIm., I would feel weak and languid, my eyes were dim, and specks seemed to be floating before them. I could not sleep at night for the pain, and when I rose in the morning, instead of feeling refreshed and ready for my work I was weary and tired. I tried no end of remedies, but they did me no good, and I began to titink I should get no better. Now, just about this time I first heard of Doau's Backache Kidney Pills, and what a Job of good they were doing Chester people, and thinking they were just the medicine I required I went to Boots, the chemists in Eastgate-raw, and procurEYi a box. I gave them a fair trial and I must say they have done me a lot of good. Phsty relieved me of the pains ia my back, my kidneys seem to act naturally* and since taking these pills I have gained fliesb., I feel bettar in every way, and I cannot speak too highly of the pills that have done ao much for me.(Signed) Leonard Pearson. Doan's Backache Kidney Pills ar& sold by all chemists and drug stores at 2s. 9d. per box (six boxes, 13a. 9d.), or sent direct, post free, on receipt of price, from the proprietors, Foster- McClellan Co., 8, Wells-street, Oxford-street, London, W., formerly 57, Shoo-lane. If you have symptoms of any kidney trouble, write us about it fully, we will be glad to reply. Be sure you ask for the same pills that Mr, Pearson had.
[No title]
A young man, named Walter Prior, died at Barrow on Saturday from injuries received on Friday while engaged in a cycle race at Messns, Vickers, Son and Maxim's auaual sports,