Wrexham and Denbighshire Advertiser and Cheshire Shropshire and North Wales Register

SM, ILERS. The gill at the telephone exchange has much to answer. If you wish to communicate with the finny tribes of the sea, first drop them a. line. Bachelor (sneeringly) I suppose you think there is no other woman in the world like your wife. Benedict (earnestly) I hope not. Clerk This will go very nicely with blue. Mrs Witherby All right. I'll take it. My husband will be blue when lie knows that I've bought it. One half of the world, I tell you, Mawson. doesn't know how the other half lives." That may be so, but as for that, neither docs the other half." I hear b.mdits arc holding your boy Peter for ransom." "No, 'returned the l?',le,?ptlereti-ten to send him back if I don't pay. I shall pay." Maude How could yt)u-be so free with Mr Gabble. an entire stranger' Kate He is not an entire stranger. He lost one arm several years ago. Kowne de Bout: I saw a remarkable sign in a window when I was in France. Stavatt Holmes What was it t, Rownc- de Bout American French spoken here. Mamma," said George, who is just beginning to wrestle with figures. how do you write thirty-three ? Now. I can make three but how do you put down the thirty V Come, into the cabin." said the captain to the diver." nnd have a drink V" Thanks. Guess I will," returned the diver. This submarine business is pretty dry work." Tapely You are an orphan ? Miss Someigurl Yes. Tapely (much disturbed) Well, whose consent must I ask in order to marry you ? Miss Somergurl Well, you might ask mine. Curious phenomenon about Smith—he varies in size so by day and night." "Eh? What's that: Well, you see how big he is now; but he assures me that he sleeps very little." I hatr. a jealous man I" she said And when he learned to treat, instead, Her follies with indulgent air, She cried, becituse he didJlr care A book on etiquette tells how to tell a man larger than yourself that he is a coward." The best way is to tell him through the telephone, and then go out in the country for a few (lilys. The heart, relenting, still is prone to smother The angry feelings which arise 'twixt men: But when balloonists fall out with each other, They seldom speilk again. A very small officer struck an old grenadier of his company for a supposed fault. The grenadier gravely took off his cap, and holding it over the officer by the tip. siid' Sir. if you were not my officer, I would extinguish you. An exchange says that the man or woman who has never loved, hugged, kissed, played with, listened to, told stories to, or thoroughly spanked a child. has missed the cardinal joys of life." The children beg to differ, on the The small boy was sitting on the doorstep whist- ling, when the policeman came up. Can I see your father ?" inquired the ollicer. No, you can't." re- plied the boy, promptly. Why can't I Cause mam's seeing him, that's why." May I ask if that was your maiden effort ?" in- quired the reporter at the Woman's liiglit Conven- tion, edging his way around to the fair orator, who had just sat down amid loud applause. It was not, air," she replied. I'm a widow." Mr Chugwatcr (over his newspaper) Here's a story of a fellow that ate four dozen raw eggs at one sitting. How fearfully a man sometimes resembles a pig Mrs Chugwater (in a contemplative mood) Yes. A pig is sometimes very much like a man. My dear," said Mr Bunker to his wife, 14 what has become of that box of cigars you gave me on my hvrthday 7" It is upstairs. Well, get it. please, Jimmie wants to smoke, and I think we can give him all he wants in about three seconds." Smithers Hello, Tompkins, haven't seen you for months. But what iu the cionon -i.re you carrying that jumping-jack and rattle home for ? Tompkins (whose first infant occasions him no little embarrass- ment) F-f-for a-a young friend of mine. Mamma, I want some water in a bowl. I am going to christen my doll." No, my dear that would be trifling with a sacred subject." Then give me some wax to waxinate her with. She's old enough now to have something done to her." Guor-o e," said a girl to her beau the other night, here's a piece in the paper headed 'Kismet.' What does 'Kismet' mean?" "The word must be pro- nounced with the t' silent, Nettie," replied George. 14 Why, that would be kiss me,' said Nettie. With the greatest pleasure," replied George. And he did. Roused in the middle of the bitter winter night by a violent knocking at your door, you open the window, and, shivering in the icy draught, look to see a stranger plying your knocker, who says, coolly: All right, don't disturb yourself, it's the people next door I want; then 've broken their knocker, so I had to borrow yours." Here, James, take these two cakes and give the smaller one to your little brother." James examined the cakes carefully, appeared undecided, and finally took an heroic bite out of one of them, which he passed over to his brother with the remark There, Tommy, I've made you a smaller one—they were both the same size." Ob, no, ma'am," pleaded the tramp, you may think mv life all sunshine, but it ain't. Wherever I go I am'beset with dangers. In short, ma'am, I carry my life in my hands. Ah, I see exclaimed his temporary hostess that accounts for your not washing your hands. You don't dare to do it for fear you'll drown yourself." Doliiiiiic, Now, boys, what is the meaning of the word ubiquitous ?" Forty-six tongues are painfully silent. Dominie Dear me, what ignorance. Ubi- quitous means existing everywhere." And now can you give me an instance of something that is ubiquitous ? Chorus of forty-six tongues (while forty-six arms were simultaneously uplifted) Yes, sir. Ta-ra-ra-boom-dc-ay," sir. Mr Col den sh: I say, have you heard the news ? Smithers: No. what" is it? Coldcash: Why, the Argentine Bank has gone up. Smithers: Oh, the scoundrels I might have known such a rascally set of bank directors would rub the depositors. Coldcash: Why, did vou have any money in i:? Smithers: Every shilling I made ovor to my wife before I failed the first time. Oh, the sconndrcls They were talking- about the disagreeable weather at Paris in the presence of a citizen of Marseilles. The son of the south shrugged his shoulders and re- marked. The south is where you must go to fizid fine weather. Why, at Marseilles, this very moment, the air is so sweet that you have only to put your cup of ceiiue out of the windo-.v for two minutes and you will not need any sugar The other evening, at a concert, a long-haired pianist was r>un:shing the instrument with epileptic «estures, and evolving what was supposed to be descriptive music. An old lady went into ecstasies of aduiiiation. "How line!" she exclaimed; "one can hear the roar of the caution the town has been taken bv assault; they arc fighting in the streets; the soldiers are already giving themselves up to piUa.-c—the "Oh!" sighed a neighbour, "if the soldiers could only carry off the piano "I am sure I shall die an early death." said a youn" !ady, a teacher in a pub]ic school. I have a ?ass? of boys-unruly little urchins they are. too. They worry me continually. The other day, during the "lesson" in grammar. I read out the sentence What can you do that I cannot do ?" and a little urchin jumped up and shouted Play leap frog. Then there was a general laugh. I bit my hp, frowned, and ordered them to sit down." A foreigner slightly acquainted with the English language cannot always place so much reliance on its synonymous terms as the dictionary seems to promise. A tutor has revealed the effort of a young German, a student of English, to translate the famous lines :— Tell me not in mournful numbers. Life is but an empty dream The young man's translation read Tell me not in sadful poetry, Life is the larger end of a vain imagine. A clergyman asked permission of Dr. Thirl well (Bishop of St. David's) to hold two livings under the prescribed value, and, as he hoped it would be con- sidered, within the prescribed distance. So he sought an interview, during which he unrolled a.n ordnance map, and, measuring the scale of miles rule he had brought with him, ;:iid, You see, my lord, thev are within three miles as the crow flies." The bishop put his spectacles on and followed the measurement. Yes," said he, as the crow flies- I see that plainly enough but then, you know, you are not a crow, and can't ily. By the turnpike road it is a good five miles so I cannot permit you to hold the two livings." There is a story c f an attorney s clerk, who was so subjugated to the mere act of copying and legal form, that his master told a friend lie would draw up a marriage settlemcnt between Adam and Eve. keeping the items such as wonld "nit the conditions of our first parents, and that the clerk would copy it out and detect nothing unusual in it. The settlement was drawn up, and handed to the clerk to copy. When the clerk was handing the clcan draft back to his master, the latter said, JohT), did you notice any- thing peculiar in that settlement? No," answered the clerk, but that it seciiis very binding on the man's side."

I GENERAL NEWS. A tragedy occurred in the village of Sydling St. Nicholas, near Dorchester. A man named Croad cut his wife's throat, and then took his own life. At Northampton, on Saturday, Andrew George Macrae was found guilty of the murder of Annie Pritchard, at Althorp, and was sentenced to death. The funeral of Mr Montagu Williams, Q.C., who died on Friday, took place on Monday, at Brompton Cemetery, there being a large attendance of the legal, dramatic, and literary professions. A lady-like woman, named Elizabeth Harris, described as the wife of a naval officer, was charged at W estminster Police Court, on Monday, with being drunk and incapable, and Was remanded. At Bolton, on Sunday, an elderly man, named James Hayes, living at Staterfield, was choked by a piece of goose while eating his Christmas dinner. The meat was found firmly wedged in his throat. The death is announced of Mr J. P. Brunner, J.P., brother of Mr J. T. Brunner, M.P. The deceased took an active part in furthering Liberalism in Liver- pool, and twice unsuccessfully contested South Toxteth Ward. Joseph Harrison, a hborer, who resided at Wynmtay Cottages, Raby, died 011 Sunday from died on Sund?ty from suffocation caused by a piece of beef sticking in his throat while he was partaking of his Christmas dinner. The woman named Ellen Savage, who lately swallowed a full-sized razor, which lodged in her stomach, and who underwent an operation for the removal of the razor last Monday week, died at the hospital, at Lincoln, on Sunday. I At Venterdon, in Cornwall, on Monday, a man named James Blyth, Wh3 was ill of consumption and in poor circumstances, committed suicide by placing dynamite in his mouth and exploding it by means of a lighted fuse. His head was blown into numberless fragments. While two workmen were hammering a nail into a wall of a Paris wine cellar a portion of the wall fell in and opened to view a subterranean passage contain- ing a well which had been blocked up for some years, and in which were some; human skeletons and two old rrfles. At an inquest held in Liverpool, with respect to the death of two infants, the jury returned a verdict that their deaths were caused by the culpable neglect of the mother, Margaret Madigan, whom the city coroner formally committed for trial at the assizes on a charge of man-slaughter. An attempt was made to blow up with dynamite the police detective office in Exchange-court, Dublin, on Saturday night. The explosion caused great alarm, and killed a young detective officer named t? detective officer n-,tiiie d Synnott. Fortunately, the damage done to the building was comparatively slight. At a meeting of the Executive Committee of the Liverpool Conservative Association, on Saturday afternoon, it was unanimously resolved to confirm the selection of Mr Walter Hume Long as candidate for the representation of the West Derby Division, rendered vacant bv the death of Mr W. U. Cross, M.P. The Spalding Board of Guardians have accepted a contract for the supply of bread to the workhouse from the New Year, at 2}d per 41b loaf, of 2d per 41b loaf if of wliole-meal, and flour 8J a stone whole-meal. or Is a stone good seconds flour. This is stated to be the lowest price at which bread is supplied in Eng- land. The largest Baptist church in the world is that of the Metropolitan Tabernacle. Its returns for this year give a membership of 5,328. There are twenty- three mission stations in connection with it, supplied by 130 lay preachers and others. In the twenty-seven Sunday and ragged schools there are 8,001 children, with 592 teachers. W. Grayson, huntsman to Sir Charles Legard's harriers, has succumbed to injuries received in the hunting field, on Friday, whilst out with Lord Mid- dleton's hounds, near Ganton, Yorkshire. In taking a fence, from the grass to the highway, his horse stumbled, and he was thrown heavily upon his head. He regained consciousness, but succumbed on Christ- mas Day. Two laborers, named J. Alexander and J. Jones, were charged at North London Police Court, on Monday, with having committed a burglary at a gentleman's house in Marquis-road, Islington. The prisoners were caught in the act, the tenants, when they were disturbed, finding two policemen, as well as the burglars, on their premises. The men were committed for trial. Whilst a number of persons were skating, on Mon- day, near Rochdale, a young lady and gentleman fell, and the ice breaking they were submerged. Gallant attempts at rescue were made, but the lady, together with three youths, were drowned. Three persons also lost their lives whilst skating upon dangerous ice in Wanstead Park, and fatal accidents are reported in various parts of the country. Mr Davitt has been unseated for North Meath, on the ground of undue spiritual influence, and was ordered to pot)" the costs. The action which Bishop Nulty and the priests took in the contest was con- demned by the judges, who stated that the bishop's pastoral constituted intimidation both under the statute and at common law, and consequently des- troyed the freedom of election. A gentleman, named Simpson, of Kendal, who with his wife was journeying to Leicester, on Mon- day, was taken ill in the railway carriage on the arrival of the train at Crewe. He was conveyed to one of the waiting-rooms, and expired half an hour afterwards. Before leaving his home he had eaten a hearty dinner, and hurried to catch the train. This probably produced palpitation of the heart. At Ramsgate, on Monday, William Dutton, a hawker, was charged with assaulting and wounding Miolmol prfiviniis morninEr. on the Sand- wich road. The two men quarrelled and fought, and it is alleged that the prisoner drew a knife and inflicted a serious wound on Murphy's face. The accused was remanded for a week, and the injured man is being treated in the Seamen's Infirmary. Frau Voszka, the daughter of a shoemaker at Groeswardein, in Hungary, is said to have un- expectedly inherited a fortune of over £1,500,000 sterling, left by a man named Koehler, a Hungarian, who died intestate recently in London. Since the announcement of his death was made known, how- ever, a whole host of persons claiming to be his heirs have come forward to demand a share of the property. At the Thames Police Court, on Monday, Matthew Haley, a private in the 1st Battalion Essexllegiment, was charged with having burglariously broken into the Thames Wharf, Limehousc, and stolen therefrom money and property of the total value of X12, and with having assaulted Edwin Tucker, the owner of the property, who attempted to secure him. :md re- ceived such injuries as to endanger his life. Prisoner was remanded. Trinity-street Station, Bolton, was the scene of a I shocking fatality on Saturday. A youth, named William Morris, in the employ of a firm of architects, boarded a Blackpool express in mistake for a West Houghton train, and, discovering the mistake, he and a fellow passenger jumped out. The latter gained the platform, but Morris fell between the carriage and platform, and was crushed and mangled by the whole train. His companion narrowly escaped the same fate. Replying to a congratulatory address which was presented to him by the members of the Sacred College, the Pope said Europe was pregnant with ruin, owing to her moral and religious conditions, and this state of affairs could only be remedied by the healing virtues of the Church. His Holiness stigmatised the Italian Freemasons as a malignant sect, and deplored the fact that they were receiving support from the Government. At Coventry, on Monday, Henry Arthur Smith, printer, was charged with attempting to murder George Frederick Jabet, on Christmas Eve. The parties had previously been in partnership. The evidence of Jabet was that whilst in his back premises he saw Smith with a revolver. He closed with him, but Smith got the pistol to his held. and he heard it click twice, but it did not go off, although loaded in all six chambers. The prisoner was re- manded. A remarkable race across the Atlantic between the Ouuaid liner Etruria and the Inman liner City of Paris has been concluded. The City of Paris had twenty minutes' start from New York with the United States mails, but tlie Etruria, passed Daunt's Rock four hours and six minutes ahead of her rival. The Etruria seems to have weathered the Atlantic storms most successfully, for whilst, the City of Paris on Wednesd?Ly, Fi-i(!iLy, and Saturday last rmi respectively 377, 403, 400, and 346 knots, the Etrnri? accomplished on those days 444, 440,430, and 226 knots respectively. An ir.quest waq held on Mr- at Harlow, Bishop Stortford, on George Pr? a. jeweller. Deceased was :t widower, and was a" at to marry again. The banns were to have been published on Christmas 'DiL- biit two pi-r;N-ioii,;lv he was found dca-d in bed with a bullet v.ound in his head and a. revolver in his right hand. A fortnight ago he wrote a letter, which he placed under his sweetheart's portrait every time he went out. In it he said he might he taken at any time, and wished her to have S200 of his money. The jury returned a verdict of suicide whilst temporarily insane. The twenty minutes past four Liverpool express from Euston had a marvellous escape at Crewe, late on Christmas eve. It war. very heavily laden, and on drawing out of Crewe Station, instead of taking the main line to the north, it riii into a siding, and col- lided with great violence with two engines, which were much damaged. The permanent way was torn up, and a telegraph, pole was knocked down. The passerogcrs were skaken and greatly alarmed. They were taken back to Crewe, and after considerable delay, taken forward hv another train. One of the engine-drivers was hurt, and taken to the company's hospital. The sea. was very rough at Biarritz, on Sunday, and Mr Gladstone and iii.-i party, who remain in excellent health, spent a part of Christmas morning in watching the huge Atlantic waves breaking on the beach. Several visitors called on the Premier during the course of the day, and were received by Mr Anuilstend. Among them were the French General commanding the local troops, a deputation from the Coiporation of Butchers of Bayonne, and a deputa- tion of ladies staying at the Grand Hotel, who came to lie,, Mr Gladstone to preside over the Christmas Day trJ/lc d'hote at the hotel. The request was politely declined, and the Premier dined quietly with his own immediate circle in his private apartments. At Guildhall Police Court, London, on Saturday. William Frederick Oldham, cashier, in the employ of Messrs. Glyn, Mills, and Co., hankers, was charged with embezzlement. Detective Inspector Hunt said he went to prisoner's house and told him he was a police officer. He afterwards went back to the bank with the prisoner, and saw the secretary, who said to prisoner, This is a nice thing, Oldham. We have discovered that you have been robbing us for years." He replied, "Xo;" and when asked how much he really had had he said, "Four hundred pounds." The secretary said, It is considerably more than that." Prisoner said, i: It is not He was afterwards given into custody. He was re- manded.

I GENERAL NEWS. Mr T. P. Lewis, M.P., has quite recovered from his serious illness. Letters containing money to the amount of 30,000 roubles have been stolen by a baud of robbers from a passenger train near Warsaw. Mr Sanders, a solicitor, of Exeter, received injuries whilst following the East Devon hounds on Monday, from which he died the next morning. In a melee which has taken place at Barker, Minnesota, between half-beeds and Indians, two per- sons were killed and two others received fatal in- juries. On Monday, at St. Pancras Coroner's Court, Dr. Wynn Westcott held three inquests on. as many children, who had been accidentally suffocated while in bed with their parents. I'"ve men engaged at the Frodingham Steel Works, near Lincoln, lost their lives, on Tuesday, by the collapse of an arch, on which they were at work, the place being used as a smithy. A riot, arising out of a prize-fight between two rivals for the affections of a woman, has taken place at Mount. Pennsylvania, and resulted in about forty persons being seriously injured. On Tuesday, Miss Day, a young lady residing at 9, Euston-road, Great Yarmouth, was found dcta in bed. Miss Day was at a pai-by the previous even- ing, and had only retired to rest a few hours before her death. At the meeting of the Savings Bank of Glasgow on Friday, the chairman said the bank was the most urosperous in the kingdom. The depositors num- bered 168.000, and the balance due to them was £ 5,500,000. At Bristol,on Friday, a riot took place owing to the action of the authorities in disallowing a Labor pro- cession to march along a particular route. The police and a portion of the procession came into collision. and the military were called out. It is reported from New York that very severe weather has been experienced by liners crossing the Atlantic. The decks and rigging have been covered with ice. and one captain says that even his com- passes were frozen, so that lie had to steer by the stars. The corner-stone of a new Episcopalian Cathedral was laid in New York, on Tuesday, by Bishop Potter. The building is to cost between £1,000,000 and £ 2,000.000, and is to have seven chapels for the celebration of divine service in seven difierent lan- guages. John Wright, a fireman on the London and North- Western Railway, was killed on Tuesday afternoon, near Sutton. He was standing on the coal-box of his engine whilst the train passed under a bridge, which caught the deceased's head, causing death in a few minutes. At Lewes Assizes a servant girl named Denham was found guilty of maliciously setting fire to some curtains at the house of her mistress, and with send- ing two letters to the latter's daughter threatening to destroy the house. Sentence was deferred tiil next assizes, with a view to a home being found for the accused. Christmas hot-pots have become a popular institu- tion at Liverpool, and on Sunday nearly 4,000 hot- pots were distributed from various centres, which it is calculated supplied an excellent Christmas dinner to nearly 20,000 persons. To provide this welcome fare there were prepared fifty-six sides of beef, fifteen tons of potatoes, and over a ton of onions. An inquest was held at Northwich, on Friday after- noon, on the body of Florence Joynson, of Winninc- ton-hill. The deceased lady, a member of an old and highly respectable family, had been much de- pressed of late, after being a victim of influenza. On the 16th inst. she went out into her garden, and cut her throat with a carving-knife. The jury returned a verdict of suicide while temporarily insane. At Scarborough, on Saturday afternoon, a fisher- man, named Charles Coates, aged eighteen, living with his parents at Scarborough, shot himself with a small revolver. The bullet entered his neck, just grazing the windpipe, and he died the next morning. It is said that the deceased was dejected in conse- quence of a former sweetheart being about to be married. A boiler exploded early on Tuesday morning, at the Plicenix Ironworks, Coatbridge, killing two firemen, and seriously injuring three others. A boiler con- nected with the heating apparatus of the Primitive Methodist Chapel, at Kirkby Stephen, also exploded in the morning, and injured two men. A kitchen boiler in a house near Belgrave, Leicester, burst, injuring a womac and a child. On Tuesday afternoon, a dead body was discovered face downward in a ditch adjoining the Low Hall Sewage Farm, Essex. The body was that of a girl, aged between ten and twelve years, about four feet high, with fair hair, dark eyes, and wearing a terra-cotta dress; three petticoats, one white, one striped, and one white flannel; and white apron, in the bib of which was an orange. Thomas Butterfield, a Blackburn butcher in a large way of business, was on Friday fined ZESO -,tiid costs, or three months' imprisonment, for exposing for sale the careasc of a cow which had died of fever. The de- fendant's counsel offered to give 110 to a charity if the conviction was withheld, but the bench said one quarter of the animal had not been found, and the probability was that it had been sold. The British ship Dolbadern Castle, in charge of the chief officer, Mr Jones, arrived at Queenstown on Tuesday evening from Iquique, and reports that Captain Lemaistre committed suicide by jumping overboard on November 13th, in lat. 20 S loiic,. 23". The chief officer immediately threw a lifebuoy to him. but he made no effort to catch it. A boat was lowered, but Lemaistre sank before it reached him. At the Edinburgh High Court of Justiciary, on Friday, seven judges quashed a conviction recently obtained at Paisley against four men on a charge of cock-fighting. A cock was killed during the fight in question, and another injured. Lord Young ex- pressed the opinion tha.t if Parliament had meant to prohibit a sport which L td been so long known and practised, and the name of which was so familiar, it would have done so in plain and unmistakeable language. Expenses were allowed. A shocking death was reported to the Stockport coroner on Tuesday morning. A single woman, named Mary Keaton, aged forty-nine, living in a court off New Zealand-road, Stockport, was found frozen to death in a passage near her home. Her feet were bare and her boots lying close at hand. It is presumed that she took off her boots to get over the slippery ground better, but eventually fell, and being stunned, was frozen to death. A terribly emaciated and feeble woman named Patefield was brought into court at Blackburn on Saturday to support a charge of desertion against her husband. Dr. Howard stated that the woman was dying of consumption, and was utterly destitute. ITe sent her to the relieving officer with a certificate, but that official tore up the paper, remarking that she was able to work and pay her doctor's bill. The magistrate directed an inquiry into the relieving officer's conduct. The World says the list of honors which will appear on New Year's Day is to be of unusual dimensions. Earldoms have been placed at the dis- posal of Lord Carrington and Lord Houghton respec- tively. The grandfather of the Lord Chamberlain would have attained to that dignity if Mr Pitt had lived for six months longer. Lord Aberdeen has been offered a marquisate. Messrs Colman and Stuart Rendelwill each obtain a, baronetcy, and Sir Arthur Hayter is to be made a peer. The coroner for Central London held an inquiry on Friday respecting the death of Edward Cornelius Scanes, nged forty-four, who committed suicide by shooting himself in the Hampstead Cemetery. According to the evidence the deceased, who had been in bad health lately, was found lying across the grave of his first wife, having shot himself in the chest. His head rested on an adjoining grave, which was that of his father. The jury returned a verdict that the deceased committed suicide whilst of unsound mind. The Dowager Duchess of Newcastle has purchased premises at Worthing, formerly occupied by an Anglican sisterhood, the mem hers of which have re- cently been received into the Catholic Church. The premises have been conducted by the sisters as a convalescent home and hospital. Her Grace has entrusted the home to the care of the community of the Sisters of Mercy resident at Bermondsey. The sisters have just entered into possession of the house, and it is hoped that the preparations necessary for receiving patients will be completed aboui," the middle of January. Peter Brannigan was charged at Liverpool, on Tuesday, with the murder of his wife. A constable said that in consequence of what was told him on Sunday morning, he went to a house in Brown-street, and in a back room saw the deceased woman lying naked on a heap of rags, her body being covered with blood and bruises. Brannigan was in the room, and witness arrested him. Prisoner said he knew nothing about the matter. A doctor who was sent for came, and pronounced the woman to be dead. The prisoner, when asked to plead, still said that what he told the police was true. He was remanded. A lady of small independent means, residing fit Ashford, has just been informed through an old. established firm of solicitors that the handsome sum ofJE150,000 has been bequeathed to her for a small act of kindness. It appears that in the spring of 1S88 an old gentleman journeyed from one of the midland counties to London for the express purpose of wit- nessing the arrivals at one of the Drawing Rooms nt Buckinglm111 Palace, and at an early hour took up his position near the main entrance to the Palace. After several hours of deeply interested watching, he bccanie giddy and faint. Seeing him stagger, the crowd shouted rudely that he was drunk. The lady, however, saw that lie was ill, and helped him through the crowd fo it seat in the park close bv. and sent for water for him. He soon recovered, aiid, as she wished him goou-ove, asked her name. She gave him her card, and heard no more until she received the communication that he had made her his heiress. A colored lion tamer, named Joe Foster, hnd a narrow escape at Sunderland on Saturday night. Foster is attached to the Buff Bill menagerie, and part of his performance is to enter the cage of wha.t is advertised as a most ferocious African forest-bred lion. On Saturday night a large number of people had paid for admission to see the beast put through its customary performances. Foster entered the cage, as expccted. and, despite the decided ill-humor of the lion, succeeded in subjecting the animal suffi- ciently to provide a very clever entertainment. When he was turning to leave, however, the animal made a spring, and seized the exhibitor's arm firmly in his iaws. A panic ensued among the spectators. The attendants, evidently prepared for any emergency, I secured several red-hot Dars from a fire close by, and rushed at the animal before it had time to do very much injury. Contact with hot iron caused the animal to relinquish its hold. and Foster was enabled to make good his escape. His hand and arm were badly hurt.

"EDISBURY'S EXTRACT OF MEJLTAND MALT WINE."— The best invalid's nourishment going. Tonic, Digestive, Nourishing. Is 6d per bottle, or by post 2d.—3, RWIl STREET, WREXHAM. 1994

i WELSH AND BORDER NEWS. The Cardiff Junior Liberal Association on Friday night passed a vote of want of confidence in Sir E. Reed. Two platelayers while walking through the tunnel near Bangor, on Saturday, were knocked down by an express train. One of the men was killed outright, and the other was removed to the hospital terribly injured. Thomas Thomas, son of a farmer residing near Llanelly, was arrested on Monday morning on a charge of attempting to murder, on Friday night, a policeman named John Davies, in the employ of the Great Western Railway Company. The prisoner was charged at the police court, and remanded for additional evidence. It appears that Davies was in his cabin at Bynea crossing, and on opening the door, in response to a gentle knock, the contents of a gun were discharged in his face. He, however, miracu- lously escaped, but the cabin was completely shattered. The large lake in front of Eaton Hall was on Tuesday skated over by a distinguished party from the hall, including the Duke of Westminster, the Duke and Duchess of Sutherland, the Marquis and Marchioness of Ormonde, Lady Chesham, Lords Arthur and Gerald Grosvenor, Lady Margaret Gros- venor, the Hon. Charles Cavendish, the Hon. Mr and Mrs Cavendish, Lady Beatrice Butler, Lady Constance Butler, and Mr and Mrs Warburton. The Duke of Westminster and his guests also enjoyed a delightful game of hockey, the ice being in splendid condition. His grace kindly threw the lake open to the public. An inquest was held at Mostyn on the body of Henry Nelson of Bristol, who died suddenly in the Mostyn Hotel. It appeared from the evidence that the deceased was second officer of the steamer Maristow, of Plymouth, which arrived in Mostyn Deeps from Carthagena with iron ore. Next morning deceased went in charge of a boat from the ship to the quay, where he met the captain, to whom he I complained of pains in the chest. The captain took him to the hotel and gave him some brandy, but he became unconscious, and died before medical j assistance could be obtained. The cause of death was stated to be spasms of the heart, and a verdict accordingly was given. Great difficulty has been experienced in the parish' of Penbryn, South Cardiganshire, in the collection of tithes, and the bailiffs have been obliged to enter the lands and homesteads over hedges, a course which the farmers allege to be illegal. About twenty persons, including women and children, assembled on a farlll called Blaenceri on the 7th inst. to protest against an alleged trespass of this kind. At the petty sessions. on Tuesday, six farmers, David Rees, William Rees, Daniel Wrilliams, Samuel Evans, and Evan Rees wcre summoned for unlawful assembly to the terror and alarm of her Majesty's subjects. The Chief Constable (Mr Howell Evans) conducted the case, and Mr S. T. Evans. M.P., barrister, appeared for the defence. After a hearing which lasted six hours, the Bench decided that the charge of unlawful assembly had not been proved, but bound the defendants over to keep the peace towards the bailiff for twelve months, themselves in S25, and one surety each in JE1 An inquest was held at Rhyl on Tuesday concerning the death of an infant named Elizabeth Charlton, daughter of the licensee of the Swan Inn. As soon as the coroner (Mr Davies) entered the room, a juryman shouted: Late again, Mr Coroner! The Coroner The coroner is not late, there! The coroner was there in time. The Juror: Late again, sir! The Coroner: I was not late. The Juror: A gentle- man here is anxious to get away to Prestatyn. The Coroner: Go to Prestatyn, then As the coroner was administering the oath, another juryman re- marked This book might have smallpox! (A laugh.) The Coroner (warmly): I don't care for that; what have I to do with that ? The mother of the deceased gave evidence to show that the child had died in the night. Before summing up, a juryman asked if a doctor had visited the child after death; whereupon the coroner exclaimed: And supposing he did ? You ought to know that a man can't give the cause of death without having seen the body. The Juror Can in most cases. The Coroner Certainly not; he can only guess, the same as you and I can. Another juror: What is the doctor's opinion ? The Coroner The doctor has not seen the child he has no opinion; I told you before. The doctor can't have any opinion. The Foreman of the Jury: Have you finished? The Coroner: I have finished; yes! The foreman then announced the verdict of the jury, Natural causes." The fourth annual Chester Christmas Eisteddfod was held in the Music Hall. Chester, on Monday, and was more successful than any of its predecessors. The chair at the afternoon meeting was occupied by Mr B. C. Roberts, and the hall was crowded in every part. The chief choral event of the day was a contest for a prize of X20 and an oak chair, the test piece being Now the impetuous torrents rise," by Jenkins. Choirs from Carnarvon, Cefnmawr, and Dolgelley entered the lists, and the contest was a most keen one, the Carnarvon Choir, conducted by Mr J. Cotterill, being awarded the prize by the adjudicator, Mr Emlyn Evans, amid loud cheering. A contest open to choirs whose mem bers belonged to one congre- gation resul-ed in an easy win for the Northgate Congregational Choir, Chester, conducted by Mr R. Knowles. Both the prizes offered for translations into Welsh and into English were won by Mr Griffith Jones, of the Nantgyln Board Schools, Denbigh. The prize for Englynion,a peculiar form of Welsli poetry, was divided between Mr J. R. Jones, of Gerallt, and a competitor who sent in the nom de plume of Naturiol." Mr James Jones, of Marcus-street, Carnarvon, won the prize for the tenor solo, and Mr Edward Jones, of Lodge, near Wrexham, was the winner in the baritone competition. Master Howell Thomas, of Exton Park, Parkgate-road, Chester, a frequent prize-winner, took the first prize for the Welsh recitation. The evening meeting was presided over by the Mayor of Chester. In the current issue of the Geninen," the Venerable Archdeacon Howell has an article on the Vitality of the Welsh Language," in which he says :—Will it be said that it would he better for Wales if there was but one language, and that the language of law, of science, of commerce, and of the richest literature in the world ? Such a question proceeds on the assumption that a knowledge oL Welsh is essentially antagonistic to the knowledge of English, and that those who desire the cultivation of Welsh desire the exclusion of English. Against such an assumption it is humiliating to have to protest. t contend that the knowledge of two living languages, side by side, is quite compatible with the due cultiva- tion of both. Not only so, but the knowledge of two languages, which will henceforth be perfectly feasible throughout the Principality, will, in their reflex influence on each other, be helpful in acquiring a mastery of either or both. It is stated on high authority that the bilingual sections of Europe are I among the most intelligent, enterprising, and pro- I gressive, and that when a people retain their own language, their morals are superior to the morals of those who have become amalgamated with other nations. Certain is it that those portions of the Principality where Englsh exclusively prevails, such as South Pembrokeshire and East Radnorshire, do not compare ovor favourably in their intellectual activity, enterprise, and social progress with the bilingual parts of Wales. Besides, it must not be forgotten that language is not a mere vehicle of thought, or an instrument of trade. It is in a sense the embodiment of a nation's mental history, and the expression of national characteristics. Therefore, for a nation to lose its language is to lose that which is an important part of itself. Not only so, but it must never be forgotten that the Welsli language is admittedly one of the richest of all the ancient languages of the world. It claims close affinity with Sanscrit, Greek, and Latin. It is pre-eminently rich in root words. Dr. Owen-Hughes' Welsh-English dictionary is said to contain 80,000 words; and the dictionary of Canon Silvan Evans, now in course of publication, will contain 10,000 more. This speaks highly of the resources of our language, especially when the reader is reminded that Webster's English dictionary contains only some 43,566 words. Nor is this all, for while two-fifths of the English language is made up of foreign elements, the Welsh dictionary is almost wholly made up of native words. And, surely, such a language is worth cultivating, and it would be a loss to the world if it were to be relegated to the limbo of dead tongues. A meeting, presided over by Professor J. Morris Jones, M.A., Bangor, was held at Llanfair P.G., Anglesey, under the auspices of the local branch of the Young Wales Society, when Mr T. E. Ellis, M.P., delivered a lecture on Some of the Duties of Young Welshmen." Mr Ellis said there were important duties incumbent upon young people of WTales, but he was nctoingto speak upon philospiiical and moral duties, only a, few simple duties that should be heIr.. Lcr~>re them as a society. The first duty was to Ld yorng, and the second duty to be Welshmen. Oiit- -iiglit say that the young could not help being young. Yes, they could; he knew of young people who were more inactive and worthless than others sixty years of age. They should do when young what the Providence of Heaven expected them to do. They should be ardent and devoted. They could not expect a man crushed down by the cares of the world and disappointed to be ardent, but they had a right to expect the young to be so, and if they were not they were not doing their duty. The lazy man, and the one who spent his time and money on worthless things, or things worse than worthless, were not doing their duty. The men who worked at sixty- five years of age, or even at eiglity-fi,c-(clieers)- were those who had done so when young. But to be ardent and devoted in themselves were not enough. He took it for granted that they should be so in the most sacred circles, that of the family and that of the church, and lie would not speak upon them. One duty of the young was to trim and brighten the weapons with which they would have to fight the battles of life. The most important of these weapons was the brain. The best wav to develope this, was to associate with the best minds of the age. Many people greatly aspired to move in what was called society," but any man or woman might associate with the best and most cultured minds of the age by investing £10 in books. This would be a better investment for people, and for their children, and for the neighbourhood, than any bank investment, and surely better than investment in a building society. The third duty he would mention was to be active; to read, study, and consider well, so that they would bear fruit through life. Some talent had been given to everyone to one, music to another, to teach children to a third, to write well and clearly and to another, to take part in elevating his country and in opposing every injustice. There was some duty ready at the door of everyone if they would be faithful to perform it. There were duties which rested upon them not only as young people, but as Welshmen, and the chairman had referred to one of them, namely. to be zealous and ardent for Cymro, Cymru, a Chymraeg" (for the IVel-hiiiaii, Wales, and the Welsh language.) Having referred to the History of Wales by Mr O. M. Edwards, and the importance for WTelshmen of study- ing the history of their own country, he reviewed the history of Wales under the Welsh princes, and attributed their heroism to their love of their language, their country, and their nation. In con- clusion, he urged the importance of public libraries in country districts, and that young people should take part in all the political, social, and religious questions and controversies in their district. (Ap. plause. )

I WELSH AND BORDER NEWS. I The Lord Chancellor has appointed Mr Robert Roberts, a workman in a local foundry, to be a borough I magistrate for Carnarvon. Mr Peacock, brother-in-law to Mr R. D. Dixon, of Rhyl, at a meeting of the Rhyl Boys' P>rigade, pre- sented £100 for the purpose of assisting in the estab- lishment of a boys' club for Rhyl in connection with the brigade. Mr Llewfwr Thomas, the sub-commissioner ap- pointed under the Commission of Labor on Wednes- day, held a sitting at Pwllheli, and evidence was given by farmers and others interested in the inquiry. Complaints are made that inadequate publicity is- given as to the nature and scope of the inquiry. The Home Secretary has instructed the Bridgend superintendent of police to send out an officer to bring back from Spain James Loveluck, late secre- tary of the Aberavon Building Society, who is accused of defrauding that association of sums amounting to from £ 15,000 to £ 20.000. The accused is at present in custody at Barcelona. I At a Clmir Eisteddfod held in the Public Hall, Colwyn Ra), -n Monday, prizes for poetry, prose, music, and -t were awarded to Miss Rowlands, Llanrwst Mr Jones and Miss M'Lenient, Ponmaen- mawr; Mr Jones, Blaenau Festiniog; Mr Jones, Maesygroes Miss Carrie Jones and R. Parry. Daisy Bank; Engedi Juvenile Choir, Miss Owen, Miss Maggie Owen, IJodwrog, Meignant, Carnarvon. In the chief choral competition, two choirs competing. the prize was awarded to the Llanrwst Choir. At the evening meeting the prize winners were T. R. Jones Llztiirwst Edwin Jones, Llaneilan and Benne Jones, Bangor. Other competitions followed, the chair prize and ceremony taking place at the end of the meeting. At Holyhead on Wednesday, John Thomas. Portsmouth, was charged by Sergeant Owen Jones, with obtaining money by means of false pretences. On Saturday, prisoner went to Bodlondeb-terrace, and showed to Mrs Learmoutli a letter purporting to have been written by Mr J. R. Edwards, printer, Holyhead, to the effect that the prisoner was a bookbinder by trade,, and had been in his employ for seven years; that he was an honest and industrious man, but was out of work and had a large family destitute at Holyhead. Mr Edwards had not written the letter, neither did he know the man. On the strength of this letter Mrs Learmouth gave him what she thought was a sixpenny-piece, but she afterwards discovered it was half a sovereign. After being arrested, the prisoner admitted that he himself had written the letter. He was sentenced to three months' imprisonment with hard labour. At Chester County Court, Martin Wright, of Little Saughall, was sued by John Ellison, of Mickle Trafford, for S5 10s, damages for trespass. Mr Chnrton represented the plaintiff, and Mr Brassey defended. Defendant's mother, it appeared, owned a favorite mare which suffered from spinal complaint, and which she consented to part with only oil the condition that it should be shot. He son Enoch, however, sold the animal to a Mr Bromley, at a Mickle Trafford public-house, for 15s, and Bromley afterwards disposed of it to the plaintiff Ellison. Defendant, being sent by his mother to make arrange- ments for the mare being destroyed, found it in a field at Mickle Trafford, and drove it home, this act constituting the alleged trespass. Mr Graham, veterinary surgeon, Chester, described the condition of the animal as such that anyone working it would be liable to prosecution. Its only value was its slaughter-house price.—His Honor held that Enoch Wright had no right to sell the mare, and gave judg- ment for defendant. Mr Ellison thought he had a good bargain, but now he must be satisfied that he had not, because he might have been prose- cuted for working the animal in an unfit state.— McKie v. Bellfield was an action remitted by the High Court for trial before Judge Lloyd, wherein the plaintiff, an auctioneer, of Oswestry, sought to recover from the defendant, a Nantwich cattle dealer, the sum of X74, being the difference in value of uncleared lots at a second sale sold to the defendant at a first sale in December, 1891. Mi J. P. Cartwright repre- sented the plaintiff. The defendant, for whom Mr W hittingham, of Nantwich, appeared, denied buying any of the lots, and said the transaction was not within the statute of fraud, or, in the alternative, if he did buy at all, pleaded that he was so drunk he did not know what he was about. Mr Cartwright touched upon the main features of the case in his opening, and called three witnesses. At six o'clock His Honor said it was clear the case was too long to be got through that night, and it was accordingly adjourned. On Wednesday, at Bangor, Mr H. Llovd Carter applied under 9 George IV., sec. 14, for the grant of a licence to John Williams, the tenant of the Man- chester Arms, Upper Bangor. The case occupied a long hearing, and has been previously before the Court. The original holder of the licence was Mrs Ottley, who died in June. At the annual licens- ing session, in August there was no application for a transfer, and the licence, as admitted by a clerk of the court, in the pressure of work, was inadvertently renewed in Mrs Ottley's name. Finding that an error had been committed, the sanction of two justices was obtained to an alteration being made in the certificate, the name of the daughter being substituted for that of the mother, a similar substitution being made in pencil in the register of licences kept by the court. The daughter was subsequently proceeded against for selling with- out a licence, the contention being that as the certificate had been issued in the name of a dead person it was void. The summons, however, was dis- missed, not upon its merits, but because the bench held that the proper mode of procedure should have been by certiorari. Miss Ottley having disposed of her business to the present tenant, application was made for the licence to be in his name.—Mr David Owen, in opposing the application, submitted that the court had no power in the matter. There was no existing valid licence, as the renewal in the name of a dead person rendered the licence a nullity, and no amount of "peddling" or any desire to gratify Miss Ottley could revive it. The two justices ought to have made the alteration in open court, and, if done at all, it should be by a majority of the Bench.—Mr Llovd Carter, in reply, submiticd that tlio ontrv in the register of the court showed that the daughter was a licence holder, and commented upon the fact that there was no complaint against the house or the applicant.—The Bench, by a majority, granting the application, Mr Owen said that he should apply for a case on the contention that the magistrates had no jurisdiction to deal with the case. the licence having expired on October 10th. Exception would also be taken to the Mayor (Mr W. A. Dew), and the Ex- Mayor (Major Savage), having adjudicated upon the application. The Rev. T. Lloyd Williams, organising secretary of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel', has addressed the following letter to Mr Lloyd George, M.P. Dear sir,—In a Liberal paper you are reported to have said, at a disestablishment meeting at Shrewsbury, last week, that the Liberal movement had never had a better friend than the Bishop of St. Asaph,' and that the Bishop was a great man at making accusations and statements which were libels on his countrymen.' So that, according to your theory, the man who would be a friend of the Liberal movement must be 'a great man at making accusations and statements which are libels on his countrymen.' I wonder what Mr Gladstone and other sober-minded Liberals would think of such an admission, but that it is a correct definition of your conception of a Liberal member of Parliament I can quite believe. But when you pro- ceed to describe the Bishop as a gross and infamous libeller,' I beg to enter a strong protest, ani further I am compelled to say that your charge is as untrue as it is uncharitable, and I challenge you, in the in- terest and in the name of pub'ic morality, to bring forth proof. I have no intention of wasting many words on this matter, or to indulge in that language which you have so abundantly at your command, and in which you revel without a rival in IV, ztles, but I do solemnly ask you :-(I) Do you think that this language is to your credit, and to the credit of our countrymen ? (2) Do you think that it will affect the Bishop of St. Asaph in the smallest degree, or his reputation as a controversialist ? 3—Do you think that your countrymen are so blind that assertion is equivalent to argument, and that raving and reasoning are synonymous terms with them ? The man who thinks so deserves, if anyone deserves, to be described in the language of which yon may claim a monopoly. 4-Do you not think that to call an opponent a gross and infamous libeller is a sign of weakness and not of strength— the outcome of impotence ? 5-Do you not think— and this is my sole object in writing-that such language as this is at once demoralising and degrad- ing to our country, and is it likely to elevate us in the eyes of other nations ? Welshmen on all sides say no—it is wanting in the most elementary ethics of eivilsation, to say nothing of Christianity. We have not quite forgotten the unfortunate language—better not repeated—which you used about the Church in Mr Spurgeon's Tabernacle, and the unfounded charges about the beer boothsat the Church Congress at Hhyl, when the editor of the Os;tv,xh->/ Advertiser,a, strong Liberal, had the courage to confess that we are disappointed as well as ashamed at such displays and to repeat a baseless story is conduct that almost fills us with dismay,' &-c. But the charge which you have now brought against the Bishop of St. Asaph, I venture to think, is more base- less still, and as yon are in the habit, I believe, of passing over inconvenient and awkward questions, I take the liberty of addressing my protest througn the press.— Yours truly, T. LLOYD WILLIAMS, Wrexham, Decem- ber 23rd, 1892."

TRAP ACCIDENT AT RUABON. I A serious accident befell the Rev. Chessyr Walker, chaplain to Sir Watkin Williams Wynn. The rev. ircntleman had recently purchased a spirited horse, and intended driving to the Ruabon station on Tues- day morning. The coachman experienced great difficulty in putting the animal into the shafts, and as soon as the rev. gentleman was seated, the horse darted off, and the man was at once thrown, and luckily escaped uninjured. The animal continued to gallop at a high speed, which caused great alarm in the neighbourhood of Rhosymedre. Several of the cottagers were terrified, seeing the great danger of the occupant of the trap, and expected every moment to see the vehicle upset. The rev. gentleman pluckily stuck to the reins, but all his efforts to stop the horse in its wild career were useless, and when turning the corner near Park Side the trap came in contact with a. heap of road scrapings, and it was upset, Mr Walker being pitched out some yards off, alighting on his head. Assistance was soon at hand, and the rev. gentleman, who was bleecling profusely, and in an unconscious state, was carried to the residence of Mr Lay cock, when Dr. Jones WM soon in attendance. Dr. Roberts was also ealled in, and the unfortunate gentleman was conveyed to his home. Dr. Roberts and Dr. Wrilliams, Wrexham, saw the patient on Wednesday morning, and found that he had passed a fairly good night, and had slightly regained his faculties, and considering the serious nature of the injuries, the rev. gentleman's condition is considered satisfactory. Amongst those who called soon after the accident were Lady Williams Wynn, Canon Edwards, Rev. J. H. Malyn. &c.

+ I CHLORO-LINSEED Cough Lozenges, pc?t free I 7d. Of Chemista. 2414

The damage caused by the fire at the Phoenix Collisry, St. Helens, is estimated at a little short of zEI,000, and is not covered by insurance. The inquiry relative to the disaster at the Bam- furlong Colliery, near Wrigan, conclnded. The jury found the deaths were accidental, adding that the boy liowley was not competent to take charge of the engine. Mr Thomas Burt, M.P., was on Saturday,-at New- castle, entertained by the Northumberland miners to a banquet, and presented with an address in recognition of his appointment to the Parliamentary Secretary- ship of the Board of Trade. Mr Burt stated that Mr Gladstone had assured him that something would be done to increase th-3 usefulness of the Labor Dcpart- mcnt, and that there was a probability of the way being paved for conciliation and arbitration in labor dispiues. Mr Burt, however, declared that com- pulsory arbitration was not possible. Tife torthcoming miners- congress [says the London Dai1;/ C'!iroiii< !e) in Birmingham wili have Home very momentous business before them. We believe it is the intention of the Miners' Federation of Great Britain to lay before the conference a proposal for taking national action on the wages question, either mpon the lines of a cessation from work like that which occurred last spring, only over a much larger area, or else a national strike, in which all the miners of Great Britain shall take part, in order to bring back wages to the standard of 1830. Whether this is done will of course depend upon the action of Northumberland and Scotland, but it is certain that the action of the federation in maintaining the wages of their own men has met with the approval of Durham and South Wales, where considerable reduc- tions have been enforced. COED TAmx COLLIERY.—The employes en-aged at this colliery are under notice. This step lias been necessitated owing to a very serious water difficulty in the workings. It is to be honed that matters will shortly be righted, and that the colliery will soon be able to resume its wonted appearance.

BRITISH COAL ABROAD. I German colliery proprietors are, it seems, a trifle disgusted that in spite of the many natural advan- tages which their country possesses, they cannot make headway against British coal. During a recent discussion of the Marine Budget in the Italian Par- liament, Signor Rnbiui, who must surely be either a zealous pliilo-Teuton, or a shareholder in German mines, spoke in favor of the utilisation of the Prussian mineral by the Navy. Signor Brill, however, as representing the Government, while not denying that German coal might with advantage be used by the Italian Marine, was of the opinion that it was not advisable under the circumstances to chancel the existing arrangement, which calls for the steady maintenance of large stocks of English fuel, as he did not believe that Prussia had a sufficient number of railway-wagons on hand wherewith to supply Italy with the necessary despatch in the event of an outbreak of war. So that the matter may be said to be disposed .of for the present, and British coalniasters may once more breathe with their accustomed freedom. Beyond doubt, German mine owners have been ruthlessly disappointed in their hopes of the benefits which the opening of the St. Gothard Tunnel was to confer upon them in respect of the coal import trade of the southern peninsular State. Another country, further- more, in which they arc continually, and with increas- ing unsuccess, baLtiing with English oonipetition is Holland. We learn that during the first nine months of the present year the Dutch import of coal from Germany exhibited a diminution of 86,000 tons in comparison with the equivalent period of 1891. This falling-off is attributed both to the existence of syndi- cates in Prussia and to ever-developing British enter- prise. An example of the disfavor with which con- sumers in Holland view industrial conventions is to be found in the case of the Netherland Railways, the most important Dutch purchasers of Rhenish-West- plialian coal, which, as a reprisal against the exaction of a fixed price, have in view of the promulgation on April 1st, 1983, of a measure which will considerably curtail certain freight allowances with German col- liery-proprietors at present enjoy, and which will therefore further reduce the import of coal over the eastern border, and correspondingly augment the quantity of the mineral to be obtained from Great Britain.—Iron.

THE NATIONAL CONFERENCE OF MINERS. A special conference of miners will be held at Birmingham during the second week in January, to consider the Eight Hours Bill and the general wage question. The conference has been called by the Miners' Federation, who have invited all mining dis- tricts in the United Kingdom to attend, for the purpose of giving an opportunity to all miners to attend and state their views for and against an eight hours for miners by legal enactment, as it has been generally stated by the opponents of the Mines Eight Hours Bill, that there was neither time nor oppor- tunity to debate this important question at the Trades Union Congress." Of even more importance than the Eight Hours Bill, will be the consideration of the general wage question. The wages of miners have been steadily falling in Northumberland, Dur- ham, and South Wales during the year, and it is well known that the Miners' Federation are prepared to make very determined efforts to maintain the exist- ing rate of wages. If any national agreement should be arrived at on the wage question, it would be of the very highest importance. The other questions on the agenda are the MKes Amendment Bill and employers' liability. The national conference will be followed by the annual conference of the Miners' Federation, the largest of the miners' organisations, and which has been strengthened during the year by the accession of the Durham miners. The agenda of the federation conference embraces the questions of the Coal Mines Amend- ment Bill, Eight Hours' Bill, the appointment of a Minister of Mines, Royalty Rents, weekly pay, and the abolition of Billy Fairplays. On the Coal Alines Amendment Bill, the Nottingham Association will move That in the calling of juries not less than one person out of every three composing the jury shall be practical miners, or have been practical miners." Yorkshire will move That some means be adopted to keep unskilled labor out of mines," and that miners shall in future have better ventilation, by shafts being sunk every mile and by drifts being driven instead of overcast for the carrying of air." Durham will propose the insertion of a clause to compel the Government inspector, after making his inspection at a colliery to forward his report of such inspection to the workmen of the colliery affected within six days of such inspection. The Lancashire and Cheshire will propose that the federation press the Eight Hours Bill upon the new Government with unabated vigor; that, as in the past, every means be used for petitioning Parliament, writing and seeing members, deputations, 6-c., until the Bill becomes law." The highly contentious question of royalty rents is raised by Durham, who have given notice of a motion That we seek to have royalty rents and wayleaves greatly reduced or abolished." Yorkshire will propose the removal of pans, rakes, and riddles for miners. Durham also proposes the general adoption of weekly pays. The proceedings of the conference will continue over the entire week.

WELSH GIRLS' SCHOOL, ASHFORD. I The prizes and certificates, gained during the winter term at this school, were distributed on Dec. 21st by the Very Rev. the Dean of St. Asaph. The prize-winners were as follows Form VI.—Prayer-book (presented by the Very Rev. Dean of St. Asaph)—1, Gertrude Thomas, Beguildy; 2 (by Rev. J. S. Brownrigg), Hannah Judd, of Brynmawr; Holy Scripture, Charlotte Walters, Newport (Men.); English, Agnes M. Edwards, Oswestry arithmetic, Amy Persis Lewis Llanfyrnach; mathematics, Agnes M. Edwards, Oswestry French, E. Charlotte Jones, Bristol Latin, Gertrude Thomas, Beguildy drawing, Flor- ence Charles, Abergavenny. Form Upper V.—Holy Scripture, Edith Williams, Berriew English, Amy LJoyd. Berriew; mathematics, Elizabeth Parker, Chester; French, Annie Fulford, Penybont; Latin, Lilian May, London; German, Gertrude Parry, Portdinorwic needlework, Geral- dine Miiner, Cardiff. Form V.—Holy Scripture, Helen M. Roberts, Wrexham; English, Helen M. Walkins, Aber- gavenny; mathematics, Violet May, London; French, Annie Roberts, Rhayader Latin, Mary Thomas, Machynlleth German, Rose Price, Machynlleth drawing, Jane Williams, Newborough; needlework, Kate Morgan. Brccon. Form IV. liolv Scripture, Sydnah Edwards, Llanbrvnmair; English, Agnes Morgan, Brecon; mathematics, Margaret Judd, Brynmawr French, Margaret Williams, Hay Latin, Elizabeth Lewis, Abergavenny; German, Margaret Brecse, Llanidloes drawing. Madsre Cadman, Christ Church; needle- work, Lilv Deuner, Abergavenny. Form frI.-Holy Scripture, Helen M. Thomas, St. Fagan's English, Patty Matthews, Knighton arithmetic, Winifred Davies, Llaneigan French, Sybil Oates, Clapham drawing, Beatrice Williams, Shepherd's Bush needlework, Annie Evans, Rhay- ader. Form II.—Holy Scripture, Sarah Franc's, Ken- sington English, Dorothy Harris, Penarth arith- metic, Gladys May, London French Mary L Evans, Newport, Pern. drawing, Mary Drinkwater, Llangollen needlework, Frances Hall, Brecon. Form I.-Iloly Scripture, Gwenifur Jones, Aber- fran English, Josephine Brown, Aldershot arith- metic, Winifred Wilson, Shotley French. Nora I Thomas, Aberdare drawing, Eveline Maxwell, Llangollen. Music prizes—Piano. Amy L!oyd, Barriew Gwen- lliis.il Williams, Brecon Oetavia Hughes, Llandiio. Singing, Ethel Jane Griffiths. Dolgelley. Violin.. 1, Oetavia Hughes; 2, Beatrice Gittins, Newtown. Certificates of Associated Board of Royal College of Music and Royal Academy of Music, singing, Ethel Jane Griffiths, of Dolgelley piano, S. G. Williams, Brecon. Twenty-one pupils gained scholar's certificates of the London Institute for the advancement of plain needlework. A selection of music was played by the school orchestra, and after the prize giving, the sa.cred cantata, Betlilohem," was well-rendered by the chorus.

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I LITERARY NOTICES & REVIEWS, THE SUnDAY AT HOME.—This well-known publica tion contains many articles, all of which are of ar- high class. The life of .John Macgregor (Rob Roy) is very interesting, and will he generally i-end. LITTLE FOLKS.—This popular magazine «iiiircnce» a new volume with the January number. Two capital serials have been begun, while the articles and complete tales are good. The illustrations are clever, and the list of prizes is a long and very &1itractive one. LKISUKI: HOUR.—In the January number of this magazine, Stanley Weyman's A Little Wizard contains a most interesting portrait of Cromwell. Edward W hymper contributes a first p"lr on Ascents in the Himalayas." Who killed the Pea- cock is a most amusing story. VJ.U.I .—Among a large number of articles wiicli are sure to find readers, we must particularly men tion the second instalment of -1 The Artistic Lite of Louisa; Pvne." by Ruth Lamb. It is very interesting,- and it is gratifying to note that this is not to he the last one. The minuet by Myles B. Foster is a dainty eomposiii n. and deserves to Le popular. Tin: EXIMSITOUY Ti-.ii.Tlie January number of this publication, of which the Rev. James Hastings, M.A., is the Editor, and Messrs T. and T. Clark, 38,. George-street, Edinburgh, the publishers, contains a large number of articles, some critical, and others ex- pository. The dili0en: reader of this extremely valuable journal is constantly kept well informed upon the Higher Criticism and all subjects which it behoves a minister of religion and a student of scripture to know. The price is only 6d. per month. DICKTSXS' Howe A, Co., Pater- noster Pow, London, E.C have published Dickens' "Christmas Carol." with three of Leech's drawings, for one penny. At such a price, of course, one is not expected to be very fastidious as to printing and paper, but neither give came for complaint. We notice Messrs Howe & Co. intend publishing at the same price—one pellnY-lt number of complete tales by well known writers. It is pleasant to think that there mast of course be a dem:md for this kind of literature. Biiv s Ov,—The January number of the Boy's Own Paper (56, Paternoster-row) contains more of Talbot Baincs Reed s story, Tom, Dick, and Harry, and most interesting and amusing it is becoming. David Ker is working up "Unseen Depths," and "The Smuggler's Beacon" is verv good. Amcegst the articles are The Boy 's Own Model Fire Escape." "Common-sense about Stam- mering," Homes for Working Boys in London," C-uriositiert-of Cricket iu 18921" a.nd "A B C of Conjuring." There is a capital colored plate, After Culloden." CHUMS.—The third part of Cassell's book for boys, Chums," is full of the reading boys delight in. For (.Uory and Renown" is brought within sight of a happy finish. "The Haunted House at Hoe," by E. Everett Green, is commenced, and a school tale by Barry Pain is promised. Since the last report, Llyases has spent a day in a signal-box, been through the London sewers, visited a dynamite factory, and tried to learn boxing. A short article oil public school cxicket of 1892 is accompanied by some capital photographs. The short stories are numerous and exciting. l utiies which COWPKR.—One of those dainty little voiumea which came last of all from Messrs Macmillan & Co.'s Press in the Golden Treasury series is a selection from the poems of Cowper. The editress is Mrs Oliphant, who also contributes an introduction, which is a just and critical estimate of the Poet's writings and of his position among his feilow poets. Mrs Oliphant, as everyone knows who have read her writings, is widely read, and has-a. judgment which can be relied upon. Her introduction is a most appropriate prelude to the poems. The selection is a careful one and many, through this book, will renew their acquaintance with Cowper with increased pleasure. The price of the book is 2s. 6d; TIHE ONVSK.—The two serial stories, The Manager of Manston Mills" and "The Wilful Willoughby." .ire continued in the January number of The Quiver," and increasing interest is infused into the narratives. Professor John Stuart Blackie contributes some lines upon Old Age, which, coming from an octogenarian, have appropriateness. They are full of a tine vigor not always associated with the period of life which they sing. The Rev. E. J. Hardy commences it, series of articles headed In the Foot- prints of St. Paul." They are largely geographical, and have illustrations which are well drawn. The month's number of this popular magazine has a high standard. THK Cortaiui'OLITAN.—The December number of this American magazine is just to hand, and, as we have said of the numbers previously received, it is very interesting. There are two engravings from paintings by Pierre Fritel and Anton Dietrich, which are wonderfully good. Sir Edwin Arnold's paper upon A Japanese Watering Place," is so charming, that it must surely induce many who have the time and the money, to visit this inleiesting land. Mr Arthur liornblow upon French Journalists and Journalism," gives much valuable information, which just ciiiiei very timely for those who are follow- ing affairs on the other side of the channel. The paper upon Lord Tennyson, by Mr Geo. Stewart, is full of interest, and this, like the other articles, is copiously illustrated. The story My Son Absolom," by Miss ;) Judith Laird, is an intensely dramatic one, for it describes the sensations of a mother prior to the execution of her son. The subject is, one should have thought, too sacred for publicity, but it is.. written with intense power. We cordially commend this magazine, which is one of the best which comes from America, and that is saying much. The adver- tisemcnts. to us, are by no means the least interest- ing part of the publication. CASS,:J.I. s FAMILY MAGAZINE.—This magazine, now so greatly enlarged, is more delightful than ever. The serial and complete stories are good, while the miscellaneous papers are excellent. Mr Alfred S. Robbins contributes the first of a series of papers, entitled In Parliament Assembled." It is very interesting, and some of the illustrations being by F.C.G., they are full of ability, combined in no small degree with good-natured fun. The article, entitled Fortunes in Faces is very readable, and the following is an extract from it May the luck of the Gunnings attend you!' was the blessing of an Irish beggar man in Dublin and the ejaculation passed into a proverb. The luck of the Gunnings had reference to the extraordinary social career of Maria and Elizabeth, daughters of J. Gunning, Esq., County Roscommon, Ireland. They were countessed and double-duchessed,' Maria marrying the Earl of Coventry, and Elizabeth taking for her first husband the Duke of Hamilton, and for her second the Duke of Argyle. The father of these girls died, leaving his widow and daughters unprovided for. So poor were they that when the two beauties were presented at the Vice-regal Court in Dublin it was in clothes which their mother had borrowed for the occasion from & friend, the manager of the Theatre Royal."

BROXTON PETTY SESSIONS. TUESDAY.—Befoio Messrs J. Hurleston Leche (in the chair), G. Barbour. R. O. Orton, R. Howard, J. Howard, Hugh Aldersey, and the Rev. C. Woiley- Dod. CHRISTMAS GSESE. Thomas Smith, a young farm laborer, in custody,, was charged with stealing two geese, value 3Qs, be- longing to Thomas Johnson, farmer, Bulkeley. The geese, which had been fed for Christmas, were missed from a cote, and prosecutor suspected the prisoner, who was formerly in his employment, When arrested and charged by P.C. Woodrow, he said I am inno- cent of that. and I can prove it." There were a nam- her of footprints near the gate, but it was hardly possible to identify them, as the boots which produced them had evidently been wrapped up in bags—The prisoner denied all knowledge of the affair, and no. trace was found of the missing geese.—He was dis- charged. A LIVERPUDLIAN AND HIS REVOLVER. William John Smith, of Mount Vernon-street,. Liverpool, was summoned, at the instance of the Inland Revenue authorities, for carrying a revolver without a licence. Joeseph Davies, tailor, of Barton, deposed to meeting the defendant on the higlnvav near Barton on the 24th September, with a revolver in his hand, a shot having been fired a few minutes previously.—Sergeant. Bennett saw defendant a. little later, and asked him for the revolver. He was in drink, and resisted search, but the officer ultim-, ately found the revolver and a box of cartridges in his coat tail pocket.—Fined 10s and costs. ASSAULT. Charles B. Beach, a vouii- farmer, living at Horton^ summoned Thomas Lightfoot, laborer, for assault. The evidence was to the effect that on the 18th Dec, Beach was met on returning from church by the de- fendant, who struck him three violent blows on the head with a stick-He was fiiied ZI and 17s 6cl costs, the Chairman characterising the assault as a. most brutal oiie.-Siiiiulttneotisly with this case, the Bench heard a summons brought against Beacli by Henry Lightfoot, brother of the last defendant, for assaulting him on tht 27th November.—Beach ad- mitted striking the lad with a a stick on the thigh in an angry moment, but said he had suffered great annoy- ance through young Lightfoot throwing open the gates on his farm. Ordered to pay costs.

———— HOPE WHISPERS. Sergeant Cooper made a capital recruiting speech at the cricket supper. Thank goodness, that school at Rliydtalog is merely Tho baseless fabric of a dream." Promotion is agitating the minds of our local Volunteers. Many have accepted the invitations sent out for our Volunteer ball. Tlie-;« is still much juvenile sickness in our midst. Dr. E. Pin Jones' lecture on The Land for the People was strong meat. It would have injured the digestive organs of the most robust of our local Conservatives. The waits organised by the Free Church Metho- diets was very successful. The carol-singing sounded very sweetly in the midnight frosty air. Tais vigorous little church evidently intends to pay its. way. In looking back at the year 1892-we had almost said a "retrospect of the future "-iu.-iny events have occurred to disturb the calm of our rural life. Not the least of these were Parliamentary, Couaty Council, and School Board elections. Agricultural depression, too, has ha.d a leading place in the minds of our farmers. Let us hope the tide will turn this New Year.

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