South Wales Echo

I SOUTH WALES TIDE TABLE. I CARDIFF* SWANSEA.f NISWPOK'lt May [—— Mor.jEvn.jHgt. Mor.jEv«.|Hgt.jMor.jEvu |H(»t. 21 M 7 56! 8 15 32 3 7 11 7 18 30 ll 9 8 28 32 8 22 T 8 33! 8 5031 5' 7 36' 7 5329 9 8 46 9 331 10 23 W 9 6! 92330 8! 8 lH 8 3028 11 919 9 3631 1 24 T 9 39! 9 5929. 1 8 49 9 1027 6 9 5210 1230 0 25 F110 1910 3528 319 29 9 49 26 010 32 10 48 28 8 26 SjlO 5511 1527 110 1010 3325 311 811 2827 6 27 Sill 41] ,26 210 5811 23 24 811 54. 26 7 28 Ml 0 10! 0 42 25 1011 51 — 124 8 0 23' 0 5526 3 tli Basin, tPrince of Wales Dk. tAlexandra Dk.

TO ADVERTISERS. The South Wales Echo is GUARANTEED to have a Larger Circulation than that of ALL the other Evening Papers of Wales and Mor added toget1 vi'KK fiar .«}• j Jik -IV ALES IN 1% OA "j< 4   OAKDIFF ^TO it .K r

1 t Town. ,} ]S :> r-M- n ^9^ of i the poet. sb*x=py,t wits, surpn oigbfc, i when Mr i W. T. t1cn, The arg and the. We hav can argut such < bitterness ( -ivrro-v I do not me n to attack rn a bigotry of i dangerous an .Ltig th"\ll the bigotry of ..LCn. The reason- ing, for inst; -oe, of the old school of freethinkers shocked the unbeliever no less than the Christian. Even those who are compelled to doubt the divinity of Christ claim an equal adoration of His character and amazement at His genius. I have often heard sound divines say that they never fully realised the miracle of Christ's life, never saw His figure clearly, never compre- hended His wonderful nature till they read the Life of Christ which Renan wrote, to the everlasting glory of literature. Reverence knows no party and scorns a prejudice and there is an infidel reverence which com- mands respect if it disturbs our equanimity and shocks our faith. And see what a vast chant the spirit of theological con' nob simply aalc that we oho, mind to those far-off days when unbelief was tested on the scaffold and in the flames. That was not, perhaps, so very long ago as we imagine. Religious tolerance we have, indeed, long learnt, but there is a torture of argument, a cruelty of words, a ferocity of phrase which belongs to intellec- tual persecution such as differs only in kind and not in degree from the physical. There; was such a brute force in the reasonings of the old school, such indifference to the delicacies of matured thought, such absence of clear, impartial view, such wild intoler- ance. Voltaire and Diderot were the heads of the party, and as one reads their attacks on the Christian faith, one wonders almost at their influence. The fact is, I presumok that there was something to attack, super- stition and credulity and malpractice and II bigotry, and these were harmful enough and deserved destroying. If the argument reached too far and confused accident with essential, it was not to be expected that, in the fierce days when controversy meant bodily danger and other fretful ills, there should be a nice discrimination. To us the reasoning of Diderot is still forcible, inter- esting, much as prize-fighting is. He was a theological Macaulay, a man without much atmosphere. But he would find no audience to-day amongst the best minds. The world is evolving to a higher conception of life and truth and faith. Ridicule and satire and obloquy can no longer shake down the wonderful conception of the Divine Christ. My observations on the glorified Church- goer have roused a Sensible Young Man to loud and fierce denunciation of the frivoli- ties of woman's dress. He prefers playing Cophetua and discovering his ragged beggar- girl. I cannot resist quoting him I was very glad to see you in last Mon- day's Echo touch upon that subject which so many, especially the females on Sundays, do worship, that is, the God of Fashion. It has amused, and sometimes grieved me very much to see how the females do glory in that torture of tight lacing, and also of fine clothes. "It seems to me that they think if a person has fine clothes he has surely a good- natured heart inside it, but such a foolish thing was never uttered than that all fine dressed people have not a good and kind heart- vice versa. The females, it seems to me, do delight in tight lacing to such extremes that certainly to every sensible person, at least to me, it is disgusting, as it distorts the shape and health and mind of the wearer's body. What weaker creatures can you see than the young girls of to-day ? Yet it is their own hands that is making them as such. It would be well for the females to consider their health before they go beyond reason- able bounds, as there is something higher and more holy than the God of Fashion and Pride. There is the God of Heaven and Earth, who expects justice from all His creatures." All of which is very high-sounding and noble. "1: 1< -'E- But man is an egotist after all, a blind worshipper of self. Does he see nothing ridiculous in Mr Tompkins whilst thus he rails against the partner of his joys ? Tompkins is not only dressed unlike him- self, he is dressed in a fashion that sits ill upon him—look at his heavy silk hat in this burning weather, and that immaculate long coatjin which he can never sit down without much strategic waving of hands behind and inward trembling for its security. Observe his demeanour, so unusual, so dull little blinking eyes and a small, foolish face set around in such magnificence of black as to look like a little mouse caught in a cage. 0, Sensible Young Man," what of your own sex ? Can we not be beautiful to look at and comfortable as well ? < A correspondent (J. P.) reminds me that as to-day is the anniversary of the Roath Wesleyan Church, when the President of the Wesleyan Methodist Conference will preach there, some interesting remini- scences of the day may be noted. Observe the day of opening, for instance. It was the 24th of May, 1871, the natal day of her Majesty the Queen. The handsome build- ing had just been completed. The Rev. Gervase Smith conducted the services on the day of opening, which was a fine day. On the same precise date-beautiful day as it was in Cardiff-occurred the disastrous Communist insurrection in Paris shortly after the close of the Franco-German War, when the popular destroyed the Tuilleries, pulled down the renowned Vendome Column (happily restored though), and very nearly caused the destruction of the Louvre with its priceless treasures, together with vast destruction of other public property. Thus goes the world It was a difficult problem forl the Cardiff Council yesterday. There could be no doubt as to the general feeling. The pro- posed tolls are an abomination the Sub- committee had no right to give way on that oint they threw to the Bute people a bone r its shadow. Taken on the question of tnciple, there could be no doubt which v the vote would go. But alas it is done. Sub-committee have entered upon agreement, they have committed own. Are we to go back on that ? many of the Councillors. If we do, confidence can be placed in us here- How shall we stand in any matter tiation If we are accused of signing nts and then repudiating them, will keep its honour and our bond be ? It was such considerations as arly, which brought about the Ir White's motion. » men of the day undoubtedly were e and David Jones. The former oporv discussion with a most able -prepared speech. Nothing clear or apposite. It was the we admired in Alderman 'ie lashes his tail it is clear Mirious as to his fingers; he e ub anxiously; he scrutinises snails. And we all know sorting his weapons and 'ourite battle-axe, and is r the fray. The battle > was delightful, and he )1" d exciting speech. I lit' < vaiour. » w ship heroism. Let me to the honour of the two t i

LORD R0SEBERY AT BIRMINGHAM. Severe Criticism of the Revoiters. Speaking at Birmingham last evening the Earl of Rosebery said — Some young and daring natives of the Principality of Wales have taken it into their heads that it would be a wise tiling to put this Government into a minority -r1 at least that is the practical effect of their propo- sition in order to carry out the Disestablishment of the English Church in Wales. ("Shaine.") 'Well, I don't say shame; it is merely a matter of strategy, a matter of policy, in order to carry out what is the object of their earnest convictions. (Hear, hear.) But all I can say is this, that if it is true that they do not trust onr promises in :the matter, if they do t not believe that, as I confidently assert on this oocasion and will again, I hopp, before we meet the country, that we shall meet it with a measure of Welsh Disestablishment passed through the I House of Commons (loud cheers) passed through the House of Commons—I cannot control its fate after it leaves the House of Commons— (laughter)—I say if they don't believe that pledge, if they don't believe in our honour and our honesty, the sooner they carry their threats into effect the better I shall be pleased. (Cheers.) What I say to them I say to all in the Liberal party. If there are any in our ranks who don't care for our policy, who don't care for our personality, who don't trust our zeal and our capacity, by all mean3 let them turn us out. (Cheers.) I for ons will never be a Minister on suffrance-(Ioud cheers)—but if, on the other hand, you believe in us, if you believe we are honest men, earnest men, industrious men, not incapable men, if you have confidence in our administration at home and abroad, if you believe that we are determined to carry to an issue as far as in us liea the pledges that we have given to our party and our country, I trust that you also will show that confidence in the action—(cheers)—that you will work for us in the country as we worked for you in Parliament-(cheers)-and that this meeting will be the beginning of a continued and a successful effort to remove this, which is, unhappily, now the black country of Liberalism, something of the too just reproach which now attaches to it. (Loud and prolenged cheers, during which the Prime Minister resumed his seat, having sj>oken an hour and 10 minutes).

PENARTH ROAD TOLL. j Proposed Redemption, A meeting of the public works committee of the Cardiff Corporation was held this morning in the Town-hall, under the presidency of Alderman Daniel Lewis. A letter was read from the clerk to the Glamorgan County Council, stating that that body had been pressing Lord Bute's agent for terms for the redemption of the Penarth-road toll, but had not succeeded yet in getting any definite reply. They were told that it was a matter in which Lord Bute is understood to take a personal interest, and that nothing could be said until he had decided. Mr Harpur, the borough engineer, said the Penarth bridge, in respect of which the toll was levied, was not in the corporation district, but in the district of the Penarth Local Board. The removal of the toll would chiefly benefit the Penarth people, and ho thought that the expenses connected with the taking over of the road should be borne jointly by the Glamorgan County Council and the Penarth Local Board. The matter then dropped.

BARRY RAILWAY COMPANY. Creation of Debenture Stock. I To-day an extraordinary meeting of share- holders of the Barry Dock and Railway Company was held in the board-room of the company, the Exchange, Cardiff, Mr Archibald Hood (vice-chairman) presiding, there being also present Messrs T. R. Thompson, R. Forrest, G. C. Downing, J. J. Handcock, C. E. Stallybrass, C. E. Evans, W. Mein (secretary), and others.—The secretary having read notice the calling the meeting, the Chairman proposed the following resolution :— That, in pursuance of the Barry Dock and Railways Act, 1891, and of the several Acts of Parliament authorising the company in this behalf, there be crea.t;I, and that tho directors be and they are hereby authorised to issue debenture stock to the amount of £ 5J,00J, subject to iiitere-sttr, the rate of 3% per cent. per annum, payable htillf-yeai-ly on 1st January and 1st July, and to such other terms and conditions as the directors may determine. This was seconded and unanimously agreed to.

THE BURGOS RAILWAY I ACCIDENT. I Farcical Awards. MADRID, Thursday.—The so-ca'led trial of the officials concerned in the terrible railway accident at Burgos two years ago concluded last evening. The Court found that the railway company was in fault, and assessed the damages due to the sufferers or their families as follows :-In the case of Mr Cotton, 3,000 pesetas Mr Maurice, 3,000 pesetas Mr Seymour Lucas, 2,000 pesetas and Mr Barrister Fletcher, 2,000 pesetas. The stationmaster was sentenced to six years and four months' imprisonment, and the telegraphist, who gave the wrong signal, to six months' imprison- ment. The ridiculously inadequate compensation given to the English victims has caused grett indignation here, alike among Spaniards. The thing is regarded as a disreputable farce.— Central Ne!('s.

i Echoes of the Week. BY I GEORGE AUGUSTUS SALA. | With the sincerest sorrow do I record the death of my very old and beloved friend, Edmund j Yates,who passed away with merciful suddenness ) early on the morning of Sunday, 20th. I say that the suddenness was merciful; for poor Edmund had been suffering for very many months from a complication of internal complaints of an agonising kind. Ill-health had worn his once J stalwart frame almost to a skeleton. Last winter he spent on the Riviera and in Rome, mending as he thought and he recently returned to Lon- don full of high spirits and thinking that his health was re-established. He has been spared by sud I den dissolution yet more lingering weeks or months of pain and suffering. Edmund Yates and I were associated in many literary and journalistic enterprises. There was the Comic Times, of which he was editor, which was started nearly forty years ?.go, and was the outcome of a trade tiff between the late Mr Ingram, the proprietor of the Illustrated London News, and Messrs Bradbury and Evans. The Comic Times was a prosperous venture but when the tiff of which I spoke came to an end, Mr Ingram put an end to the Comic Times likewise. Then in 1856 Mr Yates was chosen editor of a monthly magazine called "The Train." It was a joint-stock venture; and the shareholders, or "Train band," comprised Yates himself, the brothers Brough, Edward Draper, E. L. Blan- chard, Wm. McConnell and Charles Bennett, the comic artists, Billy" Hale, son of the well- known Archdeacon and Master of the Charter House, and others whose names I forget. Our united capital did not exceed a hundred and twenty pounds. Subsequently, in 1861, came Temple Bar," another monthly magazine, which I founded, and Edmund was my first sub-editor. When I went to the United States to behold that country in the midst of war, Yates took over the editorship of "Temple Bar," which, I am glad to know, still lives and flourishes. Galloping Dreary Dun! Galloping Dreary Dun Thnse inveterate and incorrigible bores, the people whose prose and prate about a rational female dress," are at it again. This time the seccatura is of the male sex— unless, indeed. it be a lady" M.D." who inflicts a contemporary the usual wearisome jobation about cumbersome long skirts, excessive weight of clothing, enormous wind-pressure, and clumsiness in appearance not to mention the unnecessary exposure of stockinged legs on a dirty day be- smattered with mud from dirty skirts." I wish that paople would let all this prurient leather and prunella alone. If ladies choose to wear knickerbockers, or Turkish trousers, or tights, or Scottish trews, it is no business of ours. Let them confine their controversies on the matter to their own fashion journals, of which there is a plethora. For the rest, remembering that I am old enough co have seen the introduction and the collapse of the Bloomer costume movement, I fail to see the slightest chance of the fair sex ever submitting to wear a practically uniform garment at the instigation of any M.D., F.A., F.S.A., or A.S.S. whatsoever. A nice woman likes to be becomingly dressed, and she has a right to consult her own tsteand lihatof her dressmaker in the mat- ter. Fashion—the best friend of manufacturers, drapers, merces, haberdashers, commercial tra- vellers, and working women-is not to be slain by any kind of pedantic and pragmatical League or Association. Vive le Mode! Et a bas le pan- talon—pour dames. I deeply sympathise with sufferers from street noises. I hate organ-grinders, and I detest German bands yet many of my friends and neighbours are enthusiastically fond of those forms of street minstrelsy. At the same time I console myself with the pleased remembrance that the cries of London have diminished to the extent of more than ninety per cent. since I was young. How would you liko to have lived in an nge when the streets of the Metropolis were infested by industrials of hnth sexes, bawling and shrieking their proclaircolons of "Pins, three row or a penny," "Fine singing birds,' "New oysters," Buy a fork or a fire-shovel," "Milk below, maids," "Songs, a penny a yard," Buy a broom," Ripe Turkey figs," Hot boiled beans and a suck of bacon," "Hot spice ginger bread,' Bay my wash-balls," Any kitchen stuff," and Buy my matches." Him for whom the cynic of old sought vainly, now here behold." Thus have I Englished a Latin inscription which I saw once in a church in the Low Countries on the monument of some worthy, but now wholly forgotten, Burgomaster, in a vast periwig, who was doubtless esteemed in his day as a typically honest man. A modern Diogenes, going about with his lantern, would be fain to acknowledge that lie had lighted on a very bright specimen of the honest man in the shape of Sir John Dugdale Astley, Bart., who was known at Eton itS the "Jigger," and in modern English society is universally acclaimed as "The Mate," whose thoroughly amusing, chatty, frank, and observant autobiography, "Fifty years of my life in the world of sport at home and abroad," is now before me. Sir John Astley was in the Criinea as a Guardsman, and did good service there since then he hils gained renown as the unflinching ad- vocate of field sports and athletics, and as a dash- ing rider across country and an owner of race- horses, on which last diversion he appears to have spent very large sums of money without finding, in the long run, a corresponding return in the shape of profits. But the Astleys seem to have been always an expensive family. Sir John's grandfather represented the northern division of Wiltshire for 14 years and the honour of gaining two contested elections cost him a hundred thousand pounds. A clerical newspaper in Rome has published etter sent by Mr Gladstone to Monsignor Fara- bulini, the Roman prelate and distinguished litterateur, who had written to him asking his opinion on two subjects—the potential visit of Dante to England and the Irish question. With regard to Dante Mr Gladstone refers his corres- pondent to his article in the Nineteenth Cen- tury for June, 1892. His observations on Irish politics do not concern a writer who, like myself, has no politics at all. Touching Dante Alighieri, I scarcely think that it matters a twopenny- blessing whether that sublime genius and crustiest and most abusive of old gentlemen ever came to Oxford. It is even a matter of extreme dubiety if he ever visited Paris. But Mr Gladstone, in his learned leisure, would be rendering an inestim- able service to Letters if he would use his vast powers of research in an endeavour to ascertain whether Shakspeare was ever in Italy I have always held most strongly that Shake- speare was intimately acquainted with the topo- graphy of what is known as the Dominio Veneto, and he could scarcely have imparted the wonder- ful local colour which glows in Othello, in the Merchant of Venice, in the Taming of the Shrew, and in Romeo and Juliet, unless he had been thoroughly familiar with Vemce itself, with Verona, with Padua, and with Mantua. There has been a grand sale at Sotheby's of first editions of Ruskin, Dickens, and Thackeray, and of works illustrated by Cruikshank, Leech, Doyle, and others. The Ruskins fetched singu- larly low prices, the Seven Lamps of Architec- ture," published in 1849, bringing oniy 22 5s while the Stones of Venice was knocked down for a trifle under Li. Many of Ruskin's minor tractates on Art and Political Economy went for a few shillings each. Other books brought fan- tastic prices the first edition of Alice in Wonderland went for £ ♦ 15% and Combe's English Dance of Death," in the original parts I and wrappers, was sold for £35. I notice that The Loving Ballad of Lord Baterrian." purporting to be by Charles Dickens," with plates by George Cruikshank and inscription on fly leaf, fetched B7 10. But surely the author of Pickwick never had anything to do with writing, or rather adapting, the very old ballad of Lord Bateman, which used to be sung to me when I was a little child. The version published by David Bogue early in the forties, with George Cruikshank's illustra- tiolis, was, I suspect, mainly the work of Thackeray. The internal evidence it almost con- clusive to prove this. Read the lines about the Proud young Porter and the Young bride's mother," which are thoroughly and inimitably Thackerayian. The clerics are having a rare squabble among themselves in the columns of the Times touching archdeacons charges. The Rector of Perivale, who had been 33 years incumbent of his parish, writes to say that 30 years ago he attended a visitation at St. Paul's, Covent Garden heard a very rosy address wasted a morning paid 18s himself and 16s for churchwardens had luncheon, and returned home resolved never to go again. The reverend gentleman has inflexibly adhered to his resolution. No one, he concludes, seems to know what an archdeacon does except "to per- form archdiaconal functions."

Engagement in Central America. I \1' THRE.E THOUSAND MEN KILLED. NKW YORK, Thursday.—According to a tele« gram from La Libertal, Salvador, published by the Herald, fierce engagements have taken place, since the 15th between the insurgents and the Government troops. The despatch adds that over 3,000 men have been killed and many w sun ded. —Render.

MIDLAND LIBERAL FEDERATION Speech by the Prime Minister. This morning Lord Rosebery attended the inaugural breakfast of the Midland Liberal Federation at Birmingham, and in reply to a toasb bidding him welcome, replied in detail to the criticisms of his speech the previous night. A Government which wished to maintain its majority was bound tobringforward thosemeasures to which it pledged itself at the general election. Mr Chamberlain was unable to support the measures he advocated formerly because he believed that under their cloak Home Rule might be introduced. That was to skate on thin ice. This great and ardent reformer was obliged to sink every reform on which he had set his heart, because he was not able to agree as to the precise form Home Rule should take. Replying to the letter of a correspondent, Lord Rosebery repeated his assurance that he was in favour of Mr Gladstone's Home Rule Bill. He did not say it was a perfect Bill. It must) inherently possess many imperfections, but that would not prevent the Government making another attempt to settle this question in con- sonance with Irish ideas and the preservation of the supremacy of the Imperial Parliament. He believed that on this great question, which Mr Gladstone had left as a legacy to them, they would see a marked change in the opinion of the dominant partner, and he would be truly glad and proud if in the very smallest measure his visit to Birmingham should contribute tc that end. On driving away from the hotel, Lord Rosebery met with cordial greetings in the streets. He left Birmingham for London shortly before noon.

NEWPORT IMPORTS & EXPORTS The export of coal, foreign and oaastwisa, for the week ending last (Wednesday) evening amounted to 74,408 tons,of which 52,713 tons were despatched to foreign ports and 21,695 tons went coastwise. The other exports inclnded :—Cindei tip slag, 1,100 tons; timber, 306 tons; rails, 2,360 tons tin-plates, 122 tons and 6 Citrsroes sleepers and fish plates, 1,957 tons; waggons and pieces, 298 tons iron cnider*, 1,750 tons it railway iron, 350 tons manure, 275 Cons coke, 1*0 tons sand, 105 tons rails, 100 tons moss litter, 20 tons wheelbarrows, 6 steel, 16 cwt. tobacco, 1 case and general merchandise, 5 cargos and 358 tons. The imports for the same period included Iron ore, 5,755 tons pig iron, 1,410 tons; pit- wood, 3,775 tons; sand, 381 tons and 1 cargo; manganese ore, 230 tons; scrap iron, 100 tons steel plates, 100 tons wheat, 900 sacks stone, 80 tons and 2 cargoes flooring boards, 25,003 pieces grave], 108 tons salt cake, 105 tons slates, 89 tons pit props, 66 tons steel, 20 tons manure, 70 tons grain, 2 cargoes rails, 1 cargo erunpowder, 1 cargo oil, 1 cargo; loam, 1 cargo cement, 1 carjo fish-plates, 1 cargo and general merchandise, 15 cargoes.

FAILURE OFA FOREST COLLIERY PROPRIETOR. The firsb meeting of creditors to the estate of John Alexander Logan, colliery proprietor, lately of Tuft's Colliery, Newlands, Forest oi Dean, was held to-day at the offices of the Officii Receiver, Newport. The debtor commenced business at Tuft's Colliery, near Lydney, on the 2nd November, 1891, with a capital of aboti,, £ 240, and attributed his failure to water in tht colliery where not expected, loss from cutting intc disused workings, and dislocations uiiderground but states that if he had capital enough to dis- charge his indebtedness he could now make thi colliery pay. During the last nine months th* debtor has been engaged as manager at Speech House Ooniory, near Coleford. The liabilities are £ 1,066 8s 9d,of which El,904 lbi 6d is expected to rank for dividend assets, L240 7s 9d defi- ciency, £ 764 Bi 9d. The mec-ting was forma!, and the official receiver remains the trustee. The debtor, it was stated, had been adjudicated bankrupt.

A QUIET DAY AT CAERLEON, There were two magistrates in attendance at the Caerleon Police-court, when the proceedings commenced, this morning. The charge-sheet con.' tained but three cases, and of theae two were adjourned, so that five inintite-, gufficed toexhausr the business. A third magistrate, who was hurry- ing down to take bis scat, was met near the entrance by the officiating justices, and was sur- prised to learn from them that the court had risen. The case disposed of was that of Michael Meskell, a young fellow who imbibed too freely on Whit-Monday and misbehaved himself on the canal bank at Cwmbran. When spoken to by Officer Keylock, he said that he had forgotten himself. Being a first offence, the penalty was fixed at 5s. The defendants in the other eases did not put in an appearance.

BILLIARDS,WHIST, & DRAUGHTS On Wednesday evening the return matches with members of the Mackintosh Insnitnte war, played at the above club, with the following results BILLIARDS—Mackintosh, 1,103points Liberals, 957. DRAUGHTS- Mackintosh, 2 games Liberals, 5 2 games drawn. WHIsT-Mackintosh, 10 games Liberals, 16. CRIBBAGE—A tie.

FORESTRY AT NEWPORT. The genial Mayor of Newport, Mr Fred. Phillips, was last evening initiated as a Forester in that wealthiest) of all courts, Court Prince Arthur, No. 5359. Great enthusiasm prevailed, and the ceremony proper to the initiation wat impressively performed by the Chief Ranger (Bro. Frank E. Wade) and District Sub-Chief Ranger Robert Ellis. Court Prince Arthur has a balance in hand of over 22,000.

IMPORTANT NOTICE.—We will undertake to disinfect, clean u repaint, and paper private houses. We keep first-class upholsterers anu cabinet makers.— Perk s Bros. and Co., 55, St. Mary street, Ca cliff 62 FOUND DEAD, over 600 Blackbfetles after one application of Duck's celebrated "Kookum Insect Powder certain death to beetles, fleas, bugs, moths and all insects. Get a tin to-day and rid your dwell- ings of the pests. 3d, 6d, and Is, by post 2d extra. Sole makers :-Duck ancl Son, Chemists, St. John a square, Cardiff. 438e NEW SHORT STOBY EVERY WEEK.-On Satur- day next will be published in the Cardiff Times and South Wales Weekly News a new short story (completa) entitled, Trapped," by Richard Ashe King. v

DROWNING FATALITY AT NEATH [SPECIAL TETJKGRAM TO THE "ECHO."] I A young man named Wm. Thomas Jones, of 109, Windsor-road, Neath, an employee of Messrs Taylor, photographers, was observed this morning to be walking along the canal bank at Cadoxton, near Neath. About 11 o'clock a man named Owen Morgan saw his body floating on the water There was a handbag on the bank of the canal, On tho body being taken out of the water it was found to be that of Jones. The deceased was formerly a pupil teacher. He was subject to epileptic fits, and he is supposed to have fallen into the water while in one of these.

NOT THE CAT. I Amusing Incident. I In the Queen's Bench this it,orit- i i)g, Mr Just-ice Vaughan Williams drew the attention of the officials t:) the very peculiar smell on his right hand side. It is very disagreeable," he said, and affects my throat. It is not a sewer, but a dustbin smell call the usher." That officer mounted the bench, sniffed, and whispered a sug- gestion. No," ejaculated his lordship, it is not the cat." (Loud laughter.) Ultimately the matter was put right, and business was resumed.

-4- FATAL STRIKE RIOT IN -I AMERICA. Nsw YORK, Thursday. A despatch from Evansville, Indiana, states that 250 strikers, armed with rifles, yesterday marohed to Littles Station to compel the miners there to stop work. The latter refused to consent, and a fight ensued, in which two men were killed and five wounded.— Renter".

I TO-DAY'S WEATHER. 4.30 P.M. TO-DAY'S FORECAST FOR ENGLAND, &.W., AND SOUTH WALES. North-easterly winds, light or moderate fair generally. GENERAt.-Fine weatheris likely to prevail over the greater part of

DARING BANK ROBBERY IN TEXAS. Two Man Killed and Fcur Wounded. INKW YOHK, Thursday.-A daring bank rob- bery is reported from Long view, Texas. Four men visited th,' First National Ba.nk in that town, and ordering the president of the establish- menll and the clerks to hold up their hands under threats of death, secured a sum of 2.500dols. The local officials and citizens endeavoured to inter- cepfc them and exchanged shots with the robbers, one of whom was killed, but the other three escaped on horseback. One citizen was killed and four were wounded. Two of the latter, in cluding the city marshal, were so seriously hnrt that there is no hope of their recovery. -Reuter.

FREE HOMES FOR THE PEOPLE, The annual report of the Provident Free Hom< Assurance Co., Ltd., has just been issued, and it of the most gratifying character. It states that the premiums received during the year amounted to the sum of R107,206, being an increase o' £ 45,633 over the premiums of the preceding year, The total funds, as shown by the balance-aheet, amount to the sum of £ 150,214, which are invested in first-class securities. The new business of thf year comprises the issue of 19,480 policies, oC which 19,085 were issued in the industrial branch, and 395 assuring the amount ot 279,243 in tbf ordinary branch.

MAES rEG LLWYDARTH TIN- PLATE WORKS. The Llwydarth Tin-plate Works were at on time the chief industry in the lower part o! Maesteg. They have now been idle for a con. siderable time. Mr Edwards, the proprietor, has, however, decided to restart them on Monday next. Two mills will be started on Monday, and as the work developes employment 1l be given to as many old hands as possible.