South Wales Echo

DEATH OF SIR H. JAMES'S I MOTHER. i The Hereford correspondent of the C¡>t,trtl News telegraph? :—Mrs Frances Gertrude ,T;>11• mother of the Right Hon. Sir H. Jolri, Q.O.. M.P., died on Thursday at her residence in GoU'' mercial-street, in this city.

The health of Princess Bismarck is, it is state}, giving cause for renewed anxiety. .r.. A Printed-and by the VA \¡! DUNCAN <ft SONS, at 105, St. Mary-sirae., » Wes»gatc-?reet in Hie town of Cardiff, hi ike Of G'Hiiii-r^an.

THIRD SERIES. ) NEW SHORT TALES, I Lover or BurglarP I By MRS T. L. HEWARD, Author of My Quest," A Game of Grab," Found Out," &c. Gladys Fortescue sat by her dressing- faille, late at night, thinking. She was a pretty girl with soft, dreamy, grey eyes, and wavy brown hair, but her chief characteristic was her self-control. Relatives and friends alike teased her openly, and admired her secretly saying that in an earthquake or a whirlwind, a fire or a flood, Gladys would be always "calm and self-possessed." On this occasion every one else was in bed and asleep, but Gladys was looking at a splendid necklace of diamonds of the first water, which sparkled in the rays of the crimson-shaded lamp which stood close by. "They are very beautiful, she said, half aloud, as she closed the case, but you know, Horace." turning towards a portrait hanging close by, they can never tempt me from you, can they, dear ?' The face, that of a handsome young man, seemed to smile down upon her in response, and Gladys sat looking at it with an ex- pression of tender trust and love, which the original would have been glad to see. Of course it was her lover, you have guessed that already. They loved each other really—these two—but Horace was fighting for his country in the Soudan, and Gladys had to get what comfort she could from his picture until he came back. It was a full-length portrait, and'a speaking likeness and Gladys had got into the way of talking to it as if it were really Horace, until sometimes time and space semed to vanish, and they were together again. To-night she had dismissed her maid, that she might talk to him about the diamonds, and a passionate declaration and oiler of marriage which had accompanied them. Gladys was not one to wear her heart on her sleeve and although it was generally understood that she was engaged to Horace [lailton, her reticence was misinterpreted. It was thought that because she said little she cared EttIe, and there were some who, with Mrs Fortescue to aid and abet them, ■ned to persuade Gladys that she would do better to bestow her affections nearer home. Horace was poor, and Gladys was rich—a sufficient bar in the eyes of her mother, who constantly lamenting Gladys's infatua- tion and assuring her that she might do a deal better. But Gladys had her own way in the mat- ter, as these calm and self-possessed" people often do, and her loyalty was proof against the lustre of diamonds, and he shimmer of a coronet. Therefore she had none of those miserable indecisions and heart questionings which more tickle girls endure. Horace reigned supreme. and Sir Henry Magee would have his diamonds and his conge to-morrow. When the portrait, which meant so much to Gladys, first came home, it would not go into the recess which it was supposed to fit various other positions were tried, but none of them quite pleased the young lady, who, however, kindly and yielding elsewhere, was despotism itself as regarded the arrangement of here own pretty rooms. So she cleared away the books and knick- knacks from the shelf below, and decreed that the painting should hang in front of the recess, the lower end supported by the shelf and so it was. On this never to be forgotten night, Gladys, as we have said, closed the velvet case, talking to Horace the while in a confi- dential tone. Then she unclasped her bracelets aad put them m her jewel drawer. You see, Horace," she said, "it isn't as I if 1 had never seen you then the diamonds and the coronet might perhaps have tempted me, I know. For he is a very worthy man, Horace dear," she continued, "although you need not be jealous of him, and I hops he will find a good wife by-aud- bye." And as she spoke she looked up at the portrait with an arch smile. I hope his heart won't be quite broken, don't you dear T' she added. Suddenly she looked away and pulling the case towards her with & trembling hand, protended to be examin- ing the contents closely, until she had ¡ recovered from her strange alarm. Calm and self-possessed they call nie," she said to herself, I need those qualities now. What did it mean 2" she thought, excitedly, I'm certain it wasn't my fancy. I did see the eyes move What must I do ? I ought to look again, but I am afraid I look frightened. But the lamp is shaded, so the light will not fall on my face, and the colour will hide my pale cheeks. I must look, and then I shall decide what to do." Summoning all her courage, Gladys rose from her seat and slowly walked towards the picture, gazing steadily at the face, studying its every line with loving eyes or so it seemed. Her suspicions were confirmed, the syes did move Blindly and confusedly Gladys stumbled back to her seat, and then sat gazing before her in perplexity and horror. But one conclusion was possible to her. Someone had got behind the picture ind was hiding there. He must have heard ibout the diamonds and have some idea of stealing them. That was the only clear thought of which Gladys was conscious for sometime. She dared not go to the bell, that would arouse suspicion at once. She sat quite still until she had regained her self-control, then rising again, she strolled lazily towards the door, kissing her hand to the picture and snying Good-night, dear love, good-night." Then she slowly opened the bedroom door, and a magnificent collie dog bounded in, whining with delight and almost upset- ting her with his clumsy affection. But in another second he became uneasy and snuffed about the room with alow growl. Why, Bruce," said the girl, taking his head in her hands and looking steadily into his almost human eyes. "I want you to take care of your master's portrait; you have often done i: before, you dear old dog; you love him nearly as much as I do, don't you?" Bruce seemed to understand that he was to be quiet, and laid down where his mis- tress pointed, lucking out of the corners of his eyes, as much as to say,— I suppose you know what you are doing, but I don't see what you are driving at, and I don't half like the job." Then he licked his lios uneasily, and settled down to his silent and watchful as Cerberus him- self only showing his teeth at intervals to show what he would like to do if he had his own way. Gladys lost no time now in getting out of the room, though she did it without any appearance of hurry. In less than five minutes her brother Harold and two of the men-servants were silently and snoelessly, if I may coin a word, making their way to his sister's bedroom. They only half believed her story. but were soon undeceived. They had nearly reached the door when they •btwrei a cmsh, followed by a growl and a terrified cry. When they entered, the painting lay on the ground, with two holes where the eye should have been, and half sitting half crouching on the shelf was a big, rough-looking man, held by the leg by an enemy more to be dreaded than the human foes now approaching. The stranger's nether garments were loose, so the do had not really hurt him, but his gleaming teeth and flashing eyes, verriiied the thief more than fear of prison or treadmill. Take your dog off," he cried, again and again. And even when Bruce had very unwillingly released his vicdm, tne dogs fearful presence subdued him so com- pletely that be was made prisoner without any difficulty. By this time all the household was assembled, and some attempt was made to learn what had really happened. But as everyone was asking questions and not waiting for the answers, or describing the circumstances of their awakening and the terrible fright they had had, it was some time before Gladys could tell her story. When it had at last been heard for the third time, Harold said, with the patronising air big brothers like to assume at times— You have earned your soubriquet now, and it has been of some use. "How brave you are 1" said Cousin Rachel. 441 am sure I should have screamed. A lot of good that would have done," muttered Hurold under his breath. I think Bruce deserves all the credit of the affair," said Gladys, laughing a little hysterically, 1 don t know what I should have done without him. I knew he would not let the man get away, but I was dread- fully afraid the wretch would shoot him." It was well for you all that he was un- armed," observed Mrs Fortescue, with the dignity which she was never known to lay aside, even though her costume now was decidedly unconventional. I hope Sir Henry's diamonds are safe after all." This fact was soon ascertained, and the party dispersed. It appeared at the trial that the would-be burglar had heard that the necklace would be placed in Miss Fortescue's room on that particular day. He had been very busy making friends with the servants for some days past, and had learned all he wanted to know. But his ingenuity did not save him from a period of retirement from public life. At its close he returned to society a sadder and a wiser man and as he was young as yet, he amended his ways, and used his brains thereafter to better purpose. But not before he had been the cause of much mortification and distress to our heroine. How it got abroad no one knew, butcertain it is that within a week's time Miss Fortescue's confidences to her laver were public property, and her treasured secret was in everybody's mouth. But for her character," the banter she received would have driven her away from home but although she suffered keenly, Gladys took it all in good part. Only she gave up talk- ing to Horace from that time forth, lest someone else should overhear. And that is the end ? Well, almost. Of course, Gladys had another portrait painted. Of course, Horace was invalided home just after this event then Gladys helped to nurse him, and they were married as soon as possible, and "lived happy ever afterwards," as the fairy tales say. And Bruce, the hero of the hour ? Well, in my own mind I have no doubt that Bruce knew he was the hero of ths hour. He received all congratulations with a suitable dignity and a bashful, conscious air that was most becoming and whenever the story was told in his hearing behaved precisely as many another hero does, and at its conclusion walked from one to another of the assembled company and gravely put up his paw to shake hands. He lived in peace and honour to a good old age, for his master never could think without a shudder of what might have been," if Bruce had not been to the fore" on that eventful night. THE END.

NEWPORT POULTRY EXHIBITION The Newport Poulty and Cage Bird Society, which has been working zealously for a number of years in tiie direction of improving the breed of poultry in the Monmouthshire district, by means of mouthly snows and other ineaiip, on Thursday held its annual exhibition of b;ris, rabbit=, &c., in the galleries of the Newport Pro- vision Market. There were about 1,000 entries, or an increase on any preceding effort. The augmentation was chiefly in poultry and pigeons, rabbits and cage birds showing decaoence. Soui« of the spec:mens of our barn-door friends in the ferthered world were remarkable instances of what can be achieved by selection and cross- breeding, and nearly all these classes were up to first-rate quality, and WIVe the judges difficulty. Messrs Waring and Gunn, Cardiff, were the poultry judges Mr C. B. Birnes, Gloucester, and Mr J. Day, London, pigeons Mr Billet, Reading, for rabbits and cage birds. The show was largely visited during the day. The prize list is as follows POULTRY.—First prizes were taken by the following —J. Sivel1. for game cock Thos. Edwards, 2;3.hle hen: H..1. Taylor, game cock, any colour John fry, Malay cock Thomas Gamage, Malay hen G. Adams, Indian giiue cock H. I'aynter, Indian game pullet or hen P. Yoe, :1,1i:lOfCa. cock Bros. Fv.rland, Minorca hen; Gilbert Davis, Leghorn cock Wade Bra her". Leghorn hen J. It. Bennett-, VVv.inUoite cock or cockerel II. L. T. Blake, Wyandotte hen or pullet C. H. HaUani, Plymouth Ruck cock William Slater, Plymouth Rock lien s. W. Thomas, any other variety, cock (. IT. Hallam, lien J. Parker, selling cock or hen; It..J, Davenport, selling cock or lieli E T. Ueeee, members, game, any variety cock James Adams, lieli J. H. Houghton, Minorca cock J. II. Houghton, hen; D. A. Va'1gh,t11, Leghorn e-.ck J. De Mis, hen J. H. Houghton, any other varietv.-hen J. II. Houghton, Bantam, any other variety, cock G. G,trl!erer, hen; fl. W. T. Palmer, Bantams, same, any Y¡1riety. cock P. B. Hine, hen 1). Foiie.4, Bantams, any other vaiietv, cock J. Wzbb, Bantams, any othr variety, hen. Special prizes were also awarded to the fallowing in the above list :-J..B. Bennett, Was. Slater, S. W. Thomas, J. H. Houghton, B. Yoe, Gilbert Davis, and J. Dennis. PIGEONS.—SPECIAL prizes were awarded to T. G. rilen for Ai tiverps n.. Evis, magpie black cock Thomas H. Bath* yellow magpie cock or heii A. Wintel'.lil3!Zpic black cock or hen rung ¡\. Stepl:.n,. magpie ye)low 1 kcs. Wicks, fancy pigeon.—The following secured firsts in this class Ji'eal Bros., T. G. Eden, C. W. A. Edwards, R Evi". Th nrts H. Batt, A. Stevens (3), A. Winter (2), Maggs Bros., Thomas Wicks (2), F. James, W. G. Turner, H, Parker (2), J'-lm f>. Pickles, William Williams, J. Walters, Bufcer and Young (4), J. Foster, Thomas A. Lack, !• Stock, William Hill (3), William Shaw, J. Webb (-;), T- Seys, H. Moore, Hockey and Foster, James Adams, Weston and Brownsconibe, Charles J £ Page (2). James Thorn, and Banks and Dauncjy. U.UH\ITS. -Special prizes H. Lane, lops not to exceed 23 inciies Harold A. Walker, Belgian hare, tlot); W. Lake, members' lops F. topemau. Members any other breed-Firsts were taken by H. Lane, .;o.-ieph Pullard, Harold A. Walker, T. J. Ambrose (3), W. Lake, and F. Copeman. CAGE BIRDS.-A. Allen, Norwich crest W. P. Stubbley, any other variety, clmary; Mrs Lewis E. Wride, starling A. Allen, members' canary. Firsts went to A. Allen (4), C. K. Silk (2), W. Lake, W. H. Stubbley, Cli. Terrey, Mrs Lewis E. Wride, and J. H. Ormond.

SOUTH WALES COAL TRADE. Mr John Williams, checkweigher, Ynysybw), whose opinion has been elicited with reference to the desirability of having one orani.3.ltion for the whole of South Wales and Monmouth- shire, with the majority to rule, writes :— ''I can assure you that it gives :ne personally a very great amount of satisfaction to find that the labour leaders of South Wales and Monmouth- shire contemplate taking a step in the right direction. I may state that it was the resolution submitted by me on behalf of the Lady Windsor Colliery workmen, at a conference held at the St. Johu's Hall, Cardiff, at the commencement of last year, was the means of bringing about the present existing sliding-scale arrange- ment, and also averting a great strike. That resolution also contained a most important condition, viz., thac a strenuous effort be made by our leaders during the stipulated period of the existence of the present agreement to establish one gigantic and ideal organisation of the wnole of the miners of South Wales and Monmouthshire. I therefore rejoice greatly at the prospects of having my personal wishes, and also those of rr-.y fellow workmen, in this direction gratified. I can testify that the feelings manifested by the promoters of the present round tab:e conference proposal, indicating (as I take It) better organisation, the cessation of hostilities between opposing parties, and also the desire of subduing the present factious elements that pervade our mining community to the detriment ot our labour interests in general, is only a duplicate of the feeling which is prevalent amongst 75 per cent, of the miners of the Principality. I would emphasise the fact that I thoroughly agree with the proposal, viz., of forming one organisation for the whole of the colliery workmen of South Wales and Monmouthshire in which the majority should rule. I shall certainly render every assistance within my power, in order that such an organisation may be realised. I would sug- gest that the success of this unifying proposal rest3 entirely upon the actions of the initiators. If this unitive principle is to be properly nourished all contentious scruples existing between our leaders must be dispelled, and each leader should devote himself to the work of 1, inculcating the principles of Unionism into the minds of those whom he represents, and also to point out the beneficial results that may pro- bably accrue from the gigantic organisation, and remind tha same of the disastrous results that have and are daily accruing from the factious state of our present so-called organisations."

CARDIFF PRISON. It appears from the annual report of the Commissioners of Prisons that the daily average number of prisoners in the 57 prisons in England and Wales during the year ended March 31st, 1394, was 11,559. In the Cardiff prison the daily average was 249. The greatest: number at any time during the year was 288, ani the smallest number 186. The cost; of the prison during the year, under the several heads of expenditure, was as follows :— Cost of starf, £ 3,503 16s maintenance of prisoners, LI.321 15 31 other expenses, £2184, 6d to.,d cost, £5,046 15, 9d cost per prisoner, JB20 5s 4d. The inspector reports that the conduct of the officers has been very good, and that of the prisoners, with few exceptions, generally satisfactory. The various contracts have been well carried out, and the food supplies have been very good. A new hospital (detached) and a new reception-room are in course of erection, and will be a means of providing for wants long existing in this prison. The health of the prisoners has been good, and the sanitary conditiou of the prison excellent. A mild form of influenza attacked many prisoners in the autumn of 1393, necessitating the treatment of 15 cases in hospital all of these recovered. The chaplain remarks that the chief cause of crime in Cardiff and its surroundings is drunkenness, and he adds that convictions for offences against the Sunday Closing Act have been rather numerous. The prison minister carried out his duties in a satisfactory manner, and is most regular in his attendance. He is of opmion that, for prisoners convicted of drunkenness over and over again, ordinary imprisonment does them no good, and does not tend towards their amelioration and he advocates that habitual drunkards should be sent to special institutions foran indefinite period.

TIORWICK'S BAKING POWDER Best Baking Powder BERWICK'S BAKING POWDER. M the World. B R ORT BAKINO POWDER. Wholesome, BERWICK'S BAKING POWDER. Pure, and BERWICK'S BAKING POWDER. Free from Alum GENTLEMEN'S White and Coloured Shirts Re- fitted and dressed equal to new 2s 6d and 3s 6tl E. Roberts, 30, Duke-street, Cardi&. Olle MR SHKLLARD, of 4, High-street Cardiff (close to CiLstle), can be consulted daily iree Artificial Teeth of the highest class at lowest fees. 10

lz SERIOUS ACCIDENT TO A II PONTYPRIDD DOCTOR. Mf Ernest lioWen, assistant to Dr. Howard Davies, the Pontypridd medical officer, has been thoviciimof a serious accident. It appears that the other evening, about 8.30 p.m., he was pro- ceeding along Wood-road on horseback to attend an urgent case at L'aniwit Vardre, when the animal cair.e to grief and the rider was thrown off with considerable violence. When picked up he was unconscious, and was carried to an adjoin- ing lious". Examined by Dr. Howard Davies, the injured gentleman was found to b" suffering from a severe shock-, and was badlv injured on the head and face, while his body was covered with bruises, Subsequent investigation by Dr Howard Davies showed that the horse had stumbled across a heap of soil which had been thrown to the middle of the road from the roadside, where, it appears, some works of private improvements are being carried ou. There was no public light near the spot, nor was there a light of any sort put upon the heap as a warning tD pedestrians by those responsible for carrying out the works. This fact has cxcited considerable indignation in the town, for had there been a danger light the accident, which might have proved fata!, would have been averted. Happily, Mr Bowen, though still con- fined to bed, is gradually recovering.

NEGLECT OF CHILDREN AT I SWANSEA. At the Swansea Police-court on Wednesday, Lewis L wis, a pla*terer, of 11, Waterloo-place, and his wife, Mary Lewis, were charged with wilfully neglecting their three childz-en so as to endanger their health. The two children were produced in court, and appeared very pale and undersized.—A Police-constable said he found tho children in a filthy condition and in tho house alone, the youngest—almost a baby—sitting on the doorstep with next to nothing on. When the mother returned in the evening, she was drunk. She told the constable sho was about to wash the children and give them clean clot-lies, but it I turned out the only semblance she had of their clothes were tho pawntickets for thpm.-Dr. Charles said, judging from the skin of the children, he should say they had not been washed for three months. The baby was also badly nourished.—A neighbour narred Mrs Young said the children were continually neglected, and were kept short of food.—The Head Constable said the father was in good and constant work.— Defendants said the children were well fed and well cared for.—The B"nch did not believe them, and sent them to gaol for 14- days without the option of a fine. The children were sent to the workhouse. I

MOVEMENTS OF LO'Q"ALVESSELq. I Ancient Briton left Cronstxdt for Grim-by 24th Angelica left Charente for Bordeaux Alicia due Middlesbrough 25tli Aislaby loading at Wilmington 24th Bine .lacket arvd Odessa 25! n Benefactor left Penarth 24th Barry arvd Dunkerque 24th CoUivaud left Oporto f, -i Pomaron 24th Clieveden at Taganrog 25th Charles T Jones left Constantinoolefor Rotterdam 23rd Carlo left Huelva for Antwerp 24th Corso left Antwerp for Tyne 25th Castanos arvd Sebastopol 24tli Crimdon loading at Cronstadt 24tli Crathorne loading at Galveston for home 25th Emily put into Fishguard through stress of weather 24th Eastgato left avonil. for Constantinople 23rd Euterpe left Rotterdam for Newport 25th Eden loaitin^ at Santander for Tyne 25th Elton at Wilmington 21th Gledhclt discharging at Middlesbrough 24th Gemini left Southampton for Cardiff 25th Gwentland left Belfast for Penarth Roads 24th Garrison arvd Barry 24th Henley passed Constantinople for Sebastopol to load home for Nordenhamn 23rd Hesleden left Sundswall for Middlesbrough 24th Horden loading at Rafso for home 25th Hardwick on pass ge to St Nazaire, due 26th Hartburn leaving Newport for Leghorn 25tli Hurworth at Savannah loading 24th Ilaxby arvd Philadelphia to discharge 24th John ÐYllg left Bilbao for Poithcawl 24th Ironopolis and Nordenhamn 25th Kirkby loading at Savannah for Bremen 24th Loyal "ihiton passed Constantinople 26th Leven loading at Galveston 24th Lackenby passed Constantinople for Gibraltar for orders 25: d Moliere arvel Barry 24th March arvd Rotterdam from Kertch 25th Malt by arvd Bremerhaven 24th Xorth Briton arvd Cardiff from Bristol 24tli Nort-hgate arvd Hudiksvall 24th Newby due Barry Dock 25th Ormsby arvd Teneriffe 21st Portugalete left Bilbao for Cardiff 24th Pontypridd left Bitoum for Poti 25th Parksatelefr Algiers for Avnster-am 23rd Phyllis Angel due Genoa 27th Preston arvd Leitli discharging 24th Picton on passage St Louis du Rhone for Antwerp 25th llheubina left Huelva for Port Talbot 22nd Raglan arvd Hull 25th Rapid docked at Oport-o 25tii Ross arvd Bilbao 24th Ruperra left Venice 24th Heading left Fiume for Bordeaux 25th Romanbv on passage to Cronstadt 24th fSaisbv left Tyne fur Marseilles 2urd Roxby loading at Savannah for home 24th Sully passed Constantinople 24th sowerby on passage and due Bordeaux 26th Swainby discharging at Amsterdam 24th Siingsby expected to leave Blytn tor Bombay 27th Skidby loading at Savannah 24th gouthgate due Antwerp from Gibraltar 26tli True Briton arvu Cronstadt Topaze passed Dover 25th Tarpeia at St Nazaire discharging 24th Thomaby on passage to BraUa 24th Vecbis left Shields for London 25th Wellfield on passage to Naples 24th Watlington left Barry for Genon, 24th Wave on passage to Odessa 25th

Welsh Gossip. I t Canon Silvan Evans, the well-known lexico- grapher, is very unwell. Mr Owen Edwards has promised 95 towards erecting a national monument to Owen Glyndwr. Sir John Rigby, the new judge, has taken Lord Sudeley's place near Trecynon for a few months. The chairman of the Oswestry Quarter Sessions was presented with a pair of white gloves last week, there being no prisoners to be tried. A :suggestion is being made that Owen Glyn- dwr's monument should be erected on the top of Snowdon, where he found welcome refuge many a time. Good news from Rhyl! A Nonconformist Union was formed last week in Rhyl for the pur- pose of promoting greater unity by exchanging pulpits and other means. The Royal visit to Rhyl, unlike that at Car- narvon, was a financial success. The expenses were B453 7s 7d, and the receipts £ 459 2s 7d, leaving a clear balance of J35 15s to the good. Last week a Government official paid a visit to Denbighshire to see what could be dono to carry out the suggestion that was recently made in the House of Commons with regard to the re-afforest- ing of Welsh hills and mountains. It is authoritatively stated that Mr St. John Raikes, the son of the late Mr Cecil Raikes, will retire from his candidature for East Denbigh- shire, and that Sir Watkin Wynn will oppose Sir George Osborne Morgan at the next election. Carnarvon is up in arms. Colonel Ruck, the chief constable of the county, has received the consent of the joint police committee to remove his residence from Carnarvon to Bangor, in order to have greater facilities for the education of his children. Fifty-six candidates sat for the connexional examination of the Welsh Methodists this year, 23 in Denbigh and 33 m Cardiff. The examiners were the Revs. D. Charles Edwards, Merthyr J. E. Davies, London John Hughes, Liverpool; and S. J. Roberts, Portmadoc. The Conway Town Council is composed of a majority of Tones, and a determined attempt was made in a recent meeting to do away with the school board. A bare majority voted for the abolition, but as a two-thirds majority is required by law, the school board still remains. The Rev. J. G. Hughes (Moelwyn), the popular pastor of the Welsh Calvmistic Methodist Church at Neath, has received a very pressing and unanimous call to the pastorate of Cardigan Calvinistic Methodist Church. His friends at Neath hope that he will stay with them. The Rev. Gwynoro Davies, of Barmouth, though he has picked up the mannerisms of the North Wales speech, is by birth a South Walian, and he is still remembered at Talley in Carmar- thenshire as "John y Can tvvr," because in the days of his yotitli li,) conducted a singing school in the "village of the lakes." Professor Seys, of Oxford, claims to be a Welshman, and says that Seys" is but" Sais —the Welsh word for Englishman—in disguise. It is a fact that, some years ago, it was the custom to call anyone who could speak English as a "Sais," and in rural parishes there could be found genuliit3 Welshmen who went by the name of "Twin Sais" or Dai Sais." A correspondent of the Liverpool Mercury states that Mr Aciand is to be approached with reference to contesting ihe Arvon Division, which wiil be rendered vacant at the end of this Parlia- ment by the resignation of Mr Rath bone. Mr W. Jones has already been accepted as the Liberal candidate, and the statement of the Mercury is looked upon as a mere canard. Mr Plummer, Fellow of Corpus Christi College, Oxford, and sometime Senior P.-octor of the University, is one of the fow Englishmen who have thoroughly mastered the Welsh language. Mr Plummer used to be a constant attendant at Professor Rhys'?, Celtic lectures, and is known to the world of scholars as the author of a capita! edition of Fortescue's Governance of England." Daniel Owon is the name of the one novelist of note which Wales has yet produced. His new tale, Gwun Tomos," which has already appeared in serial form, will he published in one volume at the end of the month. Mr Owen was at one time a Methodist minister, but ill-health com- pelled him to give up the ministry, and since thon he has supportedcbimself by writing fiction. In Montgomeryshire they have a very practical way of holding "thanksKtving meetings." A service in a certain parish the other day was held in church in the morning. After service the whole cf the inhabitants p (rtook of a sumptuous luncheon m the schooirooni; and in the afternoon a tea was given to the school children. Tins reminds one of the o'.d fedel wenith in its palmy days. No one can be a Llewelyn Davies without being a Welshman, and there are at least three men who bear that name. There is the Rev. Llewelyn Davies, whose two sons were elected simul- taneously the other day Fellows of Trinity taneously the other day Fellows of Trinity College, Cambridge. Then there is the Vicar of Llanwonno, Pontypridd. And, lastiy, Mr Llewelyn Davies, of Bryngelly, whose name was mentioned in connection with the vacancy in the Swansea Distriet. How is it that the wealthy men among the \VeJ<h Methodists marry the daughters of minis- ters ? Probably the two richest Nonconformists in Wales are Mr Richard DavIs, the Lord- Lieutenanb of Anglesey, and Mr Edward Davies, Llandinam. Mr Richard Davies married the daughter of the Iûv. Henry Rees, of Liverpool, and Mr Edward Davies the daughter of the Rev. D. Lloyd -Tones, Llandinam. Mrs Rhys, the wife of Dr John Rhys, of Ox- ford, was once called by the Times one of the "three talking women of England." She is an ardent politician, a keen Radical, and an enthusiastic Nationalist. She was born at Llan. beris, and though she has acquired four European languages, she has not forgotten the old fair treasure of her native speech." She is never more happv than when entertaining Welsh under- graduates at Gwynva," her Oxford home. Having erected a brass tablet to commemorate the permanent works accomplished by the Rev. Canon Thompson, D.V., during the 20 years of his incumbency of the parish of St. John, Cardiff, his admirers have decided to present the vicar with his bust in bronze, the work to be executed by Mr Goscombe John, the talented young sculptor of whom all Cardiff is proud. Mr John Bailinger is the hon. secretary of the combined movement, and Dr. Taylor the treasurer. A sad calamity has overtaken the river Dee. Its waters have been poisoned for about 12 miles from Cefn, and hundreds of salmon, trout, and eels have been destroyed. It is unknown whether the poisoning is due to accident or malice prepense. It is certain that one of the best hits of fishing in North Wales has been spoilt for some time, though 150,000 young salmon were brought into the river last week. The board of conservators are making an inquiry into the cause of the :s poisoning. Archdeacon Griffiths, of Neath, is a vara avis' in the Welsh Church who has not forgotten the rock from which he was hewn. He is a Cardigan- shire man by birth, but, uulike most Cardigan- shire parsons, he is not the son of Nonconformist parents. He still speaks affectionately of his native parish of Hen Fenyw, which he claims to have been the birthplace of Dewi Sant, and he has throughout his life been associated with almost every movement whieh has had to do with Cymru, Cymro, a Chyrnraeg." The magistrates at Bangor refused to renew the lioence of the solitary public-house at a village called Glasinfryn. The Licensed Victuallers' Association took ti. case up, and appealed to the quarter sessions at Carnarvon. The villagers, however, appeared in droves at the sessions, so that they looked, according to the appealing barrister, "like a panorama." The magistrates were so impressed by the enthusiasm of the villagers that they upheld the magistrates' decision, and Glasinfryn is without a public. house. Mr J. Arthur Price, of Lincoln's Inn, who is taking such a deep interest in the Prince Llewelyn memorial, is the son of the Shrewsbury solicitor. He was educated at Shrewsbury School, and Balliol College, Oxford, where ho took a scholarship in classics. His degree ws-s an exceptionally brilliant onev two 1 iirsts m I classics, and a second in modern history. Though ■ a Tory by inclination and early associations, and I a High Churchman by conviction, Mr Price is an ardent Welsh Nationalist and a believer in Welsh HojaeRule.

Albion Funds. I THE WIDOWS' RIGHT. f Permanent Society Policy. I THE "GAME OF GRAB." I Seizing the Orphans' Property. I It was decided, at a meeting held in Cardiff on Wednesday, to hand over to the Miners' Permanent Society the whole product of the money collected by the mayor of that town in respect of the Albion Colliery explosion, the capital sum to be vested in separate trustees, but the whole of the annual income to be paid over as stated. There is reason to believe reason sufficient to make the matter almosu a certainty— that the London and Pontypridd funds will be added to that of Cardiff, and that therefore the Permanent Society will appropriate nearly all the public sub-cripnons, leaving the widows and orphans not one penny the better for the great outpouring of public benevolence. This is 30 serious a matter that we are bound to direct attention to the process by which, with due semblance of legality, so objectionable a result has been brought about. Although £ 35,000 has been subscribed by the charitable, the dependents upon the men killed at the Albion Colliery will not receive the slightest benefit. They are entitled, by reason of contributions which the deceased men made to the society, to receive from that society a sum of 5s per week for each widow and 2s 6d for each child that is the legal liability resting upon the Permanent Society in respect of the subscriptions paid, and it has to pay that amount quite irrespective ot anything but the contract to pay which it made with the men who lost their lives. Yet the society now "bags" the whole of the public money subscribed to help the women and children, and will not pay them one farthing beyond what it owes them, what it is obliged to pay them, and what they could compel it to pay if the public had not been appealed to. THE MINERS' PERMANENT PROVIDENT I SOCIETY. The Monmouthshire and South Wales Miners' Permanent Provident Society is an association to whose funds both masters' and men subscribe, the former adding 225 to each £100 contributed by the latter, who, by their payments, secure to themselves certain agreed upon benefits. At present, we are concerned only with the benefit paid to survivors upon death of a member from colliery accident—namely, that the widow is to receive 53 per week, and 2s 6d per week for each child up to a certain age. The benefit which employers receive in consideration of their con- tribution is the agreement of the men that the Employers' Liability Act shall not apply. The society is, for employers, a method of evading the liability which would otherwise attach to them by law. THE GRAB-ALL SOCIETY. I it has long been manifest that the Permanent I Society was engaged in a gaikie of "grab." As each great accident awakened public sympathy and evoked generous subscription to aid the sufferers, the society's representatives have bpen alert to obtain advantage by securing as large H I)roportion as possible of the money subscribed. But never till this week have they had the temerity to attempt to seize the whole of the funds, and never have they had so easy a task n; any of their attempts. It would be inLerestili, and profitable to learn exactly how Wednesday's meeting- was called, and to get an idea of hou many subscribers knew when and where it WAS to take piace. "Poked away in a comer," as one of those present expressed the situation, tins ciozsn or so of gentlemen who did attend have fortified the Permanent Fund at the expense of the widows and orphans of Cilfynydd. Here is the list of amounts stated at that meeting to have been subscribed :— THE PUBLIC CONTRIBUTIONS. Cardiff :Funl1 (of winch £ 6,130 had been paid up) £ 10,449 Pontypridd Fund 7,780 London 5 638 Newport. 1.800 Aberriare 418 Merthyr 383 Swansea 417 Permanent: Fund receipts 6.255 Weslel'n J1lail Fund 2,000 South Wales Daily News 2,300 Parliamentary Fund (Mr A. Thomas, M.P.) 1,300 Aberavon (about) 300 £ 39.041 Tho total amount, as stated at the meeting, was £ 34 612—Sho difference in the total being chidIv due to the difference between tho nominal amount of the Cardiff fund and the sum actually paid It was expressly stated that the amount approximate, there being difficulty as yet in ascertaining the exact figures. For the purposes of this article we will take tho figures of tho meeting, namely, £ 34,600, as the total. From this we deduct the newspaper fnixis and the Parliamentary fund £ 2,000, £ 2,300, i i (i LI,300-.t total of L5,600 and that leaves £ 29,600 or £ 30,000 iu round numbers, pit:? £ 4-,CG0 to £ 5.000 yet to come in. WHAT THE SOCIETY "BAGS." I Tins £30,000 is made up of three classes of contributions (1) those given specifically to help the Permanent Society, (2) those given with the express condition that they should not go to help that society, and, (3) those given unconditionally. The first-named class of contributions amounted, so said the society's secretary, to between L14,000 and £ 15.GOO. There remains, accepting his state- ment, at least an equal amount which was not given to the society and this is the amount which the society endeavours to appropriate. The sum is really larger, exceeding £ 20,000; but we will take L-15,000 as an amount admitted. HOW THE THING IS DONE. When the dozen or score of gentlemen settled down to the business of their meeting on Wednes- day, they were presented with a scheme of appropriation which had been drawn up in advance, the effect of which was to secure solely for the Permanent Society the benefit of the public subscriptions. The secretary of the society put resolutions into the hands of the gentlemen who spoke, with request that they would move them. Mr Campbell, also on behalf of the society, was prepared to state that if the scheme of appropriation wero adopted by that meeting, then the Lord Mayor's fund would be added. The whole business had evidently been pre-arranged and it was carried through mainly upon the pre-arranged lines. It was stated also that the resolution submitted had been drawn up by lawyers. Who instructed those lawyers ? In regard to the Park Slip Fund, where similar pre- arrangement had been made, the lawyers were instructed by the Permanent Society we do not fear error in concluding that on the present occasion, also, the society gave the needful in. structions—in its own interest. WHAT ABOUT THE WIDOWS AND ORPHANS ? The whole of the money outside the first clas belongs to the widows and orphans, and tho Permanent Society is obtaining possession of it- legally, no doubt, bub wo are desirous of making it clear to those who subscribed the money that the persons they intended to help will be in no degree benefitted. The dead miners' wives and children get nothing from the public subscrip- tions. They are no better off than if nothing had been subscribed. Fifteen thousand pounds of their money is being taken to bolster up an insurance society upon which they have a legal claim, which is their debtor, and which is the instrument whereby they are debarred from taking advantage of the Employers'Liability Act. THE EXCUSE. I The excuse for this action is plausible. It is, that the Permanent Society, by reason of the very heavy drain made upon it by such great' disasters as those of the last five years, might not be able to meet its liabilities and that, there- fore, to help the society is to benefit the widows and orphans, by securing to them due payment of the weekly allowances; that, moreover, the Albion money will be vested in separate trustees, and not be liable to the risks of the society, which is to receive only the annual income. If the society is likely to be in difficulty, that is a very good reason for helping it. We do not Oppose the proposal to help it; what we reprobate is the taking of money which was subscribed for the women and children of Cilfynydd. VALUE OF THE PERMANENT SOCIETY. it wouia be impossible to extol too highly the great and good work which the society is doing. Wo yield to none in appreciation of the invaluable assistance it renders to the mining community of this district. One fact alone, stated at Wednesday's meeting, is conclusive testimony to the advantages it confers upon Monmouthshire and South Wales. There has not been," said Mr Ellis, any increase in the applications to the board of guaidians for relief to people in Cilfynydd." Thab i3 to say, the hundreds of dependents upon the deceased men have been spared the degradation of pauperisui their self- respect has been maintained and they have an approximation to the standard of comfort which was theirs before loss of the family bread-winner. This is noble work to have accomplished. Every reader will unite in encomium of such work, and i will jo:n with us in expression of hope that the usefulness of the Permanent Fund may never be impaired by failure of its financial stability. More than in relation to the great mining disasters, it affords relief in cases of single accident, -the persons so relieved outnumbering those affected by the great calamities. THE EXCUSE INVALID. THE EXCUSE INVALID. I But with full recognition ot the value of the society, we have to object most strongly to the means adopted for strengthening its position. The excuse made is invalid. Appropriation of the product of the widows' £ 15,000 will not ensure the society's stability, whilst it will certainly deprive the women and children of what belongs to them. They are entitled to 5s per woman and 2s 6d per child from the society, and they are entitled, in addition, to such a weekly payment as the annual income of their money would produce. This supplementary allowance is taken from them by the appropria- tion of the income to the Permanent Society and the society's permanence is not ensured because—to name only one contingency—enact- ment of a Liability Bill which makes "contract- ing out illegal would deprive the fund of the 25 per cent. which the employers now pay to it. There are other contingencies; we need name only this one. Where will the fund be when the masters' 25 per cent. is stopped? THE SOCIETY SHOULD HAVE SOME- THING. The Permanent society ought to be maintained —its business is admirably carried on as the instrument of administering funds sub- scribed by the public and it does the work of distribution in respect of Llanerch and other such funds, receiving payment therefor. No objection could reasonably be taken to its re- ceiving part of the income of the Albion capital as payment for distributing the rest. But the widows and orphans have a clear right to some allowance supplementary to that due to them by the society and it is a great wrong for that society to seize all the money and give the beneficiaries nothing beyond what it is legally liable to pay. In the case of Llanerch, the public subscriptions were sufficient to give to each widow 5s, and each child 2s 6d but instead of giving this amount in addition to the equal amount which the society had to pay, it was agreed by the Llanerch trustees that the society should retain half, and thus be, to that extent, helped in its finances. In respect of Llanerch, therefore, the society receives 5s per woman and 2s 6d each child from the trustees, and itself pays 2 6d and Is 3d, thus escaping half its liability. The woman, therefore, gets 7s 6d and the children 3s 9d each, the society is helped, and there is general satisfaction. WHAT CAN BE DONE? I That is for the miners leaders ana the local Trade Unionists to say. The women and child- ren are defenceless against a powerful institution having strong backers. Are the weak to be deprived of their rights solely because they are too weak to defend them ? deprived of their rights solely because they are too weak to defend them ? THE SOUTH WALES DAILY NEWS FUND. In accordance with explicit declaration made repeatedly in these columns, our own fund will be used to supplement any allowance, which the dependents of the Albion colliers may receive from other sources.

THE BRITISH FLEET IN CLILHESE WATERS. 'T seems that the Brit- ish Fleet in Chinese waters, exclusive of those now on ,their way, are almost equal to those of France and Russia combined, which, at fit-st sigbt, I s a cheering fact, but it ceases to bo so thoroughly inspiriting when one comes to :11Ialy"e the merits ef tho ships, A good many of our vessels an stlli armed wit h tho obsolete muzzle- loath-i, aim as the speed of a fieet^movmg to- gether, as a fleet has to be decided by the n(it of the fastest but the slowest ship, we are at a disadvantage as compared with both France and Russia. However, the advantage in numbers and tonnage is distinctly on our side, and will remain so when the reinforcements of all three nat;ol1S have arrived en the scene. We cannot but have every confidence, too, in our commander out there, Bir Edmnnd Fremantle, who is a galiant and well-tried salt of 58 summers. Sir Edmund comes of a naval stock, and a fighting one withal. It was he who jumped overboard on two separate occasions, and saved life at each attempt, once when there was more than ordi- nary fear that he would infallibly sacrifice his own. In Ashan- ADMIRAL Sill EDMUND FUEMANTLE. tee and Burmah he shed his blood freely for his Queen, and al- though there are those who would dt cry him by alleging that he is a scholar and not a man of action, this has probably arisen from the fact that the United Iiistitiit,. 1 .ie won the gold medal of the In- stitution, but that does not detract from his fighting merits. Blake was an excellent scholar, but De Ruyter and Van Iromp allowed him other qualities. Admiral Fremantle is a first-class linguist, yet he shoots better than he talks any language, and rides to hounds as well as he manoeuvres a squadron. At present the j destinies of England in the Far East are in his hands, and be may be trusted to uphold the honour of the flag.

-== COLLIERY AMALGAMATION IN SOUTH WALES. We are informed upon most reliable authority that a syndicate of colliery proprietors in South Wales has just brought to a successful issue negotiations which have been proceeding for some time for the acquisition of certain important mining properties in Glamorganshire. Tho actual documents have not yet been signed. we understand, but everything is now in readiness for the new owners to enter into possession of their property. During the last few days a rumour has been in circulation to the effect that the Albion Colliery Company's property was in the market, and that both the Ocean Colliery Company and the Great Western Colliery Company were in negotiation for its purchase. Wo are informed that it is a fact that overtures with a view to the acquisition of the Albion Colliery have been made by the representatives of a syndicate interested in neighbouring collieries in the Aberdare Valley, but that there is at the present timo no disposi- tion on the part of the directors of the Albion Colliery to part with that property.

I SAD CASE OF SUICIDE. A fruiterer and greengrocer at Birmingham named Arthur Ladbrook committed suicide on Thursday under peculiar circumstances. He ought to have met in the ordinary way of trade some heavy bills on Thursday, and the fact seemed to considerably depress him. Going to his stable ostensibly for the purpose of feeding his horse, he hung himself by a set of reins to a crossbeam, and when his wife becoming anxious went to look for him in an hour afterwards, she found him quite dead. Deceased had been in business several years.

I HUMAN SACRIFICE. ST. PETERSBURG, Thursday.—A sensational murder case will shortly come before the court of Sarapul, in the Province of Viatka. Several peasants belonging to the village of Staria Montana are suspected of practising pagan rites, and are charged with murdering a man with the 1 object of offering him as a sacrifice to their false deities. They are alleged to have decapitated and disembowelled their victim.—Reuier.

Pigs are numerous in Madagascar, and they are upon the same terms of familiarity with their owners as are pigs in Ire::I1"!d. ) i Tmc GROSVICNOU CAFE.POt of Tea, Roll and batter Oil Pot of Tea. Buttered Sc ne, 6d 914

I Here and There. I The tongue of woman is smaller than that of man. The Battle of Trafalgar lasted only three hours. The Romanoffs ascended the Throne of Russia in 1613. "Butterfly" capes are all the fashion this season again. The Marquis of Queensberry says he is a Home Ruler. The latest weekly paper to make its appearance is called Dogs. Only one out of every 15 persons have both eyes in good condition. Nowhere can Sir A. Sullivan compose so well as in a railway carriage. France has 1,450 Sunday-schools, with 3,800 teachers and 60,000 children. Mr Bayard is expected to return to London from the States next month. Last year over 4,500 million gallons of beer were drunk by the people of this world. The Patagonians are the tallest people in the world the shortest are the Laplanders. It is stated that there actually does exist a treaty of alliance between France and Russia. Paris is again d.ctating that long skirts shall be worn, long enough to literally sweep the streets. The population of Germany is now 51% millions. In 1816 it was only 14,833,000, and in 1870 40,818,000. The total number of the victims of the dynamite explosion in the Anina coal mine, near Temesvar, in Hungary, is now 65. The Prince of Wales has his double in London society, to whom people are constantly bowing with a vast show of respect. In several hotels where Mr Froude stayed when in America the female domestics, who were all Irish, refused to answer the bell. Mr Stanley suggests that Germany and Eng- land should make one Coast-Lake Victoria rail- way do between them in East Africa. His friends describe the Bishop of Chichester, who has just returned from a tour in the Italian Lake Country, as being as sharp as a needle. He is getting on for 92. Following on the exposure of the fraudulent trade in spent tea leaves, a correspondent in a London paper draws attention to similar tricks in the sale of ginger. Baron de Renzis di Montanaro di San Barto- lomeo will, report says, be appointed Italian Ambassador to the Court of St. James in the place of Count Tornielli. A new society of moralists has just been organised at Chicago, whose object is to compel domestic servants and typewriters to retire to bed at ten o'clock at night. There were 2,214 scarlet fever patients in the London hospitals at the end of last week, but the mildness of the malady was attested by the fact that only 18 deaths took place. The Denbigh Boroughs are still on the look out for a Liberal candidate. The Mayor of Denbigh, Mr Howel Gap, son of Mr Thomas Gee, the editor of the Bancr, may step into the breach. At the Coronation banquet of George IV. the guests consumed 100 dozen of champagne, 350 dozen of port and sherry, and 100 gallons of iced punch, while 100 barrels of ale were ordered for the use of the kitchen. The Secretary of State for "India has "selected Miss S. B. Williams, of Somerville College, Oxford, for the appointment of Head Mistress of the Girlie High School at Trivandrum, in the native State of Trivancore. The number of London County Council officials on yearly salaries was in 1889 164, in 1890 175, m 1891 237, in 1892 266, in 1893 304, and in 1884 339. In addition to these, there are always more than 100 temporary assistants. Footballer Tanner, the Swansea three-quarter, who was injured in the Barnstaple match a fort- night ago, and who at the end of last week was rtported better, has had a serious relapse. His condition is very critical. Between April 1st nnd the 20th inst., the receipts into the Exchequer amounted to ;6-1-1,500.276, as compared with £ 42,854,836 in the corresponding period of the last financial year; and tho expenditure to £ 53,260,936, as against £51.546.191. Moustiicheless now is Mr Jerome K. Jerome. Those who are familiar with the portraits of him, which appear in the recently-published volume My First Book aud elsewhere, would hardly, recognise the popular humorist with his clean- shaven face. There is one vigorous polo player at 76 years of age, and possibly only one in the world. Mr Robert Watson, the Grand Old Man of the Irish hunting world, is the player in question, whose 50h year as master of the Carlow hounds has just been celebrated. Tilo favourite drink at the Queen's ball, or at any of the parties at Buckingham Palace, is hock cup. It is prepared from a recipe which has long been in the possession of the Queen's household, and the beverage is so much in request that it is often drunk out before the end of the evening. Most of the best articles and jokelets from our smart little contemporary, the Sprig of Shillelagh, the journal of the 27th Inniskill- mgs, are to be re-published in book form. The editor of the Sprig, Lieutenant Noble, is de- voted to his journalistic work, and has made his paper undoubtedly the cleverest amoDgst similar military publications. A new and simple invention for using in con- nection with pottles containing poison consists of a bell fastened to a capped cork. It acts as a poison signal, for it is impossible to get at the contents of the bottle without the bell sounding an alarm. An English chemist has invented it. The tinkle, though loud enough to warn the nursr, is too gontle to Cllsurb the patient. A symposium will appear in the October number or the Huimnilarictn oil the question, "Should the same standard of morality be re- quired from men as from women?" Among contributors are Lady Gwendolen Ramsden, F, Frankfort Moore, Helen Mathers, Clement Scott, W. If. WUktns, Lady Burton, Mrs Josephine Butler, Victoria Woodhull Martin, and Dr Andrew Wilson. The Czar, as all the world knows, is devoted to music. Once a great singer went to Russia, and the Czar inquired her price for singing before him. "Five thousand roubles, please your Majesty." "Five thousand roubles! Why, that is more than I pay my field-marshals "Is it she replied audaciously. Then I advise you to get your field-marshals to sing for you." The money was forthcoming. M. Larroumet complains of the neglect of Victor Hugo's remains. It is nearly 10 years ago that the poet died, and amidst general signs of mourning his body was solemnly j placed in the national Walhalla, the Pantheon. A couple of temporary benches were improvised, and the coffin was placed upon these. Since then nothing whatever has been done. The body is just where it was placed at the time of the funeral. To a foreigner perhaps the most interesting mattor in all China is the system of education, pursued and tested by a series of competitive examinations in which tens of thousands take part annually, and by which any man may win for himself an important official post. Un- fortunately, it is merely education in the know- ledge of tho works of Confucius, and the correct I classical employment of tho multitude of Chinese characters. One day Mr Campbell-Bannerman, the present Secretary of State for War, was travelling in a railway carriage with one single fellow passenger, a young man, who on starting pulled out his cigar case. Ihis is not a smoking carriage, re- marked the Parliamentary head of the British Army. It very soon will be," replied the youngster, who was a subaltern in a ,oavalsy; regiment, and who had no idea he was speaking to his (very much) official superior. Anna Contesse do Bremont, the ruffled lady interviewer for St. Paul's, certainly got rather nasty when she wrote to Mr Gilbert saying she anticipated the pleasure of writing his biography for nothing but not so nasty as Berry, the ex-executioner, did once when, having a quarrel with a gentleman who preferred his room to his company at breakfast, exclaimed, Sir, I anticipate the pleasure of exercising my professional skill upon you some day No one has ever yet accurately gauged the depth of forgetfulness which men and women are capable of reaching, but a faint glimmering of it is obtainable from the periodical sales by the railway companies of unclaimed articles found m railway carriages and waiting-rooms. TiiM Great Northern announce one of these dis- persals soon. No less than 1,500 umbrellas are to be disposed of, a large number of hats, boots, slippers, and many things which one would I regard as the last articles m the world an ordinary person would be likely to forget. The laws laid down by fashion for the wearing of mourning at present stands thus :—For a widow, the duration is 18 months, for one year of which crape is worn, for three months, silk, and for the last three months, halt mourning. For a father or mother, or for a father-in-law or mother- in-law, nine months' crape, three months' silk, and three months' half-mourning. For a child over seven, six months' crape, three months' silk, and three months' half-mourning while for gnind-parents, brothers, sisters, brothers-in-law, or sisters-in-law, three mouths' crape, three I months' silk, and throe months' half-mourning are the allotted times..

The Gale. NUMEROUS SHIPPING f DISASTERS: I Atlantic Liner in Collision( i I BOAT CAPSIZED IN IRELAND, Loss of Five Lives. r On Thursday afternoon a steamer was seen it I the Bristol Channel apparently in distress, and it was evident from her appearance that she had been much knocked about by the gale. She made for Swansea, and on reaching the entrance channel she became an object of interest to a large crowd who had watched her movements in the bay. She proved to be the passenger vessel Aguila, of Iquitos, bound from Dover to Para. She was utterly unmanage- able, and refused to obey her helm. She managed to round the pier and enter the easb basin, where she collided against the east side. The steamer now hes in the basin safely moored, I an object of much curiosity to a big crowd. The Aguila is also a cattle vessel. No passengers or attle are on board the vessel. INTERESTING NARRATIVE BY THE » CAPTAIN. j Captain Brown, her commander, says :—Since Friday last the steamboat, a light one intended only for Brazilian rivers, has been practically drifting about the English Channel at the mercy of the wind and waves, On Wednesday last she left Dover and proceeded down channel. On Friday, at midnight, whi!e abreast of the Lizard, 30 or 40 miles from Ushant, it commenced blowing from the westward. The boat not having power enough to stem the wind and sea, commenced drifting bodily up channel. Since Monday there have been a succession of gales from west, south-west, and I south, and the boat became utterly unmanage- able. She sighted Scilly Islands on Tuesday night and on Wednesday, after running all day dead before a howling gale, tried to reach Milford. Finding this impossible she came on to Swansea for shelter and also tor coal, the stock of the latter being nearly expended. She will stay in port until the weather clears. ) VESSEL IN DISTRESS IN SWANSEA I BAY. I During Thursday afternoon some excitement I was caused by the ketch Catherine flying signals | of distress in Swansea Bay. Two tugs went out, | and found she was dragging her anchor, and they j towed her with little difficulty to a place of I safety. Several other vessels sheltering in the bay dragged their cables occasionally, but they | have not been placed in any serious predicameut. THE RESCUE OFF THE GOWER COAST. The gale raged off the coast of Gower through- out Thursday with unabated fury, but so far no further serious casualties are reported. The news of the Swedish barque Brazilian being in distress is not confirmed. It is hoped she is in saff, I shelter at Lundy. The barque Veneere, whose stranding and the rescue of whose I crew was reported in yesterday's South Wales Daily News, is now breaking up. Mr Burgess, the Danish Consul, has gone to the scene to make arrangements for the return of the crew to their homes, and to see what can be done in salving the cargo. The marvellous escape of her crew is a subject of much comment in Gower. Before putting out the boat, the captain poured a quantity of oil over the ship's side, and then placed his wife and child in the boat before I lowering her away into the sea. The whole of the crew then jumped into the boat, which was I veered in by a long line, one end of which was attached to the ship, which kept her end on tc I the sea. It appears that the Veneere arrived at Aberdovey a little more than three weeks I ago, where she discharged a. cargo of 620 tons of | wheat from Rosario. I MAN LOST OVERBOARD OFF I BARRY. At Barry and district tho force of the present gale has been considerably felt. No casualty of I any serious nature has occurred on shore, but great damage to property has occurred in the region of the docks. The sailing ship Monrovia, which left Barry on Wednesday morning, was beaten back to the Roads, and it was reported on Thursday night that a man had fallen overboard, | another being injured whilst attending to hit I duties on deck. Nothing definite can be gleaned of the circumstances, although the ship is still at of anchor near Sully Isfaadi" II ACCIDENT TO CARDIFF PItidT I CUTTERS. I At Cardiff and distriot the gale continued with full force till Thursday evening, when the weather | moderated somewhat. Up till late at night the I announcement made on Thursday night that a sailing ship in ballast had capsized while being towed up channel had not been confirmed. During the day the Ithamo, hailing from Mount- stuart Day Dock, fouled and broke six pilot cutters from their moorings, doing extensive diunage. The steamer proceeded to Barry Dock. I AN AMERICAN LINER IN COLLISION ) A Central News representative had an inter- view with a passenger by the steamship Paris or, I Thursday afternoon iu London with reference tc the collision of that liner with an unknown vessei eighty miles from Scilly. The passenger said on Tuesday morning: about half-past one, the Paris I ran into a sailing vessel. The look-out reported a wreck on the starboard bow, but by the time a I boat was lowered they had lost sight of it. They cruised around until daylight, but could find nC traces of the ship. The shock of the collision was only slight, and the Paris was damaged verj little. There was much criticism by the passen* I gers respecting an alleged delay in getting out j the lifeboat and in not throwing life-buoys ovel to mark the spot where the collision occurred. | There was not the slightest approach to a panic | at any time, although, naturally, the collision was the subject of conversation amongst the passengers. Oil passing the Lizard the Parit I signalled that she had been in collision, and the passengers were surprised to find that the news papers knew nothing on reaching Southampton. I BOATING DISASTER IN IRELAND. FIVE PERSONS DROWNED. During the gale on Wednesday night five I persons put out in a fishing boat in Kenmare Harbour. The boat capsized, and all were I drowned. I WRECKED IN" MORAY FIRTII. A storm of great violence provtiled on Thtirs, I day evening in the North of Scotland, and twe i vessels Viave been wrecked on the south side ol Moray Firth. One is the Danish schoonet Salome, from Sunderland to Portsay with coah and the other the Banff schooner Jane Shearer. The crews were rescued. SAVED BY THE LIFEBOAT. I The Austrian barque Guisto, 750 tons, botillct I from Sundswall to Cape Town with deals, waS I towed into Harwich harbour ou Thursday night. She went ashore on the Ga.bbard Sands on Wed1 nesday, and when she arrived she was drawing 24 feet of water. The Aldeburgh lifeboat took 011 j the crew.

CARDIFF NATURALISTS SOCIETY I The annual meeting of members of the Cardiff f Naturalists' Society was held in the Assembly* J room, Town-hall, on Thursday evening, when the president linir E. Seward, F.R.I.B.A.) WaA # the chair.—The secretary (Mr Walter Cook) read the seventh annual report of the committee. r which stated that on Oct. 1st, 1893, there were i')B the booIs 390, and there had joined, during th year 1893-4, 91. malting a total of 4ol. TherO had been five deaths and 24 resignatioJlS, and the nnmber of members at Octobfi' | 1st, 1894, was 452. (Applause.) | balance sheet showed that there was a balai'0'' of £ 166 10s lOd to be carried forward to the »ex» balance sheet showed that there was a balitict, of 2166 10s lOll to be carried forward to the le%L account. (AI)piaiise.)-Tlie report and ba!anc<! sheet were adopted.—Mr R. W. Atkinson, B.Sc.. F.I.C., was appointed president for the eusulng year, Mr Seward being made a vice-president and all the officers were re-elected, while the only alteration in the committee was the of Professor Haycraft for Mr S. S. Howard.— Seward then retired as president, and waS accorded a very hearty vote of thanks. A vote of thanks was also given the secretary for services to the society during the past year.-lr Atkinson took the chair and delivered an in" I augural address, in which he referred to the valu^ of such societies in keeping up the progress o* scientific research, the promotion of ].iterat\1fl I the protection of wild birds, and in various otl'e directions of natural science.

YANKEE YARNS. i Business Always. Mr Bong," said the secretary of the tearful Accident Insurance Company, be sure and drop in at old Curmudge's as you pass this morning, and express your sympathy over the loss of his brother in the railway accident yesterday. You may express mine also to him." But old Curmudge had no brother in the accident," said the canvasser. What has that to do with it?" said the secre- tary, cheerfully. All that he can do is to tell you so." li But it might unnecessarily alarm him," per- sisted the canvasser. That's the point that's exactly the point," returned the secretary. Alarm him as much as possible. His own policy runs out next month, and it is one of our duties to remind our patrons that in the midst of life we are surrounded by accidents." An Extra Room. I The real estate man had sent the facetious man to look at a five-room house he said he wanted. The prospective tenant found it in need of ex- tpnsive repairs, and went back to the agent's office. -1 I didn't want a six-room house," he said solemnly. That isn't a six-room house," retorted the agent. Yes, it is." But I say it is not," nnd the agent bpgan counting them there's the kitchen, two bed- rooms, recoption-rocm, and dining-room that's five, isn't it ?" Yes, and there's room for improvement; that's six," added the facetious man, and wanted to see something else. She Caught the Train. The married woman who is always in a hurry I and is afraid that her husband is going to be too late displayed her characteristic proclivity the other day in an amusir.g fashion. She was going to New York with her husband to attend a I wedding. When the two reached the Broad- street station they had three minutes to spare. The husband leisurely took his time in pur- chasing the tickets aud his llast demeanour irri- tafced the wife. Harry 1 Hurry, G, or we shall miss the train," she cried, tugging at his sleeve. Plenty of time," answered paterfamilias, un- concerned. The wife trundled up the steps. She ran for the nearest car, without waiting to see whether it was connected with the train, and took a seat. The husband strolled into the next car above, where he saw the green flag suspended. He thought his wile was there. He hunted through that car and those in front. As ho tnrned back the train began to move out of the station. He hastened to tho back plat- form, only to see his d°ar wife frantically waving her hands on the platform of the car chat was not coupled with the tmill. The wedding waR mjsed, and the wife now lias decided that it is better to be with her husband. A Preposition. Say. you couldn't spare Ti i- five dollars, could you, Castleton ?" asked his friend Tutter. S'jrry, old ch:n>, but I'm awfully short. Ex- pect to take Miss Van Winkle to the theatre to- mgnt. Yuu'rc in luck. Nice girl that." Rather." Rather Well, I should say so. Why, she's one of the most exclusive giris I ever met." I didn't know that." That's because she favours you so. She won't have anything to do with me." Won't, eh ? Why, I thought she liked you, Tut ter." In a. way, yes. But she's too particular. The man who goes out with that girl, old man, ought to fee! highly honoured. Mighty few can do it, you know." That so ? Why, I didn't think it was any- thing- extraordinary that she accepted my invita- tion." You didn't ? T tit, I d i (I fl' t. Why, she wouldn't go with me. You don't know when you have a good thing, old fellow, de you ?" Well. I don't know that I do. She's pretty, isn't she ?" Pretty Why, that isn't the name for it. She is an All the fellows have been raving over her, but she doesn't seem to notice anyone but you." Castleton contemplated his boots with a de. lighted smirk. And here I have been blind as a bit to it all th- tirne. "C,:rc.i,in',r you have been. But you are so used to it I suppose you it as a matter of coui se." Probably," with anotiier beaming smile. Oh. by the way, old man, to return to that subieot could you manage to squeeze me out a fivei? Well," perplexedly, I don't know. I'll tell I you what I will do, thong! What eagerly. 1'1! let you have it, old fellow, when she pro- poses to me."

I LATE PROFESSOR FROUDE. I The Press Association says the certified cause of Processor Fronde's death was "abdominal carcinoma exhaustion." About two months ago, during the early stages of the professor's illness, Dr. Webb, of Kingsbridge, detected, after careful i examination, a slight growth, which he diagnosed as of a cancerous nature. At the close of the examination the patient :kecl what was wrong, and on being told that he was very ill and re- quired great care, replied that he knew this, but wanted to be informed what was really wrong. Dr. Webb cautiously responded that there was a slight growth, which might not prove specially dangerous, whereupon Professor Froude observed, "I understand what you mean you think I have cancer." Dr. Webb said there was the danger that the growth might; prove cancerous, and tho patient remarked, "I see you believe I have cancer. Well, if my time has come I shall not complain. I have had my innings." At about the time when the professor showed slight im- provement Dr. Webb saw him, and he asked whether it was likely he would be able to go back to his work again. On hearing that this was impossible he said, "If that is the caso I do not wish to live."

TITHE COLLECTION IN CARDIGAN I Ou Thursday morning Mr Robert Lswis, the tithe bailiff, left Newcastle Emlyn, escorted by a posse of police, under the command of the Chief Constable (Mr Howell Evans), and made for the parishes of Penbryn and Llangranog to enfore payment of tithes. The bailiff made levies at Aberharthtn Farm, occupied by Mr tiimon Davie?. Ac Wauniawr, the temnt, Mr Evan Davies, was from home, and the bailiff, taking advantage of this opportunity, sue ceeded for the first time in effecting an entry into G'.ascoed Farm, out of which Mr T. Davies had up to this present time managed to keep the bailiffs. At last he was caught napping, and had to pay. The next piace visited was Cefn Bach, owned by Mrs Elizabeth Davies, who paid the sum demanded, and a drive of several miles in a downpour of rain brought the party to Gwyndwn Farm, occupied by Mr Joshua Griffiths. The hay levied upon before was missing, and the bailiff made a fresh distraint upon two ricks of bay. So far the proceedings were tame, but no sooner did the tithe party make for the northern portion of Penbryn parish than the sternest of the local agitators galloped wildly about and joined the procession. On Penlan Hii!, which farm is considered a kind of citadel, a crowd of persons were seen scanning the movements of the party on the roads below.

ALLEGED EMBEZZLEMENT AT j SWANSEA, I I The police are actively engaged in endeavouring to enforce a warrant they poizses3 for the arrest of a commercial traveller named Robert Arthur Chettle, a commercial traveller for a Birmingham firm, on charges of embezzlement. Chettle left Swansea some weeks ago, and has since been seen in London, where lives a sister, the lady barber," whose breach of promise :1ctionaroused much interest some time ago. He is now supposed to be on his way to Australia.

SHOCKING QUARRY ACCIDENT I AT CHEPSTOW. A terrible accident happened at Chepstow to a quarry man, named Henry Taylor, residing at Thomas-street, Chepstow, on Thursday morning. It appears that about a quarter past nine o'clock the unfortunate young fellow was working at Mr W. Jones's quarry on the Gloucestershire bank of the river Wye, when a large stone fell from above completely smashing his head. Death must have been instantaneous.

AN M.P. FINED FOR ASSAULT. At the quarter sessions held at Ballinasloe on Thursday, before Judge Henn, an ac ion against Mr John Roche, M.P. for East Mallow, for assaulting a man named James Walsh and his wife in the course of a, dispute about trespass, was hea.rd. The charge of assaulting Mrs Walsh was dismissed but for the assault on Wa'sb, which consisted of rather a severe blow with a stick, Mr Roche was fined £ 5 and ordered to pay F,5 costs. _————

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FACTS AND FANCIES. Wife My first husband was a great fellow to get other people into scrapes.—Husband He must have had me in mind when he died. Reedley Why do yon smoke continually from morning until night ?-Weedly It's the only time I get. I sleep from night till morning. Clara I should think you would feel cheap to be sold thus to a man you do not love.—Mamie (anxiously) Do you thmk I ought to ask more ? Little Isaac Fadder, what does dis mean, Effery cloud has a silver lining 2"—Fadder I dink dot means financial clouds, like fires und vailures, mein son. Have you nothing warm for supper ?" demanded the goat, petulantly.—" Yes," an- swered his wife, with a sweet smile here is a nice piece of chinchilla overcoat." "Sometimes," said Uncle Eben, "yoh kain't intiahly trus' er man dat keeps talkin' bout de beauty ob honesty. Hit soun's too much ez ef he was argyin' wif hisse'f." Young Tutter I don't think I ever talked so much in my life as I did to Miss Redbud last night.—Miss Pinkerley She said she asked you a lot of questions about yourself. Jack Yes, they are twins, and there is a remarkable thing about them.—Tom What is I it ?—Jack The married one admits to being five years older than the unmarried one. Eiderly Bridegroom: I hope, my dear, that you are not sorry you have made an old man your husband ?—The Bride What nonsense You know I will never have occasion to be jealous of you Miss Twynn They say Miss Higsrins is trying hard to master hypnotism.—Mrs Triplett It's true. She has concluded that unless she hypno- tises a man and makes him marry her, she may as well give up. 'NIA How I-IE -,AGED IT.-A Prague printer ex- tricated himself from an unpleasant dilemma by the use of his native ingenuity. He was once called upon to print a report of the Board of Trade of his native city in the two languages of the country, German and Czech, and the repre- sentatives of either national I ty strenuously uesired that their tongue should occupy the first of the parallel columns on each page. TI-e wary printer got out of his dilemma by turning one column upside down throughout the book, and arranging the titles accordingly, so th:1.t each language had a front column on every page. AT His WITS' ENi-. -A popular English author was wholly incapacitated for work by a lady who lived next door and strummed through Handel's "1I"siah." His idea of the inviolability of an Englishman's house did not allow him to send in any message, and he was at his wits' end till he saw m a daily paper that steam whistles could be bought to fit on to kettle spouts. Ho nrovided himself with one and put the kettle on the fire in the room ne-.rest the singer. As soon as the whistle began he went out. Of course the bottom came off the kettle, bnt it cost little to soldier it on again, and after two or three solderings the lady took the hint. Or.KDiKNcn.—It is no doubt a good thing to make children obedient, but th"re is something almost pathetic as well as funny in the following conversation, which recently appeared in a German paper Please, mamma, may I speak?" said little Hans. "No," replied his mother; "you know that you are nc-ver allowed to speak at ttie table." "But mayn't I say just one word ?" said Hans, very red and much troubled. "Not till your father has finished reading his newspaper." The father reads the p.ipn- in a very leisurely way, lays it down on the table and turns to th child, who has been Wait- ing patiently. Now, my boy, what do you want to say?" "Oh, please, papa, the pipe in the bath-room has burst T-I;SULTFD. -Recently in Paris a person who is classed as a poet was sent to prison for an assault with intent to commit, murder, and his case recalls that of another poet, Chapon by name, who about the middle of the present century ended his days in prison for theft. Chapon was, indeed, an inveterate thief, and was apprehended more than once. At the prison of Saint Pelapie, during his incarceration, Chapon once met Felix Pyat, revolutionist and communist, who was generally in prison for some political offence. As political prisoners were generally sent to Saint Pelagie, and as Chapon was a somewhat pretentious and w*li-educated person, Pyat supposed that It" too, had bf'en sentenced for some revolutionary attempt. So, stepping up to him, he cordially extended both his hands and said, with a friAndly smile, We, sir, political offenders—" I beg your pardon, cit:z- n," said Chapon, straightening himself up nnd looking down very coldly on Pyat, I'm in tor stealing, if you please _A_