The Cardigan Observer and General Advertiser for the Counties of Cardigan Carmarthen and Pembroke

THE TRANSVAAL. 1 A quarterly journal published in Natal, under the 1 auspices of the Pietermantzburg Young Men's I Christian Association, says the Times, gives in its last number an article-Notes on the Transvaal—believed to be the result of careful personal observation. The :J- writer sets the actual extent of the country down at Xj 116,000 square miles but he thinks that surveysmay v show this estimate to be under the mark. He is of opinion that the country is capable of growing wheat in any quantity-of becoming what it is in name, a veritable corn-chamber; but it has bein said by many that. owing to the necessity of irriga- tion and the cost of it. only a small percentage Of the corn-growing land will be found capable of cultivation. He puts down the minerals that are commercially valuable, as gold, copper, lead, cobalt, iro*. ioa1' ,the ,?fter ex'shn? ln enormous quantities, and being almost everywhere procured with facility." He states that "the igno- rance of the people can scarcely be over-eghmattd; the present generation of Transvaal Boers has Badly degenerated." The natives are very different from the Zulus. As a race they are not so conservative, nit so warlike they are imitative, and take kindly to industrial pursuits, but are inferior to Zulus in pby- •ijrte and in Dot.le bearinp." The Natal Mercury says: V y Our Utrecht (Transvaal) correspondent, who hBS so parsistentJy complained that the L*w Courts have 'L baen a bulwark to land-iobbing and land swindling, tails us that a new order of things has been ushered in with the new rule. If the bugaan stable hs not yet been cleansed, it is in II fair way to be to. Chief Justice Kotze, young though he is, has bad the g 3od sense and the courage to signalise his assumption of office by a thorough discountenancing of previous malpractices. Weaccept our correspondent's authority t jt this last statement, and we do so the morereadily as Mr. Kotze was not anomineeof the British Govern- ment. He received bis appointment before the Re- public ceased to ba. and is identtned with the Cape Dutch section of the population, rather than with any newer imported element. That he has shown a wise discretion and a sound judgment in setting his face re- solutely against any corrupt or even equivocal ten- dt-neiesin the judicial administration of the territory cannotbe doubted. It is the pride and glory of the British jadiciary that it is above suspicion. It is of peculiar importance that in matters of land title, the credit of the Government and the claims of justice should be maintained. Large areas of Transvaal land are already changin? hands in England and else- where and should it be found by the buyers that they have bought properties which are no properties, fatal and lasting injury will be done to the material interests of the country. As it is, we greatly fear that many innocent investors and purchasers in England are imagining themselves the possessors of farms which will turn out very questionable bargains. No part of the local administration will entail greater trouble, or necessitate closer scrutiny, than that which concern the survey of and titles to land. The reckless way in which farms have been sold or granted during the last 15 or 20 years does not find a parallel even during the early days of NataL It is positively stated that the new Govern- ment finds no land left for its disposal, so that in the matter of real estate it is worse off even than Natal. On the other hand, we conceive it to be quite pos- sible that, with vigorously applied legislation, many of these farms may revert to Government by reason of there being no recognisable owners of them." The Natal Mercury says also: "Oar correspondent hears that at the recent conference the Zulu chiefs claimed for Oety- wayo, as the boundary of his territory, the line of the Drakensberg and the Bdffalo, which would not only include the disputed territory-now occupied by Boer farmers—but all Utrecht and a part of Wak- kerstroom, districts that have been for over twenty years in the undisturbed possession of the Transvaal Government. If this story be true, the pretensions of the Znla King have ridiculously expanded of late, and we have no doubt that Sir T. Bhepstone's reply Was becomingly emphatic and summary. No man in South Africa knows better how to rebuke the I noble savage' than does his Excellency and the successor of Chaka' is not likely to brook any undue assump- tions on the part of the ambitious King-no longer young now—whom he first recognittd' and then crowned." "A correspondent in Zulu- land, under date October 26th, sends us an interesting communication, the purport of which is to show that there is no reason for apprehension regarding the attitude ef the Zulus. The retirement of the mis- sionaries, about the middle of this year, was the result of a groundless scare. Most of them have since re- turned to their stations. The Zulus, he says, will not make war unless a European force first crosses their bjundary."

DODGING THE LAw.-M&ny people who are not teetotalers," but who have been fated to listen to midnight oratory in the House of Commons, may be pleasingly surprised to learn that the sale of in- toxicating liquors is prohibited in the United States Congress Refreshment-rooms. Unfortunately, how- ever, this arrangement does not suit all the members, and amusing expedients are resorted to in order to evade the regulation. The restaurant keepers have christened their liquors with new names. Accord- ingly, under the mild title of "cold tea," whisky tastes as fiery as ever, and rum loses none of its potency though dispensed to bibulous legislators under the name of Roman punch." A temperance man, on asking for the apple sauce mentioned in the bill of fare was shocked to find it set before him in a goblet with hot water and a teaspoon, while on the other side ef the table a Southern senator was loudly calling for "some of that stuff you hand round in cups and on plates." The order was filled up with a dram of Bourbon whisky. It is satisfactory, however, to find that drunkenness in the capital is rare and, notwithstanding the rather free-and-easy kind of representatives sent on to Washington by some of the far Western States and territories, the scenes once so notorious are now almost unheard of. The States which have adopted a stringent liquor law find it difficult to carry it out. The most ingenious ruses are adopted in order to obtain the object of the topers' desire. In Vermont, where the law is EO strict that the liquor seller is made responsi- ble for damages done by an intoxicated person, the druggists' shops are the favourite haunts of the droughty. u How's the baby ?" is the conventional query. Bully," is the regulation reply; Better see jt*" And forthwith the baby is found, in the shape of a black bottle and a glass, on a shelf in a retired back room. Another formula is to inquire after the whereabouts of "striped pig," and never was a baby so solicitously looked after, or a pig, striped or otherwise, 80 eagerly sought for, as in Maine, Ver- mont, or Rhode Island. But, we suppose, laws can never make individual men moral, though in the States mentioned the arrangement has worked so well that their legislatures have declined to repeal the anti- liquor legislation.—The Echo. SITTING BTTLI,—-The American papers re- a remarkable interview with a Catholic Abb6 named Spencer had with the famous Sitting Bull." The interview occurred on Oanadian territory, near Port Walsh. The Abbd says that on arriviile within did not recognise Ouster or any of the officers they were killed so fast that there was not time to recog- nise them. SIBEBIAN I'X.AGUB AT Moscow.—Muoh alarm

PARIS FASHIONS. Point de riz and vieux point d'Alen^on are being corked, jibe former on galoons, and the latter on fine linen and other fabrics used for the decoration rather than the trimming of heavy silk toilettes. Point de riz is an imitation of grains of rice, a favourite article in the code of fashion just at presont. It is executed with bright glossy silk, and with short white bugles the latter are preferred on white faille. A beautiful ball dress has been ornamented with bands of this work, while the fringes employed at the edges of the tunique and sleeves were long- eared silver wheat. Pink and blue rice are also worked, but the effect is not the same. Rice-tulle, rice-paper fans, and rice modesties are likewise the names given to very dead white materials, be they silk, paper, or crepe-lisse. Before describ-ng -the vieux point d'Alrn^n there is still something to be Raid about the new toilet-powder, called poudre deriz su bismuth, now used to excess. An effort has been m*de to rtvive the fashion which formerly existed of powdering not only the person and wig, but those velvet facings which came closest to the face anti throat, in order to impart to them a certain softness. This was, even in an age of extravagant research, a short-lived fashion, and the rtivivnl bas not been welcomed but, on the other hand, bismuth mixed with all the powders used for the ekin is subject to much contes, tation as concerns its ultimate hygienic effects. Two camps are dhidtd on the point, one upholding that ladies are ruining tbeir health with the particles of arsenic contained in the powder, others maintaining that bismuth is not prejudicial. Ladies on the Conti- nent could rot do better than keep to plain fecule de pomme de terre, which is easily perfumed with a little iris or violet. The old Alencon stitch, formerly executed only on thelace of that name, is now employed on linen in imi tation cf mediaeval cloths, kerchief-borders, &c. Old Alencon is totally different from modern. The web was formerly uneven and the patterns were in high relief. They were medallions, portraits, and even animals of great minuteness. A piece of imitation of the antique reproduces the old style very perfectly, It is a fiehu for the bosom showing fern branches for the ground-work, over which run a few hares in close texture. But a more perfect imitation is a cluster of detached azaleas entirely made of old Alencon stitch, and mounted, like artificial flowers for the hair. Galoon-embroideries have originated a pretty fashion for ball dresses. A wide band of tulle is worked with flowers or the initials of the wearer in various designs. It iq put on crossing from the right shoulder over the bosom, and fastening low down under the left arm. This kind of scarf bears all the aceeasoriea for a ball-room toilette, such as the fan- hook, ivory-tableta, handkerchief, and bouquet. Day and visiting toilettes are at present of a very elabe- rate description. Sleeves arc fanciful, being slashed on the front of the arm, and the slashes being lined and twisted over to show the contrasts between the upper and under part. Waists are busqued and peaked, especially the latter for full dress. Much lacing is fashionable; even linen collars and cuffs are laced on, and sometimes with coloured silk, but square collars and euffs are preferred. The full-dress hat continues to be either a white Rubens or a golden cloth Marie Stuart capote, of which the edge is a row of cut beads. Very rich and curious are the knick-knacks on velvet and faille bonnets, the prettiest being initials, large hammer- shaped pins, and swords and daggers. The fashion for exotics and exotic foliage is declining. At recep- tions in high circles, evergreens and lauristina are 8referred. Violets and monthly roses are worn in le belt of blouse costumes. Skunks and ourson fur loek well with artificial flowers, but nothing suits chinchilla and sable so well as lace. The front width ot dresses assumes the heart shape preferably to the tablier-ie., a piece of velvet much eapitonne, or of brocade, or damasse, is cut out and trimmed in a full-length heart figure, and is, more- over, fastened with ribbon-loops down the centre. The profusion of Venetian glass beads and bugles is quite extravagant. Boots are worn in gay colours. Opera caps are now the prettiest head-dresues. Rich Oriental tissues are made up for caps.

HOWARD'S SINGULAR HABITS.—Howard, the philanthropist, was singular in many of his habits of life; for instance, he preferred damp sheets, linen, and clothes, to dry ones, and, both riding and going to bed, swathed himself with coarse towels dipped in the coldest water be could get. In that state he remained half an hour, and then threw them off, refreshed and invigorated, as he said, beyond mea- sure. He never put on a greatcoat in the coldest countries, nor had been a minute under or over the time of an appointment, so far as ife de- pended on himself, for six-and-twenty years. He never continued at a place, or with a person, a single day beyond the period prefixed for going, in his whole life and he had not, for the last sixteen years of his existence, ate any fish, flesh, or fowl, nor sat down to bis simple fare of tea, milk, and rusks all that time. His journeys were continued from prison to prison, from one group of wretched beings to another, night and day; and where he could not go with a car- riage, he would ride, and where that was hazardous, he would walk. Such a thing as obstruction was out of the question. SHOPPING.—The Des Moines (Iowa) Register says: "A small, dapper, bilious-looking man rushed into a wholesale book-store on Court-avenue, and asked one of the clerks if they had a book entitled Reveries of a Bachelor.' The clerk, who was very obliging, began to look for the desired article, but could not find it. Then he went down in the base- ment—the bilious-looking man following him—and dove' down to the bottom of several boxes of books that had been laid by for want of a demand for them, scoured the shelves, searched the drawers, but found it not. Then he went up to the second floor and resumed his search among more old books, unpacking several boxes and overturning a large quantity of goods. He was about to give up the search, and he told the man that he didn't believe the book was in the store. But the man said he wished he would find it if possible; so the clerk went up into the third story, and prowled around again for half an-hour, and finally fished it up out of the dust in a little box away off in one corner of the top row of shelves, after a search of over an hour. He brushed the dust from the cover, and said, Yes, here it is you can have it for SI 25c.' Oh, I don't want to buy it,' said the bilious-looking man. Don't want to buy it ?' said the clerk; 'why didn't you say so an hour ago ? Why did you make me search so long for an article you don't want to bny ? My time is valuable, and my employer expects me to put it to profitable use.' I Well, you see,' quietly remarked the man, I made a bet with Jeff Orandall. He said I couldn't find the book in Des Moines, and I bet him S5 I could, and I have won the bet. That's all. Sorry to trouble you so much.' And the man wended his way down- stairs anin." I WHAT is TEMPERANCE P-The Lancet, discus- sing "The Drink Question," gives the following formal Judgment: 11 Alcohol in any shape or form should never be taken except at meals, and, we believe, pre- ferably at only one meal in the day. The habit of drinking in the forenoon is pernicious in the extreme, and in our opinion wine or beer is best avoided at luncheon. In quality there are two things to be con- sidered, combination and dilution of the alcohol, and digestibility of the liquor. That natural light wines and light ales are better, when they do not disturb digestion by their other ingredients, than alcohol every one will admit, and, where these dMagreb, re- course must be had to stronger liquor diluted. In the opinion of many foreign authorities much of the evil of drinking in England is due to the fiery and and potent nature of our habitual drinks. As to quantity, it is far more difficult to lay down any rule, for that which may be taken with bene- fit by one person, or at one time, may injure at another. The quantity which is usually taken at a dinner party would, if taken habitually, be undoubted excess. For youag and active men a glass of beer, or one or two gJnas* of claret at dinner is, we believe, an ample suppi y while men of middle age may with advan- tage atop at the third g'ass of claret, sherry, or port, and fear no ill result. But beyond such general lnjui ions the infinite variety of constitution, habit, and digestion would make any detailed prescription worthless. The ultimate test in every case must be experience, and until men have enough moral control and discretion to limit their drinking to that which they absolutely require, all direction and rebuke will be thrown away. THE address in answer to the Speech from I the Throne win be moved in the House of Commons hythe Hon. Wilbraham Egrerton, M.P. for Mid-Che- seconded by Mr. Kobert Tennant, M.P. for '•us. PN^TMAS CARDS.—There is no doubt that w of sending Cbri«taia8 cards is getting for ever? more^nto favour throughout the country, of crl7.lS! • 8™ia the number j J the twenty-fo^ -Manchester, for instance, during J Christmas s5x o'clock on the ordina v corrSSJ,75'0*-0 ^elusive of ] through the Post Office, ^ce> of f ,5$^ t last Christmas, when ^°mpared with 162.0°0 z letters were posted extended t r -IS I doubt the postmen look upon this r.S f f °?5' ut their patience is tried eomewi.„i. lowed *"ear in mind how soon Christmas Day is f<F I bo7lLV0xins:^y> tho ^nrity of W | I it almost a matter of duty to 'VQvaeta^t» tl • si

AFFECTION, INTREPIDITY, AND IMPERTINENCE. The Potsdamer Zedtcng supplies us with an amazing instance of female intrepidity, ingenuity, and perhaps we may add, female impertinence. An engine-driver on the Potsdam Railway, at a short distance from Steghtz, suddenly perceived three well-dressed ladies standing on the line, and making urgent gesticulations in the direction of the train, in order to compel it to come to a halt. Two of them were actuallystanding upon the rails. He at once made use of the whistle, but to his horror the ladies stood firmly in the same fearful position, and kept up their vigorous pantomime. He saw that if he dashed onward he must infallibly slaughter them, and was obliged to bring his train to a standstill. As soon as the halt was effected the young ladies came up, nodding and smiling, rushed to one of the carriages, out of which an old gentle- man stepped down, whom they greeted as "papa." It appears that papa's villa lay a mile and a half on the near side of Steghtz, and that his ingenious daughters had resorted to the daring scheme in order to spare him the time and trouble of a long walk or the expense of a carriage. The guard's indignation was stronger than his gallantry, and he not only com- pelled papa to remount, but made the three ladies follow him, and carri,el them on to Steghtz, where they have to give account for their conduct, and will rpobably be mulcted of many msnths' pinmoney.

AN EXCITABLE NEWSVENDOR. At the Bow-street Police-court, John Wells, news- vendor, 76, Theobald's-road, answered to an ad- journed summons before Mr. Flowers, calling upon him to show cause why certain .books, namely, the "Wild Boys of London," which were seized on his premises, should not be destroyed. Mr. Collette, solicitor to the Society for the Sup- pression of Vice, appeared in eupport of the sum- monses. The defendant was not represented. As reported on the last occasion, there were ori- ginally 11 summonses, ;but the other 10 defendants consented to the books being destroyed, and expressed their regret at having sold them at all, which they said they would not bave done if they had known their nature. The present defendant alone refused, i and in a very excited manner said he would not be treated like a child. The case was accordingly adjourned, in order to await the result of a summons against the proprietor and publisher of the book in question, which was pending at the Guildhall. Mr. Collette now said that at the Guildhall neither the publisher or the proprietor appeared, but a letter had been received from them which indicated that they would eventually agree to follow the example of the retail tradesmen, and consent to the destruction of the work. If the present defendant still resisted, and refused to give his consent to the destruction of. the work, he (Mr. Collette) should ask that the case be sent for trial. Mr. Flowers: Well, Mr. Wells, what do you say now? Defendant: I wish, first of all, to apologise for my unseemly behaviour last week. Mr. Flowers: Oh, that's nothing. Defendant: Oh, but it is. It was my first appear- ance in a police-court, and I felt the injustice of my case. You, I believe (turning to Mr. Collette), say you represent the society. What society ? Mr. Collette: Never mind. Defendant: But I do mind. Are you the treasurer? Are you the committee? Are you the chairman? What is your system ? Mr. Douglas (the clerk): Keep the man quiet. Defendant: But I have suffered severely through a false report getting into the paper. Who is the re- porter of this court ? Mr. Flowers: If you don't mind, you'll have it all down and will have to complain again. Defendant: And this man, too, who represents the Socieiy of Do Nothings—he has done nothing, for I hold in my hand Lord Campbell's Act, which says -Did you ever (turning again to Mr. Collette) have a man in your employment named Mathirim ? Mr. Flowers: This is nothing to do with the case. Defendant: What I was going to say is that the "Wild Boys of London has been sold for twelve years. What has this man been doing all that time ? I have had these books bound in cloth, for 10ld" for a woman who wanted to keep them for the benefit of her family. I admit it is filthy, but it is classical. (Loud laughter.) In the Bible you will find the same things. Mr. Flowers: Oh! I see what this means now. Defendant: Yes, and in scores of books. The publisher in Shoe-lane wants to equare it. Mr. Flowers: If you go on much more I shall have you removed from court. Defendant: Then burn them. Mr. Collette: And will you promise not to sell any more ? Defendant: I wouldn't sell such filthy things. (Loud laughter.) Mr. Flowers I am very glad to hear you say so. Defendant: Quite right. I'm always glad to take your advice, your worship. You told me once that alcohol was the deadly drug of the country, and I took your advice, and have been a teetotaler ever since. (Loud laughter.) Mr. Flowers: Very well, then. Pay the 2s. costs. Defendant: Ob, net that, sir. I have only 2s. in my pocket, and I promised to take my children home sixpenny worth of oranges. Mr. Flowers You must pay the costs. Defendant: Then I have had enough of you. The defendant was then taken out of court, when he discovered he had only got Is. in his pocket; but to avoid being locked up, he borrowed Is. of the "beadle of the parish, who happened to be in court on other business.

THE FINANCES OF INDIA.-The annual state- ment upon the finances of India was made in the I. Legislative Council at Calcutta by Sir J. Strachey. Heretofore expenditure and income have been in equilibrium; but the necessity is now recognised of laying aside one million and a half sterling every year to meet the cost of famines the recent famine cost nine and a quarter millions. This annual famine charge and a sum for contingencies are to be raised partly by a license tax on trades and partly by an addition to the local rates on land in Northern India. The tax upon salt is to be equalised, and this involves its increase for forty-seven millions of people and a reduction for one hundred and thirty millions. Lord Lytton stated to the Council that the money raised by the new taxes will be applied to the construction of cheap local railways, and of extensive irrigation works. AN INDIAN TRAGEDY.—A cold-blooded murder has just been reported from Nawabgungs, a village half-way between Cawnpors and Lucknow. Shortly after the arrival of a party of the Royal Artillery at the gun-practice camp, a villager reported to the officer commanding that two bodies, both headless, were lying under a tree near the camp. The officer went out to the place indicated, and a horrible sight presented itself. Two dead bodies, both headless, disembowelled, and otherwise muti- lated, Jay under a tree, perfectly naked. One of them was a well-formed young woman, about 20 years of age; the other of a young man, both apparently of the better class. In a well hard by, the woman's jacket was found, in which was wrapped her hair and some portions of the man's body which was missing. The police were communicated with, and all the villages about searched, but no informa- tion was obtained, and no persons answering the des- cription were missing from any of them. A couple of days later the two heads were discovered neartlae Royal Artillery practice butts, but of course devoid of flesh after so long an exposure to the vultures and jackals' so that recognition was impossible. T be police have the case in band, and it can only be surmised that the bodies are those of a coup e whe loved not wisely but too well," and who were evidently caught when eloping, thus meeting thfÍ1' terrible fate trom the hands of the enraged relations. The proximity of Lucknow naturally suggests it as being the place whence the tugitives were flying when killed, and it Ie to be hoped that the Government will at once offer such a reward as may tempt some of the accomplice, to give information. -Times of India. THK WINTER ASSIZES.—A supplement to the Gazette contains an Order in Council dated Decemibef 22, directing that the county of the city of Norwich the county of Suffolk, the county of Huntingdon, the county of Cambridge, and so much of the county of Essex as is not by the Central Criminal Court Act included in the Central Criminal Court District, shall for the purpose of the next Winter Assizes, be united together and form one county, under the name of the Winter Assize County, No. 6 and, further previa that the Winter Assizes for this county shall be held at the Shire Hall at Chesterton, in the county of Cam bridge. AFRICAN EXPLORATION.—-The Secretary of the Union Steamship Company, Leadenball-street ias received the following letter from Baron Greinal' private sacrstary to the King of the Belgians' Bruxelles, Rue du Luxembourg, December 26, 1877 Dear Sir,—The African Association has learnt by a elcgram that its travellers have safely reached ZaD- ibar, and has received, moreover, a letter from M. Jrespel, dated Port Elizabeth, informing it of the Sadness shown to the expedition by the captain and taff of the steamer Danube. I am directed by his Jajeaty the King to renew the African Association's ifst thanks for the attention and valuable nid granted o MM. Orespel, Marno, Gambia, and Maes, and to eg you to forward our feelings of gratefulness to the Inion Mail Steamship Company's directors, whose riendly support will contribute in no small degree to ie success of our first undertaking.-I remain, dear r, your very faithfully, CtesiNAi." ■ JI.

THE EXTRAOR DINARY CHARGE OF BIGAMY. At the Wandsworth Police-court, Eliza Emily Hardcastle, 39, a dealer in fancy goods, was re-ex- amined on the charge of bigamy. The first marriage with William Alfred Hardcastle at East Wickham having been proved, Leonard George Orowle, the second husband, who gave the prisoner in charge, was sworn. He said he was a traveller, and lived in Mayall road, Brixton. He was married to the prisoner on the 20th of June, 1876, in the parish church of Chatham, she being described as a spinster. He first knew of her former marriage on February lut, after returning from Liverpool. He was obliged to leave her in conse- quence of her drunken habits. Cross-examined: He first knew her four years age. He met her while making a purchase in a bazaar in Kennington. She waited till he left the shop, and introduced herself. He often went to her house while she kept a repository in the Walworth-road. He never saw the first hus- band there except once, and then he asked who be was. She said she had lived with him before she had her children by her family doctor. Mr. Bridge expressed surprise that the witness should feel injured after knowing her antecedents. The witness said he felt very much attached to her unfortunately. He did not threaten to expose her im- propriety of conduct with him if she did not marry him. A letter was put in, written by the witness, and the following words were entered upon the minutes: although you cannot be to-mea wife by law." The witness's explanation of the words was that she was a bankrupt at the time. Mr. Bridge remarked that bankruptcy did not pre- vent marringe. The witness was also questioned as to whether he had been married before. He said he had been, and was a widower. He did not know why he was de. scribed as a bachelor in the certificate of marriage with the prisoner. He never held the certificate over her and threatened her with transportation if she did not give him money. She had been to him, wish. ing him to live with her again, and saying she could not live without him. Mr..Bridge said the husband did not deserve any sympathy, whatever the wife might deserve. The prisoner was then committed for trial, the magistrate taking the first husband's bail for" her appearance.

REWARDS FOR SAVING LIFE. The following cases of saving life, in several of which great gallantry was displayed, have just been investigated by the Royal Humane Society, which has conferred its awards: On the recommendation of I-ord Ernest Bruce the silver medallion was unani- mously voted to M. Felix Labat, a native of Bayonne, for saving life in the following circumstances: On the 4th of August a young Englishman, named Batty, who was residing at the Grand Hotel, Biarritz, went with a friend to bathe. Being entirely ignorant of the strong currents in that part of the const, they were soon carried out into the breaks, and both must have perished if not assist. 3L Labat, who happened to be bathing near the seme place, perceived the danger the young men were in, and at once swam to them and seized and supposed them, one in each hand, for several minutes. T1^D( unfortunately, they became frightened and began to struggle, and, seizing M. Labat, all three sank to- gether. M. Labat, however, who never lost his jre- sence of mind, succeedad in extricating himself, rose to the surface. On recovering his breath be diV, again succeeded in seizing the young men, and in tio positien swam out some 60 yards to sea from the breakers, the current rendering it impossible toreachtbe shore. The lifeboat, which is always stationed near, tteØ came to their assistance, but unfortunately struck Bjt. Labat on the shoulder, hurting him very much, kad Mr. Batty on the bead, rendering him insensible, ,ød he was drowned. Eventually M. Labat and the other young man were rescued by the lifeboat, both being in a very exhausted condition. The medallion Waf also voted to Robert Coulson for saving four men from wreck of the schooner John and Thoinis, East Hartlepool, on the 24th altimo. In this case, Coulson, with great bravery, plunged from the rocks into the sea, and swam off to the ship, which bad struck on the rocks at East Bartle- P°°J; He first of all took off 0> his back to the shore a man named Pressey, and ^en returned and took off the mate, B. Messenger he went again, taking a line with him, swam ti the wreck, and placed J. Bulmaa in safety; and f*r ^he 0urth time again swam to the vessel, and reacu^ the captain, J. Harrison. When it is considered tb^ all this Was performed on a very dark night with a )eavy sba, "hich broke over the ship continually, the gtUan" "7 of the act is much enhanced. The society's nedal- hon Was also given to Mrs. Jane Phipps, Miss )ouis& Hardy, and Mr. R. D. J. Bramley, for saving Miss O. D. Johnston, who was in danger of drowning while bathing atSouthsea on the 14th of last august. In this case Mrs. Phipps and Miss Hardy had re UTHed to their machine after bathing, wJlen they heard screams, and perceived a lady strugreliifr i° the water forty yards from the shore. Miss HaWy> with- the least hesitation, at once swam to the r>scue of Johnston, and caught her as she was ajp&f^ly diking for the second time. As in many similar ?aaeai however, Miss Hardy's bravery was nearly cost- 119 her her life, for Miss Johnston clutched her so F .y that they were both on th? P°'nt sinking when Mrs. Phipps reach^ them.. f-hen, even, it required great efforts to reach Jhe shore, as the party were struggling together *or live minutes, and they were in such apparenJ diuver that Mr. Bramley, who was on the <hore and w^iegsed the occurrence, swam to them with &11 clothe on, and soon aftewards they were all placed "1 safety. The medallion was also civento Henry 0n?er for diving into the sea to the rescuJ Wil- Taylor, who was in danger of droning at "J^achee, in June of last year; to Thorn813 j J^rd, a lad of 16, for saving Evelyn C. #yd0 an" ~e*trude A. O. Ward, who were in danger lng in the River Sarnie, Switzerland, on the 13th ^September ■ and to Albert G. Archer, for$aving An V,,°w, a Chinaman, in Keppel Bay, Sydnef» on 4th of September.

NOVEL FIELD SPORTS. Mr. Buckland has lately been 6ndeavonriog to Incite the British sportsman to attack e whale. The sport would be likely to prove exciting enOUgh, as the" finner" has a habit of turning savagely upon his assailants and evaishilig their ~°*ts into minute fragments. This element. Of dmger is wanting, we believe, in porpoise hunting, pother sport recommended by Mr. Buckland, but thOae who like to have their pastimes flavotJred with peril can easily suit their tastes aHaon. £ ? of India. The recently-published gtatistical a^stract" of that country shows that no fe"er than 21)391 human beings were destroyed by wi'^ beasts and venomous snakes in a single year. The tiger not the chief offender among the /era, although deaths were attributed to his instrutf,eilts*|7* Tolves enjoyed the supremacy of their ^ctims numbering 1061, leopards slew 20^ bears eighty-four, hyenas sixty-eight, and elephants s>*ty-one. Much greater, however, was the destruc- tion of human life by snakes than by all the wild beasts of the forest. At least, so it would appear from this return, which gives 17,070 as the number of deaths due to snake-bite. Aø impres- sion exists among Anglo Indians that the natives sometimes conceal murder by poison under a pretence that the deceased had been bitten pj a venomous serpent. In all parts of the peninsula these reptiles abound, and vegetable poisons such as stramonium may be generally procured without the least difficulty. Perhaps it may be true, therefore, that the popular predilection for infanticide is some. times indulged in at the expense of the snft^e s good character. Even allowing for this, however# seems safe to estimate that the annual loss of huo°an I0,!0 India through wild beasts and snakes amounts to fully 15,000. Could not Mr. Buckland start an organised movement, after he has finished with the finner," to diminish this awful mortality among our fellow- Bubjects ?

HORRIBLE SCENES IN PLEVNA. The special correspondent of the Daily News, now with General Gourko (Mr.MacGahan), had an oppor- tunity of entering Plevna after the surrender, and the scenes graphically described by him are of the most harrowing descript on. The following are extracts from his letter: PLEVNA FULL OF HORRORS. From the shoulder of the hill called Aroden, where the road winds around under the embrasures of the re- doubts whish were stormed by General Skobeleff with such fearful loss, Plevna was seen lying low down in the valley, and only one or two twinkling lights showed that it was inhabited. A'l around on every side the whole landscape was quiet as the desert. No lines of .blue smoke and little camp fires now marked the trenches. Not a single tent breke the bare surface of the hillsides, and only the great square redoubts and the zig-zag line of breastworks proved that this was the Pievna of a week ago. With all the vivid recol- lections of the various incidents of the siege the most active imagmatma could not picture the thousandth part of the frightful suffering, the awful misery and wretchedness, that are found within the narrow limits of the town, nor draw the faintest outline of the sicken- inp spectacle, the panorama of ghastly horrors, tr at is altuost. unparalleled since the terrible plagues of put centuries Human beings lying like sheep in the streets houses fled with dead; hundreds stretching their hands feebly heavenward for a morsel of bread or aj f7°Pt^ W,t f ,,n? he!p that could be com- manded to alleviate their suffering: or save the Wr^h« mC,vLaftUreF8 their painful death. Even 1B the midst of these scenes, which the pen of Dante alone could render, with all the terrible W.P°em aUrcting «»• with its SICK AND WOUNDED WITHOUT ATTENDANTS. I the sortie they left the sick E a T t6n ™re thousands, en- L iUl Pi dant.8,' Tbere never a regular rpS.°MdT.' tvtb'r*trM,ported • attendant W48 surrounded. Of course n hospitaU thought only of their TI £ E- LORTIE WASM8DE»ANDTH*Y Ivn-mifrVi thn "d • W1J. those who tried to break The day and night of the wir 1uffer€" received no food or rrh fAiTnori .3 lD& wounds were undressed, nmnminn entered and took Of Sf rd° day one of rejoicing with lotion If *uZar and the Imperial staff; but this LimPd to fhB V- f eV6Dt'howe™ short it may have Was s W season of horrible stretched thei, vT? Ched he,Ple93 captives, who hand9 in to"3* SXJ tK! J & blfc of bread ot a drop of alleviate theirn0r foe waa there to L Suff,eWD&s. or to give the trifle th?mfro,n a painful death, and they J x? j9'» and before the morning of the third day the dead crowded the living in eve^ one of ll7' "J ^hted rooms which served to shelter the wounded from the cold and wet, but con- fined them in a foul and fetid atmosphere of disease and death. SEPARATION OF THE LIVING FROM: THE DEAD. It 1' onv on the morning of the third day after these wretched, tortured creatures had been left to their fate that the Russians found opportu- nijy and means to begin, first, the separation of the hying from the dead, and then the care of the °RM P A. ^o^ues, the largest houses, and many of the small dwellings had been filled with S1CT *cunQed. Overcrowded in every case, and °ff f! 76 iu said' from the first without proper a temporary hospitals were, at the best, • y pestilential, and the air was tainted fninmni Undreesed wounds, and the fi^F^LI /ayJUn-buried the courtyards. The • entered in one of these charnel.houses ™ In!fy Tupks- 0f these thirty-seven Pitonim air. m&nJ others on the point of death, nainful ^L.;fn%Came from between rigid lips, and I'- f f ,op *ater. and some made feeble IT3A J or two Of the strangest with h VCk' and fixed their hideous, sunken cnmA tn ^^fecliing stare on those who had that it wmilH t,6™ the company of the dead, Bmftil Mom ,kave soften^ the hardest heart. The i J hghted by a high window with ,g 8' was crowded with the forms of nf tViooa ra £ !=ed, filthy, human beings. Many B were motionless, and scarcely audible difficult tl? heard from one or two who raised with iSS SLS t fb07 hands to their lips, to signify Same water °°Q were faint whispers of er • Some water J" piteous to bear. CARTING AWAY THE DEAD. This room is one of fifty where a similar spectacle is presented. The pavement of the mosques is covered with crouching forms some moving at intervals, others motionless and silent. Here and there the races of the dead come out in ghastly relief, with a fixed expression of great agony. Nothing can be done but to drag the dead from among the living, let in the light and air, and give water and nourishment in hope of saving some of those who remain alive. Small enough was the force of men who set about this painful task, and meagre enough their means. Three open peasants ox carts were all that were avail- able for the removal of the dead, and fifty soldiers to carry the bodies from the rooms to the carts, and bury them in the ditches. As fast as possible bread and water were distributed, and the feeble wretches fought each other with their last breath in their greed for the nourishment. Some propped up against the wall slowly ate until the unmistakable pallor came over their faces, and their eyes were fixed in death. Even the effort of eating the long-needed food was too great for their wsining strength. The living clutch at the remaining morsel in thedead man's hand, struggle for it with all their feeble power, and curse each other and wrangle over the spoil, per- haps to fall dead themselves before they can eat the bread. BRUTALITY OF BULGARIANS. The three open oxen-carts began the removal of the dead at once and as I write the work still g?es °n-. The hospitals daily supply more freight of this kind than the slow-moving teams can carry away to the ditches outside. The disinfection of the hospitals was promptly effected. As fast as possible with the small force of men at band the rooms were emptied one after another. After a day or two some of the Bulgarians were compelled to serve in place of the soldiers, and they set themselves about the hated task with a brntality terrible to wit- ness. They drag the bodies down the stairs by the legs, the heads bumping from step to step with sicken- ing thuds, then out into the court through the filthy mud, where they sling them into the cart with the heads or legs hanging over the side, and so continue to pile up the load with a score of half-naked corpses. THE "BTILL ALIVE" THROWN IN WITH THE DEAD, It is horrible to hear the conversation of the men who do this work. They perhaps bring out a body still warm, the heart still beating, and the flush 0, life on the cheek. One says: "He is still alive," and proposes to leave him without stopping to decide the question. The others cry, Devil take him! fle will die before to-morrow, any way. In *ith him." And so the living goes in with the aead, and is tumbled into the grave. I have seen this myselfj and the man who hae charge of the disinfection of the hospitals and burial of the dead, told me that he doubted not that such cases occurred several times daily. When the three carts are full they start away through the streets toward the ditches outside the town. The horrible load jolts and shakes, and now and then a body falls out into the mud and is dragged into the cart again, and thrown down and jammed in solidly to prevent a recurrence of tne accident. This heartless proceeding goes on in the public streets, crowded with the men, women, and children of the place, the soldiers, the wounded, and the sick; and after so many days of the same spectacle, no one any longer pays any attention to the transport of the dead. Over a thousand have been already carted away, and from the hospitals come about a hundred daily. LACK OF SYSTEM THE CAUSE OF SUFFERING. A long detailed account alone could give anything like an idea'of the climax and final act of the drama of Plevna. The town is full of similar pictures. Along the streets are frequently seen one or two wounded who have crawled out from the hospital and lie dying in the mud. There is no valid excuse for this wilful disregard of human life. The cause is evident, namely, lacfe of system. The Russians knew that Flevua must fail, and they expacted to find thousands of starving men there, and thousands of badly attended wounded. The surrender must have been, as it probably was, a surprise, but the day before the expected event was not the time to prepare for it. There should have been detailed a month ago proper officers to prepare everything for the care of the sur- rendered troops. There can be no excuse for the fact tbat only three open ox-carts can be found to trans- port the dead, and only a score of Bulgarians, who run away at every opportunity, can be detailed to perform the duty <>f burying the dead. Out ( in the pitin near the bridge over the Vid nre J uvouacked 15,000 or 20,000 prisoners, fighting for >r«ad> miserable beyond description, in the cold, ,¡ with hundreds of unburied dead covering the ground near the spot where the first attempt was made to break through and day after day passes and their condition does not change, simply because there can be nothing like prompt attention in similar cases where there is no idea of system. HORRORS IN THE VALLEY OF THE VID. But the horrors of Plevna are not all in the town. Some are in the Valley of the Vid. In the redoubts which the Russians stormed, hundreds on hundreds of still unburied bodies lie; the whole ridge of the wooded mountain, the valley beyond, and the hill further on, where stand the two redoubts overlooking the town, taken with terrible loss by General Skobeleff on September 30, are strewn thickly with the corpses of the Russians who fell on those days. Some of those bodies have been partly covered with four spadesful of dirt, but some of them lie as they felt Not all as tbey fell, for the dogs have torn away the linns of many, and t'e birds of prey have pecked at the skulls. In the pools of water lie corpses half decayed pale, withered hand3, and feet stick out of the soil on all sides, and horrible dead, mummified faces stare at one from every little hollow in the ground, and from among every clump of bushes. Some of these bodies have been put in graves within a day or two, but still the whole region is strewn thickly with these dreadful mementoes of the fight there nearly three months ago. n_

A THRILLING SCENE. FROZEN TO DEATH. The Quebec Mercury reports a disaster—the first re- sulting from ice giving way this season—at Ooboconk, county of Victoria. Late in the afternoon a son of Mr. J. Oampbell saw a deer crossing over a small laku in the neighbourhood of his father's farm. The lad was all intrepid youth, and resolved to follow the animal. Away went the deer across the ice at full speed, and after it rushed the boy, who was very fleet-footed. Suddenly, and when about 400 yards from the shore, the ice began te crack. Still the boy ran on, trusting to the heavy frost which had set in. But, alas his daring hunt was to be cut short in a manner he had not calculated on. All at once the ice gave way under him, and down he went. He managed to keep himself from being drawn under the ice, but failed to find any strong enough to bear his weight, and, as effort after effort failed, the daring youth saw that all he could do was to endeavour to reach a rock about fifty yards off. By dint of the most strenuous exertlolls-by half running and half dragging his .-body through the ice—the heroic boy reached the rock. All this time he had been crying for help. When he reached the rock he renewed his cries with greater vigour. He was heard by his parents, who rushed to the lake side. What must have been their horror when they found that the ice was too frail to allow them to reach their boy. The night was bitterly co]^) yet time and again did the grief-stricken parents attempt a journey over the ice, only to find it giya way, and themselves thrown in the terribly cold water. What was te be done? Father and mother, wringing their hands, rushed along the lake side, in the vain hope that they might find a boat. Several neighbours, however, struck by the sad event, also engaged in the search, and, as evening wore on, the scene was one that no description of ours can de- pict in its awful reality. The boy sat on the rock for several hours; the shades of evening still found him there with no hopes of being rescued; his cries for help became fainter and fainter. His parents saw him make a signal with his hands, and then observed that he fell into the water. All was over; the boy bad been sitting on the rock for hours, drenched to the skin, and had perished through sheer exhaustion in the sight of his parents, powerless to save him.

TOUGHENED GLASS TYPES. The usefulness of toughened glass (says the Globe) bids fair to be greater and more serious than was at first supposed. Some experiments are reported to I have been made in France with a view to showing i whether this substance can be pressed into the printers' service and substituted for the metal composition of which types are made. The metal does not at first sight strike the observer as the best that could be found. It is bright enough when the letters first come from the foundry, and before they have seen any service; but a few days' wear gives them a very much more dingy appearance; and before they are finally returned to the melting pot they have degenerated into a very pqualid form, looking dirty in their bodies as well as battered in their faces. The idea now is to discard these long proved but unattractive servants, and fill their places with glittering types of glass. The ad- vantages in point of cleanliness alone would, it is alleged, be not insignificant. But the Patrie points out that there are other and more solid improvements involved in the new system. The toughened glass, which is net to be made in quite the same way as that used for tumblers and wine glasses, and need not, of course, be quite so transparent, is naturally much harder than the old metal, and can hardly be crushed out of shape by those littfe accidents which so shorten the life and spoil the beauty of the only type we now employ. It is also capable of being cast into more delicate shapes, 110 that the difference, for instance, between the thin and the thick strokes can be more clearly defined. Finally, it is now found that the new material can be cast in exactly the same moulds as the old, and that therefore there need be no expense incurred in altering the machines and im- plements used in the manufacture of type. If the Patrie has been well informed, the experiments have been completely successful, and the adaptability of toughened glass to printing and to numerous other purposes is likely ere long to be fully established.

A COLOURED BABY SHOW. The New York Herald says: The entries for the coloured baby show, which the manager announces as a "jubilee," are already large. A visit te Gilmore's Garden, where the exhibition is to take place, showed J great preparation for the event. The centre space in tbe menagerie or the Fourth Avenue side, where the lions and panthers are now caged, is to be entirely cleared, and the animals removed, to make way for the erectien of platforms on which are to be exhibited the ebon mites, with their nurses and mothers. The attendance required of the mothers, nurses, and children is two hoars' and a half in the afternoon and the same time in the evening. Flushing, Long Island, leads off not only in the number of coloured babies entered, but in variety. Thirty come from this one town, among the lot being fone set of triplets and one oair of twins. Charles Murray, of 146, West Seventeenth-street, was the first name on the books, and he, not unreasonably, therefore, hopes to take^the first prize for "de finest child in de world. Mrs. George Hyatt enters a 3 year old, who is said to be "as white as a place of paper exactly what kind of paper is not stated. Mrs. Minnie Ray, who resides at 332, East Sixtieth-street, has a five-year-old child she enters for the fat prize. Probably the greatest curio- sity will be a set of triplets from Chicago, who have already been on exhibition in that city, the right hand of one of them from the wrist down t8 the finger tips being perfectly white. The prizes in all will, it is stated by the management, amount to about 81000.

THE CAFFRE WAR.—By the arrival of the Danube at Plymouth we have advices from Cape Town up to the 4th ult. Another attack had been made upon the colonial troops by the Galekas, which resulted in the thorough defeat of the latter. Some uneasiness prevails with regard to two other tribes, the Tembus and the Gaikas, although the former are said to be quiet enough at present, while the attitude of the latter has led to a demand by the colonists for a special session of Parliament and the raising of a body of volunteers. The British authorities have de- manded tbe surrender of Ereli. THE RUMOURED RETIREMENT OF CHARLES MATHEWS.—Mr. Mathews has addressed the following letter to a contemporary: Having had occasion to 'rush into print' two or three times lately, I am afraid people will begin to think that I insert para- graphs in newspapers myself for the purpose of writing letters to editors, and. so obtaining advertise- ments gratis. But this is not the case, and as you do not give me the name of the 'contemporary' who declares that I «intend to withdraw from the stage at the end of the present year,' I must ask you to be kind enough to allow me to contradict the declaration through the paper in which lfirst saw it published. Ten years ago I had to contradict a similar report, and I hope ten years hence I may have to do it again. I can assure you I find there is no such hard work as idleness, and my favourite relaxation is acting, my rest locomotion. That this may be my last season is quite possible, but that I intend it to be so ia not the fact. My retirement, when it does take place, will be a necessity, not a choice, and I shall take with an ill grace to my armchair. In the first place, I am not of a retiring disposition, and next, I am too fond of my profession to relinquish it voluntarily. I have no wish to lag superfluous on the stage: but as long as I continue to be favoured with full houses, joyous audiences, and good health, I quite agree with you, that I couldn't- withdraw if I tried. SERIOUS ACCIDENT AT THE NEW LAW COURTS IN LONDON —A srrious ace dent occurred at the New Law Courts on Fridav. One of the chains used in hoisting up blocks or" stone snapped and fell upon a staircase at the south end of the eastern block. This was broken through and tha next staircase was destroyed. The foreman of the masons was standing r btfnesth the work, and, hearing: the snap, steppod | into an angle, and thereby saved his life. The weight 1 of the stone which fell was nearly two tons. 1

TOWN AND COUNTRY. At a meeting, held last week, of the Glasgow Phil0' sophical Society, Dr. Fergus, president, in the chaty an opening address was given on the sanitary a»^ social economy question by Dr. J. B. Russell, medi^fj officer of health for the city. The lecturer explain^ that it was his object to test the comparative succ^ of town and country in managing so to get rid of tb excreta of the population as to avoid the of disease, and he selected as his tests the death-i* from diphtheria and enteric fever, because these two the mostpurelyfsBcal diseasesknown widely distributed as endemics. After sketching the hjf tory of diphtheria and enteric fever in this country, Russell exhibited diagrams showing that, in most the death-rate from diphtheria during the ten ye» £ 1861-71, was in favour of the towns of over habitants, as compared with the rural area aro^ them. Similar statistics were not available for ente* fever, but he believed the results would be the The odds against the town, in such a comparison the country, were great. They compared, for instan^J Glasgow, with its dense population, and Caithc^ a thinly-populated district. Yet the people man^f, to poison each other at more than twice rate in Caithness than they did in Glasgow. If eve!! thing were left to chance in Glasgow as in we should all be swept away with these diseases; bOt as matters stand, a citizen of Glasgow ran less lis* dying of diphtheria, enteric fever, or cholera, p inhabitant of almost any rural d'strict of Scotland* Glasgow, by applying certain data embodied in a turn obtained by the president (Dr. Fergus), jr, relation between the sewage question and health could be defined. The figures i"% trated a great general law of mortality liicr with the decrease of rental and, quently, of accommodation and attendant and social advantages. Dr. tRussell concluded tbí saying that, if we banished all waterclosets from inside of small-sized houses, and made their s jf discharge in the open air over a gully in thecour we thoroughly revised all our watercloset and 0 sewer arrangements in our large houses as to posi a construction, &c.; if we ventilated the public ee and house-drains on the separate system, and enti gave up drinking cistern-water, we should reduce tIJ' mortality from diphtheria and enteric fever to 1 lowest possible minimum.—British Medical Jo-urn*

PENNY RESTAURANTS.—The present; is an of cheapness, and goods are sold for a few P J which a few years ago would have cost aim o? .{ many shillings. The latest phase of this ma cheapness is the opening of penny ^restaurants, j York city has a penny restaurant, says an A paper, where a small cup of coffee, bread butter, perk and beans, a slice of corn beef, ^^1 oatmeal, and boiled rice may be obtained a-t a.c0»^, one cent for each item," It ia stated to be tbe prise of a newspaper proprietor, who though o j sirableto provide food for people's bcclits as their minds. Printed and published by tlie proprietor, JOHN ItoBEHT^, at his General Printing1 OHicc. 1» {p laue, Ctucdigsm, ia tko paxisli ot Saiiii s 111 County of Jam. 6, lt78. I

A SCOTCH RAILWAY COMPENSATION CASE.— In a jury case In the Edinburgh Court of Session, William Little, eight years of age, belonging to Denny, pursued the North British Bailway Jor £ 1000, for injuries received from falling out of a carriage on the line between Balloch and Glasgow. It was said that the accident was caused by the fault of the company in the door of the carriage being left open. For the defence, it appeared that the pursusr was travelling at the time referred to without a railway ticket. A verdict was given for the defenders. A PLANTAGENET TOMB.-The interesting and beautiful monumental tomb, at King's Langley Church, of Prince Edmund of Langley, Duke of York, fifth son of Edward III., has been removed to a chapel expressly built for its reception, and the Queen has been graciously pleased to grant £ 40 from the privy purse towards placing a stained glass window in the chapel to the memory of the Prince, her Majesty's ancestor. DESPRBATE ATTEMPT AT SuMIDB.—A des. perate attempt at, suicide has been made near Ponte- fract. Joseph Wilmot, alias American Joe, a pit sinker, of Castleford, was apprehended at Doncaster. The police officer was conveying the prisoner by train toPontefract lock-up on a charge of having robbed a farmer at HilJam Selby of £60, When near Ponte- fract Station the accused leaped from the window of ,'Ke carriage. A special was sent down the line, and Wilmot was brought to Pontefract, and attended by i Dr. Sims, his injuries being chiefly on the head, 1