The Aberystwith Observer

WHICH IS IT ?—As we've got him at last, possibly we shall be able to settle the pronunciation of Cete. rayo(says "The Tatler," in the Pictorial World). At present there is 4 lively variety of opinion about the msiness, Sometimes the African Monarch is called ieiB»wayo, sometimes Ketchaway, sometimes iitsawa. Newsboys at the stations even yell it mt as "Kitchenwayo." Once I heard a lively routh bawling, energetically, Captcher o' Ketchup- »ayo !"—Che association of ideas evidently suggesting ■he notion ot' somebody or the other being in a state if pickle,

THE MARCH ON CABUL. DEFEAT AND FLIGHT OF THE AFGHANS. OFFICIAL TELEGRAM. The following telegram wa. received at the IndIa Offtce on Wednesday attemoon :— FROM GENERAL SIR F. ROBERTS, vid SHBTARGUBDAN, OCTOBER 8, 1879. Charasiab, 6th October, 8 p m.—Reconnoitring parties sent out on all roads to Cabul at day- Break this morning. Reported enemy were advancing in great force from direction of city. Parties had to retire, and soon afterwards th". high range of hills intervening between Chara«iab and Cabul were crowned with troops and city people, while Earties of Ghilzaie appeared on the hi'ls, running along oth flanks of camp, and reportB were received that the road to Zahidabad was threatened, along which General M'Pherson was advancing with large convoy of stores and ammunition. Warning was sent to M'Pherson, and some assistance in cavalry. It was absolutely necessary to carry the heights in front before evening. General Baker was intrusted with this very diffi. cult duty, which he completed in the most admirable manner. He sent a party under Major White, 92nd Highlanders, consisting of a wing of that regi- ment, three guns, 8th Battery 3rd Brigade Royal Artillery, 100 of 23rd Pioneers, and two squadrons 5th Puijattb Cavalry, to advance by the right of the gorge. After an obstinate resistance, Major White succeeded in driving the enemy off the main hills, and later in the day captured 12 guns our loss here, three Highlanders killed, six wounded, and a man of the 5th Punjaub Cavalry killed, two wounded, and A 9th Lancer man. General Baker, with 72ad Highlanders, wing 5th Goorkhas, 100 of 5th Pan- jaub Infantry, remainder 23rd Pioneers, four guns of No. 2 Mountain Battery and two Gatlings, made a turning movement to the left, and was soon hotly engaged. He reports that the advance of the troops was made to his entire satisfaction, height after height being carried in gallaut style oar loss, Captain Young, 5th Punjab Infantry, Lieutenant Fergusoo, 72d Highlanders, Dr. Duncau, 23d Pioneers, wounded, and about 70 men killed and wounded; enemy's loss unknown, but it must have been con- siderable they fled in great confusion and lost two standards. We have strong picquets posted, as large numbers of Ghilzais are still in the neighbourhood, but I hope to-morrow to be able to march within a short distance of Cabul. Ameer states that Bala Hissar is no longer in possession of people he can trust; his family have moved into the city. The head- men of Chardeh and suburbs of Cabul have asked if they may pay their respects to me. Others will probably follow their example and I am san- guine that the country will quiet down now that the people see opposition is useless but at present there is very great excitement in the city and country generally. I received greatest assistance throughout the day from army signalling under direction of Captain Stratton, 22ad Regiment,

THE DUTY ON TEA. It is curious as well as suggestive to note that, while the Revenue Returns show a great falling. off in the Excise receipts, the revenue derived from the tea duty shows an appreciable increase. Whether the increased consumption of tea concurrently with the diminished consumption of spirituous liquors be. tokens a tendency towards the greater sobriety of the population, or whether it can be attributed to any other cause, we shall not now pretend to deter- mine; but the fact remains that while the total Customs revenue collected during the first half of the current financial year was less by £ 438,000 than the amount received from the same source during the cor- responding period of last year, the tea duty has realised considerably more this year than last. During the month of September the amount of duty paid in London on account of tea was £261,315, against JS238 596 re- ceived in September, 1868. For the half-year, on which there has been such a heavy loss of general revenue, the tea duty has shown an increase of nearly a hun- dred thousand pounds. During the past six months the receipts from this source reached £ 1.748,8^7, while the corresponding six months of last year produced only £ 1,651,946.—Daily Chronicle.

THE DEPRESSION IN TRADE AND THE MEDICAL PROFESSION.—'The entry at the different schoo's has ) been very large this season. I*. is thought this is < argely due to the depression existing in commerce and 1 agriculture. A number of young, men who, under or. 1 dinary circumstances, would have entered a trade, or 1 gone to farming, seeing little prospect in these direc- 1 tioT s, have turned their attention to medicine. —The } Medical Press and Circular, J

SIR ROWLAND HILL. Tbe Lord Mayor of London (Sir Charles Whetham) has sent the following letter to The Timet for publication Sir,—A few weeks ago you did me the honour to insert a letter in which, in compliance with many sug- gestions which had been made to me, I intimated I my willingness te receive at the Mansion- bor^ subscriptions towards a fund for the pro"}^ of some public and national memorial co the late Sir Rowland Hill. I stated exoresBlv that I took this step to test the fp Aling on the matter which, it was represented toe, existed. I now regret to have to say tb-< the response to my appeal has been most ur ^rourable, the sub- scriptions not having yet cached the sum of jEiOO in all, and that it i8., consequently, my intention to return the donations to the subscribers. It ia but right that I should state that, of the few donors, one of the very first was Lord John Manners, the Postmaster-General, who expressed great interest in the movement. It is not for me to suggest, even if I could, the reasons for this failure, or to criticize the inaction of the public in the matter. I conceived it my duty, as Lord Mayor, to give the public an opportunity to subscribe, if they so desired, to a memorial of one to whom many millions of people, and many nations indeed, an indebted, and to whose remains the honour of burial within the historic walls of Westminster Abbey had just been accorded. In spite of the absence of a formal memorial, Sir Rowland Hill's name will long be affectionately cherished in the memories of Eng- lishmen and will find a prominent place in the history of English success.

AGRICULTURAL DEPRESSION. The following resolutions were agreed to at a special meeting of the Council of the Institution of Surveyors held on the 3rd of July with reference to the present agricultural dlatrels "1. That the present distress on heavy clay farms exceeds, as a rule, any that has occurred for the last 40 years; and that in some districts the distress on light land farms and on poor grass lands approaches that on heavy clay farms. 2. That the main cause of distress is the deficiency of yield under the last three harvests, aggravated by the bad season of 1878; and that low prices are a secondary cause. "3. That as tenanci3a are held, some at rents settled probably 40 years since, and some at rents settled in 1874, any uniform mode of treatment is im- practicable, and that the queBtion of relief must be considered with reference to the special circumstance of each district and farm, "4. That in Great Britain the landlord supplies, says, four-fifths of the capital engaged on an ordi- nary arable farm in the form of land, buildings, roads, fences, and drainage, and the tenant, say one-fifth as working capital; and that the form of relief best cal- culated to meet the present difficulty is that of tem- porary aid to the present tenants, 5. By laying down arable land to grass, by im- proving grass lands, by giving cake or manures, by providing shedding for additional stock or other build- ings, by making roads, by additional drainage, by purchasing tenant-right, or by outlay ot similar character, the landlord will benefit the present tenant and maintain the productiveness of his property."

UlisallanfOKS Ittlflligma. 9OME, FOREIGN, AND COLONIAL. p Q Vnv. tyi-OCH BACK ROW,—Small Husband (who, whilst his wife is away in the country, asserts his authority): It comes to this, cook am I the master of this house or am I not ?—Cook: Well, sir, you pre- cious well ain't when the missus is at home,— Judy. AFFECTION OF A CAT.-H. M. Webb, writing in Land and Water, say. :-uThe following interesting facts were described to me by an eye-witness who was living in South Australia, on and adjoining the River Bremer, then in the occupation of the South Austra- lian Company as a sheep-run. He one day in his walks observed a cat protecting the young puppy of a sheep-dog from a large eagle-hawk which was hovering over it, ready to dart upon its prey. My cousin's attention was drawn to the hawk by the singular move- ments of the cat, which, with an erect and thickened tail, was springing in tbe air at the hawk, several times with great ferocity, and when he drew nearer to the scene of action he perceived that the cat was most carefully watching over a small puppy of about a month old, and preventing the talons of the hawk from seizing her protigi. The courageous cat brought the puppy home in her mouth in great triumph, and from that day there existed the greatest attachment between these animals, and they were scarcely ever apart. When one considers the size and power of an eagle-hawk, which can carry off a lamb, this authentic stery is a singular instance of the bravery and affection of a cat." LAW AND ARMS.- Sir Evelyn Wood is to be enter- tained by the Bar in the Hall of the Middle Temple, on November 1 next. Tickets will be ready for issue to the Bar on or about the 21st inst. General Wood was admitted a student by the Society of the Middle Temple in April, 1870, and was called to the Bar in Easter Term, 1874. A large gathering (including ex-Chancellore-one of whom, Lord Hatherley, is the uncle of the guest-Judges, and Queen's counsel) is expected to mark the lawyers' appreciation of mili- tary distinction in one of their number.—Law Journal, •. f A LUNAR PHENOMENON.—On-3unday (says the Journal de Bordeaux) the sky presented a curious field of observation and Btudy. In the north a singular phenomenon was noticed in the shape of a milky gleam which followed the zig-zag form of a flash of lightning, and remained visible for at least ten minutes. The lower portion terminated in a sort of globe, which gradually disappeared without exploding. On the pre- vious night another strange spectacle was witnessed at Talence. The moon seemed to be supported by two luminous rods, which afterwards formed a sort of cross, one being in a vertical position right across the planet, and the other appearing as a tangent on its upper perimeter. On Sunday night the moon seemed partially enveloped in aluminous, milky-white vapour which gradually formed a triangle above it, and it was curious to notice the vapour glowing at intervals like an agitated flame. The phenomena lasted two or three hours. "CATCH lzm ALIVE, OH!"—Costermonger. "I call yours a sighnocure, Jim. You claps that 'ere paper round yer 'at, and there you are—a penny each I"— Fly-catcher. Ah, but look at the labour of catchin' 'em, and atickin' of 'em on at the outset, Bill I Punch. PENNT STAMPS,—The net produce on receipts, drafts, and other penny stamps in the last financial year was £825,569 lis, Id. MINNESOTA WHEAT.—[Interview with Minnesotan in Aurora (111.) News.] Let's see, they raise some wheat in Minnesota; don't they ? Raise wheat! Who raises wheat! No, sir; decidedly, no sir. It raises itself. Why, if we undertook to cultivate wheat in that State it would run us out. There wouldn't be any places to put our houses." But I've been told that grasshoppers take a good deal of it." Of course they do. If they didn't I don't know what we would do. The cussed stuff would run all over the State and drive us out-choke us up. Those grass- hoppers are a God-send, only there ain't half enough oflem." "Is the wheat nice and plump ? Plump Well, I don't know what you call plump wheat, but there are seventeen in our family, including ten ser- vants, and when we want bread we just go out and fetch in a kernel of wheat and bake it." "Do you ever soak in water first ? Oh no, that wouldn't do; it would swell a little, and then we couldn't get it in our range oven." DAIRY PBODUCTs.-The dairy show which will open next Monday at the Agricultural Hall, Islington, will receive prominent attention from German dairy pro- ducers, no fewer than 140 entries in the classes of butter and cheese having been made by them. The great improvements which have taken place in this branch of farming of late years in Germany have been achieved under the auspices of the so-called Milch- wirthschaftliche Verein," which has also undertaken all the arrangements necessary for the successful management of this year's exhibition. PACKING FOR SARATOGA. The man who takes over ten minutes to pack a trunk is a dolt!" said Mr. Bowerman, as he slammed down the lid and turned the key. Mrs. Bowerman had been at it just seven days and seven nights, and, when the husband went upstairs at ten o'clock, she sat down before the open trunk with tears in her eyes. You see how it is," she exclaimed, as he looked down upon her in awful contempt, I ve got only part of my dresses in here, saying nothing of a thousand other things, and even now the lid won't shut down. I've got such a head- ache I must lop down for a few minutes." She went away to lop and Mr. Bowerman sat down and mused: II Space is space. The use of space is in knowing how ) to utilise it." Removing everything, he began re- packing. He found that a silk dress could be rolled to the nize of a quart jug. A freshly-starched lawn was made to take the place of a pair of slippers. Her brown bunting fitted into the niche she had reserved for three handkerchiefs, and her best bonnet was turned bottom up in its box and packed full of underclothing. He sat there viewing sufficient empty space to pack in a whole bcl, when she returned and said he was the only real good husband in the world, and she kissed him on the nose as he turned the key. It's simply thu difference between the sexes," was his patronieing reply as he went down stairs to turn on the burglar alarm. When the wife opened the trunk last night —— f But screams and shrieks would avail nothing.— { Detroit Free Press, is onlt« fctS. Tims.—The population of Tiflis of ini the variety Of its elements. Out -^bitants, 37,308 are Armenian*, 20,390 J&574 Russians, 2,186 Tartars, 2,005 Per8iM». 1.592 Poles, 1,145 Jews, 388 v ^3 Oseetea, 263 French, 227 Aissors, 163 xt&ft&ns, 123 Turks, 123 Mintrrelians, 81 English. Scotch, and Irish, 52 Lesghians, 37 Checs, 32 Gourian*, 28 Swedes, 15 Lithuanians, 10 Latiches (?), 10 Roumanians, 9 Slovacs, and 8 Mordoins and Chouvaches. Thesexes are aa unequally distributed there are only 37,877 women to 66,147 men. THE ELECTRIC LIGHT IN BUBMAH.-The Times of India says An extensive business transaction has just been concluded between the Indian Electric Light Company and the King of Burmah. Attracted by the experiments which have been made in this country with the electric light, King Theebaw sent an agent over to Calcutta to purchase the largest portion of the company's machines and plant in Calcutta and Bom- bay, including the apparatus that was lately employed in illuminating the Hooghly Bridge. The Burmese agent paid down Rs. 80,000 in hard cash, and we are informed that the entire cost of the lights-forty of Jablokhoff's and eight of the Regulator system-and fixing them in the Royal palace and gardens at Man. dalay, will be no less than 1,00,000 rs. Evidently the treasury of his Majesty is in a healthy condition. CLERICAL COMMUNICATION .-The cloak of religion sometimes has a fine nap in church,—Judy. AN ERRATIC TORPEDO.—A Lima correspondent writing to New York papers, states that an attempt made by the Peruvian steamer Huascar to destroy the Chilian ironclad at Autofagosta resulted in a singular episode. A new fish torpedo was despatched towards the Chilian ship, but when it had travelled half the distance it changed its course and travelled slowly back direct for the Huascar itself. She had no time to get out of the way, but a lieutenant jumped over- board, swam to the torpedo, and diverted its course so that it passed to the stern of the Haasear. A MEAN ADVANTAGE. — For pure artfulness it would be hard to beat the Eskimo method of catching polar bears, as related by the American historian, Mr. H. H. Bancroft, in a volume of portentous size, being one of four which deal with the native raees of the North Pacific. The Eskimos—Esquimaux we used to oall them-begin by taking some strut pieces of flexible whalebone, curving them well, and stuffing them with balls of blubber, which they then carefully freeze. The blubber thus holds firm the bent bow, and laden with these appetising but destructive morsels the men go to hunt the bear. A discharge of arrows when the animal is found reverses the order of things, and the bear begins to hunt the men, who throw balls of the succulent delicacy which the bear loves in his path. He is angry, but he is also greed and invariably eats as many balls as he can find. Soon a strange sensation is felt within." the writer says and oce can quite believe it. The heat of body thaws the blubber, the pieces of whalebone fly straight, and "play havoc with the intestines," speedily bringing the bear to a painful and ignomi- nious end." I do not exactly see why ignominious," when such a mean advantage has been taken of him.- Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News. NEW RECIPE POR GOOSEBERRY- FOOL,—First catch your Fool, and then give him plenty of cheap Cham. pagne.-Punch. A NARROW ESCAPE.—Two ladies in a phaeton were crossing the track of the New York branch of the Pennsylvania Railroad the other day, on the Lamb Tavern Road, when a heavily-ladan freight train, proceeding northward at a high rate of speed, cams almost upon them. Min Helen Leed, who was driving, endeavoured to hasten the horse over the track, when the animal turned and rushed up the track just in advance of the moving train, and upon the same line of rail. Miss Leed's companion, Mrs. Richard Harper, sprang from the phaeton, alighting on the soath-bound track, from which she had only time to escape as a fast express train passed by going south. Meanwhile, the lady in the phaeton strove to turn the frightened animal from the track, and urged it to greater Bpeed to escape the fast approaching freight train, the engineer of which reversed his engine, and sharply whistled for brakes. The next crossing east of the Lamb Tavern Road in a partly graded Btreit, just west of Germantown Railroad Junction, and a little less than a mile from Lamb Tavern Road. Miss Leed, finding the could not turn the horse from the road, urged the animal towards the crossing as the only means of escape. She reached it just in time, and, with a desperate pull at the reins, turned the horse's head down the steep hill so quickly, that he fell into the ditch at the road Bide, bringing the phaeton and its fair occupant on the top of him. ■ A MEXICAN MUMMY.—A curious mummy has been bought by the South Kensington Museum — the remains of a Mexican Prince, uncle of the famous Montezuma. This Prince was made prisoner by the Spaniards, and confined with his little girl in the Convent of San Isidro, where he and his child were ultimately walled-up alive. The chemical properties of the surroundings preserved the bodies intact, and they now look as if made of dark yellow wood. The Prince's body is much contorted, but the little girl, who was not immured in the same cell, looks calm. The mummies are enclosed in a crystal box, and were sold in Paris for J695. Only one other specimen of the kind exists in the world, which was also found In a Mexican convent. MORE PROVERBIAL PHILOSOPHY.—"There is reason in roasted eggs." Jones says he has never heard of roasted eggs, but that he has heard of eggs and bakin'—Judy. WEATHER FORECAST.—The following cable message has been received at the London office of tke/Teio York Herald, from the Herald Weather Borean, New York:—"A storm centre, preceded by depression, will arrive on the British and Norwegian coasts between the 7th and 9th inst.; heavy rains, south, veering north-west, gales; high temperature. THE SECRET OF BEAUTY.—The secret of beauty is health. Those who desire to be beautiful should do all they can to restore their health, if they have lost it, or to keep it if they have it yet. No one can lay down specific rules for other people in theee matters. The work which one may do, the rest he must take, his baths, his diet, his exercise, are matters of individual consideration, but they must be carefully thought of and never neglected. As a rule, when a person feels well he looks well, and when he looks bad he feels bad as a general thing. There are times when one could guess, without looking in the glass, that his eyes were dull and his skin was mottled. This iB not a case for something in a pretty bottle from the perfumers, or for the lotion that the circulars praise so highly. To have a fresh complexion and bright eces, even to have white hands and a graceful figure yoa;must be well Health and the happiness that usually comes with it are the true secrets of beauty.-Quarterly Review. BUILDING IN NEW YORK.—The statistics of house- building in New York during the present year pretty clearly indicate a change for the better in the general state of business in that city, and, therefore, in other portions of the States likewise. Daring the eight months ending on the 31st of August there were 1,458 houses erected, at a total cost of 16,351,512 dols., against 1,128, at a cost ol 10,702,200 dols, in the corre- sponding period of 1878, showing an increase of 322 houses built and 5,649,312 dols. expenditure in favour of the present year. In the same period of 1879 there were 1,071 houses rebuilt or altered, at a cost of 2,568,616 dols. against 943 at a cost oi 2,918,147 dols. in the parallel period of 1878. HARVEST THANKSGIVINGS. — A Bedfordshire Farmer" writes to The TimesWill you kindly allow me to suggest to the clergy that the offertories at harvest thanksgiving services may, in such a disas- trous season as the present, be well devoted to the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution? It is much to be feared that the number of candidates for relief from the funds of this excellent institution will be terribly increased by the almost overwhelming troubles that have daring the last few years befallen the agricultural interest. AMERICAN AND CANADIAN FOOD.—The following steamers arrived at Liverpool during last week con. veying live stock :-Brazilian, 604 cattle and 420 sheep; the Scandinavian, 202 cattle and 1,803 sheep; Teutonic, 214 cattle and 755 sheep; Minnesota, 380 cattle; lilyrian, 338 cattle; and Thanemore, 200 at cattle; amounting collectively to 1,938 cattle and 2,984 sheep. The Illyrian had also on board 17<5 live pigs. These figures are considerably in excess of the previous week as regards cattle; but of sheep there is a slight decrease when similarly contrasted. The steamers conveying fresh meat were six in number, bringing 4,499 quarters of beef, 972 carcases of mutton, an' 100 dead pigs, which is an increase on the previous week in each instance. A REMINDEB.—There are things which remind us of our boyhood days, and bring one particular occasion distinctly to mind (says an American paper)' We thought we would play truant, and we did. The first day was so serene that we tried it again. This time we were troubled. There came up a heavy thunder shower in the afternoon, and we were scared, badly scared, and when we arrived at the maternal mansion late In the afternoon we were met with a re- quest for a private interview. It was granted. The slipper had a good heel on it, and we are not sure but what the imprints are on our person yet. Tears, huge tears, chased each other down our cheek. When we departed for school the next morning we were "iven a sealed envelope for the teacher. We were suspicious. < We were always kind, and we gave that envelope to ) another little boy who wanted an excuse for being I late. He was late-the clock marked 9.16 when he ] arrived. The teacher read the note, and followed the 1 instructions therein contained to the letter. We were 1 sorry for that boy, but rejoiced that it was not us. I The note read1thus: Please whip the bearer, and whip him hard, lnat little boy and us were never 1 more friends. I ONE OF THE RIGHT SAW'T.—The new sword-bayonet now being issued to the Royal Artillery is Btraightel and much longer than the old bayonet, and the back of it forms a cross-cut saw-a I!aw'd bayonet with a vengeance. Ten or twelve inches of such a weapon thrust into the stomach of a wily Afghan would dc-i cidedly saw plaoe, -Fun. REVIVAL OF TRADE IN AMERICA.—A telegram from Philadelphia says :—" Great activity still characterises the American iron manufacture, with extensive ordere going to England, that cannot be executed here. The following have been the iron importations at Phila* delphia during the months of August and September:- 8,430 tons of pig, chiefly spiegeleisen 42,788 tons 01 ore. and 14,752 tons of iron rails. It is estimated that orders have been sent abroad for 10,000 tons of pie iron, 85,000 tonB of iron rails, and 10,000 tons of steal blooms, yet to arrive at New York and Philadelphia." PEASANT FARMING.—Small farms are the rule not the exception in the United Kingdom. Out of 422,000 holdings 228,000 do not exceed 20 acres, while 118,000 holdings mote still fall short of 100 acres each, and only some 76,000 occupations rise over the 100' acres limit. Very nearly three-fourths-in actual bgures seventy-one per cent.—of all the agricultural holdings of England are farms never exceeding fifty acres in size, while the larger holdings are mostly in pasture. The average holding of an occupier of land pasture. The average holding of an occupier of land under all kinds of crops, bare, fallow, and grass does not stretch over more than fifty-six acres either in Scotland or in England. In Ireland the average in less than half that, but for peasant farming we mud go to the Channel Islands, the average holding in Jersey being nice acres, and in Guernsey six acres. THE ELECTRIC I-IGHT -Some months ago an expert* ment was made in New York State to test the distance from which the electric light would illuminate a g'van spot, and it w:is found that a concentrated bean carried seven miles, turnished enough light to read by. A more crucial test of the great penetrating power of the electric light is furnished by the experiments 01 the officers of the French Algerian Triangulation Service, who a few days ago saw the electric light at the Spanish station of Zetica from a distance of more than 161 miles. This observation is proof, if proof were wanted, of the great value If the light foi maritime purposes, when it is exhibited from sum. ciently elevated positions. MOTTO FOR THE GAME OF LAWN-TENNIS.—"The Deuce is in it! "-Punch. A TRAMWAY UP MOUNT VESUVIUS.—What would Pliny or Strnbo have said to the announcement that a tramway up Mcunq Vesuvius was nearly completed and would soon be open to the Pompeiian public ? (asha the Daily Telegraph). Engineering operations on a bold scale were as familiar to the ancients as they have ever been to modern generations. But steam engines and tramways do not eeem to have entered into the minds of any Egyptian, Assyrian, Greek, or Rr>maa institution of civil engineers, by whom the bridges, canals, and cloaca; of the old world were constructed for the admiration cf later times. Windlasses, no doubt, there were in the days of the sandalled Smeatons who took the commands of Tarqulcius Priscus but, for want of steam and rails, they could not be employed on Spielg's system, which will be In operation early next year on the cone of the burning mountain, to draw the cars from the Naples Obaerva* tory up the steep gradient. Yet theie is nothing left for us to wonder at in the wildest incongruity, since a railway station was opened at Pomptii, and Albert Smith was enabled to record his impressions at hearing the name called out by porters on the platform. AVERAGE PRICES OF BRITISH CORN.—The following are the average prices of British cura for tbe week ending October 4, as received from the inspectors and officers of Excise :—Wheat, 47s. Id.; barley, 40«. 7d.j oats, 23s. 4d. per imperial qr. Corresponding week last year:—Wheat, 40s. 4d.; barley, 40s. 6d.; oate, 22s, 3d. A VITAL QUESTION "-Brown (picking up Volume from Club table): Ullo J what's this ? Is life worth living?' What do you say, Jones ? "—Jones H'ae —it depends. If I'm going to have curried lobstes and Welsh rabbit for supper, Yes 1 If I've had curried lobster and Welch rabbit for supper, No Bat I've not had curried lobster and Welsh rabbit 108 supper, you see; and, what's more, I'm not going to. So I give it up Brown So do 11" [ Exeunt, each to his respective business or pleasure, as the can may be, Punch. AN AGRICULTURAL NOVELTY !—" There is always something appearing to pester the agricultural com- munity. Sometimes it is a new-fangled bug, and again it is an improved worm, and next a double blWlr. action fly; but they all apparently come for the Pima purpose, and that is to eat up something. It is ou. sorrowful duty to announce, a new pest, rhat will carry dismay to many a happy homestead. Ic is a small red insect, something like a winged ant, and it ill exceed* ingly hungry. These insects do not care for wheat, or oat, or turnips, or cabbagse, but they love to dine on that unprotected pet of the farming com* munity, the guileless potato bug. This miøø- able insect destroys the larvae of the bug, and if the old bug himself comes in the way and ob- jects, it makes no bones of dining on the bug himself. The grief of the farmer who purchases Paris green AI a delicacy for his pet bugs may be imagined. It is not yet known whether anything can b" done to save the unfortunate potato bugs from the ravages of thia marauder, but no doubt science will yet devise a means of protection, and therefore it is to be hoped that the agricultural interests of this great and g I.,rious country will not be paralyzed by the advent of this voraciotw insect. Still, this hope is tinged withcadnees, for we hear from the West that many estimable potato bugs have already fallen a prey to the insatiate destroyer.^ —Detroit Free Prcu. HEAVY GUNS.—It has been ascertained that the Italian Government has ordered eight more 100* ton guns from the firm of Sir William Armstong and Co., at a cost of JE16 000 each. The cost of the Krupp 70-von steel Run is £22,000 each, and of the Woolwicn 80-ton gun £10,000 each. The four 100 ton Armstrong guns in possession of the English Government are being sent to strengthen the fortifications at Malta and Gibraltar. THE SEA SERPENT.—The Lake Champlain serpent has again appeared, says the New York Herald, and again been seen by St. Albans people. Major W. W. Scranton, of Scranton, Pa., while out on a boating trip to Wood's Island, with two ladies, saw, about 1,000 feet from the island, the dreadful mortter in rapid motion. The gentleman in question hs-tilly collected a lot of stones and rowed out in the d, t ection of the moving object. a Although he succeeded it pereceptibly lessening the distance between them and kept the serpent In sight for some ten minutes, he could not overtake it, and soon after it disappeared from view. The major describes it as being of dark colour, with a head about the thickness of a man's, and at least three or four feet of body was visible at times, while it was certain that the entire length was at no time to be seen. A. PARADISE FOR SERVANT GIRLS. — The Sydney Mau, ^ays of the Colony of New South Wales:— Verily this is the Paradise for servant-girls A few days ago a number of female immigrants, recently arrived, were on hire at the Hyde Park depOt; and among the ladies who attended for the purpose of en* gaging servants wag a smart, good lo" king person- attired in Bilks, Batins, and feathers, l.ess than 12 months ago this young lady was one of the new chums on hire in that very room, and wU.4 engaged by the wife of a professional gentleman in this city as general servant. Among the visitors t., the family where she was employed was a prosperous young tradesman, a bachelor, who was struck by Sarah Ann's good looks and modest behaviour. He made her an offer of marriage, and was accepted, and the conse- quence is that the fortunate slavey' is now mistress of a comfortah c home, and an employer of labour be** self." NAMES OF PLACES IN THE UNITED STATM.—A correspondent of the Sheffield Telegraph supplies the following "hints to letter writers" to the United Statu Persons who forget, or else do not consider it necessary to write the name of the State on theii envelope will do well to note the following facte There in the country 12 Boston8, 25 SpringSelds, 18 Brooklyns, 5 Baltimorep, 16 Buffaloes, 17 Burlingtons, 17 Charlestons, 4 Chicagos, 8 Cincinnati* 10 Cleve- lands, 19 Columbuses, 2i Daytons, 5 Detroits, 2 In. dfanapolises, 15 Lowels, 8 Memphises, 3 1.4 NashviUes 5 Omahas, 8 Pittsburgh*. 7 Philadel- phias, 14 Portlands, 14 Qninceyv, 22 Rijhmondr, 15 i J'wnmi68'* Pauls, 7 Toledos, 30 Washington*, 13 Wilmingtons, and 28 Williamburghs." ?0B STOBY !—It is no use for an Eastern man te try to tell a big story when there is a Western man a -S When I was a young man," said Colonel B„ an Eastern, we lived in Illinois. The farm had been well wooded, and the stumps were pretty thick. Bat we put the corn in among them, and managed tel raise a fair crop. The next season I did my share of the ploughing. We had a 'sulky' plough, ord I sat: in the seat and managed the horses, four en hand?< me bays as ever a man drew rein over. One .j,IY I fo-nnd a stump right in my way. I hated to back or-t to I just said a word to the team, and, if you will believe It. they just walked that plough right through that stump as though it had been cream cheese." Net a soul expressed surprise. But Major 8, W^ern man who had been a quiet listener, rem!1rkef! qs'itly, "It's ourious, but I had a similar experieneo myself once. My mother always made our clothea in Tnose iaya, as well as the cloth they were maca of. T r.t old lady was awful pruud of her homespun—* «id it was the strongest clot h in the State. One day I bpd just, ploughed through a white-oak stump in ibe 'peak of, Colonel. But it was a little urn 'l^c ne. It came together before I was out ol 6.. j voJ" "id nipped my trousers. It felt mean, I can' r>jf lut I put the string on the ponies, ftn°; r00t« and ieve it, they Just Rnaked that ill, Something had to give, you know.

THE VICTORIA CROSS. The London Gazette of Tuesday contains a formal announcement that the Queen has been graciously pleased to signify her intention to confer the decora- tion of the Victoria Cress upon Lieutenant Walter Richard Pollock Hamilton, Bengal Staff Corps, whose claim has been submitted for Her Majesty's approval, for "conspicuous gallantry during the action at Futtehabad on the 2nd of April, 1879, in leading on the Guide Cavalry in a charge against very superior numbers of the enemy, and particularly at a critical moment when his commandicgomcer (Major Wigram Battye), fell. Lieutenant Hamilton, then the only officer left with the regiment, assumed command and cheered on his men to avenge Major Battye's death. In this charge Lieutenant Hamilton, seeing Sowar Dowlut Ram down and attacked by three of the men while entangled with his horse (which had been killed) rushed to the rescue, and, followed by a few of his men, cut down all three and saved the life of Sowar Dowlut Ram," Lieutenant Hamilton, it will be remembered, was killed while resisting the attack upon the British Embassy at CabuL

EMIGRATION TO NEW ZEALAND. In London, on Monday night, a crowded meeting was held in the Gospel Hall, Walworth-road, to in- augurate the first of a number of clubs that are being formed by Captain Jackson Barry, now on a visit to his mother country after an absence and experience in the colonies of fifty years. Captain Barry presided at the meeting, and delivered an address, in which he exhibited in strong contrast the circumstances of working men at home and in New Zealand in favour of the latter. His address included graphic descriptions of his personal adventures, and a glowing account of the rich resources of the colonies. He stated that he intended to proceed on a lecturing tour throughout the country, and had reason to believe that he would be able to form success- ful clubs in all the principle centres of population in the United Kingdom, and thereby render valuable service alike to the mother country and the colonies. Members of the clubs will have their passage paid as the subscriptions from time to time admit of, selection being by ballot.

AUTUMN SALMON FISHING. The autamn salmon anglers are experiencing im- proved sport, and on many of the northern rivers heavy captures, both as regards numbers and weight of fish, have been made. The Stobhall section of the Tay has been very prolific. What may be called the capture of the season was made by Mr. R. B. Mars- ham, who one day landed a magnificent salmon of 461b., besides two others weighing respectively 221b, and 201b. Of the other captures made on this water lately, the following may be mentioned :— Mrs. Troughton, took a salmon of 301b. and a grilse of 8ib.; Mr. C. Marsham, on the same day, two salmon of 32 £ lb. and 221b., and two grilse: Mr. Pauley, one salmon 27 £ lb. and two grilse, 111b. and 101b. Mr. R. Glanville, four grilse, one 101b., two 7lb. each, and one 81b.; Lord Winterton, one salmon oitu' an? three grilse, weighing respectively 91b., oiiv' 5 M*. G. Field, five grilse, weighing °f 81b. each, one 71b., and one 51b.; Mrs. Eastwood, a salmon of 19 £ lb., Mid a grilse of 71b. The above captoree were made in a single day's fish- ing by the various rods. Several other fish have also been landed, including a fine fish of 381b. At some of the other stations anglers have also done well. At Benshill, Sir William Elliot took a salmon of 301b. On the Earn the largest salmon landed there by an angler since 1873 was taken the other day by Lord Camper. iown's keeper. It was a fine fish of 421b, On the Aberdeenshire Dee a fine salmon of 441b, has been taken on the Kingussie water by Mr. Fortesque, On the Dee and Don fishing has improved. jFromthe rweed the accounts are not very satisfactory fish have been landed here and there, but on the whole angling has been very poor.

THE TELEPHONE IN GERMANY. The Cologne Gazette states that by the help of the telephone, 685 localities have recently been brought into connexion with the telegraphic system of Germany. The Siemens telephone is the particular form adopted, and it is found that the distance to which despatches aan safely be sent by its help is 75 kilometres. The Imperial Telegraph Office is, it is added, encoaraging experiments with a view to perfect the telephonic apparatus, and hopes by its means, sooner or later, to be able to send messages to a distance of from 200 to >00 miles. The Imperial telegraphs are allowed to be nade use of by properly-accredited experimenters, and •he Imperial Department has promised pecuniary rewards to such persons as shall succeed In extending ;he efficiency of the telephone.

CESSATION OF DIPLOMATIC RE- LATIONS WITH BURMAH. A Renter's telegram from Simla says that Mr. St. Barb», the Assistant British Resident in Burmab, has left Mandalay with the whole of the establishment of the Residency. He had previously given notice to the authorities, in accordance with instructions from the Indian Government, that he was about to quit the capital. Since the departure of Colonel Horace Browne his position had become more and more un- satisfactory, and the continuance of diplomatic re- lations even for routine business was impossible.-A Time»' telegram dated Mandalay, O ;t. 6, eays :— The Brit'gh Resident, with his clerks and the Madras Guards, walked this morning, at 6 20. from the Residency, through the main street, to a eteamer unmolested. The people appeared to be much surprised. At the same time notice was Riven to British subjects, some of whom went on board the steamer. All Is quiet at Mandilay. The Bur- mese officials appear unconcerned. The steamer is expected to leave to-morrow."

AN OLD RUSSIAN TRAVELLER. Among the new publications of the St. Petersburg Geographical Society is one of considerable interest, The Peregrinations of Prince Radziwill, called the Orphan, in the Holy Land." This is a carefully- edited edition of a manuscript in old Russian, re- lating to the travels which a member of the cele- brated Polish family of Radziwill made in Syria, Judea, and Egypt, at the end of the 16th century. Radziwill, having formed the intention of visiting the Holy Land, left the Court of King Stephen Bathori, and made his way to Rome, where he obtained for his journey the approbation of Pope Giegory XIII. Various events having retarded the departure of Radziwill, it waa only in the latter part of 1582 that he was able to put his project into execution. He then quitted Poland, in spite of the warnings of his parents and friends, who tried to dis. suade him from undertaking so distant and perilous a journey; and in the month of April, 1583, he embarked at Venice, accompanied by several persons, of whom two were Jesuit fathers, in June they disembarked in Syria and went to Jerusalem, where they sojourned for two weeks. The return j oumey was made by Egypt, then by the islands of the Eastern Mediteranean to Italy, which the travellers reached only in March, 1584. The narrative is written in the form of letters to a friend. The first letter describes the origin of the undertaking, and the voyage from Venice to Cyprus; the second treats of the journey from Cyprus to Jerusalem, and contains a description of the Holy Places; the third speaks of Egypt, of Cairo, and the Nile; and the fourth of the localities which the author visited on his return. M. P. Hildebrandt, a distinguished philologist, has compared with care the Russian text of the journey with the Latin and Polish editions, which have already been published several times. He has, besides, en- riched his text with a table of proper names, and a vocabulary, the utility of which will be appreciated by those who wish to study this old narrative.—The Timet.

A BISCUIT RACE. Among the countless forms of walking and running matches now in vogue, says the New York Times, there is one which was a great favourite at sea in the days of long voyages, and is still frequently to be met with. Thirty pieces of ahip-biscuits are laid along the deck a yard apart, and the man who can pick them up and bring them back to the starting point, one by one, in the shortest time. wins the day. A very well-con- tested biscuit-race of this kind lately took place on board a South Atlantic steamer, between two of the aecond-ctasa stewards. The first who started, a slim, active young fellow of 23, was the favourite with the majority, but some of the "knowing ones" shook their heads at his commencing with the nearest pieces, and thus iecving the hardest work to the last. He made good time, however, though showing visible signs of exhaustion towards the end but his wary opponent, knowing himself to be the weaker man, flew at once U> the far end of the line, thus making each successive journey shorter than the last. As the race neared its close, the exdtement became intense. Many of the passengers shouted and gesticulated as eagerly as the sailors themselves and the motley crowd swaying to and fro in the lantern light (night having already fallen), the shouts of encouragement from one side and of outspoken ridicule from the other, the loud and frequent appeals to the timekeeper, and the flying figure of the runner in his striped shirt and jaunty white pantaloons, leaping, turning, and darting back- ward and forward like a snake, made a very pictu- reeque scene. The second man proved the conqueror, but only after a hard struggle, his time being 9 min. 15 see, to his antagonist's 9 min. 25 sec. i