The Aberystwith Observer

THE CLOSURE. At the monthly meeting of the executive committee of the London and Counties Liberal Union, the fol- lowing resolution was unanimously adopted :—" That the experience of the present session of Parliament confirms and strengthens the conviction of this Com- mittee, already expressed by resolution in January last, that a reform of parliamentary procedure is imperatively needed, in order to remedy the stagna- tion of public business, and that this Committee hereby expresses its satisfaction that her Majesty's Government have resolved that an end shall be put to this growing evil before the session of 1883, and affirms its hearty approval of the principle of closure by absolute majority contained in the new rules as originally introduced."

Am h Jonbott Corasgontai, (lie deem it right to state that we do not at all times fflMttiy ooraelves with o'ir Correspondent's opinions. The protracted sitting of.-the House of Commons through Friday night and Saturday has afforded another illustration of the absolute necessity for a revision of the rulea of Parliamentary procedure. Upon these the House had been engaged intermittently from the 20th February to the 11th May, when the murder of Lord Frederick Cavendish and Mr. Burke induced the Government to bring in the Prevention of Crime BilL Notwithstanding daily sittings on that measure, the 1st of July found the House just half-way through the clauses in committee. It was then deemed necessary by the Opposition as well as by the Government to take some stringent step for expediting business, with the result that twenty-five members were suspended and the clauses were disposed of. Three years ago the mention of the name of King Cetewayo was unfavourably received by all classes of people in this country. He was the sovereign of a land with which for months we had been at war, and the memory of Isandula was at that time a bitter one. News had just been received that Prince Louis Napoleon had lost his life at the hands of the Zulus, and this increased the strong feeling of resentment against that sable population. Then came the battle of Ulundi, on the 21at July, 1879, which crushed the Zulu power, the flight of Cetewayo, his apture in the following August, and his subsequent detention at Cape Town, which has continued to this day. Cetywayo has long desired to come to England, and after a protracted delay his wish is to be grati- fied. He will be in London in the course of the autumn; and as "the English people always cheer the Sovereigns who come over here," it is likely enough that the black monarch will be well re- ceived. His letters prove him to a man of con- siderable intelligence, and much curiosity is certain j to be manifested in his movements. He will go to see the Queen, will dine with the Lord Mayor, will attend a military review at Aldershot, and see the Channel Fleet drawn up at Spithead. Having been im pressed with the wealth, strength, and resources of Eng- land, it is more than possible that the course of events in Zululand will render his restoration to power desir- able. The University Cricket Match at Lord's Ground is one of the most fashionable of the London season. It is closely ran by the contest between Eton and Harrow, which comes a little later. With fine weather the University Match, from the nature of its surroundings, is a spectacle well worth seeing. As the crowds in the streets of London wear light and dark blue respectively on the occasion of the annual boat-race between Oxford and Cambridge, so at the Cricket Match at Lord's the ladies appear in one or other of the University Blues. Doubt- less a large proportion attend merely to see and to be seen; yet the desire to witness the cricket is so great, that a guinea is the ordinary price of a reserved seat. The present cricket season has been an unusually brilliant qpe, and the visit of tha Australians has enhanced its interest in a remarkable dagree. Westminster Abbey, already rich in monuments and memorials, is to receive an addition in the shape of a tablet to the memory of Michael William Balfe. This tribute to the genius of an eminent composer is due to the efforts of the late Dean of Westminster, Dr. Arthur Peorhyn Stanley. Balfe's numerous compositions have been produced, not only in English-speaking countries, but in aoriiC continental lands, themselves rich in men of genius, landing France, Italy, and Germany. More especially may Italy be described as a land of song; and it was there that Balfe enjoyed a distinguished reputa- tion before his works became so well known in the United Kingdom. The., fitting nature of the monu- ment to his memory in our national Walhalla will be recognised both at home and abroad by all who admire simple and beautiful strains, whether in opera or ballad. The application of electricity to the working of railways sond tramways is an experiment regarded with interest not only by engineers, but by the general public. The success or failure will decide the practi- cability ct the new system of propulsion in the present state of electrical science. Tramways on this system have already been worked in Berlin and Paris, and it is clear that the mechanical diffi- culties whkh at first seemed to stand in the way have been overcome. The promoters of the newly- appliad agency base their calculations of success on the assumption that electricity is much cheaper than either horse or steam power, inasmuch as there is a diminished deteriora- tion of roiling stock and permanent way through dtcnase in friction. The weight of a heavy engine is dispensed with, and inclines are easily ascended. Ihe electricity is generated at one end of the line, and transmitted along the rails to machinery within the carriages, which works the driving wheels. There was some apprehension that the powerful current, passing along the unprotected rails, might constitute a source of danger to the public. On the contrary, electricians declare that the influences pro- duced are of such an agreeable character, that during the early history of the electric tramway in Berlin hundreds of people were in the habit of throwing themselves -upon the rails after a car had passed. The idea that a great Atlantic steamer is a floating town upon the sea is to be extended and developed by the eoMteuction of a fleet of ships in America of extraordinary size and swiftness. Each is to ac- commodate 600 first and 1,000 second and third- class passengers, at the same time carrying 2,700 tons of coal and 550 tons of goods. The projectors anticipate that the rate of speed will be such as te ensure the crossing of the Atlantic in five and a half days. Seven days between Queenstown and New York is now regarded as a splendid passage but if thb can be reduced by a day and a half, it might well appear to the finite vision that the diminution of the time occupied in the journey from the Old World to the New could not be reduced much further. Within a few days of each other, Royal recognitions of the value of the newspaper press have been made in a gratifying manner. The Duke of Albany pie- sided at tha annual dinner of the Newspaper Press Fund, at Willis's Rooms, and paid a high tribute to the value of the public journal as an educating agency, and as the chief instrument in the diffusion of know- ledge, the progress of enlightenment, and the advance- ment of civilization. Instead of consisting merely of expressions of opinion upon passing events and critical essays upon men and their works, the main function of the newspaper of to-day is to supply the reader with a contemporary and authentic record of the daily history of the world. The other occasion was the visit of the Prince of Wales to the office of the Daily Telegraph on the night of the opening of the splendid new effices which have been built in Fleet- street. The gathering Was a very distinguished one, including the Duke of Albany, Prince Leinengen, and many illnstrious names in science, literature, art, and politics. Internally, the new office of the Telegraph is a marbia palace externally it is an ornament to the thoroughfare of newspapers, in which it has been rawed. There are more newspaper offices in Fleet. street than in any other street in London. The trial of a recent cause at Guildhall has once more gi> en ri-e to the inquiry how long people are to wait foi the completion of the new Law Courts. The jur3' complained of the bad ventilation, and asked for air, but the judge objected to draughts, the window* were kept closed on a Midsummer day, and two witnesses were carried out of court in a faintirg condition. Those with good memories are able to reject that seventeen years have aJap«ef! sJnce the Act of Parliament was obtained for thft crrsf-ruttion of the Royal Courts of Justice, and this iJTii'iturfl is not yet ready for use. Meanwhile the t.rounnils of London are scattered here and there--V,"e "!iAitiater, Lincoln's Inn, Guildhall, and Basic-?hii'i-s' r?et; but mostly the accommodation is utter v and her Majesty's lieges who are t resort to these places, either as suitors, juryn f- i witae. come away with but a poor ;■ or the eonrts apart for the administra- tion of jtatise,

In a letter on the 2nd, the Correspondent o The Times further says The surgeons report on the autopsy of Guiteau's body has not appeared yet, but the unofficial report says that the assassin's brain had a normal healthy appearance. It was slightly heavier than the average, weighing 491 ounces. All the other organs appeared healthy, except the spleen, which was greatly enlarged, weighing 15 ounces. Dr. Bliss says that many points in the brain show a good healthy mental and physical development. There was a slight ruffling of the aorta near the heart. The neck was not broken, as the surgeons at first sup- posed, but there was a rupture of the stern-ocleido- mastoid muscle in both sides and also of the thyroid membrane. Death resulted from suffocation. The corpse will be privately buried to-day in the gaol near the gallows. The interment will be temporary, the family hereafter removing the remains.

Despite the effort made at secrecy the negroes, who swarm at Washington, ascertained the shop where Guiteau's coffin was made. Some strange super- stition induced them to lay their hands upon it, and throngs filed past it all day.

THE GOVERNMENT AND CETEWAYO. The Daily News says :—" The brief debate in the House of Lords on Cetewayo's visit to England will confirm the great majority of the public in the favourable opinion concerning the policy of the Government which they have lately expressed. The position of the Government, as described by Lord Kimberley, is absolutely unassailable." The Morning Post says:—"The plain meaning of what was said on Monday night is that the Govern- ment have pretty well made up their minds to restore Cetewayo, but before doing so they desire to impress him with a sight of our material resources and to exact from him a promise of future good behaviour. We do not say that this is not a proper course to pursue, but at least it is one which, if contemplated, ought to be honestly avowed." The Morning Advertiser says:—"It may be taken for granted that Cetewayo will shortly visit this country as a preliminary to his restoration to the throne of Zululand. In this matter, as in almost every other political question, the Government have set aside all experience and authority, and decided to take the sentimental and emotional view."

THE NIGHT AND DAY SITTING OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS. The House of Commons, which met at two o'clock on Friday afternoon in last week, sat until eight o'clock on Saturday evening, with the exception of the customary two hours between seven and nine on Friday. The orginal clauses in the Prevention of Crime Bill were disposed of, leaving only the new and postponed clauses for consideration. In the course of this long sitting, twenty-five Irish members were sus- pended for persistent and wilful obstruction-sixteen at one time and nine at another. Thirty-one divisions were taken during the sitting, the minority in no case rising above forty, and more frequently numbering from fourteen to twenty. Eight divisions were taken on motions to report progress and that the Chairman lieave the chair after the, first batch of suspensions, the minority never exceeding a dozen.

Among the personal incidents of the thirty hours' sitting one is worth noticing by those who amuse, themselves by collecting examples of extraordinary physical vigour and length of days (says the Pall Mall Gazette). One member, who sat in the old unreformed Parliament of 1830, was in his place on Friday afternoon; went away to dinner; came back in due time; and was actually still to be seen in the House so late as noon on Saturday, still in his evening clothes and with a faded- flower in his button-hole. He reappeared late in the afternoon, and saw the end of the scene.

The record of the 30 hours' sitting of the House of Commons is voluminous beyond precedent. It occu- pies 148 pages of the "Votes and Proceedings of the House," and contains 31 division lists.

A GLOOMY PICTURE. -Consul Stanley, at Odessa, gives a gleomy picture of the state of affairs in Southern Russia during the present year, and "points out how the troubles of the people have been aggravated by the persecution of their Jewish fellow-citizens. The year, he observes, commenced most inauspiciously. The failure of the crops in 1880 had driven up rye, the staple article of food of the people, to famine prices. Then came the assassina- tion of the Emperor Alexander II. For the whole month the entire country was appalled, and was only just re- covering from the shock, and under the influence of warm summer weather gaining some courage, when the anti-Jewish riots broke out. This put a complete stop to business, and the passenger traffic of the Russian Steam Navigation Company between Odessa, Nicolaieff, Kherson, and the Dnieper and also of the South Russian railways, fell lower than it had been in any previous year. The Kachovka May fair was a com- plete failure, as half of the Jews, who do nearly all the trade, abstained from appearing, and half the re- mainder hurried back their goods before the fair opened. At this time (Mr. Stanley says) barges were hired and moored off the shore, and household effects and valu- able goods placed on board, to be safe in case of riot- those Jews who had Christian friends bringing to them for safe keeping their jewellery and documents.

MR. MUNDELLA AND EDUCATION IN SOUTH WALES. On Saturday afternoon a deputation, beaded by Lord Aberdare, representing the mining population of Monmouthshire and South Wales, had an interview with Mr. Mundella and Sir Francis Sandford at the Education Office, Whitehall, to ask for a revision of the requirements of the department as applicable to the children of the mining population. The deputation represented that it was felt to be too much to require children to pass the fifth standard when twelve years old that the strain involved injury to their physical strength, and that its imposition prevented the employ- ment of hundred of boys in collieries where adults had in consequence to be employed to do their work causing irritation and sometimes provoking strikes. Mr. Mundella said the difficulty in question arose from parents not causing their boys to attend early enough and with sufficient regularity at good schools. The titth standard was the usual, one for examinations in mining and other districts, such as Middlesbrough, Barnsley, and Dudley, whilst in other localities, including Rotherham and Darlington, the sixth stand- ard was passed without difficulty. 5 He could not pro- mise to reduce the 'standard for' South Wales, but would consult with his advisers at the Education Department as to what could be done temporarily to meet any emergency.

IRISH CENSUS RETURNS.—During the year 1881 I 21,762 marriages, 125,840 births, and 90,085 deaths were registered in Ireland, and, 78,417 persons emi- grated. A decrease of 42,662 appears to have taken j place in the population. Of the 90,085 deaths, 11,425 were of children under one year old, and 36.687 were of persons aged 60 years and upwards. 7,088 deaths occurred from zymotic diseases, of which 69 were from small-pox, 362from measles, 1,269 from scarlet fever, of persons aged 60 years and upwards. 7,088 deaths occurred from zymotic diseases, of which 69 were from small-pox, 362 from measles, 1,269 from scarlet fever, H19 from diphtheria, 1,273 from whooping cough, 2,324 irom fever, 1,453 from diarrhoea, and 19 from simple cholera. One, inquest to every 32 deaths had ¡ been held.

PROBABLE CALLING OUT 01 RESERVES The Times (in a leader) says We are; 14 con- dition to land at once and in a state of efficiency an expedition consisting of one or even two army corps upon the shores of the Mediterranean. We have a full supply of trained and efficient soldiers for the pur- pose. In this respect we are in a far better position than ever before, although as regards the condition of some of the regiments standing first for service a little more time is required to make them what they ought to be. Upon the necessity of an expedition be- coming manifest, the Government will advise the Queen to issue her proclamation, declaring an occa- sion 'of great emergency,' and thereupon calliBg out both the army and the militia reserve. Herein lies the chief value of our military reforms. The army reserve consists of about 27,000 men and the militia reserve of about the same number. Each man of the former has undergone several years' and each of the latter several months' military training. These two bodies would, therefore, constitute a direct and posi- tive addition to our fighting strength of over 50,000 men, of whom one-half would at once take their place in the ranks as matured, trained and efficient soldiers, while the other half would be in a brief time scarcely less fit for the field.

THE LANDSEER MEMORIAL. The handsome memorial in memory of the late Sir Edwin Landseer, R.A., has just been placed in the crypt of St. Paul's Cathedral, where the uncovering will shortly take place, but without ceremony. The memorial is made of the finest statuary marble, and it is over 7ft. in height. On the top is a painter's brush and pallet, in token of the profession of the deceased artist, and in the centre is a medallion head of Sir Edwin Landseer; in the lower panel beneath is a refresenttaion from his well-known picture, The Chief Mourner," in which a shepherd's dog is seated by the coffin of his dead master; on either side are the representation heads of the lions in Trafalgar- square. The following is the inscription To Sir Edwin Landseer, R. A., son of John Landseer, A.R.A.; born March 7th, 1802, died October 1, 1873. This monument is erected by his surviving brothers and sisters. He hath made everything beautiful in his time."

The QUEEN and the ARTILLERYMEN. On Monday morning her Majesty, accompanied by Princess Beatrice, the Duke and Duchess of Albany, and the Princess of Hesse, drove from Windsor Castle through the private grounds to Frogmore, where her Majesty inspected the 4th Battery of the Royal Artillery, who have been billeted at Windsor on their way to Hay, in Wales. They were drawn up on the road near Adelaide Lodge. Her Majesty alighted from her carriage, and had part of the dismounted men presented to her by Colonel Thornhill. The Queen said to the men that she was pleased to see them, complimented them on their smartness in ap- pearance, and thanked them for their conduct in the Afghan war. The battery then marched past, and the Royal party proceeded on their route. The men were much pleased with the Queen's kind reception.

THE LABOUR MARKET. Firmness characterises the iron market. The mer- chants' stocks are exhausted, and they now have to purchase from makers. There is great inquiry for manufacturing iron, and in all districts home and foreign demands are on the increase. The advance of cotton during the week is a new feature, and it has taken the manufactures in Lanca- shire by surprise. They, together with the spinners, have raised their prices, and the mills are kept running full time. The woollen trade during the past week has been better business, both as regards the home and foreign departments, is now moderately active, and prices are steady. In the hosiery and lace trades there is anima- tion. The boot and shoe ti-ade at all the centres is very busy, workman in all parts having received an advance of wages. All the industries of London are fairly well employed. At all the dockyards there is great activity, and addi- tional hands are being taken on.

ASCENT OF THE ALETSCH-HORN. The first ascent of the Aletsch-horn, made this sea- son, was successfully accomplished on Thursday, June 29. It is the second highest mountain of the Ober- land range, being, according to Baedeker, 102fe. higher than the Jungfrau, and only 250ft. lower than the Finster-Aarhorn, the loftiest peak of all. The party, which consisted of Dr. Nankivell, of Bournemouth, and the Hon. Herbert Cairns, with two guides, started from the Ben Alp Hotel at half- past one in the morning, and reached the summit at eleven. The past winter had effected such changes in the glaciers and on the rocks as greatly surprised the guides, and added to the difficulties of the passage. Many new and wide crevasses had to be crossed, and a good deal of hard work undergone. The snow during the ascent was in fair condition; but on the return it was necessary to take to the rocks, and the Ober Aletsch glacier was not reached till six p.m., nor the Bel Alp till half-past eight. The day was clear, and the view as extensive as could be desired. The guides, Reuben ivlementz and Anton Walden, acquitted them- selves to the entire satisfaction of the party.

Illisrcllairmus Jn-tdlujciia:. HOME, FOREIGN, AND COLONIAL. FIVE PERSONS DROWNED WHILE BATHING.-Five cases of drowning while bathing were reported in the Scotch papers on Monday morning. Robert Cook, aged eleven, perished at Clackmannan; James Graham, aged nine, was drowned in the Dee a man named Maclennan lost his life at Mount Stuart; George Ronald sank in. a mill dam at Newe, and a man whose name was unknown was drowned at Greenock, Sunday was the hottest day this season. UNKIND.—" Cab, sir?" "No; I'll walk to-night, just for a change.' "Not much of a change, I think, guv nor. It d be a bigger one if you rode "—Judy. THE ITALIAN ROYAL FAMILY.—The little Prince of Naples, heir to the throne of Italy, attended on horse- back, tor the first time, on the occasion of the fefces at Rome in celebration of the Italian Constitution (says the Court Journal). He looked delighted at this honour, which invested him with a new importance. He wore the uniform of a military scholar. All along the road he was greeted with cries of Viva il Prin- cipino. Ihe King looked wonderfully well, and seemed quite proud of his boy's reception. He is very grey, however, but stouter. He will soon be as stout as his father. The Queen, who followed in a demi- State carriage, was dressed in pale pink, and a large straw hat covered with pink feathers. THE TUILERIES.-A photograph of the rums of the palace of the Tuileries has been successfully taken prior to their demolition, which will commence forth- with. The space in front of the building, where the grass and weeds now grow, was thronged with visitors, who formed a group in the foreground of the picture. The hands of the clock of the Pavillon de l'Horloge are at five minutes to nine, at which point they have re- mained ever since the morning of the 24th of May, 1871. n THE LAW'S DELAY.—A few years ago, a cargo of ide was imported into this country from Norway. Not hav- ing such an article in the Custom-House schedules, application was made to the Treasury and to the Board of Irade and, after some little delay, it was decided the ice should be entered as dry goods;" but the whole cargo had melted before the doubt was cleared up RIDING A WILD BULL.-He was a wild Western cowboy, who was offered a calf that didn't belong to anybody in particular, if he would ride a wild bull without saddle and bridle. He jumped from his horse, looked to his spurs and leaped upon the bull with his face to the animal's tail, setting his spurs deep into the flanks of the infuriated beast. The bull flung his head to the ground, but the rider held on to the tail and kept his seat. With another roar the bull rushed off and out upon the prairie. The race continued for a mile and a half, the whole crowd following on their horses. The bull plunged now and then into the sage brush with the idea of ridding himself of his burden, but it was of no use, and the sharp rowels kept pricking him on. At last, exhausted with fright and fatigue, he fell to the ground, and the cowboy, stepping off, came back, like the prodigal son, for his well-earned calf. A NOVELT? IN PHOTOGRAPHY.—A very interesting instrument, called a photographic gun, has been in- vented by a Frenchman. It is nothing more nor less than a very large revolver, with a stock to put to the shoulder. The barrel is a telescope, that is to say, it contains the lenses of a camera. There are twelve apertures which take the place of chambers. The photographer puts a sensitised plate behind these apertures, and performing an operation analogous to cocking a gun, the weapon is ready for the field. On seeing a flying bird, he takes aim, and pulls the trigger. The chamber revolves once, and in one second he obtains twelve little pictures of the bird in various positions. A FREE TRANSLATION.—An old lawyer practising at the Cincinnati Bar was an orator and very fond of showing off his classical learning before a jury. In a murder trial, in defending the prisoner, he warned the jury not to allow public opinion, which was against his client, to influence their verdict. Gentlemen of the jury," he said in concluding his appeal, "give up, drop entirely all feeling in this im- portant matter, and be like the ancient Roman in his adherence to the truth, who, in its defenoe, most eloquently declared, '.Amicus. Cato, amicus Plato, amicus Cicero, sed major Veritas'" The next morning the lawyer found himself reported in the newspapers as follows —" 'I may cuss Cato, I may cuss Plato, I may cuss Cicero,' said Major Veritas." A BIG PLANTATION.-Major B. W. Bellamy, who owned several hundred slaves before the American civil war, is now the master of a thousand negroes, who cultivate his farm of sixteen thousand acres near Quitman, Ga. They live in neat, white-washed cot- tages, and are provided with churches, schools, and, if the local newspaper is not mistaken, with dance- houses. Every dwelling has its garden, potato patch, and orchard, and every tenant is encouraged to save money, buy land, and develope his individuality. It is said that all the children over ten years of age can read and write. At the plantation house things are done in the old style. A reporter who recently dined with the planter writes that the principal dish was a gigantic chicken pie, and that the round of beef made the stout boy who set it on the table stagger. A NARROW ESCAPE.-The Simla Correspondent of the Times of India, writing on the 5th of June, says: —"The Viceroy nearly lost two of the members of his staff last night. Captain Brett, Captain the Honour- able C. Harbord, and Captain Lord Alwyne Compton were returning from Inverarm about eleven at night. Whilst conversing, Captain Harbord and Lord A. Compton leaned on the rail, which suddenly gave way. Captain Harbord fell but Captain Brett just succeeded in catching Lord A. Compton by the leg and saving him. Captain Harbord fell a clear thirty feet, then struck the khud, and fell twenty feet more on to the Mall. He was found lying on his face on the road; but, wonderful to state, beyond a sevete shaking and a few scratches was otherwise unhurt.' THE FUTURE OF AUSTRALIA.—The Corporation of Plymouth assembled at the Millbay Pier on Saturday for tne purpose of extending an official farewell to Sir Henry Parkes, the Prime Minister of New South Wales. Sir Henry, in response, expressed the delight it gave him to find how great was the interest which was felt in this country in all that concerned the Australian colonies. Those colonies generally num- bered three million souls, and when they remembered that* America achieved her independence with that population, and when they contemplated the present prosperous commercial and financial condition of the Australian colonies, he thought they would all recog- nise the great future that was before them. He was confident that their population was destined enor- mously to increase, and he entertained the conviction that they were capable of producing sufficient to satisfy not their own requirements only, but also to distribute an important surplus amongst the nations of the world. THE VAGARIES OF FASHION,Years ago, when David Crockett was a member of Congress and had returned home at the close of the first seasion, several of his neighbours gathered around him one day, and asked questions about Washington. What time do they dine in city ?" asked one. Common people, such as we have here, dine at one. The big ones dine at three; we Representatives at four the aristocracy and the Senators eat at five. Well, when dose the Presi- dent fodder f Old Hickory ?" exclaimed the colonel. "Well he don't dine till rext day." A RUNAWAY TRAIN.-Late on Monday night a train of seven waggons, laden with bricks, became detached at Barlborough Colliery on the Staveley mineral branch line at the Midland system. The train rushed at great speed down a steep incline for a distance of three miles. It was then turned into a siding, where it dashed against the standing buffers with a thud which was heard a mile away. Some of the waggons were smashed, and the permanent way was much damaged, but no one was hurt. REGARDED AS PRECIOUS RELICS.—The Order of the Golden Fleece, which is shortly to be conferred on President Grévy, never gives to the fresh knights new insignia, but decorates them with the old Orders worn by one of their predecessors, no new specimens of the decoration being made nowadays. Accordingly Spain regards these insignia as precious relics, and on their presentation to the new knight he finds the name of the former owners engraved on the links of the collar, and receives a written history of their genealogy, while in his turn he is obliged to sign a document binding his heirs to restore the Order after his death. Prince Frederick Charles of Germany possesses one of the most interesting decorations of the Order-that be- stowed by Philip II. upon the notorious Duke of Alva, German princes, by-tne-bye, are renowned for their numerous decorations, but it would seem that the Orders entail some drawbacks. Thus, when one Hohenzollern Prince wears all his Orders, he carries on his breast ten pounds of gold alone. ELEMENTARY KNOWLEDGE IN ITALY.—From the Italytn Census of the 31st December, 1881, it appears that, in 23 out of 24 provincial chief towns the number of persons knowing how to read and write has greatly increased since 1871. In ten years the citizens of Udine had increased in such knowledge at the rate of 9 per cent; in Como, 6'50 per cent. Bresica made a strange exception; in 1871 there were 2,899 persons ignorant of reading and writing, and in 1881 this number was increased to 3,120.persons; data are want- ing to explain this fact. In the 24 capitals of pro- vinces the average result is that a little more than 50 per cent. of the inhabitants know how to read and write. FASHIONABLE MARRIAGE. — Great interest was shown at Kensington on Tuesday in the marriage of the Ificar, the Hon. and Rev. E. Carr-Glyn (youngest son of the late Lord Wolverton) to Lady Mary Eliza- beth Campbell, daughter of the Duke of Argyll, Flags were displayed and the bells rang out. The ceremony was performed by the Bishop of Lichfield. The church was lined by the Scots Guards and the 11th Hussars. Among others present were the Duke and Duchess of Teck, the Duke and Duchess of Nor. thumberland, the Duke and Duchess of Sutherland, the Duchess of Bedford, Lord and Lady Percy, Lady Grosvenor, Lord and.ady Wolverton, the Dowager Lady Wolverton, Lady Granville, the Marquis and Marchioness of Ormonde, Lady Selborne and the Ron. Wilfreda Palmer, Lord Shaftesbury, Mr. Wyndham Gibbes, and the churchwardens of the parish. The weddtng breakfast was given at the residence of the Duke and Duchess of Argyll, Argyll Lodge, Campden- hill. About a quarter to two o'clock the hon. and reverend gentleman and Lady Mary started, amidst the hearty congratulations of their friends, and showers of rice and old satin shoes, for Cliveden, the Duke of Westminster's residence on the banks of the Thames, for the honeymoon. A FALSE ALARM AT THE VATICAN.—Not many days ago, while the Pope was taking his usual drive in the Vatican Gardens, a shot was heard close at hand. The coachman, no doubt still under the im- pression of the late Garibaldian demonstrations, took frights He whipped up his horses, cried out Help Assassins and drove full speed into the court-yard of the Papal Palace, causing great consternation among the Guards, who ran for their arms and barred the gates. After some moments of panic and in. t decision, the Guards went in quest of the supposed assassin all over the Vatican Gardens, and finding nothing, proceeded to search on the other side of the wall at a place where the coachman declared he had heard the shot. They soon returned to the Palace with a dead cat The keeper of a neighbour- ing vineyard, whose pastime it was to rear rabbits, had just succeeded in shooting a large cat which bad often robbed him of the young ones. HAPPY THOUGHT.—"The Pale of Society." Most of the young men and women, M.P.'s, and other Up- all-nighters, at the close of the London Season.- Punch. THE BRIGHTON OF CALIFORNIA. — "Apache," writing in Land and Water says :—Monterey is one of the most charming of winter .resorts. It is situated upon the Pacific Coast in California, and is famous for its equable, health-giving atmosphere. Monterey was founded over a hundred years ago by the Francisco missionaries, and really was the first capital of Cali- fornia. It is situated in the midst of beautiful scenery, for there is great variety in its natural surroundings. Ocean, bay, lake, streamlet, mountain, hill and valley, all contribute their share of loveliness to the scene, and large groves of cypress, spruce, pine, and oak trees frimge the slopes that encircle some portions of the town, whilst the mountain views are glorious, par- ticularly these obtained from the Santa Cruz and Gabilaa Spurs. The bay, a magnificent sheet of water, full twenty-eight miles from påmt, is splendidly adapted to yachting, and as a great many kinds of fish are caught there boating is a favourite pastime with all visitors who delight in sport. Rock cod, bar- raewda, pompino, Spanish mackerel are taken there at all seaaoas of the year, and the beach one bold sweep of wide, gently sloping, white hard sand, is the very perfection of a bathing place, _EXPERIENCE.—1Telemachus (aged nineteen): "It's simply absurd, dear bov, to tell a woman anything, because we all know that no woman ever yet could keep a secret." Mentor (wrong side of forty): There is one secret that you can lay heavy odds on their keeping." Tel.: "What is that?" Men.: "Their ages." -Judy. THE AGRICULTURE OF ITALY AND FRANCE.—Accord- ing to a paper quoted by Mr. Beauclerk in his official report on the condition of agriculture and the rural population in Italy, it appears that the annual value of the agricultural produce of that country is only one- fourth as large as that of France, yet the superficial area of France is only twice as great, and her popu- lation only one-third larger. Mr. Beauclerk attri- butes this striking disparity partly to the fact that much of the land of Italy is mountainous, unproduc- tive, and inhospitable; but there seems no doubt that Italian agriculture is in an extremely backward con- dition. AVERAGE PRICES OF BRITISH CORN.—The follow- ing are the average prices of British corn for the week ending July 1, as received from the inspectors and officers of Excise: — Wheat, 46s. lid. barley, 25s. lOd.; oats, 23s. lid, per imperial qr. Correspond- ing week last year — Wheat, 45s. 4d. barley, 29s. 3d.; oats, 23s. 9d. HUNTING FOR HIDDEN GOLD.-An interesting para- graph is going the rounds of the press, originating in Puebla, Mexico, in regard to untold wealth concealed in the luins of the ancient palace of King Tena. maxicuicail. As the story goes, this ancient monarch, hearing of the approach of Cortez, hid his valuables in a subterranean passage leading from the palace. Workmen digging, in that vicinity have recently unearthed an underground tunnel and have already brought to light some images in use at that period. The more sanguine think the treasure itself will be shortly reached and are digging for it with the energy of treasure-seekers. At last accounts the untold wealth had not been reached. STRUCK BY LIGHTNING.—During a heavy thunder- storm that swept over Harveysburg, 0., recently I rank Oy.er, a lad of 16 years sought refuga, with his ploughing team, in a barn. While he was caring for his horses the building was struck by lightning. The bolt passed through the building, hit the boy fairly between the shoulders, and running down his back passed around in front across the groin, thence down the left leg to the knee, where it forked and sent both prongs to the barn floor. This bolt had passed down the lad's back and leg, set fire to the floor at the points where the prongs struck and in a few minutes the building was in ashes. Frank's younger brother saw the barn in flames and fighting his way in dragged the insensible lad to the house. Young Oyler remained unconscious for nearly an hour, during which time his father traced the course of the bolt by means of a blistered streak running from the shoulders to the left knee. Upon recovering, and at last account he was nearly well, the boy said Quick as it went I could feel it all the way from my neck to my knee." THE MOST POPULAR MILITARY CLUB IN THE PROFESSION.—A Field-Marshal's bitou. "-Fun. ANCIENT MONUMENTS IN THE HIGHLANDS.—The Ancient Monuments Bill, introduced on behalf of the Government by Mr. ShawLefevre, contains the follow ing list of ancient monuments in the Highlands and islands to which the Act is to apply :—The Dun of Dornadilla, Sutherlandshire; the sculptured stone called Sueno's Stone, near Forres, Elgin; a group of remains and pillars on a haugh at Clava on the banks of the Nairn, Inverness; the Pictish towns at Glenelg, Inveiness; the ring of Brogar and other stone pillars at Stennis, in Orkney, and the neighbour- ing pillars, Orkney the chambered mound of Mae- showe, Orkney the stones of Callernish, Ross the burg of Clickanim, Shetland; and the Pictish tower of Mousa, in Shetland. SHEFFIELD TRADE WITH AMERICA.-During the quarter ending the 30th June last stael has been ex- ported from the Sheffield district to the United States to the value of £ 105,929, and cutlery £53,673, as com- pared with £ 82,925 and JE55,577 for the corresponding quarter of 1881. Steel itself shows an increase of slightly over £23,000 in the quarter, and cutlery a de- crease of £1,904. On the gross export there is a very serious decrease of £34,147, the total exports for the last quarter being only JE326,440, while for the Jane quarter of 1881 they were £360.587. It is evident that the decrease is owing chiefly to a lessened business in steel rails, Bessemer blooms, and other heavy goods. WOMAN'S RIGHTS AND LEFTS.—Elderly Spinste (who is being measured for a pair of boots). And mind that you make one larger than the other.— Attendant (with astonishment). Then they won't be fellows, ma'am !—E. S. (with asperity) Certainly not; I do not like fellows, and I will not have anything whatever to do with them !—Judy. THE CROPS IN HUNGARY.—According to the reports concerning the state of the crops received up to June 30 at the Hungarian Ministry of Agriculture, wheat promises a good yield generally, ind an excel- lent crop in the Southern provinces. The rye prospects are less favourable. The spring crop is in good condition. POTATO PROSPECTS.—The announcement that the destructive peronospora has already made itself very manifest in the western parts of the kingdom is calcu lated to bring alarm and dismay to the minds of many of our readers (says the Gardeners' Chronicle). Under what may be termed the ordinary conditions of its development, we usually get well into the advanced month of July ere a virulent form is assumed, but here are proofs of its existence earlier by from three to four weeks. The present appearance of the potato breadths afford every reason for hope, because th'ey look so well, but, as rule, growth is late, and, not least important, the process of tubering is slow, the cool temperature and heavy rains having so far pro- moted top-growth at the expense of the tubers. Were dry settled weather now to interpose, there can be little doubt but that the potato crop would presently be a heavy one but of settled weather there seems at this moment to be no immediate prospect. ADVICE TO GARDENERS.—Never waste your thyme. —Judy. THE FASHIONS OF TO-DAY.—" M. de B." writing in Land and Water under the head of Parisian Fashions for July," says Taking a general look round on the fashions of to-day, I see them divided in two distinct types—that is, in masculine and feminine styles. For hard walking and country drives we decidedly adapt all we can from the gentle- men—their coats, their hats, their gloves, their canes. We still retain the skirt that generally is considered to belong to us, but that is so short for walking that it is scarcely seen under the long top-coat that covers it. Both skirt and coat are made of soft thin cloth of some indistinct shade of blue or green. The skirt is made plain, or at the utmost with a rucbing at the bottom over this are two tunics, one plain, and the top one open in front, and tied at the back in a big bow. For body, a white piqud waistcoat and short open jacket like the dress or else a long coat reach- ing to the ruching of the bottom of the skirt. High collar and gentleman's cravat. High boots without heels. High heels, by-the-bye, are decidedly doomed the ladies have found out, at last, that highheelsmake the knees crooked. LONGFELLOW ON POETRY.—Mr. Longfellow wrote not long ago to a young correspondent: "No man, I think, should devote himself to poetry as a means of making a living. True poetry is the offspring of our best hours. If you make a trade of it you may be sure that it will degenerate into mere verse-mak- ing." "LARGE BY DEGREES, AND HIDEOUSLY BIG. Three sizes are, it is said, now kept for sale at Lidies' Outfitters. They are known severally as "Crino- lette," "Crinoletter," and "Crinolettest." It is rumoured there is even a greater monstrosity to be obtained; namely, the" Qrinolettissimus." Let us hope the- last rumour is devoid of foundation,— Punch. TESTING AN ARTIST.—A country woman presents herself in a photographic studio at Paris. "I have come, sir, to have a picture' of my poor dear^ husband made. HE—he died three months ago! "Very well, my good woman, very well. Have YOU any por- trait or daguerreotype, or anything of the loved and lost ? N—no, air but bursting into tears—" I have brought his birth certificate THE IMPORT OF LIVE STOCK AND FRESH MEAT.— During last week 1,546 live cattle, 2,261 sheep, 1,200 quarters of beef, and 40 careaseF3 of mutton arrived at Liverpool from the United States and Canada, show- ing a slight increase in cattle, and a decrease in fresh meat. With regard to sheep the figures show a very large increase in comparison with the arrivals for the past few weeks. The steamers conveying live stock were four in number—the Virginian, with 623 cattle, and 978 sheep; the Glamorgan, with 336 cattle, and 1,000 sheep the Dominwn, with 309 cattle, and 283 sheep and the Lake Champlain, with 278 cattle. The steamers bringing fresh meat were only two in number-the Adriatic, with 608 cattle, and the Glamorgan with 592 quarters of beef, and 40 carcases of mutton. N I™ ,0F THE FAMILY.—Proud mother: c Koe8,nJ Y Sr°w a fine boy, grandpa? "—Grand- father (his whole soul absorbed in floriculture): Yes, my dear; fine specimens-very. Suppose you'll soon begin to harden him off ? "-Funny Folks. HE-DID NOT COMPLAIN.—A man who had been carried to a Philadelphia hospital while suffering from the effects of a severe contusion was asked if he had been treated kindly while there. Considering all things," he answered, "I think I have no right to complain. They amputated both my feet, removed my collar-baile, cut off my right arm, trepanned me, took out a piece of the undfr ja,w, sawed my left hip- bone in two, and were about to excavate about five or six ribs when a fire broke out in the establishment and the police got away with the rest of my body safety."