The Aberystwith Observer

CORONATION DAY. Saturday was the forty-sixth anniversary of the Queen's coronation, which took place at Westminster Abbey on June 28, 1838. At Windsor the day was celebrated in the customary manner, the bells of St. George's Chapel and St. John's Church ringing merrily at intervals. In London the bells of most of e r, 3h the parish churches were rung. The Queen's colours were carried from Wellington Barracks to the guard-house at St. James's Palace, in place of the regimental colours of the Grenadiers usually taken, while the band of the regiment played a selection of music in the courtyard of the palace during the ceremony of mounting and changing the guard. The officers of the Coldstream Guards, who were relieved from duty, afterwards conveyed the State colour" to Chelsea Barracks, and all the officers on duty for the day wore their gold sashes. The Admiralty flag was hoisted at the Admiralty offices, and the Royal Standard floated on the Royal United Service Institution, in Whitehall- yard, while flags were hoisted on many other public and private buildings, as well as at the various steam- boat piers on the river. At all garrison towns the day was kept in the customary manner. In the presence of a large number of spectators, including many visitors who had arrived by special train from London and the Empress Eugenie, who had driven from Farnborough-hill, the troops at Aldershot to the number of 7258 non-commissioned officers and men, 1319 horses and 22 guns were reviewed in the Long Valley on Saturday by Lieut.- General Sir Archibald Alison, in celebration of the day. The artillery fired a salute of 21 guns, which was followed by a fue de joie by the infantry; and, after a loyal salute, three cheers were given for the Queen. The customary military demonstration was held at Canterbury on Saturday, the troops comprising the garrison (numbering about 1000) holding a very interesting sham fight on Old-park, after the fue de joie and march past. The national colours were hoisted over Westgate Towers, and the cathedral bells rang forth merrily. The review in honour of the anniversary of the Queen's birthday, which was postponed in conse- quence of the death of the Duke of Albany, was held in the Phoenix-park, Dublin, in the presence of the Lord-Lieutenant. The whole of the troops in garrison paraded in review order on the Fifteen Acres, and were deployed in line under Major- General Lord Clarina, commanding the Dublin dis- trict. At noon the feu dejoie was fired, followed by a Royal salute and three cheers. A sham fight took place under the direction of Major-General Lord Clarina. Several public buildings in the city, as well as the more important business establishments, dis- played flags in honour of the day. All the ships in Kingstown harbour, and the several clubs and coast- guard stations along the coast were gaily decorated. The Assistance, troopship, which was in Kingstown harbour, was also decorated from stem to stern.

MEETING OF THE CONFERENCE. The first meeting of the representatives of the six Great Powers of Europe, to confer upon the Egyp< tian finances, took place on Saturday at three o'clock in the Conference Chamber at the Foreign Office. Earl Granville attended early at the Foreign Office, and was engaged for some time previous to the hour arranged for the meeting of the plenipotentiaries with Sir Evelyn Baring and other officials. At half-past two o'clock a number of persons inter- ested had assembled at the chief entrance to the Foreign Office, which is within the grand quad- rangle, to see the arrival of the Am- bassadors. At that hour, Mr. Childers, Chan- cellor of the Exchequer, walked over from the Treasury buildings to Earl Granville's room, where, some time later, the foreign diplomatists were re- ceived. The first representative of the foreign Powers to arrive was Musurus Pasha, representing Turkey. His Excellency only received his final in- structions to attend the Congress on Friday, when he visited Earl Granville and acquainted his lord- ship with the fact. Quickly following came the newly-appointed Russian Ambassador, M. de Staal. M. Waddington the French Ambassanor, together with M. de Bligpieres, the financial expert, the latter having come in the morning from Paris, arrived from the French Embassy, whence he had been preceded by Count d'Aubigny at ten minutes to 3. The German Plenipotentiary, Count Miinster, arrived shortly after, having walked over from the Embassy in Carlton-terrace, accompanied by M. Derenthal, the financial expert, Count Nigra, the representative of Italy, arrived next, the last to join the diplomatic circle with Lord Granville being the Austrian Ambassador, Count Karolyi, and his financial expert, M. de Vetsera. Earl Granville re- ceived each of the Ambassadors and their assistants as they arrived in his private room at the top of the grand staircase. Introductions first of all took place between the financial experts and the different officials, the Ambassadors, with the exception of M. de Staal, being well acquainted with each other. According to precedent, the Minister in whose country the meeting was held, Earl Granville assumed the presidency with the consent of the representatives of the Powers. The next business of the meeting was the election of protocolists, who act in the capacity of secretaries. Mr. Philip Currie, C.B., who accompanied the Earl of Beaconsfield and the Marquis of Salis- bury to Berlin, and was present during the Berlin Congress, was unanimously appointed by the Powers the First Protocolist; Count d'Aubigny, the Counsellor of the French Embassy, being appointed, without dissent, Joint Protocolist. The Hon. F. Villiers was appointed Assistant Secretary to the Congress. On arrival at the Conference Chamber each member took a seat at a large round table, Mr. Childers as second plenipotentiary for England, the only Power allowed this privilege, being seated close to Earl Granville. Earl Granville, after the members were seated, it is understood, opened the proceedings by making a short statement as to the proposals that were to form the subjects of the meeting, and the financial proposals of Great Britain for the assistance of the Egyptian exchequer were then placed before the Congress. As these proposals had not previously been the subject of agreement between the repre- sentatives of the Great Powers, the Conference was adjourned twenty-five minutes after meeting, until the financial experts could have an opportunity of examining the different points of the plan. The following are the Plenipotentiaries of the Powers at the Conference:—Great Britain, Earl Granville, K.G., and the Right Hon. H. C. E. Childers, M.P.; Germany, Count Miinster; Austria- Hungary, Count Karolyi; France, M. Waddington; Italy, Count Nigra; Russia, M. de Staal; and Turkey, Musurus Pasha. The financial assistants are: Great Britain, Sir E. Baring, K.C.S.I.; Ger- many, M. Derenthal Austria-Hungary, M. de Vetsera; France, M. de Blignieres. The two proto- colists are :—Mr. P. Currie, C.B., and the Count d'Aubigny. Tigrane Pasha and Blum Pasha also attend the Conference as financial delegates from Egypt.

The ROYAL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY'S SHOW. The show of the Royal Agricultural Society at Shrewsbury bids fair to be one of the largest and best ever held by the society. The arrangements are now complete, and have been issued. On Saturday, July 12, the implement department only will be open to the public, and on this day the programme will be restricted to a general exhibition of implements at rest and in motion, from 9 a.m to 6 p.m. On Monday, July 14, the entire show-yard will be opened from nine in the morning, at which hour the judges will com- mence inspecting the live stock and making their awards. The yard will close at seven in the evening. On the four subsequent days admission to the show- yards can be obtained at eight o'clock in the morning, and it will not be cleared of visitors until the corre- sponding hour in the evening. In the morning and afternoon of each day, from Monday till Friday inclu- sive, the programme at the working dairy will be as follows; 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., dairy open for inspection of implements used 11.30 a.m. to 1 p.m., sepa- I rators at work in the horse-power dairy, and butter made on the French and Danish systems; 2 p.m. to 3 p.m., skimming and butter making in the small dairy; 4 p.m. to 5 p.m., dairy open for the inspection of implements used. Miss Smithard, an accomplished manipulator and teacher, will give demonstrations of butter-making, with verbal ex- planations of the various operations. This section of the Shrewsbury Show will be sure to prove a great centre of attraction, and, it may be hoped, of great practical utility. Displays of bee-driving will take place at two p.m. on the Monday, and at noon on the remaining days of the show, and lectures on bee management will be given at frequent intervals during the afternoon. This department- has been entrusted to the British Bee-Keeper's Association, the Royal Agricultural Society having granted a sum of money towards the expense of bringing their tent and other necessaries to Shrewsbury. Exhibitors of butter and cheese will be allowed until seven o'clock in the evening on Monday to send their entries into the show-yard; but it must be understood that any addition of salt to the butter will inevitably entail disqualiifcation. The judging of dairy produce will begin at ten o'clock on Tuesday morning, an hour later there will be a parade of cattle in the large horse ring. At half-past twelve a general meeting of members in the large tent near the centre of the yard. At 2.30 p.m. a parade of agricultural and cart horses will be followed by a parade of the thoroughbreds, hunters, hackneys, and ponies. There will also be similar parades on the succeeding days.

A TOUCH OF NATURE. The Chevenne Sup tells that a big man and a smaller one going into a store late at night asked to look at some clothing. Mr. Harrington himself waited upon the visitors and was showing them various lines of goods when the door leading to his residence in the rear of the store opened and in came on the run a baby daughter of the Harrington family. The little one came in hurrying to escape her mother, and fell over a box. Mr. Harrington left the cus tomer and.went to the rescue of the baby. After the little one was quieted and placed on the floor he re- sumed his business, but in a minute she fell over another box and apparently hurt herself. He left the customer and again looked after the child. At this the man turned to his companion and said Let's go out of here. I ain't looking for a nursery." The proprietor heard the remark and was not slow to respond. Ho said that he had lived fifty-two years and done twenty years of business, and bad had 10,000 customers. But he had never had but two Harrington babies, and this was the only one left. He could get along without the customer, and the sale of a suit of clothes to him, but he couln't get along without the Harrington baby, and he didn't care how soon the customers skipped." The man, who was looking at the proprietor with a mild astonishment at first, when the story was finished had his handkerchief out, was wiping his eyes and reaching his hand out to Mr. Harrington exclaimed Partner, God bless the baby." He couldn't do too much, and it is needless to say they parted as friends.

That wall is plumb," said a mason to his fore- man," but that fellow who put in the water and ga pipes is plumber." THE WRONG WORD.—A ploughman frae the hills o' Fife," called Sandy, whose education was finished before the days of the compulsory clause, has a habit of using the wrong word. When the Agricultural Society's show was at Stirling, Sandy went to see it. Meeting his master in the show-yard, he was asked by that gentleman if he had seen the new sheaf-binder. Sandy replied that he had not, and his master volun- teered to show it to him. Themaehine was in motion, and, as the sheaf was bound and tossed aside,' Sandy was asked what he thought of it. Guid keep me, sir," he replied, "tha.dimensions o' man are some- thing awfu'

THE ACTION AGAINST MR. BRADLAUGH. On Monday the case of the Attorney-General v Bradlaugh was resumed in the Queen's Bench, before the Lord Chief Justice, Mr. Justice Grove, Baron Huddleston, and a special jury. It was an ex officio information by the Attorney- General against Mr. Bradlaugh, M.P. for Northamp- ton, to recover penalties, on the ground that he had voted in the House of Commons without having first taken the oath, in accordance with the statutes and also with the Standing Orders of the House. The case had been twice postponed, in consequence of the indisposition of the Lord Chief Justice. The Attorney-General, the Solicitor-General, and Mr. R. S. Wright were for the Crown, and Mr. Bradlaugh appeared in person. The Lord Chief Justice took his seat upon the bench at a quarter past eleven, and at once com- menced his summing up. He stated that the con- struction of the Acts of Parliament would be for their lordships to determine, and he was glad to say that they were unanimous in their opinion. The facts would be for the jury, and upon those facts, if material, their lordships would construe the acts. The two important questions would be, first, did the de- fendant take the oath within the meaning of the Act; and, second, was he capable of taking the oath. The 29 and 30 Vic., cap. 19, provided the form of the oath,. and Standing Order 66 stated that no debate or busi- ness should be interrupted by a member taking the oath. There was a conflict of evidence as to whether the Speaker was standing while Mr. Bradlaugh took the oath, Sir E. May stating one way and Mr. Labouchere another. There could be no doubt the defendant did not take the oath according to the ordinary practice. Sir Erskine May's evidence proved this. He pro- ceeded to read Sir Erskine May's evidence to the jury, and pointed out that he sat with his back to the Speaker, and that, he stated, the Speaker might have sat down for a moment. His lordship con- trasted this with Mr. Labouchere's statement, that the Speaker sat down while the defend- ant was taking the oath but his lordship said that the prosecution might have put this matter beyond doubt by calling the Speaker himself. This they had not done. In reading Mr. Bradlaugh's evi- dence before the Committee of the House of Commons the Lord Chief Justice remarked that it was noticeable that all crucial questions which would fix Mr. Bradlaugh to a belief in a Supreme Being he declined to answer. He might have refused to answer any question on the ground that the com- mittee had no right to pry into his religious belief. This he had not done, only refusing to answer those which were unfavourable. The only point on which their lordships differed was whether the fact that the defendant might have gone into the box and proved his belief beyond doubt, ought to be left to the jury. Lord Coleridge and Baron Huddleston thought it ought, and Mr. Justice Grove that it ought not. His lordship then put certain questions to the jury, and asked them to consider their verdict. The jury retired at about half-past two o'clock. After an absence from the box of two hours and 35 minutes the jury returned into court, and the learned judges having taken their seats on the bench, the foreman handed in the written answers to the ques- tions put to them, and which were read out by the Lord Chief Justice: 1. Was the Speaker in front of the chair or sitting in the chair at the time when the defendant made and subscribed the oath ? Answer: Sitting. 2. If you think that the Speaker was sitting, in point of fact was he sitting for the purpose of preparing and correcting notes that he was about to use in addressing the defendant: or if for any other purpose, can you say for what purpose ? Answer: Sitting for the purpose of preparing and correcting notes that he was about to use m addressing the defendant. 3. Had the Speaker resumed his seat; if he had resumed it for the purpose of allowing the defendant to make and subscribe the oath ? Answer: No. 4. Have the Crown satisfied you that upon the 11th of February, 1884, the defendant had no belief in a Supreme Being? Answer: We are unanimously agreed that on the 11th of February he had no belief in a Supreme Being. 5. Have the Crown satisfied you that the defendant on the 11th of February, 1884, was a person upon whose conscience an oath would have no binding force ? Answer: Yes, we are satisfied. 6. Had the House of Commons full cogni- sance and notice of the matter by reason of the avowal of the defendant ? Answer: Yes. 7. Did the defendant take and subscribe the oatfi according to the full practice of Parliament ? Answer: Not according to the full practice. The Lord Chief Justice On these findings we direct judgment to be entered for the Crown. Mr. Bradlaugh said he had to ask for a stay of execution until the fourth day after the Long Vaca- tion, in order that he might move to enter judgment for the defendant non obstante verdicto. Mr. Judge Grove A motion for arrest of judgment is generally made before the judge who tries the cause, even though a single judge. This is a trial at bar, and I presume the practice is the same. Mr. Bradlaugh: I assure your lordships my object is not delay, but I stated the fourth day of sitting after the Long Vacation, as that was the practice under the old system. The Attorney-General: Might I suggest, my lords, that you might permit Mr. Bradlaugh to move now pro forma in arrest of judgment, and allow him to resume his argument after the Long Vacation. Mr. Bradlaugh was quite contented that this course should be taken, and it was adopted, it being pre- sumed that Mr. Bradlaugh had formally made his motion, when it was adjourned. Judgment was then entered for the Crown.

WOMAN SUFFRAGE. In London, on Wednesday, Miss Miiller's goods were distrained on her refusal to pay the Queen's taxes Jas a protest against her exclusion from repre- sentation in Parliament. A writing-table and escritoire were seized by the sheriff's officers at her residence, Cadogan-place, and removed. The articles were appraised at £ '19, the amount of the taxes with costs, and at this valuation they were offered to Miss Miiller, to avoid removal, but she did not fall in with this proposal. A crowd witnessed the removal, and a number of ladies and gentlemen who were present expressed their approval of Miss Miiller's action. The officers were not interfered with in the discharge of.their duty, although it was intended at one time to forcibly resist their entrance. A meeting was held in Miss Miiller's drawing room, at which a number of well-known advocates of woman suffrage, including Miss Todd, Miss Briggs, Mrs. Ashton Dilke, and Mrs. Thomasson, were present. Dr. George Hoggan presided. Miss Babb expressed the hope that this occasion would be the beginning of a greatmovement throughout England. In 1871 she had allowed her things to be seized, and had continued the same process ever since, except for one year. One lady had followed her example, but after a time she married. This was the most direct and most con- stitutional method in which they could protest against a great injustice. She had been told that if 50 ladies throughout the country did this, the measure of en- franchisement would speedily be carried. She sincerely hoped that by this time next year a large number would follow Miss Miiller's example. Miss Todd thought the greater the variety of modes in which the question was presented the better, and this was a very effectual mode. If Mr. Gladstone disliked it, then he could put an end to it by including women in the Franchise Bill. She proposed: That it is a principle in the English constitution that taxation without representa- tion is tyranny, and it is desirable that many other ladies should follow the constitutional method so often adopted in English history of resisting the payment of taxes till the suffrage is granted to women on the same terms as it is granted to men, and we invite other householders to follow Miss Miiller's example." Miss Briggs seconded the resolution, and declared that this action would produce a strong impression in St. Stephen's. Miss Miiller said it was always a diffi- cult thing for a woman to set herself against existing authority and law, but the great reluctance she felt in taking this course was removed when the House of Commons and the Government and Mr. Gladstone himself made speeches and voted against granting the franchise to women. When she heard the statement made in the House by the leaders of English legisla- tion that Englishwomen of education, culture, and refinement were to wait until ignorant and besotted men, who had been behind the plough for ages, were enfranchised, her feelings and hesitations were changed, and she felt for the first time what a man felt when insulted who claimed satisfaction. Every woman in England had been insulted, and the only way in which they could wipe the insult out was by giving blow for blow. The resolution was adopted, and a vote of thanks was passed to Miss Miiller, on the motion of Miss Reece, seconded by Miss Bewicke.

BURGLARY WITH VIOLENCE. On Sunday morning a daring burglary, accompanied by extreme brutality, was committed at No. 81, High- street, Camden-town, London. The premises have been occupied by Mr. J. Gordon, an octogenarian, for over half-a-century, as a tobacconist's. Mr. Gordon has lived by himself for the last twelve months, having first lost his wife, and then a brother who lived with him. On Saturday night he closed the shop as usual shortly after eleven o'clock, and after seeing everything secure, went to bed. About three o'clock he was disturbed by hearing some one outside his bed- room door. He at once got out of bed to raise an alarm, but before he could get to the window to do so he was seized by two men and thrown on to the bed. While one of them held him the other held a dagger to his breast, and threatened that if he did not at once tell them where his money was hidden he would be a dead man in five minutes. He, however, refused, and they then proceeded to beat him unmercifully about the head. He remained unconscious for a considerable time, the men ran- sacking the place in the meantime. When he recovered the men were still in the room, and he assured them that he had no money hidden, and begged them to give him a drink of water; this they did, and then decamped by the way they had entered. He was enabled a short time afterwards to raise an alarm, and Police-constable 609 Y arriving took the injured man to the University College Hospital, where his wounds were attended to by the house surgeon. In the meantime Inspector Thomas Banister, of the Criminal Investigation Department, was communicated with, and on arrival found that the house and shop had been entirely ransacked, the thieves having got clean off with their booty, which included X30 in cash. They had obtained an entry by forcing back a window catch from a passage in the rear of High-street leading to the Bedford Music Hall, and were enabled to carry out their plans without fear of detection, owing to the habits of the occupier. Through failing eyesight, Mr. Gordon is not able to give a description of the men.

SUICIDE OF A STOCK BROKER. In London, on Monday, Mr. Langham, City Coroner, held an inquest at the Coroner's Court, Golden-lane, City, on the body of Mr. Frank Willis Burge, aged 45, a stockbroker, who committed suicide at his office in Copthall-court, Throgmorton-street, soon after being declared a defaulter on the Stock Exchange on Friday afternoon in last week. Mr. Robert Finnis, solicitor, Surrey-street, Strand, identified the body as that of his uncle. He lapt saw the deceased alive about a fortnight ago. He was then much depressed by losses in speculations. Witness believed that he speculated heavily, and that the result had completely unhinged his mind. He never heard him threaten to commit suicide. George P. Nicholson, clerk in the service of the deceased, said that on Friday afternoon he heard that his master had been declared a defaulter on the Stock Exchange. He saw him soon afterwards, and he ap- peared very much excited. About 3 30 the same afternoon witness heard the report of a pistol, and on searching the premises found the deceased lying upon a table in the front basement. He was shot through the head. By the Coroner: He thought the deceased was of unsound mind. He had been drinking heavily lately, and on the afternoon in question seemed almost mad with excitement. H. B. Haxell, confidential clerk to the deceased, said he was present when the latter gave instructions for a notification to be sent to the authorities of the Stock Exchange to the effect that he was unable to meet his liabilities. He appeared frantic with ex. citement. Dr. Fendick deposed to being sent for to see the deceased. He had evidently placed the revolver in his mouth, and the bullet had penetrated the brain and lodged there. Evidence was given to show that about midday on Friday the deceased purchased a revolver at the estab- lishment of Mr. Adams, gunmaker, Finsbury-place. The jury returned a verdict of Suicide while tem- porarily insane."

Tommy went fishing the other day without permis- sion of his mother. Next morning a neighbour's son met him, and asked: "Did you catch anything yester- day, Tommy?" Not till I got home," was the rather sad response. "Well, may I hope then, dearest, that at some time I may have the happiness of making you my wife?" "Yes, I hope so, I am sure," she replied; I am getting tired of sueing fellows for breach of i promise.'

AN AERONAUT CONVICTED OF PERJURY. At the Central Criminal Court, on Saturday, Mr. Joseph Simmons, 49, an aeronaut, was indicted for wilful and corrupt perjury alleged to have been com- mitted in evidence given by him in the High Court of Justice in an action brought by him against the Great Northern Railway Company. He pleaded "Not Guilty." r Mr. Digby Seymour, Q.C., Mr. Besley, and Mr. Cyril Dodd conducted the prosecution on the part of the Great Nortberm Railway Company; Mr. Montagu Williams appeared for the defence. The opening statement of Mr. Digby Seymour and the evidence went to show that the action in which the perjury was alleged to have been committed by the de- fendant was brought by him againstthe-GreatNorthern Railway Company to recover damages for personal injuries which he alleged he had sustained in conse- quence of an accident which occurred while he was a passenger in one of the company's trains. On the 29th of December;. 1882, an accident occurred at Edgware owing to the leakage in a pipe connected with the continuous break. The occurrence was not, however, of a very serious nature. The defendant was a passenger in one of the third-class carriages. The passengers were' rather violently shaken, and the defendant sustained a bruise or two and had his coat torn. He walked up. and down the platform after the accident, and seemed, it was said, to treat the whole matter as being: very trivial, observing that he sup- posed the railway company would pay for a new coat. However, on the 3rd of January the company received a communication^ and in consequence a medical man saw the defendant on their behalf. The defendant then complained of having received serious injuries, and of having lost the sense of smell, taste, and memory, but the-medical men and others who saw him failed to observe' anything which would induce them to believe what he' said. The defendant, however, commenced am action against the company, and claimed S3500 as damages for the personal injuries which he alleged he had sustained. The action came on for trial before the Lord Chief Justice in the High Court of Justice.. The defendant gave evidence upon oath in support of his claim and described the injuries he alleged he had sustained. In his particulars he stated that his income was XIIOO per annum, part of which was made up of profits from his profession as an aeronaut, and the remainder in fees forgetting out specifications as to contracts. The defendant was cross-examined with great minuteness, more particu- larly as to two items of X500 and X300 alleged to have been received by him, which statement, it was said, he failed to substantiate, and ultimately admitted that the second amount was still owing. The defendant, in the result, obtained a farthing damages, but was ordered by Lord Coleridge to pay the costs. The case for the prosecution was that the evidence given by the defendant at the trial was false, and that so far from his having sustained the injuries he alleged in consequence of the accident, he had lost his sense of smell some years ago from an operation which was performed upon his nose, and that the other injuries were of long standing. A number of witnesses were called in support of the case for the prosecution, and the shorthand notes of the defendant's examination and cross-examination were put in and read. Dr. Richardson, Dr. Brunton, Dr. Wills, and Dr. Dewsnap were also examined for the purpose of proving that the injuries were of long standing, and that the defendant lost his sense of smell in 1867 in consequence of an operation which was then per- formed upon him. Mr. Montagu Williams addressed the jury for the defence, and argued that the defendant's statements as to his income were not false, as the sums were really due to him, and he submitted that there was no evidence sufficient to justify the jury in finding that the defendant had committed perjury in the other evidence given by him. The Common Serjeant having summed up, the jury found the prisoner guilty on the charge of per- jury. The Common Serjeant remarked that it was seldom that railway companies could bring the per- jury so directly home as in the present case, and sentenced the defendant to two years' imprisonment, with hard labour.

A DULL SEASON. The mourning of the Court has made this season a dull one (says the Graphic). A West-end tradesman being asked what he meant by this, answered-" Sel- ling 10,000 pairs of gloves a-day less than ought to be sold in London." The figure looks big, but if we con- sider wh at an impetus is lent to trade by a lively season it will not appear exaggerated. When large entertainments are given in the highest circles of society to members of the Royal family, one ball leads to anocher, one dinner promotes many dinners, one garden party, pic-nic, or bazaar stirs up emulation, and doubtless the labours of West End postmen in distributing invitation cards. Ten thousand pairs of gloves are soon sold in a city of four millions; but thmk what they represent in money. Think also what a difference it must make to milliners, tailors, wine merchants, confectioners, and others, whether Society is given up to merry-making, or whether it puts on an air of sadness. If extravagance is contagious, so is parsimony, and householders always seem pretty glad, after all, when » fashion sets in for not spending money on feeding one's neighbour, and making him dance. A dull season, no doubt, has its uses. If we are to believe all the doctors say about the vitiated atmosphere of ball rooms, the danger of nervous exhaustion which threatens young ladies who dance too much, and elderly dames who sit blinking during the long hours of chaperonage, it must be reckoned a good thing that there should have been comparatively so little entertaining this year. Society is breaking up much earlier than usual, and betaking itself to fields, seaside, and foreign touring. It is a comfort, however, that the season has not been blank so far as matrimonial engagements are concerned. Perhaps quiet drives and afternoon teas are more favourable to such a thing than roaring routs and mammoth crushes.

ltis!tllautDus HOME, FOREIGN, AND COLONIAL. THE LOCUSTS IN SOUTHERN RussIA.-The locusts in several districts of South Russia are committing fright- ful ravages. In the district of Elizevatgrad the peasants have just received 17,000 roubles from the Imperial Agricultural Society as a reward for the destruction of 1,700,000 of those pestilential insects. The disastrous effects of this plague for the past two years have impelled the authorities to stringently repressive and efficacious measures for its destruction. TOBACCO CULTIVATION IN AMERICA.—In the United States 671,522 acres are devoted to the cultivation of the tobacco plant. In 1882 the average yield per acre was 7641b., which at an average price, 8 dols. 4 cents. per lb., made the aggregate value more than forty-three million dollars. Until recently the foreign leaf was little used in American manufacture. In 1883, however, the consumption of the foreign leaf nearly doubled, in- creasing from 7,800,0001b. in 1882 to 13,811,1401b. in 1883. AGRICULTURAL PROSPECTS.—The "Mark Lane Ex- press says: During the past week upland hay, together with a fair proportion of the meadow hay, has been secured in very fine order, and must prove to be of ex- cellent quality. The earlier wheats have had an ex- ceptionally favourable time for blossoming, but all spring crops are being severely punished by the drought. The hot weather has been theoretically in favour of the hop crop, so far as the attack of vermin is concerned, but some of the bine looks small and of a bad colour, whilst with persistent washing the vermin keep in the ascendant; the outlook therefore is very critical. The sustained drought is greatly against the root crops. STRIKE IN THE COAL TRADE.—The threatened strike in the coal trade of South Staffordshire and East Wor- cestershire took effect on Monday, when some 16,000 miners turned out against the reduction of 4d. per day decreed by the arbitrator, Mr. Joseph Rowlands. The award was to have taken effect from the 14th ult. if the men had accepted it, but as they repudiated the arbi- tration when it went against them, the masters thought it expedient, in order to be on the safe side, to give a fortnight's notice of the reduction. The notice ex- pired on Monday. For the present the supply of coal is ample, and the demand very limited. TERRIBLE TRAGEDY IN FRAKCE.—A young man of good family, named Bertheaud, has been convicted at Montbrison of murdering his grandfather with extraor- dinary premeditation. After having dissipated the fortune he had from his mother, he concealed himself for several days in his grandfather's house, watching his opportunity, and was almost starved, though he stole a little food from the kitchen. He ultimately knocked on the head an old woman, his grandfather's house- keeper, and killed his grandfather afterwards, taking away the money he found in the drawers. It was long before he was found out, and despite an eloquent defence he was sentenced to death. I JOURNALISM IN JAPAN.—Japanese journalism has developed with great rapidity during the last ten years. In 1875 the Japanese Empire counted only S3 periodical publications of all kinds. To-day there are published within its boundaries at least 2000, counting periodicals of all kinds. Most of the Japanese newspapers are sold at three-halfpence. They are mainly modelled upon the best European dailies. They contain leading articles, news paragraphs, money articles, market reports, and advertisements—all as with us, save that one reads from the bottom of the column to the top, FARM SERVANTS BURNT TO DEATH.—On Friday night in last week a fatal fire occurred! at a farm stead- ing in Gowan's Parish of Glenbaire, the' property of Mr. James Badenoch Nicholson. A new steading is in course of construction, and the fire bifoke out in the old farmhouse, and when discovered it had such a com- plete hold that nothing could be done too save life. Two male servants occupied an upper room a» a sleeping apartment, and after the fire had, spent itself their bodies were discovered among the embers much charred and quite unrecognisable. Their names were David Donald, 18, and James Taylor Bain,, 13. The fire is supposed to have originated in the opposite end of the building to that occupied by them.. Some valu- able machinery was also destroyed. TWEED SALMON FISIlING.-Salmon s-til1 continue to be scarce. There is a little improvement,, however, in the takes of trout and grilse. The prices- on Saturday were: Salmon, Is. 5d.; grilse, Is. Id.; and trout, Is. per lb.; compared with lid. for salmon, lOtF. for grilse, and 9d. for trout, in the corresponding week last year. For the week ended June 14, the number ef boxes of salmon sent from Berwick to Billingsgate was fifty- eight, as compared with thirty-eight at the- same time in the previous year. PRIZE FIGHT NEAR LIVERPOOL.-A very sensational prize fight took place in the Stanley Grounds, Stanley, near Liverpool, on Saturday. The stakes were JE50 a side, and the combatants were Barney and a man named Williams, of Manchester, the latter being the lighter in weight, but the more scientific pugilist of the two. Williams had received a fortnight's special train ing. There was a large attendance at the- fight, the charge for admission being from Is. to 10s. The fight began at five o'clock. Gloves were used, but they were so hard that the punishment inflicted was as bad as if the naked fists had been used. Six rounds were fought, M'Gee being knocked out of time. His cheek and breast were cut open, and one of his eyes was closed. Williams sprained his wrist in giving a blow in the second round. A policeman was present, but gloves being used he did not interfere. DROWNED.—An accident, in which ,three lives were lost, occurred at Morpeth on Friday morning in last week. A party of excursionists from Gateshead and Jarrow went to Morpeth, among them being Albert Edward Richards, aged 20, of Jarrow, Ellen Richards, aged 16, and Walter Richards, aged six, residing in the same town. The heat being oppressive, the girl stooped over the river bank and dipped her handkerchief in the water. Her foot slipped and she fell into the stream. The younger brother, Walter Richards, ran to her assistance. She seized hold of him, and in a short time they were both struggling in. the water. Seeing this, the elder brother, Albert Edward Richards, jumped into the water and endeavoured to rescue them. Un fortunately, however, he was unable to do so, and all three were drowned. Two. or three relatives of the de- ceased witnessed the accident, but were unable to render any assistance. MILITARY EXECUTION IN SPAIN.—A Madrid telegram states that on Saturday Commander Fernandez and Lieutenant Velles were shot at Gerona for desertion and attempted rebellion, while six of their comrades were publicly degraded before being sent to endure the punishments to which they have been condemned, one to chains for life, another to 20 years, and the others to lesser terms of imprisonment. Both men met death with courage and serenity. They were placed in chairs with their backs to the firing party. Velles died at tha first discharge, and Fernandez at the second. Great consternation reigned in Gerona. All the shops were closed, people remained in their houses, and the few hundred persons who witnessed the executions were principally women and children. RELIGIOUS INTOLERANCE IN RUSSIA.-A resident of St. Petersburg writes: Colonel Paschkoff, who has again been banished for holding religious meetings, has done as much as any man of his generation for the good of his country and the benefit of the poor. For many years he has spent the greater part of a princely income in seeking to help others. Count Korff, who has also been ordered to leave, is the son of one who was raised to a higher rank among the nobility on account of the services he rendered to the Government. On receiving the order to leave his country, Count Korff appealed for a few weeks' respite owing to the fact that his wife was near her confinement and in a delicate state of health. This was refused. Hence they must leave in a few days, though it be at the risk of the lady's life. The shop of Mr. Grote in the Litanaya has been closed by order of the police. Henceforth it is illegal to dis- tribute the publications of the Religious Tract Society, though, strange to say, they bear the printed permission of the censor. A more stringent law has also been passed respecting the children of those who cannot conform to the Greek Church. They may now be taken and shut up in a convent without even an appeal to the Emperor. THE FLOWER GARDEN.-The late fine weather has proved very beneficial to the newly planted subjects in the flower garden, even the tenderest kinds have already made satisfactory progress and will speedily fill their alloted spaces Having made such rapid growth extra attention will be requisite in pegging, tying, and train- ing them in the proper direction, and in pinching and stopping exuberant growths and such shoots as have already filled the spaces they are intended to occupy. Although the weather has been very favourable to the growth of most plants, there are a few subjects to which it has not appeared to be altogether suitable. Freshly planted calceolarias, for instance, have not made satisfactory growth except where special means have been taken to keep their roots cool and moist. Frequent watering alone is not sufficient to ensure this but if a good mulching of rotten manure is also given over the surface of the beds immediately after planting they will succeed thoroughly, nor should this beneficial and economical method of mulching in dry hot weather be confined to calceolarias and similar plants, as there are few kinds that will not be improved immensely by its application; and much labour in watering will thereby be averted. Where the beds are surrounded or intersected by box. edgings, these should now be trimmed as neatly as possible, and the shoots carefully cleared away the gravel walks should also receive a sprinkling of new gravel over the surface, and then be well rolled. Cleanliness, neatness, and order should be maintained throughout, so as to make everything as bright and pleasing as possible.—" Gar- deners' Chronicle.' COMPLIMENTARY DINNER TO THE SPEAKER On Saturday evening the Speaker of the House of Commons was entertained by the Master and Fellows of Balliol College, Oxford, of which he is a member, at a dinner in the hall. Nearly 200 of the past and present members of the College assembled to meet him. The Master of Balliol proposed the health of the Speaker. He alluded to the great statesman, whose son was now called on to preside over the assembly which was the scene of his father's fame. He spoke of the proofs of strength and dignity of character which were manifest in the Speaker as early as his undergraduate days at Balliol. The Speaker, in reply, paid a tribute to his predecessors in the chair, the fruits of whose labours he inherited, and expressed his warm satisfaction in revisit- ing his old college. AVERAGE PRICES OF BRITISH CORN.-The following are the average prices of British corn for last week, as received from the inspectors and officers of Excise: Wheat, 37s. 4d.; barley27s. lid.; oats, 23s. Od. per im. perial qr. Corresponding week last year: Wheat, 2s. 3d.; barley, 29s. 8d.; oats, 23s. 5d. 4 THE RESERVE SQUADRON.—The nine ironclads com- posing the reserve squadron, under the command of Admiral Hoskins, steamed into Kirkwall Bay between four and five o'clock on Sunday afternoon, having left Heligoland the previous Friday. The squadron made a good run across the German Ocean, and as the wind had increased almost to a gale it was thought better to take up anchorage in Kirkwall Bay for the night. Very few people witnessed the arrival of the squadron, most of the inhabitants being at church. As the ships sailed up between Shapinsay Island and the mainland, a narrow sea passage leading from the German Ocean to Kirkwall Harbour, they presented a. magnificent appearance, and appeared to be so close to the land that one could almost hear the orders given on board as the ships passed. DISASTERS AT SEA.-The Bureau Veritas has just published the following statistics of maritime disasters, reported during the month of May, 1884, concerning all flags: Sailing vessels reported lost-Five American, two Austrian, 38 British, three Chilian, one Danish, one Dutch, 10 French, two German, two Greek, four Italian, one Liberian, eight Norwegian, one Portuguese, one Russian, six Swedish; total, 85. In this number are included 15 vessels reported missing. Steamers re- ported lost: One American, 12 British, one Chinese, one Greek; total, 15. TRICYCLING IN SWITZERLAND.—The entire tour round the Lake of Geneva has just been accomplished on a tricycle in the day by Mr. Hutchinson, a member of the Alpine Club. The time occupied in running was eleven hours, distance 112 miles. There was a strong head wind to contend with most of the way, with the thermometer considerably over 70 deg. Fahr. The road between Evian and Bouveret is in a very bad state owing to the construction of the new line of railway, and necessitated frequent halts. Starting from Vevey la Tour, Nyon, 37 miles was reached in 31 hours; Geneva, 51 miles, in five hours; Thonon, 72 miles, in 7|hours; Evian, 78 miles, in 7J hours; Boureret, 91 miles, in 9 hours; and Yevey la Tour, 112 miles, in 11 hours. The machine ridden was a 42-inch Humber roadster, geared up to 56 inchea.