The Aberystwith Observer

vur Janban Corrtspoubcni. fWe deem it right to state that we do not at all times tSentify ourselves with oar Correspondent's opinions.] Cast not a clout till May be oat,' is one of those traditional relics c f the wisdom of our ancestors which is worth bearing in mind even in these scientific days. The ancient distich has certainly received striking confirmation of its truth during the May of the present year of grace. When we had left April behind, and had got rid, as we thought, of the chill rains and the easterly winds which had been so common in that month, the sunshine of some of the early days of May came as a most welcome change, and it may be said to have been greeted with something like enthusiasm. But the sunshine lasted only long enough to be tantalising, and in the third week of May we were called upon once more to put on our overcoats and winter wraps, and to read accounts from all parts of the United Kingdom of violent storms and even of falls of snow. But although snow in May is not unprecedented, it is, to say the least, unusual, and it is an ex- perience which the generality of us would not care to see frequently repeated. The heavy falls of hail also have had a disastrous effect upon our fruit-trees and gardens and so many promising trees have been stripped of their load of blossom, that the fruit-crop this year is not likely to be as heavy as had been expected. Wintry weather at winter time is quite sufficient discomfort to many of us without our wishing it to be repeated during months which should rightfully belong to "balmy spring." These are days in which there is a revival of many an old fashion. In a great number of cases this is simply on aesthetic grounds, but occasionally it is for more practical motives. The latter must assuredly be said of the experi- mental trip which has been made within the past few days by some of the head officials of the postal service, who, starting from the General Post Office, at St. Martin's-le-Grand, drove by coach to Brighton, by way of Croydon, Redhill, Crawley, and Cuckfield. The object of the journey was to assist the depart- ment in arriving at a decision as to reviving mail coaches in connection with the parcels post, as it is believed that in certain districts that work could be done more cheaply by coaches travelling on the Queen's highway than by rail. Whether the result will be to satisfy the Postmaster-General j that mail coaches can be revived with profit to the State has yet to be seen, but the mere ex- periment is interesting, as showing that we may not always be right in discarding the methods of our fathers, and that, at the least, it may be open to question whether all that is modern is an im- provement upon all that is old. The mere talk of mail coaches comes upon us as a whiff from former times. The thought recurs to guards j with blunderbusses, passengers trembling from apprehension, and crape-masked highwaymen stopping the mail. Even if mail coaches are revived, we are not likely to see these accompani- ments again, and what many regard as romantic accessories will be found to have disappeared. This is fortunate, for the romance would speedily fade away if highwaymen were revived in reality. An intimation has been published that much interest has been excited in legal circles in Berlin by Dr. Aschrott's new book on the Penal System and Prisons in England." The work embodies the results of the author's careful local studies of the subject, and is the first exhaustive treatise on the English penal system that has appeared in Germany. Prisons are not pleasant places, and are not meant to be so, but England has no reason to be ashamed of the fullest infor- mation being published concerning her gaols. It was not always thus, as those who have read the accounts of our prisons published by John Howard a century since, or by James Neild :}O or 40 years later will be able to testify. Those who have not read them can scarcely imagine the sum of accumulated horrors which then marked the English prison system, and it is to the credit of our countrymen that when once a full exposure was made, comparatively little time was lost in providing a remedy. As in all cases of reform of abuses, the tendency for a period was to go to the other extreme, and criminals, from being neglected and allowed to lie in squalor and wretchedness, were treated with a consideration which was beyond their deserts. Now, however, we appear to have settled down into a normal method of treatment which is preventive without being cruel, and which, though punitive, affords opportunities for re- clamation. For these reasons England has no occasion to be ashamed of the fullest investiga- tion any foreigner may make of her prison system; and although perfection has not been attained, there are Continental countries which are so far behind us that the present state of our gaols can furnish excellent lessons to them. For a time it seemed as if, although the Queen had chosen June 21st to be the Jubilee Day, various localities would think for themselves on the matter, and select the day about that period which suited them best. But now that an official proclamation has appeared in the London J Gazette appointing that day as a Bank Holiday, it may be taken for granted that it will be observed throughout the country. For, as the experience of the Bank Holidays Act proved, little business can be done when the banks are shut, and, if there were no other reason for a general holiday on June 21st, this point would weigh with traders. But one day's holiday will scarcely suffice for a great number of the lieges, for it is impossible that all the Jubilee celebra- tions can be packed into one day. In London they certainly will not be, for in addition to the official jubilation on the 21st, 2;"),000 children are to be entertained at tea in Hyde Park on the 22nd, and this latter festivity is certain to attract an enormous number of on- lookers. It is one of the happiest ideas in con- nection with the celebration of the Jubilee which has yet been put forward. The Queen so highly approves of it that she will herself give away the first cup of tea; and as every child present will be allowed to carry away the special mug from which he or she has drunk, the memory of the festivity will not die away with the day. The Board of Trade has just issued a paper which is of direct interest to all classes in this country. It is a return of the immigration of foreigners into the United Kingdom, from which it appears that during the ten years from 1871 to 1881, the number of foreigners resident in our land rose from 113,000 to 135,000, and theincrease has become more marked within the past few years. The labour correspondent" of the Board of Trade adds an appendix respecting foreign im- migration into the East-end of London, and this is of peculiar importance to the metropolis; for it shows that in some trades, and baking is the most noteworthy of them, the influx of Germans into London has been so great that Englishmen are being gradually forced out; and when it is mentioned that of 4000 master bakers in the metropolis one-half are Germans, who employ nearly all German workmen, it will at once be seen how significant these figures are to English working-men. And it is not only Germans who abound in the East-end; for in some of the streets of that district the whole of the shops and stalls are in the hands of foreign Jews. The presence of many of these latter among us may be accounted for the anti-Semitic agitations which have been going on for some years in Germany, Roumania, and Russia; but, whatever may be the reason for their presence, it can scarcely be wondered at that it is not particularly liked by their English com- « £ .fi'fnrs The question, in fact, is becoming a burning one, and will soon be forced upon the attention of our leading politicians. Of TVTaro-aret's, Westminster, has for centuries church of the Parliament," | but it was several years ago that it witnessed such a scene as on last Sunday, when the House j of Commons in its corporate capacity worshipped j under its venerable roof. The occasion was in celebration of the jubilee, and the Speaker, accompanied by the leaders of both parties and some hundreds of their followers, proceeded from the House to the sacred fane. Centuries ago this was not so unusual a circumstance as it is to day, for in Puritan times the Commons frequently attended St. Margaret's, on some occasions as early as seven in the morning, and the sermon preached before them was often con- sidered to be so good that it was ordered to be printed at the nation's expense. If these were delivered in the same form as they were pub- lished, the patience of the Puritan members must have been great indeed, for they would certainly take three hours in delivery, and, in the view of these times, that was two and a half hours too long. But, whatever the length, they were highly appreciated, and St. Margaret's has been the scene of many an important gather- ing of members, Nestling as it does under the very shadow of the venerable abbey of West- minster, it has been held, by the comparative smallness of its size, to show off the more dis- tinguished building to greater advantage, and when a proposal was made some few years ago to remove it, this was one of the reasons urged for its retention. But there were other reasons, and on9 of them which appealed with peculiar force to the student of history was that it was so bound up with the annals of Parliament. It is always the custom when the Sovereign enters the City of London for the Lord Mayor to receive a baronetcy and the two sheriffs to be knighted. This has been followed in the cases of Sir Reginald Hanson and Alderman Isaacs and Mr. Kirby, respectively, in connection with the Queen's visit to the East-end; but upon the present occasion an additional honour has been conferred upon the City by the conferring of a baronetcy upon Sir Robert Carden, the senior member of the Court of Aldermen. When the Queen went to the Mansion House she singled out the venerable alderman from his fellows, and, shaking hands with him, expressed her pleasure that he was looking so well. A whisper im- mediately ran around the assembly that a baronetcy would surely follow such a special mark of Royal favour, and the murmured prophecy proved to be true. Sir Robert Carden, who became an alderman as far back as 1849, and who was Lord Mayor as many as thirty years ago, has the unique distinction of being the only living mem- ber of the Court who has sat for two wards, he having been alderman for Dowgate from 1840 to 1*71, and since then having represented Bridge Without, which, curiously enough, has no con- stituency. He is a well-known figure in London, not only in City but in business circles, and in younger years he was a frequent participator in Parliamentary contests. The honour he has now gained is appreciated by his brethren as a com- pliment to the whole Court, and it has placed the completing touch to the pleasure derived from the Queen's most successful visit. A. F. R.

MR. O'BRIEN SHOT AT IN AMERICA. Mr. William O'Brien, editor of United Ireland, who has been elected to Parliament in the Parnellite interest since his departure to America, lectured on Monday night at the Palace Rink, Hamilton,Ontario, to a crowd of about 1500 Irish sympathisers, who loudly applauded him. No prominent citizen was present. On leaving the Rink Mr. O'Brien was pelted with rotten eggs. He otherwise received no hurt, and reached his hotel safely. A crowd of loyalists, mostly youths, was assembled outside, giving cheers for the Queen and Lord Lansdowne, and hooting O'Brien. The town was quiet, the general public being indifferent to the agitation. The surgeon who was called to attend upon Mr. W. O'Brien reports that a blow he received at Toronto has caused a cartilaginous separation and an ) identation of the eighth, ninth, and false ribs, with ] the result of setting up inflammation of the lungs. He advised his patient that any exertion would be dangerous to him. Mr. O'Brien, however, says he will go to Hamilton if it is possible for him to move. The New York Herald says he will be accompanied by a number of armed Americans, who have de- termined to resist by force if they ate attacked. O'Brien was guarded in this way at Toronto by some Americans; but supposing that all danger was over with the meeting, they left him. There is some calk of redress being demanded for the American newspaper men who were hurt when Mr. O'Brien was stoned. A Central News telegram from New York says: After the reception at the railway station of Hamilton, Messrs. O'Brien and Kilbride drove in a cab to their hotel. Being recognised on the way, a crowd soon collected, and the cab was followed by a yelling mob of men and boys, who threw rotten eggs at the vehicle and its occupants. Not content with this rough play some adventurous rascals fired revolvers at the re- treating conveyance. No injury was received by either of the inmates, but the driver, a man named Nelson, was shot in the wrist, with the result that the reins slipped from his fingers. Mr. T. P. O'Brien, the local president of the Irish League, who was also in the cab, seized the reins as they fell, and, lashing the horse into a furious gallop, reached the hotel ahead of the crowd. But the mob continued their rush, and closed round the vehicle as it drew up at the hotel entrance, menacing its occupants as they alighted. McMahon, a prominent Leaguer, who formed one of O'Brien's escort, drew a revolver from his pocket, and as he helped William O'Brien from the cab with one hand levelled his weapon at the crowd with the other, threatening to shoot the first man who interfered. A party of friends gathered round, and the police hur- rying up at the moment, dispersed the mob, who gave a parting volley of rotten eggs at the hotel and the party who had raised their ire. The police did not appear to have been in any way to blame. They had made every preparation for O'Brien's protection, but through a misunderstanding missed hia carriage. On the whole, there was less turbulence at Hamilton than there has been elsewhere. In the evening, replying frlim a balcony of the hotel to an address from the Hamilton branch of the National League, Mr. O'Brien thanked the crowd for the hearty welcome they had given him. Ho hoped that ere long, instead of having to come from Ireland to tell Canada of Ireland's woes, he would be able to invite Canadians to witness the peace and prosperity ot the people of Ireland under a Parliament at College-green. He repeated his accusations against Lord Lansdowne, but was obliged to shorten his address on account of weak- ness. A later telegram says that the attack upon Mr. O'Brien last night at Hamilton was a much more serious affair than at first was supposed. There is reason to believe that a deliberate plot existed to murder him. The attack, it appears, took place upon his leaving the public hall where he had been giving an address, and not upon his departure from the railway station. Signals were raised upon his leaving the hall, and when the cab in which he rode reached the Market-square, firing began. Eight shots were fired, one of which passed through the cab within an inch of Mr. O'Brien's face; another, as known, struck the driver. Witnesses aver that all the shots were delivered from two pistols. The absence of police to protect the Nationalist speaker is thus explained. Towards the close of the meeting a man approached O'Brien on the platform and suggested his leaving by a side door to avoid the crowd in front. At first he demurred, but finally consented. On arriving at the exit, however, he and his friends found themselves confronted by a hostile crowd, who evidently expected them. This being discovered, the party jumped into their cab, and drove with all speed towards their hotel. The police meanwhile were drawn up to keep order at the front of the hall, where O'Brien was ex- pected to emerge, and an escort was in waiting to accompany him. They waited in vain, and only found out what had occurred in time to disperse the angry mob from the front of the hotel which the Irish party had just reached.

So SurBRSTinous.—You know, she said, that pa couldn't bear Gussie, and the last time Gus came to see me pa heard him in the parlour and came out with a rush, and before Gus could get down the front steps pa kicked him real hard with his left foot. Pa has been lame ever since, and I don't care if he is. I know Gus felt real hurt about it. He said no man ever kicked him with his left foot before, and that it was real bad luck. I've tried a hundred times to get him to come and see me again, but he won't, he is so superstitious.

A FOND AND FOOLISH COUPLE. In the Queen's Bench Division, Mrs. Rosa Ellen Gillingwater, a widow of 40 years, who formerly carried on a business in Upper-street, Islington, sued Mr. Goddard, a widower of 60, to recover damages for breach of promise of marriage. The defendant, who is an architect in the service of the Board of Works, pleaded that the promise, if made, was con- ditional on the marriage of his daughter, which had not come off. It was stated that the children of the parties called plaintiff and defendant papa and mamma. Many affectionate letters passed between the parties, in one of which he expressed his belief that the departed Gillingwater, if he were permitted to know anything of this state, would approve of all he wished to do. The case, which promised some amusement, was nipped in the bud by an agreement, the terms of which were not revealed.

DESPERATE FIGHT WITH A WOLF. The Daily News Odessa correspondent writes I saw this morning at the Odessa Bacteriological Hos- pital five peasants, just arrived from the district of Ismail, all of whom bad been bitten by a mad wolf. Among them was one apparently possessed of con- siderable bodily strength. He told me that a few days ago, in the grey of the early morning, he was in his little farmyard when something sprang on his back and off again. He turned instantly to find himself face to face with a large and angrv-look- ing wolf, crouching to spring again. The animal's head and jaws were bespattered with foam. It was evidently rabid, and, although instantly appre- hending this, the brave old man rushed Upon his assailant, thrust his left hand into the animal's mouth and seized its tongue, while with his right hand he endeavoured to strangle the brute A terrible struggle followed. The wolf's fangg met through the man's band, and held it like a vice. After nearly ten minutes' struggle the chances were going against the old man, who was suffering excru- ciating torture from the mangled tendons of his left arm. He now threw himself bodily upon the wolf, still struggling desperately, and for the first time called for assistance. Several neighbours harried to the spot and despatched the wolf, whose jaws never relaxed even in death. A file was brought and the wolf's lower jaw removed. The old man's left hand is in a dreadfully lacerated condition, but he is more or less torn all over the body. He informed me with a smile that it was the first time a sneaking dos of a wolf had proved a match for him, but he was not so young as he used to be, and had somehow lost the old grip. During the last twelve months 519 parsons have been treated at the Odessa BacterioWiVni 0tafion here on the Pasteur system. The patients have come from all parts of Russia, as well as from Ron mania, Servia, and Bulgaria." -ttoumania,

POLITE PRINCE BISMAHCK An interesting anecdote of Prince Bismarck's gal- lantry is going the rounds of the German press. It appears that two young English ladies liv;ne in Dresden came to Berlin on a visit, aad, wishing to make the most of their time, wrote to the Oh ellor expressing their fervent wish to see him whereupon they received an invitation to his palace were most kindly received. A servant took them through the palace, and showed them everything of interest, with which they were, of course preatly delighted, their joy culminating when Prince Bis- marck himself suddenly appeared and addm«ari most kindly in fluent English, walking with f £ some time in the garden before bidding fa well.—Standard.

ZULULAND. England watches with a good deal of ieal0Usy the colonial expansion of other nations, yet she (remarks the Graphic) herself is continually adding to her vast Empire. No matter what may be the party to which it belongs, every Government carries on the game of annexation and we have all become so accustomed to the process that we are never much surprised to hear that some fresh territory has been taken. Within the last few days Zululand has been annexed. If the French or the Germans had suddenly declared themselves the masters of so important a country, what aa outcry would have been raised The acqui- sition being our own, it is regarded almost as a matter of course; and Sir Henry Holland when questioned about it in the House of Commons answers in an off-hand manner, as if he were talking about some petty detail of official duty. The subject may perhaps, be discussed when the Colonial vote is taken but no serious opposition is likely to be offered to the course the Government has adopted. The truth is Zululand ought to have been annexed long ago. Having broken up the political organisation of the Zulus, we practically abandoned them to their fate' and the inevitable consequence was that they quar- relled with one another, and much of their bestland was stolen by the Boers. If we had taken the country at once after we had conquered it, our rule would soon have been firmly established, and the Zulus would have become a comparatively orderly and pros- perous people. It is some comfort to know that we have now heard the last of Boer aggression in Zulu- land, and we may hope that in other respects the new subjects of the Queen will have no reason to regret the loss of their national independence.

~8TATE^JF UiKLAHD. RELEASE OF FATHER KELLEHER. In the Dublin Court of Appeal on Saturday judg- ment was delivered in the appeal by the Rev. CUnon ivelieher from a judgment of the Queen's Bench refusing to issue a writ of habeas corpus, directed to the Governor of Kilmainham Prison, to have the rev. gentleman brought into court with a view to his release from custody. Canon Kelleher was committed to prison by Judge Boyd, of the Bankruptcy Court, for contempt in refusing to answer questions respect- ing money lodged under the Plan of Campaign. The Lord Chancellor held that everything had been properly done, and that the appeal should be dis- missed. The Master of the Rolls said he had arrived at a different, conclusion, and proceeded to give his reasons for the opinions he entertained. He said that it was essential that the deposition should be signed, which was not done in tnis case. A witness might be committed for not signing his deposition, which clearly showed that signature wa3 essential. If the deposition were tendered, and the witness refused to sign, he could be committed. That, how- ever, was not the case here. Until called on to sub- scribe it was impossible to say what the witness's objection might be. In this case he held that the warrant failed to incorporate what was essential to make it valid, and that for this reason it was bad. Chief Baron Paites concurred in the judgment of the Master of the Rolls. Lori Justice Fitzgihbon held that the warrant of committal was not sustainable, being irregularly issued. Lord Justice Barry con- curred. The result is that the decision of the Queen's Bench was reverned, and the warrant for Canon Kel- leher's committal to prison was declared bad. The order of the Court was that the decision of the Court below would be reversed, and Canon Kelleher was to be released. The Catholic Archbishop of Dublin at once went to Kilmainham and informed Canon Kelleher of the result of the appeal, and re- mained with hinl till the order for his release was re- ceivod two hours later. He was then driven in the Lord Mayor's carriage to the Imperial Hotel, where, m response to ciUs from the crowd outside, he de- livered a speech from the balcony. Canon Kelleher arrived in Cork on Sunday, accompanied by Mr. T. Harrington, M.P. His arrival was not expected, and therj were only a few persons to meet him. Canon Kelleher arrived at Youghal at half-past four o'clock m the afternooii. He was met outside the town by a large number of people, who took out the horses and drew the carriage into the town, which was gaily de- corated with green boughs, banners, and pictures.

RELEASE OF FATHER RYAN. In the Dubiin Court of Bankruptcy, on Monday, Judge Boyd said that after the decision of the Court of Appeal in Father Kelleher's case, he directed his registrar to ascertain .vhether the informalities exist- ing in that case al-o applied to the case of Father Ryan and Mr. Slattery, another witness committed along with him, and finding that they did, he directed that Father Ryan and Mr. Slatterv should be brought to Court that day for the purpose of being discharged. They were accordingly released from custody, and were cheered as they left the Court. There was a large force of police, under four officers, present, but no crowds had collected. The two gentlemen were warmly congratulated as they walked through the city to the Imperial Hotel in Sackville-street, and there was a demonstration on Tuesday night.

AGRARIAN OUTRAGES. Among the Parliamentary papers issued on Monday is a memorandum moved for and signed by Mr. Arthur Balfour," as to the principle upon which outrages are recorded as agrarian, and included as such in the returns laid before Parliament." This states that it is an error to suppose that all outrages not returned as agrarian ought properly to be classed as ordinary crime, as a large number of crimes specially characteristic of Irish disorder, such as maiming of cattle, firing into houses, moonlighting, and raiding for arms, may never appear in the return of agrarian outrages at all. Thus," says the memo- randum, "to give illustration drawn from well-known examples, neither the Curtin case, nor the case in which two girls wero attacked in their father's house by n party of men who cut off their hair and poured tar on the head of the elder; nor the case of the daughters of Daniel Jones, who were shot in the Kanturk district by a party demanding arms at their father's house, have been returned as agrarian crimes." The memorandum proceeds to show the different principles upon which statistics of agrarian outrages are now compiled from those adopted formerly, with the result of lessening the apparent number, stress being laid upon the statistics of 1870 in proof of this.

THIRTY FAMILIES TURNED OUT. The eviction of 30 families from the estate of Bo- dyke, county Clare, the propertv of Colonel O'Calla- gban, took place on Wednesday. Three hundred military from Galway and the North of Ireland, 200 constabulary, and 100 Emergency men, with the sub- sheriff and agent, assisted in the eviction, it having been anticipated that there would be some resistance. The eviction campaign on the Ponsonby estate, in county Cork, which was the first on which the Plan of Campaign was adopted, opened on Wednesday, at Killeagh, near loughal. During the last few days a large force of police have been concentrated at Cork, to be conveyed to the scene for the purpose of escort- ing and protecting the sheriff.

BURMAH. The surrender of the Limbin Prince is (says a Rangoon correspondent) an event of considerable im- portance. He was the last legitimate Alaungpa Prince in the field against us, and with his submission the confederacy cf southern Shan chiefs formed to support him is broken up. There is every reason to believe that all the Shan chiefs will now submit with- out further trouble. The Shan States were the only districts remaining in Upper Burmah where there was reason to fear any attempt at organised resistance. Mr. Crosthwaite in a few days will proceed to Ningyan to visit the eastern district of the upper province and inspect the Tounghoo-Mandalay line of railway, which is being rapidly constructed. Lower Burmah, which was lately in a very dis- organised condition, commences to show signs of im- provement under Mr. Crosthwaite's firm and judicious rule. Numerous administrative changes are being made. The Secretariat for Lower and Upper Burmah will be amalgamated and placed under the control of Mr. Donald Smeaton, the newly-appointed Chief Secretary. For seme time past, owing to the frequent absences of the Chief Commissioner in Upper Burmah, the Commissioner on special duty has administered affairs in Lower Burmah, The experiment has not proved successful, and Mr. Crosthwaite has now assumed the direct control of the administration in Lower Burmah, while Mr. Hodgkinson, the Commis- sioner on special duty, takes charge of Tenasserim, relieving Colonel Plant, Commissioner of Tonasserim, who is disabled. A military officer will be appointed to command the police force in Lower Burmah, and a similar ap- pointment has already been made in Upper Burmah. Colonel Stedman will be appointed Inspector-General. It is generally believed in Burmah that the united provinces will almost immediately be constituted a Lieutenant-Governorship. The extent of territory and the numbers of the population now ruled by the Chief Commissioner would fully justify the change, which would be very popular. It is felt that the present form of government is inadequate to the needs of the united provinces. The most important problem remaining to be dealt with in Burmah is the question of revenue and expenditure. There will be a large deficit this year, and it will be impossible to restore the financial equilibrium while the Upper Burmah field force is maintained. While it is essential to maintain for some time a strong garrison in Upper Burmah, the continued existence of a field force is felt to be unnecessary in view of the improved condi- tion of the provinces, and it will probably be broken up shortly.

SUBSIDENCE OF A PRISON. A singular occurrence bag taken place at the Hyde- road Prison, Manchester, one of the largest goals in South Lancashire. A short time ago it was dis- covered that the ground on which the building is erected was subsiding, and when a detailed examina- tion was made it became evident that the foundations were PO seriously affected as to endanger the safety of the inmates. Instant steps were taken to remove the prisoners to other gaols, and the last batch were sent away on Wednesday. The gaol was regarded as a model one, and had always been highly spoken of by the Government inspectors on account of the dis- cipline maintained, the useful work done by the pri- soners, and the small number of punishments inflicted.

NAILING a lie: Tacking up a circus poster.

iBURNING OF THE OPERA COMIQUE IN PARIS. TERRIBLE SCENES. The Daily -Yea's Pa:is correspondent telegraphed as follows on Wednesday night:—" About a fort- night ago M. Steeriaokera called attention in the Chamber to the dangerous state of the Opera Comique Theatre witn its windy passages and single narrow staircase for the public of the boxes and galleries. As to the staircase to the green-room and dressing-rooms it was hardly wider than a ladder, noarly as steep, and just above the flies, so that if a lire broke out behind the scenes nobody who was in the apartments above-named could escape. It was admitted that all JVC. Steenackers bad said was true, but an opera house could not bo changed in a day, and it was impossible to widen that of the Opera Comique. There were but two sets of stairs in the whole building, and they were narrow, for the simple reason that an inch more space could not be allowed them. However, the police regulations already existing would be rigidly enforced to prevent the possibility of fire. Whether they were or were not allowed to remain a dead letter we shall see when inquiry has been made as to the causes which have, as I write, reduced the theatre in which Auber brought out all his operatic works to a heap of cinders. To-night (Wednesday) at about half-past nine o'clock, I was startled by the fierce, lurid light that was projected into the office of the Daily News in the Rue de Quatre Septembre. On opening a window, the north wind, which has been blowing, sent in a shower, not of sparks, but of burning lumps of charcoal. Behind the houses opposite arose the greatest fire that I think I ever saw in all my life. When I ran down into the street there was a scene of the moat frightful confusion, owing to the circulation of the Rues de Richelieu, St. Marc, and Feydeau having been stopped, and all the traffic turned into the Rue du Quatre Septembre. The falling embers which came down as thick and hot as if Vesuvius were at work, burned into the hides of many of the horses, which became, m consequence, furiously restive. The strong percherons of the omnibuses reared and tore about regardless of rein and driver's whip, or anything that some courageous bystanders could do. Under the shelter of an umbrella, which I had previously drenched under a water tap, and which the Scotch mist that was falling wouid I hoped keep moist, I proceeded towards the place whence the flames arose. A dense crowd poured in the same direction, and I was taken in the stream which brought me into the Rue St. Marc, close to the Place de l'Opera Comique. It seemed as if flames were shooting horizontally from most of the windows, and a cone of flame from which embers tossed about so as to make it resemble a llU¡"e fiery fountain arose from where the roof had been. There were a few ladders against some windows, and women and children were being taken down by men. 1 Eliwothers throw them- selves out from a topmost story. Sometimes a figure was seen wildly darting past a window across the background of tire, and then it was seen no more. A man in a super's drets came out of an attic, and must have bung on for nearly five minutes by an iron bar. He was rescued in the end, but I should say he was the last who could be saved by a ladder, the flames that kept belching out of every issue being so terrible that nobody could stay even in the space which surrounds three sides of the Opera Comique. When all who had gathered there were driven into the narrow streets opening on the Place de l'Opera Comique, I thought most of those who were near me, and myself among the number, must have been crushed to death. We were caught between one crowd driven back by the scorching heat, and another impelled in a contrary direction by curiosity and a love of excitement. A more terrible spectacle it would be hard to imagine. I was near the wall, and after a few moments squeezed my way into a wine shop, where there were mothers and other relatives of figurantes, some of whom bad been in the concierge's lodge of the opera house when the fire broke out, and others had rushed in through a back and private entrance from the square. One would have said that most of them were paralysed with terror, and with the emotions which crowded upon them in a few moments. When I was there a figurante was carried along who had just left the stage and gone up to her dressing- room. She was frightfully scorched, and in acute pain. There was nothing in the wine shop to alleviate her cruel sufferings until somebody was able to find a little salad oil in a cruet. The dresser told me that there were 150 chorus singers and others on the stage when the fire broke out. It happened towards the end of the first act of Mignon." She, and the women with her, heard glass falling, and thought that it must hava been caused by a hailstorm breaking with I violence over the theatre, which had many skylights. She called to some girls not to mind it, but to make haste and get through their business. As she spoke there was a roar, and a column of flame mounted the stair and burst into the wardrobe room where she was. She was luckily able to escape through the window, which fortunately opened on a gutter, where she remained until she was rescued. Several of those who were with her got out. Some of them in their fright and hurry, knocked each other over, and they must have been all killed save the figurante who was so badly burnt. I suppose I was 25 minutes out of the Daily News Paris office before the fire brigade came on the scene. It was appalling to see the difficulties it had to contend with in advancing through the choked-up street on which I looked. I got away from the wine shop and into another street, also debouching on the Place de l'Opera Comique. There was nothing to be seen but flame and steam. The fire, to judge from the dazzling glow on the houses opposite, and on the sea of human heads, must have been fiercer than ever. Horses were frightened, and had to be goaded in by the bayonets of the Municipal Guards. The pressure caused by an attempt to make a lane gave rise to yelling and imprecation. Sparks fell down the backs of necks, and frenzied cries for help were raised. The crowd showed great pity and good feeling whenever an attempt was made to get an in- jured person through to a chemist's shop. I then went on to the Boulevards, where the bottom parts of the houses were in obscurity and the upper parts like the Alps in sunrise or in a glowing sunset- There was an immense crowd there, and in a short time another fire brigade came along at a rushing pace. The excitement was intense. A good deal of i's was caused by persons whose friends or relatives bad gone to see Mignon.

THE ROYAL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY A general meeting of the Royal Agricultural Society of England was held on Monday at the offices of the society in London, the president, Lord Egerton of Tatton, in the chair. The council reported that the numbers of the society had been diminished by the resignation of 301 members, by the death of one governor and 117 members, or by the removal of 97 members from the books by the order of the council; but these losses had been in a measure repaired by the election of 214 members. The society now con- sisted of 71 life governors, 64 annual governors, 3440 life members, 5387 annual members, and 20 honorary members, making a total of 8982, and showing a decrease of 301 members since the last meeting in December. The accounts for 1886 showed that the funded property of the society re- mained at £31,895 5s. 7d., while the balance of the current account in the handsof the society's bankers on the 1st inst. was JE896 15s., and £ 2000 remained on de- posit. Sir Walter Stirling moved, and the Earl of Jersey seconded, the election of Sir Matthew White Ridley as president for the 'ensuing year. This was carried unanimously. Mr. W. Botly moved the adoption of the report, which after some discussion was agreed to. The auditors having been re-elected, a vote of thanks was passed to the chairman, on the motion of Lord Ravensworth.

COUGHING IN CHURCH. A northern newspaper lately contained a computa- tion of the coughs in a congregation in Scotland during divine service; and the figures rose to thousands. Writing on tho subject for the perusal of his congregation, Dr. Donald Eraser says -"We have a vague impression that it is the Scotch in cur own flock who keep up the coughing clamour. Is it that they are the most zealous church-goers, and are in their places despite those catarrhs and irritated windpipes which would have kept Englishmen at home? Or is it due simply to a roughness of manners which takes no account of the annoyance given to the preacher and to their neighbours in the pews? Or shall we say that it is in most cases a mere heedless habit ? One cough seems to suggest another; and the preacher has to shout against a sort of platoon-fire from the pews."

A DETROIT organist trilled I am a Pirate King," aa the deacon was taking up the collection.—Grand Rapids Telegram.

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