Evening Express

BIBTHS. MABRIAGSS, DEATHS. Noticea of Births, Marriapes, and DeaMis are charged Is each if not exceeding JO words, and Id. for I each additional word. In all cases the Notice iant be authenticated bv the signature and address ef she I I sender.

I = TEMPERATURE AND RAINFALL. I DAT«. JTMRKIUTBRK.. Mai. Mia. Mean HAMKALL Tuesday )21 52 39 45*5 0-09 Wednesday i22 62 37 44'5 O'CO Thursday }23 62 43 47'5 0*00 Fridav 24 52 42 47"0 0 00 Saturday |25 60 40 50 0 0"12 Sunday 2ti 60 40 50'0 0*00 Monday !27 60 45 I 50.5 0 00 Xne'lViiiuerttEurnrepresents exrr«uie reauinjf ot tbe thenaometor for 24 hours ended 9 a.m., taken iu the sh*deat Cwrt-y-Til, Peuart'a. The Bainfali'registered at Cwrt-y Vil, Penarth, for the 24 hours ended

Telephone, National, 502; Post-office. S5. Te'.ezrams, "Expirae." Cardiff.

Feathers and Fluff a [BY AUTOLYCUS."] The worst iheatrical nudity that has ever appeared in Cardiff is now on the hoardings. It is a representation of a statue of Cupid without trousers. Wanted, in Cardiff, a girl, about fourteen, to sleep out." Thus runs the advertisement. It can't be done. Againey the police regula- tions. Girls sleeping out are always run in. Cardiff's population is going up by leaps ar.:l bounds. A month ago we were under the im- pression that it was 166,000. Now the "Ship- ping World Year Book" steps to the front and proclaims it to be 175.000. The visit of the Prince of Wales has been preceded by that of a King—King Smith, the monarch of the Gipsies, the Emperor crf Epping Forest. He has not come for a two hours' stay, but for six months, and will be glad to receive at the exhibition any caskets with which the corporation may choose to prcseni) him, making no stipulation as to whfi-uer the council- lors shall appear in new robes or in their present medley costumes. Mr. F..Toergeri.- has sent me an excellent photo of hie charming painting, representative of the "Evening Express" "Santa C'laus" distri- bution. The work will attract much attention at the Cardiff Exhibition. If anyone should feel particularly moved, and would like to let the;r pity have a practical expression, they might remember that Miss Lascelles Carr has not forgotten the waifs and strays, and that she will be very much in evidence again amongst them next Christmas. Among the prominent functions of the week is the opening of the Park Conservative Club, in Cattle-road, on Thursday, by Mr. J. M. Maclean, M.P. The Park Club is bounding I along at a rapid rate, and the membership roll tcta'.e owr 300. It i* a very select club, md I has ail the go-aheacledttess which characterises Cardiff Conservatism. The club is just a day younger than the Adamsdown Club, which Mr. Maclean opens to-morrow, but, rle.soite the fact that it is the baby, it means to show some of the others how to move themselves. Is there a suicide microbe? Some of the doctors suspect that there is. We now have a bacillus for almosit everything, and it is not unreasonable to suppose that the suicide must have becoMi"? pas-essed of the infinitesama. intruder. If so, where does it lurk? Whence comes it? The youth of fifteen who the other .c comes it? The youth of fifteen who the other I day tried to commit suicide all through the girls" possibly inhaled the microbe from the badly-printed pages of a "Deadwood Dick" novelette the much-embarrassed clerk who put the revolver to h.i.s brain probablv contracted the suicide disease from his employer's till, or the pen with which he forged his master's name: the drunken sot, chock full of maudlin sorrow and despair, haunted by the d.t.'s, who in a mad moment leaps into the canal, has picked up the microbe in the pewter pot or bottle I* dofiei nnfc. iata_mudx_ science to discover that these are some of the oshierf sources whence suicide bacilli come. :;d feathers and Fluff When the UiMander captures Cardiff in the year 2.896, and sets to work to di,g up the remains of its castles and temp.'es, he will find in one of the comer-stones of the buried remains of the Cathedral-road Jewish synagogue a. copy of the classic "Pink 'Un'' of to-day's date. Thus will" Autolycus be immortalised, and —like the Greek poet who buried his verse on a tablet of marble (would that poets of to-day would copy his example)—his "Feathers and Fluff" will live again. To whom, then, shall I speak? Wiil it be to the wily Yankee, the almond-eyed Jap, the bearded, bear-like Rus- sian, the self-complacent German, the sharp- shcoting Boer or the Wild Zulu, or the good- old descendant of Cymru, still inhabiting his native land? Whoever ye may be who shall dig up this print, "Autolycus" hails thee. May thy shadow never grow less. May thy drains never trouble thee as thed do us; may peace and plenty be thine for ever; n.ay thy fig tree flourish, and the olive branches of thy race be as the e-ands on Penarth shore for multitude. For the sake of the children! There is no worthier society than the National Sooiety for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children. The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is an excellent one, but a hundred times more valuable is the life of a child than that of an animal, and if the efforts to protect the latter are sustained by a permanent fund it is a -national disgrace if the more worthy society is left without such a fund. It is for this object that the bazaar, which opens to- day at the Park-hall, has been inaugurated- It is the la ft of ft series held in different parts of England and Wales, and if the people of South Wales and' Monmouthhiiie have any- thing like the enthusiasm in the interests of the weak and suffering with which I credit them, they will do their utmost to make the bazaar one of the most successful, if not the most successful, of the whole series. Cardiff ought to come out nobly, if it wants to be considered a city, have a lord mayor, and be accepted as the capital of Wales. The Cardiff Temperance Club has become an established fact, and the event was celebrated yesterday by a great drinking of tea—that deleterious poison with which the English tee- totaler vitiates his blood—and in the evening, a mighty consumption of ginger ale, lime juice, lemonade, audi aeraAed drinks. Nobody went home drunk, though several members felt like inflated bai'.oone, preserved from wandsrincr awa.y from mother earth only by the weight of 'boots. A Cardiff temperance club ougtht to be a success. If only the Radical hydropots can be kept from cramming their party politics down people's throats, and) will allow the club to remain what it professes to be, a. club for men and women of all political and religious views, then it should have a great future. But will this satisfy that class of Liberal—only too prevalent—who prowl around temperance, social, and religious with the one miserable, small- mimcied ,gra'h:bdng_ [There arewme Nonconformist chapels, even, iIb our town, from which honeett, Christian, teetotal Nonconformists have been driven, simply by reason of the fact that the ministers are nothing more nor le-e tthan paid political agents, who devote tfineir ceranons' to the propaganda of R.1.dical ,policy, spe-nd their time, which thsy profess they have been "called" to devote 10 the spiritual welfare and salvation of the world, in harangwing politicaL meetings, and, in their zeal for temperance and other reforms, ally themselves wiiith open robbers andi plunderers. I shall watch the temperance club carefully, as will many cithers, and if it stands untainted by party politiosi at the end) of twelve months, I shall look upon it as a modern miracle.

OUR DIARY. TO-DAY. 1896.—April 28, Tuesday. Sun rises, 4.38; sets, 7.16. High tide:—Cardiff, 7.17—7.49. Swansea., 6.14--6.38. Newport, 7.8--7.32. Weather forecast:—South-westerly and westerly winds, increasing; some rain at times; mild; less settled than of late. Cardiff event s — Health and Port Sanitary Committee, 11. Police-court, 11.0. National Bazaar, 2.30. Free Libraries Committee, 8.0. TEN YEABS AGO. ]886.—April 23, Wednesday. Death of Mr. E. C. Downing, Cardiff. TWENTY-FIVE YEABS AGO. 1871.—April 28, Friday. A locus standi granted to the petitioners against the Cardiff Improvement Bill.

HOW DISEASE STARTS. TIPPING REFUSE ON THE MOORS. A deputation from Messrs. Spillers Nephews, biscuit manufacturers, Cardiff, attended the meeting' of the Cardiff Corporation Health Committee on Tuesday morning to complain of the manner in which an excavation at the end of Railway-street, Roath, m close proximity to Mes-rs. Spillers Nephews. factory, was being filled up. It was, in fact, calculated to cause a serious nuisance. Mr. TTegaakis, one of the directors of the company, formed the deputa- tion, and he was introduced by Mr. Veall. A letter had been written to the com- mittee by the latter-mentioned gentleman on the natter, and he now backed1 this up by explaining that at the end of Raihvay-street there was a depression, about 300ft. across, through which a road wag being constructed. The foundation of that road was being com- posed of fresh town refuse. He (Mr. Veall) had inspected the spot on Monday morn- ing, and the smell which then struck his nose he characterised as "something abominable." His inspection lasted only ten minutes, but I during that time three wagons arrived with refuse fresh from the streets. He (Mr. Veall) spoke to some of the wagoners about their tipping the iefuse there, and they re- plied that it was "nothing to what had been done in Grange town." He (Mr. Veall) calcu- lated thait between two and three thousand tons of stinking stuff had been put down in that exraivaMion.—!MI\ Tregaskis followed .in the same sit rain, and. at t!he conclusion Mr. Veall, again taking up the cudgels, said that the reform they desired was that the tipping operations should at any rate be stopped until an inquiry cajuld be made into the whole question of using refuse for the foundations of streets.—The Chairman remarked that refuse had been used for the foundation of scores of streets many times .before. (Mr. Veall: Shame). It was nothing new, and he presumed that the deposits were made as a. foundation for the street and not for building sites. It had been their invaritble practice in making roads.— Mr. Hughes wished' to enter a strong protest against roads 'being ma,de in such a manner. — Mr. Comley, who was par- ticularly interested1 in the question, as it was he W;1O was making the road, somewhat heatedly pointed out that the.e had been a, terrible stench at the end of Railway-street for three or four years past. (Mr. Veall: Shame). It was an open piece of ground, and everybody (when the policeman was not looking), went there and tipped their refuse. The place was stinking with decaying fish that had been thrown there by the inhabitants living in the district. It was a matter that could very well be left for the representatives of that ward to deaJ with — Mr. Tom Andrews said he was a representative of the ward, but he was not aware of the nuisance. He proposed that a sub-committee should be formed to inspect the spot. After a *i*tle more desultory discussion, in which Mr. John Jenkins upheld Mr. Veall, and Alderman Rees expressed the opinion that it was making a. mountain out of a molehill, Mr. Andrew's motion was carried.

Bill Banter's Budget. LOVING GHOST SOCIETY AND THE TEMPERANCE CLUB. Manifest Advantages of the New Enterprise May Lead to Revo- lution. Mrs. M'Guffin "ave decided upon measures 'as is wuss than egstreme. It's sorry I am I hever mentioned it, as the living skeleton 'aving proposed to the fat 'oman says when she perches hon 'is knee, sayin' she will be 'is Birdie. "I'm goin' to the openin' 'ov the noo Tem- perance Club in St. John's-square by special inwitation ov Mr. Shepherd this afternoon," I says, comirt' ome in the train from Londmg with the M'Guffins, Monday mornin'. M'Guffin lets the vesta 'e were lightin' 'is pipe with fall into 'is umbrella, and looks at 'is old oman wery anxious. "The wery thing!" says she. "Now is the time when my old cockroach 'as 'is mind open to good hinflooences." M'Guffin nearly 'as a fit. It come upon 'im like a thunderbolt. Sorry I ham if I was too abrupt, as the man who jumped from the fifth-storey winder ov a fire says to the bloke 'e fell on. 'Ovvever, with .some trouble I passes it hoff., Imagine my surprise, then, when, on wisitin' the openin' at three p.m., I sees M'Guffin and 'is missis walkin' hup the stairs, right behind Mr. Good, as though they 'ad a special ticket. And I 'ad said good-bye at one o'clock houtside the station. M'Guffin 'e wtre wery red, and givin' a jerk at hevery other step just like a. hoss does with the spasms. I twigged it in about a. minute. 'Ig old 'oman were pinchin' 'im to keep 'im from backslidin', and to get 'im lookin' h-n- teiested. There was a crowd there I was glad on, for I were afraid M'Guffin's hobserwations (sotto vocey, has the French say) would 'ave caused ren-ark through btin' hoverheard. But every- one wae gom' at 'igh pressure, try in' to be conwivial, pretendin' they was a jolly company at the Loving Ghost 'bar. They looks 'ard at M'Guffin, hevidentiy wonderin' what reverend gentleman hinterested in the good work 'ad come amongst hus. Is missis looks that proud ov 'im 'er back hair kept gettin' hinto the corners ov 'er smile, which was unfortunit now and again. I knew well M'Guffin 'ad not bin got hup so neat in two hours without a hawful struggle. But there 'e was. 'E wore a noo low- crowned clergyman's 'at as "is missis 'ad to put straight hovery second or twta, through 'im tilt in' it hon one. side or to the back ov 'is 'ead. She'd put some whiting hon 'is ruby, which sort ov deadened its brilliance in 'armony with the hother pale temperance noees round 'im. She 'ad managed to squeeze 'im into noo black gloves, and give 'im a cleiical collar as kept is 'ead 'igh in the ha;r. He were a. model for hany man; naturally lockin' glum and sarcastic 'as give 'im a re- fined apperiente bewilderin' to notice. "Kindly step into the dining-ropm, were just about to commence the hopenin' cere- mony," says Mr. Shepherd, wery polite. "Sorry I don't know the reverend gentle- man and 'is good lady, as looks workers in the good cause hall over," says 'e to me. "I'm blanked if I don't sweep the fowl- 'ouse out wi'ttfiyou for this, Manar, blank your dash blanked gain's hon!" growls M'Guffin, as is Missis pinches 'im to jerk 'im hon into the sumptuous apartymong. But 'e were wisibly himpressed, especially when 'is heyes lit upon a beautiful bar as hoecu- pied one hend ov the chamber. "Ax for a quart ov 'Ancox, Mariar, and I'll forgive ye, blank me," 'e whispers, lookin' more ch°erful. Just then the chairman, as was Dr. Edwards, gets hup and set the langwi-dge goin'. I loses M'Guffin in my hadmiration ov the heloquents. "They won't get through this lot to-night," I thinks, 8eein' the galaxy ov taleint /represented. There waa Qory, good luck to 'im, to do the hopenin', and the Vicar ov Llandaff, and Lewis Williams, and Good, and White, and Dr. Buist, and Jenkins— a whoio roomful ov 'em. But they cuts 'em short, bein 'ungry for afternoon tea, and keepin' their horatory for the unconverted, not knowin' as M'Guffin were there to work upon. And pleased I was to see the temperance party comin' hon. We don't 'ear 'em to best advantage hon too Sunday Closin' platform. There they'owls at heveryone as takes'i»drop iv 'Ancox. "The moderate drinker," says they, 'is worst ov all," and straight they caste 'im hout, and calla 'im names, and curls their langwidge round 'im till 'e wonders whether 'e's hoven good enough to sleep with Satan. Ow different hin this appy temperance 'ome! Why, there was Wm. Lewis and the Whole party feelin' quite chummy with 'im. "This cluib are hapen to the moderate drinker and 'is lady," says they; "we welcomes 'oÍm amongst us; lle>t 'im come in 'is millions and take hour shares and 'elp to swell faour membership. I've joined halready. Spurgeon 'e goes, heven further. "We'Ll 'ave no bettin' nor gamblin' in this club," e says, but the heditor ov the Mail' hoffered me a thousand to one the club will never hopen. I'm goin' to collect it and give it to the club," 'e says. And then they laughs and cheers. It were another surprise to me, sooin' 'ow 'ard they'd bin hon bettin'. But at that time they didn't know ov Mr. Spurgeon s little snap. It is 'ard to refuse a thousand for the sake ov principle. But pleased I was to think they won't be tempted. It are temptation ruins hevery man, since Adam fust wore pants. I rtcoile:-is the heditor's offer very well, but Spurgeon. knnwin' nothin' ov bettin'. forgot to lay 'is money down and take it. A pity it are I were not Spurgeon. I should 'ave planked my sovereign, and be 'andlin' the spondulix now. As hevery bloke who's hever laid a wager knows, e s out ov court at this time, where weepin' and wailin and gnashin' ov teeth do not avail. We'.l, sich is life. We all 'as hour croee to bear. M'Guffin were quite eoscited at the golding liopportunity missed. Somethin' is goin' to 'appen, as the burglar whispers in the sleepin' policeman's ear, borrow- in' 'is lantern for the purposes ov business. I drops into the Loving Ghost just before eleven last night to talk particular serious to the barmaid upon gettin' 'er young man to join the olub and show 'is srood intentions. The bar were cleared ov all except M Guffin. Talked 'em all out. blank me," 'e says, call- ing for a pint ov ginger wine. i ve done it," 'e says. I'm down liupon the demon drink. I've fa.red that well at that there club I 'ave. conclooded takin' afternoon tea there are better than imbibin' 'Ancox hat the Loving Ghost. I went there growlin', and I come hout blessin', blank me 'Ear, ear," I says. "What are the Loving Ghost? continues M'Guffin. "Nothin' but a place of sojourn for the damned. What are the Temperance Club? A place where hevil hinflooences ii? kept houtside the door. "There is no doubt the temperance party means business this time," I hobserves. "It's bin a long time comin' -says M'Guffin, "but it hare now j)^-«.renfc to rhe naked eye. I sits there growlin' till the chairman arsks us to look round. We doee- It were a revela- tion—that beautiful I forgives my old 'oman on the spot. And they do fix the grub! It were a. paradise chawin' that proven- der. If they keeps hup that standard I'm savin', as a temperance man, for a square meal hevery Saturday." Seemingly, tfhey 'as done a miracle," I says, admirin* I'm 'a.vin' my last drink ov liquid destroyer this very night; that ginger wine 'ave made me thirsty. Draw me a farewell quart ov 'Ancox, me dear, before I leaves the realm hof beer foT hever." These were the last words ov the noo-born temperance hadvocate. May 'e succeed and prosper in 'is noo prin* ? May 'e succeed and prosper in 'is noo prin* cinleh

t) ? ?—? m. Cardiff fm art, SWOoi2f -and lIDaritima 2Sx!)ibiiigrJ836. ? ? ?? ? SEASON TICKET. J if. Thh Ticket is WOT TRAHStrERABLE, end it issued upon Ihe/oUotcinffiedviiliottST- (. l — AvaSsMc for the admissiooiot fchc bolder. EF.O R j tn the Exhibition on t!ie day of dprainr, snd r evcrvsufcspQuent weoh-diy during s«ch ttmnas the Exhibition may reraaia open tattlie Public. f 9.—Tho holder must sin his or I name an ???!?? ??' this ticket, without which cignatw ev!t win not this ticket, without which cignatw ev!t win not be available for admission; and mint sign iris (II" her name whom required in tlicc-igister kept by the door-keeper. ■Q Y! &/ 8.—The holder nmst always preaiBt tb« tieiet MS*/ « /J* X oa entering the BxJilbith>n. If tji>e tttket is < |-a\ p-otincpatyy any other persnn bolder it if V/» will be Immediately forieited t?'t /J1 ???e )§) "S l'??; FAC-SIMIIiE OF THE FIRST SEASON TICKET ISSUED.

We give above a fac-similo of the season tickets issued for admittance to the Cardiff Fine Art., Industrial, and Maritime Exhibi- tion, to be opened on Saturday by Lord Windsor, as mayor of Cardiff. The ticket re- produced js, it will be seen, the first issued, and! all the others are like unto it. The holder of this finst ticket is Mr. Robert Forrest, the popular chairman of the executive committee, who, with the other (members of the executive and too several committees, has worked1 unremittingly to make this gigantic exhibition worthy of Cardiff, as the centre of the Principality,and a place suffi- ciently attractive to draw visitors from every part of the country. It says much for the earnest disinterestedness of the executive, and other committees1 that each member thereof, from Mr. Forrest downwards, pay a guinea for his ticket, just the same-as thoee members of the general public who are-availing themselves rapidly of the privilege of becoming season ticket-^holders.

SENSATIONAL WILL SUIT- THE SUM OF £ 100,000 IN- VOLVED. Mr. Harry Lewis, of Chancery-lane, has, on behalf of a military gentleman, commenced pro- ceeding's in a case to dispute a will already proved in favour of a gentleman well known in West of England society. The surround- ing circumstances are of an almost unique kind, and the claim of the client, which involves up- wards of £ 100,000, promises to be a cause celehre of the legal year.

STABS AND KISSES. A WOMAN IN A CRITICAL CON. i DITION. George Fuller, 38, was remanded at West- minster Police-court on Tuesday charged wibh stabbing Louise Perry, who is in a critical con- dition.—Mr. Henry Heute, an artist, said he saw prisoner stab the young woman in the side, after which she staggered and fell. Wit- ness went to her protection, and prisoner wanted to light him, and said he wished to kill her. Afterwards, however, he sat down by the woman, kissed her, and said he loved her.

YACHT FELL ON HIM. SHIPBUILDER'S SON CRUSHED TO DEATH. A shocking accident occurred on Monday evening at Mr. Hilditch's yacht building yard, Carrickfergus. It appears the proprietor's son, aged fifteen, was assisting some workmen to remove the yacht Lady Gertrude, in order to make room for launching a new boat, when the former suddenly heeled over and fell upon the youth, who was .so frightfully crushed about the head and) chest that lie succumbed! two hours afterwards, after terrible sufferings. Two two other workmen escaped with slight injuries.

PENARTH-ROAD PONDS. LETTER TO THE CARDIFF HEALTH COMMITTEE. At a meeting of the health committee of the Cardiff Corporation, held u-.d:«r the presidency of Alderman Jacobs, on Tuesday, a ,letlter was read from Mr. E. W. M. Corbett, respecting certain ponds lying alongside P.enarth-road, Cardiff, which would be to Lord Bute's interest to have filled up, as the land was now becoming valuable for building- sites. After consideration the committee instructed the ekek to reply that they were of opinion it would be 'better to have the pondfe drained.

WRECKAGE IN CHANNEL. HAS A VESSEL FOUNDERED IN COLLISION. Our Porthcawl correspondent telegraphs: —I have just F-een Captain Irwin, of the ketch Jane, of Barnstaple. He says he left Ilfra- combe on Monday morning. When abreast of Comlbeimartin he saw the stem part of a vessel having tihe letters "A. T. E." upon it. It was just-awash with the water. The captain is of opinion tlhat a collision must have taken place on Sunday night. He could not, how- ever, form any idea as to the size of the vessel. Shortly a-fter, while still very thick, a Swansea tugboat spoke him, asking if they had seen a large ship. The fog was a. very heavy one, and lasted for many hours.

A SON'S DEVOTION. PATHETIC INCIDENT AT AN IN- QUEST. In London, on Saturday, a very pathetic incident occurred at the close of am dnquest 0'11 Elizabeth Salisbury, 37, a widbw.—An only son of the deceased, a lad of 15 or 16, said he wa-s left without a relative or friend in the world. He earned but 2s. a, day as a fireman, and the Coroner threw out the suggestion that perhaps he would like a little jjarish assistance to bury his mother. He flushed a little at the thought, but the next moment he exclainmed falteringly, "No, I loved her too much to let the parish burv her." "Don't be afraid, my lad, to accept relief from the parish if you can't manage yourself," said a juror. But the lad replied with firmness, "No, eir, I'll manage it myself somehow; she shall not be buried by the parish."

CAPTAIN NEARLY HIT. A VESSEL STRUCK BY A CANNON BALL. The brigantine Onyx reports an unpleasant occurrence during the voyage. When off Dover she was struck by a cannon ball fired from the West Cliff. The brigantine was hit on the port side just abaft the main rigging, the ehot passing through the bulwarks, striking the deck, and then ricocheting against the capstan, which was splintered in several places. Captain Rowden, who was steering, had a narrow escape, as one of the fragments struck him on the head, but he was not seriously injured.

PELTING BRICKS. TWO CAIRDIFF WOMEN TO PAY OR BE GAOLED. Mary M-ilony and Catherine Crowley are in their own opinion two most respectable ladies, and they gave expression, in no measured lan- guage to the idea, that. George Gibbs had once and for all placed himself outside the ban of jolite society by bringing such a charge against them as he did at Cardiff Police-court on Tues- day morniing. GiMbw came (before ifche sti- pendiary with his pockets laden with brick- ends and bits of crockery, which he said had been "shot" ait him by tihe two defendants. Mrs. Malon.v said it was all done of a grudge, and Mrs. Crow'.ey said ditto, but the stipen- diary said that the chaage was proved. Mai on y would be fined 5s. and costs and Crowley 10s. and costs, or fourteen days.

Mr. George Smith, King of the Gipsies, whose appearanoe was such a success recently ar the Cardiff Panopticon, will give his entertain- ment at the Cardiff Exhibition throughout the summer. Mr. Smith and hie two daughters are known as the Royal Epping Forest Gipsies. They are well-known in this country and on the Continent and invariably draw thousands. SPANISH ELECTIONS. A LARGE MINISTERIAL MAJO- RITY. A Central News telegram from Madrid says: -The electionsi to the Spanish Senate are over, but the results in seventeen districts are yet unknown. Of the !? sena-tors who can be definitely classified 110> are Conservatives, 36 Liberals, three dissident Conservatives, two CarLsts, three Republicans, and nine Indepen- dents, including the bishops. The remaining seventeen senatora will mot alter ihe balance of parties. Ministers eeoored a small majority among the non-e-lectivetmembers of the Senates

CARDIFF'S HEALTH. ONLY NINE CASEES OF SMALL-POX IN THE TOWN. At the meeting of .the health committee of the Cardiff Corporation, held on Tuesday morn- ing under the presidency of Alderman Jacobs, Dr. Walford, the medical officer of health, re- ported that there were .nine cases of small-pox in the hospital, but ice was happy to say there V/ere none in the town. With the exception of the -two cases las* admitted, the whole of the patients in hospital were practically out of danger. There had been no spread of small- pcx at all—that was, no second case in any hCHe whence a, pat&ent had been removed.— Cardiff's health generally was in a very satis- factory condition, the death-rate for last week being only 13 per 1,000.

CATHOLIC V. ATHEIST. A SERIOUS DISTURBANCE AT A LJECTURE. A Dalziel's telegram from St. Etienne says: —A serious disturbance occurred here on Mon- day night on the occasion of a, Lecture by Sebas- tian Faure, the Anarchist. He was announced to give an atheistical address, and a large num- ber of the nnjanlbers of the Catholic League attended' with the intention of preventing the meeting taking place. A discussion aros^ as to the choice of chairman, and one of the Catholic party who had' risen 4o speak was felled to the ground with a bottle. The injured man was afterwards carried out in a dying condition. A free fight ensued, in the course of which all tie furniture in the room was broken to pieces. The Catholics gc4 eventually the upper hand, and threw many of their opponents out of the windows, inflicting serious injuries. The fight was kept up unt.H.aU the Anarchists were driven out of the room.

CREDITORS' MEETINGS. A CADOXTON, HAULIER IN DIFFICULTIES. At the Official Receiver's office, Cardiff, on Tuesday afternoon a meeting was held of the creditors of Mr. Samuel Amos, haulier, 25, Foster-street, C-adoxton. The statement of affairs discloses the following: -Gross liabili- ties, 2113 3s. 3d.; expected to rank, JB78 3s. 3d.; assets, 230 6s.; leaving a. deficiency of J347 17s. 3d. The causes attributed for the failure are "death of horses and cattle and bad debts." No resolution was passed, and the Official Receiver remains as trustee. Farmer's Failure. A meeting of the creditors of David Yor- worth, now of the Star Inn, Wick, near 'Bridgend, and formerly of Clawdd-y-Mynaeh Farm, at the same place, took place on Tues- day morning at the Official Receiver's office, Queen-street, Cardiff. Debtor was t03 ill to appea,r. Liabilities, £ 1,337; assets, nil. The debtor assigned his position to adverse weather affecting crops. The Official Re- ceiver remains as trustee.

"TRILBY." A CHAT WITH MISS RUFFLES. Our Lady Correspondent spent a pleasant half-hour this morning chatting over Trilby with Miss Ruggles, and writes :—Mies Ruggles has a most bright, pleasant manner, and, in personnel, is fair and slight—indeed, is very much as she appears before the footlights. Y{ith her were the two Miss Rees, very pretty girls indeed, who take the part of the dancing JT'TIs and the two little wild cats" of Gri- eette's, who squa<bbie so «*eligfc;tfuS'iy for a few minute3 in Act 2. Miss Ruggles told me she 1 had been twelve years ->,} the stage. Why, how is that possible?" I asked. Oh, I went on when I was ten years old." "Ah, that explains it." From ten to sjsvev, teen y 9.*°, of affo Miiss I Ruggles was never out of au engagement once, which shows that even at that early age the showed much dramatic ability. I suppose in your time you have played many parts?" "Oh, yes; comedy, tragedy, S- an° fewe5 bo* I like tragedy best of all." Trilby," Miss Ruggles agreed, was both a charming and an easy part to play, and she has taken her own rendering of the character and of the "business," in which I think we shall all agree she hag done well, for I am delighted with her Trilby"—it is both natu- rally and sympathetically taken. Miss Rucrgl^ once before visited Cardiff in "Alice in \Von- Cn-iand." hut she has hardlv ever left London, thie being almost her first tùur and the twenty-first week of "Trilby." Dresses in "Trilby." In the first act Trilby" wears the now famous military great-coat of grey, the wide skn-ts, scarlet lined, turned up to the back, over a striped1 red and 'black skirt, with sca-rle' epaulettes, and a black leather belt. "Trilby"' looks equally well in the simple black drsss, white apron, cuffs and oollar she next wears, and the jgrey dress of the interrupted wedding'. It is only in tho third act the play affords any opportunity of showing a good costume. —the flowing neck dress of white cashm'ere; the bust, crossed with gold bands, is vpry I becoming; from the shoulders hang long stoles heavily embroidered in gold and jewels, and from the-shoulders a long train hangs covered with gold ornaments. In the last act she we^rs a simple robe of white muslin and "m- broidery. Madame Vinerd mah¡¡ tin. most of her two»coetume=, the white cr.p, blue blouee-- nnd grey skirt of the concierge, and the black dress and smart cap and apron of the atten- dant at the foyer of the theatre. "Mrs. Bagot's" black velvet dress, cape, and bonnet are very suitable to the character. Madame Vinard's acting is excellent and lifelike, a veritable concierge. "Svengali" is played by Mr. Lammed Irving just as we expected he would play it; the death scene is terribly iKilistia. "Taffy" and the "Laird" are de- lightful sianipentonations. The, scenery is excel- lent, v^dithe staging', particularly in the foyer sctne. I

Adrift on the Deep. SUFFERINGS OF A DANDY'S CREW. Sails Torn to Shreds and Starvation Staring- the Men in the Face. The airival of the Bristol-bound vessel May- flower, nearly a month overdue, lias disclosed a thrilling story of the adventures of the crew in a long and perilous voyage from Portugal during which they were nearly shipwrecked in a terrific gale, and then reduced to a pitiable state through the food and water supply giving out. The Mayflower is a sailing boat techni- cally known as a "dandy," and is owned and commanded by Charles Clopet. She carries a orew of four men. On March 15 she sailed from Ol'hao, Portugal, with a cargo oif locust beans for Bristol. The usual time for the voy- age is fourteen or fifteen days, and provisions for that period were shipped. Two or three days out—when near Cape St. Vincent—a. strong wind sprang up. This rapidly increased to a hurricane, and the waves rose to a great height. The vessel was terribly battered about in the furious sea, and at times it appeared as though she was doomed. The Sails Were Torn to Shreds and the rigging carried away, so that the little craft was practically uncontrollable and drifted out of her course. The storm raged for many days, and during that time the stores ran low, and starvation stared the men in the face; and, to makei matters worse, the fresh water also gave out. Tv/o live fowls that were kept on board were eaten, and the men had to exist as best as they could on locust beans and a quantity of wheat they 'had with the fowls. In order tp obtain fresh water they had to condense sea water by means of an ordinary kettle, to the spout of which a piece of tube was attached and connected with a stone jar, into which the steam poured, the top of the jar being, of course, tightly covered. By this means about two pints of water a day were obtained. The crew underwent great privations, and for six days Lived on Locust Beans. After being at tea nearly a. month they were overjoyed to see three steamers' in the distance, and they speedily hailed them. The first two—<one a steamer belonging to Ham- burg, and the other a London boat—did not come to their assistance, and the men were beginning to despair, when the third—which proved to be the Culjoa, of the Blue Anchor Line, fiKsm Australia to London—hove to. The captain, on learning the distressed con- dition of the crew, rendered all the assis- tance in his power, and sent aboard a good supply of provisions and water, and also a quantity of material necessary to re- pair the ragging. After seeing that they were all right, the steamer went rwi, and the Mayflower again tried to reaoh Bristol. Some rough sails were rigged up, and for a few days all went well. But the adventures of the crew were not over. Slow progress was made, the boat was much out of her course, and Provisions Once More Failed. The men had to live chiefly upon locust beans, and again became much exhausted. On April 22, when 50 miles west of the Scilly Isles, a sail was sighted. Signals of distress were flown and) the vessel approached the May Rower. She proved to be the trawler Girl Lilian, a week out from Lowestoft. The Mayflower asked for assistance, and though the Girl Lilian was not well stocked with provisions the crew shared what remained with the Mayflower, and en putting into Newlyn, near Penzance, on Satur- day reported the arrival of the Bristol-bound boat, this being the first intimation received that the Mayflower was safe. The Mayflower in the meantime proceeded to Bristol, arriving in the harbour on Monday afternoon after a run of 43 days. Statement By the Captain, Charles Clopet, the captain, said:—"I left Olhao, Portugal, on the 15th of March, ?nd had nice weather until we fetched Cape St. Vincent, two days after. There we had a strong wind east by north-east, which came on in a gale and hurricane three days after, and was like that for three weeks. I was driven 100 miles to the west of Lisbon, and every sail was carried awav, the main sail, fore sail, and the fore stay sail, as we had every sail set at the time. The weather was violent and the sea washing the decks, so tha.t we couldn't get another sail up. We stayed drifting like this for some days, and soon Wo3 had nothing to eat; no food and no drink left. On the 10th of April we saw three steamers standing off, and we hailed them. The first one, belonging to Hamburg, would not take any notice of oUT signals of distress; and the second one, belonging to London, would not take any mere notice. The third one was different, and came alongside. It was the Culjoa, of the Blue Anchor line, from Aus- tralia to London, with passengers. They came and i&sked us what was the matter, and we told them we bad been nearly a month at sea and were in a bad condition, and they could see for themselves we had not. a sail up. They supplied U9 with drinking water and provi- sions, and also gave us canvas and twine and everything we wanted. They also brought back our boait for us, and stayed alongside till we said we were all right, and they they then left us. Our voyage then went on aU right until four days ago, and we were then in a bad way again. This time the Girl Lilian, a fishing smack from Lowestoft,, came alongside and gave us some provisíon., and water, and so ,we finished the voyage. I don't know the name of the captain of the Culjoa, but it is quite certain he saved Qur lives, and I should very much like to thank him."

SHEBEEiNING. MAUD PETERSON TO PAY TEN POUNDS. At Cardiff Police-court on. Tuesday morning 1 Maud Peterson was fined JE10 and costs, or ore month's imprisonment, tfor selling beer without a licence at No. 28, Mary Ann-street.—The charge was proved in defendant's absence by Acting-sergeant Ben Davies.

CARDIFF CONSERVATISM. OPENING OF THE PARK CLUB ON THURSDAY. The formal opening- of the Park Conservative CJub, Cas^le-road,_wi 11 he performed on Thurs- day next by Mr. J. M. Maclean, M.P. Mem- berg will assemble at 6.15 p.m. outside the club premises, and Mr. Maclean will arrive at 6.30. A key will then be presented to him by the chairman (Mr. H. Gibbon), and the club for- mally opened. This will be followed by a ( banquet, the invitations to which have been accepted by many representatives of the party. > It is requested that gentlemen who have not 1 already replied to the invitation should do so i at once. The catering is placed in the hands of Messrs. George a.nd Son, and, altogether, the function promises to be a great success.

WELSH COAL TRADE. THE DISPUTE AT THE FERN- f DALE PITS. 1 A meeting of the workmen of the Tylors- town ard Ferndal^ Collieries was hold at the 1 Tudor-halJ, Ferndale, on Monday night, under the presidency of Mr. Henry Jenkins. There was a large attendance of workmen, and the Chairman and Councillor Evans explained that ? the meeting was convened to consider the pay- a ment for first ripping done by the colliers at ( the Tvlorstown Collieries. It appears that r prior to the explosion the colliers were per- mitted to rip "first ripping" by means of ( blasting, but the men have now to do this n work by hand. The same price is paid them to do it by hand as by means of blasting, and I the men now argue that, as they have to rip by hand, they should receive extra remunera- tion.—A letter was read from Mr. Fred L. Davis—who is away in Scotland—the mana- ging director of the company, in reply to a t communication sent him bv the workmen to receive a deputation suid discuss the matter. f Mr. Davis, in his latter, said he would be 1 able to do so after Monday next.—It was re- i solved that the question be deterred until Mr. j i Davis's return. ( 13 -?

Local Sport \'? CARDIFF AND NEWPORT CYCLING TRACKS. Two Hundred Guinea. Challenge Cup to be Offered at the Next Cardiff Dog Show. Mr. Harry J. Swindley, who was one of the deputation appointed to inspect the South. Wales cycle tracks, is the London editor of the "Cyclist," and he refers to the selection of Newport in 'the following way: —" Most assuredly Newport has every right to be more than proud of its athletic grounds generally and its cycle track in particular. For a provincial earth or dirt track we have never seen a better, and, with its surrounding appointments, it can more than hold its own with anything in the kingdom. The members otf the N.C.U. Cham-, pionships Committee, considering that the first duty of euch a oommittee is to select the best ground available for the decision 'of the impor- tant events committed to their charge, had little choice left them after viewing the New- port track. It is, of course, regrettable that such union championships as are run in the provinces should take place at any distance from the seat, of the centre handling them, but in this case it is unavoidafbl-e; and as Newport and Cardiff are but twelve miles apart, there can be but little in it,. The winning straight of the Newport track is to be widened to: 21ft. 6in., and the surface, which is similar to that at Coventry, gives in anything like dry > weather a very speedy and safe track." | The opening meeting oa the exhibition, track is announced to take place on Monday, May 4th. There are a couple of eventsi down for decision, a mile bicycLe handicap and » two mile bicycle handlieap. Both of these entries close to-day, although 1Wednesday morning's post is in time. A good deal of interest is being taken in this meeting, mainiy by reason of the virtues ascribed to the track./ What times will be made of course -remains^ to be seen, but from what the local wheelmeik/ say the track is easy enough of negotiation' ,once one has got used to it. The first real start in tho way of sports will be made ion May, 23. A programme of eight events has already been issued, and it is sure to attract a. large entry. In all cases the entry forms are to be, sent to the secretary, Mr. C. S. Arthur, Queer-street, Cardiff. There is cons:-derable discussion in Cardiff ro the chances of "Barry" Davies, who went to Leeds on Monday, returning to the Welsh Metropolis. To make the minds of his manyf Metropolis. To make the minds of his manyf admirers easy, I may state tha.t Davies is just out of his apprenticeship, and has gone to the Yorkshire town for nine months as an.; improver. He does not, however, propose to, play football there, but will return to help his old club in December next. Speaking of footballers reminds me of the loss of another old Cardiff forward in the person of Jim Arman, who has gone out to the Cape. He has not taken an active part in the game for some seasons now, but has been a most useful and practical man ont the seconds committee. In his day he was a,n exceedingly I sr'art forward—a hard worker, fast, rtlld a deadly tackier. He was at the same time one of the unlucky ones, and on several occasions managed to get broken bones. Arman was a staunch supporter of the working maii> portion of the club. I recollect, at one meeting it was proposed to lower the rate of subscription for the working men, or do away with it, or some- thing of the sort. Anyhow, Arman was on his legs in a minute, and in a most vigorous speech protested against anything of the sort. "Those working men who play football, he said, "ought to pay their subscriptions the same as any one else." He was very much impressed with the dignity of the working man, and stuck up for it, with the result that the subscrip- tion was left in its old position. I am sure all South Wales footballers will join with me im wishing Arman success and luck in his new career. Mr. Wa-lbrook, the secretary cf the Welsh Kennel Club, has done a big stroke of husiueti, on behalf cf the forthcoming Cardiff Dog Show. As is well-known, he is a most enthusiastic fancier of St. Bernards, and has done much for this class in the district. I learn that he has: pre- vailed upon the St. Bernards' Club to offer two 100-guinea challenge cups at the forth- coming show. The "special" list is already a most lavish one', but the above-mentioned additions are most welcome as adding to the championship nature of the show. What with these, the Prince of Wales accepting the presi- dentship, and a wonderful classification, there! seems no doubt about the show being No. 1 of the United Kingdom. What will be the outcome of the proposed addition to the Welsh Union Committee re- mains to be seen. In Cardiff generally the does doesi not meet with a. large degree of approval, although one or two prominent foot- i b?l'ers seem to think more attention ought to be paid to Rhondda football than has been the case in the past. i My Llanelly representative writes:—I have seen several of the most prominent football people here as to the proposal to increase the number of the Welsh Committee. I have found' it difficult-, however, to get any declaration of opinion. For instance, Mr. Wilkins, the ■ treasurer, and acting secretary of the Union, 1 declined to say anything on the matter. He { said that he 'had not given the matter any j consideration, and was not prepared to ex- j press any opinion. There seems to be, how- ever, a feeling in the town that the Rhondda • district is not adequately represented on the committee, and, as this is now a very impor- tant part of Welsh football,it ought not to be. difficult to get 'the committee* to see the, justice of increasing the number of its mem- j bers. ] Down Neath way there seems to be a feel- i Down Neath way there seems to be a fed- i ing that a change in the personnel of the match. committee would be welcome. The present, members (a. correspondent from that district thinks) have been there too long, and a chango would be productive of much good. One pno-minent footballer of the above men- tioned district approves of Mr. T. Williams's. suggestion, but entirely disapproves of the suggestion emanating from Messrs. Morgan, and Dewar, of Penarth. A match com- mittee of thirteen, he says, would be most unwieldly. If it would not prove so, I fail to see what possible gcod could result from, the proposal ,i,- adopted. As to the referees society, 'the, sa-rne gentleman eayte:—If all clubs are not compelled to apply to the society for the appointment of referees, then the sooner the society is disbanded the better, for its exis- tence can serve no useful end.- ? Mr. D. J. Price, the secretary of the Neath Club, and others whom my representative saw. expressed practically the same opinion as is submitted above. As all were representative gentlemen, it may be inferred that all the pro- posed alterations, with the exception of those emanating from Penarth, are a/pproved of locally. Mr. by thl" way, surgests in regard Mr. Grrham's proposal that the Mid as well ss the Eastern and Western districts should be directly represented on the international board. ] hit; could lie done without altering the number nf delegates by allowing the Mid to share alternately with the other districts in the lionour. WELSH ATHLETE.

The unveiling of the wesftern window a-fe St. Margaret's Church, Blackwood, to the memory of the late Captain E. D. Williams, J.P., of Maesruddied, took place on Sun- day. The services were eonduoted by the Rev. Tuberville WilMams, M.A.. formerly, rector of O&ldicott, and the Rev. W, G. Kirk- aam, M.A., curate in charge, andi were wE41: ^tended both morning and evening.