The Cardiff Times

LOCAL AMUSEMENTS. Theatre Royal (Cardiff). The reappearance at the Royal this week of the Rev Kobert Spalding," otherwise known as The Private Secretary," has been hailed with general and unmingled delight by the com- munity. The comedy is light aud airy all through, and, with a comparatively small cast, contains the elements nf pure comedy, and delineations of several queer characters, sufficient to keep the bouse in a roar from the rise to the fall oflthecurtain. It has been truly said that "The Private Secretary is the most amusing comedy it recent times. While the situations and incidents are farcical in the extreme, the dialogue is at many points rich in well-turned literary beauties. The part of the belated Rev. :RoOOrt, the private secre- tary, is admirably presented by Charles Winder- mere, and this remark equally applies to his quondam impersonator, Douglas CattermoJe, as played by Mr Charles Cherry. A better repre- sentation of the funny character of Mr Catter- mole, the man with the liver and the imperious will, than that by Mr William Hargreaves it would be difficult to give. His very appearance on the stage, apart from the grotesque things he says and does, creates merriment, more of it, perhaps, than that of the simple. minded and apparently unconsciously funny private secretary. Amongst the other parts through which the simple plot is evolved, with con- tinued mirth, are those of Harry Marsland, by Mr Gerald Dale Sydney Gibson, the tailor, by Mr Frederick Tyrell Mr Marsland, by Mr Arthur Lawrence; Edith Marsland, by Miss Hilda Rivers Miss Eva Webster, by Miss Nora Morra Mrs Stead, by Miss Augusta Haviland and Miss Ashford, by Miss Caroline Elton. The whole of Mr W. J. Lancaster's company are high- class artistes, and give a full and enjoyable exposition of the spirit of the comedy. "The Private Secretary" is preceded by a short but entertaining oomedietta by Mr Walter Brown, entitled II A Love Game," in which Mr Charles Cherry and Miss Augusta Haviland take the respective parts of Jaok, in love with Rosa," and Rosa, in love with Jack." The Grand Theatre (Cardiff). It was a bold idea on the part of Mr W. S. Gilbert to lay the scene of the comic opera His Excellency in Elsinore, a plaoe for ever sacred to the immortal Prince of Denmark. The daring is aU the greater when it is remembered that for bright and fantastic treatment in light opera, the Danes are not a people who lend themselves with any particular readiness. Of course, librettists are not hampered by a rigid adherence to ascertained national characteristics. Mr Gilbert of all men is the least likely to refrain from playing off every conceivable variety of joke upon the mild and homely of the northern pen- insula. But despite the want of strong dramatic colour in the race, he has succeeded in His Excellency in producing a- work full of rippling merriment and extrava. gance, yet one that is not essentially inconsistent with the national peculiarities of the people among whom it is laid. The theme is simplicity itself. It turns upon the uncon. trollable fondness for practical joking of an old provincial governor. Governor Griffenfeld," holding that every verbal joke capable of being made has already been given to the world, jokes with the fortunes, and the hopes and the liberties of his liege's subjects. In a fit of uncontrollable jocularity be commissions the young scupltor, IIErlig," to execute a statue of the Prince Regent, and the same ia erected. He confers titles and honours upon Erling and the young physician, Tortensen. He trains his regiment of Hussars in the exercises of ballet girls, so great is his vein of humour. He shuffles off Dame Cortlandt, the partner to an awkward matrimonial engagement, upon Mats Munck, the syndic of Elsinore. He induces Nils Kgilson, a strolling player, to disguise himself as the Prince Regent in order that his own playful arbitrariness may have Royal support. All this, and much more in the same vein, is in obedience to his; strong sense of the humorous. When the soldiers and peasantry protest and threaten to all to the Prince he sees the opportunity for a further joke and, with his two daughters—who in mere comicality have been engaged to the aforesaid sculptor and physioian—feigns great trepidation in the expectation that this will induce a popular appeal to the disguised strolling player. Among other decrees pronounced by the prinoe, is that ot degradation to the ranks against the governor, and that whimsical worthy soon after learns that the disguised player was none other than the real Prinoe Regent. His embarrassment is great; and amid the happiness of the viotims of bisjokes the curtain falls, leav. ing him alone, crestfallen and at last reconciled to duilmonotonous fact, beaoleoccupantof the stage. Throughout, the piece is marked by all that lightness of touoh and wealth of genuine and unforced humour, which are the leading features of Mr Gilbert's best work in this particular sphere. There is the same inimitable play upon words, the fantastic twisting of serviceable com- monplaces, thegrotesquedistortionof philosophical superficiality, and the inexhaustible expression of all this in 8moottl and faoile rhyme rhyme so exact that the couplets close as it were with a snap. There may not be the droll profundity, as it may be termed, that is apparent in some of the Gilbert-Sullivan series of operas—the epi. grams, the fresh truisms, the quaint phrases that stick in the memory and become additious to our household words, like those of "Jack Point but there is the sparkling gaiety, the origi. nality of the plot, the extravagance of development, the happiness of hit that marks all Mr Gilbert's best work. The music of Dr. F. Osmond Carr has been composed in the spirit of entire agreement with the story and its incidents. There are numerous fine and swinging choruses, while several of the solos, duets, and trios possess considerable wealth of light and agreeable melody. But it cannot be said that the music is strikingly original, and in one or two instances there are reminiscent suggestions whioh, while not taking from the excellence of the composer s work, reveal the model that was present to his mmd. It was unfortunate that owing to the orchestral scores having miscarried, the opera had to be performed with piauo aocompaiiimeut only, but despite this it wasgiven with a completeness and smoothness that did infinite ciedit to principals and chorus alike. Mr Robert Courtneidge as the Governor aoted with inimitable humour, while Messrs Frank Boor and J. J, KitaGibbon as Erling and Tortensen respectively deserve warm praise, as does also Mr Sidney Haroourt for his performance as the Syndic. Miss Kate Graham sang very sweetly as Christina, while her acting was natural and refined. MissJAdelinejVaudreyand MissRosie Nott. as the governor's daughters Nanna and Thora, gained a distinct success, and Mr Charles Weir as the prince, assumed the part with a befitting portliness and dignity. Altogether. Mr George Edwardes's company must be pronounced a distinctly strong one, aud it was gratifying to observe bow large a house it drew.

DIVORCE SUIT BY A WELSH MINISTER'S WIFE. The Buffalo Exprets N.Y., says:—Mrs Gertrude Barnes Jones ot this city has petitioned for a divorce from her husband, the Rev. I. Jones, who was pastor of the Congregational Society at Williamstown from 1888 to 1890, on the ground of intolerant severity and non-support. Mr Jones is » native of Wales, and a (graduate of Yale Divinity Sobool. Mrs J onesil" member r

UNCLE JIM. By GILBERT PARKER, Author of "Trail of the Sword," "The Tres. passer," &o„ [ALL RIGHTs RESERVED.] He was no nncle of mine, but it pleased me that he let me call him Uncle Jim. It seems only yesterday that, for the first time, I saw him standing by a log outside the wood- house door, splitting oak knots. He was all bent by years and hard work, with muscles of iron, hands gnarled and lumpy, butolinohing like a vice; grey head thrust forward on shoulders which bad carried great forkfuls of hay and grain, and leaned to the cradle and the scythe, and been heaped with cordwood till they were like hide and metal. white straggling beard and red watery eyes, which, to me, were always bung with an intangible veil of mystery— though that, maybe, was my boyish fancy. Added to all this he was so very deaf that you had to speak clear and loud into his ear; and many people he could not hear at all, if their words were not sharp cut, no matter how loud. A silent, withdrawn man he was, living close to mother earth, twin brother of Labour, to whom Morning and Daytime were sounding boards for his axe, scythe, saw, flail, and milking pail, and Night a round hollow of darkness into which he crept, shutting the doors called Silence behind him till the impish page of Toil came tapping again, and he stepped awkwardly into the working world once more. Winter and summer saw him putting the kettle on the fire a few minutes after four o'clock, in winter issuing with lantern from the kitchen door to the stable and the barn to feed the stock in Bummer sniffing the grey dawn and looking out on bis fields of rye and barley and buckwheat before he went to gather the cows for milking and take the horses to water. For forty 'years he and his worn-faocd wife bowed themselves beneath the yoke, first to pay for the hundred-acre farm and then to bring up and educate their seven children. Something noble in them gave them ambitions for their boys and girls which they bad never bad forthemselves; but when had passed the forty years, in which the little farm had twice been mortgaged to put the eldest son through college as a doctor, they faced the bitter faot that the farm had passed from them to Sidney, the second son, who had come at last to keep an hotel in a town fifty miles away. GenerouB-headed people would think that these grown-up sons and daughters would have returned the old'.people'; long toil and care by buying up the farm and handing it back to them, their rightful refuge in the decline of life. But it was not so. They were tenants where they had been owners, {dependants where they bad been givers, slaves where once they were masters. The old mother toiled without a servant, the old man without a helper save in harvest-time. But the great blow came when Sidney married the designing milliner who flaunted her wares opposite his bar-room and, somehow, from the date of that marriage. Sidney's good fortune and the hotel declined. When he and his wife first visited the little farm after their marriage, the old mother shrank away from the young woman's painted face. and an added sadnessalways showed in her bearing and in her patient smile after- wards. But she took Sidney's "ife through the house, showing her all there was to show, though that was not much. There was the litble parlour with its hair-cloth chairs, rag carpet, centre table, and iron stove with black pipes, all gaily varnished. There was the parlour bedroom off it, with the one feather bed of the house bounti- fully piled up with coarse home-made blankets, topped by a silk patchwork quilt, the artistic labour of the old wife's evening hours. while Unole Jim peeled apples and strung them to dry from the rafters. There was a room. dining- room in summer and kitchen dining-room in winter, ateclean as aged, hands could scrub and dust it, hung about with atray pictures from illustrated papers, and a good old clock in tbe corner ticking life, and youth, and hope away. There was the buttery off that, with its meagre china and crockery, its window looking out on the field of rye, the little orchard of winter apples, and the hedge of cranberry bushes. Be put on a heavy coal and vent out. Upstairs were rooms with no ceilings, where, lying on a corn-husk bed, you reached up and touched the sloping roof," with windows at the end only, facing the buckwheat field, and looking down two miles towards the main road, for the farm was on a ooncessioiv or side-road, dusty in summer, and in winter sometimes impassable for weeks together. It was not much of a home, as anyone can see with the mind's eye, but four stalwart men and three fine women had been born, raised and quartered there, nntil, with good clothes, and speaking decent English, and with money in their pockets, hardly got by the old people, one by one they issued forth into the world. The old mother showed Sidney's wife what there was for eyes to see, not forgetting the three hives of bees on the south side, beneath the parlour window. She snowed it with a. kind of pride, for it all seemed good to her, and every dish and every chair, and every corner in the little house had to her a glory of its own, because of those who had come aid gone—the firstlings of her flock, the roses of bo: little garden of love, blooming now in a rougn«r air than ranged over the little bouse on the hill. She had looked out upon the pine-woods to the east and the meadow-land to the north, the sweet valley between the rye field and' the orohard, and the good honest air that had blown there for forty years, bracing berheart ".nd body for the battle of love and life. and shehad said through all: Behold it is very good. But the pert milliner saw nothing of all this she did not stand abashed in the sacred precinots of a home where seven times the Angel of Death had hovered over a birth-bed. She looked into the face which God's finger d anointed, and mother- hood had etched with trouble, and said 'Tisn't mucb, is it ? [Only a clap-board house, and no ceilings upstairs, and rag carpets — pshaw!" ..111 And when she Game; to wash her hands for dinner, she threw aside the unscented common bar soap, and shrugging, ner narrow shoulders at the coarse towel, wiped hfer fingers on her cambric handkerchief. Any other kind of a woman, when she saw the old mother going about with her twisted wrist—a doctorV bad work with a frac- turt-would have tucked, up her dress and tied an apron, to help, all should any daughter or any decent young woman a# all. But no, she sat and preened herself with ib It* Ue- per sort of pride of a vain milliner, or ttervously shifted about, lifting up this and that, ouriously supercilious, her tongue rattling on,to her husband and to his mother in a shaflow, foolish way. She couldn't say, however, that anything was outfof order or ill-kept about the plase. The old woman's rheumatic lingers kept corners clean, and wood as white as ow, stove polished, tins bright, and her own dress, no matter what her work, neat as a girl jusl coming to the time when lovers meet, although old graceful poise ol the body bad shifted out of drawing. But the real crisis o?Une when Sidney, having stood at the wood hdwe door and blown the dinner horn as he used to do when a boy, the sound floating and crying away across the rye- field, the old man oamè-for, strange to say, that was the one sound he dould hear easily, though, as be said to himself, it seemed as small as a pin, coming from ever so fat away. He came heavily up from the barn-yard, mopping his red face and forehead, and now and, again raising his hand to shade his eyes, concerned to see the unknown visitors, whose horse and buggy were in the stable-yard. He and Sidney greeted outside warmly enough, but there was some trepidation too in Uncle Jim's face-he felt trouble brewing, and there is no trouble like that which comes between pAreut and child. Silent as he was, however, he bad a large and cheerful heart, and nodding his head he laughed the deep, quaint laugh which Sidney himself of all his sons had—aud he was fonder of Sidney than any. He washed his hands in the little basin outside the wood-house door, ooombed out his white beard, rubbed his red. watery eyes, tied a clean handkerchief round his nook, put on a rusty but clean old coat, and a minute afterwards was shaking bands for the first time with Sidney's wife. He had lived much apart from his kind, but he had a mind that fastened upon a thought and worked it down until it was an axiom. He felt how shallow was this thin, flaunting woman of flounces and cheap roug" he saw her sniff at the brown sugar she had always had whiie at the hotel—and he noted that she let Sidney's mother olear away and wash the dinner things herself. He felt the little crack of doom before it came. It came about three 9 clook. Ho did not return to the rye-field after dinner, butstayed and waited to bear what Sidney had to say. Sidney did not tell his little story well, for he himself foresaw trouble in the old home; but be had to face this and all coming dilemmw as best he might. With a kind of shame-facj^ness, yet with an attempt to carry the thing off lightly, be bold Unole Jim, while inside his wife told the old mother, that the business of the hotel had gone to pot (he did not say who was the cause of that) and they were selling out to bis partner, and were coming(to live, on the farm. I'm tired anyway of the hotel job," said Sidney. Farming s a better life. Don't you think so, dadf It's better for me, Sid, answered Unole Jim, it's better for me." Sidney was a little ti#G&BY- But won't it be better for me t" he asked. Mebbe." was the slow answer, mebbe, mebbe so." And then there's mother, she's getting too old for the work, ain't she f 'Sh,d; it straight along," answered the old man, "straight along till now." "But Liaie trad well have a I dunno, I dunno," was the brooding answer, the place ain'ofeoing to stand it." II Ob, we'll get more out of it," answered Sidney. 1*11 stock it up, I'll put more under barley, and I'll get a reaper-and-mower. All the thing wants is working, dad. Pat more IU. get more out. Now, ain't that right ?" The other was looking off towards the rye-field, where for forty years up and down the hillside he bad travelled with the cradle and the scythe, putting all there was in him into it. and he answered, blinking along the avenue of the past, Mebbe, mebbe I" Sidney fretted under the old man's vague replies and said, But darn it all, can't you tell us what you think ?" His father did not take his eyes off the rye-field. I'm thinking," he answered in the same old- fashioned way, that I've been working here since you were born, Sid. I've blundered along somehow, just boggling my way through. I ain't got anything more to say. The farm ain't mine any more, but I'll keep my scythe sharp and my axe ground just as I always did, and I'm for workin' as I've always worked as long as I'm let > to stay." Grood Lord, dad. don't talk that way. Things aren't going to be any different for you and mother than they are now, only, of course—" He paused. The old man pieced out the sentence: "Only, of course, there can't be two women rulin' one house, Sid, and you know it as well as I da" Exactly how Sidney's wife told the old mother of the great change Sidney never knew; but when he went back to the house, the grey look in his mother's face told him more than her words ever told. And before they left that night the pink milliner had already planned the change* which were to celebrate her coming and her ruling. So Sidney and his wife came, all the men prophesied in a few brief sentences to his wife proving true. There was no great struggle on the mother's part; she stepped aside from governing, and became as like a servant as could. be. An insolent hired girl came, and she and Sidney's wife started a little drama of incom- petency, which should end as tbe hotel-keeping ended. Wastefulness, cheap luxury, tawdry living, took the place of the old, frugal, simple life. But tbe mother went about with that un- changing sweetness of face and a body withering about a fretted soul. She bad no bitterness, only a miserable distress. But every slight that was put upon her, every ohange, every new-fangled idea, from the white sugar to the scented soap and the yellow buggy, rankled in the old man's heart. He had resentment both for herself and himself, and he bated the pink milliner for the humiliation that she heaped upon them both. Sidney did not see one-fifth of it, and what he did see lost its force, because, strangely enough, be loved the gaudy wife who wore gloves on her bloodless hands as she did the house-work and spent numberless afternoons in trimming her own bonnets. Her peevishness grew apace as the newness of the experience wore off. Uncle Jim seldom spoke to her, as he seldom spoke to anybody, but she had an inkling of the rancour in his heart, and many a time she put blame upon his shoulders to her husband, when some unavoidable friction came. A year, two years passed, whidh were as ten upon the shoulders of the old people, and then in the dead of winter, an important thing happened. About the month of March, Sidney's first child was* expected. At the end of January Sidney had to go away, expeoting to return in less than a month. But, in the middle of February, the woman's saored trouble came before its time. And on that day there fell such a storm as bad not been seen for many a year. The concession road was blocked before day had well set in, no horse could go ten yards in it. The nearest doctor WAS seven miles away, and for any man to face the journey was to oonnive with death. The old mother came to Unole Jim, and, as she looked out of a little unfrosted spot on the windowat the blinding storm, told him that the pink millinar would die. There seemed no other end to it, for tbe chances were a hundred to one against tbe strongest man making a journey for the doctor, and another hundred to one against the doctor's coining. No one knows whether Uncle Jim could hear the cries from the torture-chamber, but, after standing for a time mumbling to himself, he wrapped himself in a heavy coat, tied a muffler about his face, and went out. If they missed bim they must have thought him gone to the barn or in the drive-shed, sharpening his axe. But the day went on and the old mother forgot all the wrongs that she bad suffered, and yearned over the trivial woman who was hurrying out into tbe Great Space. Her hours deemed numbered at noon, her moments measured as it came towards sundown, but with the passing of the sun the clouds stopped, and a beautiful white peace fell on the world of snow, and sud- denly out of that peace came six men, and the first that opened the door was tbe doctor. After him came Unole Jim between two others, supporting bim. He had made the terrible journey., falling at last in the streets of the village with frozen bands and feet, not a dozen rods from the doctor's door. They brought him to, be told his story, aDd with the abating of the storm, the doctor and the villagers drove down to the concession road, and then made their way slowly up across the fields, carrying the old mau with them, for he would not be left behind. An hour after the dootor entered the parlour bed-room the old mother came out to where the old man sat, bundled up beside the fire with bandaged hands and feet. She's safe, Jim, and the child too." she said softly. The old man twisted in bis chair, and'blinking into the fire, as if talking to someone be saw .bere.. The old woman stooped and kissed his grey tangled hair, but she did not speak, and she did not ask him what he meant; but there and then they took up their lives again and lived them out. (THE END.]

LATEST GHOST STORY, Practioal Employment for Spiritualists. Landlords and others who have the good or evil fortune to possess a haunted house cannot (according to the Daily Chronicle) do better than send an early communication to the members of the Spiritualist body which has its headquarters at the Surrey Masonic Hall, which is Caniberwell way. If the spirits are of an irreproachable moral character, the ladies and gentlemen referred to will be pleased to make their acquaintance if, on the contrary, they are of a malignant description—given, for instance, to praobical jokee with one's bedclothes—the same body will undertake not only to exorcise them but to bring them to a sense of their turpitude. Such seems to be the moral of a remarkable story which was told Sunday night to an audience ofthe faithful gathered in the hall mentioned. Mr Long, who aoted as chairman or officiating minister, said that some time since they had brought to their notice a house at Blackheath which was said to be haunted. Strange noises and voioes were heard in the silent watches of the night, furniture was removed without rhyme or reason, and the children could not sleep in their beds by reason of the manner iu which their bed clothes were treated. Undeterred by the fate which at- tended two former inquirers, who bad been incon- tinently "chucked" by the spiritual foroes,adepu- tation from the society resolved to visit the bouse, and what they saw and heard would be forthwith told. A Mr Boddington then read a paper descriptive of the scene. Eight individuals— three ladies and five gentlemen—arrived at the house about 9 p.m., aud were introduced to a landlady of portly dimensions. Acting on the orders of Douglas." the spirit guide of their leader," one of the lady mediums accompanied the portly landlady to a cellar beneath the house. In two minntes the landlady returned in an exoited condition, declaring that the lady bad become possessed and was trying to bite off her ears. On the others going below they formed a oircle in a dark and dismal dungeon, "Douglas" taking control of the pro. ceedings. Almost directly three of the mediums became possessed by strange beings, and Btrovo to maltreat each other. "Douglas' ascertained that the spirits were four in number —an old man who had caused a girl to be murdered, two men who had committed the crime, and a woman who became an accessory after the fact. All were at loggerheads—the old man because be had not gained all he wanted, the men because they had quarrelled over the blood-money, and the woman for some other reason. "Douglas," by sheer will-power, forced the spirits to walk upstairs to the scene of their crime. They were tnad because they had been trapped, but "Douglas II com- pelled them to admit contrition for their crime, afterwards putting them into a mesmerio sleep, during which they were safely conveyed from the premises. Mr Beale, who was afterwards ordered by Douglas" to visit the dank and dismal dungeon below, was introduced as one who had a terrible tale to tell. All that happened was that he heard some knocks and waa bathed in perspira- tion. He was, however, able to say that before the defaulting spirits were deported they were reconciled to each other, were induced to pray that God would have meroy upon them, and had been on their best behaviour ever since. Mr Lbng than pointed the moral and adorned the tale by remarking that the Blackheath experience showed conclusively that death was not the end all that disembodied spirits still frequented the scenes of their earthly career, but that there was still a road by which they could be converted and saved. Thia was the work to which spiritualists should devote themselves—a mission to un- converted spirits. This ended the story of the haunted house and theu, after singiug in semi- darkness a hymn which sounded like an incanta- tion to the spirits, the faithful among the audience waited in silence for a spiritual manifestation. A lady on the platform declared that she saw a beautiful young lady standing beside an elderly female and calling her" mother." This might I have been all right had hot the latter lady declared that her daughter died in infancy some 20 years ago. A similar attempt with regard to the spirit form of an elderly gentleman having I fallen flat, owing to the individual whom he was ■aid to be addressing as "Bob II not recognising the deaortptton, further manifestations were awaited with euoe. Our representative, how. ever, being aware that copy would hare to be materialised, here departed.

ROY AL BOUNTY FUND. The Press Association says that Mr J. W. Maclure, M.P., on Monday night received a letter from Mr Arthur Balfour announcing, in roply to his letter, of the 16th inat., that a further grant from the Royal Bounty Fund will be offered to Mrs G. Linnaeus Banks, who wrote The Manchester Mau." Mrs Banks is now an aged lady, and infirm in health.

WATOHKS, Clocks, and Jewellery repaired at the lowert po«ri||e prices for flnt-dass woit. None a-! *&?•

QUEER DOINGS AT A WEDDING. A marriage has been celebrated at a church in Leeds which will not soon be forgotten by those who witnessed it. Both bride and bridegroom were past the first bloom of youth, and both dwelt in what is beginning to be known as the "insanitary area "—a vaguely-outlined district including the greater part of poorer East Leeds. They had lived together for many years, and a certain lady, ever assiduous in benevolent work, discovered the fact and persuaded them to get married. The great day was fixed, and their friends prepared to celebrate the event in first- class style and give them a proper send-oft" in their career of married bliss. The prospective bridegroom had been teetotal for some months, but the thoughts of this red- letter day in his life proved too muoh for him, and when he and his bride turned up at the ohurcb in a cab he was, it is alleged, more than slightly elevated. A large body of friends had assembled, and they cheered vociferously as the hero of the day and his companion stepped from the cab. The former managed to get inside the church along with tbe rest, and was quite pre- pared to go through his part of the ceremony with becoming demeanour, but the clergyman refused to wed him owing to his condition. The bride stared blankly at the bridegroom, and he looked helplessly at her. But the clergy- man was inexorable, and the party shuffled out of the church. Then one of them was seized with a brilliant idea why not run him about a bit till the effects of the drink had worn off ? Two of the biggest men caught hold of the bridegroom, one at each side, and trotted him round and round the church, amid roars of laughter from the spectators, till they thought he was sufficiently sober to stand inspection. They then returned into the church, but still the clergy- man would not give way. So there was no other course left to them but to go disappointed and downcast. Thus a little procession which a few joyous spirits had arranged fell flat. The bridegroom possesses a little cart and a sleek donkey and they had decorated the latter with gay ribbons and brought it drawing its oart to the church in order to give local colour to the proceedings. It is satisfactory to leam that the couple were married a few hours later, the man having by that time attained a fair degree of sobriety, and that the festivities the same night were all the merrier for the temporary hitch in the arrangements.

RUNAWAY COUPLE ARRESTED. Riohard Henry Burnell (50), a bricklayer, of 237, Queen's-road, Upton Park, and Kate Why- brow (31), married, of 54, Shrewsbury-road, East Ham, were charged at Stratford Police Court on Saturday with being concerned with Edmund Holliday (also in custody), in stealing the property of Mr Whybrow. In this case Burnell and Mrs Whybrow are alleged to have eloped, and that Holliday assisted in getting the goods off.—Lizzie Oram, the servant girl, repeated the evidence she gave on Friday. She added that on the Tuesday Mrs Whybrow told her to go and tell Ted "— —meaning Holliday—to meet her at Maryland Point Station, Some boxes were taken from Whybrow's house, and witness went with Mrs Wbybrow first to 16, Bow-street, Stratford, and then to Maryland Point, where they met Burnell, known as "Curly Dick." Witness went with Holliday and tbe two prisoners to London, first to Liverpool-road, Islington, where Burnell's brother lived, and then to tbe Elephant and Castle. At two ooffee houses there Burnell, who had paid all expenses, said he and Mrs Whybrow were husband and wife, and that witness was the maid. Witness and Burnell and Mrs Wbybrow slept in one bed. Detective Liddelow deposed to arresting the prisoners at Liverpool-road, Islington, on Friday evening. He read the warrant to Burnell, who said, I know nothing about it. I haven't stolen anything." Mrs Whybrow said, Why, I've got the watch and ohain, I'm wearing it now. It was given me by my husband. I know nothing about any money. You might have me another way, but not for stealing anything, as I've only taken my own property. Dick knows nothing about it." Various articles were found which prosecutor identified as his. On this evidence prisoners were remanded. Mr George asked for bail, observing that there were reasons why she should leave her husband. She had been brutally assaulted, and last Sunday was thrown downstairs. The Benoh decided to allow bail.

THEATRICALS AT CRAIG-Y-NOS CASTLE. On Saturday a special mainée performance was given at Madame Patti's private theatre, Craig-y-nos Castle. The play, produced for the first time. was founded upon Mrs Henry Wood's novel, East Lynne," by Hermann Klein, who has sucoeeded admirably in the somewhat difficult task of adapting a play of such a character to the ballet faction form. The beautiful situations and pathetic incidents of the novel were exoel- lently brought ont by Madamo Patti-Nioolini (who, if ever her wonderful voice failed her,would sustain her world-wide reputation as an actress of the very highest order in fact, operagoers would give anything to be able to see the diva in these wonderful impersonations at the charming little theatre nestled in the wild mountains of Brecon- shire), was completely carried away in her character of Lady Isabel Carlyle, and at the death soene, which was wonderfully realistic, tbe audience were affected to tears. The new berceuse, composed expressly for this production by Mons. Andre Pollonnais, with words by Mr Hermann Klein, was most beautifully sung by Madame Patti-Nicolini. The united accom- paniment of tbe strings was most effectively rendered by Mr Hulley and his orchestra, under the conductorship of Mons. Audre Pollonnais. Mr C. P. Colnagni, an American actor, who is at present paying a visit to Craig-y-nos, played "Mr A. Carlyle" in a most graceful and artistic style. Mr Augustus Spalding, as Captain Levison, skilfully brought out the duplicity and villainy of Mr Francis Levison. Miss Baird made a modest Aby, while Mr Hermann Klein himself played Richard Hare with considerable power and intelligence. Mr Frank Rigo managed the stage effects with his wonted skill, and the orchestral melodrama and entractes were composed and arranged by Mr W. F. Hulley. Among the large and favoured audience were Mrs Howel Gwyn, Dyffryn Mrs J. E. Moore and Miss Moore, Dyffryn; tbe Lloyd family, Cily- bebill; Mi&s Prichard, Bryntirion, Bridgend Miss Picton Warlow, of Ewenny Priory, near Bridgend Mrs H. N. Miers and Miss Miers, Ynyspenllwoh Mr Morris, Bridgend; Dr. Thomas, Ystalyfera, &0.

WOMEN AS LICENCE HOLDERS. At Liverpool Licensing Sessions several married women applied for transfers of licences. The Chairman, in commenting on this, said it was a question for the Bench to consider whether a system of tha1) sort was proper management, or whether a woman could look after her children and manage a public-house at the same time. He pointed out that it had been admitted that in certain houses women weresecllred asmanageresaes with a view to economising. The Benoh wanted people to look after public-houses properly, and not have any other duty to attend to, for it required a constant supervision to look after a house properly. These women with children were tempted by the chance of earning a few extra shilliagsaweek to go to these public-nouses; but if the houses would not pay for proper management they were certainly not worth con- tinuing. It would have to be understood that that sort of management would not be looked upon by the Bench in the future very favourably.

MISSING ^BRIDEGROOM FROM NEWPORT. On Monday, at the Police Court, Bristol, Lilye Winsdale Short, a young woman of respeotable appearance, was brought up ou a charge of wandering abroad without any visible means of subsistence. It was stated by Constable 80 C that he found defendant wandering about on the Downs during the early hours ot Sunday morning. She informed him that she had come from New- port on Friday with a young man, and was going to London to get married. He had promised to meet her at Temple Meads Station on Saturday, but bad not done so. • The only address he bad given her was one at an office in Bristol. In answer to the magistrates' clerk, Mr T. Holmes Gore, defendant said she believed in the young man, but thought he had missed her owing to a misunderstanding, the station being very crowded. She had disposed of all her money, having lent him some. Defendant expressed her willingness to go back to her mother at Newport, and she was sent off, the fare beiag paid from the box at the Police Court.

LOCAL WEDDING. lewis-Williams. 011 Monday the Welsh Church, Howard Gardens, Cardiff, the nuptial ceremony was performed between Mr John James Lewis, of the Tydfil Engineering Company, Bute Docks, and Miss Maggie Williams, Tresillian-terrace, Cardiff. The officiating clergymen were the Rev. T. Phillips, assisted by the Rev. Comptou Davies. The: bride was given away by her father, Mr Thomas Williams; and the bridesmaids were Miss Annie Williams (Welsh Ladies' Choir), sister of the bride, and Miss Edith Jessie Lewis, sister of the bridegroom. Mr Albert Jas. Lewis, brother of the bridegroom, acted as best man, while amongst tbe numerous friends and relations present were Mr Edward Lewis (father of the bridegroom), Mr T. Williams, junior (brother of the bride), and Mr Harry Smith (Messrs Davies and Smith, Bute Docks). After the ceremony the bride was presented with a beautiful Bible by the Rev. T. C. Phillips and on leaving the church the Wedding March was played by the organist, while the good wishes of the large audience found expression profuse in showersof rtce. Subsequently the happy couple left to spend tlb. honeymoon in North Wales. They were the recipients of a numerous and costly array of presents.

SUICIDE IN HULL GAOL, The Hull Coroner ou Monday received notifica- tion that a young man named Hunter, a drapers assistant, had. bung himself in Hull Gaol, where he was under detention charged with attempting to murder his sweetheart, named Bostock, by shooting her. Vhn pair had kept oompany, and Huntec blamed mother for separating them. When before the magistrates on Saturday the deoe.ø"- rerv f'lmrimil. r

WELSH ANTIQUITIES. Address by Dr. John Rhys. Yielding to the persuasion of Mr John Hugh Jones, chairman of the Aberayron Urban District Council, and Mr John Morgan Howell, chairman of the Cardiganshire County Council, Principal John Rhys, who, with Mrs Rhys, is staying at Aberayron, delivered an interesting address at the Assembly Room on Fridayevening. Councillor John M. Howell. Aberayron, who presided, said that although it was a recognised custom that chairmen should, on such occasions, endeavour to transcend in brilliancy, if not indeed in length, the efforts of the lecturer. (Laughter.) He would not attempt the task that evening, fCu they bad among them the most distinguished Welshman on the face of the earth. (Cheers.) Principal RHYI discussed in a homely fashion for an hour and a quarter, dwelling in the first place on the antiquities which he had examined at Abermeurig, the residence of Mr J. E. Rogers, at Llanllur, Trevilan, Llanfihangel Ystrad, and latterly at the churches in whose yards the people of Aberayron buritd their dead-viz., Llanddewi Aberarth and Henfynyw. Principal Rhys here presented and passed round the audience paper impressions of inscriptions from the stones found thereat. The stones of Llanddewi Aberarth he found had been conveyed by a Mr Wigley, and placed in a rockery at Dolaeron. One stone was of considerable interest, but broken, and must have been inscribed in the eighth century. He bad been able to decipher the inscription on an old stone which be had heard about, and which he found in the wall of the east end of Henfynyw. It had been placed outside the church and upside down. It was a pity that when churches were restored, or rather destroyed as he called it- (laughter)-thaae relics were placed outside, where the weather did short work with them, instead of inside. The inscription in ques- tion meant "Teym" or Teyrn," a synoy- mous term for Dominus," in Latin signifying in the first instance a head of a family, then of a tribe and so forth. It was probably inscribed in the sixth century. Dr. Rhys proceeded to interpret the philological relationship and history of name places which he had visited since be had been in Cardiganshire, dwelling on such names as Llangranog, Castell Caerwedros, Neuadd Llan- tysilio, and Locbtyn. The latter word had greatly puzzled him. He could build up many plausible theories, but he preferred to say that he did not know, when he was not satisfied, that he was correct. Principal Rhys then reverted to the theory that the various dialects of Wales indicated, or at least I helped, to ascertain the boundaries of the various tribes. The ordovices, be thought, extended from the Wyre Llanrbystid to Bala, but it was I hkely that another race, probably Cynedda, attacked a tract of that country and left its impression there. Prinoipai Rbys sat down amidst loud applause. The room was filled by a deeply attentive audience.

SOUTH WALES PRINTING WORKS SICK k PROVIDENT FUND. The twenty-fourth half-yearly meeting was held on Saturday evening in the South Wale. Daily Ncm Office. Mr W; R. Thomas was voted to the chair, in tbe unavoidable absence of the | president, Mr J. Duncan, J.P. The accounts I for the past half-year, which the committee sub- mitted, showed that the capital of the society now amounted to £ 1,506 10s lOd., This was a con- siderable increase since,the last report, amounting to J6154 8.3 9d for the half-year, a larger amount than had hitherto been added in any similar period. The cost of sickness amounted to £13, which bad been met by a deduction of Is 2d per share. There had been an increase in the receipts, which from all sources amounted to 2290 lis lOd, against £ 248 17s 9d last half year. and withdrawals had been less, amounting to,2121 3s ld, last half-year being £ 139 7s lOd. There were 100 members at the close of the half-year, holding 194 shares. Interest had been added to provi- dent fund accounts at the rate of 5 per cent, per annum. To meet this JB22 6; 4d had been written on account of the society's investments in the Principality and Cardiff Building Societies. As this was considerably below the amount which the investments had earned, the committee expected to be able to add interest at an ad- vanced rate next half-year, when the accounts from the building societies come to hand. There was a balance of JB151 17s 8d in the treasurer's hands, part of which it was decided to invest. The officers and committee for the ensuing year were elected. Mr J. Duncan, J.P., was re-elected president and treasurer, and Messrs D. Duncan4 .T.P.. and A. Dunoan vioe-presidenta. Messrs W. T. Salter and J. V. Hughes were elected on the committee in the places of Mr R. A. McCullooh and Mr A. Bridge, who were not eligible for re-eleotion, and Mr C. Dicks was appointed collector in tbe plaee of Mr T. W. Webb, who retired. The other officers and mem. bers of the committee were re-elected. A resolution oongratulating Mr A. Dun- gra can on his marriage was proposed by the Chairman and unanimously carried, as was also a vote of thanks to the Messrs Duncan for their contribution to the fund (which amounted to over £..0 for the half-year), and their assistance in the management of the society's business. A similar compliment was passed to the retiring members of the oommittee and Mr Webb, who bad faith- fully discharged the duties of their oflaoes for many years.

CARDIFF AND BARRY COAL TRIMMERS' UNION, A special general meeting of the Coal Trimmers' Union was held in the Gladstone Hall, Cardiff, on Saturday evening. Mr John Stephens presided over a large and enthusiastic gathering, and Mr Wm. Henry was appointed minute secretary. The meeting was convened specially to consider the resignations of the president (Mr John Thoinas),|vice-president (Mr John Chappell), and committeeman (Mr John Winter), who all resigned on account of the want ot support lrom the general body of members. Stirring addresses were delivered by the Chairman and Messis John Thomas. John Chappell, John Winter, S. Talbot, J. Robertson, and others, after which Mr George Holly proposed, and Mr John Cotter seconded, the following resolution:- That this special general meeting pledges itself to render the executive greater support in the future, and earnestly desires the two officers and committee- man to withdraw their resignations, as this meeting considers it would be very detrimental to the best interests of the Union if they still persevere in their determination to resign at the present juncture. The resolutiou was carried unanimously, and the three gentlemen thereupon withdrew their resignations. It was arranged that tbe secretary should, during the next few months, spend most of his time amongst the men on the various wharves, with the object of getting them to take a deeper interest in the work of the society and perfecting the organisation. Mr GEO. HOLLr proposed, and Mr J. ROBERTSON seconded, that the action of our representatives in pledging the Union to subscribe the sum of £ 2b to the fund being raised by the local arrangements committee in connection with the visit to Cardiff next month of the Trades Union Congress be confirmed, and that, if necessary, that amount be at once taken out of the general funds of the Union, to be replaced during the nexb few weeks by subscriptions from the various gangs. Carried unanimously.—A hearty vote of thanks to the chairman brought an orderly, hearty, and unanim- ous meeting to a close—a meeting that augurs well for the future of the Union.

SCIENCE & ART EXAMINATIONS AT ABERDARE, The following is a list of passes at Aberdare Science and Art Schools DRAWING (FREEHAND).—David C. Jones, Ralph P. Whitney, Nellie Green, Oswald J. Morgan, 1st class Fred Williams, Agnes Jones, Austin B. Payne, Sydney T. Maxfleld, 2nd class. INORGANIC CHEMISTRY.—George Jenkins, elemen- tary, pass John Griffiths, Tafiesyn Jones, James Thomas, and Thomas Davies, elementary, fair. HUMAN PSYSIOLOGY.-Ka.Le Hughes, Agnes Jones. Nollie Green. Morfyd Davies, Samuel Davies, second advanced Lilian M. Richards, Bessie M. Ricbards, elementary, pass Eunice M. Richards, Annie Mason, Miriam A. Evans, Oswald J. Morgan, Annie Phillips, Anna Kvans. Catherine A. Jones, Sarah Jones, elemen- tary, fair. MATHRMATICS.-Dan Edwards, Glendower George Thos. Davies, Edward A. Abbott, lilt stage pass George Thomas, Gwilym Mathews, Arthur J. PhUlips. PLAIN AND SOLID GuomsTRY. W. Williams, Norman E. J. Owen, Fred Davies, Tom Davies, Charles Gules, Thos. F. Davies. William Davies, Fred. J. Davies, Thos. M. Miles, Dand H. Williams, A. V. Chnrchill, Benj. Davies, Evan D. Humphreys, Thos. Marshall, W. Harries, Henry J. Griffiths, Thos. V. Morgan, Simeon G. Warman. Bany Powell, Frank W. Ryall, Eynon Davies, F. T. S. Jones, Ernest J. Davies, John R. Thomas. Hy. S. Merts, elementary, ass. THEORETICAL MECHANICS.—Watkin W. Price, pass, dementary. APPLIED MzcmAmCs.-William B. Lewis, pass, elementary Albert F. Rail ton, elementary, fair. MACHINE CONSTRUCTION.—James H. Reed, advanced 1st class William H. Lewis, Gomer L. Watkins, Charles A. Parr, advanced, 2nd class; David Richards, elementary, pass Lewis H. Miles, W. O. Morris, Sees Williams, elementary, fair. GEOLOGY.—Thomas E. Davies, 2nd, advanced Wm. Williams, elementary, pass David It. Llewelyn, elementary, fair. STEAM.—Albert F. Railton, elementary, fair MAGNETISM AND ELECTRICITY.—Hector P. Jones, advauced, second Ralph P. Whitney, George Thomas, Arthur B. Esehle, Dan Edwards, F. Williams, elemen- tary, pass W. J. Lewis, T. M. Miles, Edwiu J. Miles, Henry T. Griffiths, Frauk Arnold, and Benjamin Davies, elementary, fair. PRINCIPLES OF MINING.—W. J. Pufth, W. H. Davies, Thomas Davies, Charles M. Humphreys, Roes Owen, W. J. Isaac, Albert F. Railton, Fisher Slorgan, Thomas J. Williams, advanced second; David Phillips, Harold C. Richards, elementary pass; Bvan J. Williams, and Charles Watts, elementary, laic.

DROWNED AT NEWPORT. On Monday afternoon, a seaman named Michael Murphy who had only recently been paid off froui the s.s. Brantain, at Cardiff, told the people at his lodgings, 28» Castle-street, New- eirt, that he was going for a bathe in the Usk. e accordingly went to the Powell Duffryo Wharf, and stripped on one of the Harbour Com- mimionerw mud barges which was moored to it, and pIuugiDg in swam with the tide up to the Old Dock pierhead, a distance of about 300 yards. There he was seen to suddenly go under, having apparently been seiqed with cramp, and as be did not reappear a boat put off to endeavour to recover the body. The tide was flowing up strong at the time, and it is supposed that it would be carried high up the stream. Some time was spent in searching for the body, but without success. The deceased signed articles at London, and intended to rejoin the steamer in the course of a few days. He was unmarried, and only 29 yea" of *««» TfrMwrtHwpi found in the pockets of bis clothing on the barge, was marked very mod," j Up"#

ST. MARY'S CHURCH, SWANSEA. The Proposed Extensive Alterations. On Saturday, the Bishop of Swansea attended at the Consistory Court, St. Peter's Churcb, Carmarthen, to submit the judgment of the Chancellor of the Diocese of St. David's (Mr J. E. Ollivant), respecting the; recent petition relative to the extensive altera- '• tion of St. Mary's, Swansea. Mr Woods (of the firm of Collins and Wood, Swansea), represented Canon Smith, vicar, and the parishioners of Swansea Mr Plant (of the firm of Beor and Plant, Swansea) appeared for Col. Morgan and family; and Mr T. W. Barker acted for the diocesan registrar. The judgment went to show that the petitioners "in this case were the vioar and four churchwardens of the parish ohurch of St. Mary, Swansea and application was made to the Consistory Count on the 31st ult. at Carmarthen to grant a faculty to authorise the pulling down of the present churoh, with the exception of the Herbert Chapel, and to build a new ohurch in the early pointed thirteenth century style, containing 1,206 sittings, at a cost of £24,000, incorporating and restoring the Herbert Chapel, and throwing it open to tbe church. Tho agents of the owner of the Herbert Chapel and of the lay rector, as regards the chancel, had been lodged in the registry, and the stipulations of tbe latter will be embodied in the faculty. Objections on various grounds had been filed on behalf of Colonel Morgan and family and of the Vivian family. The Chan- cellorwas relieved from speolfylDtbese objections in detail, some having been withdrawn, and modi- fications of thepetitions in the direction of greater sanitary precautions, aud further stringency and definition of the course to be adopted with regard to the removal of bodies, care and replacement of tombstones, memorial tablets, and objects of antiquarian value, and the arrangement of the heating.apparatus having been agreed to aad already published. Notwithstanding this. the controversy having been before the publio for a long time past, it seemed desirable to deal with tbe application, and the grounds for granting lb, All some length, The plan necessitated the removal of the tower and chancel and interference with a considerable number of memorial slabs, &c„ within the churoh, and tombstones and gravestones outside, but within the proposed extension, involving the removal or disturbance of sucb remains as lie near the site of the proposed foundations. Those not near the foundations it was proposed to leave in situ, lowering the brickwork and covering them with large stone slabs and a layer of concrete 2ft. thick, io addition to a 6in. bed of concrete over the 'area of the site. The various headings were gone into seriatim^ Sut into final form, and accepted by Dr. 'ristram (with whom was Mr Grlasoodine) on behalf of the respondents Col. Morgan, and by Mr Robinson Smith for the Vivian family. In addition to points mentioned, there were stipula- tions regarding certain tombs belonging to the Morgan family, and to the vault in. which the Vivian family were interested, further agreed to pay £10 10J towards the Qosta of the respondent. Col. Mergan, as a testimony that his opposition had been actuated by the best of motives. Thus a protracted and difficult differenoe of opinion was happily terminated. The accepted arrangement as regards the exten* sion, through adding JB700 to the burden on the vicar, completely separating as it did the churoh floor from the basement, would relieve him of any further responsibility on sanitary grounds.— It was proposed to build tbe nave, in the first instance, at an estimated cost of £14,000, to which the £700 alluded to must be added, and subsequently the eastern portion at a oost of £10,000. Towards the first portion a sum of £10,568 was deposited in the Glamor* ganshire Banking Company, Swansea, two bonds having been entered into by the vicar and Sir J. T. D. Llewelyn respectively for the sums of £1,000 and He (the Chancellor) was not disposed to view favourably the vicar binding himself to so generous but heavy an obligation; but having given him an opportunity of reconsidering the matter, and he having collected a further sum of £1.000 since the £9,500 at the date of the petition, and, further, in consideration of the long delay and tbe desire of the parishioners to see the work begun, he had resolved to interpose no further stipulations. He would not bind himself to the exact proposals of the petition as to the provision of the lunds for tbe chancel by cash or bond, but insert instead, When the said sum of £10.000 ia guaranteed to the satisfaction of the Chan- cellor." Concluding, the Chancellor said the prayer of the petitioners was granted, Two years instead of 15 months will be permitted for the completion of the nave from the com- mencement of the works. One more interment will be allowed in tbe vaults. Other provisos were that the present chancel, windows, ltawer. corbel oourse, and any other interesting fea possible to preserve shall be preserved.

SOUTH WALES UBERAL FEDERATION. On Monday, at the Swansea Liberal Club, ft meeting was held of the South Wales Liberal Federation. There were presentMessrs T. Williams, J.P., Merthyr D. A. Thomas, M.P. t R. D. Burnie. bon. treasurer; GWllym Kvans, Llanelly John Powell. Swansea Abraham H. Thomas, Llansamlet; Revs. Glyn Davies, Glyn- neath; J. H. Rees, Pembrey W. Silas Charley Femdale and Mr Morgan Thomas (seoretary). THE APPROACHING ANNUAL MKETINO. The first business was the consideration of the draft report of the Federasion for presentation at the;annual meeting to be held at Newport next month. This report dealt at length with the work of the association. One of its principal features was the work whioh bad been done during the General Electieu. The secretary bad attended a large number of meetings, and had delivered addresses on behalf of the various candidates in Breconsbire, South Glamorgan, East Glamorgan, and South Monmouthshire. H« had also spoken at several meetings since tbe election for organization purposes, and district associations has been formed at Cilfynvdd, Blaenllechau, Cadoxton, Barry, and Ogmore Vale, while several applications nad been received from other parts askiug him to attend and assist in the formation of local associations. Then a large amount of work had been 1 done in regard to registration, some thousands of forma both for occupiers' and lodger claims had been distributed, and all information possiblehad been given with a view of securing those claims. It was decided torefer the draft report to Mr D. A. Thomas, M.P., Mr Bird, and the secretary for final revision before it is issued, and a general opinion was expressed that never had the Federa- tion done such excellent work as during the PMt year. THE NATIONAL COUNCIL. The seoretary produced correspondence with reference to tbe interim report of the conference at Llandrindod. He explained thfct the South Wales members of the committee had been unable> to meet to provisionally approve of the draft owing, first, to the interposition of the General Election, and second, to the necessity for then afterward devoting all their time to tbe work of registration. The question was discussed at great length, and the position of the Federation, was clearly defined and maintained. Finally it was decided, on the motion of Mr Gwilym Evans, to uphold the action of the secretary and to resolve, "That in consequence of the General Election and tbe necessity of attending to registration it was reported to the Executive Committee that the members of the Draft Oom. mittee had been unable to meat, and it was then resolved that they be requested to meet at the earliest possible date." THE ANNUAL MEBTINO. Steps were taken in connection with the holding of the annual meeting at Newport next month. The president (Mr D. A. Thomas) "M requested to approach Sir Wm. Haroourt with a view of inducing him to attend, and it was decided that the date must depend on the president's success. THE PRESIDENCY. Mr D. A. THOMAS, M.P., suggested that it might be to the interest of the Federation it there were a ohange of president, and he asked, that at tho annual meeting fresh names sliould be submitted, and suggested that it might be best if the next president were not a member of Parlia- ment.—All the members present spoke of the valuable services Mr D. A. Thomas had rendered, and expressed a hope that there would be no change.

ACCIDENTS IN MINES. Mr Austin Kirkup, in his prize essay on The Prevention of Accidents in Mines," observes that; there is no doubt that the legislative enactments in connection with mines have bad a most bene- ficial effect on the safe working of collieries. This is the more obvious when we oompare tfc* deaths from accidents in mines at the preses* time with what they were 25 years ago. Intnt year 1868 the lives lost were at the rate of one io every 343 persons employed, and in 1893 (the latest statistics available) the ratio was one in every 676 persons employed. This improvement is due partly to the mining legislation enacted since 1868, and partly to the improved safety appliances which have been introduced during recent years. But the death rate from accidents is still high. Mr Kirkup thinks, that too muoh attention has been given to providing a lamp which will be safe in explostve currents, which are seldom, if ever, met with in miues, and too little attention has been given to tho improvement of the luminous power of the lamp, which is a very important matter. We certainly need more light in mines, but with the present system of oil safety lamps any improvement appears to be im. possible. If the electric light could be oombined in a portable form with a gas-detector, the aome of success 111 the lighting of mines will have been attained. it is for those who are interested in the safe working of collieries to solve this problem.

PLUCKYIJAPTURE BY A PARSON. The Rev. Freeman Dudley, rector of co. Down, heard a noise in his house at two o'clook on Monday morning. He went downstairs and encountered a burglar in the drawing, room. Both men closed with each other and a struggle ensued. Mr Dudley knocked his opponent down, and, the servants arriving, the burglar was tied with ropes and handed over to the police. Confederates outside the house ran away when they heard cries for help. The man captured, and who was committed for trial, gave his name as Herbert Stone, of Derbyshire.

Steedman's Soothing Powders for children — Steedman's Soothing Powders for children cutting their teeth have now been in use over SO years. They relieve feverish heat, prevent fits, convulsions, etc.. and preserve a healthy state of the constitution period of teetiiing. Manufactured on|t a«" JKllSto'fe^SoM