Rhyl Record and Advertiser

DARING, BUT UNSUCCESSFUL. A ftvitlng robbery took place on Monday Afternoon at the Birkbeck Bank, Southampton Buildings. London. At a quarter to four a well- dressed man snatched a bundle of bank notes from a lady, and rushed round Chancery Lane. He was captured in Fleet Street just as he was getting on a 'bus, and was removed by the police in a hansom, first to the bank and then to Bow Street.

WAR OFFICE REORGANISATION. It is officially announced by the War Office that the Secretary of State for War has appointed Sir Charles Welby, Bart., C.B., M.P., an assistant Under-Secretary of State (unpaid) -on the Staff of the War Office. Sir Charles Welby, who acted as private secretary for some years to Mr. Stanhope and Lord Lansdowne, has accepted office temporarily at the request of the Secretary of State to assist in the re- organisation of the War Department.

CONDEMNED TO DEATH. A MURDERER'S STRANGE STORY. At Northumberland Assizes on Monday, Oscar Mattsop (26), a Russian fireman, was in- dicted for the murder of Mary Ann Maquire (1?). Prisoner was in the habit of coming to North Shields in his ship, and became ac- quainted with the girl about four years ago, He frequently expressed a desire to marry her, notwithstanding she had fallen into evil ways. They passed the night together on August 12th, and on the following morning the deceased was found strangled with a black silk handkerchief, which the prisoner had bought, tied tightly round her neok. The ac- ensed gave evidence, and declared the girl drugged and robbed him. She told him to go away and strangle or drown himself. He asked her to explain the meaning of the word strangle, and she placed the handkerchief round her neck to show him. She spat in his face, and in a moment all she bad done to him in years past came into his mind, and he gave the handker- chief a jerk and pushed her from hlm.-The i accused was found guilty, and sentenced to death.

SINGULAR RAILWAY ACCIDENT. A remarkable accident occurred on Monday morning on the Coventry and Nuneaton branch of the North-Western Railway near Longford Station. A goods engine having failed, another locomotive was summoned from Nuneaton. It moved the other engine and train as far as Hawkesbury, and was crossing the points to get to the forepart of the disabled engine, when it left the metals. The tender was torn from the engine, and the stoker, who was on a foot-plate, had a miraculous escape. Both up and down lines were blooked until an hour later, when an engine from Bed- worth cleared the down line. Traffic in the meantime was altogether disorganised. The passenger, goods, and special race trains for the Warwick race meeting had to use the down line. Breakdown gangs were summoned, but some hours were occupied in removing the dis- abled tender. The latter, with the permanent way, sustained considerable damage.

MRS. DRUCE AGAIN. In the Probate Division, on Monday, before Sir Francis Jeune, Mrs. Druce, whose case has some time been before the public, made appli- cation for an order to enable her to have a vault opened in Highgate Cemetery. She said the Home Secretary required the order before he could allow the vault to be opened. She ex- plained that she had a suit in which she was asking the Court to strike out the whole of the Druce will, and that it was necessary to the suit to have the vault opened.. His lordship pointed out that this was a matter that ought to be dealt with by summons in Chambers. The Home Secretary did not require him to make the order, all he said was that he would not offer any objection to the opening of the vault if an order were obtained. It was for the applicant to show him that he bad the power. After some di seussion his Lord- chip said he would dismiss the application, but would allow the applicant to renew it in Chambers. Mr. Deane said he wished to remind the lady that she had brought a suit in the City of Lon- don Court, aud this was her claim :-Thomas Charles Druce died in December, 1864, and was buried in the Druce vault, Highgate Cemetery. He left a will, and his executors and trustees bought this vault with the childroule money. He asked the lady, under the circumstances, to think before she went auy further with her alle- j cations. Mrs. Druce I shall not think at all. My son is the Duke of Portland. )

RITUALISM AT BRIGHTON. The Diocesan Chancellor has prounced judg- ment in respect of alleged illegal ornaments in the parish church of Brighton. This was done despite the desire of the vioar and church- wardens that the calie should be heard by the Bishop. In the Queen's Bench Diviiiion on Monday, the latter obtained a writ of prohibi- tion to prevent the judgment being carried out.

Drafts amounting to 2,156 officers and men, with about 700 horses, are due to leave Ensland wr the Cape by December 12th. ——————

.-THE JRNSXTthat is your final -answer, Miss Robinson, the young man said, with ill-concealed chagrin, as he picked up his hat and turned to go, "I can do nothing but ■Submit. Yet has it never occurred to you that tvhen a lady passes the age of thirty-seven she I fc not likely to find herself as much sought after. py desirable young men as she once was?" "it •ccurred to me with sudden and painful distinctness when you offered yourself just JDW." S& repHed. Good nicht. Mr. Jones!"

HOW A BODY OF BOEKS ESCAPED AN AMBUSH. DE WET THREATENS. Lindley, November 15th, by runner to Kroonstad, November 18th. A Boer laager was located yesterday, and our mounted troops and infantry, with some big guns, marched in the direction indicated at midnight. The laager was in the vicinity of Stephanus Pre- torius's farm, ten miles from Lindley, on the Heil- bron road. A splendid position was secured be- fore daylight, our troops being concealed under cover in a horse-shoe formation. About five o'clock one Boer appeared. He was followed at a distance of 200 yards by two others, and later by a body of about 180 men, each lead- ing a spare horse. All rode towards our horse- shoe formation, and the first Boer got within ten yards of Driscoll's scouts,who occupied the centre. They shouted Hands up but the Boers made off and escaped, and the whole of the enemy pre- cipitately fled. Our big guns were hurried into position, but the Boers disappeared behind the hill. We gave chase but they all escaped. The farm was burned, and our troops returned to Lindley. It is reported hat Hasbroek's commando, with four guns, is 10 miles from here, on the Senekal road. De Wet threatens with death all Boers who fail to rejoin their commandoes.

THABA N'CHU FIGHT. BOER ACTIVITY IN ORANGE RIVER COLONY. The following despatch from Lord Roberts has been received at the War Office:- Johannesburg, November 18th. On the 16th a small Boer force appeared east of Thaba N'chu, aud attacked some of the out- posts round the place. Second-Lieutenant Paxton and three men of the 2nd Battalion Bedford Regiment were killed. One man was wounded, and one taken prisoner. At Eden the Boer com- mandant released the prisoner, in order that he might return to Thaba N'ohu for ambulance. Later in the day the Springhaunek post was at- I tacked, and the garrison summoned to surrender.! The officer commanding refused, and after firing on the post for some little time with artillery the Boers retired. Our casualties nil. The enemy have been very active in the southern part of the Orange River Colony lately, and have repeatedly destroyed the railway and telegraph lines near Eden burg. The Scots Guards are now on their way from Petoria to Bloemfontein. An attempt was made to blow up two culverts on the Kimber- I ley line near Brussels on the night of November 15th, but failed, owing to the timely arrival of the armoured train. Barton reports that his troops received a most cordial welcome when they entered Klerksdorp on November 16th. They were oheered enthusiasti- cally by a large majority of the inhabitants, who assembled in the Market Square. The town has a very large proportion of British inhabitants, the trade being chiefly in the hands of English and Scotch merchants. It is an important telegraphic centre, so that its occupation by our troops is a great disadvantage to the enemy. The two men of the Boer patrol mentioned M having been captured near. Pienaar's River Station on November 12th are not, I am now in-, formed, the sons of the Rev. Mr. Godfrey, of Pretoria, but of the Rev. Mr. Godifroi, a Hol- lander. Intelligence from Natal reports that a wagon with 13 men of the York and Lancaster Regiment was ambushed by the Boers on the road south of Utrecht. The wagon was taken off the men were released, four being slightly wounded.

ALLIES IN CONFLICT. EXTRAORDINARY REPORT FROM fiT, PETERSBURG. An Express telegram from Washington, lays :— The officials at Washington are growing increat- ingly anxious with regard to China, for the im- pression is regretfully entertained that the Ameri- can and the British policy in that country are not identical. America cannot support the Anglo- German demand for a large indemnity, inasmuch as she insists upon the integrity of China being preserved, and the exaction of an excessive indemnity would infallibly mean the partition of the country. At the Cabinet Council it was openly declared that the half-hearted consent of the Powers to America's Open door and integrity policy oon- vinced Ministers that the promises of adhesion on .1 the part of the Powers were either in all eases insincere or else that some the Power. had experienced a remarkable change of opinion. St. Petersburg. The Novoe Vremya publishes a despatch from its Pekin correspondent stating that the greatest difficulty is experienced in preventing armed con- flicts from occurring between the soldiers of the various nationalities now in China, In commenting upon this information the Novoe Vremya says what the Allies are now doing in China rouses such indignation and loath- ing in the minds of all prudent men that the time has undoubtedly come for each nation to act upon its own responsibility.

STORIES OF MASSACRE. LADY MISSIONARIES VIOLATED AND KILLED. Terrible aocounts of torture, outrage, and mas- sacre are given in two long letters, which have been received from Mr. Charles Fairclough, mis- sionary, one dated from the China Inland Mission, Shanghai, August 28th,and the other from Ningpo, October 1st. In his first letter he tells how, during a flight of missionaries to the coast, one exhausted lady was beaten by a mob, a cart driven over her, and she was finally olubbed to death; how another lady, with her upper garments torn off, was eaten to death by insects; how two ladies were brutally outraged so that they died, and how their bodies were hurled into the baptistry by order of the officials. In the second letter some particulars are given of the Shansi massacres. AtTaiyuenfu, in June, the mission house being in flames, a lady was thrown into the fire. Missionaries lured to the yamen, on pretence of providing them with an escort, were decapitated by a posse of Boxers; the heads were placed in baskets, and exposed en the four gates of the city.

CHINESE EMPEROR TIRED OF THE STRUGGLE. The German Marine Association has received the following telegram from Shanghai:— Prince Tuan is arrested, and is at present really impotent. The Emperor and Empress are evidently tired of the struggle, but are under the influence of Tuog Fuh Siang, who commands 16,000 regulars in Hujangpu (Pro- vince of Kansu), and who is determined to fight to the last. The situation in Southern China is favourable. The revolutionary troops have been conquered, and the entire rebellion will be soon suppressed." THE HIGHLY J MORAL RUSSIAN. The Russian papers, quite oblivious of the horrors at Blagoveschensk, are conducting a fierce campaign against the military policy of Count von Waldersee in China, and are showing the bitterest irritation at the executions at Pao-ting-fu and the punitive expedi- tions. The Novoe Vremya declares that the demand for the execution of Prince Tuan is an impossible request. The St. Petersburg Viedomosti ridicules both British and German policy in China and their methods of spreading civilisation in that country. On the other band, I hear at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that Russia is resolved to co-operate with the other Powers in the Far East and has not the least in- tention of isolating herself. She will stand solidly behind the demands of her Ambassador. —

Lord Edward Cecil, aon of Lord Salisbury, has left Mafeking, in whose defence he took an im- portant part, for England.

TICHTJB. Fichus & la Marie Antoinette and a la Pompa- dour are very much in favour, and quite tht hall-mark of smartness on the latest thin gowns The draping can be arranged to suit the figure, and may always be relied upon to give the broad effect across the shoulders so becoming to slender women. The finest cream-tinted batiste, hand embroidered, makes the vert prettiest fichus.

SHADOW OF CON8 CRIPTION, An underground artillery range, for Morris tube practice, was opened at Bolton on Saturday. It is the gift of Colonel Musgrave. Major-General Swaine declared that the Volunteers had staved off oonscription. It would come yet unless the nation's physique and efficiency were kopt up at schools and drill-halls.

HOPE FOR WHITE LEAD SLAVES. There is hope for the white lead slaves of the Potteries, for the practicability of turning out leadless glazed china has been demonstrated be- yond question. Messrs. Mortlock have on show in the Potteries a large quantity of ehina manu- factured without the employment of the white lead that is so fatal to the workers, and in quality it is quite equal to any produced by the old pro- cess. It is hoped that this system of glazing will also be introduced into the manufacture of earthen* ware.

EXPIATION BY SUICIDE. There is a tragic sequel to the tragic story ot the woman Murphy, who tried to drown her four children in consequence of her husband's ill-treat- ment of her. Seen by th e Southwark Police Court missionary, the man promised to do better. He appeared depressed, however, by the disfavour in which the publication of the facts of the ease plaoed him. On Saturday he hanged himself in his house at Hamilton Street, Bermondsey.

TRAGEDY KEAB 0XF0BD. ADOPTED SON'S CONFESSION. The village of Yaraton, about four miles from Oxford, was the scene ot a terrible tragedy on Friday evening, when a farmer named Mr William Savage, aged 72, of Paternoster Farm, was shot with a gun. His adopted son, Riehard Hopcroft, and he had been into Oxford together during the day, and upon their return to the farm the housekeeper beard themquarrelling. She left I the farm at about four o'clock, and when she went back two hours later she fell over the body of the deoeased, which was lying in the kitchen. A por- tion of the head had been blown away, but the gun could not be found in the farmhouse. It is stated that at about five o'clock Hopcroft went to the Grapes public-bouse in the village, when be had a pint of beer, and he was then carrying a gun. On leaving, he proceeded in the direction of Oxford, and upon a railway bridge near he had a conversation with a woman whom he met, in which he expressed the wish that an express train would come along and he would throw himself in front of it. Later on the same night, he walked into the County Police Station at Oxford and stated that he wished to give himself up as he be- lieved he had caused the death of Mr. Savage, of Yarnton, and that he had thrown the gun away. The accused is about 29 years of age. The prisoner was subsequently taken to Woodstock and re- manded upon the charge of wilful murder,

A BARONET DROWNED. A Nairn correspondent states that Sir Alex- ander Dunbar, Bart., of Boath House, near Auldearn, Nairn, was found drowned in the harbour at Nairn on Saturday afternoon. Sir Alexander, who was twenty-nine years of age, was last seen alive on Thursday night, in Nairn, when it was supposed he left for Boath about six o'clook. The night was very wild and pitch dark, and it would appear that he at- tempted to cross the river by the lower footbridge, and in the darkness missed his footing. The River Nairn was at high flood at the time, and by the direction of the currents his body would have -seen swept down to the harbour. It was found in the lee of a boat which had been shifted on Satur- day morning. The deceased was the fourth baronet of Boath, and was son of the late Sir James Dun- bar, a lieutenant of the Royal Navy. He is suc- ceeded by his brother Frederick, who is 25 yean Of age, acd married.

r 5 The first meeting of the new Cabinet will held at the Foreign Office on Saturday. The Marquis of Salisbury came up from Hatfield to preside). In spite of the inclemency of the weather a crowd assembled near the Foregn Office to witness the assembly, several being provided with band 'cameras. All the Ministers, with the exception ot fMr. Chamberlain, were present. The council I broke up at half-past two, having Ulted iuifc 'under two hours.

r DEATH OF AN IRISH PEEK* v The death is announred of Lord Oranmoft gull Browne, of Castle MacGarrett Claremorris, co. Mayo, at the advanced age of 81. He was the second holder of the title, and had been a repre- sentative peer for Ireland for the last 30 years. Deceased is sucoeeded by his son, the Hop, Geoffrey Henry Browne, who was born in 1.861*

DRINK AND DIVORCE. J In the Divorce Court on Saturday, Sir FfAntfa Jeune had before him the undefended divorce case of Stafford v. Stafford and Smith.—Mr. Willock stated that this was the petition of Mr. Stewart Stafford, first officer of the steamship Lindisfarae, t for the dissolution of his marriage with his wife on the ground of her misconduct with the co-respon- dent, Thomas Smith, whose station in life was not stated. The parties were married in Sunderland in August, 1890. Two years afterwards the re- spondent took to drink. She pawned everything she could lay her hands on, and ran petitioner into debt. He could not live with her, and finally it was discovered that she gave birth to a child hi Smith, with whom she was still living in gander4 land.—Evidence having been given, his lordihij granted a decree nisi.

OUTRAGE ON A GAMEKEEPER. In the Shire Hall, at Shrewsbury, on Saturday, John Amphlett, gamekeeper, of Glebe Cottage, and Frederick Healey, oollier, of Longden Com- mon, were charged with an assault of a brutal character upon Horace Gowing, gamekeeper, of Thresholds. It was alleged that Amphlett knocked prosecutor into the ditch without any provocation, and Healey kicked him till he became insensible. Assistance arrived and Gowing was taken to the infirmary, where he remained nearly a month suf- fering from a fractured leg and ribs and a wound on the head. The Bench committed both men fox trial at the Assizes. .8:

HAVE YOU HEARD OF THE GREAT BOMBARDMENT OF JONES AND SON'S Three Establishments? They are practically BESEIGED With Orders, notwithstanding which al Orders are PROMPTLY MET. Please Note- JONES AND SON Grocers and Provision Importers, 1, Abbey-st., Rhyl. 17, Wellington-road, Rhyl. and Liverpool House, St Asaph. — I > < > LOOK OUT FOR > < > j EISISKI'S > > ] NEXT WEEK'S SPECIAL [ fADVERTISEMENT. J L < > r__i l_ m mwl '•v w m w m w « WGWrH A GUINEA A BOX. BBIWS FOR ALL ff mLIOUS & NERVOUS DISORDERS, Sick Headache, Constipation, Wind, Weak Stomach, Impaired Digestion. Disordered Liver & Female Ailments. Prepared only by the Proprietor, THOMAS BEECHAM, St. Helens, Lancashire, in boxes, Is. 1M. (56 pills) and 2s. 9d. each, with full directions. Sold everywhere. CA iNI 11, 1t t N I LENSES. | Lry Hates, Films, P.P.O., BROMIDE, and other Papers. A Well-selected Stock of Mounts and Albums. \/7^-7-TPgBr STASD.BD BOOKS ON PBOTOGRAPH? For Beginners and Advanced Photographers. IJJ( AMATEURS' 6OLUTIONS CUBEFLLY PREPARED WITH PURE CHEMICALS. I J T*4"PTT T)Dn\i for CHANGING ak kit Xft V } U iVl DEVELOPING. W G. R. LAWRENCE, M P S., Pharmaceutical Chemist & Photographic Dealer; 20, High Street, RHYL. Telegrams: STBEB, Rhyl. Telephone No 3. RhyL H. A. STEER Wine Merchant, 73, HIGH STREET, RHYL. Gold Label Scotch Whiskey. (Sole Proprietor?), John Jameson's Ftni GeorgeRoe'a IRISH WHISKIES- Henry NormtiD & Cie, Msrtell & Hennessy's BRANDIES. Nicholson's London C1N. De Kayper HOLLANDS. Bass' & Worthington's ALE. Goirmepes' Extra DUBLIN STOUT & Export Invalid Nourishing Stont. Special value own ttliDg Calif or niae BorgnDdy, 15s." per doz.; Californian Santerne, 15. per doz.; AnstraliaD Barpandy, 15s. per doz. Eqaal to wines sold doable the price. Stretfcon Hills, Ellis & Boo, & Schweppe & Co's MINERAL WATEBS Stretton Hills, Ellis & Soo, & Schweppe & Co's MINERAL WATERS GIGABS, Wholesale and Retail, BASS & CO'S LIGHT BOTTLING ALE. Imperial Pints 2s. 6d. per doz. Half Pints t Is. 6. „ „ BASS & CO'S ALES IN 9 & 18 GALLONS CASKS. From I s. Ode per gallon Pale Ale Is. 8d. Cigars held in stock of the following well-known brands and sizes :—Bock Kohinor and Esplenditos, Jose Morales Reina, R-galia Diviak, Flor de Cabi, Regalia Moda, J. S. Marias Conchas, Boqaets, Difttnantes, Por Lirranaga, Reioitis, La Cariliaoi, ftecroos, Villa y Villar, Excelientes Sublimes, Figurinos, Coachas E,pecialeti, La Eepina, Jockey Clob, La Corona Bonitos, Cnpidos, E! Rey del Mando, Young r ndies, lodi-n, Borneo, Samatra and Dutch Cigars. Cigarettes: State Express, American and Z iffire, Egyptian. Pedro Murias Single Cigars, Wholesale Prices. An inspection is invited. Tiles. Tiles. Tiles. J. ROBERTS, Ironmonger, Queen Street, RHYL. Begs to call your attention to a large stock of TILES lately come in 1 31 over 200 square yards of 6 by 6. Printed, Majolica and Barbotine Tiles to select from at exceptionally low prices, from 2s. per dozen. Builders will do well to come and see them. Also, note that we now do HALL TILES at very low prices, plenty of patterns to select from. A large new stock in Show-room of undermentioned goods at lowest prices for builders to select from, Tile Registers, Enamelled Slate and Marble Chimney Pieces, Mantle Registers, Kitchen Ranges of every description, Locks, Rain Water Goods, Boilers, Sash Weights, and all Plumbers and Sanitary Goods, &c. P. S.- J. R. desires inspection of the above special lines, all orders and enquiries will have .prompt and careful attention. Rhyl Steam Laundry. MARKET STREET, NOW OPEN. Under Entirely New Management i and Proprietary, I Coducted on Approved Sanitary Principles Satisfaction Guaranteed. Custom e Linen Collected and Delivered again same Week. Orders Solicited. Send Post Card,and Van will call BORWICK'S BIKIHG P0WPER s P „ T, n W ■ -■ MFnATX For Cakes. Yorkshire Puddings, Pure Manufacture well known for upwards of 50 years; When ordering Baking Powder insist on having Borwick vTvFMJmM 13m.Gingerbread, See.

COLLIERY ENGINEMEN ON STRIKE. 10,000 MEN LIKELY TO BE IDLE. The notices given by the colliery enginemen and firemen of Cannock Chase and Pelsall districts in support of their demand for an eight-hours' day took effect on Saturday night, and, no further compromise having been arranged, the men, who number about 240, came out on strike. A decision pledging them to take this step was, it transpires, arrived at unanimously at their meeting at Norton Canes on Friday, suggestions that the notioes should stand over another week in the hope of terms of settlement being mutually agreed upon being scouted, inasmuch as it was considered no progress had been made by previously taking this course. On Saturday the managers at the various collieries made the necessary arrangements for a cessation of work, and as far as can be ascertained the horses have been generally brought to the surface. In some instances this is the second time such a step has been taken. Several large collieries are unaffected by the movements, either through the men being satisfied with existing arrangements or some modi- fication of working hours being offered and accepted, but the bulk of the pits throughout both the Cannock Chase and Pelsall districts will be compelled to stop. The position will be a serious one for the miners, who are in no way concerned in the dispute, but are likely to be the chief sufferers. The number likely to be thrown out of work is estimated at 10,000.

GALE IN THE ENGLISH CHANNEL. A severe north-easterly gale prevailed in the Channel all Saturday night, and squalls oontinued throughout Sunday. The seas ran very high, and damage to shipping has been great. The iron screw steamer Sir Robert Peel, from Dunkirk to London, with general cargo, had her shaft broken in tempestuous seas. She narrowly escaped in her disabled condition from colliding with the North Goodwin lightship. The Broadstairs life- boat put off to her assistance, and succeeded in conveying a hawser from the disabled ship to a tug, but she was considerably damaged in so doing. The Sir Robert Peel, with her crew of 11 hands and two French passengers, was brought into Ramsgate in safety. The Margate lifeboat went out on Saturday night in response to signals of distress, as did also the lifeboat from Walton-on-Naze. The latter was driven before the storm, and reached Ramgate half full of water. During Sunday morning a large steamship, aupposea to be German, was reported in distress in mid-Channel off Folkestone. Tugs left Dover and Ramsgate to render assistance. The vessel seemed in a hopeless condition. The Norwegian ship Flink put into Newhaven through stress of weather, having on board the orew of four men of the ketch General Stewart, bound from Rochester to Jersey, which foundered off Dungeness on Thursday in the gale, The men were rescued from an open boat. The Emily Smeed, from Newcastle, had two men washed from the jibboom. Captain Beroldsen, with remarkable promptitude, threw two lefebelts to the men. Both succeeded in securing hold, and were dragged through the heavy seas back to the vessel. The Ostend steamer La Flandres reported on arrival at Dover a steamer in distress off the Goodwins, which turned out to be the Sardonyx, which went ashore on the Kentish Knock last week. She bad drifted off, and another steamer picked her up derelict, and towed her to Dover, bringing her up westward of the pier, the Kings- down lifeboat in attendance.

FATHER'S FEARFUL SHOCK. Crossing the line at New Beckenham Railway Station on Saturday night to soe his father, who was in the down train, a booking clerk, named Day, was run down by a light engine, sustaining fatal injuries. His father, a signalman of the S.E. and C.R., was among those who picked up the poor fellow's body, terribly mangled.

UNCONSCIOUS IN THE PULPIT. At Slough Congregational Church on Sunday night shortly after seven o'clock the pastor, the Rev. J. Henderson, was expected to give out the hymn before the sermon, but he did not rise from the pulpit. On one of the deacons going to him he found the pastor lying unconscious, apparently in a fit, on the floor of the pulpit. The incident oreated great consternation among the large con- gregation, who were consequently dismissed.

SPORTING LUCK COMPETITION. An important judgment was delivered on Satan day in the Court for Crown Cases Reserved, which disposed of the legal question arising from the Sporting Luck competition. The Court declared that the offer of money prizes to subscribers of the paper who named the winner of certain races by filling up coupons was illegal, the keeping and using of the office for such purposes being aft in- frialeme nt of the Betting Act.

FIRE POKING THAT WAS FATAL. Left alone for the day at her residence at AlII) Villa, Hutton Grove, North Finchley, London, an old widow lady of 87, named Hall, retired to her about four o'clock on Saturday. Soon afterwards flames were seen in her bedroom, and on entrance being made she was found lying dead on the burning hearthrug with a poker clenched in her hand, every stitch of her clothing, with the ex- ception of one stocking, being burnt off her. It is supposed that she got out of bed to poke the are. »od her nightdress somehow caught alight.

GIFT TO SCOTTISH VOCALIST. There was a great gathering of Scots on Satur- day afternoon at the Scots Corporation Hall, Fleet Street, London, the occasion being the presenta- tion of A:150 to their national singer, Miss Jessie Maclaclilan, prior to her departure for Canada, where she will perform at the Burns Anniversary at Toronto. Mr. Ewen Cattanach made the presentation, and eulogised what Miss Maclach- lau had done in popularising Gaelic and Scottish songs.

Charles Brown, 21, stoker in the Royal Navy, strangled himself in a prison cell at Portsmouth, where he was awaiting trial. Finnish is to disappear from next year onwards as the official language in Finland. Russian it to take its place-by order.

fc family m which he ,s a regular caller. The little girl made herself quite at home, and ex- hibited great fondness for one of the young ladies huggmg her heartily. '"How very affec- tionate she is! said the lady of the house. Yes; just like her brother," responded the young lady, unthinkingly. Paterfamilias looked |uP sternly over his spectacles, the voung gentleman blusned, and there was eonsLerna- «*cn in the family circle.