The Rhos Herald

OUR LONDON LETTER, j I [From Our Special Correspondent.] J The Lord Mayor of London thinks that. few things contribute more to the happiness of mankind than digestible and daintily- served food. He is quite right, and he ought to know, for the mayoral year of office is a trying ordeal of unending banquets. Sir George Truscott was led to make that obser- vation in opening the extension of the Baking and Confectionery School at the Borough Polytechnic. The school is of more than local interest, for students come to it from all parts of the country, from all parts of the Empire, and from all parts of the world. It has never lacked pupils to learn how to make bread on the most scientific principles, but what it wants now are teachers to carry the work into the pro- vinces. A prize of one hundred guineas is offered as an inducement to young men who are prepared to go through the course of scientific baking, and then take up a pro- vincial position in a municipal technical school, should it be found for them. The lady from the provinces who is addicted to a giddy week .in London will re- joice to hear that sixpenny cab fares are to y 'be established on the first of next month. About 700 or 800 cabs will be on the streets, flying a little flag to indicate that the drivers are willing to carry a fare for the distance of one mile for the sum "'of one sixpence. Hitherto the minimum has been one shilling, and naturally enough plenty of folk have pre- ferred the motor-'bus and the electric tram- car, where the fare is fixed, and the change is not handed out with unlimited lan- gwidge." Richer folk have taken a "taxi," but this means eightpence a mile, and cer- tain of the proprietors are now declaring that the sum should be more than that. Some of the owners of the horse-cabs say that the I taximeter should be made compulsory on these vehicles, but the Home Secretary can- not be induced to take this course, and so, until he does, the experiment of sixpenny fares, for one mile without the taximeter is to be tried. I hope it will be successful. There is plenty of room in London for "tanner- cabs," and plenty of people who will be only too glad to ride in them. "Drurialanus," as one likes to call Mr. Arthur Collins, the presiding genius of Drury Lane, has begun his season early. "The Whip is the title of the new sensation, which has for its theme a nefarious conspiracy to prevent the favourite from reaching New- market in time to run in the Two Thousand. The great scene) in the play is the railway collision, which is brought about with the object of killing the favourite in his horse- bqpe. Needless to say, the favourite escapes just in the nick of time. The horse-racing, too, is among the best ever seen on the boards. Another big theatrical event in London has been the reopening of the Hay- I market, under Mr. Herbert Trench's 1 management, with a beautiful revival of f "King Lear." Had King George III. been on the throne we should have been denied the performance, out of deference to his I Majesty's mental condition, but in this res- pect, if in no other, the stage to-day is happier than it was a century ago. We still have the Censor, but how long he will remain is on the knees of the Commission who are enquiring into his behaviour. Steamboats at last. After long weeks of weary waiting the promoters of the scheme for placing a fleet of steamboats on the Thames have obtained the necessary capital of xio,ooo. With this sum fourteen boats, which still remain out of the L.C.C. fleet, will be purchased, and in a week or two a few of them will be running between London- bridge and Greenwich. It would be i(ile to deny that London has felt the absence of the boats from its glorious river. The summer has not been an ideal one, and the Parsees in London have had plenty of opportunity for a I holiday, as the cabman said, but there have been many days when a run down to Green- wich and back would have been delightful. I remember that on the last occasion when I made the trip there was a schoolmaster aboard with a number of his pupils, to whom he pointed out the various places of historic interest as the steamer went on its way. It was a splendid object lesson in past and present history that he was giving, and he for one must have regretted that the oppor- tunity has been lost during the last two years. Happily it is being restored, and with the coming of spring we shall have the whole fourteen boats in full running order between Chelsea and Greenwich. London now has its first "no-tip" hotel. This is Strand Palace, built on the ground once occupied by Exeter Hall. (I leave my readers to make what comparison they like). There are many features about the new hotel which will commend it to those who like to combine comfort with thrift. At the risk of giving a free advt. I will mention that for six shillings you can have a bedroom, the use of electric light, bath, boots, and a full table d'hote breakfast. Nothing more, nothing less, in any of the four hundred and seventy rooms of the establishment. Best of all you are not haunted by the idea that your comfort depends on the amount of your tips to the waiters. "No-tips" is the order of the Strand Palace, and this point alone should warrant its popularity. You may go there in comfort, you may stay there in comfort, and, what is more, you may leave in comfort, without feeling the small of your back shrivelling under the scornful glare of the waiter whose palm you have neglected to grease. The interior of the Guildhall has been so changed during the last few weeks that even members of the Corporation might be ex- cused if they failed to recognise it. Every visitor will remember how dark and glooinj everything ked. The walls were grimy, you peered up into the roof you saw something which might be beams, bsfc you were not sure. For weeks past the work of removing the dust and grime of centuries ¡ from the walls, columns, and panels has been going" on. Hig'h-pressure steam brushes have been employed, and a marked improvement has been effected. The bare stone has now been disclosed to view, and in some places you may see where the Great Fire of London left its mark. Some members of the Cor- poration talked of vandalism at first, but they will change their views when they see how much better the Guildhall looks under the recent improvement. E. H. R.

CHRISTIAN SCIENCE FEES. At an inquest at Worthing on Tuesday on Mrs. Lilian Elizabeth Harper, who died sud- denly on Saturday from hemorrhage of the lungs, some remarkable evidence was beard. She had suffered from consumption for five years, and until Easter had taken medicine prescribed by a London specialist. On the advice of a sister she then consulted a local Christian Scientist, with whom arrange- ments were made for a course of Christian Science treatment. This treatment, the Christian Scientist said, consisted of prayers twice daily, for which 5s. a week was paid by the sister. The regular fee for Christian Science treatment was a guinea a week. In returning a verdict of "Death from natural causes," the jury said that the prac- tice of Christian Science, especially in cases of serious disease, was greatly to be depre- cated, and, further, that the taking of money for treatment was un-Christian.

SMASH-UP IN STOLEN MOTOR. The early morning adventures of a motor- car belonging to Sir Edward Holden w-cre described at the Willesden Police-court on Monday, when Frank Kent, 22, motor cleaner, of 10, Albert-street, Paddington, and j Sidney Smith, 27, shop assistant, of 65, Crawford-street, Msrylebone, were charged with stealing and receiving a motor-car the property of Sir Edward Holden. Kent was also charged with driving the car to the common danger and without a license. It was said that at two o'clock on Friday morning, Kent, who had the key of Sir Edward Hold-en's garage, took out the car, and, with Smith, drove away in the direction of Willesden-green. Shortly before three in the morning the car dashed into a wine mer- chant's shop window, considerably damaging the premises and badly smashing the err. Both men were injured and removed to the hospital.

KIDNAPPING TRAGEDY. A man who was living apart from his wi!e visited her house It Oldham on Monday, seized his daughter, aged fifteen months, and ran away with her. The girl's grandmother, on her return to the house shortly afterwards, massed the child and raised an alarm. The man was chased," and jumped into a mill reservoir, taking his daughter with him. A clothes line was thrown to him, and this he eagerly seized, being pulled out by the police. The dead body of the child was recovered about an hour afterwards. When the child was kidnapped the mother was at work and the grandmother was absent from the house. The man is in custody.

TENEMENT TENANTS AND THE VOTE The Revising Barrister for Liverpool, :M2". Butler, on Monday gave judgment respecting the qualifications for the franchise of tene- ment occupiers, who had been objected to by Mr. Thompson (Conservative agent), on the ground that, as the rates were paid by the landlords the tenement occupiers were not separately rated. The objection affected many thousands of voters. The barrister decided that the objection, failed, and retained the names on the list. Mr. Thompson was allowed time in which 'to consider the question of appealing.

BANKNOTE CHOKES DRAINPIPE. When a drainpipe at the house of Henry Albert Parsons became chbked his landlord was called in, and found a Y,5 note stuffed in the pipe. This was handed over to the police, who re-- cognised it as part of the proceeds of a robbery at King's-cross. Parsons had visited the scene of the theft before the money was missed, and at the Old Bailey on Monday he was sentenced to twelve months' hard labour.

A TRAVELING SAVINGS BANK. A travelling savings-bank, lately estab- lished in the North of Francei is an electric motor carriage, carrying a small safe, a desk (made of folding shelves) for depositors, and seats for the driver, two clerks, and a>: eashier. It journeys about the country, making short stops in the villages on stated days, to receive such sums as f tire thrifty workfolk may be desirou* of

MURDERED HIS SWEETHEART --eo- BARMAN SENTENCED TO DEATH. Sidney Bunyan, a young barman, of Islingw ton, who confessed to killing his sweetheart, i.ucy Smith, in a field at Wichmore Hill, En- field, on Sunday, August 22, was sentenced to death on Monday. Before Mr. Justice Coleridge at the Central Criminal Court Bunyan pleaded "not guilty" to the charge of wilful murder. Mr. Muir, counsel for the Crown, related afresh the story told in the police court how thai on the Sunday Bunyan and the girl went for a walk. In the early hours of the following morning Bunyan gave himself up to the police, and conducting a police-officer to the held in which the girl's body lay, said, "you will find a razor lying by her side. Let mc- kiss her before I go. I cut her throat with the razor just as the clock finished strik- ing \2." Bunyan was a barman, 24 years of age, and had been out of employment about a fortnight when the girl was murdered. He had been courting the girl about two years, and had given her a ring and other articles. Mr. Warburton (for Bunyan), addressing the jury, said "That green-eyed monster, jealousy, got into the heart of this man," and he laboured under what was obviously delusion regarding his sweetheart. He sub- mitted that Bunyan's actions throughout the whole incident were those of an insane person. The jury, after an absence of twenty-five minutes, found Bunyan guilty of wilful murder. Bunyan being asked if he had anything more to say, shook his head. He gazed un- flinchingly at the Judge while sentence of death was passed, and at no time did he be- tray any signs of craotion. Mr. Justice Coleridge, in passing sentence of death, said: "You have been found guilty of the wilful murder of an innocent and un- offending girl." After the passing of the sentence Bunyan turned and left the dock without exhibiting. any signs of emotion. As he desceaded the steps a woman at the back of the court sobbed loudly.

NO VOTES FOR MINISTERS. The Revising Barrister of Torquay on Monday gave his reasons for disallowing a vote to the Rev. James Rogers, pastor of the Wesleyan Church, Torquay. It was con- tended that the word "office" in the thirty- third section of the Municipal Corporations Act was applicable to Wesleyan Ministers. The barrister held that by the word "office" the legislature did not intend to in- clude in the franchise a person occupying such a position as that of Wesleyan minister. The legislature applied the word to one form of religion, and did not Intend to apply it to any other form. When the law was passed, religious in- tolerance existed more acutely than at pre- sent, and Nonconformists did not occupy the position they did to-day. On behalf of the Committee of Privileges of the Wesleyan Conference, notice of appeal against the decision, which affects all Wesleyan ministers in the country, was given,

MOUSTACHES BANNEft. Men exposed to the rigours of the Alaskao winter never wear moustaches. They wear full beards to protect the throat and face, but keep ithe upper lip clean shaven. The moisture from the breath congeals so quickly that a moustache would become embedded in a solid cake of ice, and the face frozen in a, very short spa'; of time.

TWO DAYS—TWO YEARS. A Chinese child is considered a year old at its birth, and its age is reckoned not from its birthdays, but from its New Year's Days. If it happens to be born on February 1, the day before the Chinese New Year's Day, it is said to be two years old when it is two days old. It is one year old when. born, and another year is added on its first New Year's Day.

EPITOME OF NEWS. j '*»• — } i A fire at a Cardiff restaurant caused damafre to the extent of two thousand pounds. i Submarine C 17, which was damaged on the night of the disaster to the C 11, is to rejoin Ii the flotilla at Portsmouth next week. Definite arrangements have been made for Mr.. Lloyd George to address a m-eeting at Newcastle on October 9. The ex-Shah of Persia has left the Russian Legation en route for Russia. When asked to sign for his fee, a juror at a Bethnal-green inquest said it was the first time he had signed his name for thirty-seven years. A Wood-green firm of confectioners have in- troduced a new sweetmeat for children which the call "Dr. Cook's Swankers." A meeting has been convened by the Mayor of Norwich to consider a proposal for erecting a memorial to the late Dean Lefroy. The funeral of the Earl of Carysfort took place in Elton churchyard, adjoining his Hunt- ingdonshire seat. Five children who ate red berries picked by the roadside at Atherton were taken to a doctor suffering great agony, and are in a serious con- I dition. I The body of a well-dressed man was found terribly mutilated on the London and North- Western Railway line near Hazegrove. A four-year-old boy named Reggie Rouse threw a companion's cap into the water at St. Leonard's-on-Sea, and was drowned while trying to recover it. Lambeth Guardians have granted outdoor re- lief to a man who, after paying his rent, has been living for weeks past on ninepence a week. Messrs. Tliornycroft and Co. have received an order for the construction of four torpedo boat j destroyers at their Woolston works. During a case at the Old Bailey the verb "to swank," which occurred in a letter, was defined to the judge as meaning "to pretend." The Forehoe (Norfolk) District Council have instructed their surveyor to direct the roadmen to destroy all wasps' nests tliev find by the road- side. It has been decided by the Postmaster- General to proceed at once with the work of placing Post Office telegraph wires underground between Chatham and Dover- At Reigate Mr. Walter Gordon Scott, who said he was a Queensland J.P., was fined 10s. for furiously driving a horse and cart. Leave to appeal was refused. A message from Durban states that the police at Umkomaas telegraph that the timber washed 1 up there does not belong to the ss. Waratah. Mr. George Jillings has just died at Dalham, Suffolk, aged seventy-five, in the house where he was born, and in which his father lived. Jack Johnson retained the title of heavy- weight champion of the world by defeating Kaufmann, of California, at San Francisco. Mr. Joyson Hicks, M.P., is to ask the Under- Secretary for India whether the Jam of Nawa- nagar is a ruling Prince in India, and whether he may come to England only with the permis- sion of the Secretary of State, A man cut with a knif, the pictures of Henry II. and the Duke of Montmorency at the Louvre, Paris. He was at once arrested and identified as Maurice Fauchet, a grocer's assis- tant, twenty-two years of age. Instructions have been given at Chatham Dockyard for the manufacture of a number of torpedo tubes for the d sf- overs which are to be built for the Australian Government. Wearing several valuable rings, a well-dressed woman, identified as Louisa Buckler, was found drowned in one of the small ponds in Richmond- park. Valuable prizes are offered by the towns of Boulogne and Folkestone for a cross-Channel flight in connection with the aviation week at j Boulogne. The text has been published of a Bill to em- power local authorities in Ireland to spend an annual rate of not more than twopence in the pound on advertising health resorts and water- ing-places. During the first year's working of the Small Holdings and Allotment Act, 23,285 applica- tions were received by county councils, of which number 13,202 have been approved of. Two little girls, Phyllis Cox, aged thirteen, and Susie Donkersley, only a year older, swam in the Trent at Nottingham distances of a mile and a half and a mile and three-quarters res- pectively. For attempting to break into the residence of Mr. H. G. Atkins, a King's College professor, at Granville Park, Lewisham, James Murphy, an ex-soldier, was sentenced at the London Ses- sions to nine months' hard labour. A marriage has been arranged between Mr. H. C. Brodie, M.P. for the Reigate Division of Surrey, and Miss Mabel Melbourne, younger daughter of Sir Robert Hart. By eight votes to four the Redditch (Wor- 1 cestershire) District Council have negatived a recommendation of a committee to prohibit smoking in the parish churchyard. Miss Fawcett, the English lady who had been missing since August 10 from Zurich, has been traced by the Swiss police to Lucerne, where her parents joined her at her hotel. Admiralty orders for machinery for first-class battleships and for the construction of several ocean-going destroyers are reported to have been received by three Clyde firms. Two jurors at Bethnal Green Coroner's Court were named South and Frost, while Sergeant North represented the police, and a witness des- cribed himself as a Russian Pole. A mast 99ft. long of the old battleship Howe, which was commanded by Admiral Lora Howe, has been secured by the present Lord Howe, and will be erected as flagstaff at his Leicester seat, Gopsall. It has been found necessary to amputate the right leg of Coiporafl Harold Lea, a Northwich Territorial, who was accidentally shot by a comrade on Altcar shooting range. It was stated at an inquest on James Laven- der, aged fifty-seven years, who was found dead inaitra w stack on a farm at Rochford, Essex, that he had never been known to have a home. Mr. Hobhouse informed Mr. Patrick Wigte in the House of Commons that the number of per- sons in receipt of old-age pensions who died in Ireland during the six months ending July last was 7,637. The Prime Minister, answering questions by Captain Clive, Mr. Courthope, and Lord Castle- reagh, said he regretted that he was unable to hold out any prospect of legislation on the sub- ject of hope a-uriug the present session. Another Atlantic record has been set «p by th« Mjuiretaaia from Liverpool to New York, the I beating the Lusitania's time by baU JW. :i' :j

£21 A "SWEET NOTHING." The Rev. R. C. Thurley, a Congrega- tionalist minister, is leaving Blackheath, where he has been stationed for thirteen years, and a, farewell meeting was held on Monday night at the Rothbury Hall, East Greenwich. The Rev. R. Fotheringham, the pastor, presented Mr. Tliurley with a cheque for £21 12s. Mr. Thurley declined it. He said that in the circumstances he could not accept it, eso'eially as it came from a church which could raise on one Sunday = £ 3,500. In Hie circumstances he respectfully submitted that he was not worthy of it. It was all very well to say sweet nothings. He w'ent on to speak about his stipend, and referred to the fact that he was told that unless he accepted a I certain decision in that regard he had better take a month's notice. All he coukl say was that it was disgraceful and degrading. To ask him to accept at the end of thirteen years a cheque for £ 21 was a little grotesque. As to the cheque, he handed it back to the chairman with the remark: "Give it to some charity." liis remarks were greeted with loud applause, and the meeting ended suddenly with the Benediction.

MOTOR-BOAT ON FIRE. Mr. and Mrs. Charles William Alison, of Bolton-gardens, Teddington, were in a motor-boat on the Solent on Monday when the vessel caught fire. They jumped into the sea. and Mrs. Alison was drowned. The man and his wife left Fawley Beacon about ten o'clock in the morning, and as they could not get in the Ramble they went for a sail, intending to return with the tide. They sailed almost to Portsmouth, and then put about and returned with the tide as far as Lymington. The engine had been dripping petrol more or less all the time. About one o'clock Mr. Alison went below, and coming up it is sup- posed that he must have trodden on a match. There was an explosion, and he saw his wife thirty yards astern in the water. He tried unsuccessfully to turn the boat about, and then jumped into the sea and swam to her. She clung to him, and as lie had his oil- skins on they both went under. When he came to himself he found he was on a steamer in the Solent.

BURIED IN HER ROCKING CHAIR, A funeral which may fairly be regarded as one of the strangest on record took place not long ago. The deceased, an American lady, was buried sitting in her favourite rocking- chair in accordance with her last wishes.

An empty rowing boat, which had beem damaged in a collision, was found drifting off Folkestone, The name-board had been carried away. Of the 5,370 Chinese in the Transvaal on August 7 four died during August and five were struck off the strength, leaving ,9,3gl in the country on August 31. On board H.M.S. Vulcan at Portsmouth Harbour Thomas Merriman, ship's carpenter, was found dead in his cabin, hanging from beart) in the roof. Before sentencing a man at the London Ses- sififtis ,ighteen' ttionths* imprisonment 'or stewing a doc, tihe chairman, said if he h J st'ok-n the cellar, whieh was Jess valuable Iw could have been sent to penal servitude. Them were twenty-one previous efmristjiojit agairisit- him, all tox ^tealinj; dOJ. 4 I I