Flintshire Observer Mining Journal and General Advertiser for the Counties of Flint Denbigh

THE CAPTURE OF KASSALA. News has been received at Rome from Massowah to the effect that the Mahdist Khalifa is furious at the capture of Kassala by the Italians, has summoned his Emirs to Omdurman to consider retaliatory measures, and has ordered the fortification of Omdurman and also of Khartoum. His European and Egyptian prisoners are being treated with increased severity. At Kassala the tribes are send- ing in their submission to the Italian administration.

PARNELL DEMONSTRATION. A demonstration in memory of the late Mr. Parnell took place in Dublin on Sunday in the shape of a procession from St. Stephen's-green to the grave of the deceased leader in Glasnevin Cemetery. The affair was elaborately organised, being designed as a kind of rally of the Independent party, and contin- gents were brought in from all parts of the country; but the greater part of the procession, which rwimbered about 10,000 persous, was composed of Inhabitants of Dublin. No speaking took place in the cemetery.

WHY is a common chord in music like a portion of the Mediterranean ?—Eecauso i(/a E q land G pgeRn Sea). FKOM the report of a missionary to Africa My congregation refuse to give up cannibalism, but I have succeeded so far in improving their tastes that they now eat with knives and forks,"

THE DAIRY SHOW. The annual show of the British Dairy Farmer Association, which opened on the 9th inst. at the Royal Agricultural Hall, Islington, formed the 19th of the series. In many respects it was the largest show of the kind yet held, f,r, though, owing to modifications in the system of a varding prizes, cattle have become less numerous than they used to be, this falling off has been more than balanced by the increases in other sections. The 272 entries of British cheese were much in excess of any previous disp! and included, besides the familiar CheddaT, Cheshire, and Stilton, such varieties as double Glo'ster, Wilts, Derby, Leicester, Wiltshire, and Cheddar loaf, together with cream and other soft cheese. Butter made a grand tutal of 468 entries, this being 150 more than the largest number hitherto recorded; the competing exhibits comingfrom dairies dottsd over all parts of the United Kingdom. Another remarkable feature was afforded in the entry of no fewer than 295 dairymaids and dairymen to take part in the public contests in butter-making, in connection with which valuable prizes were offered. Two capacious dairies were fitted up for these contests, which it was arranged should be con- tinued daily during the show, necessitating the ser- vices of seven judges. The total number of entries in all sections was 6S35, as agtinst, 5732 last year, 5677 in 1892, and 5486 in 1S01. The entries of poultry, cream, and new inventions were all greater than ever before. There were altogether 2155 exhibitors, an increase of upwards of 400 on the number last year. Cows were classed as Shorthorns, Jerseys, Guernseys, Ayrshires, Devons, Red Polls, Kerries, Dexters, other pure breeds, and cross-breeds, but it was at once apparent, from a glance round the s hall, that the Jersey largely preponderated. All cows were to be judged both by in- spection and by milking trials. Bulls were classed as Shorthorns, Jerseys, Guernseys, and any other breed. The judges of cattle by inspec- tion were Mr. J. T. Hobbs, of Malsey Hampton, Fairford, for shorthorns; Mr. A. T. Matthews, of Devonshire House, Ealing, for Jersey cows and home-bred heifers; the Rev. H. S. Williams, of Newport Pagnell, for Jersey bulls and island-bred heifers; Mr. Christopher Middleton, of Marton, Yorks, for Guernseys; and Mr. H. Simmons, of Bearwood Farm, Wokingham, for Ayrshires, Devons, and other breeds. The judges in the milking trials and Shorthorn and Jersey tests were Mr. W. Ashcroft, Mr. P. M'Connell, Mr. H. S. Holmes Pegler, Mr. F. J. Voyd, and Mr. T. H. Weetman. Goats in their several varieties occupied a better position than in former years, and were placed along the north side of the hall. The judge in this section was Mr. W. K. Taunton. The display of produce, comprising butter and cheese, bacon and hams, skim-milk, bread and honey presented many features of interest. The judge of Cheddar cheese was Mr. C. Henry White, of Fro me, and there was a strong competition between English and Scotch makers for the premier position. In the case of Cheshire and double Gloucester cheese and Cheddar loaf, Mr. R. D. Kingham, of Famham, was chosen to adjudicate, whilst Mr. T. P. Strong, of Manchester, had to deal with Stilton and any other variety. A conspicuous object on the central floor of the hall was a model of the mammoth Canadian Cheddar cheese, which was exhibited at the Chicago Exhibition, and was brought over to this country by Mr. Jubal Webb. The original cheese, of which specimens were obtainable in the. hall, weighed 11 short tons, or 22,0001b. Its dimensions, as measured on the drum-like model, were, depth 6ft., diameter 10ft., and circumference over 30ft. A better idea of its bulk may be conveyed by saying that it was equal to that of nearly 400 ordi- nary Cheddar cheeses weighing 561b. each. An attractive collection of cheese was that from the British Dairy Institute, comprising Cheddar, Stilton, y 11 Wensleydale, Cleveland, Caerphilly, Gorgonzola, Camembert, Port duSalut, Pont l'Eveque, Coulom- mier, Cambridge, skim-milk cheese, Gervais, and double cream. Six classes were provided for the butter-making contests, but several on account of their size had to be subdivided. A champion contest was arranged i-pr the last day of the show between first prize winners at this and previous years' dairy shows. The judges in these competitions were the Hon. A. E. Parker, Mr. W. Forrester Addie, Mr. A. Tisdall, Miss N. 9. Walsh, Miss E. Estcourt, and Air. W. J. Grant, whilst Professor Carroll, of Glasenevin, was selected to adjudicate in the champion contest. A department of the exhibition well deserving sup- port was that devoted to British honey. There were nearly 100 entries, arranged in five classes, and liberal prizes were offered. Arrangements were made by the British Beekeepers' Association to have several experts in attendance to describe the exhibits and give information regarding bee-keeping industry. Bees in observatory hives and many other objects illustrative of a profitable rural industry were on view, whilst small samples of native honey were distributed. The exhibition of poultry eclipsed all previous dis- plays, a result largely due to the spirit shown by the Poulters' Company in offering valuable prizes for competition. A new feature was the series of demon- strations which will be given of the most approved methods of trussing, boning, and shaping poultry for market. It is in the details connected with tne preparation or the dead bird for market that many otherwise successful poultry rearers are deficient; consequently these demonstrations must be regarded as of great practical value. Amongst the exhibitors in the several sections of the show were the Countess of Aberdeen, the Earl of Rosebery, the Earl of Jersey, Lord Rayleigh, Lord Rothschild, Lady Alington, Lady Burdett-Coutts, the Dowager Lady Freake, Lady Katherine Hutton,Lady Anthony de Rothschild, Lady Dora Yeoman, the Hon. Florence and the Hon. Sybil Amherst;, Sir F. Monte- fiore, Sir Humphrev De Trafford, Captain the Hon. T. S. Brand, Sir W. G. Pearce, M.P., Sir Mark J. Stewart, M.P., and Mr. H. S. Leon, M.P. In addition to the features already enumerated, there was an extensive section devoted to implements and machines, wherein nearly every kind of appliance associated with the dairy or poultry industries were to be found. The show committee, of which Mr. G. F. Roumieu is chairman, had no easy task in allotting space to the great number of exhibits, and it was not till a late hour on the night preceding the opening that these were all in place. The live stock on arrival were submitted to a veterinary examination under the direction of Professor Wortley Axe.

THE CARRIAGE OF CATTLE BY iJEA. The report has just been issued of a Departmental Committee, appointed in March last by the Board of Agriculture to inquire into the transit by water and the embarcation and landing of animals carried coastwise. It states that the depreciation in the value of Irish cattle imported into Liverpool and Glasgow alone in 1893, owing to injuries received in transit, is between E250,000 and F-310,000 per annum, without including cattle dying during the voyage, or cases of broken limbs necessitating immediate slaughter. The injuries arise from beating the animals, bruises, broken ribs, &c., caused during the process of shipping and unshipping, and by the cattle falling down on board ship and getting 5 ?n and rmallJ from want of water, fatigue, and bad air, causing a fevered condition in the cattle and spoiling the me8;t. The committee, while giving due weight to the evidence of witnesses representing the shipowning interest, are of opinion that an amount of injury is sustained by cattle during the transit by sea, with the embarcation and landing, which is sufficient to call for further interference by the department. They make a variety of recommenda- tions, the chief of which are that all vessels engaged in the trade should be licensed, that inspectors should be appointed to travel in and inspect the cattle ships, that cattlemen be employed by shipowners in addi- tion to the ordinary members of the crew to attend to the animals, and that drovers at the principal ports of au?hority^ 'niPor^ should be licensed by the local

REPORTED ESCAPE OF JABEZ BALFOUR. f Ayres on the sth inBt. that Jabez Balfour had escaped from the prison at Salta.

THE UNIFICATION OF LONDON. A report of the special committee of the London County Council, submitted at Tuesday's meeting of the Council, characterised the report of the Unifica- tion Commission as the most valuable contribution that has been made towards the solution of the problem of London government, and as affording, in the main, a satisfactory basis for legislation. It asked the Council to authorise the special committee to communicate with the Government with a view to early legislation on the subject.

THE CHINO-JAPANESE WAR. JAPANESE MATCHING TO MUKDEN. The Japanese are pursuing their campaign towards Mukden, and their cruisers are closely watching the Chinese fleet in the Gulf of Pe-chi-li. By paying for supplies and maintaining discipline, they are gaining the sympathies of the population in Corea. Shanghai telegrams state that the apprehensions of a Japanese descent on Chinese territory are growing stronger, and precautionary measures are being taken at all the ports. The rumours from Chefoo that a great fleet of Japanese transports had been sighted near that port have not received any con- firmation. Native reports from the Corean frontier are to the effect that the Chinese forces which were concentrating on Ngan have now abandoned that position, and fallen back upon Kaichan. The desertion of 2000 men of Li Hung Chang's disciplined corps, now in Corea, is reported at Shanghai. Prince Kung is mainly occupied at Pekin in providing for the defence of the capital and its approaches. Li Hung Chang has sent 8000 men, well armed and drilled, to Pekin but his best regiments remain with him at Tientsin. The Chinese Government has authorised a firm in Tientsin to raise a loan up to 10 millions sterling. Of this a million has already been placed privately. The French Government has ordered two first-class cruisers, one second-class cruiser, and a gunboat to ioin the French squadron in Chinese waters. THE DISGRACE OF SIIENG. ACTION OF RUSSIA. Central News despatches from Tientsin describe the circumstances which led to the disgrace of Sheng, the chief magistrate of the city and a nephew of Li Hung Chang. It was discovered by the Viceroy that he had defrauded the Government by purchas- ing at a low rate discarded rifles and inferior ammunition from Europe. The American Minister at Pekin has informed his countrymen resident there that a Japanese attempt on Pekin seems to be certain, and has advised the removal of all their women and children to Shanghai for safety. The richer Chinese merchants are leaving Pekin in large numbers. From Shanghai rumours are reported of the outbreak of a rebellion directed against the present dynasty in the province of Chi-li. The Russian Government is sending three cruisers and a sloop to reinforce its fleet in the Pacific. It is reported also that a strong Russian military force is to be sent to the Chinese frontier in consequence of the recent raid by Chinese marauders on the Siberian railway, and that a substantial indemnity will be demanded.

OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES DEAD. We regret to announce the death of the famous and genial American litterateur, Oliver Wendell Holmes. The "Autocrat of the Breakfast Table" passed away on Sunday at his town house in Boston, Massachusetts. He arrived at Boston from Beverley last week, and was suffering at the time from a severe attack of asthma. He was confined to the house from that time, getting gra- dually weaker, and never rallying from the first. He had no reserve of strength to fight against the overpowering weakness, and the end came quickly, the charming poet-writer and conversationalist pass- ing away peacefully and without pain, surrounded by his children, and quite conscious to the last, though he was unable to speak. His death will be felt throughout every State in the Union. Oliver Wendell Holmes was born at Cambridge (Massachusetts) on August 29, 1809. He graduated at Harvard College in 1829, commencing the study of law, which he afterwards abandoned for that of medicine. Having attended the hospitals of Paris and other European cities, he began practice ia Boston in 1836, in 1838 was elected pro- fessor of anatomy and physiology in Dart- mouth College, and in 1847 was appointed to a similar professorship in the Massachusetts Medical School, from which he retired in 1882. As early as 1836 his contributions in verse appeared in several periodicals, and his reputation as a poet was estab- lished by the delivery of a metrical essay, entitled Poetry," which was followed by others in rapid succession. As a writer of songs, lyrics, and poems for festive occasions he occupied the first place. He was for many years a popular lecturer. In 1857 he commenced in the Atlantic Monthly a series of articles under the title of The Autocrat of the Breakfast Table," which were followed, in I860, by The Professor at the Breakfast Table," in 1872 by "The Poet at the Breakfast Table," and in 1885 by The New Portfolio." It may be added that he has also published, amongst other works, Astrsea," Currents and Counter-Currents in Medical Science," Elsie Venner: a Romance of Destiny," Borderlands in Some Provinces of Medical Science," Songs in Many Keys," "Soundings from the Atlantic," The Guardian Angel," Humorous Poems," Mechanism in Thought and Morals," Songs of Many Seasons," John L. Motley: A Memoir," The Iron Gate and Other Poems," Medical Essays," "Pages from, an Old Volume of Life," "Ralph Waldo Emerson," and A Moral Antipathy," beyond the numerous poems of lighter metre, recited at various dinners and reunions. Editions of his collected poems have appeared from time to time, th. first dating back as far as 1836. He was also distin- guished for his researches in microscopy and auscul- tation, and contributed largely to current medical literature, as well as to the literary journals and reviews. The dead writer paid his last visit to England in 1886. At that time he received a hearty welcome from literary and scientific bodies in all parts of the country. Even then many there were who thought that death had set his seal upon him. The tall, thin figure, with long, snow-white hair, surmounted with the quaint black velvet skull cap, seemed scarcely able to withstand the rigorous weather we were having at the time of his visit. But his voice was clear as a bell, and his after-dinner speeches were aglow with a fire and animation peculiarly characteristic of the man.

PARNELLITE GATHERING AT DUBLIN. A large meeting of the Parnellite party was held on Monday night in the Dublin Rotunda. Mr. John Redmond, M.P., presided, and in the course of a long speech declared that the hanging up of Home Rule after its rejection by the House of Lords had neces- sarily resulted in its disappearance from the list of urgent Imperial political questions, while the hope of its revival through a great agitation against the House of Lords was sheer midsummer madness. He advocated an early dissolution of Parliament in order to bring Home Rule again to the front; and a resolution in this sense and also one demanding an amnesty for the political prisoners, were subse- quently carried.

CAXTON CONVALESCENT HOME. :The Lord Mayor of London (Sir George Tyler), who was accompanied by the Lady Mayoress, laid, on Saturday, the foundation-stone of the Caxton Convalescent Home at Limpsfield, near Oxted, Surrey. The members of the printing and allied trades, for whose benefit the home is intended, will be indebted for it to the generosity of Mr. J. Passmore Edwards, the benevolent owner of the Echo, who recently laid the founda- tion-stone of another building, of which he ie the donor, in the same neighbourhood, in connection with Charing-cross Hospital. The Lord Mayor, in laying the stone, said he naturally took great interest in everything connected with the printing trade, as he had been more or less associated with printers since he was 15 years of age. Indeed, he might say that if it had not been for the printers he should not have had the pleasure of being with them that day in the capacity of Lord Mayor. He wished the home a pro- sperous future. Mr. C. J. Drummond, vice-president of the reception committee, proposed a vote of thanks to Mr. Passmore Edwards for his generous gift. Mr. Passmore' Edwards acknowledged the vote; and a similar compliment to the Lord Mayor for his attendance concluded the ceremony, Messrs. De la Rue's band played a selection of music during the afternoon and evening. The building, which will cost probably E7000 or £ 8000, will be erected from the designs of Mr. A. Saxon Snell. It will consist of a two-storeyed block, with returned gable ends and low central tower, with one-storey extensions in the rear.

t BRUTAL OUTRAGE IN ACHILL ISLAND. On Saturday evening, Valley-house, Achill Island, was fired by an incendiary, and Mrs. Agnes M'Donnell, the owner of the house and of the sur- rounding estate, was brutally maltreated, her skull being fractured, her nose broken, and her hair torn away from her head, together with portions of the scalp. A man has been arrested on suspicion, but so far guesses as to the identity of the per- petrator of the outrage are based only on the half- conscious utterances of the victim. The scene of the attack is in a remote part of the island, but within a few hundred yards of it are several thatched tene- ments inhabited by the unfortunate lady's tenants. Investigation shows that, between eight and nine o'clock on Saturday evening, the tenants of these huts were alarmed by loud screams, which appeared to come from the direction of the Valley-house. On running to the house they found that the dwelling, with the stables and sheds attached, was in flames, and very soon the glare was such as to light up the surrounding country for miles. In a field opposite to the main entrance Mrs. M'Donnell was found lying in an unconscious state, suffering from the terrible injuries mentioned. There were signs of great violence having been used. A bloodstained stone was picked up near by, and the police think that this was the weapon u sed. A messenger was iespatched to Dugort, three miles away, to inform the police, and to fetch Dr. Crolv, the injured lady being in the meantime removed to one of the cot- tages. The police made a minute examination of the ground surrounding the house, and found several small pools of blood. Mrs. M'Donnell gave her tenants considerable latitude when they were unable to meet her on rent days. She lived alone, was regarded as somewhat eccentric, and the fact that she was the sole occupant of the house was doubtless well known. On Sunday morning she re- covered her power of speech and made a statement which led to the arrest on suspicion of James Lynche- han, a villager, who had acted as her agent, and was supposed to be on bad terms with her, the reason, it is said, being that she objected to his taking rabbits on the estate. Lynchehan was engaged with others in attempting to extinguish the still smouldering fire when the police seized and handcuffed him. He was on Monday present in custody when Mrs. M'Donnell made her depositions before Mr. Carr, a magistrate. The injured lady presented a most pitiable appearance. It is said that she identified the prisoner as her assailant, and stated that he came to her house on Saturday evening, telling her the place was on fire. She jumped from her bed and attempted to escape, clad only in her nightclothes, when lie seized her and attempted to hurl her back into the flames. She screamed loudly, and, finding herself free, sought to run away when she fell, and remembered nothing more. In connection with her statement, it is pointed out by those in attendance on her that she occasionally relapses into unconscious- ness or incoherence, though she appeared clear and precise when making her deposition before the magis- trate. Lynchehan has been formally charged, and re- moved in custody to CastlebarGaol. Matthew Gallagher, an employe of Mrs. M'Donnell, on hearing of the out- rage, went to one of the tiiiburnt stables to get a horse on which to ride for medical aid, and found ) that both animals had been maimed by wounds in their flanks. Despite all efforts to extinguish the fire, the dwelling house was completely destroyed, and only the bare walls now remain. No evictions had taken place on the estate. The accused was formerly a member of the English police force.

THE SCOTTISH COAL STRIKE. A STRANGE STATE OF THINGS. Six open-air demonstrations of miners in support .f the strike were held in Lanarkshire on Sunday. The endeavours of the miners' representatives to obtain evidence of the alleged brutality of the police during the recent riots at Motherwell have failed. Half the miners throughout Scotland are now re- ported to be working, and thousands more are wait- ing to return when the pits are opened. A correspondent of the Morning writes: I re- veauy n&a occasion to visit some of the districts affected by the strike. From inquiries I gathered that if it had not been for the generous action of the grocers the struggle could not have lasted more than a fortnight. or three weeks. I had a conversation with several of these tradesmen, and in each case the story was the same. They were prac- tically coerced into supplying provisions for the miners and their families. The strikers carried off goods in the coolest way imaginable. They did not attempt to stint themselves in any way. Manv of them consumed as much I tommy' as they did before the strike. As an illustration of this, I may mention that a grocer near Airdrie showed me his book, saying, Look here, see what one family had for their breakfast this morning.' The items in- cluded 8d. for eggs, Is. 4d. for ham, 6d. for bread, 7d. for butter, besides Is. for tobacco. And the grocer added that before the breakfast was finished the eollier's girl was sent to get half a pound of tinned mutton to complete the repast. From further information gleaned in the Lanark- shire district I estimated that this grocer's case was about the average one in the various towns. I had no difficulty, therefore, in seeing how the strike is pro- longed. But the tradesmen have further aggravating circumstances to face. They have to contribute to the soup kitchens, and one of them in the Dunbar- tonshiro district told me that he had been obliged to give as much as E4. In addition to this the tradesmen were besieged after nightfall with the colliers' wives and children going about begging. They usually ask for loaves, and butchers and grocers as well as private people alike have to hand out bread to escape a volley of abuse. Indeed, in one district near Edinburgh where I stayed a night a reign of terror prevailed. Women who had by the frugality of their husbands been left with a little property had to give bread been left with a little property had to give bread or money lest they should get their windows smashed. Many poor widows also suffered through not getting their rents. As a matter of fact it is the colliers who suffer the least. They go about dividing their time between football, fishing, playing cards, and listening to the fiery orations of the leaders when they come to urge them to continue the strike. "The methods of beating up the enthusiasm in some cases were not only grotesque, but calculated to create terror. Round Coatbridge bands of miners paraded the streets as early as three and four in the morning, with pipers at their head. In numerous instances they carried large sticks, and made the most hideous noises. In the later days of the strike a new element appeared in the form of the colliers' wives, who took up the work of picketing, at which they showed themselves very efficient. A friend in- formed me that in a quarter where he spent a day the women pickets attacked a man who was going to work, and tore the clothes off his back. The in- fluence of the miners' wives in some quarters is para- mount. Once when a coalmaster caused a notice to be put up declaring that unless the picketing was stopped lie would not open work for six months, a collier's wife compelled her husband to write on the margin underneath the notice, We don't care a d I"

TnE bicycle craze has reached Rome. Most of the residents have taken up riding, and can be daily seen traversing the historic streets on their wheels. THE monograph of the mycetozoan organisms, which has been founded on the herbarium in the British Museum, is now all in type, and will be brought out at an early date. Mr. Arthur Lister has devoted his studies to these minute organisms for a long time, and by keeping many of the species under observation, he had excellent opportunities for deter- mining the value of the different forms. He has besides received authentic specimens from several countries, and has himself visited America where this group has lately received much attention. He has obtained 175 authentic specimens of the 275 species that he has recognised. This monograph will be of exceptional value, and form the basis of future work in these organisms. j

I EPITOME OF NEWS. TirE venerable Sir Andrew Lusk, one of the oldest members of the London City Corporation, has now entered on his 85th year. The, alderman began life nearGirvan, in South Ayrshire, wherf his father had a farm. Agriculture was not to the liking of young Ltfsk, who started a ships' store businpssin Greenock, and finally went south to London, where everything he touched seemed to turn into gold. Just at the right time he sold his ships, and now the Ayrshire farm boy can look back upon a life in which he has filled the office of Lord Mayor and member f.r Fins- bury. TIIE cross erected by the Queen to the memory of the late Prince Imperial on the spot where he met with his tragic death has been stolen. JAPAN has 1870 miles of railroad bu.lt, and 1400 miles more will soon be constructed. The Govern- ment is ordering a large quantity of surar-reifniy, and textile machinery, intending to make sugar and cloth on a large scale. AIR. R. J. GATLING, the inventor of the famous gun, resides at Hartford, Connecticut. He is now 74, with snow-white hair and a calm, clean- shaven face. He was born in North Carolina, and while a boy assisted his father in perfecting a machine for sowing cotton seed and one for turning out cotton plants, and subsequently invented others for sowing rice and wheat. In 1850 he invented a double-acting hemp weaver, and in 1861 produced his masterpiece-a mitrailleuse, or repeating machine gun. At its first trial, the gun fired 200 shots a minute; but he has gone on elaborating it ever since, until now it fires something like 12tX) shots in the same space of time. VICE-ADMIRAL SiR FREDERICK RICHARDS, who has returned to his duties as senior Lord Commissioner of the Admiralty, will be of great service to the Ad- miralty at this juncture. There are few men who know the Chinaman and the East better than he. Until a couple of years ago he was Commander-in- Chief of the British fleet in Chinese waters and, a keenly observant man, he obtained a wealth of know- ledge as to the resources and the power of the almond-eyed Celestial. Sir Frederick has not seen a great deal of war-service, but he has been able to show us of the belligerent stuff of which he is made in two campaigns. During the Cape war he rendered invaluable aid, and in the Burmese war he had com- mand of the naval brigade. He has liv\ 60 years, but in his sympathies and vigour he is at least 20 years younger. Altogether, be is a fine, healthful man, and his breezy air helps to give him a warmer popularity. They have a great confidence in him at the Admiralty. A WELL-KNOWN doctor at St. Petersburg has just been sentenced to seven days' imprisonment, to a fine of 1000 roubles, and to the payment of an annuity of 300 roubles to a lady who was injured by his un- skilful treatment. SOME time ago a young woman was arrested by the Birmingham police on a charge of theft. It was thought that she was not a novice at the game, and so her photograph was taken and distributed about the country. Nothing was known of her, however, and the justice of the case was met with a month's imprisonment. Oue day this week she presented herself at the lock-up and said: Please, I'm the young womau as 'ad the month. Would you be so good as to gi' me one o' m' photos ? Mother says 'er'll 'ave a frame for it if yo'll gi'e us one." The applicant must have possessed a good nerve to call at the police-station and make such a request. The wish (says a local journal) was granted, and the recipient departed with an expression of delight on her face. THE 20 Medical Faculties in Germany register for the summer term of this year 8012 students, of whom no fewer than 3507 are foreigners. The most fre- quented Faculty is that of Munich, which counts 1211 students. Berlin comes next with 1059, then Wurzburg, with 720, and Leipzig, with 672. The least frequented Faculties are Giessen, with 149 students, and Rostock, with 120. Foreigners are in a majority in half the Faculties-that is to say, at Erlangen, Heidelberg, Jena, Leipzig, Rostock, Stras- burg, Tubingen, Wurzburg, where there are 566 foreigners against 154 Germans; Munich, where ILICIV «>« 7L FI ngninst 459 and Fribourg, where there are 383 against 102. The lewe»\,5^>?pigners are found at Breslau, eight against 287 Germans; .boun. and Konigsberg have large German majorities. Berlin counts 803 Germans against 256 foreigners. MVNKACSY, the famous painter, will have one of his pictures in a very strange place. It is the picture of the Crucifixion, which is now on view in Antwerp and it will be put in the mausoleum of Count Andrassy, for which it was painted. WHY Mine. Patti selected the neighbourhood of Craig-y-Nos for her residence is explained, perhaps, by the fact, recently stated, that the natives are renowned for living to an extreme old age. Seven persons residing in cottages near to the residence of the diva have reached a centnry. One of them claims to be 110 years old, and attests it by docu- mentary proofs. TIIB Queen has presented a goat to the 2nd Battalion of the Welsh Regiment, commanded by Colonel J. Colquhoun Reade. VISCOUNT AOKI, the Japanese Minister in London, dresses in European style, and during the few months of his residence in this country has acquired English to such a degree that he can make himself well understood on diplomatic matters. He was formerly Minister for Foreign Affairs in Japan, and he has a great natural aptitude for languages. His know- ledge of German also is so accurate that he frequently corrects the drafts of his German secretary, A WELL-KNOWS London journalist, realising the fact that the ordinary professions in England are greatly overcrowded, is having his eldest hoy educated to be a cook. The boy was trained by a famous chef at Brussels, afterwards studied under the chef of the Grand Hotel, Paris, and later served for three years to M. Charpentier, in London. People who sneer at cooks should remember that your swell club or hotel chef draws from £ 500 to £ 1500 a year, and keeps his carriage. THERE are nearly 2000 women practising medicine in the United States. LORD BREADALBANB can ride 100 miles in a straight line on his estate in Scotland. TUB Baroness Burdett-Coutts possesses the finest and most carefully preserved copy of the first folio of Shakespeare (1623). IT will hardly be believed by outsiders that oil lamps are still used in some of the offices and com- mittee-rooms of the new Palace of Westminster. It is no uncommon experience in the spring months for the Chairman of a Committee to suspend a sitting while lamps are being sent for to counteract the effects of a suddenly-developed fog. Committee Room No. 15, in which the meetings of the Irish party are held, and Committee Rooms No. 18 and No. 19, which are allocated to the reporters for transcribing their notes, are now provided with incandescentiamps, but the other apartments, open- ing into the same corridor, are entirely dependent upon oil lamps, while the corridor itself is feebly lighted by a few gas jets of the most antique type. During the present recess further progress is to be made with the scheme of electric lighting. IN China the rolling of tea leaves is done by hand, but in India and Ceylon, European planters prefer to employ machinery for the purpose. THE Queen of Saxony maintains three physicians whose sole duty is to attend the ailments of the suffering poor. i THE German Emperor has issued a special order to colonels in command of regiments, enjoining them to see that no officer fteeps racehorses. No offioer will in future be allowed to keep any horse except his charger, unless he gets a special permit, to be ob- tained from the general of his division, and this will only be granted on his producing proofs showing that his financial position is such as to justify this luxury. THE demand for English lecturers and scholars in America seems growing. Mr. Stopford Brooke is Lowell Lecturer at Boston on English literature; and Mr. Rhys Davids is starting soon for the States to give another series upon philosophical subjects. Pro- fessor Ramsey, of Aberdeen University, is to deliver the Morgan Lectures at Auburn Theological Seminary, New York, some time this autumn, and we I believe it will be found that Mr. Morse Stephens, the specialist upon the French Revolution, and its latest and most accurate historian, has been appointed to the History Chair at Cornell University in suc- cession to Mr. Herbert Tuttle, the well-known his- torian of Prussia. Two Russian engineers, MM. Nowitski and Pokrschiewnikitz, propose to raise the Victoria. They were successful last year in raising the Weichsel. But she was a comparatively small ship, and was only 32ft. under water in a river. The Victoria lies in I more than 500ft. of water, and is 10,470 tons never- j theless, the engineers are sanguine of accomplishing j the task by means of 10 balloons of 1700 cubic metres measurement. I A SINGULAR tmng in tne way ot coincidence .1> im- ported from Harrogate. The increased income from the baths and pump-rooms this season is EII)OI th. number of water drinkers at the Royal Pump Room on the dav this was reported was 1001, whilst the sum collected on the general district account for August was £1001, all of which facts are vouched for by the mayor, the town clerk, and other members and officials of the corporation. TIIE labours of the Alaska Boundary Commission have given a big mountain to Britain—none other than Mount St. Elias but they have also taken away from that peak the supremacy it has long en- joyed as the highest mountain in North America. Its height has been finally determined this year at 18,023ft., whilst Mount Logan measures 19.534ft. St. Elias has to yield precedence also to two other mountains in British territory, probabh the highest in the Queen's dominions, and both as yet nameless. IT is a singular fact that the famous French dramatist. Sardou. owed his first success on the boards to his excellent handwriting. He had sent in his often-rejected play, La Taverne des Etudiants," to the Odeon management for consideration, and the manuscript was thrown with some others upon a table. One day at rehearsal, the charming actress, Mile. Berengtre, was attracted by the handwriting, and took up the manuscript, crying, Oh, what an exquisite hand She read the play, and recom- mended it so strongly to the directors that they were induced to read it, snd then accept it. At the time gatdoti-nc,w one of the richest literary a-ies in Europe—was starving. He had gone through seven long years of terrible hardship and privation. PAVER mills were erected about five years ago by a Chinese company at about 12 miles from Canton. The native staff consists of 200 Chinese, of whom 50 are women and girls, employed at picking rags, separating linen from jute, &c. The paper manu- factured is principally Chinese writing paper (not the best, which is hand made), wrapping paper, and fireworks paper. The first is made only of rags, and the two latter of jute, straw, and the bark of the mulberry tree. A SCIENTIST has recentlv made some very interest- ing tests with lights at sea, and declares that the white light can be seen farther than any other. A red light comes next in carrying power, and green ranks third. From 60 to 80 per cent. of light is absorbed by red and 95 per cent. by green glass. The percentage of absorption, of course, increases in ratio with the density of the colour in the glass, and the condition of the atmosphere has considerable in- fluence on the range of visibility of the lights. THE latest news of Sven Hedin, the Swedish traveller who is now on the Pamirs, is a letter which he addressed from Basek Kill to the Ti'rkestnn Ga~ci;e. This brings news of him up to July 23. Before ascending the Mustag-ata, he spent 12 days on the little Karakul, to accustom himself to the rarefied atmosphere, utilising his time in the making of a detailed map of the district, and effecting various geological surveys. The next letter should contain an account of his r.scent of the Mustag-ata Mountain and the Dsham-Balak-Bashe, where last spring his investigations were interrupted. The ascent of the Mustag-ata takes three weeks. TilE Baroness Adolph de Rothschild has, like our Duchess of Hamilton, a particular affection for cows. At her Brittany villa, in one of the walls of her boudoir is a sliding panel of plate-glass, through which she can see into the cow-house, or rather cow- palace, where the animals feed out of marble mangers, and are milked into solid silver pails. IT is in the perfecting of all the by-play of his productions that Mr. Henry Irving excels. He works as hard in training the humblest of his people as he does in bringing out the most telling points in his own part. He makes the men take off their bats, and inspects the length of their hair. He it is who arranges the proportionate elements of youth and age in the mob. Miss Terry is of great assistance to him in planning a production. They discuss frankly at the rehearsals whether this or that pose or piece of business will be more effective. She is very par- ticular about the music cues, and painstaking in the care with which she arranges that the fortissimo passages shall not come in at inopportune mumcuto when they will drown her voice. DR. DOUGLAS HOGG recently requested in the columns of the Paris Journal of Medicine the opinions of medical men as to whether bicycling was healthy « injurious to women. He has received 48 answers r to his 4c,action frcm distinguished English, French, and other phjv^ns. Of these, 36 approve the exercise if practised i» moderation, three recom- mend it under certain conditions, while nine are totally opposed to bicycling by women. PRESIDENT CASIHIR-PERIER is very popular at Pon- sur-Seine, where he has a magnificent chateau. When he went home last year as President of the Chamber, one of the men at a country fair asked him if he re- membered when he used to run races with the children of the neighbourhood. Yes," replied the future President, "and I have not forgotten how. I bet you 20 sons," taking off his coat, that I can beat you to yonder pole." The bet was accepted, and M. Casimir-Perier won it with ease. UNDER the failure of Prince Soochait Singh, of Chumba, the liabilities are roughly estimated af £5600, and the assets are stated to consist of a claim for £ 55,000 against the Indian Government. Thff failure is attributed to the insufficiency of income" allowed by the Indian Government ( £ 22 per month) and consequent excess of expenditure. FIFTEEN years ago there was not a telephone exchange in the United States. To-day there are nearly 1400 exchanges, employing 10,000 persons, and furnishing service to nearly 250,000 telephone subscribers. MR. H. K. CARROLL describes the rates at which' preachers are paid in the United States of America. Protestant Episcopal bishops draw the highest salaries, running from £600, with EGO travelling ex- penses, to £ 2500. There is only one bi/aop who. draws as much as this £1000 is the usual salary of an Episcopal bishop. The Methodist Episcopal bishop receives EGOO, and E300 for house-rent and travelling expenses. Catholic bishops vary from about £600 to £ 1000; the archbishops receive E2000 a year. For parsons, the Methodist's average salary is JE200, although in the cities it ranges from £ 500 downwards. The Congregationalists have an average of P-200, the highest salary in the denomination being four stipends of E2000 each. The Presbyterian is a little higher there are eight or ten paid £ 2000, six of which are in New York, and one receives £ 3000. No Baptist, with one exception, receives more than £1200. THE following extraordinary occurrence is reported from Trondbjem. A man who was recently elected inTrondbjem to represent that town in the Storthing as a member of the Loft, called upon the burgomaster and confessed to him that in 1876 he was sentenced to six years' penal servitude in the town of Molde. He also stated that his real name was Loenvar, and that he only assumed his present name at a compara- tively recent period. In consequence of these revela- tions, it is saifl, the candidate whom he defeated will take his seat in the Storthing. A WELL-KNOWN English artist, while travelling in the East in search of subjects, came upon a curious form of courtship. Sketching one day in Burmah, he noticed a man a little distance off, glaring fiercely straight ahead of him at some object he could not see from his position. The man sat with the same fixed glare the whole of the afternoon, and was there again next morning. The artist had the curiosity to ask an English visitor what it meant. The reply was, Oh, he is in love." It was explained that this was theie method of courtship. The object of this man's attentive gaze was a girl in the neighbouring bazaar. When a man falls in love he has to seat himself at a certain distance from his adored one, and wait for her to do the rest. If she looks in his direction once or twice on the first or second day, he is wildly encouraged and if on the third day she nods at him and smiles, it is time to go to the parents with refer- ence to the marriage settlements, ENGLAND has 16,000,000 sheep to 24,000,000 acres under cultivation. Wales has over 3,000,000 sheep and fewer acres in cultivation. DK. WILIIELM KIJLLNER, who has been appointed expert for explosives at Waltham Abbey, is one of the most popular men in the chemical department of the army. Hitherto he has been best known as the War Department chemist at Woolwich, and as Sir Frederick Abel's chief adviser and right-hand man. Dr. Killner has fortunately the confidence of Dr. Anderson, the Director-General of the Ordnance Factories. Indeed he has, for the matter of that, the confidence of all with whom he has been closely associated. You are able to tell that he is a scientist by his somewhat dry and exact method, but this exactness only serves to conceal a singularly warm and even generous disposition. He is to retain his posi- tion at the head of the chemical department at W ool- wich-a War Office decision which has given general satisfaction in the laboratory. If Dr. Killner first rather repels bv his manner, he soon inspires with warm friendship as he becomes better and more closely known.