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

NEWS NOTES. = )Bovzvm the ultimate outcome may justify action, and however needful action may be, there is a feeling of repugnance m many minds in this country as regards taking part in a military advance in the Soudan. We have sore memories of previous expeditions, and the con- tinued British occupation has been unpalatable to a number of worthy people here. But we put our hands to the plough in what our statesmen were persuaded was a good cause, and it is difficult to see—though we have been left, practically, to bear all the heat and burden of the day—how Ave can turn back with the work unfinished. And this may be the favour- able moment for completing the task. France, instead of giving us loyal support, has latterly stood by the fence of the field of toil, looking idly and. enviously on; and the temptation has at times been great for those responsible for the direction of British affairs to give up the project in disgust. We have held stubbornly on our way, however, in the hope of making a satisfactory job of it in the end, despite rebuffs and discourage- ments and if only we give peaco and quiet to the long disturbed Nile valley after all, our endeavours wiil have an issue to which we may point with pardonable national pride. IT may easily be seen how recent happenings in Abyssinia have hastened the time for renewed activity in the Soudan. The victory of their co-religionists over Italy to the southward has stirred up once again the ever-restless Arabs who scourge the Soudan perennially into greater boldness. Ever since, in 1885, we closed the Nilo carapaigu, the Arabs have persistently raided around the outposts at Wady Haifa, and occasionally they have ventured near Korosko, and menaced tho lines o £ communication. For a time their de- feat atToski by Sir Francis Grenfell kept them quiet, but years have sped sinco then, aod they have grown as troublesome as of yore. So now a new campaign against the Mahdi s successor and the dervishes has been determined on. Egyptian troops, Soudanese and native soldiers, are to be sent forward in forco under tho Sirdar, General Sir H. Kitchener, R.E., to re- occupy Dongola. As to the bearing of a projected Anglo- Egyptian Expedition to the Soudan—though a pacitic agreement seems to be within sight as betweer^'ictoriouslyingMenelikand the discom- fited Italians—there is grave doubt whether the movement of Egyptian troops towards Dongola may not como too late to avert the fall of Kassala into the hands of the dervishes. And ,it has been predicted that on the capture of Kas- sala. the Khalifwill push forward to tho invasion of Egyptian territory; and consequently the Dongola advance about to be made under arraiigement between our own and tho Egyptian Governments has been held to be a necessary measure of precaution, if nothing more. It is highly probable, it is said, that 'had the Italians been successful in their operations against the Abyssmians, the Egyptian authorities, supported by her Majesty's representatives at Cairo, would have recommended an advance up the Xiie, with a view to the re-conquest of Khartoum. .The; question now is, shall the dervishes be eimply driven bask and held at bay, or shall they be finally crushed ? It seems certain that no half-hearted action will be of avail, and that we had better make up our minds to see the thing out as quiclfly as may bp, or else abandon the idea of ever seeing l!gypt jlear of Arab trouble. TJjtiLTTARY figures and statistics command attention at once nowadays. From a Return just issued we find that our colonies and Egypt absorb—on a peaco footing—38,-100 regular soldiers. The field army, consisting of three Army Corps and four Cavalry Brigades," takes up 112,098 men, gairisons and defensive posi- tions at home account for 120,4:23, including militia, beside 13,300 volunteers. There are 33,335 troops held in reserve, including 10,000 volunteers, 7932 in tho depots, &c., and 28,000 recrriits with less than one years servieb. The Army Reserve is put at 48,000 for the iiekl army, 26,000 for defences at home, and oOOO to be kspt in hand, the total being taken at 79,1(;0. The cost for the colonies and Egypt is put down at ;t3,2.-)4,0-jO for the field army £ ti,u24,(XX), lor home defence £ 3,(503,000, for troops heM in reserve £ '70:?,800, for depots 1,400 and for recruits £ 1,500,000. TInma returns ^S,OQO and the colonies and I^gypt a^3^,000. Ilnfs the cost-of the Army, net, for the colonies and Egypt is ;c AVith things" all quiet" this is a pretty stiff figure to pay as "tho penalty of empireand the prospect of a iar bigger bill to come in with the appearance ol any disturbance is not particularly pleasing. ADVANCE, Australia! True to tlie^r motto, our Colonies underneath the world; backed vigorously by their respective Govern- ments, are making strenuous efforts to cap- ture the English food markets, to the farther exclusion of home producers. The New South Wales Ministry, following the lead set by the neighbouring colony of Victoria, has determined to constitute a Foard for Sports. The department will conduct a thorough system of inspection, grading and branding, issuing certificates for all classes of -exports. The Government will undertake, more- over to provide cheap and reliable freight arrangements throughout the different seasons, and will station in London an ofiicer qualified to report upon the condition of the various shipments on arrival. The timber growers will also endeavour to secure the gradnig and classi- fication of all timbers for export, The Govern- ments of Australia are consideiiiig a proposal thai ajl meat exported shall bear a uniform brand, indicating that it has been passed by the Government inspectors as sound and wholesome. British consumers may like the picture, btit-Bri-tisb producers emphatically do not. The questions involvod demand sciious deliberation; THE Profe^OR Huxley Memorial movement progresses. The Committee numbers noHv -■onto seven hundred influential people, anfl qoosidejrably over two thousand pounds are in Wd. As a sufficient sum is thus gua- ranteed for the statue at the British Huseum of. Natural History and the medal at the Royal College of Science, London, the first two objects definitely decided upon, sub- e°nnnïttes have been appointed to carry them. out, and designs for the statue are now being prepaid by Mr. Onslow Ford, R.A. Appeal is now being made for tho third object of the ,comniittee -tile furtherance of biological science tn some manner to "be hereafter determined, de- pondent upon the amount collected. FOE the coining Iloyal bridc-s, the Princess Maud of Wales and her cousin, the Princess Alexandra of Gobutg, their trousseaux are now in forward preparation, and it is satisfactory to learn that both outfits are being made almost entirely hi ngland. rhe Princess Alex- andra's trousseau is in the hands of the modi.tie who made the weddmg fitments for tho Duchess Ooburg's two eldest daughters, Princess Marie, C&v.. Princess of Romania and the «rand Duchess of Hesse. Tho Duchess has truly Royal ideas as to what a trousseau should bo, and Princess Alexandra's has been ordered on the same generous scale as those of her elder o818tere;.o, i",

f g~\ j ¡-= ILNY?Tua,prtil!)dox Greeks form three-quarters .andu" a t.è' remaining quarter of the population, about Armeirans lining verv haPPltv amapa-Ilt to elu.- ,¡ I:>

CURRENT SPORT. v There was a large gathering at Fenner's Ground, Cambridge, on Saturday, to witness the athletic con- test between the University and the London Athletic Club. The weather was fine after a good deal of rain, and the conditions generally were favourable. The Cantabs gained an easy victory, succeeding in taking seven of the nine events on the programme. These were the 100 Yards, the High Jump, the Long Jump, the Quarter Mile, One Mile, Three Miles, and Throwing the Hammer. The latter event was the surprise of the meeting. Robertson threw 105ft. 2in. for London, but Halliday surpassed this by Sin. London were best at the AV, eight putting and Iliwdles, the latter being just won for them by the old Cantab Fletcher. The Cambridge long-distance runner, F. S. Horan, was present, but did not compete. The Scottish Senior Cross-country Championship, at Inverleith, Edinburgh.—The Clydesdale II. won this 10 miles event with a score of 24 points, their only opponents, the Edinburgh II., not closing in. A. Hannah, of the winning club, was first man home. Golfing competitions on Saturday were again very numerous. The principal monthly medal competi- tions were won as follows: West Herts Club (Howard Williams won in the first division with 87 less 7 equals 82); Guildford Club (A. Chandler, one hole down to bogey ") Ranelagh Club (Woodbine Parish, 75 net); Staines Club (F. Barrett, 100 less 16 equals 84); Komford Club (II. C. Mieville, 82 net) Seaford Club (C. D. Wright, 96 less 13 equals 83); Littlestone Club (Rev. G. II. Samson, o less 7 equals 83). The best scores in quarterly competitions were Royal Epping Forest Club: Robert Redwood, 89 less 5 equals 84; Woodford Club: E. A. Tewson, two up to bogey." Thirty-six holes were played for the Cheadle Club's president's prize, F. Bindloss winning with 180 less 10 equals 170. The Formby Club's subscription prize fell to Mr. Miles with a net score of 75. The football of Saturday last was of a most interest- ing description, as it. included, under Rugby Rules, the match between England and Scotland for the Cal- cutta Cup. As will be remembered England had been beaten by Ireland and Scotland by Wales, but on the present occasion, at Glasgow, both teams were considerably altered, and the result, was that the Scotchmen > on '>;r a goal and two tries to nothing, which came a I surprise to most people, the winners amongst others, as the match was generally sup- posed to be a fairly close thing, with the balance slightly in favour of England. The match, which was first played in 1871, when Scotland won, is the oldest of the International contests, and, therefore, excites more interest than the others; but as the result of the Championship was at the same time in the scales at the match between Ireland and Wales, the attention of the football public was naturally divided. The splendid dash and discipline of the Irish forwards as shown at Leeds will not be readily forgotten, but when they met the Scotch team in Ireland much of this good form was wanting, perhaps from over-confidence. On Saturday, how- ever, they had evidently profited by the Scotch lesson, and were in their best form once again. The Welshmen were fairly confident, and in case any of their number should suffer unduly from mal-dc-mcr they took the precaution of crossing on Thursday, so they could offer no such excuse to mitigate the fact that they were beaten by four points. Thus, as in 1894, the championship of the United Kingdom reafca with Ireland, which, considering the very few men that play the game in that country, is a distinction they may well be proud of. The following Northern Union Rugby football games were decided on Saturday: Tyldesley v. Batley j On thtfir own ground Tyldesley won by three goals tc nothing. Hull v. Leeds: At Hull the home side wor by three goals to nothing. Stockport v. Oldhom At Stockport the home club won by a goal and a try to two tries. Ilnnslet v. Broughton Rangers At Huuslet. the home fifteen won by two tries to a goal, or six points to five. Wigan v. Wakefield Trinity Wisran, at Wigan, won by two goals and a try to nothing. Halifax v. Liversedge: At Halifax the home club won by two goals and two tries to a dropped goal. Leigh v. St. Helens At Leigh the home side won by two goals and a try to a goal. Bradford v. Huddera- field: At Bradford the herme side won by two goals and a try to nothing. Brighouse Rangers v. Widnes At Brighouse the Rangers won by two goals and a try to nothing. Warrington v. Manningham: At War- rington the visitors won by a goal and a try to two tries. Midland Counties Union Cup.—Second Round.— Coventry v. Stratford At Coventry the home fifteen won bv four goals and five tries to nil. Burton v. Belgrave St. Peter's At Burton the home team won by three goals to nil. Rugby v. Nuneaton At Rugby the town club won by a dropped goal and a try to a try. At Salford, Salford beat Blackley Rangers in the Lancashire Rugby competition by three goals and two tries to nil. Rugby club games: Lancashire v. Devonshire: At Manchester, Lancashire won by a penalty goal and a try to one try. Blackheath v. Posslyii Park: At the Itectory-E-eld, Blackheath won by a goal and three tries to two tries. Harlequins v. Old Leystanir: At Chiawick-park the Harlequins won by three tries to one goal. Kensington v. St. Bartholomew's Hospital: Kensington won at Wood-lane by a dropped oaland a try to nil. Croydon v. R.M.A., Woolwich At Croydon, a draw—one try each. Old Merchant Taylors v. Guy's Hospital: The Old Boys won by a goal and two tries to a try. Cardiff v. Neath:* On their own ground Cardiff won by four goals and a t-ry to nil. Oxford University v. Lennox: The University won at Oxford by two goals and three trios to nil. Association football, League games (Division I.). Bolton Wanderers v. Preston North End At Bolton, the Wanderers won by one goal to none. Derby County v. Sheffield United At Derby, Sheffield United won by two goals to none. Stoke r. Sunderland: At Stoke, the Stoke club won by five goals to none. Aston Villa v. Sheffield Wednesday At Birmingham, Aston Villa won by two goals to one. Division II. Notta County v. Newcastle United: At Nottingham, Newcastle United won by one goal to none. Grimshy Town v. Newton Heath On their own ground. Grimsby Town won by four goals to two. Burton Swifts v. Burslem Port Vaie At Burton, the Swifts won by two goals to one. Manchester City v. Lincoln City: At Manchester, Manchester City wan by four goals to none. Rotherham Town v. Lough- borough ltolherham Town won, at Rotherham, by four goals to none. The -Ari(Iland Leagtio.-Kettering v. Doncaster Rovers: On their own ground, Kettering won by three goals to none. Grantham Rovers v. Matlock Tho Grantham Rovers won by three goals to none at Matlock. Dresden United v. Gainsborough Trinity: At Gainsborough no point was scored, the result being consequently a draw. Ilkeston v. Welling- borough: Ilkeston, at Wellingborough, won by three goals to one. Barnsley St. Peter's v. Rushuen: At Barnsley, St. Peter's won by three goais to one. Newark v. Ileapor Town At Newark, Heanoown won by six goals to one. Long Lat.oa Rangers v. Mansfield At, Long Eaton, the Rangers won by seven goals to none. Tho Southern League.—Clapton v. Luton: At Upton, Lu'on won by six goals to none. Ilford v. Swindon Town At Ilford, Swindon Town won by 10 goals I o none. Millwall Athletic v. Royal Ordnance At Mdlwall, Athletics won the game by four goals to none. The Lancashire Cnp-Semi-final Round.—Black- burn Rovers v. Burnley. At Preston the game had to be left. drawn, each side scoring once. Nelson v. Bury The result was a draw, each s:de scoring one goal. Club matches in the Association game: Leicester Fosse v. Small Heath At Leicester the home side won by three goals to two. Corinthians v. Queen's Park, Glasgow At the Queen's Club, West Kens.ng- ton, Queen's Park won by two goals to one. Liver- pool v. West Bromwich Albion: At Liverpool the home side won by five goals to one. Ola St. Stephen a b«at the Vampires by four goals to nil. A fo, hall match under Association rules between elevens rt presenting England and NVales TO played the other day at Cardiff, find was won by England* by nine g- alsto one. In the First Division of tho League comuetition Burnley defeated Stoke.

DAMAGE BY THE GALE. FLYING SQUADRON'S EXPERIENCES. On the afternoon of the 16th inst. during the prevalence of a gale, a huge derrick, about 80ft. high, erectfed near the police court, at Liverpool, to be used in connection with the rebuilding of the fire station, showed signs of collapse, and some men who were working upon it descended, and got into a place of safety. They had hardly done so when the structure collapsed, and crashed through the roof of the coroner's court. For- tunately there were no persons in the court at the time, for the room was wrecked, and almost filled by the debris. The gale on the Mersey caused a tide to rise to 20ft. 10in., and the high wind drove huge waves over the pier-head, and right over the foot- paths. Several vessels were towed into the river derelict or disabled. Navigation on the Ship Canal was impossible. A violent westerly gale swept along the South Irish coast, and its full force was felt by the Flying Squadron, which arrived at Queenstown on the 16th inst. The vessels shipped enormous quantities of water, but no casualties were reported as having occurred.

MURDER AT BRENTFORL. An inquest was held on the 16th inst. at Brentford on the body of a woman named Elizabeth Quickfal), who was found dead near the Grand Junction-canal. It was stated that death was due to a rupture of the spleen, caused by the deceased having been subjected to violence. A verdict of Wilful murder against some person unknown was returned. The police are in possession of a clue, which it is thought may lead to the identification of the man who caused the fatal injuries.

L I CLOSING OF RALATON" PITS. t Lord LonJon:erJ y met a Iart-- e gath.iing of Ram tun coiner* un a urday afternoon to explain the circumstances wh ch have led h rn t > decide to give up the work; g if he Raint^n pits on the expiry of the coal rOj a'ty lease wh ch hu holds from the Ecclesiastical C n.ni ssioners. He stated that the pits had btei ksing large sums of money for the patt three years, and rial a statement of the receipts and expenditure during 18)5, which showed a total loss of £ 15,G40, or Is. lid. per ton of coal sold. In li87 the wages cost was 4s..jfd. per ton, while last year it was Cs. (jJ per ton. Lord Londonderry's statement, was listened to with close attention by the miners, who accorded him a xo'e of thanks. If the pits are closed, 15JO uiefl and lads will be thrown out of work.

PROFESSOR BRYCE ON SOUTH AFRICA. Mr. Bryce, MJ, deitvered a lecture in All Souls College, Oxford, on Saturday, at the request (f the Law Faculty of tho University, o.i thl) constituionl of the Duteli Republ C3 in Sou h Africa. He explained the constitutions of the Grange Frej State and the Tran.-vial, and r marked that the hi.-tory of both Republics showed how much conditions and circum- stances altered tho working of political machinery, and furnished a warning against oier-con,idenea in the working of such m .c dnerj,

ACCIDENT TO ROCHESTER-BRIDGE. Another accident occurred to Rochester-bridge on Saturday afternoon in precisely the tame manner at the serious mishap reported last mouth, aud the same steam tug and the same owners are concerned. The passage bcneatii the central arch of the bridge is closed for the purpose of repairing the damage previously occasioned, and as the tug was towing two barges abreast through the steond arch the vessels struck the buttress of the bridge, inllioting consider- able damage upon t hemsolves and fracturing one of tho cast-iron girders of the bridge.

SUNDAY OPENING OF MUSEUMS. The officers of the Sunday Society have addressed o the Chancellor of the Exchequer a letter pointing out that the adoption by the House of Commons of a resolution affirming the desirability of t!ie*^ening of national museums and art galleries in Londota on Sundays has removed the only obstacle in the way of provision being made in the Estimates for the cost: of such opening, and appealing to the Government to authorise the necessary expenditure.

AN OLD RAILWAY MAN'. The death occurred on Saturday morning of one of the oldest serva-its of the Brighton Railway Com- pany, Mr. Henry Anscombe, Jor over 22 years superintendent of the Brglvoa Station. Mr. Anscombe had been ill the service of the Brighton Companv since 1847. In his tirit year of duty he was knocked down by a train, and had both his legs broken. Before going to Brighton he was superin- tendent at Loudoii bridg- tation.

hRHEST AND DEATH. A clerk named Ilopkinsi n, wi.o h d bten employed for a number oi' yens by a local iirm of brewers, was arretted at A?h'ord, Kent, en {Saturday evening on a charge of ell, On reaching the police- station lie becami lil, and died sllurtly afterwards. On the po'ice si a chii g liti h tuse where Hopkinson, who w sa married in n, res ded, they found* bottlo which had cori,itI ed joi-on, and the supposition 1$ that he tuok a do..e prior to arrest.

TIC THE VENEZUELAN QUESTION. The Xtiv York World publishes a ft itemaut that Venezuala has agreid to t tti judgment on the Uruau indemnity qui stiou uf a jtJitll comui:s ica com- posed of two British and Iwo ne.Lit I n de e^ates and one selected by President Cleve'ard Xne Times New York correspondent says the negotiations between Great Britain and the United t) atcB on- cerning "Venezuela are at present, at a standstill. Comments are being made oa alleged inacciuaeiea IU the British Blue Rook.

•' ?KTna LoiiuAiiD" relates the following in the Church Tana A very dear little girl md«-ed is Emily, the granddaughter of the Bishop of Clothton. His lordship took her with him the other day whan he went to a confirmation, and the was t aken into tlio recurs nursery to tea after service. The children were rejoicing over their reminiscences and pos- sessions. Dorothea, the rector's daughter, was especially jubilant over a lien of which she had recently become possessed. 'It lays an egg every ttey.'said she. Oh! but my grandpapa is butter than that,' Baid Emilv he laid a foundation-stone yesterday.' MANY people will be pleased to see that o,t length the much-abuaed second class passenger is to red) vo some consideration. To arrest tho continued tie- the Gi. crease in this traflie, the Great Western and South- Western Companies are about to reduce the fares to lld. per mile, and perhaps gome of tho ot h> r com- panies will follow suit. In that case attention might, also be paid in sollio cases to the second class i ar- riages, which are often dirty and forbidding of a; pect, and distinctly inferior in comfort, as well as cleanli- ness to tho thirds. Especially in the trains devoieJ to the suburban trafiic, the second-class carriages in many instances are of a most uninvit ing character. WIIILE on his professional rounds on the lötk inst., Dr. Gale, of Woodseats, Sheffield, medical officer to the Ecclesall Poor Law Union, and his son were pitched out, of their trap by reason of the horse bolting. Dr* Gale's jaw was broken, and his son sus- tained concussion of the brain. The injuries are of a serious nature. THE Leeds City Council has decided to put, the purifiers, cinder throwers, and engine-men employed at the various gasworks in the city on the eight hours' day. A FIKK which broke out at the Ingato corn and flour mills, Beccles, Suffolk, on Sunday, resulted in damage being done to premises and stock to the value of nearly XIO,(". It is believod that the fire originated in a stoke hole, though the foreinan declares that he left everything apparently at six on Saturday evening.

FORTY-THREE PRISONERS MURDERED AND EATEN. The official report by Sir John Kirk as to the dis- turbances at Brass in January of last year has been issued as a Parliamentary paper. Sir John Kirk states that there is every reason to believe that the attack bad been in view for a long time. The loss of human life seems to have amounted to about 24 killed at Akassa. About 43 prisoners were murdered in cold blood at Nimbe and eaten, while 25 were eventually released, but only after the town of Nimbe had been attacked, and as a condition that trade would be reopened with the coast.

-e-_ THE TRANSVAAL TROUBLE. KRUGEft's COMING VISIT. It is officially denied in Pretoria that there ie any general anti-British movement in the Transvaal or that the whole burgher population is opposed to President Kruger's visit to England. The President says it is true that a section of the burghers are opposed to his going, but he is convinced that when the negotiations on the points to be dis- cussed are arranged, the burghers will support him in his desire to interview the British Government personally. It may therefore be considered almost certain that he will go to England, and the general opinion is that his visit will afford the only means of finally effecting the solution of pending questions. Five of the chief Reform Committee prisoners have gone to the Rand on parole, and without police guard. The Government officials have found rilies and ammunition stored in the De Beers Mine, but no machine-guns. A witness stated, in the course of the Pretoria investigation into the charges against the Johannesburg Reform Committee on the litb iIut., that on the instructions of Mr. Wolff he started with 150 horses for Mafeking in December, but stopped at Rustenburg, and delivered the horses to Dr. Jameson when that gentleman arrived there.

PRISONERS AS WITNESSES. The de sire of the criminal Bar that, a clause shall be inperted in the Bill to allow prisoners to give evidence, prohibiting counsel from commenting on the refusal of a prisoner to avail himself of this right, is intelligible enough. Wo are by no means sure, however, that it ought to commend itself to Parliament. The object of the law is to convict the guilty, and though it is perfectly true that, a pri- soner who elects not to give evidence will have very little chance if counsel is permitted to comment on the fact to the jury, his objection to enter the witness-box will probably arise from a consciousness of guilt. We venture to suggest that a clause for- bidding counsel to cross-examine as to previous con- victions would be more likely to assist the ends of justice than what is proposed. Upon the whole the rule which plevents the jurv from being prejudiced on the f lets before them by evidencens to the prisoner's previous life is a good one, and should be maintained. If it wns reversed, a prisoner who had once been convicted before would but rarely be acquitted, eyen when he was innocent of the offence for which he was being tried.

THE Powis Medal at Cambridge University for the best poem in Latin hexameter verse has been ad- judged to Joseph James Rabnett Bridge, Scholar of Gonville and Caius College.. SouriiKNn Plimft is already by far the longest in England, but it is to be made stillloDer. The Cor- poration of Southend have invited tenders for its extension about 150 vards seawards, and for the con- struction of a new pier-head AT Plymouth, on the 16th inst., Frederick Tonkin, a youth, aged 16, was committed for trial, charged with committing a burglaiy at a branch I)ost-olrice at Plymouth, Prisoner admitted that on the night of February 23, having watched the policeman on duty walk away, he forced an entrance into the premises, and from a cash-box, which he broke open, b. stole over 4:61. During the next few days before be was arrested, he spent £ 50 on new clothes, horse bire. and presents to other boys.

OUR PRECIOUS SKIN. The human skin is a very wonderful fabric front the scientific point of view. Perhaps if more were known about it popularly we should be inclined to value our skin even more than we do. In his bio- logical lecture at the Royal Institution in London the other day Professor Charles Stewart mentioned many facts of interest about the human epidemis" (and about the dermis as well), taking it as a type of mammal skin-structure. The outer skin cuticle or epidermis is protective merely. It consists of some layers of flattened cells which resemble scales. Thfey are the cast-off dead cells of the true skin or dermis lying below. In the process of dying they have been converted into a horny material, and so provide a perpetually renewed shield protecting the softer underskin from the roughness of the outside world. The true skin below is a thick layer of living fibrous cells, and it projects into the cuticular layer in the shape of innumerable lit tie points called papillae. It is from this layer that leather is formed. Here are buried the little knob-ended nerves of touch, the blood-vessels supplying the skin and the lymphatis vessels. Fatty deposits in this layer urnke the skin a bad conductor of heat, and so keep the tissues warm. One of the most characteristic things about the mammal skin are the hairs. These are nothing more than sper-ialised out-growths of the skin, affording a means of protection ugainet cold which probably no other device could equal. In the cats, dogs, bears, sheep, and other bairv mammals we find this form of protection in its most perfect form. The follicle or pit in which a hair grows is a most remarkable structure. In effect, however, it is but an inpushing of the skin, from the bottom of which the hair grows out at the rate of half-an-inch a month on the average. The root of the hair is provided rvith a nice little grease bag, which lends some support to the vendors- of pomade and cosmetics. The colour in hair is a very curious and uncertain problem. Professor Stewart thinks it possible that under the influence of sudden shock the pigment in the hair (probably through the operation of nerves of which we have not yet traced the exist- ence), may be destroyed in a few hours, leaving the pigments space full of colourless gas, which gives the white appearance to white hair." But he believes that hair of a sparkling sandy look owes its peculiar appearance to alternate coloured and non-coloured parts, and that this may be produced by the different results of growth during the night and day. Anyhow, the alternations of white and coloured parts, he finds,, correspond practically in point of time with alternate periods of twelve hours. There are, it appears, some 334,000 hairs over the whole sur- face of the body. Professor Stewart has counted them. Other interesting features of the skin are the •udorifie or swea' glands," and the minute orifices through which the insensible perspiration goes on, regulating in a very practical way the temperature of the skin. The prufe-sor has also counted these ex- cessively minute pores, through which some 50 ounces of moisture insensibly pass each day. On the under surface of the hand there are about 67,200. They are much less numerous over other parts of the body. The nails which arm our toe and finger tips are likewise specialised pprls of the skin, which also grow out of an infolding, like the hairs. The growth of nail is about one thirty-second of an inch per week.

CURRENCY REFORMS. By an Imperial ukaso gold to the amount of 75,0000,000 roubles, which is to serve as cover for the credit roubles already issued, is to be acquired by the Imperial Treasury from the state Bank, and to be paid into the Exchange Fund simultaneously with the withdrawal of the credit roubles. This amount of gold may, therefore, already be considered as belonging to the Exchange Fund, which accordingly now amounts to 500,000,000 gold roubles, equal to 750,000,000 credit roubles. At the present time the non-interest-bearing debt of the Imperial Treasury contracted through the issue of credit notes amounts to one-third of the entire paper money in circulation.

NOT MADE IN HEAVEN. The making of marriages has been attracting a good deal of attention in London lately. At Portland, Maine, the other day, the Rev. Samuel E. Pearson was a witness in a divorce case. Mr. Pearson," asbed the judge, "were you on this bench in my place and acquainted with all the circumstances of this case, would you grant this divorce ?" Moat certainly, your honour, replied the minister. But how do you reconcile this statement with the injunction What God hath joined together let no man put asunder ?'" Your honour, I am satisfied that the Lord never joined th's couple," replied the clergyman.

HUMOURS OF RUGBY FOOTBALL. You wish to hear something of the humours of Rugby fooibJI ?" said Mr. Harrison, the captain of the York Football Club, to a representative of Chums. You should have cornered a spectator on that bead. What is excruciatingly funny to the gentlemen round the ropes is oft the reverse to the plaver. I will give you an instance of this. Some time ago we ware calied upon to visit a town at a considerable distance from York. After being cooped up for three weary hours in a stufly railway carriage, we were landed at the local station, stiff and sore, with very little time to spare. It rained all the way to the dressing-rooms, where we learned that tbe ground was half a mile further on. Featful of keep- ing the home team waiting, and thus rai.«in<» the wrath of the spectators, wo donned our jerseys and trotted 011 through the storm. For the next three- quarters of an hour following our arrival on the ground we stood in the pelting rain awaiting the arrival of the home team. There was no shelter to be found, with the exception of a solitary umbrella, and that already covered the assembled spectators two. Thee gentlemen were disposed to be merrv. and chaffed us unmercifully until cue of the team turned on them with something short of murder in his eye. when the crowd sought safety in flight. Then, and not till then, did the players realise the humour of the situation. It is not often that a player is capable of putting the spectators to rout, is it? In the course of the competition for the Yorkshire Challenge Cup, we once visited a ground not very far from Leeds. This was a some- what three-cornered enclosure of hills and holes. One corner uf the ground WHS evidently ashamed of its surroundings, for it was gradually sinking, probably into a In this hole lay the hopes of the home team, and again and again their enthusiastic and evidently whist-playicg supporters urged them to 'Get'em in the nine-boil, ¡ads! Get 'em in the nine-noill' We were individually and collectively rolled in the mud at the bottom of the nine- heir by the fun-loving players of the home club, and, after managing to win, were stoned from the village by the natives. This is a kind of humour which seldom strikes one as being particularly funny at the time. Wind and weather-are re- sponsible for not a few of the humours of football." continued my informant. I remember one match at York, in which it was necessary to take the kick- off twice before the ball could be landed in our op- ponents' territory, owing to the wind. On this oc- casion some of the spectators accused us of indulg- ing in what they were pleased to call butterfly kickiD"; and reminded us again and again that the goal-post were at t other end o't grund.' Yes," continued Mr. Harrison, in answer to a query, there is occasionally something ludicrous in defeat. Some time ago we were drawn against a small out- of-the-way clob in the first round of the Cup com- petition. I won't mention names, because the sub- ject is a sore one yet with 60me of our fellows, liverv- body agreed that this was a cheap thing' for our club, and, to be candid, 1 tnonght so nivtelf. Wbett the novices' scored a fluKy try POon after the com- mencement, we were not particularly 8r>rrv and tbougnt it would give them encouragement' It did, and they put so much energy into their work that when the wL,»fe bW .hcf bS bH' points to four I have encountered a few surprise,, but never anything lise tJiat, and U)e honi5ward journey was an experience that none of the losing team are likely to forget. However, it taught roe a lesson which cannot, be too*^fep]r impressed o» everyone who would be a successful player—never despise an opponent."

TN the militia the effective strength is !0R,3.>0 and establishment l'Jo.T&k both figures aliuoat the sama as last, year. AKiMMitaTsrs »» now in progress for connecting the London awd i'f.ris telephone with the French inland winr*. IT is ■yer.nv admitted amongst barristers that Sir lSdww1 i-'arke I wdung much the biggest at U* lJ r -no .:i'rt «3O,O00 a year

2!!M ST. GEORGE'S ELECTION PETITION. THE JUDICIAL DECISION. Mr. Baron Pollock on the 13th inst. delivered judgment on the St. George's election petition. He said that in this petition it was soughtto set aside the return of Mr. Marks for the St. George's Division of the Tower Hamlets. There were 352 changes of corrupt and illegal practices, but of these 76 were struck out by order of the Cburt before the hearing commenced. Under the head of bribery the first charges were those which were alleged to be corrupt and illegal in respect to the distiibution of tickets for provisions, soup, and coal by means of a philan- thropic society. The constitution of this society, and the mode in which its affairs were managed, was proved by Mr. Jacobs,the chairman, and Mr. Brame, the treasurer, and by the books of the societv. It was started in 1893 at the suggestion of Mr. Brame, upon non-political lines, and the rules provided that the relief should not eatend beyond the boundajcies of St. George's. The society bad its oiBcers, with Mr. Marks as president, and the funds were made up by sub- ts,criptionsof 5s. each member and donations. During tlte winter of 1895, when great distress was fife, it was shown that 13,600 tickets had been issued. His lordship, after dealing with the subject of the tickets, continued that he did not think it necessary to state the grounds of the reason of the conclusion their lordships had arrived at on this particular part of the case; but they were agreed that none of the charges of bribery had been established. They thought things were done openly at Beaconslleld House, and no relief was given knowingly to undeserving persons, nor could they find that there was any corrupt motive, for the distribution was continued until the distress was over, and long after the election had taken place. On the subject of the respondent having in his speeches used the distribution of foods, &c., to aid his candidature, Mr. Marks had said that what he did say was said in explanation on his part. The principal thing to be regarded, said his lordship, in considering this matter was whether at the time of bestowing a gift or charity the donors bad in their mind the idea to corrupt the voter. And in this view their lordships were supported in the decision they had given by Mr. Justice Grove in the Boston petition. In regard to what has been called the coster's case, his lordship said there was a complete absence of corrupt motive. A great deal had been said about Connor's men, but their lordships considered that the charge of bribery had not been made out. As to the Irish Unionist Alliance and the refreshments given by its officials at concerts, their lordships did not consider that theseofricials had been shown to be agents ti Mr. Marks, and that there was nothing corrupt in their giving refreshments. No evidence had been pro- duced to show that the entertainments at the Con- stitutional Club had been used as a means of inducing votes. With regard to the charges of treating in public- houses, the evidence produced by the petitioner was extremely weak, and no case had been proved. As to the cases of alleged treating at the Druids' Lodge, Baron Pollock thought the charge had not been clearly proved. Turning next to the case relating to the alleged dark passage in Mr. Benn's life, which his lordship described as one Qf the most serious charges contained in the petition, he said the only question for their consideration was whether the respondent was liable for the acl of Mr. Silver, and Baron Pollock held that this charge had not been proved. His lordship having commented on the way in which the petitioner's case had been presented to the Court, the petition was dismissed. Baron Pollock said they did not propose to give costs until t the whole of the case was finished, but as at present advised they thought the costs ought to follow the event. Mr. Jelf then opened the case on the recriminatory charges.

THE EMPRESS'S EDICT. Russia's young Empress has created consternation at the Court cf St. Petersburg by discountenancing the use of tobacco by the ladies wP¡1I whom she is brought into contact. She is cre,fited with the observation that a cigarette in the mouth of a woman is as bad as an oath in that of a man, and has re- quested that neither her ladies-in-waiting nor yet the ladies of the Court should approach her so long as there is the slightest aroma of tobacco about their clothes or about their person.

IIE REMAINED AN ENGLISHMAN. From Sir Ruhert Wilson's "Life," a timely story has been unearthed. Regnier, the unlucky French General, before Cairo capitulated to the French, tried Lo overcome the resistance of Mahomed Bey Ellii, who opposed the surrender. No," said Mahomed, I am an Englishman.' Regnier replied You are wrong; it is true that the English are superior to us at sea, but by land they are not even respectable why attach yourself to a Power that can never aid jou ?" Mahomed asked Is not the sea much larger than tha land ?" Regnier acknowledged that it was. "Then," said Mahomed, "as the dominion of the English is larger than yours, so must they be greater. I continue English."

Tilm bones and muscles of the haraaa body art capable of over 1300 different motions. TUB London and North-Western Railway employs directly or indirectly, nearly 80,000 persons. SKVKNTY-ONB bodies have now been recovered from the colliery disaster in Silesia.

EGYPT AND THE SOTJPAN. THE ADVANCB ON DONGOLA. The Times Cairo correitpondent says tbattfiel)on- gola expedition will consist of about 9000 will start frojo Wady Haifa, and march along the river. Progress will necessarily be slow on account of the difficulty of transport. The 1st Battalion of the North Staffordshire Regiment, now in Cairo, is under orders to join the expedition, but will not at present advance beyond Wady Haifa. The date of departure has not been fixed. French com- plaints of British movements in Egypt find few echoes in the United States. The leading news- papers recognise the difficulties of the situation on the Nile created by the Italian defeat in Abyssinia. The benefits which Great Britain has conferred on Egypt, and the imperative ne- cessity of her stay in the country, are known and recognised in the United States. The British cause in Egypt is, in short, recognised as the cause of civilisation. The announcement ot the advance on Dongola has elicited a good deal of comment in the Paris and Berlin press. The Debats, like the Temps, regards the movement as being devised to furnish an excuse for the prolongation of the British occupation of Egypt. THE SITUATION. The abandonment of the Soudan was decided upon in 1884 (says a correspondent of the Timcs) with considerable reluctance and after much consideration. It was recognised that any civilised Power holding Khartoum practically held Egypt in the hollow of its hand, and that every argument that could be used against allowing a foreign Power to hold Egypt was just as valid when applied to Khartoum. But it was argued that as the conquest and ad- ministration of the Soudan would be a financial burden greater than Egypt could bear at the time, it was advisable to postpone the assumption of that burden either until she was better able to support it or until the proximity of other Powers rendered it of vital importance to her that she should regain sole control of her great river. Provided always that there was no danger of the conquest of Khartoum by a civilised Power, Egypt had everything to gain by postponing the reconquest. Every year gave her increased strength, every year was 'likely to diminish by internal dissensions the strength of the Mahdists. All, therefore, she bad to do was to watch and to wait -to watch that no other Power approached more nearly than herself to Khar- toum-to wait till her own strength and the weakness of the Mahdists gave the chances in her fovour. In 1884 and 1885 the power of the Mahdists was at its greatest, while the chances of European inter- ference in the Soudan were remote. The four keys to Khartoum are On the North, Abu Hamed, via Berber. On the East, Stiakin, via Berber. On the East, Massowah, via Kassala. On the South-west, the Bahr el Ghazal. The last was not then within the bounds of pro- bability. Souakin and Massowah were both in Egyptian hands. Abu Hamed was within striking distance of Korosko. The Italians were allowed to go to Massowah, and eventually to Kassala, but it was stipulated that Italy should abandon Kassala whenever Egypt was ready herself to occupy it, and to this Italy assented. But she is free to abandon it when she likes, and may now have to do so. If it were certain that it would fall into and remain in the hands of the Mahdists the danger might not be very great, but the Abyssinians have always I desired it, and flushed with their reeeut victories, are not likely to leave it to the Mahditto. It is un- doubted that behind Abyssinia are Russia and France, so that the abandonment of KaBala would place one of the keys of Khartoum within the control of a civilised European Power. The Power that holds Kassala holds Khartoum whenever it chooses, and the danger against which it behoved Egypt to watch is now occurring. There is only one possible answer. The abandon- ment of the Soudan was only proposed, supported, and carried out with full recognition of the fact that it meant ruin to Egypt unless Egypt remained nearer than any European Power to Khartoum. If any such Power places itself at Kassala it becomes a necessity of the policy recommended and enforced by England in 18^4 that Egypt should advance at least to Berber. The road to Berber is by Korosko and Abu Hamed. The wells of Murad, half way between those two places, are already occupied by Egyptian troops; the distance from there to Abu Hamed is a little over 100 miles. But Egyptian troops at Abu Hamed would require to keep up their river communications with Wady Haifa, the present most advanced outpost, and to do that it is necessary to hold Dongola, a town between them which commands the river end of the Wady Malik route from Darfur. That once occupied, the occupation of Abu Hamed can be safely and easily made, and Berber is then only distant a little over 100 miles by river. Opinions may differ as to the advisability or inad- visability of our occupation of Egypt, but there can be no difference of opinion as to our duty, while there, to allow Egypt to carry out the necessary results of the policy we enforced upon her in 1884. We compelled her to abandon the greater portion of her territory, then costly and useless to her, by pointing out that she incurred no immediate danger, and that if the danger ultimately arose she was so situated that she could avert it by resuming control of that necessity, vital to her existence, the Nile. That danger has now occurred, and every argument used in 1884 to enforce the abandonment of the Soudan is to-day valid in the support of the necessity of an advalle- iirat to Dongola, and eventually at least to Berber. BAITAI.IONS Goisr. ROINVAUIT.—FONR.ins ONM^-F. The ICgvptian Government will apply to the Cat"e of the Public Debt to take £ E5;HJ.00) from the Gencm) Reserve Fund to defray the expense of the expedition to Dongola. One of the Egyptian bat- talions forming part of the expeditionary force left Cairo for Wady Haifa on the iGth inst. The entire force i? expected to be collected at Wady Haifa by the 1st of April, when a start will be made for Pongola. It is expt-eted that Brigadier-General Iviti-hener wiil command the expedition, with Colonels Rnndle and Hunter as divisional commanders. The Khedive is taking the liveliest interest in iheexpedition, to which public feeling in Cairo is generally favourable. The Times I'tiriscorresl)otident says t he ad vance t o Dongola is crenting great interest there, and is profoundly dis- concerting to French minds. He report.. a conver- sation with an influential and intelligent, Frenchman, who is of opinion that France will rc-fuso her sanction to the advance of by the is Caisse de la Dette also that the expedi- tion really means the recapture of Khar- toum and a pushing on to Uganda, after the accomplishment of which it will be impossible for Great Britain to evacuate Egypt. The subject con- tinues to be disciissed by the Berlin Press, and the Vreraya of St. Petersburg says the expedition implies the conquest of the Soudan by this country, and the postponement of any settlement of the Egyptian question for an indefinite period.

ROMANCE OF A SLAVE'S LIFE. An important personage in King Menelik's entour- age is Gabriel Gobano, who is a native of the country, but was sold as a slave at Cairo. A phsha adopted him and had him educated at that city and Jerusalem, where he became a wonderful lin- guist and got into relation with inlluential members of the Russian clergy, with whom he keeps up a correspondence. He speaks Russian, German, Italian, French, English, and Arabic, and is Menelik's interpreter and often his secretary. He ran away from the pasha, and reverted to Abyssinian Christianity. Menelik has unbounded confidence in this man's judgment. The Queen was not favourable to him until he married in church her first dresser, who is also her confidential maid.