Papurau Newydd Cymru
Chwiliwch 15 miliwn o erthyglau papurau newydd Cymru
12 erthygl ar y dudalen hon
SUFFICIENT NOTICE TO QTJIT.'.,
SUFFICIENT NOTICE TO QTJIT. A .point to be considered in the connection indi- cated by the headline, aavs CasselVs Family Lawyer, is where the master has a right to dismiss the ser- vant upon notice, but no special period of notice was specified when the agreement was entered into. The question often arises whether the notice given is suf- ficient. The answer to the query depends entirely on the answer to another—namely, What is the custom with regard to that class of servants ? A domestic servant is entitled to a month's notice. An ordinary clerk in an office or counting-house j3 only entitled, as a rule, to a week's warning a managing clerk to a month at least. A shop assistant at weekly wages must be content; with a week, though a sbopwalker can claim "a month; and: the manager of a large retail business is, in some trades, I believe, entitled to three months' notice. So it goes on; the rule being that the higher the position of the servant, the more notice he is entitled to. I suppose the reason is that a man in a more important position is likely to have a greater difficulty in procuring another similar situa- j tion than a servant in a lees important position. I' mean, that a shopwalker is not so likelv to obtain another post in the same capacity as is "an ordinary assistant. Therefore, the former ought to have longer notice in order to give him more time to look j about, for a fresh engagement. At the same time, the law as to notice is so hazy, except in the case of ) domestic servants, that I advise both masters and servants always to make an agreement on the subject at the time the contract of hiring and service is entered into.
OH K NEW ART GALLERY.'.
OH K NEW ART GALLERY. The New Art Gallery, which is to be formally opened in Lobdon by the Prince of Wales about the middle of July, contains seven different galleries. Three of these are 59 feet long by 32 feet wide; the largest measures 93 feet by 32 feet, and the other three 32 feet each way. The galleries are lighted from the top. Sicilian marble and marble mosaics have been used for flooring, and the walls are covered with Tyne Castle tapestry. Mr. Henry Tate has already spent over £ 100,000 on the building, and j i has promised to present the nation with 65 of his :høt PicturOP, which are worth over 9100.000. .2: :• -/v.- JO -n. \J'—w •" ». „ 4C C- I- li' .CktJ » .CI; J C SIJ
AMERICAN HUMOUR. -
AMERICAN HUMOUR. IOSH BIM.IHGS said: The old adage tells ut that honesty iz the best policy, and I hav thought the mass ov mankind were honest from policy more often than from enny virtew they possessed. Mi dear friend, if yu expect to enjoy much in this world, and let others do the same, yu mustn't notiss more than half yu see. :1 Gravity, life*silence, is safe. It requires immense brain power to be a good monkey and a good moral philosopher at,the saaie time. I bav seen people who didn't seem to hav a single fault; and, what may appear strange, they didn't seem to hav a single virtew either. I hav written apparent philosophy enuff in the last 15 years to run the whole world with and yet I never hav been able to run misejf 48 houip without grate risk 6v koUideing with, sum thing. SMIC.BR: "I spent nearly 2000dol. refitting$iy house, and then my wife complained there was nothing to sliow for it." Pickerly:" Wasn't there?" I Smiler Well, old man, you ought to have seen our wine cellar." UROOM (en tour): "Everybody in the dinirg-room toust have seen through us." Bride: "It was our I bwn fault. We made perfect spectacles of ourselves." "I MADE 500dol. once," said the man in the mackin- tosh, by merely keeping my mouth, shut." Wai-tt at an auction t" asked the man in the slouch hat. II No." High-priced doctor asked you to show him your tongue, and you didn't do it?" ventured the man who had his feet on the table. "No. It was j « Found it on the street and didn't say a word about it to anybody ?" suggested the man behind the green goggles. Do it on a bet ?" inquired the man in the shaggy ulster. Burglar asked you where your money was hid, and you were struck speechless and couldn't tell him ?" hazarded the man with the big spot of grey in his moustach "You thiplk yoa're pretty smart," said the man in the mackintosh, sneaking bo the crowd generally, u but you're not. ijfone of you would ever guess it. I made that 500doi. in the simplest way in the world. A rich old None of you would ever guess it. I made that 500doi. in the simplest way in the world. A rich old uncle who was visiting us told a long story we'd beard him tell hundreds of times before. I was the only obe in the family that didn't yawn, and he remem- bered me in his will." MICHAEL FLAHERTY was in court as a witness, and MICHAEL FLAHERTY was in court as a witness, and f with each succeeding question put to him his never brilliant mental powers became more and more con- fused. At last he was asked to tell about the situa- tion of a cel tain flight of stairs. "How do those stairs run"? asked the examining counsel, whose patience wrls well nigh exhausted'by his efforts to elicit infor- njation from Michael. "Phwnt is it ye're askin' me now ? inquired that bewildered young man. I asked you how those stairs run?" repeated the counsel, with great distinctness of enunciation. "Thim stairs!" muttered "Michael, evidently in a slough of doubt. Suddenly his stupid face brightened, "Why, sorr," he said, with his eyes fixed oa; the counsel, whose gaze he felt sure would now be approv- ing, if wan is at the fat o' thim stairs they j ist rin oop, but stand at the top av 'em and 'they nn down, sorr." .■ -V' I MBS. LOWBRIXN Well, Sally, I S'pose we've got to call on that new neighbour. Just take your scissors and cut some sort of a hole in the middle of our visiting card." Daughter:. What fer, "maw ? What does that signify?7" Mrs. Lowerten: "It don't mean any thing that I knows of, but she'll think < it does, and fl mighty cheap to find she don't know as much about society ways as we does." t' Anz you syre," said- the Spanish general, that the enemy is bound to succeed in the end ?" Abso- j lately." Nothing can occur to enable us te subdue j him ?" Nothing." Then hang out a flag of truce and tell him we are prepared to be merciful and mag- nanimous." L -c- Wny don't that European war you've been pre- dicting right along, come off. Mr. Sportly?" inquired his wife. "I suppose the kinetoscope people are not | ready." DON'T you think your son a little fast, Mrs. Sweetly ?" Far from it. He is so slow that we can never get him to breakfast before noon." BRIGGS Here comes the undertaker who lives in the next block to me. -Let's, cross over." Griggs: "What's the matter?" Briggs: "The last time I. was ill the doctor told him I couldn't live, and I don't was ill the doctor told him I couldn't live, and I don't like to hurt his feelings." HB You know that good old joke, Ethel, about making glacj the waist' places ?" She Yes, and I look upon it ae one of those inimitable pleasantries that never grows old." GRIMLY:" What makes it so infernally noisy at this boarding house, every night?" Mrs. Grimly; The women.here have a whist club." WHICH: direction is that shootin'?" shouted the potceman as he dashed around the, corner. Down the street," grinned a newsboy. "Then I've got 'em," and he sprinted up the street to make the capture, I UNDERSTAND," said the new husband to the new wife, that you intend to raise chickens for our own use? Yes; the gardener is to set out egg plants as soon as it is warm enough." THEY had wandered far from the merry bathers, and in the shade of a beetling crag, where the rippling waves spoke in soft unison with their thoughts, they paused. My darling," he whispered, I trust our engagement will be short." She looked into his face with a puzzled look in her great grey eyes. "Of course —Her every word burned into his BOul. "You don't imagine I can afford to pay lOdol. a day at that hotel and fool with long engagements, do you ?" Then it dawned upon him that the heart of the, fin de sieclewoman was-fearfully and wonderfully made, and that the man woo understood it was just about a dandv. TRAVERS "Why don t you try ten grains ot quinine fpr, that qold?" Jag way (emphatically): No, sir. Every time I take quinine my hand trembles so." THE most persistent man at the English bar is a newly-created Q.C., who enjoyed a large practice as a junior and is likely to increase it as "a silk." About a year ago this same limb of the law was before the court of appeafs arguing in favour of a new trial for an important civil case, which thp lower court was unwilling to have retried. The judges had intimated more than once that they agreed with the learned counsel, and that he was entitled to a new trial, but the counsel still continued to argue. At last Lord Esber, the president of the court, said, My brother, why did you not urge these arguments in the court below ?" Counsel: I did, my lord, but their lordships stopped me." Lord Esher, sur- prised that anybody could stop this learned counsel, said: "They stopped von, did they? Pray how did they manage to do jt ?" The Counsel (who always will have the last word): By fraudulently pretend- ing to agree with me, my lord." MACD What dp you do when a man persists in asking for a dance, and you don't care to dance with him ?" Marie Tell him my card is full." Maud r "Bbt supposing it isn't, and he still persists?" Marie: Then 1 insist upon it and let him see that it isn't." PARMER MEADOW: How is your son. doing in the city?" Farmer Harrow: "He hasn't said much about his business, but he writes me that he's got lots of friends there." Farmer Meadow: That's encouraging. That shows that he ain't had to borrow moiey yet." TVie gentleman living in the suburbs had a goat for the children's pleasure, and it was that kind of a goat which might well be called rambunctious, for it took possession of the place early and showed little dis- position to vacate. One morning the goat walked into the children's playhouse, and as the gentleman was starting down town he told the man about the place to drive it out and shut it up in the stable. TWman promised, and the master proceeded to his officje. At noon the man came to the office on an errand. "By the way," said the raster, did you put that goat in the stable, as 1: told you J" John began to hedge. I was busy, sir, and-— Busy nothing," interrupted the master, "I told you to put it in the stable, and that's what I wanted yoc to do." "Yes, sir," parleyed Tom, "but-" There's no buts about it. 1-" Oh, but there is, air," interrupted John this time. "Ifyoudon't believe me, sir, lyou just tickle the goat yourself, sir, and you'll see how it is." THE editor wrote; The showers last week, though mpillis, were not sufficient to meet the wants of the millmenThe compositor set it up milkmen." THE satisfaction that every one must feel at the I riunjph of the boy is due to the same feeling which prompts a big-hearted man to take the part of the ndeg- dog.' Walter waa the important witness, °Q«5^? .l^y6r*' a^teJr cross-questioning him tm/1 *°ur '»ther has been talking to you te8tif^ hasn't beV "lV' fa f ™ toy- N°w, said the lawyer, just tell us how your father told you to testify." Well/' said the boy modestly, father told me that the kwyer. would try to tangle me, but if I would just be care- ful and tell the truth I could tell the same thing every time." The lawyers didn't try to tangle up that botany more. ,-v t, V' — r> s '■ ,r V| -i •: v. k-i.i- --i'■ 3 "• t V; ill' .-fii- V j i i -• 7* -i I #,i ( it:
--PARISH COUNCILS.I
PARISH COUNCILS. A Water Diviner's Fees.—At the annual audit of the accounts of the Urban District Council of Ampt- hill, Bedfordshire^ which war completed by, Mr. W. A. Casson, the. Local Government auditor for the county, several ratepayers raised objections to an ex- penditure incurred in the employment of Mr. Leicester Gataker, a water diviner. They produced geological plans and sections to show that, if the diviner's recommendations were acted CD, the council would be boring into a stratum of Oxford clay, the depth of which had not been fathomed 'as yet, although a boring had been made to 700ft.. and no water obtained. The district council had applied to the Local Government Board for a loan to carry bnt boring experiments to teat Gataker's recommenda- I tions. Tne Board ordered a water supply to be procured within a limited time, leaving the council- a free hand how they went to work, and they unanimously resolved to employ Gataker. In reply to the auditor, the" chdirfnari said that Gataker did undoubtedly hold out1 that he bad a mysterious power of discovering water. His method was to start with his arms spread out ahd walkslowly over the ground. Suddenly he would stop as thorfgh he felt a shock, and it was there that he "locateda spring. He would then step backwards and forwards ¡ to ascertain the dpth of the spring and the volume I of water. In his report be named a number of Bprings in one field, and the total "of the water there was more than ample for the town. The auditor, in announcing his decision, stated that in seeking for water the district council bad disregarded the reports of experts and had gone for guidance to a man who had a reputation for discovering water by some unusual and peculiar method not possible to ordinary persons, and the question be had to settle was whether this was legal or not. He noted that Gataker took the trouble to do what ordinary professional men would not thiuk of doing-namely to -state, "I guarantee my business be be genuine," whilst no guarantee whatever in the legal sense Was given that water would be found where it was located. Money might properly be spent on experimental borings under proper advice, but it had not been proved that this man bad any greater power-than-any one else. The district council were in -the position of trustees of public moneys, and must not spend them in a speculative manner. In the only case that had come before the-Courts which bore upon this matter the Judges had held that the pretence of power, whether moral, physical, or supernatural, with intent to obtain money was sufficient to constitute an offence within the meaning of the law," and he. (the auditor) thought that, as Gataker claimed to ex- ercise some such power, his employment was clearly illegal, and the amount of his fee would, therefore, I be disallowed, and the gentlemen who authorised the payment surcharged with it. They could appeal either to the Queen's Bench Division, or to the Local Government Board against the surcharge. Conflicting Reports From Staffordshire. — A Staffordshire paper has been collecting reports as to the working of Parish Councils from tne various' 'parishes in the county. -In these reports a variety of interesting and conflicting opiniorfi are gi'vehJas"t6 the working of the Act thus far in Staffordshire, arid some of them are well Worth reproduction.1 From Alrewas comes the opinion that "the whole thing is a fai;ce." Colton considers that the Act has u done no harm." The verdict of Farley is, Nothing to be done, nothing to be had, and nothing for it." From King's Bromley we learn that "the Council has practically done nothing." At Muckleston there are three lady councillors, and rumour has it that one of them is of the mature age iit two years I The correspondent in this place, demurely remarks: "The results of the working of Parish Councils too obvious for comment," At Bhareshill we are informed that "nothing has been done during the past year." From Swinnerton the report is "So far the Parish Council have made no difference, no work of any kind having been undertaken." The Parish Meeting at Tatenhill, which was poorly attended, adopted a resolution to the effect that "the powers of the Parish Council are too limited, and that it is too much subject to the District Council." At Bentley, near Wallsall, the Act is not considered of much benefit." At Castle Church the total expenditure of the Council during the past year was under £ 6, of which £3 5s. was for the purchase of an ordnance survey map of the parish. At Onecote the work- ing of the Act has been a dead letter:" At Sandon the Parish Meeting was attended by only one rate- payer, except the members of the Council. AtTillington the Chairman of the Parish Meeting remarked that the only thing attempted during the year was the lighting of the Eeclesball- Road aren, and this was not oarried. it being-decided to go On still In drkness. There are, however, other instance in which the working of the Act has been declared beneficial. At Ashl ey there was a crowded attend- ance at the Parish Meeiing, and the adoption-«f the Allotments Act Was declared to have been ail unqualified success. At Laplby the work of tbs Council has been useful and amicable, add tba provision of a cemetery seems likely to be mads without the dFscord which too often attends business of this nature. At Leek Frith the Council business of this nature. At Leek Frith the Council have effected, at a small cost, an acknowledged improvement in the water supply. At-New- chapel it ft claimed that the Council has done good in promoting a better feeling, among the various religious bodies, the Indian Famine Fund having afforded ground for common and united work among the various sects. From Wetton the re- port is that the Parish Council, of which the village is proud; has done some useful work with re- gard to improvements in and around the village." At Berswick useful work has been done in the main- tenance and repair of field" paths and" "stiles, and im- portant matter in every country parish. At "GnosaU the Council have got some charities settled in favour of the poor," and have taken an acttoti in the matter of allotments and a sewage scheme for the parish. At Horton the Council have cleansed and protected from pollution all the public wells, and have put in order the foot-bridges and field-paths of the parish. At Norton-in-the-MoOrs, although no great enterprises have been undertaken by the Council, much useful quiet work has been done, especially in the matter of technical instruction. At Weston con- siderable progress has been made in the drainage and water supply, I and it is decided to improve the village green and render' it' more adapted* for a recreation ground. Recovery of Rates.-A, correspondent of tbfc Councils Gazette asks: .(1) (a) After a Poor Rate- demand note has been issued, what period must elapse to lender the rate irrecoverable? (b) Ditto, a sanitary (Special Expenses) ? (c) Ditto, a Highway Bate? The three rates to apply to a. rural parish. (2) A house was first occupied in August, 1896. Bates were made on March 23rd, 1887,. and the house afsessed in May, 1897. For what"petiodcan the three rates mentioned above be claimed, from March or August ? (3) Under the late collector our parish fell into arreaninmeeting calls for union and sanitary purposes. This dates from 1895. For reasons unknown to me the Overseers knew nothing of these precepts. The Clerk to 4he Guardians now claims payment upon all these' unpaid, precepts, although the precepts for the curreut half-year, we are now told, include all un- paid balances. For instance, we have unpaid precepts for sanitary purposes amounting tq 2, whereas the current precepts Of E480 is sufficient 10 cover all expenses of the work. Is the claim justi- fied ? (4) Acting upon the statement that wa had to meet these precepts, rates were made to con,r them id March last, but the heading of the rate made it a rate to meet current expenses to September 2A). next. We now find that the amounts raised by these rates will give a surplus of E500 for sanitary pur- poses, and a deficit to a similar amount for union purposes. Can this surplus of the one be applied to clear off the deficit of the other ? (5) Seeing the poor rate is retrospective to the amount of enerbalf, apd the sanitary one-fourth, can an appeal against theae rates hold good ? Answer: (1) If the person rated has absolutely no property of any 'kind (the legal authority of our contemporary replies) the rate is irrecoverable at once. Bat we assume that you mean, when if the recovery barred by lapse of time As to this, it is probably sufficient to say that the six months' limit fixed by the Summary Jurisdiction Acts does not in our opinion apply to any of the rates men- tioned. (2) The house cannot be rated until it is entered in the rate-book. You say that the house waa assessed in May, 1897." By this we suppose you mean that the house waa then entered in a supplemental valuation list.. If so, the proper course was for the Overseers thereupon to enter the house in the rate made in March, adding the date of. the entry, and charging the occupier with a proportion ;"■!r ,j\ •• .V«-: ■" OC '.it?. "v ,,i -J .•« V*- *<>„ *].■■■ A?'.»- A ■»(.* -a- it V'T' v:-1- of the rate, making a deduction from the full rate proportionate to the time which had elapsed between the date when the rate was made, and the date when the house was added to it. The same procedure should be followed in all the rates. (3) If each precept incorporates the amonnts already demanded by the preceding precepts, you must-not add all the precepts together; that would be equivalent to debiting yourselves with the earlier sums several times over. We do not understand what is the legal point on which our opinion is asked. (4) Clearly I not. The sanitary expenses are charged on the basis of the exemptions given by the Public Health Act, 1875; and the other expenses on the -boisin of the different exemptions created by the Agricultural Rates Act, 1896. (5) It is very possible that the rate could be upset on appeal to quarter sessions. Please write all questions asked atone time 00 One piece of paper, not on three half-sheets.
I CANTERBURY CATHEDRAL.
CANTERBURY CATHEDRAL. « A.D. 597-AD. 1897. In this year of Our lord 597, the "baptism of King Etfrelbert, the first Christian Englisn King, took place m the venerable and historicJ Church oV$t. Martin, at Canterbury," and the Cathedral City has been celebrating the conclusion of a very fajemorable fcpooh in the2 hi story of the Church of England. Tjtie recent visit of the Prince of Wales atifl his re-opening Of the restored Chapter House may be reg^rctad as 'the first of the Thirteenth Centenary cele- brations; the second was the recital by Sir Henry; Irving of Tennyson's "Becket," in. the lhidst of the scenes in whidh the memorable death of > the Archbishop took pla.;e. The ever dnergeticDean Farrar was not slow to realise that this Thirteenth Centenary might be used as a m -ans of raising funds fbr the much-needed restoration of portions of the efdifice. A Thirteenth Century Appeal Fund was, accordingly started, and enough was received to o,arry out certain restorative work. The Dean is, the Glohe considers, to be congratulated on the Irving-Becket idea. The proceedings remind one very pleasantly- of the Canterbury pil- grims of old, though we do not know what the Wife of Bath, the Friar, the Prioress, or any other of Chaucer's pilgrims would 6ay could they have looked down 6n the unusual sceno on Monday iN the Chapter Honsp. The pitgnms of old Went to the Cathedral City to pay hoinago ttf the shrine of one who was then held to be England's greatest martyr. The modern pilgrims went to pay homage to a great actor, to enjoy the recital of a great poet's play. A vast difference between the leisurely journey which, in olden times, used usually-to occupy three or four days, and the modern express tram which takes us down to Canterbury after early lunch apd brings us back in time for afternoon tea! To return to recent restorations. When it was decided tq make a public appeal for funds in order to make- the Cathedral more secure and. more beautiful for many years to come, Mr. Christian and Sir Arthur B)qm. field reported that the most immediately neces- sary work was (1) the clearanceand restoratioaof the long-neglected .crypt, which would then be once more, available for religious services; (2) t>h« repair 0? the cloisters; (3) the repair, sustantation, and" re- storation of the Chapter House and (4) the restora- tipn of the ancient. Chapel of St. Andrew, which- is now unsightly from neglect and disfigurement. The following is (the Globe continues) an account of the work of restoration up tQ date..The crypt, the largest and most beautiful in England, has been warmed, Itghted, saved fromdamp, glazed, and made useful, for worship when needed. The bases of tlw columns, which for centurios haw been covered with etyrth,, have. been uncovered, and MH» of Ernulf's. finest work disclosed. Service can now be held here, as there -is no.proipect,.as formerly", f the place- -being flqoded. Here,, in the crypt, frescoes and paintings onj he vaultings have baen, brougLit to light, after reposing for many years under as many coats of whitewash. For years past it has been open to wind and rain, but the whole of the window openingal have now been Jazed, and it is now very different from the damp* cold, and dreary place it once used to be. With regard to the Cloisters, which were reported byj Mr. Christian in 1870 to be progressing towards destruction by decay of the stonework," and which. in 1876, were ii^ o, considerably worse state than in 18jTQ, it i^ satisfactory to note that thqy hftve been saveg ff;9m the danger of further dec%y, and from the ravages, of wind and weather. Prgbafcly .the question of their restoration will one day arise,, but at,any rate they are safe. for the present. The Chapter House was once.surpassingly magnificent, but ujTto quite lately it wore "a depressing aspect of, neglect and dilapidation. This has been splepdidly restored, and a magnificent east window, the gift of the Freemasons of Kei$t, has been, erected. The ceiling has been decorated in its original handsome design the masonry has been carefully examined, and Purbeck marble, the stone originally used, has been largely employed, tqt .replace defective portions. Int addition to the restoration of the Crypt, CloisJtere, and Chapter House, two windows of stained -glass have been ereeted; dangerous parts of the- roof- have been rendered secure; and tablets with complete -lists of the Anchbiehops, Priors, and .Deans are being- placed in the -naVe and otper parts-of the edifice. Bell Harry Tower has also-been .restored to a certain extent, Nome of the surface and decorative tracery having received atten- -1 tion. The Tower requires to be thoroughly restored, but until,, mare funds are forthcoming this work cannot be commenced. To do .all thaLthe, would like to do, the Dean and Chaptea require £ 20/100, and they are still a good..way off thia-sum. It is hoped, .however, that the Thirteenth Centenary oele- bration? will-add aomething-to the f unds>available for, tht) worX of restoration,
J.-....:.:-;-. "CONSULS ON";ÙAtÅiOGU.…
J CONSULS ON";ÙAtÅiOGU. '¡¡ All oifr foreign Consuls (remark^ the Engweer)~in unanimous on one point. They all the-sania reason for failure in British commerce in foreign Ian els, attd fhey all speak in terras whiqh seem to have gone beyond the stage of mere advice, and to r have gone beyond the stage of mere advice, and to have reached that when irritation at the continuous necessity for "repetition sets in. II Wha on earth is t^ie use," they seem to eay. "or British merchants sending out catalogues find price lists in foreign tongues and .measures to these illiterate folk?" S«ccess would be but limited if the informa- tion was tendered in a language which the people to, whqm it offered could understand, but when it is presented ^n a tongue of whiph they have no com- prehension it is worse than useless, for unscrupulous persons—Germans, for exam ple-act,ually make, Use of English illustrations to explain and force the market of their own goods. Men should be senf, and not price lists and catalogues alone. Men, too, with a knowledge of the country, the language, the manners, the people, and the folklore. They should go. when poss;ble, with samples or models, and be willing to exhibit them. They' should be persons acquainted with the little feelings and susceptibili- ties, the delicate niceties of the people with whom they seek trade they should have winning smiles and1 persuasive tongues, uncommonly thick skins, and noismall modicum of pluck; they ipust have all the virtues of an Englishman judiciously tempered with the I" vices of the German: but, above all, they must have samples in their pacis and catalogues in the tongue of their desired purchasers in their pockets.
[No title]
IN September of last year it was estimated that not less than E22,000,,000 was invested in the manufac- ture of cycles and their-various accessories, and at the present-time- it is said by tbose-who know the busi- neds that that amount has grown to nearly £ 30,000,000, and that every weea sum of not less than £ 700,000 is distributed in wages among the working classes engaged in this new industry. In Coventry alone the average production of machines per week is between 6000 and 7000, and, notwith- stahding this large output and the number made in atlier places, the supply is short of the demand, an i maby are the complaints of those who have ordered cycles from famous manufacturers four months agOI and who have not yet-been supplied with them. No Western imagination can easily oonceive an idea of the splendour with which the Russian ru:lers- are habitually surrounded. Chairs and tables of soli'd silver, ivory thrones ablaze with brilliants and sapphires, walls of amber, and floors of mother-of- pearl—these things sound like an Eastern fable, but •he Czar has them all. At .Moscpw, in the great palace within the sacred Kremlin walls, there are not only crowns, orbs, and sceptres. covered with diamonds, but also saddles, stirrups, and sets of harness covered with similar gems. There are hundreds of swords, daggers, and scimitars the sheaths of which are literally masses of pearls, rubies, and turquoises. Rare tapestries, marvellous, chiua froni Sovres and Japan, flawless gems from Asia, priceless antique MSS. and jewelled book-covers— j these are a few of the objects scattered about the Czar's 12 palaces with a Roval prodigality. L t I.. -;J. V,r 'i I 4 ,U « M U • •* i I: -i H -'i'V- 43 ( «V,'V -TJ II.IU'V rr. JLI y'■ i
IFARMING NOTES.
FARMING NOTES. (From The Rural World.") CI ISKSK-MAKIRG. A maker must know (writes F.") when his cheese are good. He must have a trier. He should not. have to wait for someone else to try them. It is "not well, however, to try your cheese too much and let the flies into. them. I would clind out every week how my cheese were going. A good cheese has cer- tain qualities (1) A firm body. No one want-p- a hard, dry; indigestible cheese, but you want a Folid, firm cheese, and the plug should show no *ho!er. nr r weak repots ;= (2) It shouid be rich and meaty (3) It should have a flinty break (4) A nutty flavour, nice and clean. In judging cheese, flavour i. grvcii 40 per cent., body and texture 35 per cent., colour 10 per cent., and finish 3 per cent. -In pulling a phJ draw it so that the bare plug will not rub on the rind of the cheese. The plug should look larger tbnn ihe hole it came from. The judge will get teellavatirby the odour. There are three defects in cheese, whi(th will be indicated by as many different kinds of botes i (1) There is the ragged bole, penetrating the cheese irregularly and of irregular s and shupe. One cuuse of these ragged holes is. in failing to keep the curd while in the sink of an even heat and mois- ture, as heat aids the formation of acid and the curing of the curd. By letting certain portions of I the curd get cold there is an uneven development of the acid, and we will see this defect indicated by ragged holes in the cheese while curing. (2) Then thcroare are round holes. These indicate and are found in what is called sweet cheese. To cause this condition either the milk has been matured to an improper point or the salt has been added too soon., Very small round holes known as pin holes also indicate defective cheese. They are due to gassy ourd. This gas is'caused by some taint in the milk. I To avoid this defect "refuse all tainted milk, and if you have any of these pin holes in the curd (ascertain it by cutting the cuid with a knife), be sure you get them flattened out before you salt the curd. If curd is put to press at too high a temperhture, above gpdeg., it'will be likely to' generate steam, and this will make the cheese puff and contain holes. f3) There is also what is called an acid cheese, in- dicated in two ways: (1) By leaking whev on the shelves (2) by-being dry, mealy and husk" the. fat y- seeming to have disappeared. The causes of this con- dition are either that some sour milk was put in Che f vat, or that the vat was allowed to get over-ripe, or that the curd was not dipped soon enough, or again that it was not stirred enough in the sink. In short, the acid was allowed to develop too far before salt- ing. In close, muggy weather,the cheesemaker must have everything ready to run the milk through all r the processes without any delay. ARTIFICIAL FOWL HATCHING AND HISARING. Except in very severe weather,-when a chiekcn- house is absolutely necessary; and to expose the young birds unduly would be fatal to them, it is much better (Mr. Edward Brown, P.L.S., writing in the Rural World, says) to avoid keeping them un^er Co,er., Let them have a good dry sleeping-place where they can enter at will, but a little exposure will be for their benefit. The large brooders way give too much shelter, though this depends upon the attendant, for the chickens can run out if allowed to ,do so, and it is. better for them than keeping in the ron. It is surprising how much more vigorous and healthy birds are if not coddled than when pam- "j pered. Many instances could be cited in proof of this statement, and the -experiences of readers will- confirm what has been éáfd. What we want is ,to provide a dry, warm (but not too warm) place, but to give our chickens the option of running out into the open where they can breathe fresher air and get plenty of exercise. How much they will appreciate the opportunity can be proved by- anyone in a few .minutes. In ordinary weather by the time the birds ,are a month old they will not heed any artificial heat at all, but it is better, to reduce it gradually to the vanishing point rather than make the change suddenly. In buying or making a brooder it is necessary to see that there Ji3 a proper system of ventilation, otherwise we shall have serious trouble. One make that I tried a year or two ago smelled most offensive when opened in the morning, and it was hardly pos- sible to remedy it, so that I discarded the machine entirely. A lot of chickens in a heated compartment very speedily exhaust the oxygen, and unless there, is a constant supply they are bound to suffer. It would take too much space to enter fully into the question here, and we must be content with mentioning it. The circulation should be without draught, and the air mast enter over the heads of chickens, otherwise draughts can hardly be avoided. Upon the subject of cleanliness a whole tome could be written. Nothing is more fatal to young birds than dirt, especially when they are 'confined and unable to help themselves.- The iuner compartment should be kept strictly clean, and Hwwashed ont between each batch of birds. The run itself should be, chariged, and there can be no question that foul air, ammcmiacal smells, and 'dirt account for more deaths among chickens than 'all other things put together. The lids or tops of all brooders should be 1 opened every morning, and if the day is at all mild, allowed to remain open for an hour or two and again" in the afternoon. This is as necessary for health as throwing up the windows of our bedrooms. With attention to these various points there is no reason why chickens should not be hatched and reared as successfuUyartificially as by the natural method. HORSES' SHOULDERS, In many cases horses which last reaping season p]R. in a contribution to the Rural World remarks) suffered from; sore shoulders were turned out after the work was finished, no attention being" payl to the sores. Now these horses have been brought in to do the seeding work.. Their owners are surprised that the sores soon break out again. They say the shoulders must be very tender, or it is impossible to get a prciper-fdting- oollai» and various other excuses are made. All kinds of treat- c ment are resorted to, collars are cut. pads put on, false collars used, &c. As far as my experience goks, it is of very little. use doing all this while the horse is at work. The cause of the trouble is neglect. 'I While the horses are worked they are seldom pro-, t ptirly cleaned; very likely there, is no. comb or brush, l or if there is, it was worn out years ago, an 'd not. fit for the purpose, while the collars themselves are I seldom brushed. After we have finished working the hoises, those that are affected should be attended to. Get a pint.of spirits of turpentine (not oil of turps) and a pint or two of salad, or neatSfoot, oil. If the sore is much inflamed or scurfy apply a little of the raw spirits lightly two or three times. After- wards mix about equal quantities of turpentine and oil, shake it up well, and apply to the sores until the scurf begins to come off. Then brush the shoulders well and apply mixture of one part turpen- tine to three of oil, and as the shoulders heal add j more oil to the mixture, applying it once a day till well. If properly attended to," no marks wiU show. To prevent the forming of sores when starting work again, first see that the collars are clean, then take a round strct about' "18mV lorfg", staiid collar" top downwards, and beat itinto Shape, tie nearly all ap ofthein get flat, hard, and out of shape, after being j laijd aside for a time. This will also tend to soften them, and make them more comfortable for the horses. It is -a good -'plan to do this once or twice a week whilst using them. See that the collars fit ptoperly and that the haineB set right. Some horses'want the draught higher than others, and each farmer must find out the best position for his animals. The shoulders of the horse must be kept clean, using brush and comb every time it is worked. As a horse will blister more readily after spelling, it is a good plan to work them lightly'or for short times the first few days. My ex- perience of 25 years is that^if this-plan is followed out there will be very little troubh with.. Sore shoulders. out there will be very little troubia with, sore shoulders. j S"nE»P S0TBS, At the annual general meeftrag of the Royal Agri- cultural Society of England, the Duke of Richmond,' in referring to the entries of sheep at the Manchester Show, observed that the number, 649, was, ho be- lieved, a record." It is not quite that, but it appears to have only twice been exceeded, viz., at Windsor ia 1&89, when the entries of sheep numbered 1109, and at Kilburn in 1879, when they numbered 841. At Doncaster in 1891 the number was exactly the same, viz,, 649—at least it is 8lT.e „ Journal of the E.A.S.E. for the following year. Happening to refer also to the Journal of 1895, I find the number there given as 643 and I have no means at hand at the time ofwnt.ng to decide which is the correct figure. It may, nerhaps, be pointed, out that in the report presented to the meeting of members on Saturday it is stated that "the entries of live stock are exceptionally large, amounting in all to 2688; which is nearly 500 more than at any previous meeting, with the-extep, tion of Windsor in 1889. when the live ttoek > J r't' '■ > P •' \t■ *'irii .Vir' *>* •» ■1 numbered 3976." It appears evident that the Kilburn Show has been overlooked, for on that occasion the entries of live stock numbered 287 £ However, the main point is that the exhibition of live stock at Manchester will, at any rate, be one of the finest ever gathered in this country, and that the sheep department will be well to the front in a me- morable year. On this fact the Society M1, fhp- breeders alike are to be cordially congratulated. J
GARDENING GOSSIP.' ,-,
GARDENING GOSSIP. renk. "pottage Qardmpig L NIUTS ABOUT MANURES, With. heavy soils it is a good practice to dig in. the manure as far as it will go in the autumn. This prevents the washing away by the rains of its rotable fertilising (natter, and the escape of.itiaLiwiitl gases, which often occurs while manure is lying in leaps. It also allows time for the manurial ingredients to get 9 more equally diifused through the-soil. But in coaraa sandy or gravelly land this practice is considered objectionable, as the soluble part. of. the manures would be in danger of being washed by the wirter's fains down out of the reach of the roots of plants. In this case it is considered better to apply the manure to -the soil in a well-rotted state in the spring. In manuring sandy soils, the nearer the manure is put to the surface the more soil will the soluble fertilising material have to pass through in its passage downward, and the greater will be the chance of its being arrested within reach of the < roots of the. growing crop. Mulching secures this advantage to the fullest extent, and if heavy rains follow just after it is placed on the soil, when the crop is in active growth, the chanoa of the-manurial properties being washed away in waste is still-further lessened, Mulching also prevents evaporation of water from the tur?ace of:th,soil and saves the laboux of watering. But mulching in the early spring is a bad practice, because, by preventing evaporation and keeping the sun's rays from the surface of the soil, it keeps the ground wet and cold. More- especially it this the case in heavy lands. If beginners would always try to find out the reasons why any practice is adopted they would avoid many grave mistakes. LBAF-MOULD. Like peat, leaf-mould enters largely into nearly all <H>mpp&ts fojc piopagating and potting plants; unlike the former, too much of it may be used. Many plants that do not.grow in,.peat naturally will thrive in it nevertheless; no plants succeed well in leaf- mould alone. The best mould is formed of tree-leaves only, but much that is. used consists of decayed hot- bed.manure, which, although not differing in appear-1 ance from pure leaf-soil, is richer in character, and usually much infested by worms, for which reason it is not so good for plants, as it is sure to encourage these pests. It does very well for potting coarso-rooting plants, but peat is pre- ferable if clean leaf-mould cannot be -prociiredl, Light loams are not much benefited by leaf-mould,, and it should be sparingly used. For vine and fruit borders generally it should never be employed except as a mulching for the surface, -for which purpose it is excellent in ma#y ways if used in the rpi^gh^tate. When buried in the soil of hordprs ife is very apt to- eyeae fungi, especially when- bottom' heat is used. We once saw a vine border turned out that was completely run with the threads ot some fungus that -anielt very, offensive and injur.e4- the vines. Mould from beech-leaves is particularly objectionable on this account, as the husks or the nuts soon become masses of spawn. It is the pieces of rotten twigs, and sticks that create the fungus principally the leaves themselves soon decay. For pot purposes leaf-mould should be thoroughly decom- posed by letting the leaves lie in a large heap a couple o( years or more. KEL»L-GLASSBS. J ,The cloche is a large and cheap belf-glass which is used in every French garden. It is the "'cloche' which enables the, French market-gardeners to excel- all others in the production of Winter and spring salads. It is about 16in. high,' and the same in diameter at the base, and costs in France about a franc (lOd.) apiece, or a little, less if, bought in quantity. The advantages of the- cloches are—they never require any repairs they are easy of carriage when carefully packed; with ordinary care they are seldom broken they are easily cleaned are useful ior many purposes besides saJad-growing-rrfor. example, in advancing various crops in spring, raising seedlings, and striking cut- tings. When we learn how very useful-they are lfbt" many things, from the developing of a Christmas Rose to the forwarding of early crops in spring, they will be much in demand. It is not only in winter that they are useful; but at all-seasons, both for-in^ door and out-door propagation and seed-sowing. In France, seedlings- of-garden crops likely-to be J destroyed by birds or insects-ue- frequently raised under the "cloche." r wjuttaithfa 1' the Old Wandering Jaw Saxifrage is one of- the best of window plants, n4, worthy of a better fate, than often befalls.it. Well grown., tbisolcl plant has a very ornamental appearance, and the flowers, which are numerously produced, are so elegantly poised on the slender footstalks, and are so delicately beautiful, as to excite the admiration of everyone who takes the trouble to examine them. This Saxifrago does best where it gets shade in the sutntner after ten a.m. It likes a cool, rather moist, atmosphere, the foliage being larger and of a better colour than in the sua. BUBBISU HEAPS. Every gardener has noticed how rapidly rubbish; accumulates, even in a small garden. It is a mis- take, however, to look upon this as an intolerable .nuisance, for what is termed, the. rubbish- hsap generally contains much valuable matter tnajt can be used in many ways for various crqps. Every care should be taken of such gather- ings, and thp way to tijeat them during Winter is to turn over tho lot that is in a fit condition to decom- pû\e, and-get all well mixed up together; after first sprinkling oyor the mass a dressing of lime, whicfr ^4L87eet?n wk°le' and help materially t6 render it fit for the roots of plants to feed an when it has been dug into the land. If it is intendea to pre-' pare ground for the planting of Asparagus, Seakale, or Cabbages, a few bushels of salt will be a valu- 1 able addition to the mixture, as those crops like it, and nothing suits the three better ■ than the mixture from the rubbish heap, where weodo are thrown, and all sorts of Vegetable matter are brought together to decay. In preparing for either of the crops referred to, the way. is to, trench the rubbish-heap stuff in, keeping it low down, and leaving the top rough for the frost to act on. In. spring all should be in fine order for planting, and t those who so make use of their waste material wilt be surprised at the highly-benelfcinlresults that will follow. For EaspberrieSj bush fruits, and Apples, I havp found the rubbish-heap stuff of great value, and( would strongly recommend its use for any or all of these before planting, or, in case of the last- named, it may with great advantage be trenched in abojit the coot. of the trees, orõë buried around the stems in a circle 10ft, or so across, but it ahoaid always be kept from the surface, on account of the seeds of weeds that are in it. Stuff that will not rot quickly, such as hedge-trimmings or anything woody, should be burned or charred, and the ashes BlkVed for seed-beds, or mixed up with the general heap; but if for the first-named use, it is important that they be under cover or kept dry, as otherwise, they lose much of their value.
-mi'".Li-if -1.c L. >•; CONVICT…
mi .Li- f -1. c L. >•; CONVICT LABOUR IN AMERICA. The Bill just introduced by Mr. Wm. Vowlancti and now before the Massachusetts Legislation, pro- poses that the Cape Cod Canal shall be made by con- viet labour, apd carried out as a public enterprise. Mr,' Howland points out that all the private corpora- tioiia proposing to build this canal have failed to kisetfae necessary capital, and there is little prospect of future success in that line. At the present time m0tf vi v >e convicts, whose labour i» and it is costing tho s(at £ £ 15(X000 annually for their maintenance. He pro-? term prisoners on'the work. f'aTn? cftfcBthe employment of convict labonr. for the btuldiag of the English dockyards at Elymoutfr ana tae breakwater at Fairfield as examples of wort or_pablic benefit that could not be obtained through priyate enterprise. The scheme is approved by the Superintendent of,Prisons..
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■ I 1, "JaT j WIVE: "How people gam a t -nzy n o w dreV. t prtV, supie they wonder if I've been, shopping p- Hut band: "More likely they wonder if J've robbing a bank." FLU'PANT COCK'NBY (to countryman): Are there many fools in this part of tbe wo)tWL my ladF* Yokel: "Not as I^knowon, zur,. Wiij,.a!yer fwl • Dit lonesome like ?" 1 ,r t.. t ..V'4_
- 1""~" MODERN WAR INDEMNITIES.1
1 MODERN WAR INDEMNITIES. The almost geeeral disapproval with which the Turki>h deniMKf. of a very large war indemnity from Qreece has beeQ received in Europe, not unnaturally taises tho question (remarks a writer in the Pall Mali Gazette) M-tether precedent has Anything to say eiluet against or in favour of such a claim. The method of liquidating recent wars has varied so widely that it would be exceedingly difficult to draw from their settlement any general principle applicable to countries occupying the peculiar position of Turkey and Greece. Fortunately for Greece in this case, the sett)ement-at-anv rate, in its entirety-is not to be left to the decision of the two combatants alone. Usually, tbo victor justly expects, in addition to ter- ritorial and other spoils, monetary eompensation for the expense he has been put to and the loss he has suffered by the war. But as no Power ought to know better than Turkey herself, the realisation of this expectation must always depend, in the long run, epon the ability of the vanquished to pay. Granting that the defeated Power is able to pay a reasonable estimate of the actual money indemnity to be paid may be governed, by a great number of con- siderations. Among these may be mentioned: -the duration of the campaign; the number of men placed in the field; the losses in life, munitions, and treasure; any important successes of the defeated army: the relative number of prisoners taken on each side the loss and damage suffered by the trade, commerce, and agriculture of the victorious country; the extent of territory gained by, or ceded to, the victor and the degree of culpability on the part of the defeated Power, if the aggressor, in bringing about the war. Among the war indemnities exacted by Great Britain during the present reign are three resulting from our wars with China. Of these the most important was that demanded at the close of the Opium War of 1840-41. It amounted to 4| millions sterling, in addition to It millions on account of the opinm destroyed by the Chinese. Besides this pay- ment we also secured Hong Kong, and obtained the opening of the ports of Canton, Ning-Po, Amoy, Foo- Chow-Foo, and Shanghai to British trade, and the establishment of Consuls in these ports. The wars of 1857-60 ended in China paying the expenses and con- senting to the reciprocal representation of the two countries by Ministers in London and Pekin. The Treaty of Tien-Tain fixed the amount, of the indemnity at eight million taels ( £ 1,200,000), and provided that a further sum -of 300,000 taels ( £ 45,000) should be paid as compensation to the families of those murdered during the disturb- ances and others who had suffered injury or loss. Although not strictly a war indemnity, that paid by this country OIK account of the depredations of the Alabama is of considerable interest as exem- plifying the extent to which claims for compensa- tion may be built up and cut down. As originally pot forward, the American claims practically com- prised every item in the expense of the war from the day on which the Alabama put to sea. The prolonga- tion of the war was, attributed entirely to her, and she was therefore made responsible for this, as well as for the loss suffered by American commerce through its transference to foreign vessels and the increased rates of maritime insurance. The Geneva Tribunal, however, at once decided that such indirect results of the Alabama's depredations could not be seriously considered for a moment, and unanimously awarded an indemnity of 3t millions "sterling as an equivalent for the injury actually done to America through the fault or negligence of this country. The war between Cj^ina and. Japan—the most re- sent extra:Enropean war in which a considerable money indomity was paid-was terminated by the Peace of Sbimonoseki two years ago. By the treaty China agreed to pay Japan a sum equivalent to 35 millions sterling. In addition, she ceded the island of Formosa to her conquerors, recognised Corea as independent, and consented to open four new treaty ports. The war between Prussia and Austria in 1866 was one in which a considerable amount of life was lost, having regard to its com- paratively short duration. At Sadowa, the Prussian low was set down at 2650 killed and 14,820 wounded, while the Austrian casualties were esti- mated at 11,000 killed and 29,300 wounded. In addition to the territorial aggrandisement of Prussia, and the exclusion of Austria from the German Bund, the Treaty of Prague, which terminated the war, pro- Tided for the payment by Austria of an indemnity of 40 million Prussian thalers, or six millions sterling. From this amount, however, deduction was made of 15 million thalers, representing Austrian claims on Bchleawig-Holstein, and five million thalers, as an equivalent for the free maintenance of the Prussian army in Austria pending the conclusion of peace. The heaviest war indemnity of modern times was, of course, that paid by France at the close of the war with Germany. The hostilities lasted over eight months, and the total cost of the war has been estimated at 316 millions sterling and 290,000 men. The German loss was set down at 45,000 men, who either were killed in battle or died of wounds or sickness. Besides the cession of Alsace and Lor- raine, France had to pay Germany five milliards of francs (200 millions sterling) in instalments which were allowed to extend over three years. The original demand of Germany was six mil- liards, or 40 millions sterling more. Thiers strove in vain to save Metz, but it was to his exertions that the reduction in the amount of the indemnity was due. The cost of the Russo-Turkish war of 1877 has been estimated at 190 millions sterling and 180,000 men on both sides. Between the declaration of war by Russia and the Treaty of San Stefano nearly 11 months elapsed. By this treaty the Porte admitted itself indebted to Russia in the sum of 1410 million roubles (about 145 millions sterling) as indemnity for the losses and expenses of tlae war. The items in the account were as follows: 900 million roubles (92 millions sterling) for war expenses 400 millions (41 millions sterling) for damage done to the south coast of Russia, her export commerce, indus- tries, and railways 100 millions (11 millions sterling) for injuries caused by the invasion of the Caucasus; and i0 millions (one million sterling) for injuries suffered by Russian subjects and establishments in Turkey. In accordance with the Sultan's wishes, however, and in consideration of the financial em. barrassments of the Ottoman Empire, the Czar mag- nanimously and wisely consented to accept in substi- tution for about four-fifths of the total sum the various territorial cessions sanctioned by tae Treaty of Berlin. This left a balance of 300 million roubles due to Russia by Turkey, and with the exception of some 17 million roubles the indemnity is owing still, the amount in October, 1889, being nearly 31 millions sterling.