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

$ THE DUCK-FATTENING INDUSTRY. Amongst the smaller rural industries of Er gland that of rearing and fattening ducks is one of much interest, and: also one that might be. made of greater importance, says "Farm Life." In the; country around Leigh ton Buzzard, in the counties of Beds and Bucks, this business has been pursued for'a number'of years, those engaged in it being chiefly cottagers. > The accommodation required is not extensive, nor: can th^ initial; capital be large, at least so far as money is concerned, though the capital represented by ■ time, trouble, and careful attention must, -be far from insignificant. The Aylesbury duck the breed employed. After hatching', out, the youngf birds for a week are well fed on boiled egg and other dainty morsels. With other birds of the same age they are then drafted into a "flock" of 100 to 125 birds. At this age they are exceedingly pretty objects —little animated balls of yellow down, with heliotrope-coloured bills and a plaintive chirp. As they get older the feathers become white and the bills grow paler. On a single duck "farm" numbers of flocks may be seen, of -one, two, three, or more weeks old, and this classification is the only one adopted, as all: the birds are destined to be .killed at eight1 or nine weeks old. Good rice, either Rangoon or stained Japan, at about 10s. a cwt.i, is the chief food of the younger birds, and isb-diled for use. They are also very fond of toast soaked in water. Later' on barley meal and toppings, or sharps, are introduced cbd; when the birds are five weeks eM they also, get greaves or tallow scrap, which is boiled up in the food, into which stinging nettles chopped' and boiled are introduced, as they are said to cool the blood. The ducklings are fed thrice a day—at 7.30 a.m., 12.30 p.ni., and 4.30 p.m.

SHEEP SHEARING. Never commence sheep shearing until tiM Wool is well dried and the grease well up. As a rule, it is: well to. let the men who have to .shear the sheep wash, them also. Then the washing is sure to be carefully done, as the "presence of dirt makes shearing difficult.. A fresh growth of wool always makes shearing easier, as it is easier to point into, the; grit does not ride out the shears, and a Jjetter; edge is kept on them. It is always, desirable bo let the shepherd, or shepherds, shear, their own sheep, says "The Agricultural Gazette," as they naturally take more interest in them than do gangs of ..strangers, whose only in- terest- is to get over as many sheep in a day as they can. Shearing may thus be :made a special harvest for the shepherd, and it comes cheaper in the end to pay the shepherd his ordinary wages and an extra sum per acore, and allow him to make as many hours a day as he likes. In the shearing season his other work is comparatively light, and any good man will put in a fourteen or sixteen hours' day to get the extra profit. Where a clipping machine is used, .there are few flocks trit^re the shepherdsqannot get through the shearing in reasonable time, and there are 'very few where they cannot do it with hand shears.

SOIL ANALYSIS. Mechanical analysis of the soil and its -value to agriculture was a, subject which Mr. A. D. Hall, of the Lavtes Experimental Station, Harpendett, treated in a, lecture to Snembers of the Farmers' Club at the White- hall Rooms. He spoke. on "How climate and soil influence farm crops," and dealt with the Counties of Kent, Surrey, and Sussex, a dis- trict, he said, which possessed such a great diversity of soils that it included almost every type which was likely to be met with in Gireat Britain, with the exception, perhaps, ■of true peat and fen soils. He pointed out that it must not be' supposed that the struc- ture of the soil as revealed by a mechanical analysis was the only factor in determining its suitability for a particular crop. But* a -mechanical analysis, he added, by revealing the structure, provided them with inform a- tion about what was the biggest factor* in the I production of the soil and its "adaptability to particular crops.

PARALYSIS IN HORSES. Paralysis in horses is a disease which ■comes on suddenly, and is due to an acid in ithe blood. It. sometimes affects the front parts as well as the hind parts, and the animal may come out of the stable feeling willing to go, and often goes faster than Usual, but before it has gone very far it begins to, lose its speed, sweats profusely, IJreathes hard, gets lame in one or both hind legs, and in a short time is unable- to go- any further,, and often falls on the road in a. help- less condition. The animal should be con- veyed on a float to the nearest stable, where medicines should be given of a laxative nature. A stimulating liniment or a mus- tard plaster should be placed over the hips, and the body should be kept comfortaply warm. The aiiimal should be given plenty of fdrinking water with the chill taken from it; a very little, if any, feed should be giyen ,before he gets up, and he should be fed on toran mashes and a very little hay until he fully recovered.

¡ THE SOWING OF GRASSES. ] In the sowing of grasses, whether as tem- porary leys or permanent, the preparation of the land is of the utmost importance, says the "Agricultural Gazette." If the seeds are in a dirty seed-bed the odds are against therri from the beginning,- for the weeds are ^hose naturally suited to the particular soil, and are already well established. The usual practice, and one which experience has (proved satisfactory, consists in sowing dJwn the seeds along with a corn crop as nurse. BarleV or oats are generally employed as nurse, and as these crops follow "roots in a four-course rotation, the land will be fairly clear. The sowing should be done when the corn is hand high; a dry day with absence of wind should be chosen if the seed is to be distributed evenly. After sowing, a pair1; of light harrows must be run Qver the land, and these followed by a roller.

THE NEW SULTAN. The new Sultan of Turkey went to the Chamber to witness the taking of the oath to uphold the Constitution by the Deputies. His Majesty ascended the Presidential tribune, where he handed his Speech from the Throne to the Grand Vizier, who read it. His Majesty, ran the speech, declared that he had been pain- fully moved by the events at Adana, but, with the help of God, such events, which were opposed to religion as well as to humanity, would not occur in the future in any part of the empire. Henceforward, putting aside former differ- ences and misunderstandings, everybody would work hand-in-hand. In -order to profit by the natural wealth of the country and enjoy happi- ness, tranquillity, and prosperity, it would be most necessary to proceed with administrative, judicial, and financial reforms, to perfect the army and navy, to develop public works, and extend facilities for education.

A JUDGE'S KINDNESS. Entering the witness-box at Southwark Conntv-court, a poorly dressed woman informed Judge Willis, K.C., that her husband, who had been out of work since Christmas, had been sent to prison on account of a debt. His honour expressed surprise that a man should be imprisoned when not in a position to pay, and sent a messenger to the creditors, a firm of money-lenders. Meanwhile, noticing that the woman looked pale and ill, he gave her money to buy some food during the interval. A representative of the creditors attended Inter and explained that when, in October last, the committal order was made against the im- prisoned man he was in employment. His honour said he could not allow the man to remain in gaol, and forthwith made an order for his discharge. Giving the woman some silver, he told her it would do to provide the husband and children with tea.

Mr. R. Winfrey, M.P., secretary to Lord Carrington, announced that up to May 10 the County Councils had under the new Act pro- posed schemes for buying 17,119 acres and leas- ing 14,544 acres for small holdings, while they had applied for compulsory orders in fifty-sis cases for land covering an area of 4,853 acres. "I have so often drawn attention to the frauds carried on under the Limited Liability Company Act that I cannot say more than I have done," Judge Edge declared at the Clerkenwell County-court. "If the merchants Df this country will sit down under an Act of Parliament which enables business to be so sarried on, then the sooner credit is abolished Dy Act of Parliament the better." Fighting has occurred in the churches at Limassol (Cyprus) between the supporters and opponents of the new Archbishop, and many churches have been closed to prevent further disorders. Finger-prints left on champagne bottles were the clues which led to the arrest of two men who are now charged with the murder of a wealthy widow, Mme. Mois, in a suburb of Paris. — —'

TRAMCAR OVERTURNS. r Several people were injured by the overturn- ing of a horse tramcar at Upper Clapton. The scene of the accident was at Brooke-road, where I the system is being electrified, and the tramcar was travelling to Stamford-hill. When at the points at Brooke-road the tram suddenly shot the points and turned over. There were twelve passengers, and two were thrown from the top. Their injuries were serious, and they were de- tained at the German Hospital The driver, Samuel McAuliffe, also sustained injury, and narrowly escaped being thrown under the car. There was a large heap of sand where the accident happened, and several of the passengers fell on this, and thus escaped more serious consequences. Dr. White, who resides near by, attended to ill the passengers, and those who were only slightly affected by the accident were dis- patched to their homes in cabs. The narrow road along which the tram runa iras crowded, and great excitement was created.

BISHOP'S STRONG REMARKS, Strong remarks on what he termed "the iegradation of the Sabbath by people in society"" were made by Bishop Thicknesse, Archdeacon of Northampton, in delivering his charge at hi* annual visitation at Northampton. "What we have to deal with now," he said, ,:cis open disregard of the worship of Almighty God. by persons in the higher walks of life, their selfish profanities of the day of public worship by needless jowneyc,, motor expedi- tions, dinner parties, and games, to the utter deprivation also of any needed Sunday rest and quiet to their ill-used servants and dependants. "I know as a fact of a large 'fancy-dress* dinner party held on the first Sunday in Lent at a country house in a neighbouring county^ where the so-called ladies shamelessly appeared dressed as men and the so-called gentlemen. Iressed as women."

SHERLOCK HOLMES ON TRAMCAR A Sherlock Holmes in real life named Ciiarlea Capell is to be found on the conductor's plat- form of a Tooting tramcar. In the early hours of the morning of April 23 last a well-dressed young man jumped on Capell's car in Balham High-road. Capell noticed him particularly, as he appeared to be ill at ease and his hand was cut. Shortly afterwards Capell heard that the window of a jeweller's shop in Balham High- street had been broken during the night and thirty gold rings and six watches stolen. He did not see the man again until the early- morning of May 14, when the man boarded the ear at the same place. Capell at once called & "policeman and had him arrested. The man, who gave his name as Frederick Morgan, was taken to the police-station, where his pockets were found to be full of rings and tie-pins. It was then discovered that the jeweller's shop window had been broken for the second time that morning. In committing Morgan for trial the West- minster Police-court magistrate said Capeil should be rewarded for his astuteness.

TEN YEARS FOR DOCTOR'S WIDOW. At the Old Bailey, Mr. Justice Darling, in sentencing Ada Walters, a doctor's widow,"who was found guilty of the manslaughter of a young woman by performing an illegal operation, said: "In my opinion people like you deserve the penalty of death, which used to be inflicted oa them. I shall sentence you to a long term of penal servitude. "The sentence would be longer but for this— that what has happened to others leads me ta suppose tha.t if I passed on you what I consider an adequate and proper sentence it might be reduced by the Home Office to a, kind of stereo- typed sentence which they allow. "I shall not, therefore, in this case expojse' myself to that kind of dilemma, but I shall pasit Upon you a sentence which you will have to serve—one which will not be reduced. I do not myself think it an adequate sentence, but such as it is I pass it upon you. "It is that you be kept in penal servjtude for ten years."

George Redmond, a medalled Mutiny veteran, who was offered but refused promotion for his services in the 20th Foot, has just died at Cam- bridge-in the workhouse. Thirty-five thousand employees of the in- dependent steel companies in" Pittsburg whose wages were cut 10 per cent, last month, have been notified that the old scale will be restored an June 1 owing to the recovery in business. Britain consumes 47,000,000cwts. of meat a year, 120lbs. per head of the population, said Mr. Hooker, at the Royal Statistical Society. Only 54 per cent. of this, he added, is produced at home. The Prince of Wales, the master, and the elder brethren of Trinity House, entertained a distinguished company, including many Cabinet Ministers and ex-Ministers, at dinner at their headquarters on Tower-hill.

THINGS THOUGHTFUL. Nobody wants to be unimportant. Every- one wants to count in the world, to be some-j body. But no success is worth anything, or helps the gainer to be great, that is won by thrusting down others or taking unfair advan- ,tage. Truly, great .natures help qthers on- ward. The truly important person is he whom others lean on and trust. "No man liveth to himself." Out of aU lives, actual and possible, each one of us ap- propriates continually into his own. This is a world,ofhints only, out of which every soul seizes to itself what it .needs. SEIZE THE PRESENT. • Ye moments of eternal time i That ever come and go, j And bear to every coast and clime j Your freights of weal and woe1, j Ye reap what former moments sowed, And, as ye onward sweep, Drop in your course the seeds abroad j Which after-moments reap. •; And while ye singly troop along) Unchecked, relentless, fast, Th' eternal spirit of your song 1 Is futurepresentpast., With eye of sense we only see j The present moment's- scope;' The past exists in menuory, j The future lives in hope. I Seize on the present, earnest mindf Call- up your noblest pow'rs, I u Dare to be swift—we can but find J The pasising moment ours! "I'm open to truth and always seeking it, and finding it only in part," said an every- day philosophers-one who studied himseil and the world around him while he went about his daily work. I am seeking happi- j n-ess, too, but I am not so foolish as to think that I shall get that, save in part." And because he did not expect that he could know everything or have everything he was ready to do the best with what he knew and make j the most of what he had. He could be brave over his own mistakes and tolerant to those of others—others who might have a view of I truth that was not his. That perfect happi-, ness cannot come here does not make less sweet the foretastes that do come. There is a vast difference between being dissatisfied and being unsatisfied. j The who desirous of being richer, is never rich, while one who is de- | sirous of being better, will certainly become 'o; I When I have time so many things. I'll do; When I, have time so many 'things I'll do; To make life happier arid more fair- [ J?or those whose live are crowded now, with j care. "• I'll help to lift them from their low despair, When I have time. Now is the time! Ah, friend! no longer wait. To scatter loving smiles and words of cheer To those around whose lives are now. so 'drear; They may not need you in the coming year— Now is the time. I In all departments of life, it is the quiet I forces that effe ctmost, The sunbeams fall all day silently, unheard by human ear; yet there is in them a Wondrous energy and a great power for blessing and good. The I dew falls silently at night, when men sleep, and yet it touches every plant "and leaf and flower with new life and beauty. The same is true in moral and spiritual thiius. It is in the oalm, quiet life, that, the truest strength is found. V-'H There is nothing so indicative of fevered or of bad blood as the tendency to counsel the Almighty how he shall deal with his crea- tures. 0 Man hold thou on in courage of soul Through the stormy shades of the worldly way, > And the billows of cloud that around the roll Shall sleep in the light of the wondrous day., It is the people who are never dull that leave the most yawning gaps, behind them when they pass on from this stage of exist- ence to another. AGREE TO DIFFER. In matrimony, as in religion, in things essential there should be unity, in things in- different diversity, in all things charity. | In matrimony, though it is the closest and dear- est friendship. shades of character and the various qualities, of mind and heart never approximate to such a degree as to preclude 'all possibility of misunderstanding. But the broad and firm principles upon which all honourable and enduring sympathy is founded, the love of truth, the reverence for right, the abhorrence of all that is base and unworthy, admit of no difference or mis- understanding; and where these exist in the relations of two people united for life, love and happiness, as' perfect as this imperfect existence affords, may be realised. But the Ttile is different' in matters that are not es- sential. In reference to these, married people should cultivate "the sympathy of differ- ence." "They should agree to differ, each re- specting the taste and prejudices of the other. From the noise of many voices, From the tread of hasting feet, From the eager, buying, selling, Of the market and the street, I have gained a little moment, For the hush of thought and prayer, And the comfort of deep silence Is around me everywhere. It is cowardice to wish to get rid of every- 'iking which we do not like. Sickness and sorrow only- exist to further roan's education in this world. They will not be needed in the future.. People talk about menial callings; but what is a menial calling? I will t-ell you. It is a calling that makes a man mean. The moment any callin- makes a man a MAN, lie has dignified and glorified it. Show me the chrysalis first, and what a prejudice I have against butterflies But show me the butter- fly first, and how beautiful looks the horny case out of which it came! I carry the beauty of the thing itself back to that from which it emerged, 'and by association dignify it. And I honour a man that has built up'his cha., racter in "menial callings," who has dug up treasure where none but such an ingenious, industrious, and patient' man could have found it. Frame your mind to mirth and merriment, Which bars a thousand harms and lengtlllen3 life. The darkest shade in the sunshine of life is generally a man's own shadow. In life, sun- shine and shadow succeed one another as quickly as in an April day. Both, are often present at once. Some things in our complex existence are going well, some ill. Joy and sorrow, prosperity and care, peace at home and strife abroad, or strife at home and peace abroad, health and poverty, or wealth and suffering-we have all in their turn, sometimes almost all together. Whether, then, the net result is happiness or sorrow depends on which elements we brood over.

TEA-TABLE TALli., Empress Marie Feodorovna of Russia has done much to encourage improvements in methods for aiding wounded soldiers in war- time. Every five years international compe- titiqns, for improved ambulance appliances nrø held for prizes, presented by the Empress. » » The King and Queen of Spain own an in- cognito each, Queen Victoria being Countess Toledo and the King Marquis Covadonga. King Manuel of Portugal is Count ,de Bar- cellos, and his mother has always used the title of Marqueza de Villa Rosa. The ex- Empress Eugenie travels in the name of Comtesse de Pierrefonds; while the Crown Prince and Princess of Sweden are more often than not alluded to as the Duke and Duchess of Skane. Dr. Emil Reich was present at a dinner, when the conversation turned on marriage. "That was a wise saying of the old Greek philosopher," said some one. "Whether you marry her or not, you will regret it: "Yes," answered Dr. Reich. "It reminds- me of a certain old maid, who once said some- thing almost as good as that. 'Auntie,' said her little niece to her, "what would you do if you had your life to live over again?' To which the lonely spinster replied, < Get married, my child, before I had sense enough to decide to be an old maid.' I The Queen of Holland (says "The Bystander") is so puritanical in her views about the pleasures of life that she will not even allow her Consort to dance at the Court balls. The Turkish woman is marriageable at the age of nine years, and by Turkish law, at that age, if married, she is competent to manage her property and dispose of one-third of her fortune. The law allows her to abandon her husband's house for just cause, and will protect her in so doing. She cannot be compelled to labour for the support of her husband. < Princess George of Greece, by her mar- riage to Prince George, wised the Bonaparte family once again to Royal rank. The Princess is the daughter of Prince Rowland Bonaparte, the granddaughter of Prince' Pierre Bonaparte, and the great-grand- daughter of Prince Lucien Bonaparte, who: died in 1840, and was Napoleon's voung and most brilliant brother. Princess "George is now called the most beautiful woman of Royal rank in Europe. t When the fashionable young ladies of Japan desire, to make themselves very attrac- tive, they gild their lips. Miss Lillah McCartny is one of the quickest learners of a part at present on the stage. Ever since her childhood she was; noted for her remarkable memory. When she was ten years old her father offered her a sovereign if she could learn the second book of Milton's "Paradise Lost" by heart. This, she did easily, and he next promised her ten shillings when she knew the whole of "Romeo and Juliet." This she also mastered with ease. After one or two more similar experi- ences her father remarked: "This is becom- ing rather too expensive. Next time you shall have sixpence I It is probable that if that popular actress Miss Ruth Vincent could be induced to men- tion whom she considered to be the greatest admirer, of her singing, she would reply, "Budge," by which name her little son is known to his intimates. "'Budge' is #owj' about four years of age, and always sits in the drawing-room when I am practising my; songs," says Miss Vincent. Some of the tribes of India have a Car- riage custom which calls for the presence of a cow and a calf at the ceremony. The princi- c pals and the priest drive a cow and a calf into the water, and there the bride and groom, as well as the clergyman, clutch the cow's tail, while the officiating personage pours water upon it from a glass vessel: and utters a religious formula. The couple-are UOM united in wedlock, and the priest, for his part in the ceremony, claims the animals. "Fresh air and careful dieting" is Madame Patti's recipe for lasting youth. She con- siders that every woman ought to spend at least three hours daily in the open air—if possible, walking—and nothing but fog should, she says, keep a person indoors, pro- vided only that suitable dress be worn.' The complexion improves wonderfully under- the influence of frequent fain-baths. "By all means," says .Madame -Patti, "let the tain beat against your face as often as you have a chance. If only your body is properly pro- tected, the elements should have no terrors at all." Miss Eva Lumley, the well-known actress, has been seen surreptitiously, vet fervently, kissing a misshapen piece of ivory whilst waiting in the wings for her cue. When asked about it, she solemnly replied with-, an earnestness born, of cpnviction, "If this little thing quitted my hand to-night, I should be a failure." She held it tightly right through, and scored a triumph. y An amusing story is told of an adventure that happened to Queen Alexandra and her daughters when travelling on the Continent, in strict incognito, some time ago. It is," an established fact that Royalty never paysp its own bills, the debts are discharged by a lady fJr gentleman in attendance. Now, Miss Knollys is accustomed to act the part of purse-bearer as well as that of confidential friend and lady-in-waiting. One afternoon the Queen and her daughters were havino1 tea at Mentone, and took a great fancy to some chocolates that were displayed in tlie shop. They selected several boxes to take '1 away ivith them but When it cams to th<* inprnent of settling- the bill, Miss Knollya found that she had not enough money to pay it. Amid much merriment, the sum was collected from the private purses of the three Royal ladies. But, after all, one box' of chocolates had to be left behind! Mrs. Louisa Taft, mother of the United States President, who died at her home1 in Millbury, Mass., a year or two ago, at the age of eighty, spent the last year of her life compiling the New England history of the Taft. family, and of her own family, the Torreys, from genealogical data collected by her husband, Judge Alphonso Taft, during his lifetime. This history, together with eulogies of her husband, father and mother, and references to the now President, which show her pride in him; has been^ recently published in a genealogical history 0f Worcester County, Mass, < Lady Falmouth used to be considered one of the most graceful skaters of the day. She is also a traveller, having once made a yoyage along the coast of Asia Minor, visit- ing Palmyra on horseback. The choice of white for wedding dresses is comparatively a modern fashion. During the Middle Ages brides wore crimson, and most of the Plantagenet and Tudor queens were married in this vivid hue, which is still popular in parts of Brittany, where the bride is usually dressed in crimson brocade. It was Mary Queen of Scots who first changed the colour of bridal garments. At her marriage with the Dauphin of France, in 1558, she was robed in white brocade.

HOW WAGS THE WORLD 1 WORLD'S CONGEST BRIDGE. The longest bridge in the world crosses the Yellow Sea, near Sangang, China. It is called the Lion Bridge, and its length is five and a quarter miles. It is supported by three hundred huge arches,.is seventy feet above the water, and is enclosed in an iron network. RAILWAY CARRIAGES AS HOTELS. The Department of Government Railways in Russia has just granted a curious applica- n tion made by, zt number of foreign manu- facturers, who intimated that their travellers propose to visit the chief towns in the in- terior of Russia with a view to doing busi- ness, but are discouraged by the notorious reputation of most Russian provincial hotels in this country for. discomfort. The Govern- ment does nbt dispute1 the statement as to the reputation of the hotels, and has acceded to the proposal of the manufacturers that the travellers may live in their railway carriages, which will be stopped overnight in the towns they visit. As the railway gunge in Russia, is wider than any' other in Europe, the car- riages may be turned into fairly roomy apartments. LOANS FOR STUDENTS. A ba-nking establishment of a, unique char- acter has been founded,, at St. Petersburg under the auspices of the Russian Govern- ment. The object, iii view is to advance funds to poor Russian students to complete their education at the Universities. Branches are to be opened without delay, at Moscow and Kieff. The Joans to the students will be repayable by easy instalments after the cor pletion of the borrowers' studies, and when a good social position is attained. The interest to be charged is quite nominal. GERMANY'S MINERAL WEALTH. Germany in 20 years has increased her yearly mining, product from 100,000,000 metric tons to 242,609,000 metric tons worth > £ 87,817,240. Coal forms 85 per cent. --of the output. Other minerals are salt, ircn ores, copper, lead, zinc, pyrites, gold, silver, manganese, arsenic, saltpetre, vitriol, and alum. The workmen number about 700,000 and the oompanies about 2,000. FIGHTING MACHINES. An American paper states that when charges already ordered have been made the American battleship will look as if she had gone through a storm that had swept' awav most of her upper works. The Connecticut, Kansas, Louisiana, Virginia, and New Jersey, the first to be converted, are to lose the heavy military masts, the wheeihouse, and the after bridge, as well as most of the lifeboats. The theory is that good fighting men will not abandon a ship until there are so few of them left that a few boats and a few life rafts will be sufficient. The military masts are to be replaced by cage masts that look like immense open-work wire waste- paper backets. Experiments have shown that jt is almost impossible to destroy a cage mast by gun fire. The greatest change will be made when 'the wheelhouse is brought, aft and placed '^beneath the protective decks. SERVICE TO THE STATE.5 Madame Guerin, a widow of seventy-one, Who lives in 'a village near Paris; would de- light the heart of ex-President Roosevelt. She is the mother of eighteen children, twelve boys and six girls, and in addition, she has reared twenty two foster children. The Senator who represents her district in the French Parliament, is, suggesting that some State recognition should be made of this woman's great service, and such is the yig-oUr of the outcry against "ra'fe4 ^uicide" Til Franco that it is probable that sbmething will be done for her. :t „ r THE LAST STRAW. A divorce is asked from Mrs. Bessie Weston by W. H. Weston, of Yamhill County, Ore., U.S.A., who in his complaint says that liis wife smokes a pipe in bed. The WestOns were married in Yamhill County five years ago, but their married life has npt been very pleasant. Because of incompatibility they separated some time ago. The husband says his' wife has many shortcomings^ and he could put up with most of them, but when it came^ to her smoking a pipe in be'd every morning before arising it was too much. THE DYING TOPPER. Paris hatters have declared in convention that the silk hat is slowly but surely going out of fashion; is no longer worn by men of fashion except on ceremonial occasions; that its decline is marked even in London, where it has so long been a badge of respectability. This, they reason, is the case in Paris mainly because bejfgars, guides and others of the pestering fraternity in Paris look upon the wearer of a silk hat as fair game; STONE MOVED BY THE SUN. An interesting object is to be seen in a cemetery of Ohio, U.S.A.—a large granite stone weighing ,two tons, in the shape of a ball, which is gradually turning on, its axis. It is stated that during the last five years this ball has turned a fraction over thirteen inches. When the ball was placed in posi- tion, an unpolished spot six inches in diameter was purposely left in the socket of the pedestal whereon it rested. A little later it was noted with astonishment that this spot was turning upwards on the south side of the monument. This curious revolution of the huge polished ball, to lift which would re- quire a large derrick, is supposed to be due to the sun's. action, in the following manner. The solar rays heating one side cause the ball to expand to a certain degree, whereas the north side,, which rests nios-tly, in the shade, döesnot expand to,thesanle extent, thus causina- the ball gradually to shift its posi- ^.ion bv turning. LINER'S KITCHEN GARDEN. Fresh strawberries picked from the beds is the latest idea of the restaurant on board th» Hamburg-American liner Kaiserin Auguste Victoria. Having introduced trout pools, flower stalls and sun gardens, the line has Victoria. Having introduced trout pools, flower stalls and sun gardens, the line has now gone into the farm and small fruit busi- ness. The vegetables, greens and straw- berries are cultivated in pots under glass in I' a greenhouse installed aft of the superstruc- ture on the sun deck. The greenhouse, owing to the apparent success of the experiment, is to be enlarged to cover nearly the beam of the deck. An expert gardener raises the lettuce and strawberries, which are in all stages of greenness and ripeness, growing thriftily on long stems. During a late trip one hundred and twenty orders of fresh let- tuce were served from the greenhouse. MOTOR BOATS ON THE DEAD SEA. The Dead Sea is a Turkish Government monopoly, and is leased out to a small native company. They have a wooden boat built for a sailing vessel, but a few months ago had a motor put in it. If this succeeds they will probably try more motor boats. The Dead Sea is one-third solid matter, the greater part of which is salt, and the ques- I tion is: Can the hulls stand the action of this salt water? The Jordan Valley, the river, and the Dead Sea are the personal property of the Sultan. A permit must be first obtained from the Sultan before boats of any kind can be launched thereon. Such permits havq heretofore been very difficult to procure for motor boats. f'

TWO MIGHTY SCORERS. RAN* scores on the Cricket Field, but GAMAGE t Scores In Hoibf»rn. CHEAPEST an? BE$T H00?E £$ SPORTING REQUISITES GAMAGE'S OF H0LB0RN.«S Write or call to-day for comprehensive Catalogue of 200 pageg, FOR ALL SPORTING REQUISITES IS GAMAGE'S OF H0LB0RN.«S 11 <M Write or call to-day for comprehensive Catalogue of 200 pageg, sent post free anywhere on receipt of a post-card. "iWr1'' GAMAGE, Ltd., cater liberally for all SPORTS and GAMES,& iBATS. TENNIS RACKETS. Half-cane Handle, size 6 311; men's, 4/11. All cane „ 4/11; men's, 4,11, 7-6. Superior All cane, men's 9/6, 11 6. *■» Gamage's Yorkshire Driver," •warranted M'6. It n^luwl^ G-ainaRe's selected" Referee," guaranteed 18/6. The G-amage" patent double-spliced bat, I ifc-diTCSKMyiiiii specially selected blades 21/- ,TW»WlWlt^!yiri.riiiy« The "Gamage" patent double-spliced bat, I ifc-diTCSKMyiiiii specially selected blades 21/- ,TW»WlWlt^!yiri.riiiy« H CRICKET BALLS. 0 G-amago's Auatraliaxi," Catgut sewn £ /• the Dark's 3rseain Match W-A5E Samage's Keferee 3-eam Match 4/6. Cedar Handle, full size, 3-11; Fish Tail ft. Composition tails, youth's 8d.; match size. 51m., The Gamage Champion,"€/9; Eeferee" »/- 10id.; "Eclipse," ma.tch size, i.a. Postage od- Gamage's "Holbom" 11/8. CRICKET BAGS. The"Gamage" (guaranteed; 18/6. The "All England," -with two handles 3/11. The "Demon" (Siazengei-'sJ 11-8 Tapestry, with two B+rsps 5 11. Ayre*#"Champion" 13/&. Ex. quality, leather bdttoms 6 11.. j The Mai-ylebone 8/ 9 6. TENNIS BALLS. — All Leather (Handsome Bag) 26/6. The Ga™age," the Best Ball in t f<T»TCfrET VETS rW Market, waiTanted, regulation size With Lines top and bottom, Poles, complete 8 '3, 9/ 10/- Ayre's « Sfampion'' WiS0fmdbott^Poli^UTwo £ Sw y Slazeiigers f hampion* It complete 1//9, 19,10, 22/- Tj, „#/ The "Beferee." Felt cmTTws»c ~2rv covered and Cemented „ 7b £ >XU1XlPS» IS ICS 3 Gamage's Practice Polished Ash, hoys' 28in 2' men's, 2 '6.. = = POLES AND NETS, complete, from 9/- Super Quality 5 11,6 9, 7/9, 8/ 9/6. *— Postage, men's 9d., boys'6d. The "REFEREE" (Regti.) TENNIS SHOE. BATTING GLOVES. With the New Steel Spikes for Wet ani Slipperv Weather, Strong Leather, Itubber. BQYs' .319. Men's, 4/- P<Jstage 3d, GAUNTLETS. I.Jhamois Leather,vêntilated, men's, 2/9; boys', 2'6. Super Quality ditto „ 3/6; „ 3/3. U LEG GUARDS. [I T Moleskin Guai"ds boys', 3/3; m 3 6. |l » j Buckskin „ 4/6; „ 4/11. Li LI i. bL^ ——"T1 (■( FLANNEL TROUSERS. Y V T Special Job Lines, all wzes 4/11 Super Quality, Wliite or Grey 7,11,9/11, lie' Tan, Calf, or "White BtysksHn. 12'6,14!6,16/6. Brown, or White Canvas Shoes, with plain or corrugated CRICKET SHOES. Bubber Soles,from. 2/4. Brown Canvas, Sewn Leather Soles, 311. —— CRICKET AND TENNIS SHIRTS. White Buckskin Boots or Shoes 10/6. All Wool Flannel 311, 411, 5/H, Best Quality. 16/c. The Club Shirt, ooarse canvas X6, 3A Postage 4d. below 10/- Send size when ordering by post. (White, Pink, or Blue.) Orders over 10s. Carriage Paid unless otherwise stated. Tlle Uuivers&1 k W. MAGE, LTD.. HOLBORN, LONDON, E.& -=-=': _o:-=:=========-

CATERING PROFITS. I The astonishing prosperity which attends the art of skilfully catering for the public in after- noon teas, in addition to more elaborate restau- rant meals and the supply of breakfast table necessaries, is shown in the fact that Messrs. Lyons, Limited, have just announced one year's gross profit at almost a million sterling the actual total is £ 962,734. Out of this profit the firm has been enabled to raise the reserve to £ 5§0,000, in addition to taking other precautionary measures and, after p;i lug a dividend of 32t per cent., the equiva- lent of 6s.6d. on each £ 1 share, to create new 6 per cent. Preferred shares in a form of bonus. The board, after declaring the 32i per cent. dividend, had 933,100 of' undistributed profit. This is utilised on behalf of the shareholders to subscribe for the new 6 per cent. shares, .which have a value of 2s. 3d. each above their actual. cost.

DOUBLE EXECUTION. The two brothers, Morris and Mark Reubens, condemned to death for the murder of an engi- neernamedSproull in the East-end in March last were executed in Pentonville Prison at nine o'clock in the morning. T,hey were awakened shortly after six o'clock, and were offered a plain breakfast, but this they both declined., They had been confined in sepa- rate cells. They approached the scaffold with wonderful coniposiire- especially considering the piteous scene which took place in court when the men heard their sentence. Pierpoint was the execu- tioner, having his brother and another man as assistants. The sentence was carried out with- out a hitch of any kind, and death was instan- taneous. At the inquest in the afternoon Major Davies, governor of the prison, said that neither of the men had made any confession to him.

SALT AS A FERTILISER. According to a report on the agricultural ,experime.-ats of the Dorset County Council, nitrate of soda was noted to act much quicker than sulphate of ammonia, and when uaed for mangels gave a better result. Phos- phates do not seem to be so necessary for the mangel crop, but here the mangels ripened quicker, which is an important point. Little difference could be distinguished between Buperphosphate and basic slag. An average dressing of kainit gave better results than sulphate of potash. Where nitrogen was left out of the manures the effect on the yield was apparent at once. Common salt, the report adds, is not considered a fertiliser, and for some crops W has a deleterious effect.