Barry Herald

OUR LONDON CORRESPONDENT. The holiday season is naturally the time for a discussion as to the propriety and extent of the Ii tipping" system and this autumn the controversy has been revived with its old accus- tomed vigour. Dweliers in London, of course, have always the system before their eyes and, although in theory it is indefensible and even detestable, it has become so ingrained a habit that it would be more difficult to be dropped than continued. But even the Londoner iinds, when he goes away for a holiday, that the nuisance is increased, and this not because of any particular scruple in his mind as to the propriety of the practice, but as to the varying amounts he is expected to give. One of the newspaper correspondents who has been join- ing in the debate has admirably summed up this phase of the difficulty in the questions What is the correct tip to a keeper after you have been staying with friends for a few days' shooting ? Is it five pounds, a sovereign, or five shillings? How much may the butler reasonably expect What is the proper douceur for the porter at an hotel ? Ought the waiter to be satisfied with a shilling, or should we give him half-a-crown f" These, as he says, are problems which to most of us remain in unsatisfactory doubt all the vacation period, and it would be very agreeable if some competent authority made an attempt to settle them. The result at present is considerable waste, and even more dissatisfaction but one principle can fairly be laid down, and that is for the giver always to regard a tip as a favour and never as a right, and to regulate it in the main by the amount, alacrity, and amia- bility of the service rendered. The worst of it is, however, that a few rich snobs, for the sake of a momentary gratifica- tion of their desire to impress, are always ready to spoil the market in this particular. There is. however, the even more deleterious result of the whole system that the English taste for giving extravagant vails-to use the old but now obsolete word—has been carried to the Continent. A Frenchman or a Belgian may present a "tip," but it is always a modest one, and the waiter knows that he will get no more, and is content accordingly. But that same waiter, if he attends to an Englishman at the very next table, will expect -and will probably receive-twice or three times as high an amount, and he will indulge in a sulk if it be not forthcoming. The old tradi- tion that all English travellers on the Conti- nent are milords, and consequently rich, has to a large extent died out but the belief that they are especially liberal in the matter of M tips remains, and it very materially adds to the cost of even the most modest Continental journey. And yet it requires only some firm- ness to resist this particular form of extortion. There is a story of an old-fashioned country gentleman who gave a crown to a servant of the friend whom he was visiting. I never take silver, sir," observed the servant. And I," rejoined the gentleman, never give gold," and he reclaimed and kept the money. The bearings of this anecdote," as Captain Cuttle's sententious friend would have observed, 11 lie* in the application thereof," and the prudent should study it accordingly. There is one other grievance that always comes to the front in the holiday season, and especially in London, and that is as to the cost of cabs. It may be laid down as an axiom that the Cockney cabman who is contented with his legal fare has yet to be seen and probably there are very few among us who do not frequently run the risk of hurting the feelings of Mr. Herbert Spencer by paying sixpence over that amount. But the trouble, especially to visitors to the capital, is that it is not easy for them to discover the legal fare, and, therefore, a rule of thumb" has been laid down that, if one pays at the rate of a penny for every minute the cab is being driven, he will not go far wrong. Here again, however, an unscrupu- lous cabman can cheat, for some of the fra- ternity, it they think it is a stranger to town who is in the vehicle, drive with slow- ness, so as to make as many minutes as possible. The rule just given, therefore, has to be regarded simply as a general instruction, to be adhered to only when the cabman drives at a reasonable pace, and even then always with the remem- brance that the law allows him to charge two- pence for every package that is carried outside. In June or July of next year, according to present hopes and even expectations, the new trunk line between London and the Midlands and North of England will be open for pas- senger traffic. As it is only four years and a half since the scheme promoted by the Man- Chester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire—now tha Great Central — Railway Company received formal Parliamentary sanction, this must be considered to be extremely good work; but no one can wonder at the speedy progress which has been made who sees how St. John's-wood has been rapidly revolutionised within the past twelve or eighteen months. Every visitor to Lord's cricket-ground this summer will have nuticed the heavy works that have been accom- J plished, and will have learned with satisfaction that the covered way underneath has been satisfactorily, as well as punctually, made. It may be recalled that, when the scheme was before Parliament, fears were expressed in more than one quarter that the making of the new line would seriously interfere with Lord's but, so far from that having proved to be the case, the famous area has even been increased as the result of an arrangement with the Great Central Company. Now that the National Gallery of British Art at Millbank, presented by Mr. Henry Tate, has been opened to the public-it was formally in- augurated, of course, some weeks since by the Prince of Wales-attention is more than ever being called in the metropolis to the necessity for some means to be devised to render it more "asy of general access. It will be open free on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday yrom ten to six, and on Sundays during the lummer months from two to six, but a charge of sixpence will be made on Thursdays and Fridays, which are student*' days. This last provision is assuredly one of those matters concerning which one is entitled to say that they manage these things better in France. One can go into the Louvre on any day and see the students busily at work copying the greater pictures, and they are never disturbed by the passing public, any more than are their com- peers at the Musses of Brussels and Antwerp. But there is a tendency in this country to 4i coddle" our students, and, therefore, an admission fee is levied on certain days at the National Gallery and -its kindred institutions, while, upon a similar principle, and for the sup- posed sake of the student, Kew Gardens are closed to the public until noon. Perhaps if self-reliance were included as a subject in our students' curriculum, their knowledge neither of art nor science would suffer, while their present tendency to self-consciousness, and even sometimes self-suiffciency, would be diminished to their own and the general advantage. A question which is occupying the thoughts oi a great many cyclists and would-be cyclists just now is as to whether machines are likely to be cheaper next spring, and it is one to which, upon the whole, an affirmative answer iieeniS generally to be given. The wish, of rourse, may in a number of instances be father to the thought; but there appears little doubt that, owing not only to the growth of American competition, but to the over-production in our own country during the past few months, a stock is now on hand which cannot be expected to be disposed of at the high prices that have previously ruled. Let it be admitted at once that, in the normal course of trade, a really good machine cannot be sold at a low price, for it must not only be composed of thoroughly sound materials, but be put together by skilled and experienced workmen. There is, however, the other side of the picture, and that is that cycling is so much a matter of fashion that its more frivolous votaries do not want a machine which will last for ever, and that a low-priced one, which will ran a twelvemonth, is calculated to suit their requirements. R.

Mrss ELIZA HAYES, of Broxted HAN, Jissox, wno won the Lord Mayor's Cup at the last Dairy Show for butter-making, and who has taken many prizes at agricultural shows for butter-making, haa been •npomtecf dairy instructor on the estate of Count jaraypo Cjepu, of Megje, Hungary.

NEWS NOTES. THE visit of the Duke and Duchess of York —up to the moment of writing this note-has proven a magnificent success, in every sense of the word. The tact and consideration dis- played by the Duchess in her wearing of the green," because she knew such a proceeding would bring joy to each Hibernian heart, deserves every commendation. The Duke, too, by his breezy bonhomie, made easy capture of many folk; and the resultant should be a sue- fussion of Royal crossings kjf the Channel. If a Princely family can be induced to set up housekeeping at the castle of Dublin, and make itsflr thoroughly at home there-well, so much the better, and the pleasanter for the solidarity of all the United Kingdom. So may it be. His swarthy majesty of Benin, having recog- nised the wisdom of submission to the British power, is now lodged in the safe keeping of the Protectorate authorities. He, as an example to other cruel native potentates, will have to be taught the lesson that violent resistance cannot with impunity be offered to a properly con- stituted white-men's mission, whether such resistance spring from ignorance or not. Civili- sation spread slowly in the dark places of the earth still; but it will be the fault and failing of the civilised if the spread of enlightenment be not steady and sure. The King of Benin's treachery need not be vindictively dealt with but proper retribution must be insisted upon. A DETERMINED endeavour is being made by a number of influential Hebrews, headed by Dr. Hertzl, of Vienna, to promote the return of the Jews to Palestine, and the re-establishment of the ancient people as a nation in their own old land. The idea is not to wrest back the Holy Land in battle, but to get together a sufficient capital to purchase it from Turkey, and to ievelop the country properly so as gradually to make it a power in the earth. There is suffi- cient wealth and ability at the command of the Hebrew race to accomplish this in our time, if anly a scheme of combination and working sould be agreed upon, one would think; ihough the undertaking would be gigantic, and would by many, no doubt, be regarded as an immediate presage of the Millennium. In any 3aso, if the project reaches realisation it will have to be considered as one of the world's marvels. Imagine the spectacle of a million or more of men and women, scattered all over the face of the earth at present, journeying back to the place of the origination of their race-with all its peculiarities intact—after eighteen cen- turies of persecution. The thing beggars belief; and yet it seems, under all the condi- tions, quite possible for the Jews are as Jewish as ever they were they have collectively far more than enough money to tempt the hard- up Sultan into giving up Palestine, and the land would hold and find a living for a vast multitude of those who are not doing well elsewhere, and might easily be financed thither- ward by their more favoured brethren. THE revenue of Britain is promisingly elastic and the Customs duties are, it is pleasing to note, increasing-to make use of a frequent phrase—by leaps and bounds. The receipts under this head last returned exceed by over half-a-million sterling those of the corresponding precedent twelvemonths, and go beyond the figures of the Budget estimate even by almost half that amount. For the bulk of this advance the consumption of tobacco and tea affords explanation. The divine weed" shows a rise of £ 269,526; while the cup that cheer, but not inebriate" have in Customs values surpassed themselves in the year last past. There is an argument for our national prosperity deducible from these statistics. PRESIDENT FAURE did not allow himself much time for his Muscovite jaunt but it was long enough for a pretty big outpouring of diplo- matic fulsomeness, which is cheap enough. But St. Petersburg is great at simulation and can hug a German Kaiser to its heart to-day, and bespatter a French President with compli- ments to morrow without a blush. These much bs-heralded visitations to Russia may mean mischief among the councils of Europe, or they may signify nothing We shall see. THERE have been so many unlovely disputes between Capital and Labour latterly that the intelligence of an agreement having been arrived at between Lord Penrhyn and his quarrymen was received generally with genuine joy. There has been a tough and stern fight between the workmen and the master; and, now that his lordship has yielded virtually everything of material moment asked of him, one may hope that all the men will go cheerfully back to their old places, and thinga proceed pleasantly and with perennial smooth- ness for the future. The surprise and the pity of it is that work should have been at a stand- still for so long; and the presence of a more conciliatory spirit on the part of employers and employed might advantageously be wrought for where disagreements arise by all well-wishers to the parties concerned. IT is a matter to regret that Sir Robert Giffen's invaluable services are about to be withdrawn from the Board of Trade, where he has done the State much service as Controller General of the Commercial, Labour, and Statistical Depart- ment. Sir Robert deserves his retirement, and we wish him health and enjoyment therein; but we trust that the evening of his days, as he "grows old gracefully, may produce ripe fruit in the shape of the completion-at his ease and free from engrossing official cares-of the various valuable economic works which he hu long had in preparation.

BENIN KING'S SUBMISSION. DRAMATIC SCENE IN THE KING'S FORMZR CAPITAL, On August 5 the King entered Benin City, preceded by a messenger with a ^hite nag, and accompanied by 800 unarmed men, with 10 chiefs, 20 of his wives and a reed band. Captain iSoupeli, the Acting Resi- dent, received the King's obeisance in front of the Palaver House. This he made by prostrating him- lelf, and rubbing his forehead three times in tho dust. A request by the King to make his submission in private was refused. The King, who was sur- rounded by his chiffs and 400 naked natives, was covered with coral decorations. His arms were sup- ported on each side by native attendants. Nothing will be settled as to the treatment of the King until the return of Consul-General Moor. A telegram has been received at the Foreign Office confirming the report that the King of Benin is now in safe custody. The King is now in the hands of the Protectorate authorities. It may be remembered that Major Crawford, Captain Boisragon, Mr. Locke, and other British officers undertook some months ago a peaceful mission to the King of Benin. When they were approaching his capital, Benin City, they were treacherously attacked in the bush by armed natives, and, being unarmed and utterly de- fenceless, were all butchered with the excep- tion of Major Boisragon, Mr. Locke, and a few natives. The two officers namea were wandering for some days in the bush, suffering from wounds and enduring the additional tortures of hunger and thirst, until they were at length assisted by friendly natives, and ultimately escaped to the coast and reached this country in safety. A punitive expedi- tion was organised, and after a short campaign, de- feated the King's people, burned their main strong- holds, and compelled the ruler to take to flight. Since that time he has been a fugitive, but has been hunted down by the Protectorate forces.

YKAR by year the position of the Chinese tea trade with Great Britain seems to be on the decline,, whi!e our importations of the leaf from India and Ceylon are going up by leaps and bounds. The first of the new season's teas from China arrived the other day, but dealers generally exhibited very little inte- rest in the importation, and the price realised at auction was only about 4jd. per lb. of course, that being the bond price, not duty-paid. This is & great falling away from 1894, when fine Chinese teas com- manded as much 2>. 6d. per lb. MANCHESTER citizens are to be congratulated for their decision to recognise the educational services rendered to that city by Dr. A. W. Ward. They pro- pose to present him with the freedom of the city. Dr. Ward was appointed Professor of English Literature and History at Owens College in 1864, and four years later, distinguished himself by the prominent part he took in supporting a scheme for the formation of the Victorian University. This university was formed in 1880, and he was appointed Chairman of the Board of Studies. In 1889 he was appointed Principal of Owens Collect.

MISS MARY MOORE INTERVIEWED. One is repaid (says a reporter of the Athemtune Observer), for a journey to Hartshill (a village near Nuneaton). On the morning of my visit thb cot- tages, with their creeper-covered porches and gay gardens were pleasant sights, and in such a dwelling I had a chat with Miss Mary Moore, a bright and healthy-looking young lady of some 21 summers. Miss Moore readily told me all about her narrow escape from an early grave." Miss Mary Moore At the age of 16," began Miss Moore, I was apprenticed to learn dress- making in the village. I fell ill. One after- noon, mother and I were taking a walk across the field; suddenly my limbs failed to support we I fell to the ground, lay there some time, but with great difuculty managed to reach home. I was immediately put to bed, and two doctors were summoned, both of whom were of ojinion that my illness was due to anaiiuia and nei ra gia. I was like a mad thing at times the pain drove me almost frantic. It used to tuke two or three of them to hold me down in bed. You look robust and healthy enough now." Yes, and I feel well and strong too," replied Miss Moore. But for nearly four years, I was almost racked to death with pains in my head, neck, and shoulders. People thought 1 should die, and death to me would have been a happy release. Then my heart was so bad, for I had palpitation. I dreaded going upstairs, but now I can run up with anyone, in fact, I'm always on the go, and can do a day's sew- ing at the machine with perfect ease." To what then, do you attribute so great a change in your health ?" To nothing else than Dr. Williams' Pink Pilla for Pale People. A lady in the village told me about them, remarking that her sister bad taken some, and derived benefit, so I thought there would be no harm in my trying them too. Then I happened to read of a remarkable cure reported in a local paper, so I sent up to London and by return of post I received the Pills direct from Dr. Williams' Medicine Com- pany. You see I took this special care to see I had the genuine Dr. Williams'Pills." And were you satisfied?" "More than satisfied," replied Miss Moore. "I began to feel better before I had finished one box. My complexion used to be yellow; now I'm quite rosy with which remark I emphatically agreed. How many pills have you taken ?" I queried. Six boxes I but I have not taken any pills for more than a month, for I don't need them now. They have given me quite an appetite, while previously I never wanted anything to eat." For untemia, indigestion and liver troubles, rheu- matism, weak heart, scrofula, consumption, and chronic erysipelas and especially for all ailments of ladies and of growing girls, Dr. Williams' Pink Pills are recommended. They restore pale and sallow complexions to the glow of health, and are also a splendid nerve and spinal tonic, having cured many cases of paralysis, locomotor ataxy, neuralgia, St. Vitus' dance, and nervous headache. They are sold by ohemists, and by Dr. Williams' Medicine Com- pany, Holborn-viaduct, London, at 2s. 9d. a box, or six for 13s. 9d., but are genuine only with full naii\e, Dr. Williams' Pink Pills for Pale People.

GROCJSE AND GOLD. The discovery of Scotland by the modern sports- man may be looked upon as a veritable windfall not niilv for the landowners but also for the natives. A few years ago the Highlands were practically a8 wild and inaccessible as many parts of Africa. But now all that has changed. After years of repose, silent and derelict, the little wooden railway stations leading to moor, mountain, glen, and river suddenly awoke, and now every year are alive with bustling crowds, which, shaking off the dust of big cities, fly northwards in search of health, grouse, salmon, and stags. When stag hunting first became popular the great heart of the country was stirred with indignation over the Sutherland evictions. Vast tracts of country were depopulated to make room for game. Shameful," said the philanthropic world. Are human beings ot less consequence than grouse ?" But the great Scotch duke made no reply. He knew that shootings would result in a great influx of Eng- lish gold, and carried out his policy in the face of the most determined opposition. And time has vindi- cated his conduct. Poverty in the Highlands, ex- cept among the crofters, is far less common than further south. A millionaire, thinking he would like to pot a few stags, hires a deer forest, and as it requires to be well stocked in order to ensure good sport, he has to pay heavily. Deer roughly figure out at £ 40 eaeh to rear. A forest known to be good for 50 stags would there- fore cost £ 2000, with another;EIOOO for rental. Con- sidering that a Highland shooting box is only occu- pied two months in the year, from August 12 till October 10, E3000 is a fairly high price to pay for the chance of killing an animal which, owing to it extraordinary scent, can take the wind of its hunters at It miles. The weekly rental of a £3000 shooting, occupied for only two months, is, therefore, in the neighbourhood of JE50 a day. But independently of the rent the expenses mount up in the most surprising manner till little compunc- tion taay be felt on this score, for the bulk of the money goes into channels where it is most needed. Many a jest has been made on the number of gillies the renter of a deer forest is expected to maintain, and it is told of one well-known living sportsman that on one occasion be tried to do without them altogether. Gillies are as strong as they are good natured. One will think nothing of carrying three guns; each weighing 91b., a luncheon basket, 30 brace of grouse, and anything else you like, including your flask. It was this last item which led to the quarreL The flask somehow got unscrewed—they often do when a gillie carries them-and when the owner wanted a taste of his 40-year-old whisky, he found scarcely a drop left. Greatly incensed, he discharged all his gillies, and went out next day unattended. Late in the afternoon he found himself enveloped in a mist which never lifted for 24 hours. After wan- dering about for several hours he grew at last so tired that he sank on the ground and fell asleep. It was early* next day when he awoke to recommence his wanderings. When the mist at last condescended to rise, he found that he had actually slept the night before within 500 yards of his lodge. Next day the gillies were all re-engaged. The Scotch, being a practical people, have not allowed any ridiculous feelings of pride to stand between them and the Saxon's siller. Even the Duke of Sutherland, for all his 9140,000 a year, lets some of his moors. His best customer is the Duke of Westminster, who pays his young relative some £ 12,000 a year for Reny Glendu, and other deer forests. Altogether, the great Scotch duke has 60 shootings, which he lets for about £ 30,000 a year. In fact, Scotch landowners have thoroughly given them- selves over to the acquisition of southern gold. It must not be supposed, however, that every Scotch seat has. its price. The Dukes of Sutherland, Buccleuch, and Argyll, while ready to let their moors, reserVe the castles for themselves. His Grace of Argyll is prepared to cater for all comers, even as low as £ 30, the price asked For one Uttle shooting box; but he would not take £10,000 a year for Inverary Castle.

GOLD RUSH TO KLOJNDYKE. SLAVIN, THE PUGILIST, EXPORTED LOST ON CIIILKOOT PASS. Advices from the Yukon country state that Frank Slavin, the well-known pugilist, has, it is feared, been lost near there. He started on August 5 from Lake Bennett to go to the summit of the Cbilkoot Pass to find some articles which were lost from his pack. A letter was received from him, dated August 9, but nothing further has been heard of him. A telegram has been received in Victoria, British Columbia, from Union, Vancouver Island, stating that a miner has arrived there from Stewart River with lC0,000dols. in gold dust.

Tim extent of building operations in .London is well illustrated by the returns of the great water companies. In July of last year these companies sup plied 832,120 houses, while in July of the present year they were supplying 846,646. Thus, within the 12 months there has been an increase of 14,5_,b separate services, or, to put the matter in another wav. there have been built 14.500 housef. •DJSTUBBAWCES have broken out in the island of Lombok. At the village of Sesela, in the west of the island, the natives murdered a Dutch official, and wounded another. The troops have taken possession of Kampong, and 25 Sasaks were killed. The cause of the disturbances is not known, but they appear to be of a local character. M. B«RBNGEB, president of the commission appointed by the French Senate to revise the Act of 1882 for the suppression of outrages on good manners, has presented the text of a new law, by which it is proposed to punish by imprisonment of frum one month to two years, and fines from 100 to 5000 francs, whoever shall be convicted of selling or .xposing for sale, or distributing, or advertising obscene books, ú.

HUMOURS OF AUCTION. Mr. Henry Lumley contributes an article on this subject to the Land Magazine. He starts by attempt- ing to define the difference between auction humour and wit. The former he applies more to physical action. The latter is born in the spirit and is ob- viously of mental source. He proceeds The more remarkable effects of humour have been brought about by my audiences, and, although I blush to say it, the finer effects of wit have more than once emana- ted from the rostrum. Something like, but how much less in degree, the auction room may be compared to a court of justice, where the presiding judge has only to say something remotely funny, when the listeners are convulsed with mirth, ranging from the mild tolerating smile of the Q.C.'s through the more bois- terous laughter of the Junior Bar to the spasmodic ebullitions of the ushers, so it is not difficult for the presiding figure in an auction room to carry his audience with him when he makes an obvious joke, but it must be extremely evident, for if he shoots over his birds he will bring none of them down. Apropos of this I remember selling a picture," A View of Dover a ditto lot was then offered, a view of another seaport, but somet- dy had extracted the picture and left fchewocden back. I remarked, Gen- tlemen, this is a view of Deal," and nobody laughed. I had to explain that the joke was not my own, and I ventured to suggest that my buyers should write it down on their catalogues and take it home and think over it. There must be something much more forcible than this, as, for example, in a noisy and crowded audience the end of the table where the lots were placed was crowded by some brokers who were not dressed in their Sunday best and were not great patrons of the advertising firms of soap makers. Finding that instructions to clear the end of the table were of no avail, I told the auction porters to bring up Lot 152, a hip bath, and this scattered the crowd most effectually. In the early days when I was a clerk I was clerking a sale in the East-end of London. The auctioneer and myself for convenience got into a cart, so that from that elevation and point of vantage we might better work the sale. But some- thing went wrong with the audience, who perhaps were considering that the prices were rising higher than they expected, so for a diversion they led out the hoise from the shafts and ran us up and down the street for a quarter of an hour. This, you will observe, is a joke of the humourous kind played upon the auctioneer, and I have no sympathy with such jokes. Then I remember also in the early days that my master, who was selling, knocked down a lot at a very high price indeed to a gentleman who had been vigorously nodding his head, and who, it turned out, was aiHicted with palsy, and could not help nodding. This is a most dangerous and deceptive person to have in an auction room as a rule, for although an astute auctioneer may make use of such an in- dividual to assist him along with his biddings, yet he must be astute indeed to know when to look in another direction. FCNNT INCIDENTS. The following incident happens at many auction sales. An old lady (or it may be a young one) bids for silver against trade buyers and everybody else, and triumphantly secures the lot at so many shillings per ounce, and walks up to the table expecting to get a dozen forks and spoons for 5s. or 6s. She has been under the impression that as bargains have been obtained in auction rooms there is no reason why on that particular occasion she has not secured one her- self, and has bought perhaps £10 or E15 worth of silver for 5s. or 6s. Then there is the other auction room idiot who buys Lot 54 for El 5s., and is under the impression that he has bought Lot 55 which is worth E50, or vice versa. I suppose these may be called humorous incidents; at least, they are very embarrassing to the auctioneer, and as probably humour has its foundation in cruelty, incidents of this kind appear to confirm the theory. But to refer to a more agreeable subject, many funny circumstances and incidents have occurred to me at sales by auction of landed and real property at the auction mart in London and elsewhere. I was sell- ing small property in Tokenhouse-yard, and my com- pany was of the small tradesmen class. I knocked down a lot for E150 to one of these, who brought the whole of the money up in a canvas bag to the table and insisted on paying it over. There was nothing very remarkable in this, but when he proceeded to count out the money in sovereigns and shillings he arranged them all on the floor, although there was a table handy on which the counting might be done. When I asked him why he did this, he replied: Well, sir you see if I counted them out on a table some of them might roll off. There is no rolling off the floor, is there 1" There was wisdom in this reply. On another occasion a possible buyer of an eight- roomed cottage, with a view no doubt of depreciating the property, asked if there was a bath-room in the house; to which the auctioneer replied, No, sir, but the back kitchen offers a splendid oppor- tunity for you to put up a marble and silver bath." The remark made by the auctioneer in selling a ditto plot of land, when be invited the buyer of the previous plot to become the purchaser of the second plot, as the two had been together so long and it was a pity to part them," does not appear at first sight to be of much account. Possibly in thinking it over the absurdity of the observation is apparent. Probably at these sales of lands in plots more humour is discoverable, but it is a poor joke for some persons to aoeept a free railway ticket and free lunch with free drinks and free cigars and then walk out of the room and wander over the estate for the rest of the day. I believe that there is a certain number of deadhoads of this character who enjoy their lives after this fashion. 1 have heard of a man taking down his wife and his mother-in-law to a plot sale at a delightful spot on the sea coast, enjoying himself thoroughly, sneaking out before the business proceedings commenced, and then afterwards writing a letter of complaint to the auctioneer in reference to the brand of champagne provided at the lunch. CLERICAL AUCTIONS. Some time ago there was formed a body of clerics and laymen, who thought that the sale of advowsons and church livings should be opposed, and even went so far as to attend sales at the mart when such pro- perties were offered with a view of obstructing sales and protesting noisily against the traffic in church livings. They may have been right or thev may have been wrong in their views, but they certainly took an illegal method of demonstrating them. Their tactics were successful on more than one occasion, and 6averal auctioneers had really to withdraw properties of the kind in the face of the noise and offensive proceedings on the part of the clerics. On the occasion to which I refer, my friend, the muscular auctioneer, who, by the by, is mHscuLr in brain as well as in body, having an advowson to offer, was quite prepared for the noisy de- monstration and the interruptions which took place, and he simply said in a cool and matter-of-fact tone of voice, when the row began, Gentlemen, 1 shall make very short work of this if you do not allow me to proceed with my sale, I shall select the biggest of you and turn him out of the room." This calmed matters for a time, but on the bi eaking out again of hostilities he immediately left the rostrum, measured with his eye the tallest, broadest, and most pugna- cious-looking of the clergymen, went for him, and actually lifted him up out of the auction-room into the corrider, and would have dropped him over the stairs if necessary. He then calmly went back to the rostrum and proceeded with the sale amid the greatest decorum and quiet on the part of the clerics. The lesson was not lost upon them, for no more interrup- tions have taken place at sales by auction of ad- vowsons from that day to this.

ANIMAL LIKES AND DISLIKES. The likes and dislikes of animals are unaccount- able. Some horses take a violent prejudice against certain men, even though they are treated kindly, and though the man's moral character is fair. Between the cat and dog there is a violent antipathy, which, however, is not infrequently displaced by mutual respect, and even affection in exceptional sases. The elephant hates dogs and rats. Cows dis- like dogs, and so do sheep for good reasons. But horses like dogs, and, what seems stranger, are par- ticularly partial to bears. On the other hand, horses loathe and detest camels and refuse to be decently civil to them after long acquaintance. They even hate the place where camels have been, which seems to be carrying race prejudice to an extreme. Evolutionists are accustomed to explain these in- stinctive feelinga as survivals of ancestral enmities dating from the days when one race preyed on the other. This would account for the natural enmity of cows and dogs, for when cows were wild they were obliged to defend their calves from bands of predacious wild dogs. But why should the horse like dogs? It IS but the other day that wild horses organised to defend their colts from wolves on our Western prairies. What could the ancestral horse have bad against the ancestral camel of a million years ago ? Above all, why should the horse approve of the bear ?

"WHAT is an old-fashioned patriot?" "Well, he is a fellow who doesn't believe that baseball ought to go ahead of statesmanship." Do you say that you received a college educa- tion ?" asked the court of the would-be juror. Yes, yer honour." Challenged for cause," promptly in- terrupted the counsel for the prisoner. WHAT makes you speak of Miss Wisely n a diplomat ?" Because among her best friends are the men whom she has refused to marry." I NEVER let Henry complain and go on about the hot weather." How do you stop him ?" I remind him how he used to fuss about the cotl biUa last winteir.0

DRIVERS AND THEIR DUTIES. To become a first-class engineman requires a vast amount of experience and training. The period of training is, says Mr. C. J. Bowen Cooke, District Locomotive Superintendent of the London and North-Western Railway, in an article in the Railway Magazine, longer than the ordinary term of appren- ticeship considered necessary to render a man an expert craftsman in any other particular trade which he may take up as a means of earning his livelihood. In most trades the skill of the workman is equally valuable wherever he may be employed but unfor- tunately this is not altogether the case with the engine-driver, whose knowledge is essentially limited to his particular line. A very important part of his training is to learn the road "—that is, to gain a knowledge of the gradients and signals on every part of the line over which he has to run. He must be able to read off at sight the meaning of every signal, and to pick out those he must obey from the gigantic array that present themselves to his gaze when he approaches a complicated junction or busy station. It takes a driver years to thoroughly learn all the signals over a large railway system, and the know- ledge, when acquired, is only of use upon the line on which he is trained. In the early days of railways engine-drivers were usually men who had previously been employed as mechanics, in many instances assist- ing in building the machines of which they after- wards took charge. However, it soon became evident that these were two entirely different branches of locomotive work, and that a good mechanic did not necessarily make a good engineman. A separate department, therefore, sprang into existence, which was called the "Running Department," and it is through the various grades in this department that men rise step by step until the highest rank-viz., that of an express passenger train driver is attained. JUNCTIONS AND SIGNALS. The larger railways are divided into districts with a staff of drivers attached to each. Thus on the London and North-Western Railway the men working local trains about Birmingham, Wolverhampton, and Walsall are thoroughly acquainted with the compli- cated junctions and signals in that part of the country, but do not know the main line. In the same way the Crewe drivers, who know the road over 300 miles from London to Carlisle, could not work trains on the branch lines. On the London and North- Western Railway alone there are 17,000 signals lighted every night, and the driver working from Crewe to London and back for his day's work is con- trolled by no less than 570 signals, to say nothing of those coming under his observation which do not affect the working of his train. The youth who enters the railway service with the aspiration of ultimately be- coming an engine-driver first oommences work as a cleaner, and has to pass through various stages before he reaches the top rung of the ladder. Promotion goes by seniority combined with merit. A cleaner who takes a pride in the thoroughness of his work and the appearance of the engine with the cleaning of which he is entrusted should be singled out for promotion before one whose only idea is to do the minimum amount of work that will enable his engme to be passed by the foreman. The cleaner who eventually succeeds as an engine-driver is always trying to learn something while he is employed in the running sheds he has constant opportunities of seeing the fitters at work on different parts of the mechanism of the engines, and, if he is bright and intelligent, he will make use of such opportunities to get knowledge that will be useful to him here- after. HOW TO SUCCEED. The man who keeps hit eyes open and intelligently observes what is going on around him, whether be be cleaner, fireman, or driver, is the one who will surely work his way to the front, while his fellow- servant who has not made the most of his oppor- tunities is still compelled to remain in the lower grades of the service. To the uninitiated the life of an engine-driver appears to be a pleasant and perhaps an easy one. It cannot be denied that, even to many who gain their living by the occupation, it has a fascination that never wanes, and when once a man has attained the position of an express passenger train driver his lot is one that well may be envied by the majority of the artisan class. His rate of pay is high, his hours are short, and his work neither monotonous nor arduous. But, on the other hand, it has cost him many years of real hard work to gain this position; and, although the life may have its picturesque side, it must be remembered that the responsibilities are great, and that the driver is called upon to take his turn on night duty and to be out in all weathers at all seasons of the year. It is no light matter to be responsible for the safe con- duct of an express passenger train through the country in the dead of night at the rate of 50 or GO miles an hour, past busy stations and mazy junctions.

GLOOMY OUTLOUK FOR SILVER. One of the most thorough and intelligent students of the silver question in the United States or else- where is, says the New York Tribune, Director Preston, of the United States Mint Bureau. His official connection with that branch of the Treasury Department has covered a period of many years, and his opinions on all subjects relating to the precious metals and their use as money are entitled to much weight. At least a year ago Mr. Preston, in conver- sation with a Tribune correspondent, predicted the steady decline in the price of silver which has taken place. "The bullion value of the American silver dollar, according to yesterday's market price of silver, is just 43 6-10 cents," said Mr. Preston on August 7. This makes the commercial ratio between silver and gold 36.6 to 1 instead of 16 to 1. In order to make our silver dollar equal to a gold dollar at this rate it would have to contain 850 fine grains of silver. If the alloy were added the total would be 953 grains. The silver dollar of to-day actually con- tains 374t fine grains, and with the alloy 4121 grains. 4 2 A COSTLY AFFAIR FOR THE GOVERNMENT. "Between February 28, 1878, and November 1, 1893, under the Bland-Allibon and the Sherman Acts, the United States Government has purchased 450,946,701 ounces of flne silver, for which we paid 464,210,263dols. At present market price this silver would be worth 259,626,114dols., and if it were sold at the present market price the loss to the Govern ment on the same would be 204,584,149dols. It would seem that it would have been a good business policy for the Government to have melted down its silver dollars long ago and sold them for bullion, pocketing the difference between the then market price and the existing rates. The United States would have been a great deal better off to-day if it had never gone into the pur- chase of silver. If we had only the one standard -the gold standard-money would be cheaper and more plentiful. Of course, while we are practically on the single standard, at the same time we are maintaining the parity between silver and gold, and it is the fear of further silver legislation that is the disturbing element. When Japan re- cently adopted the gold standard she provided for silver coinage at the ratio of 32 1-3 to 1, and many were inclined to think it was a dangerous experiment, but it would not seem 80 from the fact that silver has since declined to the point where the ratio is 36 6 to 1. That is, an ounce of gold will buy 36'6 ounces of silver." How do you account for the recent decline in silver?" "Simply the lack of demand for it. I see no future for silver whatever. The latest market quotations made it 56 cents, an ounce. It is my honest opinion that within six months silver will fall to 4U cents, an ounce. There is no demand for it anywhere. China is not buying any, Japan is out of business, and there seems to be no demand for it in any country to any extent, even for use as subsidiary coinage. It is true that in the bazaars of India it is traded in as merchandise, but the famine and hard times in that country have re- duced the demand to a minimum. The United States has done more to keep up the price of silver than any other country in the world, but we can't keep it up any longer. The tendency has been steadily downward since the passage of the Sherman Act of 1890. Of course, there have been temporary fluctua- tions, in which the price has risen for a time, but the downward movement soon set in again. Mexico felt the fall in silver several weeks ago, when the rates of London exchange went up. She has to settle in London on a gold basis and pay in her silver at the current rate of exchange. A PLENTIFUL SUPPLY OF GOLD. Outside of the United States all nations want to go to the gold standard. Mexico would do it to-day if she could, and the time will come when Mexico will fall into line with the rest of the world. This talk of there not being enough gold for the world's use is folly. The output of gold is steadily increas- ing. I think that the world's product for this year will be about 240,000,000dols. The United States will contribute about 60,000,000dols. to the supply. I base my predictions of an increased world's output upon the fact that the supply has not fallen off in any country. On the contrary, it has steadily in- I creased. The reports from Australia, from South 'Africa, and from Mexico indicate this. Of course, we are familiar with the increaee in the United States. Here comes the Klondyke now with still further additions to the gold supply of the world. The extent of the Klondyke's output is problematical, depending largely upon climatic conditions. It wih take a long time for the Klondyke to swell the total, because there are only about 120 days in the year when gold can be washed. I believe this increased gold supply is having its effect upon the decline in silver, although, as I said before, the ruling cause is the lack of demand in the markets of the world for silver."

No news is good news,9 but it won't do to run a j daily j-apw on tbat principl*

WILLS AND BEQUESTS. The executors of the will, which bears date June 24, 1895, with codicils of December 28, 1896, and June 2, 1897, of Mr. John Grant Morris, of 36, Grosvenor-place, Allerton Hall, Liverpool, and Allerton, Cannes, J.P., Mayor of Liverpool in 1867, who died on June 22 last, aged 86 years (son of the late Mr. T. Morris, of Liverpool), are the testator's sons, Christopher Morris, of Baron's Craig, Dal- beattie, N.B.; Herbert Picton Morris, of 3, Dray- cott-place, barrister-at-law; Thomas Case Morris, of Albany, Old Hall-street, Liverpool; and Percy Cope- land Morris, of 1, Garden-court, Temple, barrister- at-law, by whom the testator's personal estate has been valued at E295,904 2s. Id., and to whom he bequeathed for the executorship E105 each to his son, John Grant Morris, £1000; to his daughters, Constance Wyllie and Edith Le Blanc Garrett, life annuities of E150 each to the widow of his brother, Robert Morris, a life annuity of £50 to his niece, Caroline Morris, a life annuity of £ 50; to his grandson, John Grant Morris Daglish, a life annuity of £ 100; to the children of the testator's daughter, the late Mary Robinson, F-100; to his dear friend, Dr. Philip Frank, EIOO to his butler, his coachman at Allerton, his coachman at Cannes, and to Christian Zmutt, £.50 each to his footman and two house- maids, £2f> each and to two other women servants, life annuities of £50 each. Mr. Morris devised and bequeathed his residuary real and personal estate in trust for sale and realisation, but the trustees may postpone the sale of his shares in the Rose Brig and Douglas Bank Collieries and the Crimplesham Hall and Bexley Hall estates in Norfolk. The testator's daughter, Dame Millicent Case Bagge, if in occupation of Crimplesbam Hall at the time of his death, may have the use and enjoyment of that house and its furniture, or in the event of her leaving there, a sum of E5000 is to be in trust for her. He bequeathed furtherEI0,000 upon trust for Lady Bagge and her children; EIO,000 each upon trusts for his daughters, Elizabeth Ann Hansard, Julia Daglish, Emily Houghton, Constance Wyllie, and Edith Le Blanc Garrett, and £20,000 upon trusts for the children of his daughter, the late Mary Robinson. The late Mr. Morris left £ 20,000 in trust to pay one-third of the income thereof to his daughter-in-law, Augusta Meyer Morris, widow of his son William Baines Morris, during her widow- hood, and subject thereto to hold the trust fund of £ 20,000 in trust for their daughter, Ruby Morris. He left all the residue of his property in trust in equal shares for his sons, John Grant Morris, Christopher Morris, Herbert Picton Morris, Thomas Case Morris, and Percy Copeland Morris. The trustees are not to invest upon the security of landed estate in Ireland.1 By his will, which is dated May 23, 1891, with codicils of the 27th of March, 1895, and the 19th of October, 1896, Mr. Westley Richards, of Ashwell Lodge, Ashwell, Rutland, formerly of Birmingham, gunmaker, who died on the 26th of May last, aged 82 years, leaving personal estate valued at £ 12,729 17s. 4d., appointed as executors Henry Richards, of 59, Nevern-square, and John Deeley, of Sparkhill, Birmingham, manager of the works of Westley Richards and Co. (Limited), and Cecil Chaplin, of 21, Grafton-street. The testator bequeathed to Bertha Chaplin f.1000, to his sisters, Ellen Woodhouse and Ann Whittle, life annuities of £ 100 each to Emily Chaplin aad Colonel Henry Clarke Gervoise such of the testator's horses as they may choose, each to make choice alternately of one horse, and to Cecil Chaplin, Cicely Fane, and Blanche Fane his furniture and household effects, and such horses as may not be taken by Mrs. Chaplin and Colonel Gervoise. Mr. Richards bequeathed one year's wages each to his groom, Thomas Walker, and other servants, and he left the residue of his property (including his shares in Westley Richards and Co., Limited, but subject to certain agreements respecting them) in trust for the said Cecil Chaplin and Cicely and Blanche Fane. The will (dated March 31, 1884) of Mr. Richard Chrimes, of Moorgate Grange, Rotherham, York- shire, a member and liberal supporter of the religious community known as the Brethren, who died on April 26 last, aged 78 years, leaving personal estate of the gross 7alue of £ 100,062 2s. 2d., and of the net value of £ 99,333 12s. 4d,, has been proved by his widow, Mrs. Mary Chrimes, to whom the testator devised and bequeathed all his real and personal estate absolutely.

NURSING IN WORKHOUSES. A further step has been taken by the Local Government Board in the improvement of the arrangements for the nursing of the sick poor in workhouses. The Board have frequently drawn the attention of boards of guardians to the question, and in 1895 they issued a circular in which they pointed out that the office of nurse in a workhouse was one of very serious responsibility and labour, and that it required to be filled by a person of experience in the care of the sick, and they stated that they con- sidered it of the highest importance that the assistants to the nurse should also be paid officers. They further expressed their opinion that the services of pauper inmates as attendants in sick wards, as distinguished from nurses, should only be used with the approval of the medical officer, and under the supervision at all times of paid officers. The Board have now issued a new order upon the subiect. and it will come into force from and after September 29. By Article I. of this order it is provided that no pauper inmate of the workhouse shall be employed to perform the duties of a nurse in the sick or lying-in wards, or be otherwise employed in nursing any pauper in the workhouse who requires nursing. The article further requires that any pauper who is employed as an attendant in the sick or lying-in wards, or upon any pauper in the workhouse, shall be approved by the medical officer of the workhouse for the purpose, and shall act under the immediate super- vision of a paid officer of the guardians. Under Article III., where the staff of female nurses and assistant nurses in the workhouse consists of three or more persons, there must be a superintendent nurse whose superintendence and control in all matters of treatment of the sick will be subject to the directions of the medical officer, and in all other matters to the directions of the master or matron. Where there is no need for an increase in the staff the order enables the guardians to direct that one of the present aursel shall be a superintendent; but subject to this provision, in all cases in which there is a staff of three or more female nurses and assistant nurses, the guardians are to appoint a superintendent, who must be a person qualified for the appointment by having undergone, for three years at least, a course of instruction in the medical and surgical wards of any hospital or infirmary being a training school for nurses and maintaining a resident physician or house surgeon. Under another article of the order it will in future be necessary that every person appointed by the guardians to the office of nurse or assistant nurse in the workhouse shall have had such practical experience in nursing as may render him or her a fit and proper person to bold the office.

NEW CANON OF ST. PAUL'S. The Queen has been pleased to approve the appointment of the Rev. Arthur Foley Winnington- Ingram, Vicar of St. Matthew, Betbnal-green, to be Canon of St. Paul's Cathedral, in the room of the Bishop Designate of Bristol. Mr. Winnington- Ingram is best known as Head of the Oxford House in Bethnal-green, a "Settlement" founded in imita- tion of Toynbee Hall in Whitechapel, but on more distinctively clerical lines. Oxford House has done an excellent work in the East-end, and for this Mr. Ingram is in no small measure responsible. The new Canon, who is not yet 40, was a scholar of Kebles College, Oxford, and was ordained in 1884. He had been private chaplain to the Bishop of Lichfield, chaplain to the Bishop of St. Albans, and also chaplain to the Archbishop of York. He is well known as a preacher, to the Bishop of St. Albans, and also chaplain to the Archbishop of York. He is well known as a preacher, having been select preacher both at his own Uni- versity and at Cambridge. He was presented to the Rectory of Bethnal-green in 1895, and in the same year was appointed Lecturer in Pastoral Theology at Cambridge. Mr. Ingram, who is a most hard-work- ing and zealous man, belongs to the High Church school.

A PATHETIC ECHO. A Scotch lady, in a letter home, thus relates an interesting experience when journeying through the Karroo on Jubilee Day Oh, the weary journey from Capetown through this dreadful Karroo It is fearful; the most depressing thing one could imagine. Nothing but dry grass, stunes, scrub, and bushes, with an occasional farmhouse in the diltance-øometimeø birds, looking lonely, or a great flock of sheep, and once a dead ostrich on the line side. It seemed to me endless, just like the sea. We drew up at solitary stations, where we changed engines or got fresh water. I think few on Jubilee Day covered so much country as we did, and few went along with us. I saw only one thing cheerful the whole day. It was this—halfway through the Karroo the train stopped at a station so that we might have lunch. The guard came to tell us, and we got out. "This is what we saw on the station wall as we passed: 'From Victoria, Buckingham Palace. From my heart I thank my beloved people. May God bless them.' For the moment we three solitary British children of the Queen stood in mute admira- tion of her thoughtfulness. Somehow it seemed as if she had sent this message into the wilderness for us alone. I felt the old home-sick lump in my throat, and could hardly keep back the tears. I wonder if it would please the dear old Queen to know that from every lonely homestead, every station and Kaffir hut, there floated a flag in her honour ?' This extract naving been forwarded for her .e Majesty's perusal, the Queen has intimated that she has read it with much ttttctfMtion."

TTNION LINE for tie SOUTH AFRICAN" GOLD FIELDS. Sailings from Southampton every Saturday. Calls made at Madeira and Tenerife. Apply to the UNION STEAM SHIP Co., Ltd., Canute Rd., Southampton, AND SouthA.fricanHou.se, 94 to 96,Bishopsgate St. Within,London IKON BUILDINGS AND ROOFING. W Churohes, ChopaU, Jflaslon and Bohool Hoom«, ■ Lkwn Tennis, &ol& and Crlakat Cok- ■ t*Kes, StablM, Vmrm BatWIiip. n« A UMorlpUon of XM» BOIMTAA*. ittt if Bl loath SE&MONDSET ITATIOJL W. HARBROWS' WORKS, LONDON. B.L

NORTH AMERICAN STATION. Although the Admiralty have during the past few months made considerable changes in the constitu- tion of the various squadrons employed on foreign stations, on no station has the strength been so greatly increased as in North America and the West Indies. Each ship relieved in those waters has been replaced by one of greater tonnage with the excep- tion of the cruiser Cordelia all are of modern type, and now, for the first time since the formation of a North American squadron the flagship will be a battleship instead of as heretofore a cruiser. There are at the present time no fewer than seven vessels in commission at the home ports preparing for perma- nent service on that station-viz., the battleship Renown (the future flagship of Vice-Admiral Sir John A. Fisher, K.C.B.), the turret ship Hotspur, the gunboats Medway and Medina, the torpedo-boat destroyers Quail and Sparruwhawk, and the special service vessel Columbine, representing collectively a displacement of 17,646 tons. With this strengthen- ing of the squadron it has been found necessary to modernise and otherwise improve the Admiralty pro- perty at the depots. At Bermuda a large dock is to be constructed, the Admiralty house is being repaired at a cost of E1500, the breakwater is being improved at a cost of E6000, the harbour is being dredged at a cost of £7000, a hospital building is being erected at an estimated expenditure of E4500, and a gun-mount- ing store will cost 4:3000. At Jamaica E19,000 is being spent in improving the water supply, and the staff at Bermuda dockyard is being greatly strength- ened.

CLIMATE AND NERVES. The eager desire for change of air, rest, and free- dom from work is apt to usurp every other feeling of busy professional men and women at this time of the year (says the Medical Press). An annual holiday has now become, one might almost say, an absolute neces- sity as a means by which to restore lost nerve power, physical inertia, and that natural buoyancy of the mind which belongs to all healthily constituted persons. The exacting nature of many professional occupations is just as harassing for the mind as it is wearisome for the body. Mental depression as a consequence of this is prone to supervene, in the same way as physical fatigue is apt to occur, even after slight exertion. Men become, as it is called, soft" in condition boys, as they term it, slack profuse and unnatural perspiration readily ensues after any physical effort, and a general feeling prevails under such circumstances to avoid work of any kind, and to take it easy as it is called, because of the physical and mental effort required in order to perform even the most trivial duties. All these and similar symptoms in other- wise healthy persons are most apt to develop at or about the time of the annual holiday, that is to say, towards the end of the summer, and it is then that the sole prescription of change of air and rest is calculated to effect so marvellous a change in the restoration of spirits and strength. But it should be remembered that as far as possible circumspection should be observed in the choice of the locality in which to spend the few weeks of rest. Obviously to fix upon a place in which the climate was unsuitable for the purposes in need would be a useless policy to adopt. The benefits from a temporary change of climate are derived from incidental influences, such as relief from responsibility, change of scene, an out-door life and regular habits, and, also, to the influence of the climate in the promotion of the general health. The latter condition, of course, is a most important one. Generally speaking, persons in good health but of neurotic tendencies, do badly in a high altitude, and this is especially the case in conditions where the nervous equilibrium is much reduced, as is often the case in victims of over work, in phthisis, and in women at the climacteric period. Again, it not infrequently happens that persons coming under this category who live in inland places find that sea air does not suit them. A recent observer has said that a cold and sunny climate, with an altitude not above 3000ft., is the one best suited for the restoration of a debilitated nervous system. Again, it is undoubtedly true that in the majority of cases the ordinary run down Londoner finds his climatic solatium at some bracing spot by the seaside. A bracing seaside air for a debilitated London worker comes like nectar to his weary body and eoul. On the other hand, a relaxing climate has just the opposite effect, and his rest and change will, under these circumstances, fail to do him the same amount of good.

DID the fishing expedition come up to your ex- pe, t,,ttioni, Bitii ?" "Far exceeded them. I shot a wild cat and brought home a cub bear."

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THE Royal oculist, Duke (Jarl ot Bavaria, has already done nearly 3000 operations for cataract, and every one of these operations has been performed between the morning hours of six and eight, as the Duke declares his nerves are strongest at this early hour and his hand most steady. A TELEGRAM from Washington states that Dr. Herz has filed a claim at the State Department for damage* against France for illegal arrest and detention in England, but without stating any amount. After careful examination of the papera the Department has been obliged to decline to prosecute the claim. LORD ROBERTS says that the position of the private soldier of to-day is much better than that of a mechanic, for at the age of 39 he can retire on a pension of from 2a. to 4s. 6d. a day. There is no business that secures such a provision for a working man. SANDOW appears to have a serious rival in the Arch- duchess Maria Therese of Austria, who, besides being a cyclist, in also one of the strongest women m the universe, and certainly the strongest woman in the Royal household. She cycles a great deal, and is said to be capable of lifting a man in the air with one hand. h TilE 26th Middlesex V.R.C. IS the only military bodv in the Service composed exclusively of cyclists. It was formed in 1888. It is due to this corps the credit of having introduced military cycling, which at present is gaining remarkable favour with the authorities. The establishment of this corps is com- pesed of a captain, two lieutenants, and 36 non-com- missioned officers and privates, divided into three troops of wheelmen. A SINGULAR boycott is in progress at Zurich against M. Frey, the proprietor of the Wochenzeitung news- paper. The latter having refused to accept the terms of the syndicate of compositors, a boycott has been laid upon all the cafes and hotels which take the paper or advertise in it. All the working-men's asso- ciations have joined in the movement. THE points on which the legal authorities are believed to be willing to attempt an amendment of the state of things in the Queen's Bench Division are fresh groupings of assize towns for the purposes of criminal business, and, if necessary, the appointment of an additional Queen's Bench Judge. THE 12 regiments of Yeomanry that are permitted to wear gold lace, buttons, &c., are as follows: Ayr- shire, Derbyshire, Royal Gloucestershire Hussars, Lanarkshire, Queen's Own Royal Glasgow and Lower Ward of Lanarkshire, Duke of Lancaster's Own, LothianJ and Berwickshire, Middlesex (Duke of Cambridge's Hussars), Southern Nottinghamshire. Sherwood Rangers, Shropshire, and Duke of York'. Own Tnval Suffolk Hussars.