Barry Herald

OUH LUNDUN CJH RESPONDENT. The old-fashioned type of party politician, some specimens ox which are still to be met at Westminster, is a little perturbed at the fact that, as far as the present Session has gone, the greatest amount of interest displayed by the public has been in connection with private bills. There were more visitors in the Quter Lobby on the occasion of the discussion of a pri- vately-promoted scheme for distributing electric power through the Midlands than have yet been seen there for any other debate of the Session, and this is only one symptom of the lull that is taking place just now ir. domestic affairs. There is no doubt by this time, however, that that lull will be dispelled next month, if only for a sitting, as Budget night promises to be the most interesting of its kind for years. Even when what has been called a hum-drum Budget is expected, the galleries are always crowded, but when either a remission or extension of taxation is anti- cipated the throng both inside and outside the Legislative Chamber is both great and agitated. No need exists to say whether it is a remission or an extension which is this spring to be looked for. but the prophecy can fairly be indulged that the telegraph office attached to the House of Commons will, on Budget evening, be kept more than usually busy. Those connected in a large way with the tea and tobacco industries are, in especial, already alert with requests to their members to be sure and secure them seats for the Occasion and although these requests cannot tet be complied with, their very earliness shows the interest in anticipation aroused. Military men in London are struck with the fact that some of their colleagues on the Continent continue to strenuously declare, in curious opposition to another section of critics, that the Lee-Metford rifle, as supplied to the British Army, is unsatisfactory. The most vigorous supporters of this view are the admirers of the Lebel rifle, the French service weapop. and these suggest that the small calibre bullet used in the Lee-Metford should be abacdoned for that arm as well as for the Lebel. But this view does not commend itself either to the French or the British War Offices, and the" man-stopping" power of both the Lebel and the Lee-Metford may ultimately be tested in actual warfare before any such change is made. The sad lesson, howover, has once more been borne in upon observers of military affairs that it is not the bullet that in these times kills most soldiers. The returns of the casualties of the United States Army during the recent war with Spain tell a terrible talo of death from disease, exceeding by many a fold that from wounds. Much of this, of course, was due to the fighting having taken place on unhealthy soil, but the figures are sufficiently appalling to furnish material for a sad indict- ment of those who organised the campaign. Folkestone was to some extent en fete on the occasion of the Queen taking her departure from that harbour for Boulogne, on the occa- sion of her Majesty's annual spring visit to the South of Europe. This is the less to be won- dered at. because that favourite resort of fashionable London has been more than once threatened in recent years with the deprivation of its long-established cross-Channel service: and. therefore, the choice of this particular route by the Sovereign gave special pleasure to the good people of Folkestone as furnishing a compliment which in itself is an endorsement to the claim of the town for a continuance of the service. Folkestone has had a further reason to rejoice this winter in the fact that the mail-boats have had to run from that port more than once to France when the seas were too heavy at Dover: but the main point is that it is now being more than ever proved that ample room exists for all the continental services, and this will be the more shown next year, when the Paris Exhibition takes place. They may then be even added to, for a service from Margate may be put on specially for the summer of 1900; and this need create the less wonder, seeing thaJfc —even if it is from Folkestone that the Queen has made her latest journey to France—it was from Mar- gate that she made her earliest. Cab-driving London continues to be in some ferment because of the efforts of the Com- missioners of Metropolitan Police to put down the practice of "crawling" in the Strand, Piccadilly, and Bond-street: but the fever in that direction is as nothing compared to that in the omnibus world over the proposal of the Home Secretary to deal more drastically with the Tbuses. There seems little doubt that his intentions have been to some extent misunderstood, and it may he that the bill will not be pressed through Par- liament this Session: but not the slightest doubt exists as to the fear entertained by both the proprietors and the patrons of the 'buses that the suggested additional legislation would hamper the movements of these popular vehicles. They are now used by so many mil- j lions that anything which lessened their con- venience would become a widely-felt grievance; and it seems likely, therefore, that before Par- liament will consent to interfere with them, a searching inquiry will be instituted, and pro- bably by a Select Committee, as to whether such interference is necessary in the circum- stances of the case. Every fact which testifies to the enormous ex- tent of London has its value, and this especially when it deals with a phase of metropolitan life little understood even by Londoners themselves. How few dwellers in the capital know. for in- stance, that the annual expenditure of the Metropolitan Asylums Board is not only three- quarters of a million, but that it is constantly growing. Even the largest ratepayers who assist to find this great sum are unaware not merely of the names of their representatives on this body, but of how and when and by whom they are elected, and what are their functions when once chosen. What might prove a very wholesome check upon their expenditure is thus missing, but it may be explained that within the past few days it has become known that. in addition to this expenditure, the Board possesses a debt of nearly two and a quarter millions. For this asylums and fever hospitals and convalescent homes are kept up in various parts of the metropolitan area, and the demand upon these is so great that even now the accommodation at certain of them is being ex- tended. An attempt, the progress of which will be watched with much interest, is being made by the Thames Conservators to re-stock London's great rivers with salmon-trout. There is natu- rally the customary difference of opinion as to whether this can be done with success, but a great deal of public sympathy, even among those who are not anglers, will be given to the experiment. Whatever to the attractive- ness of the Thames adds to the pleasure of London, the denizens of which year by year more and more appreciate the river." sgne point, however, is being raised in connexion with this attempt which may have its effect in unexpected quarters, and that was as to whether the fish will thrive if the stream becomes increasingly fouled by the grow- ing number of house-boats. The house- boat, in fact, like the steam launch, has multiplied of late years in a degree calculated to disturb those who love the more placid phrases of river life; and. although the former is not the danger the latter sometimes is, there is always the peril of it proving a nuisance. The Thames Conser vators have made somewhat strict regulations to prevent any such nuisance; and it may be that now it is expending both money and energy in restocking the river with fish, it will instruct- its officials to be even increasingly vigilant to see that these reguiations are ftTlly oarriod out, to the confusion of the. careless nd the comfort of all other users of tha The writer of comedy who once observed that life was too short for chess did not. unhappily, live until the present week, when there has been proceeding, in disproof of his theory, an international chess tournament in London, between representatives of the British Isles and the United States, and con- ducted by telegraphic cable. There was » somewhat similar competition a yoar or two ago between British and American legislators our own portion of the struggle being conducted in the smoking-room attached to the Pres* "•*< i -> r *'■ ■ •• i uaiierv ot ui3 tiot, 'se ot Uommons; and tha fact that such contests are not infrequent is a striking proof of the world-wide popularity of chess. In the present while the British players were at a London hotel, the American were ensconced in the Academy of Music at Brooklyn, which was draped with the flags of both nations in honour of the occasion. Although the players were four thousand miles apart, they might, for all practical purposes, have been opposite to each other, the tele- graphic transmission of the moves being almost I ti-i instantaneous, and no fewer than one hundred and twenty-three m-. being '-cabled" in the first hour of the match. n.

K £ WS NOTES. THE Queen had, after a postponement, a very successful journey to Cimiez, and seemed in no way incommoded by the exertion of travelling. It is to be hoped that her Majesty will derive as much benefit from her present visit to the Riviera as has accrued on previous occasions. IT is expected, despite alarmist rumour to the contrary, that the lately-threatened trouble between Italy and China will "blow over." With regard to the other matter of the Neu- Ch .vang Railway loan, the negotiations with Russia have terminated, it is reported, favour- iibiy to Britain. One would like to see China mure solidly settled internally, then there v.'<>uid be a speedier chance of her getting 0:1 better with the rest of the world. Ma. CECIL RHODES is having a very cordial reception in Germany, and has elicited the sympathetic interest of Kaiser William and snrne of his chief advisers in the success of the TV ms-African Railway and Telegraphs. There i; increasing prospect of an assured future for the far-reaching schemes of the Xapoleon of South Africa. —————— MRS. KEELEY, the veteran actress, has passed awav in her 93rd year, on Sunday in London. The kindly old lady is grieved for by many, from the Queen downwards. SCOTLAND beat England at the Rugby foot- ball ffame at Blackheath last Saturday, but the play in the match was not of a character cal- culated to afford full satisfaction to the par- tisans of either team. The margin was a goal to nil, and some of the best champions on each side were absent, while some present failed to reach expectations. SIXCE the tragic death of Dr. Boyd innumer- able suggestions have been made as to the safe- guarding of patients against the accidental taking of dangerous draughts. Of the several poison alarms put forth one proposes that the death's head and cross-bones should be clearly depicted on every receptacle for anything of toxic character. Surely we could devise something better and more cheer- ing than this for sick room use A mechanical device in the stopper of a phial sounding a small bell on its withdrawal would recall the vigilance of the unwary, for instance. DEEP sympathy is being expressed on all hands for Mr. Rudyard Kiplinsr and his family on account of the loss of the eldest hope of the household, little Josie." The father takes the death of his darling deeply to heart, though he appreciates the kindly thought which kept the knowledge of the bereavement from him as long as possible. MR. CHAMBERLAIN has in hand a bill enabling the occupiers of small houses in urban dis- tricts to acquire ownership in the freehold on easy conditions and it is understood that the lines to be followed in the measure will ap- proximate to those of the Ashbourne Act. The British working man of what is usually called the artisan class, is so much of a nomad, how- ever, that one fears little benefit would arise in the bulk from such a scheme. The financial side of the question would largely be overcome by a provision that the local authorities should have power to provide under security some three-fourths of the necessary cash in the transactions suggested. Z, THE Pavonia, after braving the late severa gales in the Atlantic, has come into port, though crippled. Some, interested in the safety of friends on board, waited on the dock walls for hours on the days immediately pro- ceding the towing in of the ship. It is a mercy that she ever reached Liverpool at all. IT is under contemplation at the Foreign Office, we are told, to appoint an additional Assistant-Under-Secrefcary in order to CUp9 with the vast increase of work in the depart- ment. China business has latterly become so large that a separate staff' is required, almost, to tacke it; and large rearrangements ara being made accordingly.

A ROMAN CITY DISCOVERED NEAR I FALKIIZK. Some very interesting discoveries have been made at Camelon, near Falkirk, and it is believed that there will soon be uncovered for inspection the re- mains of the streets and buildings of the once flourishing city of Camelon, which IS centuries ago marked the western boundary of the Roman Empire. For some time past railway contractors have been engaged making sidings for two new foundries which are being erected, and in the course of the operations many relics of the Roman occupation of the district and of an ancient Roman city have been discovered. The relics include various pieces of Roman amphora, Samian ware, cooking utensils, two silver coins of the reigns of Nero and Hadrian, and a bronze coin, the inscription on which is not distinguishable. Some of the Samian ware displays considerable beauty of design and excellence of workmanship, and the colour is as perfect as when the articles left the potter's hands. Three stretches of stone buildings, each about 17ft. in thickness and about 15ft. apart, were also laid bare. The remains of the buildings, .which have since been partly uncovered appear to show that Camelon was a place of importance during the period of the Roman occupation, and that those who formed the colony were persons of rank and lived in luxury. The contractors have found on digging further that they are now on the site of a Roman building of considerable dimensions. This building seems to have been furnished with baths, and it is evident that the hypocaust arrangements for heating it must have been of the most complete description. The Society of Antiquaries of Scotland has for some time had an experienced agent on the ground to take a note of everything of interest that appeared, and the place has been visited by members of the council and fellows of the society. These have been greatly im- pressed by the nature and extent of the discoveries. The proprietor of the ground, Mr. Forbes, of Callander, has readily granted permission to make further excavations on that portion of the site of the old Roman city to the north of the railway.

TUB letters of Admiral Cervera, published by the Epoca, form a damaging indictment against the Spanish naval authorities. Two years before the actual outbreak of hostilities naval officers 6f all ranks had protested against the condition of their navy, but all protests were disregarded. According to Admiral Cervera the Spanish Fleet was less than half the tonnage of the American, and its artillery was greatly inferior. And yet this gallant sailor is to be put on his trial by the very people who allowed him to go into action without any conceivable pro- snect of victory. THB end of the century win necessarily bring along with it a host of publications dealing with the progress that has been made during the last hundred years in various walks of life and institutions. Amongst these will be a history of the press during the 19th century, by Mr. Walter Wellsman. This gentleman has been the editor of the Newspaper Press Directory for nearly half the century, and should be in a position to do justice to his subject. It is said that the book is to be issued early next year; and though we can sympathise with the desire to take time by the foreiock in the case of such a volume, would it not be well to wa|^ f°r the end of the cfentury before producing its history ? News- P^P^jTdevelopment is very rapid, and the advance of the ofentury might be made in the last few months of 1900. *■ TUB Lower House of the Prussian Diet has adopted a "motion to the effect that an experiment should be made with the appointment of women to tCt as factory inspectors. THE Council of the National Rifle Association do not see their way to accede to the suggestion of the J Middlesex Association that the Bisley ranges should be opened oa Sktndtrs. I .< >7

HERO'S LIFE OF ADVENTURE. A CHAT WITH AN OLD SOLDIER. At Ten Acres, within easy hail of Birmingham, there lives one of England's heroes, who, alas, is destined to eke out an existence by the aid of his. munificent pension of fourpeace a day This is the lot of William Wray, of 23, Woodstock- place, Ten Acres. Born at Derby in 1831, he en- listed when quite a lad in the 9th Lancers, and, as he explained to a reporter of the Birmingham Daily Argus, I was soon in the thick of active service, and a terrible time we had. J was at the siege and cap- ture of Delhi, and also at the relief of Lucknow. I saw some awful scenes of carnage. and had many a single handed fight. The climate was vile, but it did not affect me, and when the Indian Mutiny was quelled I pur- chased my discharge. "But. r could not endure civilian life, so I re-enlisted in the 2nd Battalion of the Rifle Brigade, and went through the Ashantee War. We had stirring times then. Under Sir Garnet Wolseley we captured Coomassie. ie. I was badly wounded two or three times. When I came home from Ashantee I went to Gibraltar, and when discharged on December 14, 1880. I took an engineer's position in a flour mill at Gib' for about two years and a-half. Then I engaged on board the Devon steamship, and was for 13 years on this boat as engineer. Then I came to England, and worked in a large wood-turning mill at Derby for six years. About three years 11.1;0 I obtained a post as engineer at Ten Acres here. I was in capital health all through the first summer, but about the middle of the winter I con- tracted influenza. I was attended by a doctor, who did his best, but my complaint grew so serious that I had to give up work, the influenza having left me with an affection of the heart. I have been laid up with that for two years, and I have had two doctors in that time. Both of them told me they could not do anything for me, so you can well understand that I was very downhearted and depressed. Then I happened one day to read of Dr. Williams' pink pills for pale people, and, thinking the matter over, got a box of the pills. I felt that they were doing me good, and got more- in all I took the contents of seven boxes. The pills built me up properly. When I began to take them I was as white as a sheet. Then I felt a tickling in my veins, just as if new blood was being infused into my system, and I put on weight, too. No language of mine can sufficiently praise Dr. Williams' pink pills. I am a living testimonial of their worth, for they have saved me from the grave. I should have been gone long since but for them." To be out of breath after climbing a hill, or running upstairs to feel the heart beat violently on such occasions, the beats felt even in the head and the wrists to feel faint when out of breath, or when in a crowded pr hot place, indicates that the heart, the most vital of all organs, is at fault. It may be a matter of life and death. One of the commonest after-effects of influenza, and also of anaemia or deficient blood, is this breathlessness the first warning of chest affection. Neg- lected, anaemia may become consumption; to avoid that, increase the blood supply. Dr. Williams' pink pills make new blood with every dose, and thus cure anosmia, consumption, the after- effects of influenza, paralysis, indigestion, nervous breakdown, and the ailments of ladies. They are genuine only with the full name, Dr. Williams' pink pills for pale people, and are sold at two and nine- pence (or six boxes thirteen and nine), by chemists and by Dr. Williams' medicine company, Holborn- viaduct, London.

CROMWELL CELEBRATIONS. The National Council of the Evangelical Fret) Churches has completed its programme for the all- day Cromwell celebration on April 25. There will be three meeting in the City Temple, the first beginning at noon with Dr. Parker in the chair. The speakers at the afternoon meeting will, it is expected, include Mr. Lloyd George, M.P., Mr. Augustine Birrell, Q.C., M.P., and Dr. Robertson Nicoll. Mr. Perks, M.P., will preside at the evening meeting, and Drs. Guinness Rogers and Clifford will be 'among the speakers. The celebrations at Huntingdon, the Protector's birthplace, comprise a sermon in Ihe morning by Dr. Monro Gibson, and addresses by Dr. Clifford and the Rev. H. P. Hughes. The date is April 27.

SISTERS WHO HELP. A gentle, conscientious girl, in full sympathy with her brother, says Miss Charlotte M. Yonge in the Girl's Realm, makes an immense difference to him. He will not say or do things that she meets with real disapproval and that give her pain. A fretful or didactic manner when grieved or indignant is a fatal I thing. But if the sister enjoys what the boy does, joins in his games, helps in his pursuits, loves his animals, makes herself one with him, she is one of his chief delights at home, she can lead him all the t better from having no authority over him, and he will trust her entirely.

LARGE FAMILIES. According to the Gaulois recent birth statistics in E?rlin indicate that the German capital ifl the home of large families. One Berlin mother has given birth to her twentieth child there are five mothers with 19 children, nine with 18, and nine others with 17 138 mothers have seen their sixteenth child born, and 215 families are composed of 12 children.

THE MAJOR'S CHOICE. A good story is told in Macmillan's in the course of an article on Sir Salar Jung, Regent of Hyderabad. The writer of the article, Mr. G. H. Trevor, relates that on one occasion he presented the gallant major of a Highland regiment to the Minister. Salar Jung was highly delighted with the huge Scotsman. Ho pro- ceeds In place of the ceremonial attar and pan which marks a guest's leave-taking in the East, the Minister used to present two little quaint bottles, in which the attar was enclosed and sealed, so that its perfume might not be too strong for Western taste. When the little bottles were held out on a tray for the major's acceptance he looked at them curiously and said, 1: What's this ?" On my ex- plaining that he was to take them and pass on, he ejaculated, I'd sooner have a doch-an-doris." Salar Jung begged to know what he meant, so I said jokingly that he evidently thought the little bottles contained oomething to drink, and preferred the old stirrup-cup, which in Scotland went by the name of doch-an-doris. Lame as my interpretation of this word was, the Minister's swift intelligence, aided by his observation of the major's tumbler at breakfast, rose to the occasion. He ordered whisky and soda- water to be brought, and persuaded the Highlander to walk off with the bottles of attar as well.

r[ICT -GENERAL pjUNCB Louis ESTEKIIAZY, Military Âttaché to the Austro Hungarian Embassy in London, has gone on leave to Vienna. 1 THE National Bank at Cairo contemplates assisting in the formation of an insurance company and a cotton mill company. Tiiic funeral service in Westminster Abbey for the late Lord Herschell will take place, as far as can be foreseen at present, the 21st inst., at noon. The lan- tern and south transept will be reserved for mourners, friends, and such other persons, as far as space will permit, as may signify their wish to attend, and to whom admission will be given by ticket. At the close of the service the remains will be removed (for interment on the following day, at Cliffe, Dorset. All persona desiring tickets are re- quested to apply with as little delay as possible, in order that details may be arranged. 4 LINSEED COMPOUND' Trade Mark of Compound Essence of linseed, for Coughs and Cold*. Fo-ir) MAMMA (showing the baby to visitor): Sh-h —he's asleep. The little darling! Isn't he the the sweetest you ever saw?" Visitor (in an awestruck whisper): Decidedly. Can he talk ?" Fond Mamma: "Talk? I should think he could talk! Why. he can say 'goo.' and 'ga,' and 'yow.' Picked them up himself, too." LINUM CATHARTICUM PIL.L8, digestive, collective, and agreeably aperient, 9jd-, 13id. Of all Chemists. .BY the appointment of Dr. Armitage Robinson as Canon of Westminster, the Norrisian Professorship of Divinity at Cambridge, which he has held since 1893, becomes vacant. The stipend is about 9700 per annum. 'UNSEED COMPOUND' (Trade Mark) for Coughs and Colds of proven efficacy, 13Jd. Bold by Chemists only. PRESIDHNT MCKINLEY has advanced Lieutenant tlobson 10 numbers on the list of naval constructors for extraordinary heroism. ,bJ¡' i J, j2::<]f¥ J 1\

THREE MILLIONS MORE FOR THE NAVY. now IT WILL BE SPENT.-MORE SHIPS, OFFICERS, AND MEN Mr. Goschen, First Lord of the Admiralty, intro- duced the Navy Estimates for the approaching financial year in the House of Commons in a speech occupying an hour and a quarter. Members at the time had in their hands a printed statement of 16 pages explaining the estimates in detail. The following epitome, compiled by the Daily Mail from both, conveys the salient points of the Govern- ment estimates and proposals in a nutshell: For this year £ 26.594,500 Voted last year 23,778,400 Increase E2,816,100 This increase is apportioned among the various de- partments as follows: Increase for Shipbuilding. E-9,016,000 » Guns, &c 161.600 „ Personnel 452,600 ft „ Works 145,000 „ Miicellaneous.. 40,900 Total, as above. £ 2,816,100 The shipbuilding programme for the coming finan- cial year comprises the commencement of the follow- ing new vessels Two battleships (design not decided). Two armoured first-class cruisers, 9800 tons. Three smaller cruisers (design not decided). Two sloops—for river service. Two first-class torpedo-boats. The proposed increase in the personnel of the fleet is 4250, the total number of officers, seamen and boys, coastguards and Royal Marines showing: Voted for 1897-8 100,050 Voted for 1898-9. 106.390 Proposed for 1899-90 110,640 This year's increase. 4250 The additions proposed are composed of—463 officers, 1700 petty officers and seamen 215 engine- room artificers and artisans, 1000 stokers, 172 miscellaneous, 500 marines, 200 boys under training: total, 4250. The continued expansion of the Fleet renders The additions proposed are composed of—463 officers, 1700 petty officers and seamen 215 engine- room artificers and artisans, 1000 stokers, 172 miscellaneous, 500 marines, 200 boys under training: total, 4250. The continued expansion of the Fleet renders necessary the following increases in the several lists of officers: Flag Captains. from 68 to 80 c.Ptains from 208 to 245 Commanders from 304 to 360 Lieutenants. from 1150 to 1550 These additions will be effected gradually over a certain number of years and to meet immediate re- quirements 50 more officers will be entered from the mercantile marine. The net pay of the marine on shore will be in- creased by 2d. a day. His gross daily pay now is [ Is. 2d., but 7d. is deducted for rations and Id. is allowed for beer, leaving 8d. net. The deduction will be reduced to 4d. and the beer money will be abolished, so that the net pay will become lOd. instead of 8d. One thousand- seamen will be added to the Royal Naval Reserve. To meet any emergency of mobilisation a stock of clothing will be kept ready for immediate issue for 10,000 Royal Naval Reserve men and pensioners. The new naval works proposed include the estab- lishment of a naval depot at Wei-hai-wei; new building slip and new foundry at Chatham exten- sion of No. 5 building slip at Portsmouth; new smithery at Pembroke considerably increased hos- pital accomodation. "The Naval Estimates," said Mr. Goschen in his opening sentence, have never been produced under more singular circumstances because we have before us the proposed conference on international disarma- ment and behind us the troubled months of October and November last, when comparisons as to the re- lative strength of naval forces were in everybody's rnindi." He recalled the striking confidence which the- British people showed during those critical months in the naval forces of the country and their prepared- ness in any emergency. That confidence was the result and reward of past expenditure on the Navy. We were ready, and had to make no feverish pur- chases." No ammunition was purchased no new orders were given. The purchase of 200,000 tons of coal was because the strike had come to a conclusion, and stores had to be replenished in the ordinary course. The sole foundation for the report that officers were being recalled from leave was that one officer in one dockyard who had left his ship on leave was brought back on some particular duty. The approximate total addition to wages during the eight weeks in question, including overtime and repairing ships in commission and reserve, was £ 13,600. That was all that was spent to produce mobilisation. One element of weakness was discovered at that time in the mobilisation scheme the kits had not been prepared for the Naval Reserve men, and 10,000 were purchased. Past expenditure' had therefore been justified, if we had not been prepared last October and Novem- ber, should we not have lost many millions more than had been spent on increasing the Navy by a fall of securities, disturbance of trade, general disquie- tude, and loss of credit? He was glad to have the opportunity of making his statement, in order to remove the impression that we were either arming unnecessarily or arming for any particular purpose, or for any aggressive action. There was a deeply-ingrained idea in the Chancel- leries of t urope at that time that England had some plan of attack, that she thought the fit opportunity had come, and that she was prepared to seize a favourable opportunity to declare war. He hardly needed to assure the House that such an idea could never enter the mind of a Government in this country—it would be against the whole moral sense of this country; and the Government should not have the country behind it in an opportunist war. Shipbuilding had been more satisfactory during this year than last, but owing to the effects of the engineers' strike and the boom in mercantile ship- building there was short delivery in machinery and amour amounting to £ 800,000. Last years's programme was three battleships in the orginal programme, four in supplementary; and four cruisers in the original and four in the supple- mentary. The cause of the supplementary programme was the celebrated ukase of the Emperor of Russia giving nine millions sterling for warship construc- tion. The four supplementary battleships now build- ing would be named the Ducan, Exmouth, Cornwallis, and Russell—they would be of the Dunceji class the general design was that they should be faster ships with smaller draught than the Formidable class they would have a "ed of nineteen knots. Of the four supplementary cruisers, two were of the Cressy class and two were armoured Powerfuls of the Drake class. These ships would be the most powerful afloat. The Admiralty had been driven to construct them after a careful review of the new designs of various Powers. They would be the most powerful cruisers afloat; capable of going through the Suez Canal, and having a speed of twenty-three knots. Speed was the governing factor in all the cruisers they were building. 0 Two other cruisers, of a smaller scale, were still to be. built, in which Sir William White has endea- voured to solve theJproblem of armed cruisers of very high speed. They were not yet ordered, but tenders had been issued. tenders had been issued. Summing up the results of the closing year, Mr. Goschen said: We shall have secured all the men we wanted, we shall have succeeded in our reserve scheme, perfected our mobilisation arrange- ments, strengthened the stores in our naval bases, secured all the guns and all the ammuni- tion that were necessary. Every ship has not only got its guns and ammunition ready, but the reserve of guns and ammunition was all ready on January 1. We have commenced seven battleships and six first- class cruisers, and invited tenders for two others. The only drawback I see in the year's work is the short delivery of armour and machinery by the con- tractors. The cost has been enormous. The tax- payer has his reward in the serene equanimity with which the nation is able to face any dangers."

11 LINSEEO.COMPQUNO' ,pTé8 Expectoration without strain, 91d., 13Jd. Sold by Chemists only. MANY a young man," said Uncle Eben, "makes de mistake ob his life in lookin' foh consolation in poh'try, when he orter be takin' some good reliable liver medicine. 6 UNSEED COMPOUND, for Coughs and Colds, allays irritation. Gives immediate relief. "TII preacher made a great mistake on Sunday. and lost a good collection." "How?" Well.. lie appointed a hill collector to go round with the plate, and bless me if every man in the congregation didn't ask him to call again on the fifteenth THE French Government have announced semi- officially that the object of the domiciliary visite ordered by them is the dissolution of the various leagues. Hitherto, says the Times Paris corre- spondent, they have existed only on sufferance, and the Government, having decided to suppress them, hesitated as to which one of two possible ways to effect this end was the best. It chose the judicial method, because at the start the prosecution result- ing from M. Deroulede's escapade called the atten- tion of the judicial authorities to the illegality of the existence of the League of Patriots. The Govern- ment thought it better, therefore, to adopt a uni- form line of conduct in regard to all the leagues. It proposes to obtain the declaration by the courts of the irregularity of the existence of these leagues, i formed in contravention of Clause 291 of the Penal Code. The suppression of the leagues will naturally and necessarily follow. J\

A WOMAN CANDIDATE FOR THE U.S. PRESIDENCY. An account is given in the Temple Magazine of Mrs. Belva A. Lockwood, whom the writer describes as one of the most interesting women I met in a country which has produced so many interesting women. Mrs. Belva A. Lockwood has been three times candidate for the Presidency of the United States. 1 am not sure that I know of a more strik- ing instance of the energy that is born of rebuffs than is that of this remarkable woman. It is not because Mrs. Lockwood was the only woman that would that the Equal Rights party chose her to re- present them, but because they recognised in her a woman capable of leading, directing, training, evolv- ing. When I first met her some nine years ago, I found a charming refined woman of medium height, slight build, strong features, bright eyes, pleasant thuogh deep-toned voice, and abso- lutely devoid of masculinity. Mrs. Lockwood has been twice married, so that it cannot be said that she either dislikes or is repellent to the opposite sex. Her object in standing for the Presidency, as she told me herself, was for the purpose of making a prac- tical test of woman suffrage, and of demonstrating to the people that there is nothing in the Constitution of the United States as it now stands to prevent a woman being elected to the highest office in the power of the people to bestow. Sitting in the cool parlour of her home at Washington, she told me of her early struggles, how, being left a widow with a little daughter when herself hardly more than a child, she had persevered and studied and worked until now she had been admitted to the bar, and has a large and lucrative law practice. Whether she will ever again compete:for the ^Presidency, or whether a woman will ever be President, is more than the wisest among us can say."

DIFFERENT VIEWS OF MARRIAGE. The Lady's Realm has been having a discussion on the subject of marriage and women's self-develop- ment. Sarah Grand thinks that no woman is fully developed until she marries; and the powers of very few have ripened perfectly without a mate. In litera- ture, for instance, an unmarried writer runs two risks. Her view of married life, and especially of sex, is apt either to be warped or embittered, or to be coloured by sentimentality, rather than directed by the facts of life. Gertrude Atherton takes a different view. If a woman," she says, deliberately goes in for a career, and her gifts and her ambitions are both above the average, she certainly should make up her mind to stand alone. Women are still too concentrative to do two things well." —————i ————— 1

INTERNATIONAL SOCIALISM. Socialist leaders in London are making arrange- ments for entertaining three of the more significant figures in the Socialist propaganda of the Continent. Herr Liebknecht, the veteran leader of the German Social Democrats; M. Jaures, whose prominence in Social movement in France is evident and M. Vandervelde, a Socialist member of the Belgian Chamber, are announced to. attend a Peace meeting in London, and advantage is to be taken of their pre- sence to offer them a banquet.

THE PROPOSED NATIONAL ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION. The Joint Committee of the Royal Society and the Royal Geographical Society, appointed to promote a National Antarctic Expedition, made application some time ago to the Council of the Royal Society and the Council of the British Association for grants of money in aid of the proposed expedition. The trea- surer of the Royal Society has applied on behalf of the Council to the Government Grant Committee for a grant of £1000. and the Council of the British Association will recommend to the next meeting of the General Committee that a like sum be contributed by the Association. There is every reason (says the to believe that these grants will be made. The President of the Royal Geographical Society, Sir Clements Markham, has received a letter from Baron von Richthofen, President of the Berlin Geo- graphical Society, in which be refers to a great and enthusiastic meeting in connection with the German Antarctic expedition recently held in Berlin under the,auspices of the society and the German Colonial Society. A telegram of warm approval was received from the GerIuan, Emperor, who regretted that, at the last moment, he was unable to be present. Addresses were delivered by Baron von Richthofen, Dr. Drygalski, who will be leader of the expedition, Count D'Arenberg, President of the Colonial Society, and others, and the greatest enthusiasm was displayed by the audience, of some 1500 people. Baron von Richthofen states that the proposed expedition has the warmest approval of the Emperor, scientific men, the Press, and the public, and there cannot be the least doubt that the expedi- tion will start in 1900. As did the speakers at the meeting, so Baron von Richthofen in his letter refers in very explicit terms to the expected co-operation of England in the great work of a thorough exploration of the unknown Antarctic area. Already in a chart the German Committee have laid down the different routes which the two expeditions ntight follow in order that the joint work may be as effective as possible, while each expedition would be entirely independent of the other so far as internal organisation and command are con- cerned. There cannot be any doubt that if the two expeditions, adequately equipped, carried out their work on a common plan, the gains to science would be immense, much greater than if the expeditions carried oh their work entirely independent of each other. Moreover, from other points of view, it is desirable that two great and friendly nations like Germany and England should co-operate in promoting common interests whenever it is possible. It would therefore be in the highest possible degree humiliat- ing if Baron von Richthofen had to be informed that England cannot co-operate with Germany in this great work, because the British Government decline to support an expedition, and wealthy English- men are not public-spirited enough to subscribe the fe\v thousands necessary. At present the total amount available, including tne two grants referred to above, is about £ 15,000. As has been frequently stated, to equip a really satisfactory expe- dition, with two ships, would take £ 100,000. But it is understood that if £ 25,000 be obtained steps will at once be taken to organise a modest expedition with one ship. In this way we shall at least be able to comply to some extent with the desire for co-opera- tion on the part of Germany. It is hoped that when the position of this movement for a national Antarctic Epedition is realised, those who are in a position to do so will acoord it their substantial sup- port. A letter recently received from Melbourne states that the scientific societies in Australia are moving in the matter with a view to influencing the Premiers of the different colonies.

DON'T Couaft.-Relief can be obtained imme- diately. Use KEATING'S COUGH LOZENGES' —well known as the utterly unrivalled Cough Remedy. They at once check the cough and remove the cause-without any after effect the most deli- cate can therefore take them. Sold everywhere in tins 13jd. each. MRS. STANHOPE FORBES was the only woman artist fortunate enough to be elected an associate at the recent meeting of the Royal Water-Colour Society. In speaking of Mrs. Stanhope Forbes, a gossip says, we generally put her down as an English artist; but, as a matter of fact, she has only been working over here about 12 years. By birth Mrs. Forbes is a Canadian, and as Miss Elizabeth Armstrong she was one of the members of the Art Students' League in New York. When she quitted the States she went to Munich for a short course of study, sud later she worked out her own salvation, painting in tho open at various places on the French coast. Newlyn has since been her home. COAOULINE.—Transparent Cement, for broken articlea; A WIDOW went to the office of the insurance com- pany where her late husband had insured himself in order to receive payment of her claim. During the conversation which ensued, the clerk remarked sympathetically that he was very sorry to hear of her husband's death." Whereupon she fairly staggered him by remarking: You men are all the same-always sorry when a poor woman gets the the chance of a little money." • LINSEED COMPOUND* for Coughs and Colds, Asthma, and Bronchitis Of Chemists only. o MR. LARPAII (humorist, looking up suddenly from his work): "My dear, I do wish you would break yourself of that silly habit of laughing out loud when you are reading. How do you expect me to do any- thing——" Mrs. Laffan "But it's the manuscript of your own book I am reading, dear." Mr. Laffan Ah, yes—certainly—of course Ah-what was I 'saying ? Oh, yes—wonderful how much more work I can do at homo than I could at the office, isn't it. Marier ;i 'I ¡ l; ,j; f):¡ JH A

MR. BRODRICK ON THE LIBERAL PARTIl. At Cambridge, on Saturday night, Mr. St. J'ohn Brodrick, Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, wae the guest of the Cambridge Carlton Club and of the United Club at a dinner givpn in the Victoria Assembly Rooms. The Rev. H. S. Cronin (Trinity) presided. Professor Jebb, in giving the toast of Her Majesty's Government," said the Opposition had no definite or united policy. At Hull Sir H. Campbell- Bannerman nailed the Home Rule llag to his mast, but whether he would succeed in nailing it to Lord Rosebery's mast or the respective masts of some other admirals who were his colleagues it was not for them to inquire, but the hour for vigilance had not gone by, and the Unionist Alliance was as neces- sary and as vital to the welfare and safety of the Empire at this hour as it was several years ago. Mr. St. John Brodrick, in reply, remarked that the difficulties which their opponents laboured from amongst them selves were infinitely greater than those they laboured under from supporters of the Govern- ment. Since 1895 members of the late Ministry had been occupied in explaining away the policy for which they were collectively responsible. They were dis- sentient Liberals if ever any men deserved the term, and as such they must go before the country if we had an election. They bad well chosen their leader, 1 Sir H. Campbell-Bannerman was a man universally liked. He wasan old Parliamentary hand, and he had explained to the House of Commons more than once that the most honourable thing for a member of Par- liament to do was to sit upon a fence. He (Mr. Brod- rick) once beard a University sermon described as of the Bible and water order, and as regarded Home Rule Sir H. Campbell-Bannerman's salvation was of that order. He winked one eye at Lord Rosebery and the other at Mr. Labouchere. He delivered admirable Imperialist sentiment, but like the man in the Gilbertian opera, his head was Conservative while his legs were Radical and carried him into the wrong lobby. He advocated our advance in the Soudan to please Sir Edward Grey and voted against it to please Mr. Morley. Sir Henry at Hull spoke of three descrip- tions of persons who had differences with the Liberal party. He (Mr. Brodrick) would suggest Lord Rose- bery, Sir W. Harcourt, and Mr. Morley. But which of them represented variety with notoriety, and which mischief, he left his hearers to determine. It seem to him that the new Liberal Leader was tread- ing on eggs, and that he could give no absolute pledge as to policy. Depend upon it, the country was pretty earnest at this moment, and could not be won, as Sir H. Campbell-Bannerman was endeavouring to win it, by platitudes and pin-pricks They could not arouse enthusiasm in the country unless they could show a policy which they desired should be followed, and the country was at this moment in no, mood for pulling down institutions at home, or for climbing down abroad. There were members of the Radical party who, while Home Rulers, claimed to be Imperialists, but it was impossible to be at the same time an Imperialist and a Home Ruler, and if they were to win the country the opponents'of the Govern- ment would have to give up their destructive alliance, and learn something of a constructive policy. At the present time the Liberal party was endeavouring to achieve office by negatives and not by palliatives. They seemed to be wanting to do it by purgatives, whereas the country was wanting a tonic. We had arrived at this moment at a position in foreign politics when the country would prefer a party which knew its own mind. The Government's opponents were never tired of jibing at them on foreign politics, but he ventured to say that their opponents were but he ventured to say that their opponents were half a century behind the time. There was only one means by which this country could keep out of great complications, while main- taining its position abroad. That was by having a definite foreign policy which should be at the same time a goal for our own statesmen and a warning to the statesmen of other nations. We had great responsibilities, and we had got to establish means by which to defend them. Our foreign policy was based at present not upon any doubtful expres- sions, but upon definite aims. The first of those aims was, as they all knew, defence, not expansion the second was expansion based not upon any desire of fruitless aggression, but upon the obligations of our trading rights, and such expansion as was neces- sary to defend what we had already got. Thirdly, there came the question of preserving a balance of power and our prestige, which were dependent upon the other two. The objects of the Government policy in Asia and Africa had been perfectly plain. The steps taken on the Indian frontier and in the Soudan were steps which were taken too late, in the opinion of many on the spot, while they were in progress, but too soon in the opinion of many of those in the country who did not realise what the result of that policy would be. The same might be said to be going on in China at present. He confessed that, like many of his hon. friends around him, he would J hardly find it possible to subscribe to the doctrine of those who thought that anything which did not belong to someone else naturally belonged to Great Britain. The policy which the Government had pursued in China-a policy not of bluster, but of reasonableness and of determination—would best be proved, and was being proved, by the result of it. We had in the course of last week one or two instances of the effects of what Govern- ment policy had been. We had had a slight difference about Muscat, and in that he thought it had been made perfectly clear that while Great Britain was not the least anxious to take anything which belonged to others or which belonged to France, we were not in the least willing to abate any of our own treaty rights in those regions. On the other hand as between the Powers jointly interested in China it had been found possible by a frank and friendly interchange of views to secure a concurrence in those matters of difference, and to secure also that we should have our share in the development of China which we believed to be not in the interest of one nation only but of all. Sir H. Campbell-Ban- nerman now invited them to again enter upon those fruitless internal struggles which had added so little to the lustre of this Empire during the last 15 years in the hope of something turning out which would return a Radical Ministry to power, but Unionists asked the people to put before themselves a nobler and a better conception of public spirit, the maintenance abroad of what had been handed down to us, the development of that which we had gained, and the certainty of a fixed and stable government at home. It was because this object could be at- tained alone by a Unionist Government that he ap- pealed for a continuance of support to Lord Salisbury.

THE OLDEST ACTRESS IN THE WORLD. Mrs. Keeley, the vetern actress, died a,, her resi- dence in London, 10, Pelham-crescent, South Ken- sington, shortly after eleven o'clock on Sunday morn- ing. The deceased lady, who was in her 93rd year, was seized with influenza a few days before her death, and pneumonia supervened. Mrs. Keeley was univer- sally pronounced to be one of the most attractive old ladies of the time, and her bright expressive face, alertness of mind and spright- liness of disposition won homage and admiration far greater than would have been yielded to the claims of age. Four years ago Mrs. Keeley celebrated her 90th birthday, and she, who two years earlier boasted j that she had never retired and never taken a bene- fit," stood for the last time upon the boards of that Lyceum which she and her husband had managed in the days that knew not Irving, to receive a tribute of < affectionate respect, which drama, literature, paint- ing, music, and even architecture co-operated with a sympathetic public to render remarkable. The venerable nonagenarian was even invited to Buckingham Palace, where she, the Queen, and the Empress Frederick reacted merry scenes played at Windsor in the happy years following the Queen's marriage. When in the following year she was an honoured guest at one of the Queen's garden parties fortune bad reached its climax. Mrs. Keeley's stage career is too much a matter of ancient history to have much interest for people of to-day. It is enough to add, as the curtain falls upon the last scene of a singu- larly-placed and genial life, that she first trod the boards, as a girl of 17 at Yarmouth in 1822, made her debut before a London audience at the Lyceum three years later, and thereafter, until she withdrew, was associated on terms of equality with Kean Macready, Mathews, Phelps, Helen Faucit. and every other celebrity of her time. And if she had not elected for the drama there seems to be little doubt that she would have achieved success as an operatic artist.

THE island of Madagascar has been without an Anglican bishop for more than two years, a condi- tion of things much to be regretted, as there are many Church of England missionaries there, whose diffi- culties have been enormously increased since the French annexation. Bishop Kestell-Cornish retired from his post at Antananarivo in 1896, after 22 years' service, and accepted the rectory of Down St. Mary, in Devon. The vacant episcopate is now about to be filled by the consecration of the Rev. George Lanchester King, vicar of St. Mary's, South Shields. Mr. King has been 14 years in orders,, and has held hip nreaont benefice since 1894. THE Humanitarian League has written to M Rawlinson Ford, Chairman of the Council of the Yorkshire College, sympathising with his action in resigning his post rather than sanction the deter- mination of the Medical School to obtain a licence for vivisection. THR Executive Committee of the Lyons Geogra- phical Society has decided to present gold medals to Major Marchand and hiscompanions on the occasion of their passage through this town on their return from Africa. J. "it f ;->1 ;.=: t"

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MR. KIPLING'S ILLNESS. Mr. Kipling is still improving, and is now taking solid food. He has been informed of the death of his daughter Josephine, but is bearing up bravely. He asked how long she had been ill, and his attendants told him as much aa- they thought wise. As he listened, he mur- mured, with tears in his eyes, Poor little Joe!" The doctors thought it best to break to him the- news of Josephine's death, as the worry and the. distrust with which he seemed to receive the replies. given to his queries regarding her have probably been. more harmful to him than the knowledge of the truth. Mr. Kipling's condition is now so encourag- ing that his physicians expect to post no more bul- letins. He is beginning to gain rapidly, and although. as yet, unable to sit up he is permitted to see and converse with his children and the members of his wif* family.1

THE very lastest thing which has been attempted is a game of billiards on bicycles. The story cornea from America. Two Chicago gentlemen played & game of billiards whilst mounted on bicycles. It is stated that the stakes were E500 a-side, and the rules expressly forbade either player to rest his- machine against anything whilst making his stroke. AN experiment in storing eggs was recently tried at Leith, where some 50,000 Scotch, Irish, and Danish eggs were sealed in an apparatus for four months,, after which only a small proportion of them were found addled. The air in the store is cooled and allowed to circulate freely round the eggs, which are turned periodically to keep the yolk surrounded with albumen. This is done by mechanism.

PftRTETTS UTTLg W LIVER PILLS. £ J J nf&U FM BEAUTIFUL TEETH JillEnrrLr «mJT^ fPSj™ SOZODONT Jrp MftauuMrtMttiHtiit Vant^te. Cle*n»e« ih« teeth and spaces P«ni7 V.CCW*. between thorn MoothiagdM BaoJMlm pronely: aad «*TeodtiagraeS cweiixoiwitwwNni. engazetL CiMiBAak tor BOXODOKT. b. U

OVER-PAID INCOME-TAX. as the time again approaches when it is customary for persons entitled to return of Income-tax to pre- fer their claims, the secretary of the Kate and Tax- payers' Assessment Protection Association, writes to a contemporary to point out that it is important appli- cation should be made before the fifth prox., or one year's repayment may be lost. By last year's Finance Act the system of abatement was extended, and where duty has been paid or deducted in full, claims can now be made as under Income not exceeding E160-repayment of all tax paid during the last four years. Exceeeding Y.150, not exceeding E400, repayment of £ 21 6s. Sd. Exceeding £ 400, not exceeding £500, repayment of £15. Exceeding £500, not exceeding £600, repayment of £4. Exceeding £600, not exceeding E700, repayment of £ 2 6s. 8d.

THE Princess of Wales, with her daughters Prin- cess Victoria of Wales and Princess Charles of Den- mark, arrived in Paris from London on Saturday evening. They have gone for a Mediterranean yachting cruise. 1.h. CECIL RnODRS has been received in audience by the. German Emperor, and no doubt is felt in Berlin that he will obtain permission to build his raihvay from Cape Town to Cairo through German territory. The German Press is practically unani- mous in support of the scheme, provided, of* course that German interests are properly safeguarded

COCOA—The National Drink. "Vf EVER in the history of the world has Cocoa been _1_1 HO much held in faverjr as a national drink as it is at the present day. Yrt there are Cocoas and Coooas. MKSSRS. FRY have gained no fewer than 275 GOLD MEDALS and DIPLOMAS, and their Pure Concen- trated Cocoa is the result of an accumulated experiece of 170 Years, a fact which places this well-known Firm at an advantage far above all Ifchi the rivalry existing amongst firms of latter-day growth. Th- it ito bttUr bovtrag,* tltM EMV'C Nis ëõëõÄ -'J Of which Dr. Andrew l." WilSOIt. F. R.S.E., etc., sayø, It is ray 1 ideal of perfection." I JTT9T THKBBWOHD8 *reittecegwiry in order to irei the A RI -RT.T, NMIOA. vis-. "V

A TELEGRAM troni Tripoli says the French expedi- tion from Algeria to Lake Chad, urtder the leadership &p of M. Foureau, the well-known African explorer, has arrived at rfuma oasis, about 300 miles from the lake. THE reports submitted to the Adjutant-General of the United States Army show that between May 1, 18v8, and February 18 this year 329 men of the American troops -were killed in action, 125 died of "}ei.r rounds, and 5277 died of disease in tha J;"1, States or in Cuba, Puerto Bico, and the Philippines. THE courtesies extended at Malta to the American troops proceeding to the Phillipines have caused much gratification at the War Department at Wash- 0 ington. IT is stated that the Home Secretary has refused to grant a license for the opening of the vault at Highgate alleged to contain the remains of Thaixww Charles Druce, ¡,(; ¡, r: '-rr