Barry Herald

I Hi Turkish newspapers state that a warrant has been issued for the arrest of Hafiz Pasha, a member •f the Council of th* City Prefecture, on the charge 0f murdering Lie^t.-Colonel Ghani Bqy, aids-de* camp of the Sultan. :1

CURING A GRUMBLER: A STORY FOR CERTAIN SPINSTERS. A girl was walking briskly down the main street of a little country town. Her springing gait told of a generous vitality, and her cheery face was pleasant to look on. But a little cloud fell over it as she neared her destination, and her pace involuntarily slackened. How I wish it were over she murmured under her breath. What a penance it is to go and see Aunt Lucinda!" Then a tiny gleam came into her eyes, and she gave her head a decisive nod. I don't feel in the humour to stand much non- sense," she thought. And if Aunt Lucinda begins to air her grievances in her usual fashion, she will be very likely to hear a piece of my mind." She gave a sharp rap at her aunt's door, a rap which was prompty answered by a neat little maid, whose eyes brightened at sight of the visitor. Good morning, Mary," said Bessie, in her usual genial fashion. Is Miss Barrett at home ?" "Yes, Miss Bessie," responded Mary. "Please come in." She led the way to the room where her mistress was sitting. Miss Barrett did not rise on her niece's entrance, but sat in solemn state as Bessie went briskly forward. Good morniRg, Aunt," said Bessie, kissing the cheek that was frigidly offered. How are you this morning ?" Oh, I don't know," responded Aunt Lucinda, with a slight groan. I don't know how I am." Bessie was too well used to her aunt's pecu- liarities to feel any astonishment at this reply. She sat down, however, wondering upon what topic it would be safe to begin. I can hardly believe that you have come to see me," said Miss Lucinda in an injured tonepwith a strong emphasis on the me." None of you care anything about me." Bessie's face flushed slightly, but she made no reply. She had met the same accusation so many times that she was thoroughly tired of trying to justify herself. "How is Mary getting on?" she enquired, by way of turning the conversation. Mary? Oh, as bad as all the rest," returned Aunt Lucinda. She sighed heavily, and fixed reproachful eyes on poor Bessie, who somehow began to feel a guilty responsibility with regard to Mary's shortcomings. I thought Mary seemed a very decent girl," she ventured to say. That is just as much as you know about it," responded Miss Barrett, with sudden energy. She worries me, and hurts my feelings continually. But of course you don't care! It is nothing to you." She is only a child," pleaded Bessie, on behalf of the delinquent. She is quite old enough to know better," said Aunt Lucinaa. And after all I have done for her But there is no gratitude in this world." She sighed again, and Bessie uncomfortably wondered what had better be said next. Have you seen Letty lately ?" she ventured. Oh dear no answered Aunt Lucinda, looking more martyrlike than before. It is quite three months since Letty came near me. Her mother says she is busy, but she can find time to go to your aunt Anna's. It seems to me that you can all very easily find the way to your aunt Anua's, but you forget where I live." Indeed we don't, aunt!" said Bessie roused to some show of self-defence. You know Kitty was here only a day or two ago." Yes, and I was sorry to see how frivolous she appeared to be growing," replied Aunt Lucinda, with a shake of her head. The first thing she did was to ask me how I liked her new hat. I told her I had more important things than hats to think aboul." But Kitty is so pretty," said Bessie, taking up the cudgels on behalf of her sister. She can't help thinking a little of how she looks, you know." Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain," quoted Miss Lucinda, with a solemn shake of the head. A girl has no business to bestow thought upon fleeting vanities." "Most girls do," said Bessie, in her direct way. "After all, aunt, we are only young once. And if little things make us happy, why shouldn't we have them ?" A most heathenish way of talking 1" responded Aunt Lucinda. At this very moment, Bessie, you —I regret to see-are wearing round your neck a lace scarf, which I do not suppose was bought for less than half-a-sovereign. It is not really necessary, it adds in no way to your comfort Oh, it does!" broke in Bessie, with a laugh. It is a decided comfort to feel that I look nice." Aunt Lucinda was horrified. That a girl-and that girl her own niece-should deliberately express the belief that she looked nice," was contrary to all her ideas of decorum. In my young days, it was not customary for girls to flatteringly comment upon their own appearance," she said icily. But, putting that matter altogether aside, have you reflected that that half-sovereign might have been given to the poor ?" Bessie flushed. "I do not want to be selfish, aunt," she saidj gently, and I hope I do not forget those who are in need. But have you reflected that if nobody wore pretty things trade would suffer, and the number of poor be greatly increased ?" Aunt Lucinda looked slightly nonplussed. Then People can generally find a reason for doing as they like," she said disagreeably. But I am thank- ful I have nothing of the kind on my conscience." Bessie looked at the thin angular figure, and the hard, sour face. She suddenly felt sorry for Aunt Lucinda. Life, bereft of love, grace, and beauty seemed a hard thing. But Miss Lucinda returned to the charge merci- lessly. I met young Will yesterday with a flower in his buttonhole. Violets, if you please I I did not forget to Istop and tell him what I thought about it. A clerk on C80 a year sporting button-holes. I have no patience!" Bessie's eyes began to Ilook ominous. She loved her brother exceedly,> and none knew better What a good. steady lad he was. The first breath of spring," she said. Will is not extravagant, aunt. It is but seldom he indulges in a little luxury. But he said the fragrance of the flowers gladdened him all day." 11 Such rubbish!" cried Aunt Lucinda sharply. I never want flowers to gladden me. I should be ashamed to talk such childish nonsense," Bessie did not speak. But her silence, if her aunt had but know it, was pregnant with meaning. "But, of course, it's.no use my trying to talk to you," said Aunt Lucinda, her visage assuming its most mournful expression. You take notice of what I say. I live here all alone, and nobody cares what becomes of me." Bessie was still silent, so Aunt Lucinda went on. "Yes, it is an ungrateful world. Look how I sat up with you when you had the fever, Bessie. And I nursed Kitty all through the measles, your mother being in bed herself at the time. But I suppose you find it convenient to forget all these things." No, we don't," said Bessie, her cheeks burning. We have thanked you again and again, aunt." She did not add, as she might have done, that a benefit repeatedly thrown in one's face, becomes an intolerable burden. Aunt Lucinda never allowed her good deeds to be forgotten, and she had a com- placent belief that they would ensure her a ready passport to a better world when the time came for her to leave this. Your aunt Anna has never done anything for you," gent on Aunt Lucinda, and yet you all flock to herjwhile I can hardly get a glimpse of you. I can't think why." Well, I will tell you," returned Bessie, in the i tone of one now determined to speak at all hazards. It is because Aunt Anna is the most unselfish woman in the world because her heart will never grow old because love is the mainspring of her every word and action." Aunt Lucinda gasped, and stared at the speaker. You say Aunt Anna has never done anything for us," proceeded Bessie, warming to her theme. She has never given us money, because—dear soul!—she has never had any to give. Why good women like she often get bad husbands is to me one of the stand- ing mysteries of life. But you know what Aunt Anna's husband was." Wretch ejaculated Miss Lucinda, with a face of abhorrence. Wretch indeed I" repeated Bessie, a shade of sad- ness stealing into her tone. But "defmnt again— who has ever heard Aunt Anna groan or complain about him? None of us can ever quite renlise the misery of the life she led with him, and "-ilt.r voice binking-" xnotheralways believed that thete had been times when Aunt Anna lacked even bread to ear. But she never told the world. Aunt Anna was—and in-a heroine 1" Aunt Lucinda cowered a little. She had often been secretly ashamed of the sister who was so poor, but Bessie's words began to put things in a new light. He died at last," went on Bessie, "and a blessed relief it must have been to, Aunt Anna. But I don't believe she ever admitted the fact, even to herself. And now she only talks of the lover of her youth." Oh, she has done a great deal for us," said: Bessie, after a few minute. thoughtful pause; When you nursed us, Aunt Lucinda, she was watch- ing by the bedside of her own dying children. She had to give them up; but though flesh and blood faltered, her heart was true to its heavenly allegiance. And she lives in sure and certain hope of meeting them again." Something moved at Aunt Lucinda's heart-^some- th^ that had lain dbrmaat for yeam. She did net -<0 "She has taught. us such lessons," said Bessie, half dreamily. And all—mind you-by the force of her example. I never remember Aunt Anna preaching to us in our lives. And oh, Aunt Lucinda —with a sudden change of tone-" it is so good to go there. She is always so jolly." Jolly repeated Miss Lucinda, rather faintly. Yes. She laughs so much, you know," explained Bessie, a smile illuminating her own face at the remem- brance. "And she is always so interested in every- thing we tell her." Did—er—did she like Kitty's hat 1:9 murmured Miss Lucinda. "Oh, immensely," replied Bessie. Only she thought if the flowers were put rather more to the back—just a little, you know—it would be an im- provement. So Kitty tried it, and it really was." Miss Lucinda felt rather at a loss. If her sister were really the good woman described-and Bessie's facts could not understand the interest in millinery. Heroism and artificial flowers were-t" her mind- altogether incongruous. She always cares," said Bessie, no matter what it is. Whatever we want to tell her, Aunt Anna is always anxious to hear. And she is such a darling to talk to Somehow she always understands." Bessie had softened considerably while she had been talking. But she suddenly remembered, and returned to the starting point. Her voice grew hard again. You wondered, Aunt Lucinda, why why we liked going to Aunt ^Anna's better than comiEg here. And I said I would tell you. So I will, though I expect you'll never forgive me for it." 0 Well ?" said Aunt Lucinda. She tried to speak in her usual tone, but she faltered a little, and Bessie-noting it-went on more gently! You always find fault with us, Aunt Lucinda. Try as we may, we can never please you. And so- some of us have got tired of trying." Aunt Lucinda was silent. But a sudden sense of loss swept over her. You are mother's sister," said Bessie, and we have tried hard to love you for the sake of the time when you, she, and Aunt Anna were girls together. When mother died, she told us never forget you, so we have done our best to bring a little brightness into your life. But you would not let us." Bessie's voice was very sorrowful now, and Aunt Lucinda cowered dumbly in her chair. We have wanted to come and tell you things, as we tell Aunt Anna but you never cared to hear. When Cousin Letty last came. to see you, she was proud and glad because of her engagement. She wanted you to say Heaven bless you, Letty, and give vou happiness.' But you told her marriage was a mistake, that good husbands were scarce, and that any woman who ran the risk was a fool. So little Letty went home with a bleeding heart; she did not want to come to you again, Aunt Lucinda." Miss Lucinda shivered. For years people had longed to tell her the truth, but had not dared. Bessie's present frankness might be a wholesome tonic, but it was very, very bitter. I came to you in great trouble myself a little while ago," said Bessie. I need not now enter into the question of what it was about. Perhaps >ou re- member, or perhaps the thing made so little impres- sion on your mind that you have forgotten all about it. Any way, my heart was terribly sore but you could not give me any attention. Mary had dusted the sitting-room badly that morning, so you could only think and speak of her delinquencies. I had to go away again. I went to Aunt Anna." And what did she do?" asked Miss Lucinda, in a stifled voice. "She cried with me," replied Bessie simply. Just at first, you know. Then she kissed me, and bade me be of good courage, for better times were sure to come; and she made me realise that I wasn't just a plaything in the hands of a blind Fate." Bessie," cried Aunt Lucinda. the tears running down her face, I've been a selfish woman, but I never knew it. I want to be different. Oh, do help me!" When-some two years later—Bessie's sweetheart was introduced to Aunt Lucinda, he quite fell in love with her. "You have got the most charming relations, Bessie," he said, as they walked home together in the gloaming. I thought there could not possibly be another woman as sweet and kind as your Aunt Anna; but Aunt Lucinda is nearly as good." Yes," assented Bessie, a happy thrill in het voice, Aunt Lucinda is nearly as good."

NILE RESERVOIR. The new; reservoir dam at Assouan will be rather w more than a mile long; it will have a maxim height of 100ft., and in places the base will be nearly 100ft. thick. It will, moreover, be provided with 200; sluices. Judged from sea-level, tha top of the dam will be 100 metres high, and it will hold up the water for a distance of 140 miles to a height of 106 metres abuve the sea-level. On the West Bank, at right angles to the main dam, another embankment will be built, projecting in a southerly direction. The space between this secondary dam and the bank itself will form the channel along which boats will pass. When this channel reaches the big dam it will be continued by a series of locks, four in number, and opening into one another, each lock giving a fall of 17ft. The 2 material of which the dam will be made will be entirely granite and cement. It is expected that the dam will be finished in five years, though the pro- gress already made has been so much in excess of anticipations that it is now hoped that the construc- tion w;i 11 be completed well within that period. The top will be broad enough to allow carriages to drive along it; the style of architecture will be ancient Egyptian, and the sluices will be mad. so as to re- semble the old Egyptian doorways.

ANTI-BETTING CRUSADE. The bookmakers in Paris hare notified the Prefect of Police that they propose to obtain a judicial decision as to what bets are legal and what illegal. As soon as a legal decision has been pronounced it is possible that the Government may cause a Bill to be drafted dealing w;th the matter subject to the opini on of its legal advisers. This measure would provide for furnishing with books of tickets with counter- foils, such tickets paying the tax levied on the "pari- mutuels for the benefit of the poor.

COLLECTING A HALFPENNY. The Post Office is a wonderful institution. Not very long ago (says the Globe) a telegraph clerk ac- cepted S.S.'as one word, whereas it Is two, though steamship is only one. He was directed to col- lect the extra halfpenny, or to pay it himseif. He re- jected the latter alternative, with scorn, and proceeded to endeavour carry out the former. As the original sender of the telegram lived otfer four miles awajJ, and paid no attention to writ*611 ^quests, it was necessary to drive out to his house at a cost of 7s. 9d. The correspondence in the matter now amoilnts to some 90 letters, and the department has not, as we arc advised, got the halfpenny yet.

I LINSEED COMPOUND' for Coughs and Colds, Asthma, and Bronchitis Of Chemists only. By means of a photograph,. made with a vibrating lens, Mr. F. H. Glew, of London, has calculated the time of a lightning flash. It comes out one-nineteenth of a second. The calculation is based upon the multiple image in the photographs anC* rate of vibration of the lens. The time appl'eB> course, only to the particular flash that was photographed. A LINSEEM COM POUND Trade Usa ot Compound Essence of Linseed, for Coughs and Cold THE Marchioness of Lorne, who drew out the plans for the Ferry Inn at Roseneath, and occupies a portion of the house when visiting in the locality, is at present engaged in painting a signboard for the hotel, after a quaint design which will still further, I it is alleged, distinguish Roseneath Is old hostelry from all other hotels in the country. FROM a short account of the Northern Polytechnic at Holloway contributed to the current number of Nature, we gather that no less than 2000 students are already enrolled on the books of the ^stitutio,, Excellent work appears to be done ^"e Various technological and other classes, and the that*the educational opportunities thus afforded &re *° largely taken advantage of is a hopeful ind-cation that our industrial activities are not likely U in the near future. IN Detroit there lives an old Scotch woman vho for many years has been anxious to revÎJlt her nutftfe land, but the money has never been forthcoming. Howevier, last autumn her sons decided to gratify her wish and send her home on a visit. But when her boys told her what they proposed to do the prac- tical mother replied, Aweel, aweel, I'm thinkin, i"" I bide a wee. It's been a gae wet summer. and IVB mae doo,t the sea is tmusual deep." LINUM CATHARTtCUM PIU3, digestive, correct^, and agreeably aperient, 9Jd., 13id. Of all Chemisw. LORD HARLECH has just attained the age of 80. He has had a seat in Parliament ever since )841, first as a member for several Irish constituencies, and since 1876 as a peer. It is probable that there have never been so many octogenarians in the House of Lords as there are at present. No fewer than 33 peers are in or have passed their 80th year. I LINSEED COMPOUND* (Trade Mark) for Coughs and Coldlt of proven efficacy, 13 Sold byZhOWistB only. RAILWAY whistles inflict torture so many English people- that the efforts abroad to check the plague will be followed with interest. Austria has introduced a system of dumb signalling to start and stop the trains, Belgium i* trying compressed air. whistles instead of steam,.and Germany experiment# with horns-.

ART AND LITERATURE. IF certain rumojrs can be believed, the set of artistic opinion, from the Academy downwards, is dead against the latest development of Sir W. B Richmond's scheme of decoration at St. Paul's There is, naturally, considerable reluctance on the part of members of the Academy to take the initia- tive, or to give expression to views which inight seem to convey some sort of slur on Sir W. B. Richmond's ability as an artist. And yet it is merely questions of taste and of architectural propriety which are involved, and Sir W. B. Richmond may err in these with lesser men. If public opinion was organised on the subject, apart altogether from the Academy, ot which Sir W. B. Richmond is a member, it would be found that many prominent painters and architects are ready to take their share in a protest against the continuation of the decora- tion of the dome. The work in the choir is not in question. That, thanks to the apathy of the public, is done, whether for good or for evil. If it be held to be trivial and ineffective. a mere blur of colour, where before was grace and dignity, it is at least not offensive. But the question of painting the structural stonework of the done is another affair altogether. If somebody proposed to paint the Nelson column in Trafalgar-square in alter- nate bands of red and green and blue, you would write him down a madman. And this, not less and not more, is what is being done at St. Paul's. Public opinion has not been stirred, because few have understood what was going on. Now everybody should be urged to go to St. Paul's and study the question on the spot. Not only is the stonework being painted, but masons art at work chipping away the surface to allow details of design to be affixed to the massive spaces of the walls. irreparable damage is being done—has already been done-to Wren's masterpiece. The dignity of the dome is being frittered away into little squares and diamonds filled with pretty floriated panels and enshrined in a border which would add insignificance 1 to a restaurant. It is impossible to overstate the barbarity of these proceedings. The protest of Lord Wemyss was not one whit too strong. There is no time to lose. Definite steps should be taken to put a stop to this vandalism until a committee of artists and architects has reported. Everybody would welcome the President of the Academy as the chairman of such a committee, and his presence would assure Sir W. B. Richmond that there was not a shred of per- sonal animus in the opposition to his scheme. Until some such committee has been formed not another pot of paint should be flung at the walls of the cathedral. M. EIILE ERCKMANN, senior partner in the firm of Erckmann-Chatrian, manufacturers of novels, has just died at Luneville, aged 77. Most schoolboys of most nations will be familiar with the chefs-d'oeuvre of this literary partnership, and the theatre-going public of England are as familiar with The Bells," a translation of Le Juif Polonais," as with any piece upon the English stage. L'Historie d'un Consent," LHistorie d'un Paysan," and Water- loo," are the works of Erckmann-Chatrian are the works most familiar to English readers in the original or translation. The description of battle- scenes, though vivid and exciting enough, are marked by no such delight in horrible and revolting details as distinguish the later military romances of Emile Zola. Through these war-stories of Erckmann-Chatrian runs the most charming and pathetic delineation of French peasant life. Few writers have had a more remarkable faculty for bringing the reader and the actor in the story into intimate and sympathetic relations. A singular fea- ture of the work of these two writers is that it is impossible to detect any joinings or other evi- dences of dual authorship in the novels. They seem to be inspired by a singleimagination. The works of Erekmann-Chatrian are likely to retain their literary interest, not only as absorbing works of fic- tion, but as vivid representations of French life, which to the future historian will be of incalculable value. A REPRINT of the novels produced by the Bronte sisters is to be published by Messrs. Smith, der, and Co., with introductions by Mrs. Humphry Ward. These introductions" will, of course, furnish yet another aggravation for the writer who, in the current issue of Blackwood's Magazine, deals so severely with the results of the Education Act of 1870. The human fruits of that epoch-making enactment, he declares, "are not satisfied with the newest effects of fiction. They would scrape a bowing acquaintance with the masters who are dead and gone. So there are pre- fiared for their delight countless reprints, pleasant to ook upon and light to hold, which shall perform the trick of introduction. The reprints are prefaced by a brief essay, which gives the criticasters something to write about, and serves as a buffer between the hastily-educated and the superhuman task of perusing a classic. Neither Dickens nor Scott can make a direct appeal nowadays to their readers. The shock is always decently broken and if the reader never gets as far as the original, he at least knows what somebody else thinks about it. In brief, we live in an Alexandrian age. which only differs from its type in lack of erudition," AT last (remarks the Globe) there are definite signs that the long-promised completion of the South Kensington Museum is to be vigorously undertaken. The plans for the additions to the existing building are ready, with the modifications suggested by the Select Committee, and already the work of clearing the site has been commenced. Many of the old trees which have served the purpose of a screen to the bare brick walls of the museum, as it has stood for so many years, have been felled during the last few days, and the remainder will be cleared away as quickly as possible. This preparatory work is being pushed on so that everything may be ready by May next, when the foundation-stone will be laid by the Queen. Now that the undertaking seems fairly under way it is to be devoutly hoped that no official entangle- 'ments may occur to delay matters. Everyone will .be glad to see the museum made really presentable and adequate in accommodation. SIGNOR VERDINOIS, the Neapolitan critic, cordially wishing the complete restoration to health of Mr. Ruqyard Kipling, whose illness is much regretted in Italy, enters in the Corriere de-Vapoli into a criticism of the great writer's works, to which he gives dlle praise, remarking, however, that the poet changes conStantly, according to the point of view, and that the general character of all his impressions is that of d'isconsolate sadness. All his books (says Signor Verdinois) might bear the title of his best romance, The Light that Failed," which the reader lets fall trout his hands when read, not knowing whether be s z, is most sorry for the dead artist or the erring girl. allowing that a girl of that kind can really exist on this earth. Kipling's art is still unequal and discon- nected it flies and touches; weaps and sobs; crushes and breaks a blazing torch, which till now smokes too much. We wish health to the poet, and that he may live to disperse this smoke. May Rud- yard Kipling live long, and instead of stumbling in the dark, give to art the light that never fails. AT the Goupil Gallery a mixed exhibitipn of very interesting pictures is now to be seen. It includes admirable examples of some of the most distinguished painters in this country and abroad, Mr. Clausen's last Academy picture. The Harrow," for instance, Mr. Whistler's Nocturne, Blue and Silver," M. Lhermitte's La Fileuse," a study of tigers by Mr. J. M. Swan, Corot's Ville d'Avary," and M. Maris's Yoke of Oxen." Besides there are attractive productions by Mauve, James Maris, Messrs. Henry and Hornel, Mr. Peppercorn, Bosboom, and others whose work is never unworthy of attention. Altogether the collection is of unusual importance, and in every way supports the sound tradition which this gallery has established. MR. BECKLM WILLSOK'S book on the Hudson's Bay Company, and the lives of its many brave adven- turers, will appear early in the summer. MR. E. A. FITZGERALD'S recent attempt to climb the South American giant, Aconcagua, is one of the gallantest performances in mountaineering. That he failed to reach the highest point does not detract from the pluck of the attempt. His book on his American expedition will probably be published by the early summer. Those who have read his account of his ascents in the New Zealand Alps know that the author is an attractive writer. On his return from New Zealand, Mr. Fitzgerald showed many of his sketches in the hall of Clifford's-inn, where he also lectured upon them. It is to be hoped that he may do something of the kind with his Aconcagua pic- tures. So inary of the. French autobiographical works of the Seventeenth and Eighteenth Centuries have lately been re-translated for the benefit of English readers that an edition of the Memoirs of Saint- Simon was to be expected. It is now promised by Mr. Heinemann, but he does not propose to provide entertaining literature of this kind for the world at large, since the superb library edition" which he contemplates will be published in four volumes at JJjgs. The value of the book will no doubt bol greatly increased by the 42 illustrations, which will in most cases be from contemporary portraits. The edition is not to be unabridged, and it is to be issued in the, belief that many persons who never read translations will read this translated edition,-because it bring* within reasonable compass the gist of a noble work." Seeing how pressed for time we ad are, the belief will no doubt be justified'by results.

Somit men show remarkably good taste in their selection of ties- until they put their necks into the' matrimonial halter. ;1

THE EMPEES3 OF CHINA. 1 We may be mistaken, but we fancy we can drlm a slight relaxation of the avve-sirt.ck tension held, not on]y Peking, but the whole coumrv in u vice for some time after the coup detat, saystba Pikirg and Ticnidn limes. The reign of tr-n,.r has given way to an evident desire to go softly on the part of the Empress-Dowager, and the absn\' e from the capital of Li Hung Chang for a season mny have helped to loosen the strain of conflicting ambitions somewhat. We fancy, too, that some element has lately introduced itself into Government calculations which is inducing a feeliag of anxiety in place of the late cocksure assurance. We cannot lav claim to know the precise nature of this element., but if sundry and various reports that have reached us be true, we should surmise it to be not wholly unconnected with the attitude of certain foreign powers. There have been frequent and anxious con- sultations between the Empress-Dowager and her Generals, Sung, Yuan, and Nieh. Some reports hint that Yuan's presence in Pekin is fully accounted for by personal difficulties of his own. Others maintain that much that has been alleged against him is false, and that he is in Pekin solely for the purpose of aù- vis. ng her Majesty. From private sources we have learned that at a recent audience with Yuan the Empress-Dowager went, and Yuan was likewise overcome by emotion on account of the position: of the nation and the dire oppression of foreign Powers. Certain it is that for some reason or another the Empress-Dowager is gradually inclining to a more indulgent attitude towards reform, and thereby justifying the hopeful predictions main- tained in many quarters, that her hostility to the Emperor's programme would not be permanent. An Imperial Edict, published on December 8, which was not reproduced by our local papers, grants per- mission, in response to a memorial by Chang Chitung, for the establishment of newspapers devoted to agriculture, commerce, industrial arts, and litera- ture, and also for societies connected with any of these things. The Empress points out that her Edict interdicting these privileges was directed only against reckless and unseemly criticism, or interfer- ence in politics. Any way, it is the thin end of the wedge, and providing the papers are allowed as an educating medium, the politics may be trusted to look after themselves.

PROGRESS OF MR. RHODES'S TELEGRAPH LINE. Mr. G. Bettesworth-Piggott, H.M. Chief Judicial Officer of the British Central Africa Protectorate, has returned to England on leave, after an absence of two and a half years in Central Africa. He reports that Mr. Rhodes's telegraph has nearly reached '• Abercorn," at the south end of Lake Tanganyika, and that Mr. Codrington, the Deputy-Administrator of Northern Rhodesia, is making every effort to carry the construction through by June to that station he further says that the telegraph has been the greatest assistance and Bervice to the Imperial authorities in the Protectorate through which it passes. He expects the export of Nyassaland coffee will this year more than dowble the export of other years, and that the outlook for this industry is most promising. He is also of opinion that for the suc- cessful development--of this part of tropical Africa r.xilwnys are most essential. Mr. ljiggott has brought back with him a fine collection of Central African curios, heads, skins, "and orchids. 1 i

A MEMORABLE AMEBICAK- SOCIETY WEDDING." When Miss Emily Vanderbilt-Sloane is married to fr. Hammond, shortly after Easter, we learn from the New York correspondents of the Daily Telegraph and Morning Leader that the galleries at _S_t._ Bartholp- mew's Chuneh :wil b reserved %r poor people, imong whouilhe ibridhas been a faithful" worker. This is the greatest novelty yet introduced into Society weddings ip New York. The bride will also distribute to the poor one dollar for every dollar spent on her wedding. This means that a sum of about 30,000 dollars will be spent in this way. Miss Sloane, besides being heiress to 18 millions and extraordinarily beautiful, is the only Vanderbilt who ever took an interest in the lowly, and a number of charitable institutions and working-girls' homes bear her name. She is the most popular young woman in New York.

RUSKIN HALL. The Syndics of Cambridge University have made a handsome gift to Ruskin Hall. Oxford, the recently- established College for Working Men, of many of thfir historical series, and modern scientific hand- books. The present is most timely and suitable. Both the staff and students keenly appreciate the donation, and the kind spirit which prompted it.

THE NEW GOVERNOR OF PENTON VILLE. Captain F. Johnson, who has been promoted from th? post of Governor of Portland to that of Penton- will be remembered by a vast number of artillery and engineer, officers as Captain Heff." as the servants all called him at the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich, when he was Adjutant and Quartermaster of the Company of Gentlemen Cadets, over 20 years ago. One day there was an exhibition game of billiards at the shop." Captain Johnson took 150 in 300 from Cook, and had been passed by the back-marker." He made a 55 break, which brought him to 298, and the white ball was over the pocket. But, with a gallery of gentlemen-cadets, he was too proud to pot the white, and amidst thunders of applause he made a difficult winning hazard with the red, and ran out.

UNEARNED INCREMENT. One effect of the clearances for the new Govern- ment offices in Whitehall has been enormously to echance the value of office accommodation in the locality. Within the past year or two rents have been nearly doubled in some buildings, and there are instances where the excess is eyen greater. Tbe pinch is being particularly felt by the London County Council which, owing to the growth of its responsi- bilities. is almost monthly called upon to extend its offic.' accommodation to meet pressing demands of the tetair. A proposal ie now under consideration to buy up a property facing Cockspur-street, and abat- ing on the main offices, for £100,000.

AN AWKWARD PREDICAMENT. Journeys sometime end in lovers meeting, and sometimes they don't. A Miss Mary Maronev. of county Clare, Ireland, is at present in doubt how her journey to New York will end. In the old country she became acquainted with one Thomas McCarthy. to whom she became engaged, but who some time ago went to America, promising to send for her when he was able. About a month ago he sent for her and incjnsed her passage money. On the voyage out she lost her sweetheart's address and could not remember it. and when she reached New York, having no idea where to go, she was detained at the Barge Office by the immigration authorities. Unless she can re-, Siember the address, or is claimed by her young man, who may learn of her predicament from the Press sho will be sent back again.

IMITATING "VISCOUNT HILTON." Cirencester has lately been entertaining a gentle- man who has undertaken for a wager of £500 to earn his livelihood for the next 12 months by means of a barrel-organ, which he will trundle from place to plalee until he has visited every county in the kingdom. With the prospect of a good summer, he anticipates an easy accomplishment of his unusual I." k, This imitator of Yiscount Hinton. who com- memed his "turn on February 1, is a 'Varsityman of goqd family, nearly 6ft. high, well-built, clean sha n-n. and attired in a light shooting suit: but he discreetly withholds his name from the public. The organ, which is the grinder's sole companion on his trnllp. weighs about 5cwt. He has just left Ciren- ci fii-r for Gloucester, whence he will travel south- wards.

A FEAT OF MEMORY. The death has taken place of the Rev. J. R. Lunn, for 3.1 years rector of Marton-cum-Graffham. He was born in 1831. and was educated at King Edward Grammar School at Birmingham, among his contemporaries being Archbishop Benson and Bishop Liuhtfoot. He came out as a Fourth Wrangler at. St., Johns, Cambridge, of which he was a Fellow. He was an active parish priest, but was best Js$o>yn as a very able musician. He was organist of Edgbaston Church when only 15, and while at, CBllubridge he was President of the University Musical Society. Alike as a composer and conductor he was distinguished. Once after going to a performance of the Elijah at Birming- ham conducted by Mendelssohn himself, he returned home and wrote from memory a complete score of the Angels' Chorus. He was a brilliant performer on the pianoforte, one of the finest Bach players in the country. Besides his musical publications he was no moan general author.

Hvv" • NS: How would you like to be one of tihn swgll-hides an' have your alcohol batb every c Watkins: "Inside, er out- side ?"■

£ PLTOME OF NEWS. TnE Duke of Portland is to defray one-half of the cost-£8915--{)f erecting a sea wall at Troon, in Ayrshire, of which he is feudal superior. EXPERIMENTS are being made iu wireless telegraphy between Nice and CapeCorso, in Corsica, a distance of over 100 miles. A FOSSIL dinosaur 130 feet long has been unearthed at Laramie, Colorado, by Professor W. H. Reed, from strata of the Jurassic period. THE Duke of Devonshire has presented the Rev. Canon Madan. rector of West Hallam, to the living of Doveridge. Derbyshire, which is of the net value of about £500 a year, with residence. THE sons of the late French President Carnot have presented to the Musee Carnavalet the work of art which was gi-ven to their father by his compatriots who took part in the Exhibition of 1889. MR. C. L. Obr-EWING, M.P., has consented to act as commodore of the new Lome Corinthian Yacht Club, Oban, and is to present a cup to be raced for by members of the club. THE third Drawing Room of the season having been fixed for May 10, the third Levee of the season will take place a few days earlier at St. James's Palace, and the Prince of Wales will represent the Queen on the occasion. THE smallest salary paid to the head of a civilised Government is £3 a year to the President of the Re- public of Andorra, in the Pyrenees. RICH coal discoveries are reported to have been made at Inyack Island in Delagoa Bay. The dis- covery will, it is expected, revolutionise the trade of the East of Africa. IT has boon decided to hold an art exhibition of ( Belgian and foreign painters at Brussels next year. A commission t.o carry out the scheme is in course of formation. THE students of the Higher Schools in St. Peters- burg have already resumed work, and the University students have apparently decided to do likewise shortly. AJlOUT 3000 miles of railway were constructed in the United States last year. ACCORDING to the Spanish Minister of Marine the Spanish Government intends to propose the recon- j struction of the Navy, ? THERE has just been unearthed in the Bowery. I New York. a Girls' Suicide Club. In six days four members took their lives. I THE Dowager Queen of Holland has decided to tranform the Royal castle at Gueldern into a sani- torium for poor consumptives. IT has been decided to exchange the carbines iu the possession of cadet companies of Volunteer corps for magazine rifles. IT is anticipated in Vienna that an important post will be offered Sir Rudolf Slatin in either the Austrian Military or Civil Service. A STARTLING epidemic of typhoid fever has broken out in Philadelphia. Already 2000 cases are notified. THE news that further trouble has broken out in Magatoland is confirmed by the officials at Pretoria. LORD DCDLEY. the Under Secretary for the Board of Trade, has taken to golf of late with considerable zest. MR. W. H. MACXAMARA (one of the Assistant Masters of the Supreme Court, Royal Courts ol Justice) has been appointed to act as Registrar of the Court under the Benefices Act, 1898. ) THE cruiser Diadem has sailed from Plymouth, to rejoin the Channel Squadron at Arosa Bay. THE Senate of the State of Illinois has approved a Bill authorising the expenditure of £1800 for the statue of Miss Frances E. Willard, the well-known temperance advocate. THE formation of a new line of Belgian steamers is announced. The vessels will trade from Antwerp and Ostend to the Mediterranean and Baltic ports, IN consequence of the opposition manifested by the inhabitants of Jeddah against the isolation of their town on account of the plague, the Smitary Council has withdrawn the measure. COMMANDER KAWASHIMA of the Imperial Japanese Navy, who has been in England for the last 21 months, has been selected for the post of Japanese Naval Attache to England. A TELEGRAM from Albacete (Spain) announces that j some rocks overhanging the village of Recuerja sud- denly fell destroying 10 houses. Eleven persons are known to have been killed. < THE Communes of Zoetenaye is the smallest in t Belgium. It comprise five houses and twenty-three inhabitants, of whom øix are men, six women, and eleven children. AUTOMATIC telephones are to be placed in all the post offices, railway stations, and other public places in Berlin. They will be on the penny-in-the-slot principle. WAGES in the locomotive departments of the English and Welsh railway lines increased 5'2 per cent. during the last half year. and the cost of coal was augmented by 18'0 per cent. A WASHINGTON despatch states that the Russian Government is seeking to arrange a reciprocal com- mercial treaty with the United States. FOLLOWING the news of the poisoning of a number of valuable prize dogs at Norwich comes information that 19 head of cattle and a horse belonging to a farmer at Aylsham have died from the effects of arsenic. A WEALTHY lady of New Orleans, who is averse to handling soiled paper money, turns it over to her maid. She washes the bills gently in soapsuds, and then irons them until they are dry and crisp. UPWARDS of 100.000 pounds of snails are eaten every day by the residents of the gay French capital, the snail market being the busiest industrial mart in Paris. ANOTHER Balaclava hero has departed this life by the death of Sergeant John Lawson, late 11th Hussars, who lost his arm in the charge, and has been for many years past a pensioner at the Royal Hospital Chelsea. THE American Minister at Quito reports to Wash- ington that in the battle which put an end to the re- volutionary movement in Ecuador 600 men were killed and several hundred mortally wounded. THE Transvaal executive has authorised Dr. Leydf to appoint consuls at St. Petersburg, Washington, Rome, and Vienna, and also a dozen consular agents at various European ports. THE Sultan has just conferred the Insignia and Star of thp Osmanieh in Brilliants on Costaki Antho- poulo Pasha, the Ottoman Ambassador in London, as a token of high satisfaction. WITH the object of spreading the doctrines of the Orthodox Church in Central Asia the Government has, according to the Turkestan Messenger, caused a special church-car to be built for use on the Central Asiatic Railway. THE Ottoman Debt delegates have decided to main- tain for two years longer the existing arrangement by which the President of the Council of the Public Debt is alternately an Englishman or a Frenchman. REAR-ADMIRAL HIGGINSOK and Naval-Lieutenant Ward have both declined the promotion offered by the United States Government. The former says his service was not conspicuous enough to merit it. AN interesting White Paper has been published by the Qneen s Printers giving reports from ourAmbas- sadors and Consular officers abroad on the telephone services in the countries to which they are attached. MR. COCRTNICY maintains that the kindliest service we could have rendered Italy would have been to dis- suade her from further over-sea enterprises, con- BIDERINS the failure of her Abyssinian enterprise. AN explosion occured at Bourges, in France, at a shed in the Government arsenal while some workmen were engaged in charging a shell. Seven men were injured and the shed was destroyed. A LETTER from Count Tolstoi to a friend has been published in New York, in which the writer deniea the truth of the published story of a meeting between him and the Czar. I HERR HECTOR BALCTAZZI, who was well-known as a sportsman, both in Austria and in England, was attacked some days ago by influenza. He took morphia to soothe his pain, but the quantity was too great and he shortly after died. I A CORONER'S jury in a rural district of Georgia re- I turned the following verdict: "That the deceased came to his death by tryin' to light his pipe with an electric light, which can't be done successful." REPLYING to an interpellation in the Roumanian Chamber of Deputies on the position of the Rou- manian population in Macedonia, the Premier said that Roumania desired peace and the maintenance of the status quo in Turkey. GREAT interest is being taken in Harlem (U.S.A.) hospitals m the case of Mrs. Tirkington, whose neck was completely broken by a fall. The woman's head is kept in position by slings and a delicate system of balances. She is conscious end speaks easily. A DESPATCH from Raøtofi-the-Don states that-a collision occured on the Vlafe'kavkas line between two locomotives which had œn despatched with gangs of workmen to. clear tbe line of snowdrift*. I Five men were killed and 15 injured. MAJOR MAXSE, D.S.O., Coldstream Guards, baa beem promoted to the rank of Kaimakam (Lieutenant- Colonel) in the Egyptian Army, a.nd has been appointed to the command of the 13th Soudanese ( Regiment, quartered on the Sobat River. t GLASGOW charities will benefit to the extent of up- i wards of £,I)(),OOO bv the will of Mr. James Orr, of Harvieston Castle, N.B., and Blythswood, Glasgow. THE present year forms the centenary of the im- j position of the income-tax. It was started in 1799 it 2s. in the pound, and realised £6,000,000. year a tax one-third of that rate brought in i A CYCLB christening 18 reported from Belgium. The father took the infant to church on the machine. followed by other members of the party on thM Icl