Abergavenny Chronicle

► OUR LONDON LETTER. [From Our Special Correspondent.] That the session oT Parliament just begun is to be momentous is a matter upon which everybody is agreed. The Government and its supporters hope that before the session closes Home Rule and Welsh Disestablish- ment will have been disposed of, this being the third session since those measures came under the operation of the Parliament Act. Unionists, on the other hand, are hoping and believing that even at this hour some- thing will happen to prevent the Bills passing into law. As to what that something is to be there are only vague rumours, and one hears again and again with much persistence the rumour that the session will be broken by a general election. Anything may happen in political warfare, of course, but it may be taken as quite cer- tain that a general election forms no part of the Government's plans. One reason is that, even if Home Rule and Welsh Disestablish- ment should by that time be on the statute ibook, there will still remain the Plural ;Yoting Bill, which cannot pass the Com- mons for the third time until 1915. And the Government desire very heartily that the 'Plural Voting Bill shall become law. Minis- ters have again and again stated that there will be no general election till 1915, and there will be none unless the Opposition are able to force a dissolution. It may be that in one way the session will not bo so exciting as some time ago some people would have had us believe. It wae stated that the Opposition were going to bring the whole business of Parliament to a standstill by the simple device of shouting "Divide! divide!" and keeping it up. The word is, of course, one in ordinary Parlia- mentary use, and it w.is argued that while the Speaker could deal with one or two men who by continual reiteration of that or any other word prevented the progress of busi- ness, he could not possibly "name" a whole party. It certainly seemed as though there j were going to be some lively scenes in the House of Commons. The suggestion, l how- ever, has failed to commend itself to the party as a whole, and it is now stated that the "Divide! divide!" policy will not be re- sorted to at present. But there is much talk of other plots, and no doubt we shall soon see whether they amount to anything more than talk. There are already quite a number of .Women Suffrage organisations. There are the non-militants, the militants, and the rather militants. Everyone remembers the historic split, when Mr. and Mrs. Pethwick Laurence withdrew from the society in -which Mrs. Pankhurat and her daughters remained the moving spirits. "Are you a Peth or a Pank?" was how "Punch" hit off the position. It appears that there are now to be two sorts of Panks. Miss Sylvia and Miss Chriitabel do not think alike. 3&1--s Sylvia's views are not those of Miss Christabel. So Miss Sylvia's East-End movement, which ha-3 hitherto been a branch of the W.S.F.U., has now become a separate organisation, quite independent of that from which it sprang. Miss Sylvia Tankhurst says the change has been neces- sary because of the impossibility of a com- mon plan of campaign. There can be no piliar-box campaign in the East because people are very poor, but there can be a "no rent" strike, though such a thing would be impossible in any other part. We are told that the "no rent" strike is being ar- ranged. It has been suggested that one reason for the change is that the East-End movement is largely Socialist in sympathy, while the W.S.P.U. professes independence of all political parties. The church of St. Marv-le-Sirand, familiar to all visitors who pass along the famous street as one of the two churches that "stand in the middle of the Toad," is celebrating its two hundredth anniversary this month. The foundation-stone was laid on February 2-5, 1714. The church is the work of James Gibbs, a man from Aber- deen, a pupil of Wren. Its cost is said to have been about £ 32,000. It has had a rather uneventful history, but possesses one highly interesting association. Historians declare that it was in this church that the Young Pretender, bonnie Prince Charlie, formally renounced the Roman Catholic faith in favour of that of the Church of England. The congregations at St. Mary- le-Strand are rather scanty, for the parish has few residents. The pews are occupied on Sundays chiefly by hotel servants and visitors. The other church "in the middle of the road," St. Clement Danes, is more interesting. Dr. Johnson worshipped in it for many years, and his pew is marked by a brass plate. Boswell, going there with him on Good Friday, 1781, saw Johnscn'a old friend Edwards. "I think, sir," he said, "Dr. Johnson and you met only at church." "Sir," was the reply, "it is the best place we can meet, except heaven, and I hope we shall meet there too." Women's fashions have undergone some r remarkable changes during the last few years, and we have Bishops writing to the papers protesting that the way women dress is positively appalling. And now people are calmly discussing whether or not women shall wear trousers! These matters, as we have all been told over and over again, are settled in Paris. The despots over there isiue their decrees, telling the women of the civilised world what they are to wear, and the women get rid of last month's dress to the" wardrobe dealer" and get the new style. It is a very profitable game for the fashion experts. There are rival. potentates in the world of fashion. One of these-, a man, says women are to wear trousers, the other, a woman, says they shall not. Pro- bablv the woman, as usual, will get the last word; but in the meantime the illus- trated papers have already given us por- traits of ladies attired in. the new fashion, "wearin 'em" in fact. The "Panshanger Madonna," which has been bought by Mr. P. A. B. Widener for X140,000, is a small canvas, measuring only 23in. by 17in. Those who are curious in these matters and have good Leads for figures may amuse themselves by calculating exactly how much per square inch Mr. Widener has paid for it. The price paid for the picture is a record, so far as is known, at least, beating by a good slice Mr. Wi.dener's previous best, the kIOO,I)CO which he paid for Lord Lansdowne's Rembrant, "The Mill." Mr. Widener is the American "tramway king," and he has one of the finest collections of old masters in America. The Panshanger Madonna" is one of the finest Raphaels in existence. It was bought by the third Earl Cowper in Italv, and smuggled out of the country in the lininrr of his travelling carriage. On the death of Lady last year the picture was offered to the National Gallery for X-,0,000 but the offer wa3 not accepted. A. E. M.

George King, wno was under remand on a charge of stealing jewellery from a shop window, was discharged at North London Police-court. It ww stated at the first hearing that he was the victim of an East End vendetta, and t'flat false information had been given to tho police about him. "You cannot fall into the Thames nowadays unle-si you sit on the parapet and slide off," said Mr. Oddie at a Battersea inquest on an old man who was drowned. A doctor said he might have fainted and fallen into the water, but the verdict was "Suicide whilst tempor- arily insane."

A BLOUSE FOR FLAPPERS. I A blouse that would serve appropriately for business wear, as well as for affairs of a more social nature, is a thing the smart ftapper must always be on the look-out for, since in her case blouses of this kind are exceptionally useful. Now the smart little model I am illustrating here this week would make up well in about half a dozen different materials, and serve for almost ahy occasion. It is a very simple design. cut on the well-liked one-piece lines, and requiring only a seam under each. arm to put the whole together. As most materials are not wide enough to have the whole completely in one piece, a seam down the centre back may be found necessary. 1 [Refer to D. L. [Refer to D. L. No. 63.] To Cut Out.—Lay the pattern on the material according to the diagram. Mark round all edges and notches and through all perforations with tinted chalk. Remove the pattern and cut out exactly by the chalk lines, as all seams and turnings are allowed for. To Make.Join up the under seams by machine or hand, and fell or over-sew the edges and neaten iuside. A seam will be re- quired down the back if the sleeves are to be in one piece. Close this and finish as before. Face open the front edges; set on patent clips or hocks and eyes for fasten- ing. Hem a strip of material 31,iin. wide and It yards long, and pleat for front frill. The depth should be 3in. when finished. Make frills for sleeve-ends likewise; these are three-quarters of a yard long, and the same in width as the front frill. Finish the sleevc-ends and set in frills. Set the front frill in position under neatening band, and hem or face the collar, and fell it neatly against the neck. Finish the bottom edge, and adjust a tape to collect the full- ness round the waist. Sew on the button trimmings. Paper patterns can be supplied, price Gid. When ordering, please quote number, enclose remittance, and address to Miss Lisle, 8, La Belle Sauvage, London, E.C.

The death is announced at Geneva (Swit- zerland) at the age of eighty-one, of Sir George Phillippo, formerly Chief Justice at Hong-Kong and Gibraltar, and British Consul at Geneva. For giving secret State documents to the Austro-Hungarian Government, a Russian aon-commissioned officer in the reserves, named Jakowlew, has been sentenced to four years' pen«-l .servit>,J-\

To mend broken glass apply a little con. densed milk to either side and press firmly together. The white of a raw egg applied to a burn or scald will prevent inflammation, be sooth- ing and cooling, and relieve the stinging pain. When a fish-kettle is not available for boiling the fish, place an old plate at the bottom of the saucepan and tie the fish in a piece of muslin. 1 To. test mussels, add an onion when cook- ing them. Should the onion turn black, the mussels should not be eaten, as it is a sign that they are not good. If your oven will not brown your pastry I as well as you would like, put the cakes or tarts on the upper tray. and throw a little sugar on the floor of the oven. A. little bag of sulphur suspended in a bird-cage is not only healthy for the bird, but keeps away the parasites with which some birds are infested. To remove mildew from linen, first rub the spots with a piece of soap, then put on a layer of scraped chalk, hang up to bleach, and repeat process until the spots have dis- appeared. When a baking-dish gets burnt in the using it should not be scraped. Simply place a little water and ashes in it and the burnt surfaco will come off easily without injuring the dish. A good way to give stews a brown colour, without adding colouring, is to save the out- side of onions, and when washed add them to stow. and boil together. This will be found a much nicer way than adding brown- ing. After trimming a lamp, turn the wicks down. or else when lighted the lamp will be found to be covered with oil. When sticking labels to canisters, add a little honey to the flour and water paste, and then the paper will not peel off. When storing blankets wrap them in plenty of newspaper and lay slices of yellow soap in the. folds. Moths dislike soap and printers' ink. If icing is too soft and it will not thickcn by any amount of beating, add powdered sugar, beating all the time till the frosting is thick enough. When the curtains will not draw easily, remove rings and rub pole thoroughly with paraffin. Replace rings, and they will slip along quite smoothly. A cheap and effective floor stain may be made as follows: Mix Brunswick black with turpentine till the desired tone is ob- tained. This dries with a good gloss and polishes beautifully, and is cheaper and goes farther than varnish. To keep brass polished in damp weather, after polishing in the usual way coat with dear varnish, which can be bought for a couple of pence at any paint shop. When treated in this way the brass need not be cleaned more than once a year. ABOUT RABBITS. I Some people have an idea that rabbits are not wholesome to eat. This is quite incor- rect. They are very cheap and quite whole- some, provided they are prepared in the following way:—When the rabbit comes home from tho shop, you must always wash it thoroughly well, no matter whether it has been cleaned or not. Then put it to soak in a basin of cold water and salt for at least an hour. If you bear these points in mind, you need have no fear with regard to the rabbits you eat. TESTING THE MILK. I The knitting-needle test is the simplest way of finding out whether your milk is good. Use a very clean and bright steel needle, plunge it into the milk, withdraw it swiftly, and hold it in a slanting direction for several seconds. If the milk is good you will find that a large drop will gather "very slowly" at the end of the needle, and grow larger and larger before falling; while milk which has been watered will race rapidly down the smooth surface and imme- diately drop off. MAKING TH* STARCH LAST. I After using a bowl of starch do not throw away what remains of the mixture. Place it on one side, Pnd when the starch has settled pour off the clear water. Place the basin in the oven for a few minutes, and when it is taken out the starch will be found in a hard cake, which can be put &way ready for use another time. SOME USEFUL RECIPES. I JUGGED HARE.—This is mostly made with joints that are left from the roast. Cut them up into small pieces. Now fry a few slices of fat bacon in your stewpan. Take out the pieces of bacon and fry the joints of the hare in the fat which remains. Then pour away the fat, put back the joiuts with enough water to half cover them, and simmer them for one hour. Take out the joints and thicken the gravy as directed above: colour it if necessary with a little browning. Warm up the bacon and serve it in rolls to decorate the dish. ONION PICKI.E.—One quart of small onions, one good dessertspoonful of salt, one tablespoonful of whole white peppers, one quart of best white wine vinegar. For this pickle choose as small onions as can be pro- cured, and peel them. Dissolve the salt and white peppers in the vinegar, and bring the latter to the boil, removing the scum as it rises., Add the onions, cook for three or four minutes, or until they become clear, then put them into jars or bottles, and pour the liquid over them. MACARONI AND TOMATOES.—Quarter of a pound of macaroni, one onion, one clove, half a pound of tomatoes, two ounces of grated cheese, two tablespoonfuls of flour, one egg, i j four t?btespoonfuls of milk, salt and pepper. Boil the macaroni, breaking it into inch lengths, in salted water with the onion and clove added. Prepare a batter with the flour, egg, and milk. Cook the tomatoes for a few minutes without breaking them. Strain the macaroni and dip it in the batter and fry a golden brown. Arrange the tomatoes round a fire-proof dish, pile up the macaroni in the centre and sprinkle the cheese round the outer edge, and make all thoroughly hot when required. FISH PUDDING.—Half a pound of cooked fish, half a pint of milk, two eggs, pepper and salt. Butter a pudding-basin and sprinkle the sides with chopped parsley. Place the cooked fish in the basin, cover with the savoury custard made by mixing the beaten eggs and milk together, and Seasoning with salt and pepper. Cover with greased paper and steam for three-quarters of an hour. Tttrn out and serve immediately with white sauce.

Declaring, "I don't believe in God. I believe in Truth and Nature," a young Rus- sian Jewess refused to take the oath at Newcastle Police-court. Permission has been refused by the London County Council for a poster issued by the Central London Recruiting Depot to be posted on school walls. During a run with the Cheshire Hounds a fox, found at Occleston, ran to the railway and jumped from a viaduct, a distance of 40ft., and was not injured. Captain Cantrell, R.M.A., well known as a cricketer and footballer, is to be the surveyor to the British Antarctic Expedition which will leave London in August. It was reported in Staffordshire that quota- tions for iron tube strip material have been reduced to X6 15s. and £ 7, which compare with tS 10s. and XS 12s. last February.

MOTHER AND HOME. I —— b I The fact that a man or woman is ea&y tc live with does not indicate that he or s?e la in possession of all the virtues. Of course, j we know there are some people who are very hard to get along with who claim that the reason is that they are uncompromising in their principles. Folks do not get along with. them because they are too easy-going and slip-shod. But that explanation has very seldom seemed convincing. Not always, perhaps, but certainlv as a rule, it is an attempt to whitewash over a contemptible vice into the semblance of a respectable virtue. Unless you are a great exception to the rule, and the chances are that you < are not, you are hard to get along with, because you insist on having your own way, and give too little consideration to other people. Of course everyone should be un- yielding when it comes to a matter of prin- ciple, but there is a vast difference between standing up for principle and just standing up for having your own way. TINTING ROOMS. I When planning to retint a room remem- her that the main essential is that it must be in harmony with the predominating colours in the carpet and draperies you have for this particular room. The paler the rooms are tinted, the easier they will lend themselves to combination of colours in draperies and carpets. When in doubt you cannot go very far amiss if the tinting is quite pale. Contrasting colours have to be studied well. Those that may look well in one's dress do aot work out the same on the walls. QUALITY, NOT QUANTITY. A little thought in arrangement or the putting away of any piece of furniture, ornament, or picture that crowds up a home rather than helps in the comfort and appear- ance of it, would add greatly to that feeling of repose which one is conscious of imme- diately upon entering a well-arranged place. Wo are all so prone to use everything we have that we do not think how much better the place would look if we only had the courage to dispense with some favoured belongings which ill fit the place. These same superfluous articles might be used in another home where they would be more Stting and would add to the general appear- once. Wrongly placed, they ecua entirely mar a home. SKIPPING KEEPS You YOUNG, Skipping improves the circulation and helps to cure breathlessness. But only if the breathlessness comes from want of training. If you have a weak heart or lungs don't attempt this exercise. It develops the chest wonderfully, and also induces lightness and springiness, two qualities essential to good dancing. Whirl the arms as if skipping backwards, and at the same time spring and come down with crossed feet. If this is too work at first, try keeping the hands on the hips which springing till the exercise be- comes easy. MAKE THE MOST OF YOURSELF. Always take advantage of your good pointcs. The back of your neck is particu- larly pretty, perhaps; then arrange your hair high, so that the charmin g lines are not hidden. Your ears may bo dainty and shell- like do not hide them completely, even though ears may be out of style. A low knot may suit some and a high knot others. There Is no rule to tell just which belongs to an especial style. The best plan will be to spend an hour before your mirror and try the different arrangements. Pull out a lock here and fasten one close there, and do not forget to note the effect at back and sides as well as at the front. You will doubtless succeed in finding a pretty and becoming arrange- ment. I AN EXCELLENT BATH MIXTURE. Put in a large jug 2oz. of eea salt, add 1 pint of boiling water, and stir until dis- solved. When cold put in loz. of spirits of ammonia, loz. of spirits of camphor, and 4oz. of spirits of wine. After stirring, pour the mixture into a large bottle and shake thoroughly. Keep the bottle corked. Always shako before using. A small quantity added to a hot bath is strengthening, invigorating, and often sleep producing. HOW TO AVOID FATNESS. I Do you tend to get over-plump? Do you wish to keep yourself thin and yet avoid that look due to poor nourishment? Then you must try the new plan of taking no starchy foods, or, at least, reducing them as much as possible, at luncheon and at dinner. The ideal lunch devoid of starches consists of raisins and cheese eaten together. A glass of milk may be taken at this meal, but no bread or rolls, buns or biscuits. Carbohy- drates—that is, starchy foods—should be taken at breakfast and at tea, whilst the last meal of the day can be selected from eggs, fish, meat and fruit, potatoes and bread being rigidly restricted. Sugar, which is also a carbohydrate, must be reduced if you have a tendency to put on flesh, whilst, in addition to outdoor exercise, bending exercises should be practised twice daily as they provide internal massage, which has a very good effect in keeping oneself from get- ting too stout. AWAI WITH WRINKLES. I Most people are under the impression that wrinkles are caused by trouble, anxiety, and bad temper, but as a matter of fact most of them are produced by laughing. As with most other actions, there is a right way as well as a wrong way to laugh, and it is laughing with the sides of the face that works the skin loose and brings so many wrinkles. Different classes of men are dis- tinguished by their characteristic wrinkles. Those of the scholar, for instance, are formed on the brow, and those of a schemer show round the eyes like spokes of a wheel. MIDDLE AGE. I The following advice is not new, but it de- serves to be repeated and borne constantly in mind: "Resist the first inclination to stoop. Brace up whenever the shoulders settle in the least. To place oneself side- wise before a mirror and allow the back to curve forward, then gradually to, straighten it will convince anyone that, with every inch that is raised, ten years seem to be taken from the apparent age." Women adopt many and varied methods of holding on to a youthful figure, but this is by far the best, for it involves no deception or arti- ficiality. Some people are quite ,as attrac- tive in old age as they were in their youth, but it is not those who "let themselves go and sink into an appearance of having lost their interest in life. SUPERFLUOUS HAIR. I It is remarkable the number of women who suffer from unsightly growths of hair on the face. There is a simple substance known as powdered pheminol which will re- move it immediately and permanently. Mix a small quantity into a thin paste with a Ifttle water, and apply to the objection- able growtljs. In two minutes all trace of the hair will have entirely vanished, and your skin will be as soft and smooth as a child's. a STAINED TEETH. I Half a teaspconful of powdered pumice stone, one ounce of powdered charcoal, half an ounce of salt. Mix well together and moisten with a little lemon juice. Get a stiff tooth-brush and wash once a week. A tooth powder for everyday use is composed of chalk and orris root. A pinch of bicar- bonate of soda put into a glass of warm water in which the teeth are cleansed will help to prevent decay.

The Duke of Sutherland, who is staying at Naples, has been the victim of pick- pockets, who robbed him of a valuable watch and chain. As a thankofi'ering for the birth of a son, Prince Victor Napoleon has sent X240 to be distributed in the twenty arrondissements of Paris afllongst the poor families with newly born children. A telegram to the Paris "Figaro" states that a Japanese military mission has pur- chased fifty monoplanes in Germany. A Swiss military mission has arrived at Johan- nistlial with a similar object iu view.

OUR CHILDREN'S CORNER. I I UNCLII BY I UNCLK RALPH. I My DEAR CHILDREN,— I What fun you must have had with the story of Farmer Thorpe, who went to MARKET to buy some POULTRY, and who was returning when he met a TRAMP, who took from him ail his MONEY. Anyhow, I was greatly amused with some of the answers- the "TRAMP" seems to have been the biggest trouble. One member called him a BURGLAR and another a "P'E'RLOINER," whatever that is, but the little boy who called him a "GENTLEMAN" made me smile. Of course, no gentleman would do such a tiling as rob another of anything, however small. I am turning over in my mind the ques- tion of our having rules for joining the C.C.U., but I have not received verv many suggestions, although many have written to say that they like the idea. I have, there- fore, decided to offer SIX PRIZES for the best set of six rules suggested by any mem- ber. The prizes will consist of TWO of my famous Fountain Pens, with 14ct. gold nib, TWO Boxes of Fry's Chocolates, and TWO Pictorial Blotters. Please send in before February 26. All the rules must be neatly written on a sheet of paper. Letters, of course, may accompany the rules, but these must not be embodied in the letter. Sit down and think them out vow. With love from UNCLE RALPH. THK CHILDREN'S CORNER UNION. FOUNDED BY UNCLE RALPH. (Open to Boys and Girls under 15 years) Please enrol me as a Member of the C.C.U." My age is years. Nante Address Date When figned post to UNCLE RALPH, 8, LA BELLE SAUVAOE, LOSVON, E.C. ANSWERS TO LETTERS. 1 Gwladys Powell.—Yes, you are a member. You need not send another membership form. Lily Scott.—Glad to welcome ybu, We have quite a lot of members in your district. Do you know any? Edna Taylor.-nianl,-s for yours. When you are beyond our age I shall be pleased to make you an honorary member. Edith Agnes Mabel 'Burrows.—What a lot of names you have, Edith. Anyhow, I have found room for them in my big book. Robert E. La nsdell.-So pleased to hear all about your farm and your work. Ayeliffe Loveday.—Thanks for your letter. Edith Boneham.—Patience is rewarded, Edith. Many thanks for your letters. It is impossible for me to reply to all at once. There are so many of you nowadays, but I do my best. Ada Smith.—Delighted to hear that you were able to render such good service in time of need. Good deeds are never lost. LIST OF PRIZE WINNERS. I FIRST SEVEN PRIZES OF FOUNTAIN I PENS. Elsie Lewis, Harry Fry, Ethel Grange, Edward Brown. Cyril G. Sharpe, Lily Webb, and Henry Broughton. SEVEN PRIZES OF BOXES OF FRY'S I CHOCOLATES. Maud Johnson, Mary Taylor, H. Chad- wick, Reggie Dean, Florence Bennett, N aucy Wolle, and M. Allen. PICTORIAL BLOTTERS. I Eva Savegar, R. Elliott, Florence Wilde, Edna Taylor, R. Cook, Mabel Cutting, Hilda Goodhand, Beatrice Wrenn, Reginald Childs, Jack McKaig, Frank E. Edwards, Nora May, Neilie Hitehen, Norah Kent, Reggie Hazlewood, and John Winter Tallen- tire. UNCLE RALPH'S PICTURE 6. STORY I COMPETITION.—No. 6. This competition closes February 18th. Twenty prizes will be awarded for the best solutions. All von have to do is to write on the line underneath each picture the word which you consider best fits the story. You can send as many solutions as you like. Ad- dress to UNCLE RALPH, 8, La Belle Sauvage, London, E.C. Timothy Topple went for a I And tried to race a I I Coming, however, to an awkward I I He met with a bad I

The International Commission in Albania has confirmed the sentences passed by the court-martial on the Turkish officers incul- pated in the recent raid, but has suspended the carrying out of the sentences until the arrival of the new ruler. For the murder of Amelia Bradfield, wife of a fellow naval stoker, at Plymouth, James Honeyands was sentenced to death at Devon Assizes.

MOTORS & MOTORING n J, T, WARD. I CAR TAXATION LICENCES. Just now it will be wise for the owner driver of a car, cycle-car, or motor-cycle to go to the nearest general post-office, fill up the necessary form, and pay the necessary amount of his vehicle taxation licence for the year, if he has not already done so. I Bnd much misconception exists on the part of owners of motors on this point. Some imagine that so long as they have not used the vehicle, or do not use it regularly, they are exempt from the tax. This is entirely wrong. The vehicle's possession is quite sufficient, and its keeper is liable for the full year's tax whether in use or not. I have had to pay a full year's tax on motor- cycles which were merely loaned to me for trial purposes for a month or so. If you own, or are in possession and use of a motor, you must pay the tax. You become liable for the full year's tax twenty-one days from the date of obtaining possession, no matter what time of the year it may be. unless it is after the first of October in any one year, when the possessor is let off by paying half the yearly taxation or licence charge. All motor taxation licences expire at December 31 each year, and must be re- newed within twenty-one days from Janu- ary 1. That is to say, those who owned or were in possession of a motor vehicle last year, and have kept same, should have paid the tax on or before January 21 last, or they are liable under the Motor-car Act to a fine of £ 20. The police authorities, how- ever, do not seem to trouble owners until Easter time, when the numbers of every motor vehicle seen travelling along the roads are taken and checked with the In- land Revenue returns of those who have taken out licences and paid for same, and woe betide those who are found to be de- faulters. THE EASTERTIDE CHECK. Good Friday this year falls on the 10th of April, and we are thus within eight weeks of the time when the police will check every motor-vehicle seen on the roads with the Inland Revenue returns of those who have paid car or motor-cycle taxation licence fees. The owners of vehicles will therefore do well to pay beforehand to save trouble, or a notice will follow, or possibly a visit from the local police inspector. The system of check is so complete that brand new vehicles, and new or current registration numbers, are taken full account of, and checked with the dates of registration- that is when the registration number was obtained-a." well as the Inland Revenue re- turns of car payments, and are watched carefully afterwards as to when the tax is paid. it will thus be seen there is no es- caping the tax, and personally I have found that each year the espionage becomes more keen, and the system of check more com- plete. THE TAXES PAYABLE. For the information of novices or poten- tial motorists it may be well to give the particulars of motor taxation lieences&.pay- able. The annual tax for a motor-brcycle or motor-tricycle is .£1 annually. It is the same whether the motor-bicycle has a side- car attached, or is ridden solo. This is so long as only two or three road wheels are employed. Thus a three-wheeled cycle-car comes under the motor-cycle heading, and is only liable to a tax of £ 1 annually. But all motors with four road wheels are taxed as motor-cars, and are subject to the follow- ing: Not exceeding 6J h.-p., E2 2s. over 6} and under 12 h.-p., £3 3s. over 12 and not exceeding 16 h.-p., X4 4s. over 16 and not exceeding 26 h.-p., £6 6s. over 26 and not exceeding 33 h.-p., Y,8 8s. not ex- ceeding 40 h.-p., .£10 10s. over 40 and under 60 h.-p., .£21; exceeding 60 h.-p., .£42. Miniature cars (four-wheelers) come under the heading of full-sized cars, and are liable to the same taxes as above. THE SELF-STARTING CAR. Probably never since the advent of thf motor-car has a new idea or novel feature sc "caught on" with the motoring public, 01 the potential owner of a car, as the self- starter. The old idea of having to go to the front of a car and laboriously crank the engirw axle round to start the car engine was always a nuisance and "infra dig" to the owner-driver of a high-class car par- ticularly, especially more so when a drivei stops his engine accidentlly by "throttling down" too much, or from any other cause, and has to get out (usually scrambling ovez his lady passenger in the process) to re-start it. In muddy weather one usually gets one's hands and coat tails covered with mud iD starting the engine, for the starting handle is generally covered with mud, and one ha to stoop down and drag ono's m-,t tails in the mud. Hence the self-starting engine is doubly welcome. Of course, we have had self-starting engines for years past, usually by some method of pumping and storing up compressed air for the purpose, but these systems never were reliable, were looked at askance, and the advantages were con- sidered doubtful. But the introduction of the self-starting dynamo has altered everything. One can get in the car, switch on, and depress a foot pedal and the engine chankshaft revolves at once, and is bound to start under its own power. There is no doubt about it. It is a positive action, once everything is correctly fitted, and is just as reliable as the modern magneto. THE TALK OF THE TRADE—AND COST. Nothing is now oonsidered by the trade so much as the self-starting engine (the electric lighting of a car is now fairly general), and for next year the car maker who has not adopted it, will find himself hopelessly left in the rear, for competition is keen. It is rather disconcerting for a car owner to read in the papers that his car without a self-starting engine is out-of-date. But so it is, judging by the way matters are tending, and it will be much worse a year hence, for cars without self-starters will depreciate hugely on the open market. Every maker to-day is studying how to make his particular engine self-starting— those who have not yet adopted the idea. With some engines a self-starting dynamo can be easily fitted with a few structural alterations; with others it is no easy matter. One thing is certain, an engine should be specially designed to accommo- date the dynamo and house it properly before the best results can be obtained, for rigidity and perfect fitting is essential. The cost of the plant installation is a big point. The cheapest I have yet heard of is twenty- five guineas, which is one that can be fitted to existing "Ford" cars, but I gather from the instructions issued with it that the work of fitting would occupy two men a couple of days or so, and the car would re- quire almost taking to pieces to do it. Others which can be fitted to existing cars cost from £ 40 to ^60 or over, so it seems clear that self-starting cars will be put up in price over those of ordinary types. As the demand for self-starting dynamos in. creases, however, and as they reach greater perfection in manufacture, we may yet see them much cheaper. An instance of what may occur in this respect is afforded by the magneto. When magnetos were first talked of, for car ignition purposes, the cheapest was about .£12; to-day the cheapest mag- neto of a far more efficient and reliable character is about .£4, AMERICA SOLID ON SELF-STARTERS The Americans have gone solid for self- The Americans have gone solid for self- starting engines. This is proved by the fact that at the New York motor show held in December last no less than eighty-seven per cent, of the cars on view were fitted with en i'le self-starters, and had electrically Klig i t,,d lamps and interiors in addition. Nearly all the American cars at over £ 200, which are now coming over here of 1914 pattern, have self-starting engines, besides other remarkably advanced ideas. Our manufacturers must now follow suit, or go one better. Anyway, the self-starting engine has come to stay. There is little doubt of that, and buyers of cars, one and all will do weil to note the fact.

A witness who failed to attend on a sub- poena in the Shoreditch County-court was need £5 by Judge Cluer. Holland will- probbly be represented by a warship at the opening of the Panama Canal. Four prisoners charged at London Sessions ibore respectively the names of Beetles, Worms, Ham, and Lamb.