Abergavenny Chronicle

r OUR LONBOM LETTER. I ,? '1 -— < (From Our igpecial Correopmagnt I I There is a great deal of discussion where- ever business men most -do con.grega.te about the after-the-war attitude towards German trade. It is assumed by quite a number of people thai, the whole question will be t-ett!cd at the foriihcomnig conference in Paris, and that a dt-tinite line of trade policy for ourselves and our Allies is to be determined upon. This, however, is a mis- take. Our representatives, Lord Crewe has now stated, will attend the conference with- out any instructions, except tlie general in- structions to keep open eyes and open mind. and to assist as far a., possible in exploring the subjects brought before the conference. The conference is, in fact. to be held for the purpose of considering the whole matter, and the representatives will return without having committed the Government to a'.iy detinite course of action. However dis- appoiming this announcement may be to those who had expected some hard and fast policy to be framed and adopted at once, it may easily be seen that no decision is pca- sibl'e at present. From a statement issued by the National W, Savings Committee it seems that the small investor is not doing so badly in the way of helping to nuance the war. During a fortnight 5;3,000 applications were made for bonda at the various post oinces in the kingdom, and the total number of applica- tions already received is about half a mil- lion, the purchase money amounting to .tl6,600,000. These are the Exchequer Bonds, -which are not issued for lower amounts than five pounds. More easily available to the general body of working people are the War :avings Certificates-£1 for 15s. 6d. For these no less than 55:3,305 applications were received in a fortnight, and altogether the applications number already something like two millions. The small investor is doing his bit, but he can certainly do better still if he tries. Managers of theatres mean to make their patrons pay the tax. There is nothing un- nsual in such an attitude; taxes are things that most people would" paso on" if they could. In this case, moreover, it is clearly just that the patrons should pay. The in- tention is not to tax theatrical managers or proprietors or players, but playgoers, the people who have money to spend on amuse- ments. Probably the tax will not much affect the prosperity of the theatres, for theatre-goers will not deprive themselves of a:i evening's entertainment for the sake of a few pence extra which is to be spent in the rational cause. The problem of the collec- tion of the tax offers some dimculties, which 'will, however, doubtless be settled amicably between Mr. McKenna and the thea.triaal managers. H Your classical type of absentee land- lord," was Mr. Balfour's reference to the late Lord Clanricarde on one occasion. That remarkable man, certainly the best hated Irish landlord of his time, was said never to have visited his property in Ireland since the death of his father in 1874. For many years hard things were said about him by members of all parties. Disagree as they might about Ireland and the Irish question, they were all of one mind about this absentee who delegated his responsibilities to agents and resisted to the last any attempt to interfere with what he considered h; rights. The Congested Districts Board b,Iit his Galway acres at last for .S2J3.000. and Lord Clanricarde, in London, went on buying pictures and old china, as though nothing else in life was worth a moment's thought to a man of taste. He Ii 2d almost the life of a miser. For forty 'voars he was a resident iu the Albany, and his personal expenses must have been insig- nificant. He M (stated only to have had a cab once a vear, when leaving town for his sr.:nmer holiday. Pictures and china were h. only extravagances, and he was such an excellent judge of art that his treasures arc probably worth a good deal more than they cost him. News of happenings in enemy countries is very carefully censored before it is allowed to reach the German people. Mr. McKenna's speech in introducing the Budget was sub- jected to very drastic treatment before being finally published in the German newspapers. It was too striking a proof of the financial stability of the British Empire, and the abiUty of its citixens to bear even heavier burdens to be aUowe 4 full publication in Germany. The German authorities took care. to v cut out among others that part of the speech which stated that the financial provision of the year would cover interest and sinking fund on all our War Loans, be- sides providing a substantial margin to- wards current expenses. To publish that fact in Germany would be to condemn by con- tract German financial methods; for the finance Minister in Berlin can only raise a fraction of the War Loan interest he re- quires. If Mr. McKenna's statement were published in Germany the nnsoundness of Dr. Heincrich's policy would be evident. So the censor was set to work, and the German people, on this point as on many others con- nected with the war, know only what the German Government wishes them to know. I wonder whether the appeals of the War Savings Committk'è'to women on the subject of dress have had much enect. I rather dc.ubt it. In the West-End the women seem to be as well and as expensively dressed aa ever. To the eye ul one who does not pre- tend to be an expert, it appears that all of them are wearing new clothes. Certainly none look conspicuously out of the fashion. Perhaps the ladies have acted upon the omcial recommendation to those who must buy a new dress, to get one suitable for all occasions; and perhaps they dine in the drcases in which they walk in the park. But I doubt it. There was an interesting para- graph in the papers the other day which bhows how they deal in Germany just now -with women who are extravagant in matters of dress. The police of Munich have power of arrest in such cases, and one lady whose taste did not please the authorities was de- tained at the police headquarters for some hours, and then told to go home and to wear simpler clothes in future. If the police in the West-End had instructions to arrest evejv woman who is expensively dressed thcv would be kept pretty busy. A E. M I

ATTACK ON MILITARY CAR. I The Chief Constable of a North-East town iiii, called the attention of the Watch Com- mitte<- to an attack made by the public on a military motor-car. The car was employed on Trn'ent military daty, and had to pass through darkled streets. Jt had bright lights which it was authorised to carry. A crowd sur- rot'nded the car and smashed the lamps, and a 6-oldier, the driver, was dragged from his seat and had to be rescued by the police. The committee felt that the public had 8.tt'd with the be-t intentions, but the control oi tramc' must be left to the authorities.

When the ca&A of Alfred Jukes Alien was reached at the Central Criminal Court it was stated that since the beginning of the proceeding's his body had been found in the &ca. oif the Devonshire coa.st. The Central Contra Board h&s made a order in 'wuich it ? provided that no spirits to be consumed off the premisea !<ha.U be sold or supplied in any licensed pre- mises or club in Loodoa on Good Friday.

 THE TRIBUNALS, i SECRET INGREDIENTS OF JEWISH BREAD. Before the London City Local Tribunal on Monday a firm of Jewish bakers applied for the total exemption of a baker, who was claimed to be indispensable on the ground that he was the only man in the nrm who knew the secret ingredients used in the baking of Jewish bread. The Chairman (Sir T. Yezey Strong): But the prescription must be known to certain people—the Rabbi, for instance? The secretary of the firm said that they had lost the only other man who knew the in- gredients, and he was sorry to Ray he could not undertake the work himself. The Chairman: If I were the secretary of a company my nrst duty woutd be to try to find out all the secret-s of the business. Six weeks' postponement granted, the Chair- man remarking that that would get them over the Jewish Passover a,nd give the firm an opportunity to find a substitute. APPEAL FOR FOURTH SON. An elderly woman, with three sons already serving, asked the London Appeals Tribunal for the release of a fourth son, who was called to the colours after an unsuccessful applica- tion to the Bermondsey Tribunal. She said her son wrote to her asking her to get him oS, as he would rather be &t home looking after her. The chairman (Mr. W. H. Stoker) said it was a question whethera mother could make an appeal for a. son, who might be perfectly willing to serve. On the other hand, the mother, as the person aggrieved by the de- cision, might be entitled to appe-il. The military representative said he would not object to the latter view, as it was much more important that they should avoid any appearance of hardship than that they should stand on their strict rights. The case was adjourned. IRISH NATIONALIST'S OBJECTION. An Irishman named Macarthy, who appeared before the London City Appeal Military Ser- vice Tribunal on Monday, said that as an Irish Nationalist he refused to volunteer for service in the English Army until Ireland had the right of self-government. He had consistently. since he left school, done his best to forward the Iri=h cause in a political manner, and until Ireland had the Home Rule Bill in operation- not merely on the Statute Book-he could not conscientiously serve. He thought that was aí1 good a conscientious objection as any other. The appeal was dismissed. IN ENGLAND FOR EDUCATION. Claiming exemption at the same Court on t'i,(- ground that he was residing in Great Britain for the purpose only of his education another young Irishman admitted having lived here since UU1. He said he took up a clerk- ship in the L.C.C. Education Offices, and at ouce began to study for the London University Arts Decree. He had sat for three examina- tions, and was now reading for the inter- mediate arts. his intention being as soon as he gained his C.A. degree to return to Ireland and become a teacher, with the object of qualifying for an inspectorship. The Chairman: Our view is that you are not an exception within the schedule, and that therefore you must do military service. Leave to appeal was allowed. A similar ruling was given in the case of the appellant's brother, who advanced like reasons. THE FARM LABOUR PROBLEM. I Sir James Reckitt. who attended the Hull Area appeal Tribunal on Monday, after listen- ing to several farmers' appeals, said be had received a letter stating that Lord Middle- ton's agent had had five or six farms thrown on his hands because labour was unobtainable. This was an example of what was happening throughout the country. The chairman (Dr. Woodhouse) said they were alive to the danger, and had varied a great many decisions. A representative of the Board of Agriculture was with them, and would see that the land was not starved of labour. Sir James Reckitt observed that, in addition to nghtincr, we had to keep going at home. He saw that even Lord Derby was now coming round to the importance of the point raised. and* he thanked the Tribunal for permitting him to express those views.

A TERRIBLE STORY. I BRITISS MARINE KILLED BY GERMAN I NEGLECT. The terrible story of Private A. C. Tully, of the Royal Marines, who was a fourteen-stone man when taken prisoner by the Germans and weighed only five stone when he died, aroused indignation in the House of Commons. Mr. Herbert Samuel said it appeared from Tully's statements that he was confined in the camp at Doberitz and that after working in the wet he had no means of drying hi.s clothes and could get no underclothes. In July 1915 he got rheumatic fever through going on daily fatigue duty, getting wet through and having no change. He was sent to hospital, and after five weeks was con- valescent and was sent to another camp called Dyrotz, about four miles from Doberitz. He had to carry all his kit on the march and broke down. He was never well after that. A little later he wa& put into hospital ab Doberitz, where he had no treatment at aU and had to depend on an English prisoner, one of the patients. They had no drugs. When he arrived in this country he was in an ad- vanced stage of consumption and extremely emaciated. He died in hospital a fortnight after his arrival. The Medical Board, who jeported on his condition, stated that it was due to exposure and insumcient food and clothing while a prisoner in Germany. Tully stated that the conditions in the camp had much improved before he left it, and other reports confirm this. This improvement eeems to have resulted from the efforts of the American Ambassador. There was no record of any other prisoners of war released from Doberitz Camp having died c-Ince their return to this country. 0 ————— 0 —————

SOLDIER KILLED BY MOTOR. I A motor accident, which caused the death of Private Patrick Carroll. Manchester Regiment, who was thrown out of the car, and seriously wounded seven others, was investigated at Bramshot The motor was passing a company of the Middlesex Regiment, when, according to the driver's statement, something happened to make the car stop suddenly. The driver was thrown through the wind screen, and the car in swerving knocked down the iiMt sections of fours of the Middlesex Regiment, with the officers leading them. Among the latter was Captain Harold Ward, son of Colonel John Ward, M.P., commanding the company. The dead man was one of four thrown out of the car, and he was taken to Bramshot, where he died next day. The jury returned a ver- dict of "Accidental death."

"OLD BLIGHTY." It is common knowledgi- that our. soldiers invariably refer to England, more especially wh.n the.v are abroad, as "Blighty."or "Old BHghty." yet very few people, inclu- ding th& soldier him.setf, know where the word camp from. An Indian soldier first ctig- g'e9ted a. key to the mystery by remarking that it resembled a word used in Bengal and the Punjaub for home," and further inves- tigation proved that the origin of the term i« the Hindustani word "betah," meaning "foreign." "Belat" means a foreign country. but in India haa come to mean Great Britain, although the correct word for Eng- !and i. "Anprrpz." Thp Hindu speaks of soda-water as "for(igR" water-"hdati pani." It would seem, therefore, that our soldiers have picked up the word "belati" from the Indian Contingent in France, and converted it into "BUghty."

Excellent progress is reported from Quebec in respect of the movement for teaching the art of toymaking to wounded soldierci. The models have been secured from the Lord Roberts' Memorial workshops in London. War economies in this country have fo reduced the demand for egga that they are now cheaper in the United States, whence a large proportion of our supplier was drawn, th:\u bus b?T3 tlie case for many yeara.

I PRINCESS FINED. I — ? — I REMARKABLE STATEMENTS IN A. I CHARGE AT PLYMOUTH. Princess Adolphe de Wrede, a naturalised French lady, said to be a well-known mem- ber of English and French society, was fined .65 at Plymouth for failing to register. The princess was staying at the Gr:md Hotel, aud pleaded ignorance. Colonel W. P. Drury, of the Army In- telligence Department, said the case was regarded as more than a technical offence. This lady's name, he said, appeared in the Debrett of Germany and Austria. It was there stated that she was born in Austria- Hungary, <tnd was married in Vienna. This marriage being annulled, she married Prince de Wrede of Bavaria, and some time after- wards this marriage also was annulled. Therefore, in spite of naturalisation she was by birth and by marriage doubly of enemy alJAIl origin. She possessed an estate and chateau in north-east France, continued the colonel. It was known that during the advance of the German invaders they seemed to have taken scrupulous care not to damage the property of the Princess. Also in the course of examining her papers he came upon a scrap on which was scribbled by a German omcer the following message: "Princess Wrede.— Found in your house during our very short stay in this place a very friendly reception. We were able to appease our hunger. I am glad at last to have found a German house. —I remain very gratefully yours, Enritz von der Tann. Lieut." "The Princess, however, was not in France at that time." added the Colonel. Defendant's solicitor described Colonel Drnry's disclosures as "all moonshine," and said the Princess was visiting the South Coa-st for pleasure. After the fine had been innicted the Princess gave .E20 "for the poor of Plymouth."

I THE WITTENBERG HORROR. I I U.S. REPRESENTATIVES REFUSED I ADMISSION. Sir E. Grey, replying to questions by Mr. Gilbert, stated that, according to a state- 'nent bv the Prussian Minister for War, here were in Germany twenty-five campa tor British omeer prisoners, forty-six for rank and nie, and forty-two lazarettos. There were about 700 British prisoners in the Wittenberg and outlying camps. Whenever a complaint is received, the United States Ambassador in Berlin is asked ,i,o send an omcer to make inquiries. In the Wittenberg case during the period covered by Mr. Justice Younger's report, the autho- rities refund permission to the United States Embassy to visit the camp on the ground of danger of infection. The staff of the U.S. Embassy at Berlin had been increased by :our medical men to permit of more frequent mspection of the camps. In reply to a question by Mr. Malcolm, Lord Robert Cecil stated in the House of Commons on Monday that the Germans per- mii.ted no kind of communication, either by letter or orally, as to the condition of Wit- t-eii!-wrg during the months when fever was rampant, and the Government had no sus- picion of the horrors that were going on tht're or of the gross and criminal cowardice I of the German medical staff in abandoning their duties to those under their charge. "Neither our Allies, whose prisoners in the camp were far more numerous than ours nor w'e demanded independent medical examination of the camp. and on behalf of the Government I can only express profound regret that we so under-estimated the ¡ brutality of our enemies. "It is only right to say that we have no reason to suppose that other typhus infected j c.iniT)c, in Germany were treated in the same way." t

BRITISH BOOTS FOR RUSSIA. I After prolonged negotiations with tha Russian Government, arrangemento have ).)een completed for the execution in Great Britain of the largest order ever placed for Army boots (says the "Daily Telegraph"). The only other country in which such a huge contract for boots could have been dealt with is America, and at one time it was thought that the Russian order—or a portion of it—might be placed in the United States. But, in spite of the facilities which America possesses for producing boots in immense quantities, the whole of the Rus- sian contract is being given out, through our War Omce, to British manufacturer's. The first portion of the order, consisting' of 3,000,000 pairs of ankle boots, similar to those worn by British soldiers, is to be delivered by the end of June, to be followed later by the delivery of a further 3,000,000 pairs together with the same quantity of high-legged boots-known as "Cossacks"— for the Russian cavalry. In addition to issuing a complete specin- cation setting out in detail the class of leather to be uaed in the boots and the method of manufacture, the department con- trolling the contracts is entering into arrangements with boot manufacturers pro- ducing the boots, under which the pronts of the latter are to be strictly limited, and similar conditions are being imposed upon the tanners and leather merchants who supply the necessary leather. While the placing in this country of this huge Russian order is a tribute to the hard- wearing qualities of the British Army boot, and a testimony to the merits of British leather, it is feared that its execution will seriously affect for some months the sup- plies of many classes of footwear usually worn by the civilian population. For until Russia's needs have been filled, some hun- dreds of British boot manufacturers will not be permitted to produce boots of any kind for ordinary wearers.

GLASGOW STRIKERS FINED. I A large number of Beardmore's munition tvorkers were summoned at Glasgow on Thursday for striking work recently because f1 delegate named Kirkwood, sirce deported, was refused permission to visit the depart- ments in which there was dilution of labour. Two shop stewards who said they thought the strike was justified were each "fined <E25, the highest penalty yet imposed on the Clyde. An American engineer was also charged. Me said if the men disapproved of the law they were justified in breaking it. He was fined JE20, upon which he said: "I will see the American Ambassador about this." The net result of the trial was that two men were fined ;E25 each, one man fined .E20, thirty-two men 6ned £5 each, a total of Y-230 m fines. In a number of cases the charges were withdrawn.

CANNOT STAND TOOTHACHE. I It is not eaay to telt when an elephant haa got toothache, but it is best to keep out of his way when you do know it. A surgeon, who has been for many years in India, saya he would sooner risk a railway accident than meet an elephant with a toothache. A tooth- ache affects an elephant in a more severe manner than it does any other animal. Ele- phants have very sensitive nerves, and <t touch of toothache often brings on madnesa. Providing you are able to chain down an elephant and draw out the offending tooth, the blllte is certain to be anectioimte to you afterwards. Here is an instance: An ele- phant in Bengal became affected with tooth- ache, but the keepers managed t<J.. secure it while a. dentist did his be.t to <draw the offending tooth. After a time the animal seemed to understand that the dentist was trying to do something for his pain, and he gave every evidence of appreciating the attention. When the operation was over he tried to caress the reliever of his pain, and ever aft/erwards showed signs of apprecia- tion. t

Advocating larger accommodation for the working classes at the National Housing and Town. Planning Congress at Westminster, Councillor Tcm Myeia, of Dewebury, de- clared that the greatest asset to the public- house, the club, the picture palace, and the promenade wa.g the home of one liviÐg room. It has been ascertained from statistics compiled for the purpose of local history that mare than 21,000 trees fell within a twenty-mile radius of Hitchin during tho atorm ol M&rch 38.

WHEN YOUR CHEST GURGLES. A doctor hears some curious noises when he placea the stethoscope against, your chest to test you. When the lungs are healthy, a pleasant breezy sound, soft in tone, is heard as the breath is drawn in and ex- pelled. If the stethoscope conveys to his ear a gurgling or bubbling sound, the doctor know.T that you are in what is known as the moist stage of bronchitis. In the dry stage of the same complaint the sound is a whistling, wheezy one. One of the signs of pneumonia, is the eoft crackling note that comes through the stethoscope. It is not unlike the sound that can be heard when your finger and thumb have touched a sticky substance, and you nrst place them together and then part them, holding them cloae to your ear. Doctors occasionally hear a. dripping sound, and that tells them that a!r and water have got into some part of the ch?6t where they have no right.

By using two motor machine-swpepera Lambeth Council has been able to scrap thirty horned-brooms, and in six months to effect a saving of .6827. A warehouseman at Selby was buried alive by accidentally falling into al.biii ,of jiuseed. The coroner's jury returned &ver- dict ot "Sunocated 'by li,ns.ed." "1

I OTHER MEN'S MINDS, in a wir like this, nothing can hastd but war.—RiGHT Hox. J. M. RoBE&T. bON, M.P. I FAIR-MINDED PEOPLE. Englishmen aTe fair-minded people, and ar<' accustomed to deal with things to &oma .t'llt, at least, according to the law of evidence.—Ms. AsQUiTH. I OUR DUTY NOW. It is our duty now to cultivate every acre I of land, and see that England is fed as far -n possible from her own boil.—Ma. ROBERT YEP.BURGH. I I DEPARTMENTAL v. NATIONAL. The curse of all Government departments ia that of being departmental instead of b.cing national. LoRD MOXTAGLJ o? BEAULIEU. I FALSE IDEALS. There is a good pacifism and a bad. There is a good militarism and a bad. Britain before the war was deeply wounded by bad pacifism, whose ideal is the undisturbed en- joyment of the good things of lif, Ger- many remains the victim of bad militarism, whose ideal is the domination of force. Both ideals are false and poÎoonou.PROFESSOB L. P. JACKS. I REASON MUST RULE. It Is not wise, however legitimate indigna- tion may be, to allow passion t-o overcome reason.—ViscouNT BRYCE. I A COUNTRY LIFE. I hope that in the future our children will be taught not that agriculture is an in- dustry of letM account than the great indus- tries of the towns, but that it M one on which the whole foundation of the pro- sperity of the country resti; that they will be taught to understand the honour and beauty and glory of the country life.—EAEL OF SELBORXH. ) THE BURDEN-BEARERS. j The problems of peace are likely to be conplicated and fraught with no ic-s danger than those of v.'ar. A heavy strain will be placed upon fortitude and f'lith, which will be felt by the next genNa- tion. There is need to strain every nerve to educate the children to h.'ar the burden this ¡:"Il\:ration has placed upon their .shoulders. —BiSHOr FRODSHAM. I DEMOCRACY AND FRKEDOM. Unk" a democrat is prepared to d<?fen<i is Stut<' how call hI.' secur,' ;L freødom¡: iHE PRUIE MINISTER OF AUSTRALIA. I AN IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. I Ofcourae?Icanepeak ior myself only; Lutitit-.myhopethatasthpdirectre?nttof! ?. lie great war may come t?ie creation of an! imperial Parliament in which every one of the Dominions will have its iuM share of )ep",pntatioll. allotted in accordance with population and resources, and its corre- t-ponding voice in the government of the Empire.—MR. BoNAR LAW. A MISCALCULATION. l You cannot dispute that tho-ac capitalist circles which a.re not directly interested in the war as a business have long &ince come round to the view that the war had been a miscalculation. Only hopeIejM fools and un- t-crupulouts adventurers cnn stiit aspire to world domination.—HERR IlAASE (in the Reichstag). NO PARTY. Till this war is brought to a victorious c-nd I am confident that the couTitry will ii€ver permit a return to the old party divi- sions but will insist that the national aims and the national energies should be directed by a national Government.—THE SrEAKKs. FIGHTING FOR HUMANITY. The Allies find themselves supported by the knowledge that they are fighting, not '.)r gain, not for .ambition, but for the senti- ment of humanity—a. great ideal, which in the end will prove a more potent force tha-n that lower and ignoble sentiment of mate- rial gain and brute power.—M. GEORGES LEYGUEs. IN THE DENTIST'S CHAIR. It is always unpleasant to have a, tooth drawn, but if it has to be don3 it is best to have it done by a gentleman who com- bines a pleasant manner with a firm grip on the tooth.—MB. A. STANLEY, M.P. WORK FOR ALL. Let no man imagine that there is not urgent need of all he can bring. To-day our country ha"! need of the best that is in all of us. The end is not yet, and in fta shaping each must ptay his part.—DR. MACNAMARA, M.P. I THE GERMAN WAY. 1 The fact is that Germany has combined commercial expansion with political intrigue with an audacity-and, one mu<st add, with success—which, so far as I kn,w, has no parallel whatevor in the past.—MARQuis OF CREWE. A WARNING. I say here and now, and with a full sense of responsibility, that if the political truce is to be broken in the interests of one set of politicians, if the unity of the nation is to be broken to satisfy certain individuals, then sp far as I am concerned, and so far as the railway mMi are concerned, we shall see to it that there M no further need for the industrial truce. In other words, we are not going to stand by and allow theee people to trample under foot every liberty that the working ctas<-es enjov.—MR. J. H. THOMAS, t M.P. I IN THE NEXT WAR. In thp next war the blow .-irl be struck by bombs from a<Top)anes nyicg' .it the rate of :300 mil-2s an hour. which means that if negotiations between two countries are broken off at midnight it will be possible for our principal cities, or those of the enemy, to be laid waste by one o.clock.-MR. PEM' BERTON BILLING, M.P. I GERMANY AFTER THE WAR. Will Germany be anything like as for- midable for commercial or warlike purposes at the end of the war as she has been at the beginning? According to all the financial authorities, she will have lost all her capi- tal, and it is riipl)oced that tho only thing she will have is a certain amount of raw material which she has accumulated in foreign countries.—ViscouNT BRYCE. I THE CHILD AND THE PENNY. I am informed that in a large number (of families it is the custom to present a smalt child with a penny weekly for pocket money. If the child can go to a cinema it will do so, but if it has to nnd three-haifpenee to go to a cinema, and it has not three-halfpence, it will go round the corner and buy sweets. and then there will be complaint of {he rise r-f the price of sugar.—Ms. E. S. MMfTAQO, M.P.

Patrick Keiran was sentenced to two months' imprisonment in the second divi- sion at Marlborough-street, Police-court for proposing to deal in materials of war with- out a permit. Notice of appeal was given, and Keiran was released on £500 bT.il. A man who wa.3 fined 10s. at Old-street Police-court under the lighting order said that be was so buay making blinds for his Mistomera to screen theif windows that he .forgot to cover up one of his own.

I TEA TABLE TALK. Queen Alexandra collects boots and shoea of all periods worn by famous persons. The ,'air which she ie said to treasure most are Lhose worn by Mary, Queen of Scots. Mias G&nevieve Ward, the actress, is tllq daughter of an American, and is one of the .ost accomplished linguists on the stage. :;]¡e is grande dame" to the manner born. The late Ring Edward waj tremendouslv ijnpressed with her the nrst time he saw her act. "She is a lady unmi,ak.ably:" he declared. "Her mannef of putting the sugar into a teacup shows the lady born." By right of marriage, Miss Ward is the Counters Guerbel of Russia, but she haj never used the title. Madame Melba prides herself on being a "natural song bird. She did nci; pas') through a protracted period of voice-culture prior to her debut. From childhood she has been able to sing with ease the most difficult music. "I cannot even remember," she saYè "when I nrst began to trill a note." Lady Byron is the wife cf Lord Byron. who is something of a recluse. Re is ninth of his line, and inherited from his uncle ia. 1870. The famous Lord Byron, the sixth baron, inherited from a great uncle. Lady Byron is much interested in questions a&'ect- Ing women and their work, and is untiring i;i her efforts for the betterment of wonianli position. She contributed a sympathetic translation of "Comment Elles les Soig- nent" to "A Book of Belgium's Gratitude." Holding strong views on the cultivation and preservation of health, she is a great be- liever in fresh air as a cure for moo of the ills of life. The Tsarina of Russia, is very fond of swimming. When she is staying at the St. Petersburg Winter Palace she indulges in this recreation in a very fine bath of white marble. Countess Russell, who before her mar- r'age to Earl Russell was Countess v.jn Arnim, is, of course, Elizabeth, of "Ger- man Garden" fame. Most of her readers know that she is English, though in the 'Man of Wrath," to whom she owes her rame, sh e married a German. Count He.n- iiiii- von Arni-m. who died suddenly at Kia- in -In a few years ago, was the son of that famous Count Harry von Amim whose scandalous ill-treatment at th? hands of r:smarc k Is still remembered. Count and Cmntess von Arnim spent little time in Berlin. and their summers, including the 'Útarv Summer" which forms ;o charm- iiig a continuation to the German Gar- (;11." were for the most part passed on the Arnim estate at Nauenheide, on the shores <.f the Baltic. to Tev Ive, Lady Kinl?ch has a great des're to revive 'ie practically dead industry of painting on i trniture. Furniture with paintings thereon iva:, in considerable vogue at one time, and rtic)e.s ornamented with very delicate 'undiwork by the artist are occasionally met with. Ladv Kinloch, whose husband i't Urigadier-Gpneral Sir David Kinloch, of Gilmerton. Haddingtonshire, is a clever and accomplished woman, sister of Lady Newtoa cf'Lyme, and of Colonel Bromfey-Daven- port. Lady Lowther, widow of Sir Gerald Lowther. is an American by birth. She ;j the mother of two daughters, and there is no son to succeed to th? title of her late husband, who only held it for two years. Her marriage took place when Sir Gerard Lowther was Minister at Tangier, and for five years prior to the war they lived at Constantinople, where Sir Gerard Lowther was Ambassador. Lady Lowther did a great deal cf war work in Constantinople before the Turks entered the fighting areníl against the Allies. t Lady Poore's volume of "Recollectiong cf n'l Admiral's Wife" contains some good war anecdotes. An Australian soldier <t (JaHipolt. who was on sentry duty, took off i'is helmpt and hung it with his rifle on a tree. "A passing omcer," says Lady Poore, "asked not unnaturally, 'And what may you be?' 'Oh, I'm a bit of a picket/drawled the sentry, unabashed. And what may you be?' 'Oh, I'm a bit of a major,' was the answer. Well," rejoined the sentry geni- ally, 'If you'll wait a jiff I'M get my rine and give you a bit of a salute. an ? give you a bit of a salute. Lady Southampton knows all about country life, as she spends most of her time at the family residence, Shipston-on-Stour She is the mother of three daughters and one son, the eldest being twenty-one years of age. A daughter of the Marquis of Zetland, she was brought up in Yorkshire, although a good deal of her time was spent in town nt her father's liouse in Arlington- stred. London, W. Her father was a lord- iu-waiting to Queen Victoria when she wi-9, a child of eight, and ten years later, when the Marqufs of Zetland was Lord-Lieu- tenant, the family was removed to Ireland. '!<'r mister is Countess FitzWiIliam, one of the most famous hostesses in the country. Madame Clara. Butt, the famous singer, has said that one of the greatest and sin- cerest compliments she ever received was given in Paris some years ago. She had been singing in a concert at a private house, when an old lady came up and shook hands. "My child," she said, "you are an artist; you have tears in your voice. For the nr-st time I have heard my dear, dear husband' song sung as he would have wished to hear it. to Let me thank you." The old lady was the widow of the great composer Gounod. The woman who is not practical cannot succeed in business, and how inconsequent some women, like some men, may be is in- stanced by a story of a reduced gentle- woman who, thinking of renting a poultry farm, and being asked what qualification she had for keeping fowls, answered. "Well, I am very fond of them for dinner." It is not an easy thing to say "No" to wealth when it is offered In handfuls. but there are people who have done it. In the 'eighties the best-known and most popular actress in the world, perhaps, was Mar\- Anderson, au American. At twenty-eight she married, and has never since been. tempted out of her retirement, except, a. little while ago, for a charity performance. In the hope of inducing her to go on the stage again an enterprising American man- ager offered her sixty thousand pounds for a season of thirty weeks—a fortune in itself- The lady refused. < An amusing story is told of a woman who at one time led a band of brigands in Italy. The good-looking ehieftainess, who had spent part of her life in Paris, displayed no lack of daring, but her foHowera went on strike when she persistently led them in cap- turing individuals whose principal posses- sions at the time proved to consist of quan- tities of latest fashions, which, as the woman bandit had got to know, they were bringing back from the French, capital for their wives' A funny tale is told by Misa Helen Mar, the celebrated "story-teller." A Bishop one day visited a Sunday-school and gave the children a little talk on "Darkest" Africa. "It is a terrible thing, children," he said. "but out there there are thousands and thousands of miles where there are' no Sun- day-schools. Just think of it, my little friends, not a single Sunday-school in all those miles. Now, what shall we do with our pennies and shillings that we save? Who can tell me what all kind and good little boys and girls should do with their money?" He paused expectantly for tha reply, which came with tremendous ppon- taneity! "Buy tickets and all go to Africa!"

For injuries caused by falling over a mat on the pavement outride the Hotel Metr;- pole, London, W., William John Flint wa, awarded .E25 dama,es and coots at London Sheriff's Court. An indication of the popularity of familiar red booklets containing 2.5. wort:l of postage otamps was furnished bv th. statement of an official at Middlex Appeal Tribunal that 1,250,000 of them wre sold every month.