Abergavenny Chronicle

NOTES ON NEWS. Gloomy prophets of national bankruptcy in consequence of the enormous war, ex- TBIUMPHANT BRITISH CREDIT. penditure do not get much support from Mr. McKenna, who in the House of Commons last week concluded an inter- esting review of the financial situation with these emphatic words: "I have not the slightest doubt, if the British public will continue to show the same readiness and willingness to support their country by payment of taxes and by lending money, we shall be able to maintain our credit right to the end of the war, no matter how long it lasts." This declara- tion might be considered boastful if Mr. McKenna had not been able and willing to produce evidence. The National Debt, at the end of March next, will have reached a total of £ 3,440,000,000. Of this stupen- dous sum E800,000,000 will represent ad- vances to our Allies, and will be repaid to us. Our net indebtedness then will be L2,640,000,000, a figure which is almost identical with that of our total national income for one year, which is. however, put a few hundred millions higher by some authorities. The estimated capital wealth of the country is £ 15,000,000,000, and our indebtedness at the end of next March will be rather more than one-sixth of that sum. These are figures which represent a heavy burden for the nation, but they do not look in the least like bankruptcy. For our further satisfaction Mr. McKenna points out that our revenue for the year is equal to twenty per cent. of our debt, and that our existing taxation will enable us to pay interest on the whole debt as well as a substantial amount to a sinking fund, and that we shall still have a large margin for the reduction of the capital debt. With the resignation of Mr. Arthur Henderson from the post of President of EDUCATIONAL POLICY WANTED. the Board of EducatIOn, the Government are pre- sented with an excellent opportunity for r e- modelling the whole of our educational system. They can place at the head of the Department an adminis- trator with wide ideas and ideals, whose theories and views on educational ques- tions have not been formed on political platforms or in the House of Commons, but are based upon actual studv, experi- ence, and observation. There are such men, and at the present time of political truce the appointment of a Minister who is not a politician, but an expert in his particular line, could be more easily made than under ordinary conditions. Educa- tion is a matter which should be quite out- side party considerations, but it is un- happily the case that while everybody is agreed upon its importance, and nearly everybody has declared for years that our system is inadequate and inefficient, there is no subject which has aroused greater bitterness of party feeling. In past years there have been several Education Bills brought forward by one Minister or another, but only one of them has been passed into law. That was fourteen years ago;' all the others have failed. Now that none arc for a party, but all are for the State, there seems to be a golden oppor- tunity for framing an educational system which shall be in the best and truest sense national. "Ehere never was, and never will be, a I Government that pleased evervbody. The I COALITION DEFENDED. present Coalition, as everybody knows, has had its critics and enemies ever since it was formed. At the same time, it was the only possible kind of Government then, and remains so now. There really ought to be no need to defend a Government composed of parties which, before the war, had been separate and opposed, but which for fifteen months have been united in the service of the State. Still there are people who declare that the national cause would be better served if the Government in power were a party Government of the old pattern, and they will probably remain of that opinion in spite of the excellent defence of the present position which has been made by Mr. Bonar Law, in an address to the National Unionist Association. To the bulk of the nation it is unthinkable that in the middle of the war we should go back to the old conditions, with a party Govern- ment in office, and a hostile Opposition, convinced that it could do the job much better, doing its utmost to turn the other fellows out. With all respect to partisans of both sides, most people feel that a re- turn to such conditions would be a disaster, and any attempt to upset the Coalition in favour of a party Government of what- ever colour would meet with scant sym- pathy. As to the proposal to overthrow the Ministry in order to put another Coa- lition Ministry in its place-ivell, its absur- dity is manifest. It is interesting to speculate as to what I St. Paul, if he were living now, wouId jI WOMEN IN CHURCH. have said to the p sion given by the ,L,r", S: iastical authorities for women to deliver ad- I dresses in church. St. Paul held strong views on this matter; he thought, like many of the present-day opponents of women suffrage, that woman's place was at home, and that public life was only for her lord and master. However, St. Paul lived a good many years ago, and one can- not help wondering what would be his opinion with regard to this, for the Church of England, rather startling innovation. For women are to be allowed to take part, by giving addresses in church, in the pro- posed National Mission of Repentance and Hope. They are not to be regarded as the equals of, men, however. "The concession made to them is fenced about with con- ditions. They must not speak in church without the permission of the Bishop and the full consent of the incumbent, who, presumably, if he happens to think with St. Paul, will 'not give his consent. They must not speak from the pulpit, lectern, or chancel steps, and they must only speak to women and girls. The last con- dition is curious. It seems to assume that whatever women may have to say in con- nection with the National Mission, it can- not possibly be of interest or profit to men. The question of how to exaot reparation from Germany for the Fryatt murder, and To MAKE THEM PAT. for other atrocities, is occupying the public mind in an increasing I degree. Lord Beresiord's proposal that German-owned property in this country should be confiscated has cer- tainly a good deal to recommend it. It must not, however, be too easilv assumed that in adopting such a policy we should be having it all our own way. Lord Lansdowne, who answered Lord Beresford pointed out that we must "make sure that the surfaces we exposed to the enemy are net larger than the enemy's surfaces ex- posed to us." In other words, it would be bad business to engage in reprisals of this sort if the Germans were able to confiscate more property than we could. It is pro- bane. however, that the balance would be in (xrr favour, and the assurance that the Government are considering this matter has given satisfaction.

The smallest V.C. is said to be Private fieor^e hafer, East Yorkshire Regiment, is barely five foot high. The lending physicians and soientists of ttte Argentine are preparing an address affirming their sympathy with the allied nations and their cause.

I i TEA TABLE TALK. I No Royal lady is fonder of outdoor recrea- tion than the Queen of Holland. When a young girl her Majesty derived immense en- joyment from driving a team consisting of .six ponies; and driving is still the recreation that pleases her most. w An interesting sight in the harbour of Nagasaki, Japan, is the coaling, done en- tirely by girls. Big coal barges bear down upon a ship as it approaches the shore, and as soon as it comes to anchor a rough ladder is placed between the vessel and the fore- most barge. On each rung a girl takes her place. Men in the barge quickly shovel the XK(] into shallow baskets holding half a bushel each, to the sound of a monotonous haut, and these baskets then pass from hand to hand up the living ladder with marvellous celerity. Each girl seizes one and swings it straight up in front of her, above her head, where it is caught by the next girl. Down a second ladder, likewise packed with girls, the empty baskets pass in similar manner back into the barge to be refilled. Barge after barge is emptied in this way. The monotonous chanting never ceases; the living elevator goes on hour after hour, with its never-ending stream of baskets, until the last bunker is full, when the ladders disap- pear as if by magic, and the ship is ready to proceed on her voyage. A big mail steamer will "bunker 2,300 tons of coal in six and a half hours, an average of 3531 tons per hour—an almost incredible record. Mrs. Flora Arriie Steel possesses the very fine gift of being able to speak very fluently in several foreign languages. She is fond of music, painting, acting, educational work, and a score of other amusements and la bours. A renowned housekeeper, she once I wrote a cookery housekeeping book.- She learnt lace-making in Italy in order to start it in the Punjab. The following story of Mrs. Botha and her famous husband is told by Mr. Harold Spender: Durin g the late- stages of the South African War Mrs. Botha spared no efforts in her role of peacemaker. General Botha, however, was not always in the mood to listen to peace talk, and, indeed, there were moments when he by no means wel- comed Mrs. Botha as a messenger of peace. On one occasion M's. Botha had travelled for three days to reach her husband with a new suggestion from the British head- quarters. Arriving in the Republican lines, she asked that her presence should be re- ported to the general. At first they did not know where to find Botha, but at last he was found walking up and down in some agitation. Faced by his wife, he said to her. instantly, "You must leave me." He bed just arranged a battle. "You must get back as soon as you can," he said. "I am blowing up the line." She had only gone a few miles when the shrapnel fell all around her. She came back into the British lines and reported herself to the British general who had let her through. He told her to get back to Pre- toria. "But my husband is going to blow up the railway," she remarked. "He won't blow it up if you are on it," replied the British general, with some plausibility; and so she went. She travelled in a train full of soldiers; but her presence on the train did not change her husband's spartan purpose. The line was blown up and the train stopped. The soldiers marched off. Mrs. Botha and a companion were left for three days with the engine-driver and the stoker. Madame Ada Crossley, the famous con- tralto, believes there is a close practical con- nection between eucalyptus and the voice, and that the well-known evergreen, while efficacious for illnesses of the throat, is also responsible in a great degree for the musical voices of the natives where the eucalyptus flourishes. During a tour in Australia some years ago, Madame Crossley selected a few eucalyptus trees, and had them sent to ling- land, where she planted them in her garden. < Harrogate is enjoying a record season. All the leading hotels are packed, and the recent visitors include the Countess Hollander, Lady the Hon. Mrs. O'Brien, Sir Archibald Hep- burn, Bart., Sir George Palmer, Bart. (Crown Hotel), and Sir A. Kaye Butterworth. Sir Edward and Lady Bowson, and Sir Scott Foster, who are staying at the White Hart Hotel. Miss VeVta Victoria, the well-known variety artist, once had a curious experience when appearing at a music-hall in New York. It was a Sunday performance, and there is a law out there which prohibits the wearing of theatrical costumes on the Sab- bath. Miss Victoria was singing one of her popular songs with the refrain: "'E'll tyke me to the court, 'e's used to all ita wys; Larst time I went up to court I just dodged fourteen dye," when there suddenly appeared a policeman, who apprehended her for breaking the above-mentioned law. Eventually, however, it was the policeman who looked foolish, foi the comedienne was quickly discharged, as her captor was unable to show that her dress was a "theatrical" one—in fact, it was the kind of costume that any woman might have worn who had never been on the stage in ¡ her life. I Lady Margaret Sackville, whose war poems, published under the title of "The Pageant of War," have aroused so much in- terest, is one of the most serious-minded and cleverest of our women writers of verse. Her stories and plays, too, have attracted con- siderable attention. "I have written," she once remarked, "ever since I can remember, and as a child found an outlet for my thoughts by writing stories and verses at everv opportunity. It was not until 1901, however, when I was twenty years of age, that my first book, A Selection of Poems,' which were dedicated to my sister, Lady Mary Sackville, was published." The Grand Duchess Serge of Russia, since the assassination of her husband, has founded a convent which she has called "The Martha and Mary." At this convent work and prayer for the poor are carried on incessantly, It is a very cheerful-looking place, and the walls of the Grand Duchess's rooms aro white, on which numbers of briglitlv coloured religious pictures are hung, and the chairs are covered with Eng- lish chintzes, for which, like her sister, she has a weakness. Lady Emily Lutyens is a cultured lady, and as the daughter of a Viceroy of India (Lord Lytton) it is appropriate for her to take special interest in everything relating to India. She takes great interest in "The Young Age Club." Lady Emily Lutyens is married to the eminent architect who went out to India in connection with the re- planning of Delhi as the seat of Govern- ment. She comes of a family who have suf- fered for the Suffrage Cause, and Lady Con- stance Lytton underwent imprisonment. Another sister of Lady Emily is Lady Betty Balfour, whose husband is Mr. Geiald Balfour. w Queen Alexandra was fond of rll kinds of exercise in her girlhood—walking, riding, dancing, and gymnastics. Miss Madge Titheradge, the well-known actress, who first appeared in "Toddles," has made rapid progress. She is best re- membered by her rendering of "The Butter- fly on the Wheel." After this success, Miss Titheradge went to America and Australia, where she played lead with the late Mr. Lewis Waller. Miss Titheradge, who has wavy brown hair and rich colouring, con- tends that Juliet as an Italian lady was probably brunette, and hopes one day to enact the character.

Delegates from the British Meat Trade Red Cross Fund who visited the hospitals in France record a case in which a soldier is being fitted with a new upper lip made with flesh cut from the man's neck. Bilberries are exceptionally numerous on the Stiperstones Hills of Shropshire, and huge quantities are being purchased for use in the dyeing industry. Wholesale prices equal retail prices of last season.

Additional evidence of the vaunted Ger- man efficiency is seen in the Kaiser's success in "carefully conserving" his own hIe.- New York "Herald." The Kaiser regrets that an inscrutable Almighty won't let him fight in the tren- ches. No such restrictions were placed upon Albert of Belgium.—Philadelphia "North American." The impossibility to deliver because of the European war is no excuse for failure to carry out a contract for goods to be sent to the United States, according to a recent decision in the Supreme Court of that country. The Lord-Lieutenant of Dorset, Brigadier- General the Earl of Shaftesbury, has initi- ated a movement to provide a fitting memorial to local men who have given their lives to their country in this war by the restoration, where existing, or the erection, of village crosses in Dorset.

I OTHER MEN'S MINDS. Our Allies and ourselves hold the whip hand.-GENWRAL JOFFRE. FOR LIBERTY. We realise that we are fighting not only for oursel ves and thOI'D, to come after us in tibe British Empire, but for those all over the world who prefer liberty to tyranny and independence to domiriation.-MR. WALTER LONG. [ THE LAUGHING-STOCK. What on earth will history make of Wilhelm? History will not laugh at the dead German soldiers, but it will certainly laugh at the Kaiaer.-MR. JAMES DOUGLAS. A GREAT TIME. Although this war ie horrible, it is an event in the progress of- humanity, and it is a. pride and a great distinction to have lived through these two years and to have done one's part in the solution of the problems which these two yeajs have created.SiN GEORGE FOSTEB. TRUE EDUCATION. The true aim of education is not the hope- less task of turning boys and girls into technical or mercantile experts. The en- deavour should be to stimulate at once the intelligence and the moral sense, so that our boys and girls should grow up into intelli- fent and right-minded citizens.-Sm SIDNEY EE. GET ON WITH IT. If you have got anything to do, go on with it; if you have not, get out of the way.-MR. G. BERNARD SHAW. I SONS OF THE MOTHERLAND. It is because of the t-onviction that the Old Country has with chivalry, with a reck- less chivalry, flung herself into the battle in order to proteot the weak and wronged against the oppressoir-tha-t is why her eons in all parts of the world have stood by her side in this groat struggle, and they have come from the rolling prairies of Canada, from the great isles of the Southern Seas, From Afric's sunny fountains, And India's coral strand —they have come to help Britain. And well have they helped us.-MR. LLOYD GEORGE. THE COMING OF PEACE. It should be remembered that peace will ,not come down like the curtain of a theatre. Bringing it into effect must be a long pro- CEW.-MARQUIS OF CREWE. SPIRITUAL BALANCE SHEETS. Pains, no, less than pleasures, may be cultivated sensations. Poets school us in the refinements of the one and the other; and perhaps among the many balance sheets that readjust war-time, will be that in which civilisation and suffering figure among humanity's assets and encum- b.rances.-MR. WILFRID METNELL. LABOUR AND THE WAR. I believe I am not using the language of excessive self-complacency, when I sav that the history of the war in the industrial sphere at home has been a history of grave and threatening difficulties courageously faced and successfully overcome. MR. ASQUITH. THE ART OF LANGUAGE. I Language is an art in which we all have some skill if only we will use it. if we will try to say just what we mean and not employ phrases which we take to be lite- rary.-MR. A. CLUTTON-BROCX. THE CAUSE OF THE WAR. I The fundamental cause of the present war was undoubtedly nationalist sentiment, which possessed the German mind to a degree altogether inconsistent with Chris- tian morals.—LORD HUGH CECIL. UNITY IS STRENGTH. I Nothing has been more remarkable during the last year than the success with which the Allies have developed and pursued a common policy and a united plan. That has been due, perhaps, to some extent to simplification in our machinery; but I think it has been still more largely due to the direct and habitual personal intercourse between. the statesmenand the soldiers of the Allied Powers.-MR. ASQUITH. SOLDIERS OF THE FUTURE. I Our soldier officers of the future must be scientific, our politicians, diplomatists, consuls, colonial administrators, and home Government officials must be versed in modern history, modern literature, modern languages, modern geography, in anthro- pology, botany, geology, zoology, sociology, and the sciences that affect the prosperity, morality, and very existence of the human SpeCiCS.-SIR HARRY JOHNSTON. SHOOT IT! I While a wild beast is at large it is no reasoning with it. There is no good appeal- ing to the civilised" world about it. There is one thing only to be done, and we shall do it-to shoot it.MR. BONAR LAW. PETROL TRAITORS. I Waste at home now is criminal. A joy ride is a shame ride. A man who washes his car with petrol or empties his petrol tank on the ground is a traitor to the best services of the Army and the country.-Ma. L. HARCOURT. IMMORTALITY. I The personnel of the First Expeditionary Force may have perished or been dispersed. But its spirit is undying and is marching on to-day to a thunderous victory, the rever- berations of which will echo through the centuries to come.-MR. E. B. OSBORN. THE COMING DAYS. I We must not make the mistake of think. ing that when the war is over our efforts should cease. Greater days are before us. There will not be so much of the poetry and glamour of war, the flash of heroism, and the fireworks of humanity, but the .two years after the war wilt be of far greater import than tlw d?ys of the war. The. war h iT r kept and maintained and g?u?anteed the security of the Emp.ire. In the great days after the war we must look to the development and consolidation of the Em- pire.—SIR GEORGE FOSTER. WAR TO END WAR. I The French are animated with the idea of making war to end war, and of finishing, once for all, with the inventors of the armed peace. France's ideal is to-day, as it has always been-good faith in the matter of treaties, justice and liberty for the nation and for the individual.—M. HENRI DAVBAT..

North-East Coast ironfounders have been awarded a war bonus of Ss. on time rates, but none on piece rates. This is supplemen- tary to a similar bonus awarded labourers in North-East Coast engineering works already notified. Portsmouth Town Council has resolved to ask the Home Secretary to agree to the principle of the National Exchequer bearing half the cost of the equipment of special con- stables, and of grants to conotabfes serving in the Forces.

I AUSTRIANS IN RETREAT. ——- ——. VON BOTHMER IN FULL FLIGHT FROM RUSSIANS. I GREAT HAUL OF MEN AND GUNS, General Vcn Bothmer is in full retreat from the Russians. For some time the posi- tion of his army, menaced as it was on both flanks, had been one of great and in- creasing peril; but he stood firm until an attack along his whole front by General Stcherbacheff drove him out of his positions. It is officially stated that since August 4 General Stcherbacheff has captured 1,263 officers and 55,158 men, with 55 guns, 211 machine guns, and much other material. From August 4 to August 8 General Sak- haroff has taken 304 officers and 16,594 men, and from August 1 to August 8 General Letchitsky has captured 141 officers and 10,450 men. I THE AUSTRIAN DEBACLE. General Stcherbacheff, whose policy dur- ing the last ew weeks (apart from the exercise of constant pressure against his enemy) may be described as that of watch- ing and waiting (says the "Daily Chronicle "), acted without hesitation. The force of his long-stayed blow was terrific. The Russian night communique on Saturday told how Bothmer's Front was attacked, and how its defences crumbled. Many villages north-west and west of Tarnopol were seized, the whole of the Strypa line was occupied, while the Russians, pursuing the routed enemy, ad- vanced rapidly on the important Dniester bridgehead at Halicz, and, further north, on the railhead at Podhaice, whence a line runs to Lemberg. That Bothmer's Germans and Austrians nave suffered a debacle is evident from the enormous haul of prisoners and guns—a haul which sheds so embarrassing a light upon Berlin's Saturday communique, which stated: "The movements we have initiated are being carried out according to our plans," that the German and Austrian bulletins of yesterday wrap this section of the Front in sileiK-e! On Saturday General Steherbachefi ad- vanced the whole of his line generally from four to eight miles, and, since then, his northern flank has marched on to Jezierna. (twenty miles west of his starting-point), while, in the centre, he has pushed on to Podhaice, twelve miles west of Bothmer's original Front on the Strvpah< B!thmer's aimv probably numbered be- tween 120,000 and 150,000 men, largely Germans. The prisoners taken up to date represent almos-t a half of this force. To the 56,000 men of this army already accounted for, the captives yet uncounted and the stragglers who will be caught as the operations develop have still to be added, as well as the losses in killed and injured, which must be very considerable. The prisoners taken by the Russians since the first week of June must now exceed half a million.

PRISON FOR STEPMOTHER. Ellen Sutton, of 89, Thames-street, Green- wich, was summoned at Greenwich for neg- lecting her stepdaughter Daisy, aged six years. Mr. Scard prosecuted for the N.S.P.C.C., and Mr. Good defended. It was stated that defendant had children of her own by a former marriage, and that Daisy was the only stepchild. The child herself was called as a witness, and she stated that her stepmother had never been cruel to her. Once she fell in the garden and another time was bruised by falling from a swing. Three neighbours gave evidence that they had never seen Mrs. Sutton unkind to the child, and defendant's husband said he had no complaint to make of his wife's treatment of the girl. Mr. d'Eyncourt said the evi- dence of two of the neighbours was quite unreliable. Defendant had tyrannised over the child for months, and had been syste- matically cruel. Four months' hard labour.

TRIBUTES TO COLLIER HERO. Mrs. Hackett, of Mexborough, widow of Sapper William Hackett, V.C.. who died last June while rescuing a number of en- tombed men from a ruined mine in France, has received from the officers and men of his company a cheque for .£67, including a subscription from a major-general. Mrs. Hackett has received a letter from the Bishop of Sheffield, Dr. Burrows, who says: "In all the great deeds of the war I recall nothing more heroic than your hus- band's act of sacrifice. Colliers are famous for their devotion to comrades, even unto death, but this, I think, surpasses all, and I am proud to be the bishop of a diocese producing such splendid men."

STOWAWAY SENT TO PRISON. I A young man named Woolf, born in Eng- land of Russian parents, was sentenced to a month's hard labour at Ramsgate on Mon- day fcr trying to leave the kingdom without the necessary permit. He was handed ovei by the captain of a steamer bound from London to New York, who had discovered him in company with another stowaway. He had been granted exemption by the Stepney Tribunal till August 19, and admitted he was trying to evade military service. In the end he was sentenced to be handed over to the military authorities

SERGEANT FOUND DROWNED. I A singular story was related at an inquest held on Monday at Sale, Cheshire, touching the- death of James Nolan a sergeant in the Army, who had seen service in India and Mesopotamia. Deceased and John Bennett. a munition worker, were out together, and after having five gills of beer each Nolan suggested that they should drown them- selves. Bennett said he was not so daft as that. They parted, and Nolan's body waf afterwards found in the canal A verdict of "Found drowned" was returned.

SHOP ASSISTANTS IN THE ARMY. I In their annual report the National Amal- gamated Union of Shop Assistants, Ware- housemen, and Clerks states that up to the end of Julv this year over 20,000 of its mem- bers had sent official notification of enlist- ment in the Forces, and it is estimated that nearly 30,000 members are with the colours. Up to date some 300 or 400 members have been killed in action or died of wounds, and a sum of £ 500 has been paid out in death benefit. While these men have joined the Army in these numbers, nearly 15,000 women mem- bers have been enrolled during the war, and by this means, the report states, "the union hopes to retain its control over the condi- tions of employment." The total member- ship of the union at the end of 1915 was 85,927, and during the year the society gained for its members in increases in wages nearly £ 120,000.

A Viennese doctor advocates grasping the rail or headboard of a bed and pulling back- ward until fatigue develops, as the beet cure for war-time insomnia in civilians. The Bavarian parliamentary Roman Catholic party declares in a manifesto that "in Bavaria the tendency in favour of a ruthless submarine war against England is very strong." Albert Swell, aged seven, was oaught be- tween a motor-omnibus and a Red Cross ambulance car in the Caledonian-road, London, N. He died in the Royal Free Hospital from his injuries. While playing on the sandhills at Ramp- side, Furness, Robert Henderson, aged thir- teen, of Barrow, an only son, was buried by a fall of sand and died soon after being extricated. Arthur Myers, a paralytic, of Longton, Staffs, who was charged with soliciting alms at Blackpool, was stated to have earned E2 a day by begging among holiday crowds. He was bound over on condition that he left the town. t

For sealing bottles cf fruit or pickles an excellent wax is obtained by melting together equal parti of resin and beef-suet. To revive a faded carpet, sweep thoroughly, then wipe with a clean cloth that has been soaked in a weak solution of ammonia and water, and well wrung. It is a most dangerous practice to use matches for detecting zala leakages. The best method is to make a paste of soap and water and lay this on the joints of the gas-pipe. If little bubbles appear, it is a sign that the gas is escaping. If meat becomes slightly tainted, wash it ilk cold water to which is added a little vinegar before cooking. To ensure milk keeping fresh, add a pinch of bi-carbonate of soda, and see that all vessels are scalded before the milk is placed in them. Never drink the first water that comes from the taps in the morning. Let it run a little so as to get. rid cf the water that has been standing in the lead pipes all night. In hot weather heavy meals should be avoided; light appetising dishes must be pre- pared to tempt jaded appetites. Blacklead mixed with turpentine instead of water gives a more brilliant and lasting polish, and prevents the stove from rusting, no matter how damp the weather. To remove paint-stains from washing materials, saturate the spots two or three times with equal parts of ammonia and tur- pentine, and then wash in the usual way. It savae having the windows washed so frequently if the inside panes are occasion- ally wiped over with a dry cloth. I CLEAN MILK-JUGS. To keep milk-jugs really clean, wash them first with slightly warm water, then with some a little warmer still, and finally, when they are quite scald by filling with boiling water. If scalding hot water is put in first of all, it will merely scald the particles of stale milk on to the jug, and there they will stay, all ready to turn sour the next lot of milk that is put in. Scour all milk-jugs once a wcc-k by rubbing well with salt or ashes. I OLD COTTON-REELS. .0' When cotton-reels have served their original purpose and are empty they may still prove useful. For instance, if two or three reels of the same size are run on to a very long brass-headed nail, and the latter hammered into a wall or cupboard a con- venient peg for a hat or other article is thus formed. Then, again, a collection of cotton- reels of the same size may be effectively used as a border-rail to a small shelf, the "rail" being fixed with glue or nails. Larger reels may be used at the corners of the shelf, all being enamelled white or stained green or mahogany. I To CUT FRESH BREAD. To cut thin bread-and-butter from a fresh loaf is often a very difficult matter, but the difficulty can be easily overcome if the bread is cut with a warmed knife. Place a jug of boiling water and a cloth by your side, and, before cutting, dip the knife into the water, wipe on the cloth, and, while it is still hot, cut the bread. When the knife is cool. dip again into the hot water. In this way fresa bread can be cut as thinly and as easily as stale bread. I TURKISH TOWELS. Turkish towels often wear through in the middle while the ends arc still good. Instead of trying to darn them, cut small mats out of the ends and finish them off around the edge with an inexpensive laee. These are admirable for the washstand. the material being soft lessens the likelihood of the ware being damaged. One can get such effective laces so cheaply that it is a good idea to keep a supply for using in this and similar renovations. It is not worth while putting any handwork on material that is partly worn out. DIRTY WALLPAPER. Dirty wallpapers can be cleaned in the following economical and easy way. First of all, with a pair of bellows, blow off the dust from the paper to be cleaned. Then take a quartern loaf two days old. and cut it up into eight pieces. Now, held the crust of one of these pieces in your hand. begin at the top of the wall, and wipe lightly down- wards with the crumb, making strokes about half-a-yard long at a time. Do this all round the wall till the upper part is cleaned. Then go round again at a lower level begin- ning a few inches above the bottcm of the last strokes. Continue like this till the whole of the paper is evenly cleaned. Cut away the dirty part of the bread as often as neces- sary. Care must be taken not to rub too hard, nor to rub sideways or horizontally. —— ——' SOME USEFUL RECIPES. CHERRY JAM.—Take some sqund cooking cherries, rather under than over-ripe, and weigh and stone them. For every pound of fruit you will require twelve ounces of sugar. Heat the cherries slowly in a pre- serving-pan, and bring to boiling point, then let simmer for fifteen minutes; add the sugar, stir and skim well. The following will be found to give a delightful flavour to the jam: A handful of cherry stones, crushed and steeped in a little water for twenty-four hours, when the liquid should be strained off and added to the jam. Boil up until the jam will set. HONEY BISCrITS.-For this you will re- quire two ounces of butter, six tablespoon- fuls of honey, six tablesponfuls of flour, a quarter of a teaspoonful of mixed spice, half a teaspoonful of carbonate of soda, and one table-spoonful of chopped nuts. Dis- solve the soda in a little warm milk. Mix the honey and butter by warming them together. Add to this gradually the dry ingredients, then the soda. Cover and allow to stand until next day. Roll out thinly and cut into shapes. Bake in a slow overt until lightly browned. RICE CREAM.—Simmer a pint of milk with a little lemon-rind or stick cinnamon until nicely flavoured. Smooth two tablespoonfuls of ground rice with a little cold milk. Add a tablespoonful of sugar and the yolks of two eggs, and also the whites beaten stiffly. Pour the hot milk on to this. Return the mixture to the saucepan, and stir over gentle heat for a few minut-ps. Pour this into a wetted mould, and allow to set. When quite cold, turn out and serve with fruit or jam. ROMAN Piz.-Line a pie-dish with pastry. Put in a layer of chicken or cold meat, cut in small pieces, then a layer of boiled macaroni, sprinkled with grated cheese, pepper, salt, and mustard. Repeat till 'the dish is full, add a little white struck or milk, cover with pastry, and bake in a fairly hot oven for an hour and a half. FISH MACAROXI.-Take as much cooked fish as 16 required, and remove the bonea and every particle of skin. Break the fish into small pieoes, and mix with an equal quan- tity of boiled macaroni, also in small bits, adding pepper and salt, and as much grated cheese as desired. When mixed, plate it in a baking-dish, grate a little cheese over the top, and put a few small bits of butter over it. Bake in a brisk oven, and serve very hot.

"In future, when men are passed for garrison duty at home, we shall only hear the appeals when the men are called up, announced the chairman at the Law Courts section. Speaking at Durham, Dr. Hensley Hen- son declared that the murders of Nurse Cavell and Captain Fryatt were proofs of German apostacy from the fellowship of civilised mankind.