Abergavenny Chronicle

f-010 YARDS OF TRENCH STORMED ON THE SOMME. GREAT AIR ACTIVITY. The following reports from Sir Douglas Haig have been issued by the Press Bureau: Saturday, 11.20 a.m. Last night the eastern portion of Regina trench, being a continuation of the length )f trench captured by us in our successful assault of October 21, was stormed and cap- tured on a front of 1,000 yards, in spite of a heavy enemy barrage. The new trench has been joined up with sur old line, and the position secured. Pri- soners of two regiments were taken. On the rest of the Front there is nothing to report. Saturday, 9.57 p.m. Some sixty prisoners, including four officers, were taken as a result of last night's successful attack. Yesterday there was again considerable activity in the air. During the day bombing raids were continued with effect against enemy hutments, aerodromes, and head- quarters, and at night the enemy's stations and trains were successfully attacked. Two trains were hit with bombs, while a third was set on fire and a number of explosions followed. In the course of numerous air fights three enemy machines were destroyed, and a fourth was forced to land in our lines. Many others were driven down in a damaged con- dition. One of our machines is missing. GAS ATTACK. I Sunday, 10.48 a.m. Gas was successfully released by us last night against the enemy salient south of Y pres. Bevond the usual artillery activity there is nothing further to report on the whole Front. Sunday, 9.3 p.m. The enemy's artillery has shown consider- able activity during the day, particularly in the neighbourhood of Les Boeufs and Eau- court l'Abbaye. Early this morning and again during the afternoon gas was succesfully discharged by us against the enemy's trenchee north of the Ancre. Otherwise there is nothing to report.

RESTRICTING WAR MATERIALS. t George Morris, local secretary of the Workers' Union, was prosecuted at Coventry bv the Minister of Munitions for an alleged attempt to restrict the production of war material. Three men employed in a local factory as labourers were put to gun boring, and while paid more than labourers' wages did not get the full rates of the skilled men. The defendant called on the factory to pay the full rate, and as this was not done the men left work a month ago and have not returned. The defence was that Morris urged the men to remain, but not to continue to do machine work unless properly paid, and this was necessary to ensure good relations between the employer and employees. The justices convicted, saying that the machines were idle because of the defendant's action. They felt the penalty must be substantial, and sentenced Morris to three months' hard labour. Notice of appeal was given.

TWICE WOUNDED AT 16. I "You are a voiing man of admirable ante- cedents," said Mr. Paul Taylor, the Maryle- bone magistrate, when acquitting Albert Pelosi, a lad of sixteen, on a charge of stealing fruit from a shop. "You are only sixteen," continued the magistrate, "but I see you have been twice wounded in the de- fence of his country. I cannot imagine any- thing more creditable to you in every way than that you should have gone out when a mere boy, and I hope you will never in the course of your life do anything to disgrace your career. There is no evidence against you, and I have therefore great pleasure in discharging you."

CONSTABLE AND ANZAC. I After giving evidence against an Austra- Han soldier, whom he had arrested for being drunk and disorderly, a constable told the magistrate at West Ham Police-court that the accused had fought in Gallipoli, been wounded, and had only left hospital on Monday morning. "He then had a drop too much," continued the witness, "but he was very sorry for it this morning, and lie is quite a good chap, your worship." In con- sideration of these facts the magistrate dlSo charged the prisoner.

J.P.'s DEATH IN A TRAIN. I Mr. David Howard, a Deputy Lieutenant for Essex and a West Ham J.P., has been found dead in a train at Snaresbrook Station. Mr. Howard, who lived at Buck- hurst Hill, was senior member of a firm of manufacturing chemists and an ex-president of the Institute of Chemistry. He was seventy-eight.

BRITAIN'S LIABILITIES. I The total gross liabilities of the State amounted to X2,189, 838,245 on March 31 last, compared with £ 706,154,110 in March, 1914, and JB1,161,951,702 in March, 1915; an increase of XI,483,684,135 over the pre-war period. Including Treasury bills temporarily paid off (. £ 7,60i,000) there was a net increase of £ 1,031,637,543 between March, 1915 and 1916.

A BOY FIREMAN. I In his report to the Board of Trade on the pause of the derailing- of a goods train on the Glasgow and Pa-isley Joint Railway Oil Scptembe 11, Major Pringle draws at- tention to the fact that a boy of sixteen-was acting as fireman with the driver. The boy was intelligent, but it could hardly be ex- ceed that he would have the requisite know- ledge of signals. Major Pringle attributed the accident, however, to the mis-reading of signals by the driver.

Wage-earning women, exoludmg domestic servants and outworkers, have increased by a total of 866,000 since July 1914, of whom 66,000 are in agricultural employments, according to a memorandum issued by the National Union of Women's Suffrage Socie- ties. -et. 'r r.

VILLAGE STRONGHOLDS AND OVER 5,000 PRISONERS TAKEN. I ATTACK ON FIVE-MILE FRONT I A new and important British success is reported by Sir Douglas Ha.ig. On Monday morning an attack was delivered on the German positions on both banks of the River Ancre. It was very successful. The German trenches were penetrated on a front of five miles, villages that have been enemy strongholds for two years were cap- tured, and 3,300 prisoners taken. Sir Douglas Haig's dispatches announcing the new advance are as follow:— Monday, 11.9. a.m. Thiis morning we attacked the German positions on both banks of the Ancre. The capture of a considerable number of prisoners is already reported. Hostile artillery activity continued during the night on our positions in the neighbour- hood of Les Boeufs and Gueudecourt. fias wss successfully discharged by us against the enemy's trenches opposite Rans. The enemy's trenches were entered by us south-east of Armentieres. Monday, 10.10 p.m. We attacked this morning astride the River Ancre, and have succeeded in pene- trating the German defences on a front of nearly five imiles. The strongly fortified village of St. Pierre Divion has fallen into our hands. The attack was delivered before daylight in a thick mist. Severe losses have been inflicted on the enemy. Over 3,300 prisoners have passed through our collecting stations already, and more are coming in. Fighting continues. The front which has been captured north of the Ancre consists of the German origi- nal front-line defences of an exceptionally strong nature. The special correspondents at the British Headquarters state that the British line has been advanced on both sides of the Ancre to a maximum depth of a mile, and that besides St. Pierre Divion, the village of Beaumont Hamel, which was considered by the Germans impregnable, has also been captured. The positions taken form part of the haivily fortified main line held by the Germans for more than two years. It was in this factor of the line that the Germans successfully held their ground when the great British advance began in July. PUSHING ON. I Further progress was reported in Sir Douglas J Haig's dispatches of Tuesday, which announced that the villages of Beaumont Hamel and Beaucourt-sur-Ancre are now in our hands. The capture of the former village had already been unofficially reported. The following are Sir Douglas Raig's reports:— Tuesday, 10.50 a.m. We have stormed the heavily-fortified village of Beaumont-Hamel, and have advanced to the outskirts of Beaucourt-sur-Ancre. The number of prisoners is increasing, and considerably over 5,000 have passed through the collecting stations since yesterday morning. Fighting continues. Tuesday, 9.40 p.m. The village of Beaucourt-sur-Ancre is in our hands. Prisoners reported up to date number con- siderably over 5,000, > and more are coming in. To-day a successful local advance was made Cd-St of the Butte-de-Warlenoourt. Practically all our objectives were gained, and some eighty prisoners were taken in this area. HFAVY BLOW FOR THE ENEMY. I In a despatch to the "Daily News" from the British Headquarters, Mr. H. Percy Robinson says:- For the first 3,000 yards above the Ancre-to well beyond Beaumont Hamel-the ground taken is nowhere less than 1,500 yards in depth, and in one part approaches 2,500 yards. Num- bers of yards—or miles (for the gain amounts to square miles)-,ire, however, unimportant. The great fact is that we have struck front- ally at the main German first line, with tier behind tier of trenches all strongly wired and ?vith all the fortified for two years past, and with all the prestige of former fruitless attacks against it to give its defenders confidence. We not only broke it, but broke it with almost ridiculous ease; and for a clear stretch of 3,000 yards north of the Ancre, to an aver- age depth of about a mile, the whole front line system is ours. We have subjected the front here to severe shelling at various times of late. Before our attack this morning it was given only a short bombardment, but of the fiercest possible characjter. The infantry attack, immediately behind the bombardment, seems to have taken the Germans completely by sur- prise. Men who were in the attack say that there was no serious opposition until the fourth line of trench was reached. All the first three seem to have been lightly held, and we swept into and over them with hardly a check. The fourth trench was full of Germans, some of whom fought; but at many points they appear to have surrendered with a unanimity which was almost enthusiasm. The attack took place at six o'clock in the morning, when it was still dark; and all the information that one has comes from men who were engaged, from wounded, and from Ger- man prisoners. From these, piecing fragments together, it appears that our men went over in the darkness and fog, on the section of the front from the Ancre to above Beaumont Hamel, with extremely light losses. The machine guns here seem generally to have failed to get to work. The ground was muddy, but less bad than might have been expected, and in an extraordinarily short time our men had reached the fourth-line trench and the Germans were surrendering. One battalion alone of an English county regiment took over 300 prisoners to the south of Beaumont Hamel. At Beaumont Hamel itself 700 were captured; and in these two batches eome six or seven regiments were represented, among them being the 2nd, 15th, 23rd, 55th, 62nd, and 68th. To the Germans and to German prestige the capture of Beaumont Hamel must be a blow as heavy as was the fall of Thiepval. As a feat of arms it is even more remarkable, because Thiepval we were enabled to attack from the south, rolling up the German first line defences as we went. Here we have had to strike those defences from in front, and it would be diffi- cult to conceive a position better suited than Beaumont Hamel itself to defence.

i GUNPOWDER. I Gunpowder is made from the following mixture: Potassium nitrate, 75 parts; char- coal, 15 parts; sulphur, 10 parts—all by weight. Perfect incorporation in a very finely powdered state is important, while purity of ingredients is essential. The methods of manufacture on a large scale are exceedingly dangerous; one involves hydraulic pressure of the powder. This largely effects the ultimate burning pro. perties.

The bride was doing the shopping for the first time. She stopped at a fishmonger's and looked over the array of sea food. All perfectly fresh, ma'am," said the dealer, in- gratiatingly. "Oh, dear!" exclaimed the bride. "That's what everybody says. I wish I could find some stalo fish You see, my husband has indigestion, and the doctor won't even let him eat fresh bread, and- I'm sure fresh fish would be even worse lor him." k a..—.

I OTHER MEN'S MINDS. We need not a n-arrow patriotism, but an international patriotism, an extensive regard for the world as a whole, as well as an intensive love of our own country.-SIB FRANCIS YOUNGHUBBAND. I THt: WAY TO FAME. The dullest thing in the world is to be just right. If you want to make a name you must be picturesquely wrong.—LORD MOULTON. a 7 I I THE PROTECTOR. Let us never seek an inch of foreign terri- tory, but let us stand by the little nations that need to be stood by.—PRESIDENT WILSON. I INEQUALITIES OF WEALTH. There is no particular reason for thinking that inequalities of wealth do harm,—Da. A. C. HEADI,AM, I WHY PEACE FAILED. Why was it that all the efforts to avoid the war in July, 1914, failed? Well, be- cause you cannot have peace without good- will, and because in Berlin there was the will to war and not the will to peace.-Vis. COUNT GREY. I CABINET AND COMMONS. But I am very much in favour, if it can be devised, of some system which would enable Ministers of the Crown, particularly those connected with the Foreign Office, to give, much more freoly than they can in de- bate in the House of Commons, the leasons for their policy, the difficulties of all sorts which they meet, which caraiot even be alluded to or suggested in the House.—LOKD ROBERT CECIL. ENOUGH FOR EVERYBODY. There is absolutely no necessity for hard times. There is enough in this world for. everybody.-MIt. HENRY FORD. HOW TO BE HAPPY. It is evident that the pathway to happi- ness does not lie along the lines of apathy, or mere belief; it must be found in true, or scientific, thinl-lng.-Mp.. J. S. BRAITH* WAITE. THAT EXTRA GLASS. With regard to drunkenness, the Govern- Inent has done very good work in diminish- ing it by closing the public-houses earlier. But, on the other hand, it is quite certain that the habits of the people in consoling themselves in sorrow and celebrating their joys by taking an extra glass—which means too much-have not altered at all as a result of the war.-MR. CECIL CHAPMAN. AN IMPERIOUS DUTY. There is no more imperious duty in a free country than to teach the citizen obedience to the higher interests of his country.—M. CHERON. I CONGRESS OF THE EMPIRE. The end of the war will produce a condi- tion of things hardly lees formidable than the most critical moment of its existence. The Congress pf Vienna will be a mere joke compared with the coming Peace Congress. Another congress will be scarcely less im- portant; that will be the Congress of the Empire, than which no more important meeting will have taken place since the barons met King John at Runnymede.— EARL OF KOSEBERY. I PERSONAL ECONOMY. Personal economy is essential if we are t*. win a complete victory. It is essential if we are to secure a satisfactory peace when the victory is won.-MR. MCKENNA. I THE SAFEST PATH. The path of honour is the safest path for an Empire which is entitled to live.—SIB GUORGK REID, M.P. REVOLUTIONARY SOCIALISM. I Socialism will become more revolutionary after the war and less in favour of social reform.—MB. J. RAMSAY MACDONALD, M.P. I THE WAY TO VICTORY. There are a thousand ways of losing, but only one way of winning the war, and that is by concentration of effort-by realising that the power of Germany is only begin- ning to be broken, and that the victorious end will come about, not only by the valour of our Navy and Army, but by the work of every man and woman in the country.-Ma. ERNEST NEWTON, A.R.A. PLAYS AND SERMONS. I A really good play is better in many re- spects in its biting force than a good ser- mon-c,ert.ainlv better than a bad one.— BISHOP OF LONDON. "THE MECCA OF THE BRITISH." I As one of those New Zealanders who are of opinion that the Empire will stand for all time, so I believe that London will be its capital until the last trumpet sounds—the Imperial city, the Mecca of the British, proud but kindly and hospitable to the kindred of its citizens and the stranger within its gateS.-RT. HolO. W. F. MASSEY. THE YOUNG MEN. I The war has to be won, and it is only by the young men that it can be won.—MB. N T-TN N F-LEY. WHEN THEY RETURN. I Beyond all, we owe it to our fighting men that when they return to the land of their fathers, which by their bravery they will have preserved, they shall find that land better provided with all that makes life pleasant and passable than it was when they first drew the rword.-Ma. WA.LTzi& LONG. TON FOR TON. I Germany is sinking British and central ships in order that she shall be supreme on the sea after the war. Our great shipping industry must be restored, and the State must recognise that, and we must exact from Germany—keel for keel and ton for ton—what she has sunk as a condition of anv peace terms- -IzzrT. -COLOBTZL PAGB CROFT, M.P. UNITERSnTES AND SCIENCE. I Why should not a man who ia going to 1 make his way in the world in technology have the advantage of living with those best capable of teaching him and of seeing them do their work, just as those have who are doing academic work? I earnestly trust that our universities will try as far as pos- Bible to bring into their curriculum of edu- cation the contests that have to be fought with things on a practica.1 scale, as well as the purer and more abstract questions, that are met with in the laborator,LoRD MOULTON.

AIR RAID ON CAIRO. I The War Office on Wednesday made the following announcement :-Yesterday an enemy I airplane, flying very high, dropped several bombs in and about Cairo, killing and wound- ing a number of civilians. No military dam-age was done, and only one military casualty was incurred. I

JUMPED IN FRONT OF TRAIN. ) A verdict of "Suicide" was returned at a Paddington inquest on Stephen Alibert Carter, grocer, carrying on business at Shepherd's Bush, who was seen to walk to the edge of the platform at Praed-etreet Station, place his hands to his head and jump in front of a train.

ENGINEER ACQUITTED. I At the Old Bailey, before the Recorder, no J cadence was offered against Gordon Cale Thomas, fifty-one, a wen-IcnowQ canal engi- neer, indicted for embezzling and converting to his own use cheques which it was alleged » he had received on behalf of his employers, 1 the Grand Junction Canal Company. He was found not guilty and discharged.

GALLANT SOLDIERS. I The Portuguese, though but a small and decidedly impoverished nation, has a very efficient army. The Portuguese cavalry is among the finest in the world. In ordinary times the soldiers, some of them quite small men, wear a sort of light-blue cotton uni- form, which is very serviceable, and pecu- liarly adapted to their own country. In the mountainous districts, when the soldiers are taken for a long route march, and per- haps a certain amount of laxity is allowed after a very trying day, the Portuguese soldiers will discard boots and socks, and walk over the rough and stony passes bare- footed. The Portuguese soldier, if brought np in the country, has, when young, been accustomed to go long distanoes with bare feet, and the soles of his feet have got so hard and used that stones and rocks do not bother him at all, while boots even irritate his feet.

A person entered an inn with a dog, and an Irishman asked what breed it was. The owner looked the questioner insolently up and down, and then replied, with a drawl: "It is a cross between an ape and an Irish- man." "Faith, thin, we're both related to the beast," was the ready retort. The tramp touched flifl hat and walked along beside the horseman. Ie You wouldn't think it, sir," he said, "but I once had a happy home." "Then," said the rider, "why didn't yon do something to keep it happy?" "I did, air," said the tramp; "I left it."

Examining Medical Officer (to -new I omit): "Got any scars on you?" New Re- cruit (under a misapprehension): "No, air; but yon're welcome to my packet of fags."

r BOOKS AND MAGAZINES. I "A SHIP FOR A SHIP." The conclusions of war will witness a re- markable development in shipping circles (writes James Armstrong in "The World's Work"). Practically speaking, the develop- ment of the transoceanic vessel has been stand- ing still while we have been at death-grips. Vill it be resumed at the point where it was suddenly dropped, or will the return of peace coincide with the dawn of a new era with ideas of a totally different character? Upon this point nothing conclusive can be said. The war has taught many lessons, and it is quite possible that something startling will reveal itself in connection with shipbuilding. One thing is certain. Huge tonnage losses have got to be made up by some means or other. If not, the trade of the world will be restricted for some time after the return of peace, involving the maintenance of exce-ive freights. There is one unknown quantity. This is the intention of the authori- ties in regard to the German mercantile marine. Upon this highly important issue im- pressive silence has been maintained. Does the Government intend to act upon the Biblical precept and to mulct the enemy "a ship for a ship" as the retort to the indiscriminate sinking of our merchant vessels by German submarines. If so, the situation will assume a vastly different aspect. The posi- tion of Britain's mercantile marine hinges to a large extent upon the decision of the authori- ties in this one direction. Deprive the enemy of the bulk of her carrying vessels, and she will be completely paralysed so far as the outside markets are concerned. Even their re- quisition to perform national work until such time as we can get our own vessels back again to their normal trade will prove dis- astrous to the bitterest enemy the British merchantman has ever known. | WHAT THE WOUNDED READ. What do our wounded soldiers in hospital r,c,adp Yies Beatrice Harrdden, the novelist, had a unique opportunity of finding out when she became joint honorary librarian with Miss Elizabeth Robins to the Military Hospital in Ende 11-street, and she gives the result in the new "Cornhill." The fiction writers most frequently asked for are Nat Gould, Garvice, Le Queux, Haggard, Boofchby, Oppenheim, Rex Beach, Doyle, Corelli, Joseph and Silas Hocking, Jack Lon- don, Dickens, Mrs. Henrv Wood, Kipling (whose "Barrack Room Ballads" were learnt by heart), Dumas, Ian Hay, Baroness Orczy, and Hornung. But there is a large demand also for serious books. An inquiry for a book on high explosives set the librarians to encouraging the men to ask for technical works, and the result was the circulation among them of books on paper- making, printing, cabinet-making, engineer- ing, marine engineering, veterinary work, old furniture, chemistry, languages, aeroplanes, electricity, violin-making, the Stone Age, architecture, and so on. A Nova Scotia soldier wanted a book on fish-curing-his father's business: he was anxious to learn Eng- lish methods before he was invalided out and returned home. A cripple who used to be a second-hand dealer found a book on Sheffield plate, lent by a generous antiquary, a perfect godsend—he said it was a rare chance to get hold of that book and make copious notes from it which would be invaluable to him afterwards. CROSS-EXAMINATION. A. coroner was holding an inquest on tM body of an Italian. The only witness was a small boy of the same nationality, who spoke no English. The coroner asked him:- "Where do you live, my boy?" The boy shook his head. "Do you speak English?" Another shake of the head. "Do you speak French?" Another shake. -» "Do you speak German?^ Still no answer. "How old are you?" No reply. "Do you speak Itali.an™ The boy gave no sign. "Well, gentlemen," said the coroner to the iury "I have questioned the witness in four languages, as you have Been for yourselves, but with no result. It is therefore useless to proceed. The court is adjourned. —From "Å Book of Laughter," by Edwin Pugh. (Cecil Palmer and II-ayward.) MUSIC AS CONSUMPTION CURE. In urging the value of music as a treatment for consumption, Dr. Thomas J. Mays, cf Philadelphia, says, in an article in the York Medical Journal," that it seems probab.e by far the larger number of cases will recciv- benefit from those forms that are in majoi keys. "For," he adds, "it is a patent fact that, no matter how cheerful and elated patients cf this kind may seem to be, in their lonely moments there is nearly always present an undercurrent feeling of tribulation and oppres- sion. "Major music," writes Dr. Mays, is a tonic to the emotions, at least in moderate quantities. and wakes joy. animation, hope, happiness, and courage, and its action may be compared to that of a tonic or stimulant dose of strychnine or quinine, while minor music depresses emo- tional activity, the action of which is analogous to that of a bromide or of a sleeping potion." To the objection that most lullabies are written in major keys, Dr. Mays answers that sleeplessness is generally due to a subnormal mental or nervous state, so that toning up or elevating is more likely to cause sleep than is further depression. I LIFE-STORY OF AN OYSTER. I Professor Trevor Kinkaid, biologist of the University of Washington, and one of the greatest authorities on oysters, recently made public a complete history of the life of the puget Sound oyster. The University News Letter summarises this as follows: In the early summer, usually about the third week in May, 200,000 eggs are expelled from the body of the mother-not out into .the water, as is the case with the Eastern variety- but inside the shell. Here the eggs are incu- bated, and undergo a series of changes during eeven to ten days. Finally, when they are nearly ready to leave the mother shell, the eggs become larvae, with bivalvular shells like those of the clam, and when about a fiftieth of an inch in diameter they are just visible to the naked eye as specks. Provided with hair-like organs for swimming, they leave the shelter of the mother and paddle about in freedom for about a month. During the swimming period the little oyster undergoes no great changes in form, but grows until it is about twice the diameter at which it began independent life. It is carried here and there over the beds with the tide, and can be caught for experimentation with a fine gauze net. 9- i ?, .g tired of roaming, the oyBtcr settles on one side upon an old shell or & rock, and the mantle which manufactures its permanent covering begins fastening to th*: anchorage. The shell frills out larger and larger, until, about ten days after coming to rest, it becomes easily visible. The oyster grows all summer, and then stops its increase until spring. Four years later, or perhaps three, it is large enough to be gathered and appear on the table.

At the Licensing Sessions at Newington, London, S.E., the magistrate announced that in future they would not be disposed to consider applications for the transfer oi licences to men of military age. An A.S.C. private was fined £ 4 at Felt- ham for driving a motoor-bicycle at thirty miles an hour, although he pleaded that he was carrying a War Office message at the time.

Scraps of fat meat should never be thrown away. They should be melted, down and then c'nrlfied. The dripping obtained from them is excellent. To give pastry a brown, shiny finish, beat an egg into about a teaspoonful of water until both are well mixed; brush on to the paltry before putting into the oven. If hard fruit is just oovered with cold water, brought quickly to the boil, and the water then drained off and the cooking started afresh, very little sugar will be needed. When darning stockings, thread your needle also with a good, fine, strong thread the same length as the wool, and then darn in the usual way. Stockings darned this way will last double the time. To prevent cake-icing from becoming too sugary, add a teaspoonful of vinegar in the making. Dirt can be soaked out, eo that if clothes are put in soak overnight the washing is half done before the actual labour of wash- ing is commenced. Hot water fixes dirt and stains; lukewarm water is the best solvent of dirt. Flannels and coloured garments must never be soaked overnight; soaking shrinks flannels and causes colours to run or fade. To clean the pipe of the scullery sink add a teaspoonful of pow,-Iered ammonia to two ta We.spoonfuls of soda, and pour over it a gallon of boiling water. This v,-ill dissolve any grease in the sink. I CLEANING FLUID. 0 A useful cleaning fluid for scouring un- painted wood may be made by mixing together lye made from wood ashes and as much unslaked limt" as the lye will dissolve. This may be diluted to any required strength. It should be put in the water to be used for scrubbing. I BLACKING FOR STOVES. A blacking t-hat will be found invaluable for stoves is made by mixing equal parte of kerosene and turpentine mixffl with a good stove polish until you have a paste of the consistency of thick cream. Apply while the stove is slightly warm and polish with a flannel cloth. I DISH-COVERS. Dish-covers should be carefully wiped in- side after use, and before they are hung again on the rack. If they are put away wet, the dust which flies about the kitchen makes a thick crust of mud, which is more difficult to remove than if it is a layer of light dust. The mud forms a breeding-plaoe for harmful germs, and it is quite easily possible for certain diseases to be spread through the food if the inside of a dish-cover is not kept clean. I MENDING BROKEN CHINA. To mend broken china, mix well a tea- spoonful of alum and a tabloopoonful of water, and place in a hot oven until quite transparent. Wash the broken pieoes in hot water, dry, and while still warm coat the broken edges thickly and press together very quickly, for it sticks instantly. To WKITEN LINGERIE. To whiten handkerchiefs and delicate lingerie, wash and dry in the usual manner, then to cne pint of cold water add two tablespoonfuls of granulated sugar, stirring until thoroughly dissolved. Let handker- chiefs, etc., soak in this water one half. hour. Dry in the open air. I A GOOD FLOOR STAIN. Procure two pennyworth of glue and two pennyworth of brown umber. Any oil and colourman will supply these. Boil the glue in a quart of water, and when quite dis- solved, mix in the brown umber. When cool, paint evenly on the boards, which should previously have been scrubbed and made free from dust. The boards must be quite dry. When the stain is dry, finish with a coat of clear varnish, and the floor will be as smooth as glass and have a beaati- ful polish. To WASH A FUR RrG. You can wash your white skin rug at home. Follow these directions. Remove the canvas backing, then tack the rug round an empty barrel. Make a good lather of parai- fin soap, hot water. and one tablespoonful of ammonia. Wash the rug thoroughly with this, then rinse with oold water. Don't spare the latter- As the skin dries, rub up t te fur wrong way, or comb it up with a large comb. When the skin is quite dry, re- place the backing of canvas, and you'll fee) pleased with the result. SOME USEFUL RDCIPES. A KICli: CAKE.-Tal-e a quart-er of a pound of butter, a quarter of a pound of sugar, two eggs and a little milk, six ounces of pelf-raising flour, half a pound of currants, half a pound of sultanas, two ounces of can- died peel, and a pinch of spice. Beat the sugar and eggs together. Cream the butter, and add this with the flour and fruit last. Add enough milk to make the mixture a softish dough. Bake in a prepared tin Jor two hours. BOILED RABBIT.—Rub the rabbit well with flour, and put inside it a couple of cloves, a blade of mace, and one or two whole peppers; placa it, without water, in a covered earthen jar, and set the jar in a pan of boiling water for three hours. A small piece of bacon may be put into the water when the rabbit has been on the fire for two hours. Chop three large onions very finely, and put them into a pan with a quarter of a pint of milk, a little piece of butter, and pepper and salt to taste; boil for twenty minutes, make a thickening of a dessert- spoonful of flour and half a cupful of milk, and add, passing through a strainer, to the onions; simmer far ten minutes, stirring well. Put the rabbit on a dish, draining off the rich gravy from it into a tureen; slice the bacon and lav round it; pour over it the onion sauce, and garnish with little sprigs of parsley and watercress. COLD CAULIFLOWER MOULD.-Greace a cake-tin well, sprinkle a ta.ble.spoonful of raspings all over it, then put in a layer of cold mashed potatoes, nioely seasoned. The potatoes must entirely line the tin, bottom and sides. Boil a cauliflower, break it into small pieces, and cover it with white sauce. Put a layer of cauliflower into the tin, cover thickly with grated cheeee, and repeat the layers of cauliflower and cheeee till the tin is three-parts full. Then oover with mashed potato, and bake in a hot oven for a quarter of an hour. Turn out when cold. AN ECONOMICAL PUDDING.—Take half a pound or six ounces of flour, two ounces of L breadcrumbs, one teaspoonful of sugar, three ounces of suet, finely chopped, four I ounces of dates. Mix the dry ingredients together, then add the dates, after stoning and chopping. Make into a stiff paste with water, tie in a floured cloth, and boil for » two hours. To USE TIp COLD MEAT.—Cut the meat in » slices. Make a batter with half a pound of r flour and a little milk or water, dip the f meat in the batter, and fry in hot fat until brown. Put it on a dish in the oven to keep hot. Add a little flour to the fat in the pan, also a little water; stir well, and bring to r the' boil. Pour this round the meat, and serve with a good dish of mashed potatoes.

More English canaries are being bred now than at any time previously owing to the lack of German-bred birds.. The "Ausburger Abendzeitung" an J nounces that rates for telegrams by wireless A from Germany to the United States have £ been reduced from Is. Old per word to 4-!d. Nearly X700 was raised at New Bamet for the Our Day Fund. <