South Wales Echo

-4_ JarHAH AND so: real Welsh flannel shirts an d shirtings, made from the boat Welsh yarns.—26 and 27 St Mary-street, Cardiff, 12610

JOTHAM AND SONS' indigo blue serge and Dungaree jackets and trousers are warranted fast colours, and to stand hard wear.—26 and 27, St Mary-street, Cardiff. „ 2600 I FEEL SO WEAllY AND TIRm" Is the exclamation of many whom we daily meet, yet they never pause to think or reflect upon the cause of this feeling. It may arise from sluggith vnd impure blood.' which, if neglected, is the forerunner of serious and chronic disorders. This weary and tired feeling is nature warning us that there Is something wrong, which must be set right, or a long and lingering illness will speedily follow. What does nature require to throw off this wearv and tired feeling? She requires to have new life and energy imparted to all the organs of the body, and the best means to do so is to take "Gwilym Evans" Quinine Bitters," which purities the blood, and imparts new life and energy. It is invalu. able to those who are sullering from affections of the chest, indigestion, nervousness, debility In its worst forms, depression of spirits, and melancholy. GWILYM EVANS'S QUININE BITTERS. THE VEGETABLE TONic.-This preparation is now exten. sively taken throughout the country by patients suffer- ing from debility, nervousness, and general exhaustion, and if any value be attached to human testimony, the efficacy of medicine this has been successfully estab- lished. its claims have been tested and proved by the medical profession and others, and corroborated by the written testimonials of eminent meu. The Quinine fritters contain not only a suitable quantity of Quinine in each dose, but the active principles of the following well-known herbs—sarsaparilla, saffron, gentian, laven- der, am dandelion root. The use of Quinine is well known, but it has never been satisfactorily combined with these preparations until, after overcoming consi derable difficulties, the proprietor was able to secure a perfectly uniform preparation, combining all the essential properties of the above plants in thei greatest purity and concentration. It is now established as a family medicine, and is increasing in popular favour the more it is known and tested. Gwyiim vans's Quinine Bitters is a tonic Pick-me-up, scientifically mixed in happy proportions. MODE OF ACTION.—(And here lies the secret of the Remedy-)—The Quinine Bitters (being a vegetable S, by their peculiar power, strengthen that part of which is weakest, and. therefore, most the ijstem ^ejr attendant diseases. Tho in- liable to eoids a t be put into pills, but the SSSSST' £ "»»» "wSxta A- '•»»' exp sure. "ss:•* EVA»S' QUI*.™ by Analysts, Ohemist-i. Sold in Sa M and Its 6-1 lioiilr.«, and -umtaMuW lis t>:l per cane, by all Chti.itsts, or from the Proprietor, carriage f-ree, -8t (uii-ler eooer), N.B.-Noonj should suffer wiLli";IL tryme (iwilym Kvans Quinine Bitters." — Mi- uwiiym ttvaus, F.C.S., Propmtor, Laboratory. Lianally South WoUa. "0808

FACTS AND FANCIES. MOVING SPECTACLE.—A diorama. GENUINE CGWVRED MINSTRELS.—Canaries. A DIFFICULT LOCK TO PICK.—One from a bald head. It is oDd dispute that tk$sura who travels oatder an alias may boast that he has made a name for himself. WITH REGARD TO OUR CRIMINAL POPULATION.— If time is money, judges and magistrates are generous men, FACT FEMININE.—It is a fact that, no matter how loose an engagement ring may be, the diamond never slips round on the inside of a lady's finger. A friend asked a gourmand, "What kind of dinners lie the hardest on your stomach 2" Those to which I am not invited, answered the bon vivant. "If you want to keep your friends," said a hilarious old gentleman, you must treat them kindly." "Yes," remarked his wife; "but you must not treat them too often." REASONED OUT.—Philanthropist to tramp Why don't you work ?" It would be folly." "How so?" "Well, you see, when I work I be- come thirsty, and then I spend more money on beer than I earn." A judge, when asked why he had allowed a totally unnecessary female witness to appear and testify, said, I know that it was not necessary but I saw that she had a new bonnet and was striving to show it." if it were customary in this country to confer titles upon indixiduals of rank in literature," asked a shallow but conceited journalist of another, "what should I be?" "Barren of ideas, my boy," was the response. What is this, my son ?" asked a fond parent. "Your school report of last month said, Con- duct-exemplary,' while for this month it reads, Condxict-execrible. I What did you do?" "Just what I did the month before, only the master noticed me." An old offender was lately brought before a learned justice of the peace in Shropshire. The constable, as a preliminary, informed his worship that he had in custody John Simmons, alias Jones, alias Smith. "Very well," said the magistrate, I will try the two women first. Bring in Alice Jones." iN A, SIR.At an-hotel in Glasgow a gentle- man, finding that the person who acted as waiter could not give him certain information which he wanted, put the question, Do you belong to the establishment?" To which the vyalter replied, "Na, sir; I belong to the Free Kirk." COMMON SEXSE.—During the recent Egyptian war, an officer, it is said, scaled a pyramid unac- companied, save by a heliograph. He signalled from the summit to the General, "Forty cen- turies salute thee But the victorious one had a heliograph too, and w,th it spake these words- Come down directly, and don't make a con- founded fool of yoursdf 1" "Yes," said the sober-faced man, "we tried everything for her. We had allopaths and homcepaths and water-cures and all sorts of cures, and tuey could do nothing for her. We finally gave up in despair, and-" "And she lingered for a week or two, until death at last brought relief to her suffering ?" said the man who inter- rupts. "No: she got well immediately." A well-known journalist and his son were occu- pants of an omnibus which also carried that most intolerable of nuisances, a whistler. Who is that lady who is whistling?" asked father of son, in very audible voice. "It is not a lady, papa," replied the son it is a gentleman." A gentle- man exclaimed the parent. "You must, be mistaken, my boy. No gentleman ever whistles in an omnibus A frog fell into a pail of milk in a Connecticut town one aight recently, and in the morning was found sitting upon a roll of fresh butter. A local paper says that the sole explanation is that, in trying to extricate himself, the frog had by dili- gent and continuous strokes of his long legs churned the milk into butter. The farmer's boy, who got up in the morning, discovered the frog in the milk, and arranged things as they were found, enjoys the amazement of the folk about. At a school examination recently the inspector put the following question On what side of a jug is the handle placed ?" The boy standing dux said it was on the right side but, on being asked to prove it, it was found that he could not. The second boy thought it was Oil the left side, but lie likewise could not prove it. The inspector passed round the class withouu getting another answer until he came to a^bright little fellow at the foot, who exclaimed, Why, it's on the outside He got the certificate. TURN ABOUT FAIR PLAY.-Tho father of Ex- President, Arthur is a sturdy Batlst minister, of whom this anecdote is told. "e presiding over the Baptist church in West Iroy, his choir drawled out a hymn with variations which did not pleass him so he took his text and preached for two hours and forty minutes. His head deacon grew impatient, and consulted his watch. "Keep your watch in your pocket, Deacon Jones, said he "You had a long Sing and now I am going to preach till I get through." BROKKN FRIENDSHIP.-It happened at a ball. A fashionable young lady, who was very homeiy, was speaking to a female friend about a rich young fellow who was also at the ball, and who. was considered quite a catch." He is such an intelligent and charming young man. He pro- mised to dance the first dance with me, and he kept his promise like a gentleman," remarked the homely lady. Yes," responded her friend, yawning, I heard him say that it was one of his rules cf life, when he had anything disagreeable to do, to take it in hand as soon as possible, and have done with it." Those two young ladies do not speak now. Mr Blomberg and Mr Blumenthal kept rival ready-made clothing-shops at the East-end, within a few doors of each other. Mr Blomberg was always to be found with his head out of the door, soliciting custom from the verdant passer-by. Mr Blumenthal objected to this manner of doing business, having found that the watchful Blom- berg had captured several of his customers and one day he went up to Blomberg and said, Look here, Mr Blomberg, vy don't you keep your ugly face inside You might petter get a. jackass to stand py de door. He vould pe a pig improvement. Vy," said Blomberg," I did try dot vonce, and all de people, as dey pass py, say to him, Good day, Mr Blumenthal; I see you've moved. An American advocate badgered a witness until he lost his temper. The witness incidentally said something about a cat, and the crafty lawyer sttped upon this as the means of still further worrying the witness. How old was the cat ? asked the attorney. "I don't know," was the answer. "How old do you think ahe was. it was a tom-cat." "I didn't ask you about the s x of the cat. I asked how old it WM You asked how old she was. knfiw » old was the cat?" "I Oh I can't telU"1" You° can° telT how old you think sha the8ittorney 6 Twit T plafn Answer toa plain the attorney, you think that cat was ?" The wit'nesa looked straight at the attorney, wW««hining bald head was the most prominent f IS ""J ^"0h.1 can't guess how old the cat was but she was old enough to be bald-headed!' One day a grand Post-office official happened to be passing through a Government office with which he was not connected. There he saw a man 'standing before the fire reading a newspaper. Hours afterwards, returning the same way, he was shacked to find the same man, legs extended, before the same fire, still buried in the columns of a newspaper. Hallo, sir," cried the indignant head of the department, WThat are you, doing Can't you see what I am doing ?" was the answer. 41 Sir, I came through this office four hours ago, and I found you reading the paper I return, and you are still wasting your time in the same manner." "Very true; you ba\e stated the case to a nicety." The head of the department fiaed up. What is your name, sir?" he said. Well, I don't know that my name is any affair of yours—what is your name T Sir, I would have you know that I am the so-and-so of the Post- office Indeed! Well, I am very glad to hear it. I am, sir, simply one of the public, who has beon kept waiting here for four hours for an answer to a simple question, and I shall be much obliged if you will use your influence to get me attended to."

No. 119,GREAT PORTER SQUARE. By B. L. FARJEON, I By B. L. FARJEON, Author of Sign of the Silver Flagon," 44 Blade- o'-Grass," "Grif," &c., 1 CHAPTER XXX.—BECKY'S REPLY TO HER LOVRR'S STATEMENT. I MY DEAREST,—It is now very near morning, within an hour of the time I am expected to rise. I have been up all the night, and having read the story of your life from beginning to end, have re-read some portions again and again, so that they shall be fixeu permanently in my mind. How I love and pity you To say, as you desire me to say, that my faith is not shaken, is but a poor expression of my feelings towards you. My faith is strengthened, my love is strengthened, my hope is strengthened. Sitting in my little cupboard of a bedrjom, with Fanny sleeping peacefully in my bed-yes, my dear, my poor little friend is with me again I found her, the night before last, fainting for food at the street door of No. 119— sitting here, in the presence of that poor human waif, with my candle nearly burnt out, and the dim light of the morning just beginning to dawn, it seems to me as if a star is shining upon me, instilling into my heart a wonderful faith and courage. I am not tired, but that may be because of my excitement and exaltation. I intend to be careful and prudent. When the housework is done, I shall take sfome rest. I might have little now, but that I can turn my thoughts to nothing until I write to you what is in my mind. My faith is not shaken I repeat it; and I add, let not your faith be shaken. Whatever occurs, do not for a moment doubt me; do not for a moment lose faith in me. You say that I must have been guided by a higher than a human im- pulse when 1 took the strange step of transform- ,tnt ing myself into a servant-of-all work, and seeking service with Mrs Freely, in the home next to that in which your dear father was murdered. Do you re- member my telling you in my first letter that an inspiration had fallen upon me when I conceived the idea ? And if at that time, before it was known who it was who had been so mysteriously murdered, I believed my idea to bean inspiration, how much more reason have I to believe it now that the awful crime is brought so close to us and is so woven into your life ? You declare that you will bring your lather's murderer to justice, and you ask me to help you. What answer can I make you ? This. That all that a woman's power, all that a woman's devotion, and all that a woman's self-acrifice, can do to the end to ivhich you have pledged yourself, shall be done by me. I can do much, more than you can imagine pos- sible, if certain thoughts, created by what you have written, touch even the border-land of truth. They do, I believe, and they will lead me to the fulfilment of what we both with all our hearts desire. But you must be guided by me. For once in the way, let a woman take the command, and let her prove herself capable. Not that you could not accomplish what is necessary for your happiness, and in the cause or truth and justice, a great deal better than 1. But your hands are not free you cannot move without the ri .;k of being watched and persecuted and hampered—while I am free to act, without the slightest chance of being suspected. I am comparatively unknown, and can work without fear besides, I am a woman, and can do what you would scorn to do. No man can be a match for such a creature as Lydia Holdfast—let us call her by that name. It must be a case of Greek meeting Greek, and in me this woman will find more than her match. So for the present do not move openly do not run the risk of being discovered. Do nothing that will put our enemies 011 their guard above all, do not write to the newspaper which published Lydia Hold- fast's infamous story a friend has already stepped forward 111 vindication of your character, and that should be a comfort to you, as it was to me. You are right in saying that it will be best it should be believed that you are dead therefore, do nothing rashly, but leave all to me. See, now—I am writing with so much conn- dence and assurance that any one who did not know me would suppose I had a very wise head on my shoulders. W ell, it may not be very wise, but it is clever and cunning, and that is just what is wanted—cunning to meet cunning. What is it Shakespeare says abous bearing your heart upon your sleeve ? Not for me; L will keen my heart nidden, where only you can find it, and will wear in its place something that will make in a smile, or pout, or cry—whichever will best serve my turn. "You see, my dear, I am on the spot, and in a position which gives me. such immense advan- tages! Your father has been cruelly murlered- the discovery of the murderer will lead to all the rest. There is in this houso a man who is in some way interested in the mystery, who is living under assfilliei narrw, who paints and wears a wig, and who endeavours to pass himself oif as a foreigner. I must find who this Xiichard Manx really is, and what is his motive in taking a room at the very top of the house, and in pesentmg himself here under a disguise. It is to hira I have traced the report that our house and the next are haunted. He has a purpose in spreading the report. Perhaps it is because he does not wish the house to be let until he has found what he is searching for in the room in which your poor father was killed. flt- might take it himself, you say. But would not this be to attract to himself an amount of atten- tion which would not be agreeable to him ? As to his being as poor as he professes to be, I do not believe a word of it. He has taken up his quar- ters here in such a manner as to cause him to be but little noticed, and that has been done with de- liberate intention. I could say a hundred more things my mind is so crowded, but I have no time. I shall not send this letter through the post. Asleep in my bed is a trusty little friend, who will faithfully carry out what I give her to do. She will come to you, and you can say whatever you please to her-give her what message you like-and do not attempt to employ her in any other way than in bringing to me whatever you wish me to receive. I myself have a very delicate piece of work for her to do. I long to see you, to embrace you, to comfort you; but for a little while we must remain apart. I cannot come to you, nor can you come to me. We have too much at stake to run the slightest risk. I propose to write to you every night, and to send Fanny to you every morning with my letter. You can give her your letters to me. Do not send any more strange men to the house. Richard Manx might see them, and il; suspicions might be aroused. Perhaps the hardest duty before us is the duty of patience, but unless we submit we shall fail in our purpose. So let us be brave and patient, working not for the present but for the future. My love, my heart, are yours fer ever, and I thank God that 1 have such a m'1I as you to love. If I write in a' more serious vein than I am accustomed to do it is because I recog- nise the seriousilesf of the task upon which we are engaged it is not that I am altered 1 could not write lightly if I tried, and in your eyes 1 would not be false. I cannot say good night, it is morning. Well, to us sunrise is better than sunset. Keep a stout heart, and do not despoud—for Jour own sake and mine. Farewell, dear love, for a few hours." CHAPTER XXXI.—BECKY GIVES A DESCRIP- TION OF AN INTERVIEW BETWEEN HERSELF AND RICHARD MANX. My dearest Love,—How did you like my little messenger, Fanny? Is she not steady, and bright, and clever ? When she woke this morning I had an earnest conversation with her, and as far as was necessary I told her my plans, and that I wanted her faithful assistance. She cried for joy. The few words she managed to get out convinced me that, child as she is, I could not be betcer served by a grown up Pe tson. Besides, 1 want a child to assist me; a grown-up person might spoil my plans. In what way? Patience, my dear, patience.. Mrs Preedy noticed that I looked tired, and I told her that I had been kept awake all tho night with toothache. She expressed great sympathy with me. It is wonderful the position I hold in the house I am treated more like a lady than a servant. That is/because I have lent my mistress forty pounds, and have agreed to pay for little Fanny's board and lodging. Mrs Preedy threw out a b;.nt about taking me into partnership, if I would invest my fancied legacy into the business. We could keep on this house,' she said, and take another on the other side of the square.' I said it was worth thinking about, but that, of course, I could do nothing until I received the whole/amount of the legacy, which v/ould be in three weeks' time. So the matter rests during these! three weeks Mrs Preedy will be very gracious to me, I expect. She said this morning, when I told her about my toothache- You had better lie down, my dear.' Actually 'Mv dear! I I did lie down; and I had a good rest, so that my keeping up all night did not hurt me. I feel now quite refreshed, although it is night, and eleven o'clock. Mrs Preedy, as usual, is out gossiping with Mrs Beale, and I am writing in the kitchen. When she comes home I shall con- tinue my letter in my bedroom. I have much to tell you. Things seem to move on rapidly. I have no doubt that in a very short time something important will come to light. After sending I went up to our be Bailey. From her I news. She had passed the next house, as of son. room in which your father. again,' she said, and had co couple of hours. She deolarec like mica; &nd that she dia what to think. What sbe did was almost frightened out of hei that Fanny should sleep in her or two, and I told her about the will be company for you,' I said. was delighted at the suggestion, < consent of Mrs Preedy, I made u Fanny on the floor, close to the wa. sleeping there now. I am satisfied s because Richard Manx is not in the ho, confided in Fanny, and she is so dev service that I am certain, while she is ii sound can be made in the room adjoining ► her hearing it. Her faculties have been at by a life of want, and her nature is a very one. It was not without reflection that taken advantage of the opportunit- change Fanny's bedroom. It will afforc a better excuse for going upstairs more frequt than usual, and thus keeping a watch on movement of our young man lodger. It will a. give Fanny al\. opportunity of watching him for I intend employing her in this way, and in watching another person too. Richard Manx 4 has not seen my detective yet, nor shall he see her, if it can be prevented. My instructions to Fanny are to keep herself carefully out of his sight it is part of a plan, as yet half formed, that she should be very familiar with his face, and he not at all familar with hers. Twice during the day has she seen him, without being seen, and this evening she gave me a description of his personal appearance so faithful as to be really startling., Slight peculiarities in him whieh had escaped my notice have pot escaped Fanny's she had found out even that he wears a wig, and that he paints his face. This poor little child is going to be of invaluable aid to me. If all goes well with us we must take care of her. In- dee, I have promised as much. Now let me tell you what else I have done, and what has occurred. In the note you sent back by Fanny this morning, you express anxiety con- cerning me with reference to Richard Manx. Well, my dear, I intend to take great care. of myself, and in the afternoon I went out shopping, accompanied by Fanny. I paid a visit, being woman, to a milliner and dressmaker, and bought some clothes. For myself ? No, for Fanny, and with them a waterproof to cover her dress completely, from top to tpe. Then I made my way to a wig-ishop in Bow- street, and bought "a wig. For myself ? l'lo- again for Fanny. And, after that, where d,' you think I went ? To a gunsmith, of all the places in the world. There I bought a revolver-the tiniest, dearest little pistol, which I can hold in the palm of my hand without any one but myself being the wiser. I iearnt how to put in the cartridges It is very easy. With that in my pocket, I feel almost as safe as if you were by my side. Uo not be troubled about this, and do not thlnk I am in any danger. I am perfectly safe, and 110 harm will befall me. Of course there is only one person to whom it might happen I would show my pretty little pistol-to Richard Manx. And I am convinced that the merest glimpse of it would be enough for him. You can tell by look- ing into a man's face and eyes whether he is brave as well as bold, and I am satisfied that Richard Manx is a coward. ( To be continued.)

THE OUTBREAK OF SMALL POX AT PENARTH. The cases of small-pox-that most dreaded of -epidp,mics-.it Penarth have caused considerable disquiet, and there is much conjecture as to the origin of the outbreak. There having been some misconception of the facts of the case, we have been asked by Dr. Bird, of Penarth, to publish' the following letter in reference to the report of the proceedings of the Penarth Local Board, and the subsequent letters which appeared in our columns on the subject:— TO THE EDITOR. [ SIB,—With regard to a paragraph in your I paper this morning, permit me to use the writer's own concluding words, It is a pity he should not render himself conversant with facts before he indulges in reckless criticism.'1 Is it fair, after having been misreported by one of your staff, that one should be criticised by another on the strength of the incorrect report ? There are two mistakes in your account of my report to the Penarth .Local Board on Monday. (1.) I did not state that the clothes of the seaman who had died of small-pox were removed from the hospital shipI did say from Cardiff," and this is the fact. (2.) I did not say on the fol- I lowing day he was attacked with small-pox I did say on the tenth day," and this is a very ve' important difference, as you will perceive. The facts with regard to the outbreak are as follows On the 13th of last month' the clothes of the deceased seaman from the ship Benan were sent by the Cardiff port sanitary authorities to the Mercantile Marine Office, where they were examined in a small storeroom by the superin- tendent and inspector in the presence of a group of seamen standing round the open door, doubt- less interested by the sad circumstances of the owner's death. Ou the 23rd Inspector Stoyle sent for the doctor, and on the 25th, when seen by Dr. Nell, as medical officer of health, he was suffering from small pox which, according to the testimony of the two doctors, of his wife, and of the superin- tendent above-mentioned, he attributed to the clothes he examined on the 13th. None of these witnesses heard him speak of any other possible cause of infection. The inspector of police and the inspector of nuisances bear the same testimony to Stoyle's opinion as expressed in their hearing. A second patient, a seaman, says that he was standing with others watching the opening of the dead man's box, and that all the clothes were not new-tixat some were soiled. The third patient saw the box carried into the office, but stated that being a runner, and liable to a fine for entering these premises, he was not; one of the aforesaid group. If he had been, it would hardly be prudent for him1 to own i. Apologising for the length of this letter, wh:ch is justified oy my duty to the Penarth Local Board as well Jo myself, I must leave your readers to judge between your version and ui;na of the origin ot the present outbreak.—I am; &c., March 4, 1885. ASHLEY BIRD. I DR. PAINE'S ACCOUNT. [ I in reterence to this subject, our representative I has seen Dr. Paine, who states that it was perfectly impossible that the clothes could have communicated the disease to the man Stoyle, who also himself ascribes his attack to his exposure to a seaman on board the Benan, suffering from small-pox—which was the second case of small- pox which occurred on that vessel. He never alluded to his examination of the seaman s I clothes, and how the theory was started is a. mystery. Mr Gover, the chief inspector of nuisances, said that the chest containing the man Tilly's clothes was handed to him by i he captain of the Benan. It was an excellent cisest, and contained clothes tightly packed or pressed down. All were new or folded up clean, and none had been worn by the man Tilly. He, how- ever, exposed every article to a temperature of 2jQ degrees inthedisinfectingchamber. This, Dr Paine states, would have destroyed every germ of the disease had there been any in them. They wera returned, marked disinfected clothes," on Feb. 10th, to the Mercantile Marine Office, and therefore if Mr Bird, as he says, made use of tllo loth" instead of the next" day, as reported, he would be again in error, as the man Stoyle was removed on the 26th. The destruction of these clothes Dr. Paine considers a wanton act, as they were marked disinfected." Among the articles de- stroyed was a valuable opera glass, a present to the seaman, which, no doubt, his relatives would have gladly received. The Penarth Board will have to repay theie relatives the value of articles so destroyed.

-=- MEDICINES, ELASTIC STOCKINGS, CHKMICAM, DRUGS, eZe., by parcel pose, under lib, 3d, Kay Bros., Stockport is LINSEED LOZKXGES, solidified linseed tea, A laxative and demulcent, jd postage 2d. Kay Bros., Stockport, and all Chemists 213 THE VKHY BEST! "I have examined the PiiU known as KERNiCit'S VEGETABLE PILLS. I certity their composition to be purely vegetable. I have also tried their effect, aud consider them one of the best Aperient Pills for consti- pated habits that I know of. (Signed), JCHN BALBIEXIE, M.A.„ M.D —— 16 Sold by all Chemists, in 74d,13id, and 2s 9d boxos. Printed and Published by the Proprietora, DAVID DUNCAN & SONS, at their Steam Print^ug Works, 75 and 76, St. Mary-street, and Westzate-street, -in the town of Cardiff: in the County of Glamorgan » ;]

LONDON LETTER. » Specially Wired. By Our Gallery Correspondent. LONDON, Friday Night. There is nothing fresh in connection with the difficulty that has arisen on the Afghan frontier. The impression of those in the best position to judge of the probabilities still points to a pacific conclusion. The Bud- get is not likely to be introduced this side of Easter, but the time is drawing go near at hand that men's minds are turned in that direction, and inere is already much speculation as to the means t the Chancellor of the Exchequer will adopt for meeting the exceptional war expenses. There will be a deficit on the year now closing beyoad what is necessary for pro- viding for the cost of the Soudan expedi- dition. It is pretty certain the Income-tax payers, who have hitherto borne the charges of the little war of the last seven years, will be looked to for extra contributions. But it is a maxim of English finance that it is use- less, or, at least, scarcely paying to raise the income-tax beyond 8d. It is not probable the Chancellor will go the full length, and impose the 8d. But income-tax 0 payers must certainly look out for another Id. It is suggested by a writer in the Times this morning that a duty of 3d should be imposed upon tea, which would of itself suffice to meet the demand but there is a great deal to be said against such a step. In the first place it' is entirely opposed to the principles of the Premier. Mr Gladstone has all his life been engaged in relieving the necessaries of life from indirect taxation, and is scarcely likely to begin now. Even though the necessity of such an impost were made clear to the public, it would be unpopular over a wide circle and evidently an undesirable thing on the eve of a general election. There is one article of daily use upon which the Chancellor of the Exchequer is likely to turn a critical eye. This is sugar, which Sir Stafford Northcote relieved from taxation with the legacy left him by Mr Gladstone in 1874. That was astep which at the time met with much opposition from political economists of high standing. The tax was almost infinitesimal in its bearing upon the pocket of the consumer, whilst it removed from the armoury of the Exchequer a weapon that at some time-a time that has already come- would be useful. Sugar is more a luxury of life than tea, and may therefore be more justifiably dealt with. Tobacco is already taxed to the full extent at which experience has shown taxation is profitable to the State. Further to increase it would operate in two directions, encouraging smuggling and checking consumption. Tobacco may, there- fore, be dismissed from consideration. There is one step which is exceedingly tempting, and which, if taken, would amply meet the situation. That is to suspend the operation of the paying off of the National Debt. Here, again, we come into contact with one of the mosi cherished principles of Mr Gladstone's financial faith. Still there is a great deal to be said on behalf of this way out of the difficulty, and certainly will be said during the discussion on the Budget. I have been talking to-night with many members on both sides of the House, and find that it is determined if necessary to move an amendment to the budget reso- lutions suggesting the annual payments on accouqjt of the National Debt as the natural means of recourse in the present exceptional difficulty. Such a resolution will find sup- port which, if the Government resist, may run them very close. In the Lords, Earl Granville made the expected statement in reply to Prince Bis- marck's speech in the Reichstag the other day. Of-course the Foreign Secretary was excessively polite, but, at the same time, as often happens with him, he firmly main- tained his own position. In L,ct, he adroitly strengthened it, and showed that he had not made the statement on confidential de- spatches or conversation with which he implied the advice to take Egypt was given, but in other conversation not of a confidential character. Thus Lord Granville made it clear that it was not only once but twice, that Bismarck had given this advice to English Ministers. This, however, is a mere personal dispute, about which everyone will have his opinion. What was important was the conciliatory tone of Lord Granville, his declaration that England and Germany might well work together to advance the cause of commerce and civilisation, and his warm expression of esteem for Bismarck and friendship for Germany. There is no doubt that this speech results from the visit of Count Herbert Bismarck, by which the German Chancellor held out the olive branch. Earl Granvilie has grasped it with graceful alacrity, and here we may suppose will end this curious bickering from Berlin to London. The absurdity of arrangemei; ,or debate in the House of Commons was d'monstrated afresh to-night. A private bill, promoted by the Metropolitan Board of Works, came before the House for the formal stage of third reading. Mr Ritchie proposed an amendment, whereupon long speeches were delivered from both sides, members of the select committee that had sat upon the bill rising one after the other, and delivering ponderous speeches justifying the course they had taken. This was literally an appeal from a special tribunal which had heard the whole of the evidence, and had devoted itself to the duty of arriving at a decision, to an assembly that knew abso- lutely nothing of the merits of the case. To do the House justice, it did not pretend even to listen to the matter. Members strolled out to read the papers, write their letters, or walk about till business might commence. Those who remained entered into conversation, amid the buzz of which was heard the voice of the speechmaker. What really did happen was that three quarters of an hour of public time was wasted, even without the excitement of a division. The questions on the paper were, as usual, mainly Irish, and related chiefly to the appoint- ments of magistrates, alleged action of police- men, reported Sunday drinking of emergency men, and the allowance to light keepers in Ireland. Mr Chamberlain boldly intro- duced an innovation which it is to be hoped presages the near introduction of a sorely- needed reform. Mr Sexton asked him a cluster of seven questions as to the allowances of light keepers in England. To give the details would have occupied. several minutes in the recitation. Mr Chamberlain said he had obtained the infor- mation, but would not trespass on the time of the House by reading it, but he would take care that it should be handed to Mr Sexton. This, of course, does not suit the book of gentlemen who uge the question time for the double purpose of advertising themselves and obstructing public business. It was done so quietly and quickly, how- ever, that no protest could be raised, Mr Sexton sudden acquiescing in the arrange- ment.

I YANKEE YARNS. I A LIGHT BREAKFAST. The mice are so bad I don't know what to do with them," remarked a lady as she drew out the wash-stand drawer. "I don't think," she con. tinued, that they will be troubled with indigestion to-day." Her husband looked at her inquiringly, but re- ceivng no explanation, asked: What do you mean ?" Mean that they won't be troubled with indi- gestion for they have partaken of a light break- fast." How do you know ?'' "Because I can see. They have eaten tb8 candie." KNEW HER. Two tramps stopped near a house, and after holding a consultation, one of them went in to ev- plore the chances of getting something to eat. Pretty soon, with an air of disappointment, he came out and said: Let's go." Wouldn't she give you anything ?" Didn't ask her." Why V' "Used to know her in Chicago." Did you ever ask her for a band-out 1" Yes." Who is she?" Don't know who is she now." Who was she ?" She used to be my wife." SHE PROBABLY FAINTED. I was coming up on the car, you know," she rattled away, "and I met that Mrs Johnson. She is always trying to lord it over me, and I knew by her looks that she bad something awful to say. In about a minute she moved along and says, says she: Have you got your costumes?" For what?" says 1. For the governor's veto,' says she. Just think of her ignorance It stunned me so that I could hardly get my breath. I saw it was:my chance to dress her feathers down, and so I put on all my dignity, raised my voice so that all could hear, and says, says I: No, madam, I'm not going to the governor's veto, but when the governor's message takes place I shall be there.' Great Scots exclaimed her husband, but you didn't say message,' did you 3" Why, of course-what is it ?" It's the governor's levee, you idiot f A BOY'S COGITATIONS. I notice stagnant waters mostly run shallow. I notice Jen won't ever let her beau look in our Family Bible. I notice a showy expensive funeral is a great healer of a broken heart. I notice still water gets its reputation for depth whether it has it or not. I notice some people will spend $5,000 on a ball, in order to give 850 to charity. I notice the greatest men have some little failing that makes them contemptible at times. I notice the readiest purse is the one held by the man who blows the least about charity. I notice the man who brags the most about the war is the man who hired a substitute. I notice when ignorance is bliss, 'tis folly to tell ma who set the cat on her pet canary. I notice the man who owes a bill for liquor goes where he couldn't get trusted to spend his money. I notice the girls who dote on love in a cottage are mighty scarce, and don't see a prospect of any. thing better. I notice in a restaurant boiled cabbage under a French name smells as sour but costs three times as much. I notice the fellow who is too old and worn-out to enjoy anything, is always telling about the good old times. I notice the same fellow makes just as much use of the telephone as any modern chap. 1 notice the man who cusses mother-in-laws takes mighty good care to have the old lady con- veuient about the time his babies are born. I notice the same ma who tells me never to de ceive, hires china and such things whenshegives a big spread and passes it off as her own. I notice the hardest fellow to get a dollar out of to help a poor lone widow, is the one who howls the loudest about the uncharitableness of rich men. I notice there's a powerful sight more persua- siveness in the oath of a man who don't cuss but three times in a life-time, and the fellow who's always cussing. I notice Byron and Shakespeare have lost their faculty of slinging language. I went to a Spirit- ualist seance the other night, and their spirits spouted worse trash than Lord Thompson's Freedom." I notice for five dollars a preacher will marry any couple of fools and seemingly have no com- punction of conscience. I notice it costs more to unmarry but the fools are considerable wiser. I notice if a country Jake pays a dollar and a half a year for a paper and brings in a decayed pumpkin and three or four sticks of green wood to the editor he gets as mad as a hatter if he don't get more than forty seven dollars worth of free puffs.-St. Panl Day. SERIOUS QUESTIONS. I THE BOY AND HIS FATHER ENGAGE IN AN EARNEST DISCUSSION. Willie," said Mr Mulkittle, looking up from a book when the boy emored the library, "y01 are gettting to be bold enough now to understand some of the duties of life. Haye you ever thought of what you would like to do when you become a man?" "Yes, sir." I am glad to hear you say so. What business would you like to follow r, Drive a waeon," the boy quickly replied. "Drive a wagon the mischief! Have you no higher aim ?" Yes, Sir." What is it?" "Drive a stage." "lamttshamedofyou." Drive an omnibus, then." 1 am disappointed in you. Why are you not like other boys ?" 'Cause they ain't like me." There you go. Never saw the like." When you was a boy what did you think that you would do?" "Thought that I would preach. An' you did, didn't you?" "Yes." Are you glad ?" I don't know that I am glad." Then why don't you stop, if you ain't glad ?" Because I am doing the work that the Lord appointed me to do." Did He ask you what you wanted to do when you got to be a man ?" Of course not." "But He knowed, didn't He!" Yes." Then maybe He'll know what I want to do." I don't want you to be a preacher. There is no class of men who do so much work for so little pay. They are the servants of an ungrateful people. Don't be a preacher my son." But s'posen the Lord calls me ?" The minister took up his book, put it down, arose, took up his trloves; put them down walked across the room, stirred the fire, returned to his chair and sat down. The boy, noticing his father's perplexity, repeated the question." The Lord may not call you." But s'sposen He does? Must I run away an let a whale swoller me an' then get away from the whale an' go to sleep under a gourd vine an' git mad when I wake up an' find the vine dead an—" No, I tell you No, you didn't tell me." But I tell you so now." Then what must I do ?' "I'd rather that you would behave yourself than to do anything else. I am ashamed of you. Every time 1 begin to talk to you on a serious subject, you turn it off into something foolish. I don't know what is to become of you." Won't I be saved ?" "Now just listen at you Run along now, for there is no use in talking to you." Why don't you tell me what you want me to do an' I'll do it?" Never mind run along." When the boy ran along," the minister mused: There ought to be a better understanding con- erning a direct call. Of course we ministers understand it, but is isa difficult matter to-run along, now." The boy had come back. An' If I am called must I 'tend I didn't hear ?" Mr Mulkittle reached out after the boy but he had vanished.

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