County Observer and Monmouthshire Central Advertiser Abergavenny and Raglan Herald Usk and Pontypool Messenger and Chepstow Argus

GARDENING GOSSIP. (From, Gardening Illustrated.") CONSERVATORY. Many of the usual summer flowering plants, if pruned back moderately early in August, make new growth that iblooms up to Christmas. Among these, Heliotropes are always desirable; all that they want is a light position and a moderate warmth. One of the most useful winter-flowering plants we have (re- marks Mr. E. Hobday) is the white Abutilon Boule de Neige it is planted in a rather firm border and trained up near the glass. When the growth is too rampant some of the strong shoots are cut out, and the new growths come full of flower-buds; in fact, this plant is always covered with bloom, and the more it is cut the more freely it flowers. The flowers are not long enough in the stalk or lasting enough for filling vases, but they are useful for wreath work, and they always have a cheerful look in the house. Free- growing Fuchsias, pruned back in August, are full of long sprays of drooping flowers now. Some kinds seem better adapted for this treatment than others. Some of the older sorts are good when planted out. Venus do Medici, Souvenir de Chiswick, and Mme. Cornellisson are among the old sorts that I have had in fine condition in winl er in a large conservatory when there was plenty of room. In these large houses some colour upwards is necessary to make the house look bright. If there is glass enough it is easy to keep the beds, borders, and stages bright; but the upper part of a lofty house requires colour higher up, and this can best be met by having plenty of baskets, where the plants can be changed if necessary, and plenty of the common things, such as Fuchsias, Heliotropes, scarlet and Ivy-leaved Geraniums, and other things that, with a little management, may be bad in flower in winter. Two of the brightest Geraniums are the pink Mm. Crousse and Raspail Improved. These, of course, must be planted out, but not in rich soil, and the soil should be made very firm and only moderately watered in winter. With reasonable pruning both those plants will grow 20 feet high, if there is as much space to cover under glass, and flower freely pretty well all winter in a light position. The scarlet Tropæolum Fireball is well known for its free growth and bright flowers in winter, and there is nothing easier to manage. Never mind about a plant being common if it will flower freely in winter there is always room for choice novelties if one has the means to purchase them. STOVE. There will be many plants in bloom now where attention is given to winter-flowering stuff. Promi- nent among these will be Poinsettias and Euphorbia jacquiniseflora. The Euphobia is often a poor strug- gling thing in a pot, but planted out and trained up a wall or pillar in a light, warm-house it is a splen- did thing. Among plants of smaller growth Centra- den ia rosea, Pentas rosea, and the new white variety alba are of neat habit and useful table plants. Those who have much table decoration to do will want long sprays of Asparagus plumosus and Smilax. The climbing Fern Lygodium scandens is light and ele- gant, and small, well-grown plants of Maiden-hair Ferns come in useful. Cocos and other Palms, and small plants of Crotons and bright-leaved Dracasnas, are always in demand. Well-filled pans of Club Mosses and the pretty-leaved plant Fittonia argyo- neura are charming decorative subjects, and do not take up much room. The Epiphyllums will now be in bloom, and will last longer in the conservatory. They do well in baskets, and the flowers show better when suspended. The temperature and atmospheric moisture should bear some relation to each other now. Sixty-flie degrees at night need not be ex- ceeded, falling to 60deg. at sunrise. FORCING POT-VINES. The Vines must be well grown and properly ripened. They will do better if the pots can be plunged in a bed of leaves, and the humidity arising from the fermentation of the leaves will help the swelling buds to unfold. To enable all the buds to break regularly the canes should be bent and tied back, and if they are slow in starting reverse the position of these rods. A good deal of help may be given to sluggish Vines by taking the end of the cane in the hand and twisting it till the pressure is felt all down to the roots. The sap always flows more freely after this twisting, as pot-Vines are usually only forced once. It is usual to take as much as possible out of them in the least possible time. The night temperature may start at 50deg. to 55deg., and be raised to 60deg. when the buds burst. The usual disbudding, tying down, and stopping that are given to established Vines will be necessary. Very little air will be required beyond what comes through the laps until the leaves unfold, then everything possible must be done to give size and vigour to tlia foliage. FRUIr GARDEN. The forcing gardener will now be starting his hrst Peach-house. There are more early varieties of both Peaches and Nectarines than were common years ago. Amsden June and Hale's Early are two of the best early peaches. These may be followed by Royal George and Dymond. The earliest Nectarines are Cardinal and Early Rivers'. The former is the earlier and forces well, but it is not so well adapted for planting outside. To do Peaches well, a well- drained border 2ft. deep of good, sound loam, to which may be added a few -!in. bones and some old 2 plaster or mortar and wood ashes, just enough of the last to be perceptible when turning the soil over. No other manure should be used in the Border. Top dressings may be given when the trees begin to bear. New houses may be fur- nished quickly by lifting trees which have been three or four years planted against a wall. When Peach-houses are intended to be built in the future, buy a few maiden trees now and get them into training against a wall for a couple of years, and have a crop of fruit first season under glass. Where Gooseberries have been attacked by caterpillars, if 3in. of soil are removed round about the bushes and buried in a treuch, and the place filled up with manure and fresh soil, there will be less trouble with caterpillars in the future. If the soil cannot be re- moved, give a dressing of lime and fork in. A mulch of manure will be useful in spring before the dry weather sets in. Both Gooseberries and Biack Currants will pay for rich top-dressings. Have coverings ready for protecting Figs. They may take no harm in a mild winter, but if the weather is severe there will be no crop next year. VEGETABLE GARDEN. Green Mint and Tarragon are sure to be in demand, and boxes of the roots should be introduced from time to time. If much Mint is required the roots may be placed close together on a hot-bed on a frame. covered up at nights with mats. Take advantage of frosty weather to wheel manure on the land. Drams should be repaired and put in order. A drain may be blocked through the outfall being neglected. Worn gravel paths may be easily turned and put right, rolling down again firmly. Seed of an early kind of Tomato should be sown for growing in pots for the earliest crop. Cucumbers, also, must be sown from time to time, so as to have young plants when required. If there is any spare time give it up to trenching and improving the land. The cleanings of ditches and edgings of roads make valuable compost when mixed with lime and turned over occasionally. Lettuces in frames must not be overwatered or mildew will seize shem. If there is any damp in any of the frames the best corrective is a little dry, dusty peat or wood- ashes strewed about among the plants. Asparagus now coming on in the frames must have air to flavour it, and warm liquid-manure as soon as it is seen to be on the move. A good many roots are required to keep up a succession.

THE Dowager Marchioness of Londonderry has left Hamilton-place for Brighton, w-Sere she has ;akeu a house in Eastern-terrace, Kemp Town, for a short time. Lady Londonderry will spend the Christmas Holidays at Wynyard Park, County Durham, with the jMarnuis and Marchioness of London derry.

INDIAN ARMY ORGANISATION. The abolition of the Wing as a unit command in Native Infantry Regiments is now an accomplished fact (says the Indian Daily News). The Double Company, not the Wing, is now the administrative unit. The reform is one which has been for some time past strongly and persistently advocated, it being generally recognised that the Wing is not and never can be a real "unit" command. For one officer to train 450 men, of which a Wing was com- posed, was an absolute impossibility. It is time that a Wing commander had sometimes Wing officers to assist him. The duties and responsibilities of such were, however, very ill-defined. The functions of a Wing officer were limited to assistance of his Wing commander, and a general supervision of the Native officers commanding companies. The result was that very little scope was given to his energies. The professional zeal of the most enthusiastic young officer was apt to be damped. However, this unsatis- factory state of affairs is now a thing of the past. Instead of two Wing administrative units, a Native Infantry Regiment now has four Double Companies, each composed of 225 men, a number which is not beyond the control of one officer. Two more officers consequently enjoy an independent unit com- mand." To senior Wing officers the new organisation must be especially welcome. Wing officers often bad to wait an unconscionable time before receiving promo- tion to a Wing command. An officer, who had filled for some years the important and responsible post of adjutant of his regiment, had often, on attaining captain's rank, when under rule he was obliged to vacate his adjutancy, to remain for some years (un- less in the interim a staff billet fell to his lot), a Wing officer, without any specific command or re- sponsibilities. Pecuniarily he benefited little by his promotion. Now presumably an officer on vacating his adjutancy on promotion to captain will at once enter upon command of a Double Company. As regards the general efficiency of our Native regiments, the new organisation appears likely to be productive of nothing but good. The Double Company unit is by no means too large for one British officer to fficientlyand satisfactorily train and supervise. The Wing was admittedly so. Wing commanders in infantry regiments found it impossible to obtain a personal knowledge of each of the 456 men com- posing their command. Such personal knowledge is, it must be remembered, a very essential factor in the training of men. One question that arises in connection with the new scheme, is how will it affect the Native officer ? Will his scope for independent action be in any way minimised thereby ? The journal thinks not. The Native officer still has his company unit, for the efficiency and training of which he is directly respon- sible to his Double Company commander. The latter will doubtless be careful not to unnecessarily interfere with his freedom of action. The Native officer will probably welcome the change. He will recognise the advantage of sharing his British com- mander, with only one other subadar, instead of with three, as heretofore. On active service,, the advantages of the Double Company organisation are obvious. It is said that the experience of the frontier campaigns of 1897-98, when the disadvan- tages of the Wing system made themselves peculiarly felt, largely contributed to the present scheme being put forward. There is little doubt that it is ex- tremely welcome to all ranks of the infantry regi- ments of the Native Army.

BANK OF ENGLAND ;NOTES. An interesting return has just been laid on the table of the House of Commons. It gives particulars of the amount of notes whose date of issue runs more than 40 years back which have not been pre- sented for payment at the Bank of England. In accordance with the Act of Parliament, these notes have been written off from the total issued by the Bank.

FRANCE'S AID TO THE BOERS. Referring to the statements concerning the help alleged to have been promised by France to the Boers, the Paris correspondent of the Daily News writes: M. Delcass4 was hard pressed by the late Count Muravieff when he was last in Paris, to declare openly with Russia for the Boers. The Count denied that he contemplated in the least a war between Russia and England, but the Czar was not satisfied with the result of the Hague Conference, and wished for a more brilliant victory. He thought that were France and Russia united in saying: "Arbitration, or we side with the Boers, the Salisbury Government would admit arbitration. Count Muravieff was a sceptic. He himself in con- versation with a diplomatist of the Triple Alliance, laughed at the plan he came to propose to M. Del- casse. But none the less he pressed the latter hard, and went away feeling, or feigning to feel, disappoint- ment. Not a word was ever said by M. Delcasse to lead the British Government to suppose that, in fighting the Boers, Great Britain would have to fight France and Russia, or either. What is true is that the Temps, which is often the mouthpiece of the Foreign Office here, did, between October 9 and the date of the invasion of Natal, urge Mr. Kruger to take that step. I have no doubt that the Foreign Offiye cypher was communicated to Dr. Leyds, and that he corre- sponded with Mr. Kruger through M. Aubert, the French Consul-General. I have also no doubt that Count Muravieff, to carry his point, encouraged Dr. Leyds, and told him of the pressure he was putting on M. Delcasse, though, as I have said already, he never believed he would succeed. He may have told Dr. Leyds that he held M. Delcass6 in his pocket,' a. phrase literally applied by Prince Lobanoff to M. Hanotaux. Count Muravieff always said he was sure that there would be no war with Eng- land if she were held back from going to South Africa. Lord Salisbury would yield to Continental pressure. He was certain to do so. M. Delcasse must have had great moral courage to refuse, unless in the merest trifles, to walk into the Russian par- lour, and to turn a deaf ear to the clamour of the Paris Press. Dr. Leyda trusted too much to the rankling feeling that Fashoda left. He was encou- raged by Prince Hohenlohe, but the latter gave no formal promise. When they heard here that Berlin was in favour of the Boers they at once felt sus- picious. >-

THE hackney coach proprietors and cab-drivers of Naples are more enterprising than the London ones. They have formed themselves into an electromobile company for the purpose of transforming the hackney coaches and carroyellas into automobiles within three years, their desire being thus to fo re- stall any foreign society that might introduce the new mode of locomotion. THE living of Churchdown, Cheltenham, in tho »ift of the Dean and Chapter of Bristol, has just become vacant by the death of the Rev. Dr. Frederick Smithe, who had held the benefice since 1858. Deceased, who was an LL.D. of Trinity College, Dublin, was an enthusiastic antiquary and geologist, and, as vice-president of the Cotteswold Naturalists' Field Club he made many valuable contributions to local history on the geological features of the district.

ABUSE IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS. In reference to recent incidents it may be inter- esting to note the dictum of Dr. Johnson as to Parliamentary abuse. Boswell censured the coarse inveotives which were becoming fashionable in the House of Commons, and said that if members must attack one each other personally in the heat of de- bate, it should be done more genteelly. Dr. Johnson replied: "No, sir; that would be much worse. Abuse is not so dangerous when there is no vehicle of wit or delicacy, no subtle conveyance. The difference between coarse and refined abuse is as the difference between being bruised by a elub and wounded by a poisoned arrow." The lwsdgpig case in the poisoned abuse of the latter kind ilJ fIIa-t of the celebrated attack of the young Duke of Wharton on Lord Stanhope. The duke compared him to Sejanus, the fomenter of discord in the Imperial family; and this aroused Lord Stanhope to such passion that he burst a blood-vessel in the course of his reply and died the next day.

WINCHESTER'S FREEDOM. I The Freedom of Winchester, which, of course, was the ancient capital of England, was conferred upon Charles II. and other monarchs, princes, and distinguished personages, :including the Duke of Wellington, and is now to be conferred on Lord Roberts. It may be mentioned that Lord Roberts is on the committee for the National Commemora- tion of Alfred the Great, which will take place at Winchester during the ensuing summer, extensive preparations for which are already being made.

A DIARY OF DREAMS. The terrors of country-house visiting are naturally lively and alarming enough; but fertile ingenuity, assisted by art, has (says the Hon. Stuart Erskine, writing in the Court Journal) conspired to render them a thousand times more poignant and pene- trating. It savours of ungraciousness to apply the epithet of torture to these social undertakings but, really, what with people who wish you to draw pigs with your eyes shut, and importunate young ladies clamouring for pictures, autographs, and poems, the lot of the obliging country-house visitor of a literary r artistic turn of mind is not a happy one. And ihe worst of it is there is not even variety in the discomforts which these, no doubt, well-meaning young people inflict on one. Every girl has a pig- book, or, failing a pig-book, another instrument of torture in the shape of a volume in which the unwilling victim is required to record his most intimate sentiments. Thus a fashion which, though trifling and superfluous, yet has, fundamentally, nothing objectionable attaching to it, becomes, by dint of repetition and a wearisome monotony, a posi- tive nuisance. The terrors of the pig-book or sumptu- ously bound volume of artistic and literary indis- cretions is quite as prolofic a source of embarrass- ment and alarm to the obliging visitor of artistic tastes as the necessity of tipping butlers and game- keepers is said to be to his impecunious, but happily less gifted, contemporary. The writer continues: My idea is that instead of pig and those other kinds of books now so alarmingly prevalent among the fair sex, young ladies who are not to be denied the keeping an album of some kind or other, should start diaries of dreams. In this manner a fashion which is become a posi- tive nuisance might be converted into a something really useful and pleasing; for, apart from the end- less variety of dreams that fall to the lot of mortals, there is this to consider of-namely, that the study of dreams is a very interesting proceeding, and, pro- perly and scientifically conducted, cannot fail to prove of the utmost service to mankind. Of course, it would never do to encourage the indiscriminate recording of dreams; and those only should keep dream-books whose temperaments proclaim them to be persons mentally qualified to own such possessions. Trifling and frivolous dreams and dreamers should be severely discouraged; and the greatest care should be exercised to regard all dreams in a systematic and orderly fashion. For instance, a man whose dreams ar3 habitually vulgar or con- cerned with commonplace topics should never be invited to record his midnight impressions in the dream-book just as those who are mentally incap- able of arranging or composing a coherent dream- statement should be debarred the privilege of airing their visions. A dream is ipso facto infinitely superior to a pig or a poem and if the best results are to be obtained from this, my novel suggestion, it is imperative that the dream-book or dream-album be scientifically conducted, as well as jealously guarded against the effusions of such as might unconsciously take off from its literary value or wilfully asperse its true character.

"'TIS YOT), JIM!" A COURTING SKBTCH. It was an August evening, and a little group of men were sitting outsidethe door of the Half-way House inn, smoking their pipes and chatting idly. They had commenced by discussing the affairs of the nation, but finding themselves all more or less in agreement with regard to the political situation, they fell to ex- changing scraps of village gossip, for in every rank of life the affairs of other people are a fertile source of interest. I hear the Woodlands be courtin' Annie Moore," remarked one of the group. Her can't marry both of 'em," said another, and the assembled company laughed loudly at the witti- cism. Her don't seem to favour neither of 'em," con" tinued the first speaker. M 'Tis time her made up her mind," said an old man who had hitherto kept silent. "Them two chaps has been hanging around her this twelve months and more. When Ralph's off duty he's there, and when Jiisi gms off duty he's there too. There'll be trouble between them brothers before long," he ended sagely, and the audience assented solemnly. At this moment a tall young m-,n appeared in sight, coming down the lane towards the inn. Is that Jim or Ralph ?" asked someone. Jim, I think. No, 'tis Ralph. They'm wonder- ful like each other till you gets close to 'em." There was a dead silence as the young man ap- proached. He smiled and nodded as he passed them, and when he was out of hearing, old Peters ob- served- He's going to the Moore's, and, mark my words, there'll be trouble afore long." Ralph and Jim Woodland were twin brothers. Both were in the railway company's employ, Ralph as a signalman and Jim as an engine-driver, and both were fine, handsome, steady fellows, popular with their mates and devoted to each other. As is often the case with twins, their tastes and dispositions were very similar; they liked the same people and the same pursuits, and until a year previously never had a thought or a wish apart. Then, unfortunately, they had both fallen in love with the same girl. The difficulty of this situation was increased by the fact that Annie Moore could not make up her mind which she liked the better. Jim was the handsomer, but Ralph was the cleverer, so she kept both the poor fellows on tenter-hooks, each striving to obtain her favour, and each fearing that the other was the chosen one. On this particular evening, when Ralph returned home he found his brother sitting in the kitchen smoking his pipe. He merely nodded in answer to Ralph's greeting, and the latter remarked somewhat awkwardly- Didn't expect to see you till to-morrow, old chap." Didn't want to, I reckon," was the curt reply, and there was silence for some moments. Thsn Jim got up and began to walk about the room. See here, Ralph," he said at last. ",Us can't go on like this. One or t'other of us must stand out. I've been thinkin' and thinkin' it over till I be nigh mazed, and while you was out I put a half-dozen bits o' paper in this Bible of poor mother's. I've writ Annie's name on one of 'em, and I wants 'ee to draw with me, and the one that draws the piece with her name on it must promise to let the other have the first chance o' getting her." I don't want to draw with 'ee, Jim," said Ralph, after a pause. "I never had no luck." But Jim had set his heart on his scheme, and in a little while his brother yielded. They drew and the lot fell upon Jim, but to his dismay his brother flung the papers down with an oath, crying- I'll give thee no promise. Let the best man win her. Jim angrily protested, and a bitter quarrel en- sued. Finally Jim left the cottage vowing he would never live with or speak to his brother again. About a month later he was chatting with another driver while waiting at a station. Suddenly his friend remarked- So your brother's going to be married ?" A spasm crossed Jim's face, but he forced a laugh and answered- You're tellin' me news." Bain't it true, then?" returned the other. "'Tis the talk e the place, I tell 'ee. It's old Moore's daughter-Annie, you know. They've been sweet- hearting together a long time, and folks do say that you was romancin' around there once, but she liked your brother best." Folks had better mind their own business," re- joined Jim sullenly, as he stepped on to the foot- plate of his engine, and the other, as he strolled away, muttered to himself, Poor old Jim I reckon he wanted the maid himself." A few days after this Jim was in charge of a main line express goods train, starting late in the evening. The weather, which had been most oppressive all day, had begun to show signs of breaking up in a thunder- storm, and as Jim mounted his engine be heard the rattle of the first peal, and, turning to his mate, re- marked, We're in for a night of it, Bill." Sure enough, in another half-hour the storm burst with terrific fury, and when they were within twenty miles of the station where Ralph was employed as a signalman the storm was at its height. Suddenly there canM a crash which sounded to the two awe-stricken men as though the whole earth had split from pole to pole; a flash of lightning followed, so vivid and brilliant that the stok put his hands before his face with an involuntary itoy of fear. But Jim stood motionless, with his hands on the lever, staring intently before him, for in that flash he had seen his brother lying face downward on the floor cf his signal-box Was be dead-was he sleeping ? Jim knew not, but he thought of the gates ahead of him, and wondered if they were closed, and he thought of the passenger express, due to'pass him about that very spot, and the awful tragedy which would almost certainly ensue rolled out before him like a scene in a theatre. In another moment he had applied the brakes, and before his astonished companion realised what was taking place the train had stopped almost opposite the signal-box. Heaven help us I" cried the stoker. Jim, Jim, the gates are shut!" And he pointed wildly to the red lights ahead. Jim sprang off his engine and rushed up the steps into the signal-box. One glance sufficed to show him his brother lying motionless on the floor; but there was no time to be lost, for in the distance he heard the lupible of the approaching train. The next instant he grasped the levers, and the gates swung open barely two seconds before the ex- press dashed through. As the last carriage rattled past Ralph sprang to his feet and mechanically seized the levers. The gates The gates I" he gasped. Tt'a all right, old chap," said Jim. She's safely through. Ralph put his hand to his head. I must ha' bin struck," he said. How came you here, Jim ?" The other explained in a few hurried sentences, and the two brothers grasped each other's hands. Come home to-morrow, old chap," said Ralph. I've something to tell 'ee." I know what it is," said Jim, and I wish 'ee joy, lad," he added as he ran down the steps to his engine. The next day he went back to the old cottage where he and Ralph had lived together ever since their mother's death. Ralph was at the door waiting for him. "Jim," said he, "I asked her, but her wouldn't take me because He turned his face away, and Jim waited an instant. Her said her liked you best," Ralph continued, in a low tone. A light flashed into Jim's eyes, but he said nothing. I behaved like a blackguard," Ralph went on. I tried to make out to everyone that she was going to marry me, hoping the tale would get to you and keep you away, and so maybe I'd get another chance. But she'd have nought to do with me, and she's rifht." Jim put his hand on his brother's shoulder. It's rough on you, lad," he said simply. Ralph turned away. "I reckon her's waiting for 'ee, Jim," he said rather hoarsely. I'd go to her, if I was you." Ralph," said Jim earnestly, let's both give her up." The other stared blankly at him. "You're mazed," he exclaimed at last. "Would you break her heart man ?" Heaven forbid was the reply. "Bllt, Ralph, you love her best." •• Ay," returned Ralph, "I know it; but her cares nought for me." "Ralph, take her," pursued Jim. I don't believe her ca.res for me so much." Go and ask her," returned the other, laughing a little bitterly, as he pushed his brother gently towards the door. Jim went down the hill with his brain in a whirl and his heart on fire, and as he turned the corner he saw a slim figure in front of him, which set his pulses beating faster still. Annie Moore, for it was she, uttered a little cry as he came up with her, and flushed vividly. Then, quickly recovering herself, she remarked with some coMness— You're quite a stranger, Mr. Woodland." Jim said nothing, and the girl glanced at him in surprise. What's the matter ?" she asked, in alarm, "Has anything happened ?" "Tell me, Annie," said Jim; "would you marry my brother Ralph if he asked you again ?" "No, I would not," was the short answer. But why not, my dear ?" What business is that of yours?" returned Annie, stamping her foot. I don't want your brother, and I've told un so." Do you like anyone else better?" What's that to you ?" answered the girl, suddenly bursting into tears. Everything in the world to me," said Jim, as he put his arm round her waist. "Who is he, Annie?" "'Tis you, Jim," whispered Annie shyly. 'Twas sever anybody else in the world but you." never anybody else in the world but you."

DISEASE IN JERUSALEM. Alarming messages have been received by the Anglo-Jewish leaders as to the effects of the plague of poverty and disease which afflicts Jerusalem. These ominous assurances have behind them the authority of the Chief Rabbi of the Holy City. Un- fortunately, the situation has been aggravated by the arrival of refugees who have, in their Zionist enthu- siasm, been induced to believe that Palestine will provide them with a desirable home.

ETON MEN IN THE GOVERNMENT. Of the members of the new Cabinet 10, we learn from the Eton College Chronicle, are Eton men. The figures after each name denote the year or years in which the name occurs in Mr. Stapylton's School' Lists, which, it wili be remembered, are triennial, so that a boy who was at Eton for five years might appear in the book only once: 1. Premier and Lord Privy Seal, Marquis of Salis- bury-1841, 1844. 2. First Lord of the Treasury, Mr. Arthur J. Balfour-1862, 1865. 3. Foreign Secretary, Marquis of Lansdowne- 1859. 4. Secretary for War, Mr. W. St. John Brodrick- 1871, 1874. 5. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Sir Michael Hicks- Bacb-1850, 1853. 6. President Board of Trade, Mr. Gerald Balfour -1868, 1871. 7. Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Earl Cadogan- 1856. 8. First Commissioner of Works, Mr. Akers- Douglas—1868. 9. Secretary for Scotland, Lord Balfour of Burleigh -1862. 10. Postmaster-General, Marquis of Londonderry- 1868. 3 There are also a number of Eton men among those in the Government not holding Cabinet rank: 1. Chief Secretary for Ireland, Mr. George Wynd- ham-1877, 1880.. 2. Under-Secretary for War, Lord Raglan-1871, 1874. 3. Under-Secretary for India, Earl of Hardwicke, 1883. 4. Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Viscount Cranborne—1877. 5. Under-Secretary for Colonies, Earl of Onslow- 1868. 6. Parliamentary Secretary, Board of Trade, Earl of Dudley—1883. 7. Civil Lord of the Admiralty, Captain Pretyman -1874. 8. Patronage Secretary to the Treasury, Sir W. H. Walrond-1865. 9. Junior Lord of the Treasury, Mr. H. T. Anstruther-1874, 1877. The following two hold important political appoint- mentsbut are not members of the Government: Chair- man of Committees, House of Lords, Earl of Morley- 1859 Chairman of Committees, Honse of Commons, Mr. J. W. Lowther-1871. It is worthy of notice that the leaders of both Houses of Parliament are Eton men, as well as the leaders of the Opposition in the Lords, Earl of Kiuiberley (1838, 1841), while the only ex-Prime Minister, Earl of Rosebery (1862, 1865) also comes from the school.

Do "you know anything about palmistry, Her- bert ?" she asked. M Oh, not much," he answered, with the air of modesty which is not intended to be implicitly believed in. "Not a great deal; although I had an experience at the club last night which might be considered a remarkable example of the art you allude to." You don't mean it ?" Yes. I j happened to glance at the hand of a friend of mine, and I immediately predicted that he would presently become the possessor of a considerable sum of money. When he left the room he was richer by £ 25 ?" And you told it just from his hand?" Yes. It had four aces in it."

= FOURTEEN-YEAR-OLD MURDERER. One of the most remarkable sentences on record was imposed by Judge Fursman, of the New York Criminal Court the other day, upon Alexander 3tewart, a boy of 14, whom he sentenced to 20 years' imprisonment with hard labour at the Sing-Sing Prison. The prisoner, an apparently bright little fellow dressed; in knickerbockers, satlaughing and munching sweets while receiving his sentence. His parents, who are evidently very respectable people, stood by weeping bitterly, and even the aged judge was moved to tears. Stewart was convicted for the murder of a young playmate under peculiarly atrocious circumstances. He borrowed a knife, which he whetted to a keen edge, and then invited the other other boy to play it being shaved. He then cut his throat, and danced on the dead body of his victim. Before passing the sentence Judge Farsman appointed a committee of alienists to examine the jrouthful murderer. They reported him sane but utterly deficient in moral sense. His parents say his viciousness began some nine years ago, when he was struck on the head with a brick, which injured his brain. Previous to the murder the boy had been sent to two reformatories, but he had corrupted the other inmates, committed thefts and other Grimes, and constantly escaped.

A WONDER THAT HE LIVED. The strange case of a soldier in one of the Paris hospitals has completely upset the professional theory that when the temperature of the human body reaches 43deg. Cent. the patient has only a few hours to live. When the soldier was examined the day after his. admission the house-surgeon was greatly surprised to find him alive with a temperature of 44deg. Next day it had gone so high that a special thermometer had to be procured in order to register the incredible figure of 53deg. This extraordinary temperature remained fixed, and, stranger still, the pulse kept normal. The explanation of this strange case is said to be that the soldier long ago was wounded by a shot in the mouth, and it is supposed that the ball lodged in the thermic centre of the brain, thus causing the unexampled heat of the body.

FAMOUS CASTLE BURNED. The Chateau Beloeil, belonging to Prince Ligne, and known as the Belgian Versailles, was almost destroyed by fire on the 14th inst. The Prince, with his mother and daughter, escaped half-dressed. The famous collection of fur- niture, armour, china, and porcelain were saved, but all the celebrated paintings and Gobelin tapes- tries were destroyed. Only the tower, which contains the museum and library, remains intact. A number of exceedingly rare manuscripts have also been destroyed. The castle dates back to 1146. It was restored by Le Notre, the famous architect of Versailles.

MORE MUSEUM ROBBERIES. FEATHERS TAKES FROM A SHOW-CASE AT THE IMPERIAL INSTITUTE. William Brown, 53, employed as a door-keeper at the Imperial Institute, and living at 39, Brookville- road, Fulham, was brought before Mr. Sheil at West- minster on Saturday on a charge of stealing ostrich Feathers from a show-case in the Cape Colony section of the Institute, valued at E15, the property of the Cape Government. About nine o'clock on Friday evening, Henry Mitchell, one of the firemen, it was stated, was patrolling the Cape Colony section, when he dis- covered two ostrich feathers on the floor, about 6ft. from the show case which had held them. On examining the case, Mitchell saw that a number of other feathers were missing, and he at once in- formed the police at the Walton-street Station. On returning to the Institute, he met the prisoner in the main hall, and noticing several ostrich feathers protruding from beneath his waistcoat he called a constable, and the accused was taken into custody. When told he would be charged with stealing feathers, he said, I am ruined. I don't know whatever made me do it." A bunch of keys was found on him, but it was not known whether any of these fitted the show-cases at the Institute. Detective-inspector Hayter said he had noticed that one of the keys was broken, evidently it had been forcibly turned in a lock. Prisoner's logdings bad been searched, but nothing of any consequence found. Mr. Sheil remanded him in custody. A COUP AT WEST HAM. Particulars have lust come to light of a daring robbery which took place at the West Ham Technical School and Museum, Stratford, the thieves getting away with property of considerable value, the articles stolen being the best specimens in existence of the silversmith's art of 300 years ago. An entrance had been effected through a rst floor window, which was reached through the presence outside of some building materials used in recon- structing the upper story of the institute building adjoining the museum. As in the case of the theft of the Nelson relics at Greenwich Hospital Museum, articles without a value for the melting pot were left behind. In effecting an entrance the thieves had used a jemmy, and marks of the same implement were found upon the case in which the articles were kept.

TWO TRAIN ROBBE RIES. The Chicago Limited, a fast and luxurious train which runs from Chicago to Now Orleans over the Illinois Central Railway, whose tracks skirt the Mississippi, was stopped by robbers the other night almost within the city limits. The desperadoes, who were masked, showed a danger signal; and as the engineer slowed down boarded his platform and over- powered him. The chief guard, who attempted to resist the bandits, was shot. The robbers blew up the safes in the mail and parcels vans with dynamite. Happily they did not secure much booty. In the neighbouring State of Texas another band of robbers stepped a fast train on the Cotton Belt Railway and rifled the mail and parcels vans and searched the passengers for money and valuables. The postal clerk, who strove to protect the registered mail, was shot dead.

THE ARIBERT DIVORCE. It now appears (according to a Berlin correspon- dent) that the decree of divorce announced thejother day between Prince and Princess Aribert of Anhalt does not emanate from any legal tribunal, but was pronounced by Duke Leopold himself in the pleni- tude of his power as Sovereign of the Duchy of An- halt, and in conformity with the family statutes of the reigning House." It is stated that Princess Aribert joined with her husband in requesting the issue oft he decree.

ROMANCE OF A COUNTESS. The romance of Countess Mattencloit, the divorced daughter of Count Taafe, the once-omnipotent Premier of Austria, ended the other day in the little Hungarian village of Barco, near Kashan, when she was civilly married to Jacob Felmann, the Jewish surgeon of her romantic attachment, who had pre- viously 'verted to Evangelicalism in order to render the marriage socially less repugnast.

LITTLE Prince Edward of York is of an inquiring disposition. Not long ago, so it is said, he was taken over one of our great men-of-war, and was much interested in a large, heavily-built chest which was shown him. What does that hold ?" he asked the tall officer who accompanied him. Powder," was the reply. The little boy looked sympathetically at the stalwart figure, and observed. Then do you take powders, too ?" DR. HENRY GEE, who is to take oharge of the Bishop of Ripon's new college at Ripon for the training of candidates for Holy Orders, belongs to on old family which at one time was settled in the East Riding, and was well represented in Hull. He is an Oxford graduate who has all his ordained life been both a teacher and a careful investigator of English ecclesiastical history, especially in the Reformation period. It is no secret that the Bishop of London was anxious to keep him in the southern diocese, and that the students to whom he has been lecturing at King's College wish him to succeed Pro- fessor Shuttleworth, In addition, he has within the past few months refused at least three benefices in order to work under the Bishop of BipOn, Dr. Gee ia a thoucrhtful nreacher and a auiet iDttlmr.