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[All Rights Reserved.] THE…
[All Rights Reserved.] THE FLOWER OF THE SUN. BY I JULIAN ASHTON. AUTHOR OF u The Temptation of Adrian Norreys," "Love's Reward," "A Spirit's Curse," &c., &c. CHAPTER VII. OLD LOVE IS WAKING SHALL IT WAKE IN VAIN?" THERE was no reason why the marriage should be delayed. A short two months engagement went quickly by only just long enough to enable Meta to prepare her trousseau. Then the wedding took place at a church in London quietly and unosten- tatiously, for though the squire was sublimely in- different to what people might think of his some- what surprising marriage, he shrank from a crowd oi eager sight-seers, and he entreated his fiancee to allow the ceremony to be as retired and private as possible, and Meta, who had no special wish for publicity, readily consented. The newly-married couple left the same day for Paris. From thence they proceeded to the Riviera, where Meta was delighted with the lovely scenery, and Mr. Tranby-who seemed only to care to live for the sake of pleasing her-was in a state of happiness such as he had never dreamed it possible for him to experience. Certainly things promised well so far. Gordon Tranby doted on his beautiful young bride, and Meta was frightened at the recklessness with which he instantly purchased everything she happened to admire-if it was a saleable article. At last she felt obliged to remonstrate gently with him on this point. You really must not spoil me so," she said. I have you, and everything else in the world I can need; and I shall feel quite uncomfortable if you persist in emptying your purse on me in this dread- ful way." My purse is a good deal deeper and longer than you or many people imagine, Meta. I don't choose to let people know how rich I am. My rent roll, of course, is more or less a matter of public notoriety; eight thousand a year"—Meta started with sur- prise—" but only my bankers and stockbrokers know how my investments have turned out. I have no secrets from you, my dearest wife, so I will tell you. I have a second account at the Bank of England, quite apart from my ordinary account at our local bank at the market town. And in that second account the balance lying to my credit last month was a little over £ 27,000." Gordon!" was all Meta could say. She had never dreamed of such sums. Well it's not very difficult to make money when you have plenty to begin: with. my dear. The trouble is to make a fortune out of nothing. Did you never hear the stock exchange maxim ? — Nothing easier than to make twenty thousand pounds, if only you are able to invest forty thou- sand in doing it.' That's the way I did under good advice, of course. I lost sometimes, I admit; I expected to; you can't always ensure things turn- ing out as you anticipate. But I did very well on the whole, and in a few years' time built up the nice little fortune I told you of quite apart from my rentals." That her husband was so rich, had never entered Meta's thoughts. She knew his income must be large, from the extent of land he owned, but what he had just told her was almost bewildering. But the conversation now changed to the subject of their next move. Mr. Tranby ventured to suggest Switzerland. She had never seen the great snow- clad mountains, and longed to feast her eyes on the noble pile of Mont Blanc. Of course her husband instantly consented, as indeed he would have done if she had expressed a desire to visit the North Pole or Central Africa. So to Chamonix they went, the following week. This was Paradise to her. She insisted on mak- ing two or three easy, partial ascents, and would gladly have attempted more difficult elevations, but her husband would not allow her to incur the slightest risk. They had been there a week, and were arranging for a change to Zermatt. Strolling up and down the long central walk of the garden in front of the hotel, Mr. Tranby was lighting a cigar, when he stopped suddenly, holding the match midway between the box and the Havana which his lips re- tained, and looking earnestly towards a tourist who was sauntering near them, said, in some astonish- ment- Bless my soul; there's Cecil, Who would have thought of meeting him here? Hi! Cecil, Cecil," he cried. The young man turned, and approached them leisurely. A look of recognition came over his listless face when he saw Mr. Tranby, but it was quickly changed to an expression of surprise when be looked from the Squire to Meta. Well met, Archdall, though I certainly did not think of encountering you here. When did you come ?" Only yesterday. I came on from Nice." Strange we did not meet you there. What are you doing now ? Still in that Indian post ?" "N 0, I'm my own master at present. A distant relative had the good taste to leave me a nice little sum of money in his will; rather unex- pectedly I must admit. It was not a large for- tune, but just enough to bring in a small com- petency; not enough to settle down upon, but enough to give me a holiday for a year or so before settling down again to work." Glad to hear it. But I must introduce you to my wife, Meta—Mr; Archdall, a sort of second cousin of mine; or to speak strictly, second half- cousin. The Scotch, I suppose, would make this quite a close relationship in their terrible tables of involved geneology; but we practical English people can't be bothered with such fine distinctions, and distant relation' is quite good enough. Eh. Archdall?" ° o The young man raised his hat courteously, but remarked in his languid manner: "It is a great pleasure to me to renew my acquaintance with Mrs. Tranby, for this is not our first meeting." Ah, so you have met before. More surprises. I wonder what will be the next. Where was it ?" At Wiesbaden, three years ago," said Meta. I made the acquaintance of Mr. Archdall through an English family with whom I was staying at that time." She mentioned the circumstance in the quiet, placid manner of every-day conversation; but with a self-command which cost her no small effort. Her heart was beating wildly, and the colour was only just returning to the check from which the first Bight of Cecil Archdall had driven it. Out of the buried past the spectre of old Love had suddenly arisen, as unexpected as-dared she say?—un- welcome. The man who three short years ago had been all the world to her, whom she believed had disappeared into the vast crowd of humanity, had reappeared. And, oh! wondrous power of true love, she had to confess with a sinking feeling of the heart that she was glad to meet him again. Glad-how poor the word was. Life seemed happier all at once; the sunshine was brighter the music of the birds seemed to have gained added melody. And then her eyes wandered from the face she knew so well to her husband at her side. Then there's no need for formalities," said the squire, heartily, and you two are only renewing acquaintance. Dine with us this evening, Cecil; but I was thinking of England, I forgot we all dine here at the table d'hfite. Well, sit next us, at any rate, and then we can have a talk over recent matters. Hey! what is it ?" to a waiter who presentei a telegram to him on a tray. Oh ex- cuse me one minute," and, breaking the seal, he read the contents. "From my steward, Meta. He wants to know if I will accept an offer for a vacant farm. I must go to the office and wire him a reply. I shan't be ten minutes. You two can pass the time somehow till I come back, I've no doubt." And he hurried off to the telegraph office in the hotel. There was silence for a minute after he left them. Neither seemed exactly at ease. Meta was thankful for the opportunity of buttoning her glove, and bestowed more time and attention on that simple operation than usual. Cecil Archdall apparently was deeply interested in gazing after the departing figure of Mr. Tranby. At last the silence grew embarrassing, and the vanished squire no longer served as a pretext for absorbed attention. This is certainly a surprise, Mrs. Tranby. I did not anticipate meeting you here-still less as my cousin's wife." i The world is full of surprises, and it is the unexpected which generally happens." No doubt. Might I be permitted to ask when the happy event-on which I offer you my con- gratulations-occurred ?" There was a slightly veiled sarcasm in the tone, which nettled Meta, but she controlled herself, and merely answered: We were married only a few days ago." Archdall looked really surprised now. So lately? Well, accept my sincere wishes for your happiness. I am glad that it does not make you forget old friends, amongst whom I venture to include myself." I don't so easily forget old friends-or times,' replied Meta. Woman-like, she could not resist the gratification of this little needle-thrust. He changed colour slightly, but languidly answered: Nor I, I can assure you. The sight of you has not recalled them: only made them more vivid. Those days at Wiesbaden have seldom been out of my thoughts." "Then why—?" said Meta, impetuously, but hastily checked herself. What had she nearly been betrayed into saying ? And she-a bride of only a few days. I don't think we need prolong this subject. Do you make a lengthy stay here ?" Two or three days. But let me say one word more, Mrs. Tranby. I was going back to England in a few days, as I said, and on my honour, the object of my return was-to seek out and find you. That is the simple truth. I gained your address in Hampshire from the Meynards at Wiesbaden (they are there still), and I should have spared no cost or pains to trace you. And now, I find myself a few days too late! Here comes my cousin." That's settled," cried the squire, as he came up. Now Archdall, let us walk out to the little water- fall yonder. Try one of these," and he held out a case filled with Partagas to his cousin. I CHAPTER VIII. VISITORS AT TRANBY PARK. MR. AND MRS. GORDON TRANBYhad returned from their wedding tour, and were received with much rustic display of rejoicing on their arrival. A large bonfire was lit on the village green, a triumphal arch stood over the lodge gates, and when the carriage approached the Park entrance, the enthusi- astic villagers insisted on taking out the handsome pair of greys, and drawing it to the hall door by force of arms." Although the squire had lived very much alone for many years and mingled little with his tenantry, yet he had a kindly heart, was a generous and mild landlord, and many a deed of unostentatious charity was correctly ascribed to his agency. And now that he had (ohosen, at last, to take to himself a young and pretty wife, the neighbourhood were not backward to seize the opportunity of showing their good feeling towards him and his attractive bride. The usual round of calls," returned calls," and dinners followed. After this there was a quiet interval, and then the shooting season came. Mr. Tranby was too much of a horticulturist to be a crack shot, but he liked an occasional day's sport with his guests, "and took a pride in havi- plenty of game for these occasions. It was the first of Septemper, and a small party of five, including the squire, were setting out for an eagerly anticipated morning. Their destin- ation was a partridge drive" about a mile from the hall. Cecil Archdall was there, Mr. Tranby having sent a cordial invitation to his cousin to come for the first fortnight of the game season and share "the cream of the sport." Even if Meta had wished it she dared not have suggested any oppo- sition to this particular guest, however much she might confess to herself that it would be better in every way that they should not meet. But she recognised with a sinking heart how glad she se- cretly felt at the prospect of his arrival, and asked herself the question again and again, "Is he equally glad to see me, to be with me, to her me speak ?" Besides the squire the other members of the party were a Mr. Lascelles, a neigbouring squire of the name of Pickard, and a young attaché from the Foreign Office, Henry Driffield. A double dogcart conveyed four of them to the "drive," the squire taking the reins, while Mr. Pickard trotted after the vehicle on a fast cob of Mr. Tranby's, well up to his weight. It's rather cold for a September morning," re- marked the squire as they sped along. Yes an east wind is unusual for this month. One feels the change," said Mr. Lascelles, pulling up the collar of his light overcoat, as a keen blast whistled round their ears. "Don't remember such a biting wind as this, in September, for many years," continued the squire. "I hate sudden and unseasonable changes like this can't stand them. They often lay me up. Cold in winter and heat in summer are right enough; no reasonable man would complain of seasonable temperature at the proper time. It's a sudden snap of cold when the weather may fairly be expected to be warm that I don't like." Ah, you wouldn't have liked my experiences as a Queen's messenger, Tranby," laughed young Mr. Driffield. Before I became an attaché, I filled the doubtful post of a Queen's mes- senger, flying over half of Europe at a day's notice with despatches from Lon- don to Constantinople, or St. Petersburg, or Vienna at top speed. Always hurrying on at a tremendous rate; time-everything; delay-the unpardonable sin. Heat by day, cold by night, irre- gular meals, no easy berth sometimes, very decent at others." No, that wouldn't have suited me. I prefer the routine life of Tranby Hall, with my orchids and china. But here we are at the drive. Descending, he gave the reins to a groom, who drove away the trap to a farm stables at some little distance. Then the shooting party walked quietly up the drive; a long lane with high hedges on each side. A number of beaters were employed to drive the partridges from the adjacent land towards this lane. The high banks and tall hedges prevented the birds from seeing the shooting party until they were over the heads of the men, and as the beaters converged from all points of the compass upon the drive, a good "bag was a tolerable certainty. Just what I was afraid of," said the squire, buttoning his thin tweed overcoat. This lane lies due east and west, and the wind cuts down it like a freezing machine." Oh come, it's not quite so bad as all that," said Mr. Pickard, as he slipped a couple of cartridges into his gun. What a sensitive fellow you are, Tranby." You'll be warm enough after bringing down a couple of dozen brace," suggested young Driffield. Hullo, there's the first bird," and in an instant J,a 'J,1.1-J_ _40 L'1.1.J_ -J Ll_- au.D micttumuttuyi. WlWI uu ma Hiiuuiuer, ana wiw first victim of the battle was lying in the lane a few yards away. From that time the firing grew fast and furious. The birds came over their heads at first by twos and threes, then in half-dozen groups, and finally in regular coveys. The squire's coverts were well looked after by his keepers, and there was never any lack of sport for his guests. But the wind increased in force, till it blew half a gale, and the cutting gusts interfered sadly with the comfort of the party, and increased the diffi- culty of good shooting. After an hour and a half of it Mr. Lascelles thought he had not heard a shot from his right-hand neighbour, the squire, for some time. Glancing round to ascertain the cause, he saw Mr. Tranby had given up his gun to a keeper, and was standing behind a large tree, trying to get some slight shelter from the wind. It's no use Lascelles," he called, I can't go on. Couldn't hold my gun steady, I'm shivering so. and my teeth chatter like nastanets. Don't mind me, fire away." But Lascelles saw that his host really looked ill, and hurried towards him. No, this won't do, Tranby, I can see you are ill. You must have caught a severe chill, I'm afraid. We've had about euough of this I'll send the boy for the trap aud we'll drive home." The others willingly agreed when summoned and acquainted with the state of affairs. Mr. Tranby was quite unable to drive. He complained of faint- ness and acute pain in the side. Tranby Hall was soon reached, and the squire went to bed immedi- ately, while Dr. Ferguson was summoned. He is in for a sharp attack of pleurisy, and I fear —a complication of acute bronchitis as well. You must wire at once to tthe town for a couple of trained nurses. He will require the most incessant attention and care." Meta heard the doctor's report with outward composture, but her lips trembled. While recognis- ing that the services of the trained nurses were indispensible, she insisted on taking her full share of the work, and spent the greater part of each day in the sick room. The shooting party broke up the next day, only Cecil Archdall remaining to watch the course of his uncle's dangerous illness. For dangerous it soon proved to be. Day by day the patient's pulse quickened, the clinical thermometer showed a rapidly rising temperature, the breathing grew more difficult. Pneumonia supervened and the case became increasingly seri- ous. Dr. Ferguson, after quitting the sick chamber on the fifth day, did not conceal the grave view he took of her husbands's condition. I think it would be a satisfaction to you to tele- graph to London for Sir Francis Jephson. I believe he will say everything has been done that could be done for Mr. Tranby; but it is always well to have the highest opinion possible in such cases." Pale with constant watching and growing anxiety, Meta silently assented. The great London doctor could not reach Tranby till noon the next day. But two other professional men were summoned to the Hall that evening; the local solicitor, and his clerk. Gordon Tranby was going to make his last will and testament. (To be continued.)
AN INDIGNANT FATHER.
AN INDIGNANT FATHER. in support ot nis allegation that our Army Medical Boards are incompetent, a. Times corre- spondent, signing himself An Indignant Sufferer," relates the experience of his own son. This son, an officer in an infantry regiment, was shot in the head in one of the early actions of the war, and a medical officer certified the injury to be a light scalp wound." The wounded officer lay two months in hospital with- out any operation, and it was not until one of the great consulting surgeons from England saw him that his skull was discovered to be fractured. Invalided home, he had to appear before a medical board, which certified him to be "fit for duty at home or abroad." Closely follow- ing this report came an order from the War Office for him to join his regiment at Aldershot forth- with. "A fortnight's duty there," his father laconically adds, killed him."
I DOWRIES FOR TYPEWRITERS.…
DOWRIES FOR TYPEWRITERS. Doubtless many sympathise with the desire of Mr. Russell Spokes that the lady typists employed by the London County Council should receive a dowry when they marry equal to one month's pay for each year's service, but Colonel Rotton was doubtless quite right (remarks the Daily Tele- graph) when he declared that the proposal could not possibly be entertained. The Establishments Committee had taken the opinion of the solicitor as to the legality of the proposal, and had been informed that the Council could do no such thing." Apart from the illegality, the granting of dowries by any public body under such circum- stances is apparently unknown. The School Board have very few lady clerks, but in its service there are an enormous number of female teachers, among whom the marriage rate is certainly not below the normal. When they resign in order to get married their salaries simply cease and it is pretty much the same with the lady servants of all public bodies except where the conditions of service provide for apension, when an allowance may be made. So far as the School Board is con- cerned, the present superannuation fund—there is no suggestion that there is any relation between it and marriage prospects is at present in process of winding up. The fund has been the subject of discussion for many years, and now-those who desire to withdraw from it—and these number ? per cent. of the contributions, are to be" repaid the amount of their contributors, while those who elect to remain in it will be paid a superannuation allowance, which will be based on the actual amount paid. With regard to Government servants the case is different, and a practice which prevails in the Post Office seems to have inspired the action of Mr. Russell Spokes. It seems that when a lady employ6 whose status secures for her a pension after a certain number of years' service resigns in order to get married, she receives an allowance equal to one month's pay for each year's service. The arrangement re- presents a policy which is more just than gener- ous, because it is to be remembered that by leaving the service she forfeits her pension, and the allowance may be regarded as a sort of sur- render value to which she is entitled. But for the lady clerks in the service of private firms and even public bodies, they must yet awhile be content, if dowerless, to rely on their own prudence and self- denial for the dowry which will help the man of their choice to prepare a pleasant home to which to take his bride. 1
PUBLIC-HOUSE TRUST. I
PUBLIC-HOUSE TRUST. I PROGRESS OF THE MOVEMENT. There are many signs of the progress of the Public-House Trust movement in the annual report of the central organisation, which has just been issued. Earl Grey, the president, calls attention to the fact that the accounts show at present a deficit of about E500, an expenditure of over C1300 having already been incurred in the printing, circu- larising, legal expenses, and secretarial work which have been necessary to enable the association to prepare the way for the formation of a public- house trust company in every county before the Brewster Sessions of 1902. The report indicates that since January of this year, when the first definite steps were taken in this direction, 14 public-house trust companies have been or are on the point of being registered for conducting licensed houses as a public trust. Of these companies, six are in England—Northum- berland, Durham and North Yorkshire, Hamp- shire, Kent, Liverpool, and Sussex; six in Scot- land-East of Scotland, Glasgow District, Cowden- beath, Dunfermline, Kirkaldy, and Renfrewshire; one in Wales-Dinas Powis; and one in Ireland- Ulster. There are also at work the People's Re- freshment House Association, the pioneer society, which now manages 17 houses in various parts of England, and companies at Hill of Beath and Kelty, in Fifeshire, which were established in 1896 and 1899 respectively. Influential com- mittees are at work organising public-house trust companies in Bradford, Cumberland and West- moreland, Essex, Leeds, Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire, Surrey, Thornton (Poulton-le- Fylde), and Warwickshire. Meetings have been called to consider the formation of trust com- panies at Manchester and Preston, and in Glamorganshire The Central Public-house Trust Association in its present form will have completed its work when it has laid the foundation of a public-house trust company in every county. When this work has been accomplished it looks forward to the formation of a central federal executive, elected by, and responsible to, the Public-House Trust Companies. This federal executive will in all probability be entrusted with the duty of purchasing in large wholesale quantities the articles required for the local companies, towards which it will bear a relation similar in character to that which the Co-operative Wholesale Society bears to the local co-operative societies in the kingdom.
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AT a public entertainment recently a conjuror had an experience which was highly comical, though quite disastrous from a professional point of view. Having produced an egg from a previously empty bag, he announced that he would follow up this trick by bringing from the bag the hen that laid the egg. This little arrangement he had left to his confederate to carry out. He pro- ceeded to draw the bird from the bag, but what was his surprise on finding that the alleged hen was an old rooster, which strutted about the stage with ruffled feathers and offended dignity, and set up as vigorous a crowing as if it had just awakened from its nocturnal slumbers. The whole audience shrieked with laughter, and the unfortu- nate conjuror darted for the dressing-room. IN a certain country school there was a little boy who would persint in saying "have wented." The teacher kept him in one night and said: Now, while I am out of the room, you may write (have gone' fifty times." When the teacher came back he looked at the boy's paper, and there found the words have gone fifty times." Underneath was written, I have wented home."
I HOME HINTS.,
I HOME HINTS., WICKER chairs, when soiled, should be scrubbed with strong brine. INKSTAINS in wood may be removed by scour- ing with sand wetted with ammonia and water. Rinse with strong soda-water. KITCHEN TAPE.—The broad tape used for binding spiced or salted meat should be washed and dried after using, then kept for further use. OAK WAINSCOT.—When it is necessary to wash oak wainscot, use warm water only and a sponge. Afterwards polish with a brush as you would mahogany. A WASHING fluid which is good and harmless is made of equal parts of ammonia and turpentine. Add two tablespoonfuls of this to the water in which the clothes are boiled. TAR ON CLOTHING.—Rub a little lard on to the spot and allow it to stand an hour or more, till the tar is softened, when it may be washed out with hot water and soap. Rinse in clean rainwater. To clean zinc articles, rub them over with a piece of flannel dipped in kerosene. Then make a lather of hot water and soap, and wash them thoroughly. This treatment will make them almost equal to new. To KEEP THE PANTRY SWEET.—A small box of unslaked lime kept in the pantry will absorb all impurities and keep the air beautifully dry and sweet. The lime must be changed every two or three weeks. HOT-WATER cans and jugs will last much longer if, instead of being hung up in the usual way, they are turned upside down directly they are emptied. It is the few drops at the bottom which cause them to rust into holes. TRYING ON NEW SHOES.—Always stand and walk about when you try on a new shoe. One's feet are smaller when sitting than when standing, and this is often the reason why shoes that seem perfectly comfortable in the shop are uncomfort- able afterwards. To COLOUR YOUR KITCHEN.—A very pretty pink colouring for kitchen or pantry walls can be made by dissolving whiting in cold water, and adding enough permanganate of potash to give it the desired shade. Add a little liquid glue, and apply as you would whitewash. It looks extremely well if carefully applied. To PREPARE A FLOOR FOR DANCING.—First have it well washed, and when the boards are quite dry scatter boracic acid over, and rub it well in. If there are children in the house, get them to slide on the boards lengthways. Another plan is to wash the floor over with milk; but in either case it must be well washed and dried first. STAINS ON MATTRESSES.—The best way to re- move these is to make a paste of fullers'-earth and water, to which ammonia has been added in the proportion of a teaspoonful to half a pint. Spread this paste over the stains, rubbing it slightly in with your finger, and leave till dry. Then brush off with a perfectly clean brush, and repeat the application if the stain has not disappeared.— London Journal. SOAP and candles are best bought some time before they are used, as they improve with keep- mg. SALT, in the form of rock, should be placed in reach of all domestic animals; it will be eagerly licked by them. CLEAN brass lamps with finely powdered rotten- stone and sweet oil. If bronze, be content with carefully wiping off all dust and oil. A SOFT flesh brush is a valuable addition to the bath room. Its use keeps the flesh firm and healthy, and frees the skin from all blemishes. To retain the colours in any washing material, soak the article before washing in alum water. A teaspoonful to every quart of cold water. To clean veils, wash them in warm rain-water with a little soap. Rinse out in cold water, shake well, and put out to dry. They will be found equal to new. To CLEAN WINDOWS.—Dissolve a little soda in water, and wash the window with a clean sponse, polishing with a soft cloth. Windows cleaned this way will be found to retain the polish longer. To prevent thin materials being dragged by the sewing machine put a strip of stiffish paper under it. When sewn, the paper tears off easily, and may be used with the most delicate fabric. WATCH the soap you use as carefully as the money you receive in change. Soap of an inferior quality is the cause of half the skin diseases we see. Cheap soap is an expensive economy. GIRLS who sew much have usually an unsightly patch of black on the finger they hold the work over. This can be entirely removed by being rubbed well with a piece of nicely smoothed pumice stone. GREASE ON THE KITCHEN TABLE.—If hot grease is spilt on a clean kitchen table, pour cold water on it, and this will cool it, and prevent it being absorbed by the wood. It can then be easily removed. To ^REMOVE A TIGHT STOPPER.—Place the bottle in cold water so that it is covered, and leave it all night. Carefully wipe it, and the stopper will come out. To prevent it sticking again rub a little vaseline on. VINAIGRE DE BOUQUET.—This is made by infusing the petals of sweetly-smelling flowers in one packet of rectified spirits, and two pints of the best white wine vinegar, then straining. This is deliciously refreshing if added to the water in which the face and hands are bathed. THE CARE OF LAMPS.—To make a lamp burn well, refill it every time after use, and see that the burner is kept clean. Remember that, after trimming, the wick should be turned down below the top of the burner. If it is left turned up, the oil will ooze out and make the outside of the lamp oily and unpleasant to touch, besides making it smell unpleasantly when lighted. COD-LIVER OIL, say physicians, should be taken during or immediately after meals. It is best given as clear oil when it can be taken. If this is too distateful, a pinch of salt taken before and after the dose rapidly removes from the mouth the unpleasant fish taste. Many aver that it is easier taken in ice-water. Just enough ice-water for a swallow is put in a glass, and to this the oil should be added. Then the oil will gather in a mass in the centre, and if the whole'is swallowed at once it will scarcely be tasted.-Evening News. To CLEAN WHITE FUR.—Unless the fur is very dirty, it can generally be cleaned by rubbing thoroughly with dry flour. which must be shaken and brushed out after it has been well rubbed in. Some people prefer to use bran which has been damped with cold water, and afterwards to rub with warmed bran. After rubbing with the damp bran the fur should be rubbed till quite dry before the warm bran is applied. WHITE CAKE.—Take half a pound of caster sugar and half a pound of eggs weighed in the shell. Put into a basin three ounces of arrowroot and three ounces of pastry flour, mix carefully. Beat the yolks of the eggs well, then add the sugar, beating again about ten minutes altogether. Have the whites beaten to a stiff froth: stir lightly into the eggs and sugar, adding gradually the dry ingredients at the same time. Flavour delicately with orange-flower water. Prepare the buttered tin as for a sponge cake with flour and sugar, cook in a quick oven so that it will rise nicely.
| , WAR OFFICE REFORM.
| WAR OFFICE REFORM. The following important minute has been issued from the War Office from the vVar Office: WAR OFFICE COUNCIL. The Secretary of State has directed that in future the War Office Council shall be constituted as follows: President: The Secretary of State for War. Members: The Commander-in-Chief. The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State. The Permanent Under-Secretary o State. The Financial Secretary. The Quartermaster-General. The Inspector-General of Fortifications. The Director-General of Ordnance. The Adjutant-General. The Director-General of Mobilisation and Mili- tary Intelligence. LThe Director-General, Army Medical Depart- ment (for medical and sanitary questions). The Secretary of the Council. And such other members of the Staff of the War Office as may be specially summoned from time to time. 2. In the absence of the Secretary of State, the Commander-in-Chief will act as President. 3. The Council will meet on Mondays, unless otherwise ordered, at twelve o'clock, in the Secre- tary of State's room. 4. The Council will discuss such matters as may be referred to it by the Secretary of State and any question brought before it by individual members. In order that a precis may be prepared, notice of the matters for discussion, together with the office papers on the subject, should reach the Secretary not later than the Wednesday evening before each meeting. 5. Records of the proceedings will be kept, and copies will be supplied to each member. PERMANENT EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE WAR OFFICE. 6. With the object of co-ordinating the business of the office and of ensuring that combined action may be taken in matters affecting more than one department, the Secretary of State has approved the formation of an Executive Committee, consist- ing of the following: The Permanent Under-Secretary of State, or, in his absence, the Assistant Under-Secretary of State, Chairman. The ..Deputy Adjutant General, or, in his absence, an Officer selected by the Adjutant- General. The Assistant Quartermaster-General, or Officer selected by the Quartermaster-General. A Deputy Inspector-General of Fortifications, or an Officer selected by the Inspector-General of Fortifications. The Deputy Director-General of Ordnance, or an Officer selected by the Director-General of Ordnance. An Officer of the Mobilisation Section of the Department of the Director-General of Military Intelligence. An Officer of the Intelligence Section of the Department of the Director-General of Military Intelligence. The Deputy Accountant-General, or an Assistant Accountant-General' The Deputy Director-General, Army Medical Department, or an Officer selected by the Director- General. The Assistant Director of Contracts. The Secretary of the War Office Council, who will act as Secretary of the Executive Committee. 7. All important questions will be brought before the Committee in order that combined action may be taken when the subject concerns more than one department. 8. It will be the duty of the representative of each department in which a subject is initiated, or to which a subject has been referred in its initial stages, to state briefly to the Committee the steps which his department is about to take and he will also bring to the notice of the Com- mittee any important development which may arise in a matter in which action has commenced. The Committee will discuss the course to be pur- sued, and the representative of each department will be responsible for reporting subsequently to the Committee the progress of the action decided upon. 9. The Chairman will bring to the notice of the Committee any cases in which it appears that there has been delay in connection with the com- pletion of a subject. 10. A record of the proceedings will be kept by the Secretary for submission by the Permanent Under-Secretary to the Secretary of State. Copies will be supplied to all departments of the office. 11. The Committee will meet in Room 48 in War Office, Pall-mall, on Tuesdays and Fridays at twelve o'clock. SPECIAL DEPARTMENTAL COMMITTEES. 12. The Secretary of the War Office Council and Executive Committee will carry out the neces- sary arrangements for the formation of special com- mittees approved by the Secretary of State, and will report from time to time to the Permanent Under-Secretary of State the progress made by each. Papers containing the reports of Committees will be marked, in the first instance, to the Secre- tary, War Office Council, &c., and will be eventually closed by him. The Secretary of State has appointed Mr. Brade to be Secretary of the War Office Council and Permanent Executive Com- mittee. THE ARMY BOARD. The constitution and duties of the Army Board will remain as at present, subject to the following alterations, which have been approved by the Secretary of State: (a) The Director-General, Army Medical De- partment, will be a member. (b) In addition to its present duties, the Board will be charged with the consideration of- (1) The annual estimates prepared by heads of departments and the allocation of the sums allotted for military purposes. (2) The establishments of officers and men of the Regular, Militia, Yeomanry, and Volunteer Forces. ] |(3) Any important subject which the Comman- der-in-Chief or the head of a military department may desire to bring forward for discussion. (c) The Board will meet at such dates as may be fixed by the Commander-in-Chief.
I WARSHIPS IN COLLISION. !
WARSHIPS IN COLLISION. Lloyd's agent at Malta wired on Saturday that I the British torpedo-boat destroyer Dragon had ar- rived, with lier bows and stem damaged, having been in collision with the British gunboat Harrier,
FATAL COLLIERY ACCIDENT. |
FATAL COLLIERY ACCIDENT. A fatal colliery accident has occurred at RoolüY I Moor, near Rochdale. There was a fall of the roof, and the two miners in the pit at the time were entombed. Subsequently their dead bodies were recovered. The names of the deceased were Robert Buckley, aged 30 years, of Spotland, and Edward Holt, 25, of Ending. Both were married j and leave families.
l RESIGNATION OF AN M.P. I
l RESIGNATION OF AN M.P. At a meeting of the United Irish League, held at Clara, co. Kilkenny, on Sunday, Mr. Patrick McDermott,. M.P. (Nationalist), who has repre- sented North Kilkenny in Parliament for the past 10 years, announced his intention of resigning his seat immediately. The announcement was unex- pected, and caused considerable surprise. North Kilkenny has not put Mr. Patrick McDer- mott to the trouble of a contest since 1892, when he obtained a substantial majority of 2584 over his Conservative opponent, Mr. W. Kavanagh, who polled only 314 votes. At the last two elections he has been returned unopposed. The hon. member was formerly a tenant farmer, but suffered evic- tion, and has latterly been engaged in business in London.
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WHEN the present Archbishop of Canterbury was, nearly half a century ago, Principal of a Government Training College for Teachers, he always made a point of personally initiating his students into the mysteries of gardening, and plied spade and rake in Ins shirt-sleeves with an energy and vigour which were the despair of the strongest among them.
I THE WOMAN'S WORLD.
I THE WOMAN'S WORLD. To bring up a child in the way he sholid go (advises a writer in the Evening News) travel that way yourself. STORIES first heard at the mother's knee are never wholly forgotten, a little spring that never dries up in our journey through scorching years. THE sooner you get a child to be a law unto himself the sooner you will make a man of him. CHILDREN need models more than criticism. WE can never check what is evil in the young unless we cherish what is good in them. LINE upon line, precept upon precept, we must have in a home. But we must also have serenity, peace, and the absence of petty fault-finding, if the home is to be a nursery fit for heaven's growing plants. THERE are no men or women, however poor they may be, but have it in their power, by the grace of God, to leave behind them the grandest thing on earth-character; and their children might rise up after them and thank God that their mother was a pious woman, or their father a pious man. THE trouble with most women's complexion,' said a doctor (quoted in the Sun) the other day, is that the skin does not get exercise enough. Here is the doctor's advice, briefly given Take a tonic every morning, in the shape of a cool sponge bath, followed by a vigorous rubbing with a dry towel, not too coarse, the face and neck receiving their full Share of the friction. This sets the blood moving briskly, and electrifies the system. Take a warm bath at bed-time, and wash the face slowly, carefully, and thoroughly with warm water and Castile soap. The oily matter exuding from the skin catches minute particles of dust which cannot be removed in any other way, and many eruptions are caused by neglect of this simple pre- caution. After this wholesome cleansing dip the face into a basin of clear, cold water, and the skin will be left firm and healthy. THE most lovable girls in the world (says the London Journal) are those with a sunny disposi- tion. A few people like the quiet, thoughtful girl others like the girl who is perpetually vivacious and bubbling over with spirits. But everyone likes the girl with the cheerful, sunny disposition. Girls of this character are never extravagantly boisterous or dismally quiet; they have a pleasant smile for everyone. They never seem troubled or worried, their voice is low and musical, and their smile-be they pretty or not—is always sweet. The only trouble that the sunny-tempered girl has is the outcome of her popularity. Everyone wants to talk to her, and be in her company. Young men are attracted to her without effort on her part, for her character shews itself so plainly in her actions that young men are so delighted at the cheeriness and sympathy of her nature that they are drawn to her at once. For every reason, then, the girl with the sunny disposition, who smiles away the troubles of life, is a favourite. And, what is more, old people are just as charmed by her as young. HOME-LOVE is the best love. Nobody-not a lover, not a husband-will ever be so tender or so true as your mother or father. Never again, after strangers have broken the beautiful bond, will there be anything so sweet as the little circle of mother, father, and children, where you were cherished, protected, praised, and kept from harm. You may not know it now, but you will know it some day. When you marry you must watch and be wary, lest you lose that love which came in through the eyes because the one who looked thought you beautiful. TINWARE may be brightened by dipping a damp cloth into soda and rubbing it well. Ceilings which have been blackened with the smoke of paraffin lamps should be washed with soda-water. Hair- bmshes should be washed in strong, tepid soda- water, then rinsed in clean cold water, and placed I in the air—not in the sun—to dry. Sour fruit will require less sugar for sweetening, if when it is stewed a pinch of carbonate of soda be added to it to lessen the acidity of the juice. White marble washstands, mantlepieees, &c., may be washed with a hot and strong solution of soda. For cleaning paint before repainting use two ounces of soda to a quart of hot water. After- wards rinse off with pure water. To prevent a sink pipe from clogging, flood the pipe once a week with boiling water containing soda, and always keep a lump of soda in the sink just over the pipe. To preserve cut flowers as long as possible, put a little salt in the water in which you stand them. WITHIN the past few weeks a rumour concern- ing a stupendous revolution in the realms of La Mode has made its portentous influence felt in Paris. Smart women who stopped there last week bent on gathering together a battery of new frocks were startled by the news that the long trailing skirt is doomed, and that short-quite short—ones are to be the newest fashion. Here is a change in- deed, and as it comes just as people were congra- tulating themselves upon the comforting assurance that no sweeping alterations were to be made this autumn in any modistic particular, it is all the more a great surprise. OLD-FASHIONED cameos are now in the height of fashion, as is almost every kind of jewel that boasts of antiquity. They are worn as ornaments and figure in belts and bands in the latest em- broideries. Many of the old-fashioned brooches with huge jewels in the centre, which we have abjured with a vengeance, are coming back to us, not to wear as a brooch, but in combination with leather, velvet, or chiffon in the ornamentation of dress. Among the choicest new jewels are pendants of dull rough gold with imbedded jewels and pen- dants of natural pearls or bits of turquoise sus- pended by tiny gold links. The colour continua- tions in many of these ornaments are rich and exquisite. GREEN, the flute colour in music, the colour of hope, a restful colour, closely follows black in popular favour. And, as usual, when green comes forward from temporary obscurity, its comple- mentary, red, appears also. But red, it should be remembered, is only advisable in moderate quanti- ties. Masses of it are unsuited to the majority of women and to most occasions. Any woman may easily learn the lesson of red taught by Nature her- self in forest, field, and meadow. An actress may wear a scarlet street gown on the stage without comment, but Becky Sharp is too clever for that, and takes her departure from the Crawleys in a most demure grey gown. Apropos of contrast, it is Lady Crawley, we remember, who is made by Thackeray to put on "the brightest pea-green gown in her wardrobe to do honour to the great rich Mrs. Crawley when that lady chooses to pay a visit to the country." Let pea-green and scarlet gowns stay in the drawing-rooms. Both are honourable colours, but no gentlewoman likes to be the target for a staring mob! DAMPING the hair withpure spirit before putting it in the curlers at night stiffens it, and makes it less likely to come out of curl. Take a wineglass of eau-de-Cologne and one of lemon juice; then scrape two cakes of brown Windsor soap into a powder, and mix well in a mould. When hard it will make an excellent soap for whitening the hands. When one is very tired, a bath, followed by a gentle rubbing with pure olive oil all over the body, soothes one's nerves wonderfully. Try it on baby when he is specially tired and cross. He will probably fall off to sleep while you are gently rubbing him. LINEN sheets are now hand embroidered, and have also a drawn work design. All the finer sheets have pillow cases to match. Some have monograms embroidered below the hem. AMONG the novelties in bed spreads are those of satin finish Marseilles, with a printed floral design in colours. SAVE the grease that otherwise would be thrown away, buy a can of potash or lye for a dime- directions on every package-and make your own soap. You will find it better than any you buy.