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

I POISON CASE IN SUSSEX.' I VICTIM'S FIENDISH AGONIES. At tho village of Laughton, in the heart of Sussex (says the "Sussex Advertiser"), occurred the strange case of Mr G. H. Stepney's slow poisoning* The postal address of the victim is The Birdcage, Stonecross, Laughton," where Mr. Stepney and his wife, with two little ones, have for three or four years lived the life of healthy country people. Mr. Stepney is a strongly-built, likely" looking man, of twenty seven, to whom no work ever came amiss. But in May last he began to feel a mysterious change coming over him. He lost strength, and (in his own words) work went hard" with him. Some insidious poison seemed to be creeping through his veins. From his description of his sufferings it is clear that his kidneys had been affected and were slowly poisoning his blood, and until Dr. Williams' pink pills for pale people killed the poison nothing was of any avail to help him. He had to give up work. Fiendish pains set in in his back and also in his legs, which, moreover, became so swollen that he could not put his boots on. Finally he took to his bed. Several doctors saw Mr. Stepney, and ultimately an eminent medical practitioner was sent for in consultation, who said that he was suffering from inflammation of the veins, caused, no doubt, by the poisonous acid which the kidneys failed to remove from the blood. Months passed away, and the unfortunate man be- gan to despair. I had given up hope of recovery," said Mr. Stepney, when a friend gave me a box of Dr. Williams' pink pills. I soon found that these pills were doing me good. The poison was being killed in my system. The pills did not purge my bowels or kidneys, but made new blood, and killed the poison in the old. The pains in my veins ceased, and the swelling in my legs began to go down. I am able to walk seven miles at a stretch now. How many boxes of Dr. Williams' pink pills have I taken ? Seven altogether-not a great number, con- sidering how deeply seated my disease was!" As a cure for kidney diseases Dr. Williams' pink pills have lately begun to be recognised. Kidneys are the organs whose work is to cleanse and pass out the watery waste matter of the food. Uric and lactic acid in the blood, the cause of varicose veins, gout, rheumatism, eczema, lumbago, and the pains in the loins so troublesome to many, all result from unhealthy kidneys, and Dr. Williams' pink pills have a double action in curing them, for they not only enrich and purify the blood, but also directly cure the kidneys. Indigestion, bile, liver complaint, and other disorders connected with the same part of the system are similarly cured, and the enrichment of the blood which the pills effect also cures consumption, anaemia, St. Vitus' dance, paralysis, and locomotor ataxy. See the name of Dr. Williams on the package. Price two shillings and ninepence.

f THE ETON WAR MEMORIAL. Dr. Warre, headmaster of Eton College, in the course of a letter to the Times on the Eton War Memorial, supports the proposal of the com- mittee that a building should be erected which on the ground floor should have room for the school library and for the priceless collection of antiquities bequeathed to the school by the late Major Myers, a gallant soldier and a true friend of Eton, who fell before Ladysmith fighting for his country. On the floor above would be a great memorial hall, the place in which the coats of arms and the names of those who have fallen would be emblazoned, and the names of those who have served in the war would be recorded; the place, moreover, where, Upper School being no-' full, the busts and the portraits of eminent Etonians would in future find a home. It can- not be denied (adds Dr. Warre) that such a room for many practical purposes would be of the greatest use to the school. But would it be less glorious as a memorial on that account? Do Etonians cease to regard the old Upper School with affection because they were taught and ex- amined therein?

A WOLF'S EYE OPERATED ON. An operation for cataract has been performed at Lyons on both eyes of a wolf in the menagerie at that place. The animal was lassoed and bound, and an anaesthetic was administered, and the operation was then carried out. The lids were sewn up to prevent the animal opening its eyes for the next few days.

TOvVN TOPICS. (From Our London Correspondent.) The most exciting Sunday evening which London has known for many a year was that of the announcement that the terms of peace had been signed. The momentous news had, of course, been somewhat anticipated for days; but evor;wone seemed to have in mind the old proverb which relates that there is many a slip 'twixt the cup and the lip, and therefore, there was no premature rejoicing. But when once the official intelligence went on Sunday evening from lip to lip-was placarded on the news- paper offices, was announced from the pulpits, and was exhibited on various public buildings —the tide of popular joy soon swelled to a height. Inner London at such a time is accustomed to be well-nigh de- serted, and it was wonderful to see ho on this occasion, it became filled with enthusiastic throngs. The Mansion House once more became the centre of the surging life of the capital, and the Lord Mayor was enthusiastically cheered as he came to the front of his civic home, to announce the news and to express his congratulations. From every point of view, indeed, the occasion was a memorable one and "the First of June," already a re- markable date in English history, has hence- forward yet another claim to our remembrance One consequence of the general rejoicing will assuredly be to add, if possible, to the gaities of the Coronation. Superb, however, as bie certain to be many of the decorations which will be seen in the capital during that period, it may be doubted whether the illuminations will not be the more impressive. We have seen some very fine efforts in that direction upon previous occasions of national rejoicing, and notably at the two Jubilees of the late Queen; but the coming one promises to eclipse the earlier. The most striking addition will be the illumination of Westminster and Waterloo- bridges and the Thames Embankment by the •London County Council, in accordance with designs prepared by the Royal School of Art, and this should have a particularly brilliant effect. One point to be noted already, how- ever, is that electricity will not have the absolutely commanding place among the illuminations which might at one time have been anticipated. Gas still holds sway with very many, and one reason for this can be judged when electrical and gaslit illumi- nations are seen side by side. The flicker of the gas as the breeze plays upon it affords an additional effect to many a design, and it con- trasts pleasantly with the absolutely steady glare of the electric light. Now that we are actually in Coronation month various questions of detail are arising which are of varying degrees of importance and urgency. Certain of these concern the strength of the wooden stands which are springing up like mushrooms in every direction. It is taken for granted by the general public that these are to be tested by the authorities before thsy are allowed to be occupied but the method of testing is not as widely understood, and the one of which the most has been heard-that of a number of soldiers tramping up and down on the tempo- rary structures—has aroused some controversy. But there ought to be no especial tremor on this subject, as the experience of 1897 in par- ticular should show. On that occasion there were all sorts of preliminary attempts to arouse scares. Those of us who were not trampled to death by surging crowds were to be broken to pieces by falling stands, with the intervening chance of being burned alive by the explosion of the celluloid so extensively used in the decora- tions. None of these mischievous and malevo- lent rumours, however, were fulfilled, and the panic-monger this time is distinctly quieter than he was five years ago.. Although St. Paul's Cathedral will not be the same centre of imperial interest at the Corona- tion that it was at the Diamond Jubilee, the fact that the King, and Queen Alexandra will attend a special service there in the course of the ensuing week will arouse much attention. Those who are privileged to be present will be able, in the interval of waiting, to see the pro- gress that has been made in the scheme for lighting the great Cathedral by means of electricity. Some 700 lamps out of the intended total of 1250, and varying in power from five to thirty-two candles, are already in place; and the effect promises to be a very good one both from the artistic and the useful point of view. No small amount of difficulty has been encountered in carrying out the project, especial care having been needed in piercing thick stone walls and floors which are just two hundred years old; but pains have been taken, and the result is good. The progress of the London season towards its zenith is always marked by the first meet of the Coaching Club, and the Four-in-Hand Club respectively; and, as is usual, the former has this year led the way. Unfortunately, the weather was not the most propitious for such a function, and, therefore, the crowd which gathered for the occasion at the traditional trysting-place—the Powder Magazine in Hyde Park — was not as large as is customary. Among the various teams the chesnuts were specially noted, but the bay teams likewise were high in quality, while the browns and the blacks had their own admirers. On this occasion, the coaches were not driven to Hurlingham, as has been usual, but were simply taken round the park before dispersal; and it was in the course of this part of the proceedings that the critical were able to observe that some of the whips appeared unable to carry out the regulation of the com- mittee to keep two co-ch lengths in the rear of the preceding vehicle, which somewhat marred the look of the procession. It was, of course, by an undesigned coinci- dence that on the very day the Boer com- manders signed the terms of surrender at Pre- toria, Lord Wolsley, the late Commander-in- Chief, unveiled at St. Paul's Cathedral a memorial tablet to Archibald Forbes, one of the worthiest and best-known war correspondents of the last generation. Mr. Forbes made his chief reputation during the Franco-German War of thirty years since, but a decade later he did some truly wonderful work in that South Africa of which we have recently been hearing so much. It may be doubted whether the great days of the war correspondent are not over, and whether ever again we shall be able to enjoy such splendid efforts as used to be given us by Dr. Russell, Forbes, and Cameron, The telegraph has done much to spoil style in this direction, while military commanders are less disposed than they were to give assistance to the correspondents. But, as long as the history of modern. war is written, it will be found associated with and largely based upon the work of such men as have been named, and who deserve all honour. Believers in omens are disposed to take a gloomv view of the Anglo-Australian test matches of the year because of the badness of i the beginning, but that is assuredly a view to be discouraged. It was, of course, hard upon England that, having done so well in the first innings, rain should have come to deprive our team of what promised to be certain victory; but it is only fair to remember that, if it had not been for the rain, such a victory would not have been in sight. As for the future matches, there is good reason for hope on the English side, especially if the Selection Committee allows itself some elasticity of choice, and puts aside its failures, however fashionable they maybe. The dull campaign of three years ago was largely due to the rigidity with which the Selection Committee seemed to cling to its failures, rather than admit that its original choice had been a mistake; and, if a repetition of this be avoided, England should do well. The Australian team is a good one, but not overwhelmingly so, and upon present form Eng- land have decidedly a shade of advantage. R.

William Quain, of Lamb-street, Spitalfields, was on Monday fined £250, or four months' im- prisonment, at the London Guildhall, for allow- ing premises in Algate High-street to be used as a gaming club. A few days ago the club was I raided, atd sixty-seven arrests were made.

THE BOUNDARIES OF BAROTSE- LAND. In pursuance of Article IV. of the Anglo-Por- tuguese Treaty, an arrangement has been come to between the British and Portuguese Governments for the delimitation of the western boundaries of the Barotse Kingdom, which will form the frontier of the Portuguese possessions on the West Coast of Africa. A mixed commission of British and Portuguese offi- cers is to be appointed, and will proceed to the spot in the late autumn, so as to arrive before the season of the rains. The Treaty provides that, should the commissioners fail to arrive at an agreement, the matter shall be referred to an umpire.

CHEAP DIAMONDS. With peace practically assured, the value of all the Ki m berley estates must naturally go up, and amongst others it is tolerably certain that the St. Augustine Diamond Mine, which is little more than a quarter of a mile from the De Beers, will share in the general advance. Diamonds to a fair amount have been won from it, and under its present auspices, with working capital provided, it should prove a profitable speculation, especially with the well-founded rumour that the directors are engaged in negotia- tions of an important character. For those who care to make a slight venture on the possibility of a big return, St. Augustine Diamond shares offer unusual opportunities. That the entire issue of 200.000 shares at the present market price of 2s. 6d. means E25,000 for the whole property is an assessment likely to be readjusted now that the public have re-commenced buying. It is difficult to look down the list of quotations and find anything as promising at so low a figure. Whitehall Review."

BE sure that your Blankets and Furs are plenti- fully sprinkled with KEATING'S POWDER when you put them away. This is unrivalled in killing Moths, Fleas, Beetles, Nits in Children's Heads, whilst harmless to everything but insects. Sold by chemists and oilmen. Tins, 3d., 6d., Is. New Filled Bellows, 9d. A remarkable story of a sweet girl graduate is told by a St. Louis paper. She has just graduated after a four years' course in history, astronomy, literature, political economy, geometry, arts, sciences, and languages. The remarkable fact is that this schoolgirl" has raised a family and is a grandmother. In her youth she was denied educational advantages, and was not able to commence systematic study until she was sixty-eight years old. It is alleged that Emanuel Preacia, a postman in New York, has been delivering letters for the past eleven years wholly unconscious that he was a real baron, with estates in Italy, or that his real name was Emanuel Virginia Frederico Yincenzo Marie Covern Perscia, Baron Del Celso. Now the revelation has been made the postman will probably make his way to Italy to claim his own. Some time ago the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland agreed to attend a certain race meeting, and a carriage was reserved for his Excellency in the special train run from Dublin on the race day. Seeing that the adjoining carriage was reserved for Lord Ardilaun, of brewing fame, a witty porter took up a piece of chalk and wrote upon the one carriage, For his Ex. and on the other, "For his XX." Maxim Gorky, the Russian novelist, purposes to found in Nijni-Novgorod a vagabonds' inn, which will receive every vagabond who applies for shelter for a limited time, no matter whether he be worthy or not. It will be conducted on humanitarian principles, and will contain a small brewery and a huge tea-hall. Only professional drunkards and card-swindlers will be refused admission. >

PEACE SIGN ED. I BOER SURRENDER. I OUR TERMS ACCEPTED. I OFFICIAL DESPATCHES. I RECEPTION OF THE NEWS. I MESSAGE FKOM THE KING. I The following gracious message from the King was sent out for publication late on Sunday even- ing, greatly to the joy of all the lieges The King has received the welcome news of the cessation of hostilities in South Africa with infinite satisfaction, and trusts that peace may be speedily followed by the restoration of prosperity in his new dominions, and that the feelings neces- sarily engendered by war will give place to the earnest co-operation of all his Majesty's South African subjects in promoting the welfare of their common country." LORD KITCHENER'S ANNOUNCEMENTS. I The following official despatches from the Commander-in-Chief in South Africa to the Secre- tary of State for War were issued at five o'clock on Sunday evening: Lord Kitchener to Secretary of State for War. PRETORIA, May 31 (5.15 p.m.) It is now settled that the Boer representatives will come here immediately, and also the High Commissioner from Johannesburg. It is possible that the document will be signed to-night. I have received from them a statement saying that they accept, and are prepared to sign." Lord Kitchener to Secretary of State for War PRETORIA, May 31 (11.15 p.m.). K Negotiations with Boer delegates. The document containing terms ;of surrender was signed here this evening, at 10.30. p.m., by all Boer representatives, as well as by Lord Milner and myself." At six o'clock on Sunday evening the Daily Telegraph received from its war correspondent, Mr. Bennet Burleigh, the subjoined telegram: "Pretoria, Sunday, June 1 (10.40 a.m.). Lord Milner and the Boer delegates arrived at Pretoria last night. Laus Deo! Terms were signed last night at eleven o'clock. The people of this city paraded the streets after midnight, singing "God Save the King," cheering, and in other ways ex- pressing their delight at the conclusion of the war." HOW THE GLAD NEWS CAME. J The conclusion of peace was definitely known at the War Office in London in the early hours of Sunday morning. The intelligence was at once despatched to the King and other members of the Royal family. The first public announcement in London was the posting of Lord Kitchener's short message in front of the War Office shortly after five o'clock on Sunday evening. Messages had meanwhile been forwarded to Lord Salisbury, Mr. Balfour, Mr. Chamberlain, and all the members of the Cabinet. The Lord Mayor of London had a copy of Lord Kitchener's second message sent to him in the evening, and this was at once posted at the Mansion House. An enormous concourse of people soon gathered, and Sir J. Dimsdale, at their urgent demand, delivered a short speech. Refe- rences were made to the event in St. Paul's Cathedral and many of the churches and chapels in the metropolis. Excited crowds marched through the principal streets of the City and West-end until an early hour on Monday j morning, cheering and singing patriotic songs, and many of the clubs were illuminated. The intelligence was received with great rejoicings throughout the Provinces, it being publicly announced in almost every instance immediately after receipt by the local authorities. FROM VEREENIGING AND PRETORIA. It was on Saturday morning that the Boers in convention at Vereeniging decided to accept the British terms, and their delegates proceeded to Pretoria, where they arrived late in the evening. They met Lord Milner and Lord Kitchener, and the document embodying the terms of their sur- render was immediately signed by the two repre- sentatives of the British Government and by all the Boer delegates. The news was transmitted as detailed above by Loifd Kitchener to the War Office. Mr. Steyn, the ex-President of the Orange Free State, abstained altogether from taking part in the conference at Vereeniging. He is suffering from locomotor ataxy, and has given his parole and gone to Krugersdorp to obtain ad- vice from his own medical attendant. A telegram from Pretoria states that the rest enjoyed by the British colums recently has had a most beneficial effect on both men and horses. The Repatriation Department of the Transvaal Rand Board has issued a notice calling on refugees from outside districts, desirous of returning to their homes on the termination of hostilities, to register them- selves. KRUGER'S CRY. The correspondent of the "Daily Express" at Utrecht telegraphed on Sunday night:—I learn that Mr. Kruger. who was asleep, was informed at nine o'clock that peace was concluded, and he exclaimed, "My God! it is impossible." POPULAR JUBILATION. The Peace rejoicings continued on Monday in London, throughout the country, and, indeed, in all parts of the Empire. Almost everywhere in Great Britain the day was observed, especially by the working-class population, as an informal holiday, and this was also the case in many of the towns ani cities of the colonies. Telegrams of loyal congratulation flowed in to the King from public bodies, officials, and private indi- viduals, and similar messages were in many cases addressed to Ministers. In the metropolis and many other centres there was a very general dis- play of bunting; flags were also carried on Arehi- cles of all kinds, and were waved by many of the people composing the crowds which, from early in the morning till late at night, paraded the streets, and gavefree, but generally good- tempered vent to their enthusiasm. At night many buildings in the City and West-ehd of Lon- don thoroughfares were illuminated. The streets about the Mansion House and the Stock Ex- change were, throughout the day, the scenes of hearty popular demonstrations, and at times the crowd was so dense as to compel a practical sus- pension of traffic. I SOME STREET SCENES. Fun and merriment, rather boisterous, some- times, were the order of the night. A brake, filled with bluejackets, passed through Picca- dilly and the Strand, every man in it holding a Union Jack, and a great flag floating bravely over all. It was cheered all along the line. The ludicrous was in full evidence. A wagonette full of men, each ->f them wearing a huge Santa Claus false head, turned towards the back, drew roars of laughter from the crowd. When twilight fell the crowds, in dimensions far exceeding anything seen during the afternoon, swept through the thoroughfares of London into the West-end, congesting the streets, stopping wheeled traffic, gathering into closely-packed, swaying, scrambling humanity at every street corner, and then gravitating towards railway sta- tions and tram termini. Cheapside, Fleet-street, the Strand, Picca- dilly, Oxford-street, and Holborn were rendered impassable for. hours. Amusing incidents were numerous, and al- though the "mafficking" spirit was probably at its height there was little or no real disorder no- I ticeable. Police officers did not lay themselves open to even a suspicion of officiousness. A funny scene took place near the Hotel Cecil. A knot of Chinese and Japanese were stationed in a corner looking at the tumultous crowd. Sud- denly half-a-dozen 'Arriets pounced upon the luckless Orientals and began to sing "The Honey- suckle and the Bee at them, laying special stress on the line "I love you dearly, and I want you to love me." The crowd howled with relight, while the unfortunate foreigners bowed politely and said many courteous things—in their own language. The crowd's favourite amusement was a dfnce imported from Whitechapel and Stepney-a few steps and a wild rush forward. The Gaiety Restaurant and Theatre were pretilly festooned with flags and other devices while the courtyard of the Hotel Cecil was embellished with coloured lamps. The Tivoli made a brave show with flags and other devices, and a well-known hat manufac- turer's premises in Piccadilly were also prettily illuminated. In Trafalgar-square and Regent-street there was some display, and flags and bunting were conspicuous. Iliord held an impromptu peace carnival on Monday night. Crowds, armed with ticklers, flags, and toy trumpets, thronged the principal thoroughfares, singing patriotic songs. The town was gaily illuminated. In North and North-East London many of the large business establishments and public-houses and places of entertainment were illuminated. Thousands of persons were in the streets, and at spots where the illuminations or decorations attracted most attention the crowds occasionally broke into national and patriotic airs. There was a good deal of good-humoured horse- play. A photographer of Albion-road, Stoke Newington, stretched a sheet in front of his premises and showed a series of pictures illustra- tive of incidents in the war. There were patriotic demonstrations in the various music- halls and theatres in the district. In Petherton- road, Canonbury, there was a repetition of the scenes witnessed on Mafeking and other nights. The thoroughfare is one of the widest in London, and thousands of people on bicycles and motor-cars—some elaborately decorated—and on foot, assembled to celebrate the occasion. Shops and houses were gaily decorated and illuminated. There were many displays of fireworks from the gardens. PEACE THANKSGIVING. I A special service to celebrate the restoration of peace was held in St. Paul's Cathedral. The Lord Mayor visited the City of Londion School in State, with the Sheriffs, and delivered a stirring little address to the boys on the significance of the occasion and the lessons of the war and there were other public and official manifestations of the popular rejoicing. In all the great urban centres throughout the country, and in small towns and villages also, the celebra- tions on Monday, it may be repeated, were not less hearty than in the capital, and in some instances they were elaborately organised, with parades of municipal and other local authorities, friendly societies, and school children, illumina- tions, bonfires, fireworks, and torchlight pro- cessions. Equal enthusiasm was displayed in the more remote parts of the Empire. THE KING AND THE VICTORS. The King, on Sunday night, telegraphed to Lord Milner stating that he was overjoyed at the news of the surrender of the Boer forces, and warmly congratulating the High Commissioner on the able manner in which he had conducted the negotiations. To Lord Kitchener and the troops under his command his Majesty sent his heartiest congratulations for having brought the long and difficult campaign to a glorious and suc- cessful conclusion. Lord Milner, in his reply, said he was profoundly thankful that the Corona- tion would be celebrated in peace throughout the King's South African dominions. The Com- mander-in-Chief said the soldiers would thoroughly appreciate his Majesty's message, which he was conveying to them. KING AND QUEEN TO ATTEND THANKSGIVING. I The King and Queen intimated on Tuesday their intention to attend a Thanksgiving Service for the conclusion of Peace, to be held in St. Paul's Cathedral on Sunday morning. The Lord Mayor of London on Tuesday presided at a Court 1 of Aldermen, when a Resolution was passed ex- pressing profound satisfaction at the close of hos- tilities in South Africa. I.I—-I. 9

I A NEW RAND. With the advent of peace many South African Companies will be brought out which have been patiently waiting on the heels of victory. The public, however, should be very chary of some of the new ventures. The Rand, in the opinion of many, is already over capitalised, and this war has ,ren numerous opportunities of examining other auriferous fields among which the Lydenburg dis- trict has found most favour with experienced ex- ploiters. Avoca, about 18 miles from Barberton, close to the Sheba Gold Mining Company, is be- lieved to be teeming with gold in good paying and continuous reef. A Company recently floated under the title of The Sheba Crown has secured 24 proved claims here, the railway running within 250 yards of the main shaft, while coal, wood, and labour are cheap and plentiful. The assays and reports by authoritative experts agree that the mine is highly productive. As £ 60,000 is reserved for working capital, and as a 20-stamp mill will be erected, it is calculated by Mr. Elwes, the eminent engineer, that a nett profit will be realised of about £ 30,000 per annum.—" Whitehall Review."

I THE CAPE AND THE CONSTITUTION. I Sir J. Gordon Sprigg delivered an important speech at a meeting of citizens in Cape Town on Monday. After describing the financial situation and stating that he was about to leave for England to attend the conference of colonial Premiers, he dealt with the proposals for the abrogation of the Constitution, which he opposed as a step backward. He argued that with a new register he could get a majority, and that while he had confidence in Lord Salisbury he did not want a Government of Campbell-Bannermans and Courtneys. He had informed Mr. Cham- berlain that his Ministry was entirely opposed to the suspension of the Constitution, and Mr. Chamberlain replied that nothing of the kind was proposed. He would not falter in his sup- port of free institutions. They would beat their enemies in the forum as they had beaten them in the field.

A NOYEL EDUCATION QUESTION. Decision has been given in the Scottish Court of Session upon an education question involving a rather novel point. An action was brought by parties assuming the position of parents" to the children in Quarrier's Homes who sought to have it declared that the School Board of Kilmalcolm was bound to provide school accom- modation and qualified teaches for the 917 children resident in these homes. Originally education was provided directly by the manage- ment of the homes, but in 1899, having been called upon to pay rates for the homes, they closed their school and marched 800 children to Kilmalcolm School and demanded admission. There was not accommodation for the children, and in addition the School Board took up the position that they were under no obligation to educate them. Various compromises were attempted and failed, and the action was accord- ingly raised. The School Board challenged the title of the so-called "parents" to sue, and this contention Lord Low upheld, pointing out that the children were in the custody of Mr. Quarrier, and that the pursuers were merely his servants. On the merits of the case Lord Low decided that as the Education Department had refused to require the School Board to provide the addi- tional accommodation it was not competent for the Court to declare that it was necessary.

Sir John Furley, Honorary Bailiff of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem, has been given Royal license and authority to accept and wear the Insignia of Commander of the Royal Order of Wasa, of the Second Class, conferred upon him by his Majesty the King of Sweden and Norway in recognition of his valuable services and also to Mr. John Harrison, shipowner, of London, to accept and wear the Insignia of Chevalier of the Royal Belgian Order of Leopold, con- ferred upon him by his Majesty the King of the Belgians in recognition of valuable services. Sir John Furley has left London for Russia, to attend Oifficially the general meeting of the Red Cross Society. IL-

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SUPERSTITION AS AN OPIU31 I SUPERSTITION AS AN OPIUM CURE. The British Consul in South Formosa tells an amusing story of how superstition nearly extirpated opium-smoking from the island. It got noised abroad that a deity had denounced the drug, and had prescribed drinking the waters of a certain ppring as an infallible cure. Pilgrimages were, organised, and the charm worked amazingly until rumours began to be heard that thelt cured were. lapsing. Then the whole thing collapsed.

THE IJOERS AND THE UAKONET.—Tliere IS a neat story going the rounds (says the" Onlooker") concerning a very gallant and popular baronet who was lately fighting in South Africa. Not long ago he mistook a party of Boers for one of our own pickets, and was taken prisoner. The Boers, however, after robbing him of his watch, field glasses, and other valuables, turned'him adrift, and everyone wondered why. A Boer 8 despatch rider who was subsequently captured, is stated to have been in possession of a letter from one of these Boers. In this letter he described the capture, and went on to say that the Englishman pretended he was a Colonel, but that his flow of language wag perfectly appaling and his personal appearance so unprepossessing that the Boers decided he must be t servant who had robbed his master Hence, they relieved him of his valuables, and, as before related, released him.

I KING'S CORONATION PROCESSION. I A rehearsal of the King's procession through London on the day after the Coronation took place on Tuesday morning, and passed off satis- factorily. It took three hours and a half at a walking pace to cover the thirteen miles tra- versed, including the various stoppages for the reception of Addresses. Another of the Indian Princes who are to attend the Coronation—the Maharaja of Jaipur-with a large retinue, arrived on Tuesday night, and had a cordial reception, both on landing at Dover and on alighting at Victoria Station in London.

THE REVENUE. I The receipts on acount of Revenue from April 1, 1902, when there was a balance of L8,566,947, to May 31, 1902, were £ 24,195,354, against £ 20,431,149 in the corresponding period of the preceding financial year, which began with a balance of £ 5,596,918. The net expenditure was £ 33,708,119, against £ 34,432,701 to the same date in the previous year. The Treasury balances on May 31, 1902, amounted to £ 5,147,017, and at the same date in 1901 to £ 3,885,247.

Fanny Keech, the wife of a guardsman, was committed for trial on a charge of bigamy, heard at Westminster. Her husband came home a fort- night ago, after being two years in South Africa. She had drawn an allowance from the War Office until last September, when it was stopped. A week ago she went through a form of marriage with a shoeing-smith in the R.F.A.

I WITH Per broken articles I K „ requiring an abiir- B I I lntT^ANSPAKEHir & 1 -agy /slat or aoo wblcb is 1 » "w required to stand I V washing in bot or 1 X j warm frstcr, the most w I yOU can STICK AffY J I | THING, ANYTIME, igfc" J I ANYWHERE. D*a« I COwGUuH^ Zj I Requires no preparstisa 9 |j$V!3i8.cy fi In Large Tubes, Sd. &ample Tubes, id. tt wet J 04ba, BORWiGKS The Best 1 'POWDER \'{ vrld. 1118.

MANIA IN TROMBONES. A poor old Paris bandmaster, named Berlitz, had something more than Dick Swiveiler's weak- ness for venting his melancholy in music. Only his lugubrious fancy took the form of trombones. He had quite a large selection, which he blew in season and out of season. Having bored his neighbours to death, as well as himself, he thought, he might as well commit suicide, and stoved him- self out of existence with charcoal, with his beloved instruments around him. He left E120 to the public relief fund—just to show there was no vulgar destitution about the business.

BATTLESHIPS' ARMOUR. As a result of experiments with capped shot, it. has become necessary to delay the construction of six armoured cruisers of the 1901 programme. These belated ships have only just been laid down or given out to eontract, and are of the County class, so called because they are named after counties in the United Kingdom. They were de- signed to have on the sides 4in. hardened Krupp steel armour, which at the time they were designed was supposed to be strong enough to keep out at battle range all shot under 6in. For the last nine years, however, foreign Powers have been experimenting, with or actually using in their ships capped shot, and the Admiralty have suddenly awoke to the fact that these shot a) capable of easily perforating the sides of our new armoured cruisers. The cap can be readily applied to our shot in the navy, but the serious matter is that the armour on the cruisers will have to be increased in thickness to, 6in., and this means practically redesigning the ships, with the certain consequence of great delay. Our naval programme is already so much behind- hand, and the ships to be laid down this year are so few, that the prospect of further waste of time is causing great uneasiness, the more so as the Intelligence Department of the Admiralty is believed to be of opinion that more ships are urgently required. It has, however, no power to compel the board to take its view.

I NEGLECTED FOR YEARS. A valuable oil-painting has been discovered at Halifax in some engineering tool works, where it, had hung, neglected and despised, for a number of years. The accumulation of smoke and dirt had obscured the subject. An auctioneer on a visit to the works stopped to examine it, and received per- mission to clean it. The picture proved to be a cleverly-drawn and well-finished painting depict- ing a gathering after the hunt, by Kennie, the famous Dutch artist of about a century ago. A substantial sum has since been refused for the picture.