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

TOWN TOPICS. I (From Our London Correspondent.) I hear from the Marienbad that King Ed- ward appears to be thoroughly enjoying his "cure'' there, and now that the novelty, of his presence among them has worn off, the other visitors have repressed the tendency, rather noticeable in the first few days, to follow him about wherever he went. It was in order to avoid the fussy attentions and elaborate cour- tesies inseparable from the treatment of Royalty in a foreign country that his Majesty determined to adopt an incognito while at Marienbad; and it may be noted that this is the first time he has done so since his aA. sion. although as Prince of Wales he occasion- ally travelled as Earl of Chester. Queen Alex- andria in those days, when journeying in semi- pnvacy, favoured the designation of Lady Renfrew. The title of Duke of Lancaster now cnosen by King Edward is, of course, not a fictitious one. and.its use on the present occa- sion is a matter of some historic interest. As the King of these realms his Majesty receives the revenues of- "the Duchy of Lancaster, the annual amount paid over to him exceeding sixty thousand pounds, which is additional to the various sums he derives from the Civil List; and the'title itself, though merged into the Crow ;r, for over five hundred years, still belongs by right to the Sovereign. While on this subject I may also note that the Princess of Wales, who is now spending a quiet holiday ia Switzerland under the style of the Countess of Killnmev, has in her choice of an incognito paid a pretty courtesy to the Emerald Isle. Li ere, again,' the title used is not a mere chance assumption, seeing that the Prince of Wales was created Baron Killarney at the same time that the Dukedom of York and the Earldom of Inverness were conferred upon him in 1892. The late Queen Victoria, it may be remem- bered, sometimes called herself the Countess of Balmoral when on the Continent, this being a purely fictitious designation, selected only because cf its association with her Majesty's favourite residence in the Highlands. i G" the past week our wearied legislators have been enjoying their well-earned holiday, far away from the boom of "Big Ben" and the crten-unwelcome sound of the division bell. So far as public utterances are concerned there is a marked lull in home politics, but the period of immunity will be very much shorter than usual this year, and the autumn oratorical campaign, starting as is customary with the lesser lights of the political firmament, cannot be long delayed. Conscientious members of both branches of the Legislature are even in their time of holiday busily studying the latest information bearing on the great controversy of the day; and all the indications point to the near approach of perhaps the most stirring period of political activity which has been wit- nessed during the present generation, followed most probably by a speedy appeal to the arbit- rament of the ballot-box. No need for the newspapers to have recourse just now to the big mushroom and sea-serpent discoveries, which generally occur so conveniently and by a special dispensation of the Providence which watches over journalism at this season of the year; for although the public campaign is not yet come, the burning question is being thrashed out in the leader and correspondence columns and the genuine popular interest thug aroused needs no adventitious encouragement. Little by little the "lungs" of London are being increased in size or added to in number, the rate of progress in the last few years having, in a comparative sense, been quite rapid. Most of the credit for what is done is given to the County Council, but while anxious to acknowledge the action of that much-abused body in this respect, one should bear in mind that the Council as a mle only takes up schemes that have already been well supported locally and gives the remainder of the money required, which is usually one half of the total cost, though sometimes not such a substantial pro- portion. Supporters of the open-spaoe move- ment have long been wishing that a millionaire would arise to stand towards them in the same relationship as Mr. Andrew Carnegie now occupies towards the advocates of Free Lioraries hence their gratification at hearing that that gentleman himself has promised to contribute the last thousand pounds for the proposed extension of Hampstead Heath, a project than which none could be more accep- table to those who know and love what is in certain features the loveliest expanse of natural beauty which we Londoners possess. The idea is to obtain eighty acres to the north-west of and adjoining the present heath, which will not only prove a valuable addition of open ground, especially in view of the direct access soon to be afforded by the Tube railway from Charing Cross, but will also prevent the cele- brated view from Spaniard's-road being spoilt through the development of the land for build- ing purposes, a fate for which it is designed unless the public now secure it. The purchase price will be £ 48,000, and I am told that about twelve thousand pounds has already been sub- scribed, including the conditional donation from the great Pittsburg millionaire. Another im- portant open-space scheme in the metropolitan area—which has been successfully undertaken and carried out this year-comprises the acqui- sition cf over eight hundred acres in the neigh- bourhood of the expanding urban communities cf Romford and Ilford at the very low cost of thirty thousand pounds. The land consists of Lambourne Common, and the last virgin rem- nant of the historic Hainault Forest, and is separated from Epping Forest by the valley of tke river Roding. So rapid is the growth of the districts on the eastern confines of London that it is very desirable to furnish them with such a fine play-ground, both in the interests of public health and the people's enjoyment. The Fleet manoeuvres this year were con- ceived on bold lines, and the general idea being easily Liriderstanded of the people," the for- tunes of the rival Admirals were followed with a good deal of popular interest. Broadly speaking, two squadrons, separated by twelve hundred miles of ocean, were set to effect a junction, because while individually inferior, they were unitedly superior to the enemy's fleet. The object of the latter—represented by our old algebraic friend X-was to meet and defeat each of the two B squadrons in turn, and for this purpose he was placed at Lagos on the Portuguese coast, alraoct mid- way between Berehaven and Madeira, the re- spective positions at tha outset of B 1 and B 2 squadrons. But Sir Arthur Wilson, who was in supreme command of the B side, with Lord Charles Beresford in charge of the division at Madeira, managed to slip 'by the X fleet, under Sir Compton Domvile, and having joined forces with his colleague he immediately turned OE the enemy and successfully engaged him. The scheme as framed by the Admiralty experts was to reproduce a condition of affairs which might come to pass in war time, aiad which, as a matter of fact, has actually existed in British naval annals. The County Championship Competition re- mains in an interesting state, notwithstanding that the cricket season proper has only a few more days to run. The two outstanding fea- tures of the present summer are the high posi- tion of Middlesex and the wonderful batting of the popular Sussex amateur, C. B. Fry, who is credited with a phenomenal average, and whose decision not to go to Australia thin winter will produce general regret in the Com- monwealth, and must inevitably rob the visit- ing team of its representative character. Sussex, who were second last year, are likely to finish well up in the tables, but Surrey have gone down still further, much to the disap- pointment of their South London supporters. Yorkshire, exhibiting a typical North country strain of doggedness, have never despaired, notwithstanding their early reverses, and the struggle between the White Rose and Middle- sex (who have come up from twelfth place in 1902) hes lent an additional element of keen- ness to the closing stage of the competition. Gloucestershire, Leicestershire, and Hamp- shire are all candidates for the uncoveted "wooden spoon," which went last summer to Hampshire. R.

NEWS NOTES. Our King is very justified in his annoyance at being mobbed at Marienbad. It is a great pity if a busy potentate cannot be permitted to enjoy a well-earned spell of rest and recrea- tion amid agreeable surroundings without being followed about by the vulgar. There will always, however, we fear, be unmannerly people in the world, well dressed as well as the other sort, and expostulations as to the consideration of others would be simply wasted on some of the haunters of Continental spas. The Queen is in the Highlands, ana there, at least, her Majesty can be sure of a recuperative holiday in retirement. Queen Alexandra has joined very heartily in the high State labours of her august spouse, in so far as position would permit, and she, too, is entitled to withdrawal from the crowd at the time when almost every- one who is anybody is upon vacation intent. It is sad to learn that the general scarcity of fruit this season is accentuated almost to famine point in the greengage and plum growing districts of South-West Cambridgeshire. So complete was the destruction of the crops by the spring frosts that in some orchards there is absolutely no fruit, while in others two or three on a tree is all that can be seen. Only two years ago of greengages alone the consignments from the villages of Meldreth and Melbourn amounted on two days to 30 tons each,,and one week's return was 140 tons of gages. For the occupiers of smad homesteads, with orchards attached, of whom there are a number in the villages, it is a serious loss. In a fruitful year an orchard will pay nearly the whole year's rent of a homestead. But this year it will mean £ 100 rental for a house worth in itself £20, and no produce from the orchard. As a rule orchard land which is fairly planted will make about Y.10 an acre rent, which is a very good thing for the landlords, and also for the tenant in a good or even average year. The more enterprising growers who have land available for adding to their planting adopt the expedient of planting goose- berries or small fruit beneath the young plum ,or apple trees, and for a few years this is a source of profit. This year, owing to the famine in stone fruit, gooseberries have made an excep- tionally good price, and have made a half crop of 'this fruit wcrtfe about as much as a full crops of an ordinary season. But these growers may be counted on the fingers ends, and in all the older homesteads there is no com- pensation whatever for a disastrous season. Apples and pears are almost as bad as plums. Fortunately for the manufacturers of jam there has been a plentiful crop of strawberries and a fair crop of raspberries, and the consumer of fruit is not likely to suffer so much from the bad season as the growers in particular districts where the cultivation is largely of one kind of 'fruit. Their case is quite deplorable. Mr. Alfred Mosely has quite completed his arrangements for the visit of British educa- tional experts to America, and they will leave Southampton in a few weeks time, It is pro- bable the party will first spend a few days in New York, visiting the Columbia University, various high schools, elementary schools, manual training classes and schools, ethical culture schools, and also the Auckmutz trade schools, the Educational Alliance, the Uni- versity Settlement Society, and the Normal Col- lege. They will also visit Yale and Harvard Universities, and perhaps Washington. Then the members will separate and proceed by groups or individuals to different centres where special branches of education may be studied. Philadelphia and the Pennsylvania Uni- versity, Baltimore and the Johns Hopkins University and Hospital. Pittsburg and the Carnegie Museum, and great industrial establishments in and about -the city; Chicago, Detroit, Niagara, Ithaca and the Cornell University, Schenectady, and the works of the General Electric Company, and Albany (capital of New York State) are also among the places in the itinerary of the tour. Members of the commission will probably re- turn to England individually on the comple- tion of the work allotted to them. Mr. Mosely will himself pursue certain inquiries and write the preface to the volume which it is intended to publish. Our wish is that solid practical good may spring from the scheme. It. has been decided by the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine to despatch an important expedition to the Congo Free State next month to investigate the disease caused by the trypanosoma parasite. The expedition has been arranged with the co-operation of the Govern- nientoi the Congo Free State, who approached the committee of the school over twelve months ago. The party will investigat0 the occurrence and distribution of trypanosoma in the Congo, the carriers of the parasite, and the relation of trypanosomo to sleeping sickness. Ample op- portunities for observing sleeping sickness will be afforded. As the investigations will neces- sitate the examination of the blood of wild animals, the Congo Free State is making ar- rangements for the expedition to participate in drives of big game up country. Statisticians and economists will be inte- rested to observe that the changes in rates of wages in the kingdom reported during July af- fected about 59,400 workpeople, of whom 3900 received advances and 55,500 sustained de- creases. The net effect of all the changes was a decrease of about £1900 per week. The changes of the previous month affected 116,500 workpeople, the net result being a decrease of JE6500 weekly. During July, 1902, the number affected was 294,000, and the net result was a decrease of £ 9200 weekly. The principal changes reported were an increase affecting 1500 masons in Edinburgh, and decreases affect- ing 44,600 coal miners in Northumberland and Cumberland, and 4700 engineers, shipbuilders, &c., at Belfast. Three changes affecting 41,256 workpeople were arranged by Conciliation Boards, one of which, affecting 250 workpeople was preceded by a dispute causing stoppage of work. Nine changes affecting 6500 workpeople took effect under sliding scales. The remain- ing changes, affecting nearly 11,650 workpeople, were arranged directly between employers and workpeople or their representatives, one of which, affecting nearly 2500 workpeople, was preceded by a dispute causing stoppage of work On the whole the Labour market is by no mean over buoyant.

The Sultan cf Turkey, it is said, keeps 15 dragoman secretaries constantly employed in translating the best of the world's literature for his reading. The translations include not only serious works on history, politics, and science, but novets in every European language. They are written on large sheets of thick white gilt-edged paper, fastened together by ribbons.

eisca: policy. CO-OPERATORS AND MR. CHAMBERLAIN. Resolutions in favour of free trade and in op- position to Mr. Chamberlain's fiscal proposals were carried at a Lancashire co-operative con- ference held in Manchester on Saturday. MR. WINSTON CHURCHILL ON PROTECTION. Mr. Winston Churchill, M.P., in the course of a long letter to a Yorkshire correspondent, says:- "You say that hundreds of working men of nearly all trades are walking the streets idle. I do not think that the figures which are collected by the Government indicate any unusual depres- sion. On the contrary, our trade and our wealth seem to be increasing from year to year, and the consuming power of the people, which is the real test, is not diminished. But it would not be at all surprising if our trade were very much de- pressed, and if there were great hardship and distress in the country, because, as you know, we have in the last few years been spending money very recklessly indeed. Rightly or wrongly, we cast away some two hundred and fifty millions of our capital on the South African war, and we have raised the cost of the govern- ment of this country by nearly forty millions a year. "More than this, war directs trade into certain artificial channels, because there is a new de- mand for many unusual things, and when the war is over there is, of course, the inevitable dis- arrangement and disturbance. "Under the circumstances, it is wonderful that we are not suffering more severely for our tre- mendous expenditure, and it is pretty cool of those who have been responsible for that expen- diture that they should go about the country abusing that Free Trade system without which we could never have borne the strain that has 'been put on us." NO NEED FOR DEARER LIVING. Mr. Chamberlain, replying to a letter from Mr. Boscowen, M.P., says that he has never suggested any tax whatever on raw materials such as wool or cotton, and believes that such a tax is entirely unnecessary for the purpose he has in view-that is, for a mutual preference with our Colonies, and for enabling us to bargain for better terms with our foreign competitors. As regards food, there is nothing in the policy of tariff reform he has put before the country which need increase in the slightest degree the cost of living of any family in this country.

BALKAN CRISIS. SWIFT JUSTICE. Further fighting is Reported from various parts of Macedonia. A court-martial at Monastir condemned to death the gendarme Halim, the murderer of M. Rostkowsky, and an accomplice, and the sentence was immediately carried out. A third gendarme was sentenced to 15 years' hard labour. The indemnity of 200,000f. offered by Turkey to the widow of the murcle,red Consul having been rejected, 400,000f. has now been offered, but also refused. The Bulgarian Press severely censures the indifference shown by Prince Ferdinand and the Government to the extermination of Bulgarians in Macedonia, and urges them to take up the cause of the Mace- donians and emancipate them from the Turkish yoke. RUSSIA'S ATTITUDE. It was announced in the St. Petersburg "Official Messenger" of Saturday that on Tues- day last Count Lamsdorff telegraphed to the Russian Ambassador in Constantinople saying that the apologies tendered by the Sultan and the Porte for the murder of the Consul at Monastir were not adequate satisfaction, and that demands should be made for the immediate and severe punishment of M. Rostkowsky's murderer and his accomplices; the production of positive proofs that the Vali of Monastir had been actually banished; and the instant and severe punishment of all the civil and military officials responsible for the murder. In addition Count Lamsdorff demanded various disciplinary and other measures for the pacification of Macedonia. The next day Count Lamsdorff communicated to the Russian Agent at Sofia the steps he was taking in the matter, but added that Russia's vigorous attitude towards the Porte was not to be interpreted by the Bulgarian Government or the Macedonian Committee as indicating any change in the political programme of the Russian Government. It would be a dangerous error on the part of the Bulgarians to consider Russia's present action as fostering the criminal revolu- tionary agitation of the Macedonian Committee, which calls for vigorous counter-action on the part of the Bulgarian Government. The "Official Messenger" also contains an intimation that a squadron of the Black Sea Fleet has been ordered to sail for Turkish waters. Reports from Salonika and other places indicate the con tinuance and rapid spread of the insurrectionary movement in Western Macedonia. A meeting of prominent citizens of all parties held at Sofia on Saturday passed resolutions expressing sym- pathy with their struggling brothers in Mace- donia, appealing to public opinion in Europe to demand of the several Governments the fulfil- ment of the promised reforms, declaring readines; to give moral and material support for the success of the struggle, and calling on the Bulgarian Government to guard viligantly the national interests. It is reported that on Saturday a train carrying a battalion of troops was blown up by dynamite on the line near Salonika. FRESH BATTALIONS CALLED OUT. The announcement of the intended despatch of a Russian squadron to Turkish waters has been received with some doubt and considerable dis- satisfaction in Vienna. On Sunday night a train on the line between Uskub and Salonika was derailed by the insurgents three persons were killed, and two wounded. The continued fighting in Macedonia during the past fortnight has aroused great excitement at Sofia. The Albanians and Turks in the vilayet of Monastir are said to be enraged by the execution of the murderer of M. Rostkowski, and wholesale massacres of the Bulgarian population are apprehended. A Sevastopol telegram states that a squadron of the Black Sea fleet, including four battleships, four destroyers, six mine and torpedo transports, have left for Turkish waters. A telegram from Constantinople says that fifty- two fresh battalions of troops have been called out foom the European provinces of Turkey. FURTHER FIGHTING. I Further fighting is reported from Albania. According, to a telegram from Uskub, the Turks, on entering Krushevo, massacred the inhabi- tants, sparing nobody, the Bulgarian leader Michailovsky being among the killed. A despatch received at one of the Embassies in Constantinople states that eight hundred Mus- sulmans have been massacred by the insurgents in the district of Monastir. It is admitted that the Turkish troops make little headway against the insurrectionary movement. The Russian Squadron left Sebastopol on Tuesday morning for the Turkish coast. Orders have also been given for an Italian Squadron to sail in that direction.

Lady Margaret Herbert has been appointed by the Somerset County Council as one of the. mana- gers of the county elementary schools. There are several brewers in England. who make beer from oats and not from barley. Malted oats are said to give a very agreeable taste to mild beer. The tallest soldier a the German army, and one of the tallest men living, Francis Eii-mke, is 7ft. 4ins. He married1 the other day a little girl typewriter. The Crown Prince of Germany is camping with his regiment at Doberitz, and is said to be making himself popular with the men. A Russian servant, M. Kartoff, claims to have discovered that criminals can be infallibly de- tected by the colour of their eyes. Murderer# and thieves have reddish-brown eyes, tramps light blue, and so forth. Honest folk have dark grey or blue eyes. One British regiment has been in mourning for more than a century. This is the old 47th, the Loyal North Lancashire Regiment. The officers wear black blended with the gold braid in memory of General Wolfe, who was killed a.t Quebec.

THE HUMBERT CASE, A HUGE DEFICIENCY. The proceedings at the Humbert trial in France last week end were of much interest. Evidence was given by the official receiver entrusted with the liquidation of the Humbert property. He estimated the total nominal deficiency at about 117,000,000f. ( £ 468,000). M. Cattani, the banker and company promoter, was examined, and in the course of his evidence was violently attacked by Mme. Humbert, who brought detailed accusations against the French Government and the Minister of Justice. THE MISSING MILLIONS. M. Dumont, cashier of the Rente Viagere, gave evidence on Monday to the effect that about 1,000,000?. ( £ 40,000) were paid out in pensions annually, although the receipts only amounted to half that sum. The payments, however, were regniaily met, Mme. Humbert making up the difference. Persons who had invested their savings then gave evidence, from which it appeared they have had refunded to them 50 per cent. of their original investments. ) M. Vacher, official liquidator of the Rente Viagere. excited amusement in court by stating that the total deficit to be met was 5,700,000f. 000), against which the assets were actually | 6.000,GOOf.'( £ 240,000). The Judge: What will you do with the money that remains if, as you say, there will be a surplus? M. Vacher: Me. Lanquest, it seems to me, is the person who should benafit by it. This statement met with audible approval in court, for Me. Lanquest, in restoring 3,700,000:. to the Rente Via,gere account ruined himself and family. Inspector France, one of the detectives who brought the Humberts back to Paris, then gave details of their mode of living at Madrid. This gave Mme. Humbert an opportunity to relate a long history of the famous flight. She had, she said, never intended to run away. When she got to Bordeaux, the person she had expected to see there had gone to Madrid, and she followed her. This mysterious lady was the actual possesot- of the I- missing millions," but she refused to give them up for fear the French Government should sequestrate them. Mme. Humbert added that if those millions were not in court the next day she should disclose the name of this lady. But she declii-incl to speak until the last minute. She alsu said that Me. Labori was in possession of the secret. The emphatic way in which she spoke made u strong impression, notwithstanding that some of the audience were full of merriment. The advocates near listening to the case expressed their belief that there really was something behind it all, for Me. Labori would never lend himself to such arrant imposture. By this time the list of witnesses was prettywell spent. Some half-dozen names still remained to be called, and they belonged to the quality." Mme. Humbert had her wish fulfilled in seeing the Prefect of Police and the Juges dTnstruction in the box, but, alas! their testimony, with one ex- ception, did not much advance her case. M. Lepine's memory failed him when directly questioned by Mme. Humbert, who said she found him much changed in her regard. He concurred in one point, however, that she once had the am- bition to found a great newspaper which should be really honest. M. Leydet, Juge dTnstruction, refused to answer at all, screening himself behind professional secrecy. Me. Labori protested against this attitude, and Me. Andre Hesse, with scathing irony, showed that M. Leydet had not always displayed the same reserve. What a comedy." said the correspondent of a Vienna newspaper. Me. du Buit swore that the statement he had made before M. Poncet had afterwards been signed by M. Lemercier, Juge dTnstruction, as evidence received by him. Questioned by Me. Labori, witness said he had not taken the oatli before making that statement whereas M. Lemercier had. signed the deposition as sworn evidence. That a gross irregularity had been committed was clearly proved, and the incident created con- siderable sensation. M. Renaud, formerly First President of the Cour des Comptes, a fine old gentleman with white hair, who was a colleague and intimate friend of the late Gustave Humbert, said in 1892 M. Humbert told him: "I am delighted. My children have gained their case definitely. Henceforth the Craw- ford succession can no longer be contested." In reply to Me. Labori, M. Renaud said Gustave Humbert was not only an honourable man, but an extremely intelligent one-the sort of man, in fact, who could not be easily deceived. Evidence was also given by an old schoolfellow of Frederic Humbert, who was always esteemed among his brother students. President Bonnet then explained to the jury the nature of the charges and the penalties attaching to them. Forgery, without extenuating circum- stances, entailed from five to 20 years' penal servi- tude, but with extenuating circumstances a maximum of two years' hard labour. Swindling was met by a sentence of from one to five years simple imprisonment. Turning to the accused, the judge put Frederic and Thdrese Humbert through the final inter- rogatory. Mme. Humbert was tenacious to the last. Nothing could surpass the extraordinary fortitude and courage displayed by this woman, conscious as she was of the scarcely concealed mockery with which her words were received. Every time she referred to M. Vall6 and M. Cattaui there was a venom and a hatred simply appalling. At one moment she lifted her veil, and, crossing her hands over her breast, made a most pathetic appeal to the jury, saying she was a poor hapless woman who had wronged no one, but who had been made to undergo martyrdom. Finally, she reiterated her statement, that if the millions" were not produced in court she would reveal the identity of the person detaining them, and the place where they were to be found. "NO CRAWFORDS, NO MILLIONS." The examination of the witnesscJJ in the Hum- bert case having been concluded, M. Blondel, Public Prosecutor, on Tuesday beg.an his speech to the jury, which he had not finished when the Court rose. He reminded them that, after repeated promises to speak, the prisoners had said nothing. In his opinion, the husband was an accomplice. With regard to 1 he flight into Spain, it was absolutely false to say that the Government knew the whereabouts of the family. No one knew where they were. They had carefully concealed their identity, and were preparing to go to America. For twenty years the Humberts had forged, had lied, and had swindled. There were neither Crawfords nor millions.

LADY FALLS OVER 300 FEET. I As the season progresses the tale of disaster in the Alps grows. A despatch from Sales says that another accident occurred on Saturday, this time on the Santis range of mountains, when Mile. Klaeger, employed in an office at St. GalL met her death. The deceased was attempting the ascent of the Kreuzberg, and was accom- panied by two scholars of the Technical School at Winterthur. Mile. Klaeger fell more than 300ft. to the base of the Paroi rocks, and her skull was fractured and all her limbs broken. The remains were conveyed by Roeslenalp shepherds to Sax, and will be brought to St. Gall. The victins of the accident was about 20 years of age, and an experienced climber, who had already n.ade numerous ascents. The relief party which was sent to the Matterhorn from Zermatt to look for the three Bernese tourists who were missing has returned with the missing men. .I

FJlea and Wasps are easily destroyed by sprink- ling..K]&ATING'S POWDER on the window ledges— the unrivalled secret for killing Fleara, Bugs, Beetles, also Nits in Children's Heads. Harmless to everything but insects. Tins, 3d., 6d., 1,4. Filled Tin Bellows, 9d. A body has pust been found in the river at Reddislx-vale, near Manchester, at a place called the "cork-hole." The water here is covered with refuse, chiefly corks, and from the banks has a perfectly solid appearance. Several fata- lities have occurred owing to people jumping on the floating refuse.

i SCHOOL -OF JOURNALISM. I I GIFT OF £ 400,000. I Mr. Joseph Pulitzer, editor and proprietor- of the "New York World," has provided a sum of £ 400,000 to be applied by the Columbia University to the establishment of a School of Journalism. The university which, as is well known, is situated in New York, has on its part undertaken to establish and conduct such a school with appropriate courses of instruction oral and demonstrative. The idea is quite a novel one in the United States, and has occasioned widespread interest. As soon as this school is in working students proposing to enter upon the career of journalism will find all that is considered necessary for the work on any of the 2,000 papers of the.country.- Professor Eliot, of Harvard University, one of the foremost educational authorities in America, w.as asked by Mr. Pulitzer to make suggestions on the scope of the work of the proposed school. It is probable that these will form the bases of the instruction. I WHAT WILL BE TAUGHT. ) I The professor's suggestion included the follow- ing d T} Newspaper Administration.—The organisation of a newspaper office, functions of the publisher, circulation department, advertising department, editorial and reportial departments, the financing of a newspaper, local, out-of-town, and foreign news service, editorial, literary, financial, and sporting and other departments. Newspaper Manufacture.—Printing process, inks, paper, electrotyping, and stereotyping pro- cesses, type composition, type setting, and type casting machines, processes for reproducing illus- trations, folding, binding, and mailing devices. The Law of Journalism.—Copyright, libel, including civil, criminal, and seditious libel, rights and duties of the Press in reporting judicial proceedings, liabilities of publisher, editor, reporter, and contributor. Ethics of Journalism.—Proper sense of respon- sibility to the public on the part of newspaper writers; to what extent should the opinions of the editor or owner of a newspaper affect its presentation of news? Relations of publisher, editor, and reporters as regards freedom of opinion. History of Journalism.—Freedom of Press, etc. The Literary Form of Newspapers.—Approved usages in punctuation, spelling, abbreviation, typography, etc. Reinforcement of existing departments of instruction for the benefit of students of journalism:—In English-reporting of news, newsletters, reviews, paragraph writing, editorial writing. In History—emphasis on contemporary history, Government, and geography. In political science—emphasis on contemporary, economic problems, and financial administration. The school will be managed by an advisory board. It will be managed upon the basis of an endowment of P,400,000, and a building for its use will be erected to cost £ 100,000. It is expected the edifice will be finished in a year's time.

t LORD SALISBURY. I ANXIETY AT HATFIELD. Although the circumstances of Lord Salisbury's illness were not such as to warrant confidence of ultimate complete recovery, Sunday night's bulletin was the most favourable that had been issued. The King first heard of the illness of the ex-Premier on Saturday, and at once sent a sympathetic message to Hatfield, and late on Saturday night received at Marienbad a telegram from Viscount Cranborne thanking him for his kind message, and informing him that Lord Salisbury was "very ill," but that Sir Douglas Powell had just reported him to be slightly stronger after a restful night. This report was issued on the authority of Sir Douglas Powell after consultation with Dr. Lovell Drage and Dr. Walker, Lord Salisbury's London attendant, who had hurried back to London on hearing of his distinguished patient's condition. Throughout Saturday night the improved conditions were maintained, and on Sunday morning an informal bulletin was issued on the authority of his lordship's family record- ing another restful night and added strength. It was not found necessary to send for Sir Douglas Powell or Mr. Walker on Sunday. At half-past six that evening the following authorised statement was issued:- "His lordship has had a good day and is decidedly stronger.38 I A RESTFUL DAY. The following official bulletin was issued %t Hatfield House soon after half-past six on Mondav evening :—"Lord Salisbury has had Z;, good day, and there is no material change." z, This report marked some slight improvement in Lord Salisbury's condition during the day, as the morning bulletin had spoken or a restless night, which fortunately was not attended by any observable diminution of strength. During the day messages were received in great number. The King, the Queen, the Prince of Wales, and the Viceroy of India, made inquiry by telegram as to Lord Salisbury's progress. Shortly before 10 o'clock on Monday night it was stated at Hatfield House that the more favourable symptoms were maintained, that Lord Salisbury had passed an altogether more restful day, had had more sleep, and appeared in 'on sequence to have gained slightly in strength. I "NO MARKED CHANGE." There was, up to late on Tuesday night, no change to record in Lord Salisbury's condition, and with the exception of Sunday's slight rest- lessness, counteracted, however, by Monday's welcome repose, it may be fairly said that the first three days of the week constituted almost a stationary period. During Monday night the patient slept much better. Dr. Walker again remained in attendance at Hatfield House, and left for London at 9.30 on Tuesday morning. A little later Dr. Lovell Drage also left Hat- field, so it was clear that no immediate develop- ments were anticipated. Sir Douglas Powell travelled down from London on Tuesday after- noon, and left again scon after six o'clock, hav- ing paid a somewhat brief visit. About 6.30 the following bulletin was issued There is no marked change in his lord- ship's condition. After the issue of the bulletin Dr. Walker went for a ride with Lord Robert Cecil in the latter's motor-car. The Countess of Selborne left Hatfield for London by the 8.48 p.m. train on Tuesday. Her ladyship stated that her father seemed slightly stronger, but there was no important change, and the doctors did not Z71 anticipate any early development of his lo1* ship's illness.

STARVED HIMSELF. I "I wished I could be made to die," were the words of Edmond McSweeney, 27, Water-street, Llanelly. "Instead of getting better I grew worse. I had a great craving for food, but dreaded the pain which followed. Unbearable were the pains in my stomach whenever I ate I had a bad taste in my mouth, and was as yel- low as a guinea. I almost starved myself, and became as thin as a rake. Day after day, and night after night, nearly mad from despondency and pain, I wished I was dead. But I read of cures effected by Dr. Williams' pink pills for pale people. I thought I would give-the- a trial, so I sent out for a box. Before I had ex- hausted it I felt relief. I bought another box. The improvement was continued, and after I had taken a fourth box I felt quite another man. The dreadful pain had quite left me, and I had regained my old vitality, and was soon able to eat anything again, and to resume work." All who suffer the miseries of indigestion and bile should follow this example. Why Starve?

William Ontl, of Viernna, and Baroness Weikh- man, met in a sanatorium for incurable consump- tives. They fell in love, and, recognising the hopelessness of their passion, took poison. Both are dead. A Siberian peasant named Kazerski, of the Sakhalin Island, has been arrested as a cannibal. He murdered several people, in order to rob them, and drank their blood.

G.P.O. AND MARCONIGRAMS. THE PROJECTED AGREEMENT. Mr. Marconi has explained to a Press repre- sentative his views on the projected agreement between the Marconi Wireless Telegraph Com- pany and the Post Office. "The negotiations between our company and the Post Office have been proceeding for some time," said Mr. Marconi, "and throughout Mr. Austen Chamberlain has been very straightfor- ward in the matter. I welcome the experiments that are being carried on by the Post Office with other systems of wireless telegraphy before any agreement is concluded with the Marconi Com- pany. What the other systems are that are being tried I don't know. The Marconi system has already been accepted by the Admiralty and by Lloyd's, and by the principal shipping com- panies with all of whom we have long agree- ments. That is proof conclusive that those au- thorities think the Marconi system the best, otherwise it would not have been accepted. But the Post Office authorities are dilly-dallying over the agreement, and little if anything is being done in the matter. I had a lot of trouble before I got a private line installed from Poldhu in order to carry the messages received there to the Post Office stations inland. "We are in no way competing with the Post Office in the matter of transmission of telegrams we simply act as their agents. All our business is being done with ships at sea from our shore stations, and it is in order to facilitate the for- warding of these messages to their destinations that we desire the agreement. "I do hope some understanding will be come to, but still the agreement with the Post Office is not essential to our existence, although it would be beneficial to both parties. "As to the Berlin Conference on the different systems of wireless telegraphy, that is not a. company concern, but an International Confer- eilee summoned by the German Emperor. I hope, therefore, that the British representatives will stick up for the British co-inpany. The only British company is the Marconi Company, which was incorporated and financed in London."

A Kentish farmer has adopted a novel method of putting a stop to the depredations caused in his orchards by birds. He has killed a number of cats, had them stuffed, and placed them in various attitudes among the branches of the trees. The result, he says, is excellent.

A legal record has been created at Lexington. Kentucky, where the Louisville and Nashville train to Maysville was stopped and a passenger who was fighting on board was arrested. He was taken to the court, tried, fined, and caught the train again, all in the space of ten minutes. Albert Faivet, who had undertaken for a wager to walk round the world in four years, has ar- rived in Berlin. A friend died on the march. Faivet has walked some 25,000 miles in three years and will go on, though owing to six months' delay in plague-infested countries of the East, he cannot now win the wager. He has used up 115 pairs of boots.

N AIML BOR ICK The Best POWDER in the BAKINGE R" World. L

A PROTECTION AGAINST ELECTRICITY. A Russian professor, named Nikolaus Artemieff, has invented a safety dress for work- men and others who have to do with high-tensicfn electricity. It consists of a woven metal fabric, very fine, which is made up into a garment cover- ing the whole body, hands, feet, and head.. There is a linen lining on to which the fabric ia- worked, and the metal fabric, which is in front of the face, does not seriously interfere with the sight of the wearer. The secret of the protective action of the dress is the very low resistance of it, which is about two hundred thousand times less than that of the body. Of course, even with the dress on, a fractional part of the current pass- ing from hand to hand would pass through the body, but this is inversely proportional to the resistance of the human body and the dress, and would be so small that it would be harmless in practically every case.

ROYAL PARDON. i- A lhat "singular but delightful departure from established practice in the exercise of the pre- rogative of pardon" which occurred during the Royal tour in Connemara is the subject of a note Times." The King, at the instance of the Queen, after inquiry into the circumstances, remitted the remainder of a sentence of six months' imprisonment, of which four months had yet to run, passed on a man whose wife had made her way into the presence of the Queen to implode his release. This is probably the only case siace the Revolution in which the prerogative of pardon has been exercised by a Sovereign on his own initiative.

PREVENTING BURIAL ALIVE. A curious coincidence was noticeable in the wills published the other day, two of the tes- tators expressing almost exactly similar desires 'jth the object of preventing burial alive. One •tvas the late Mr. John Newton, a well-known silk dyer, of Macclesfield, who asked that his executor, on hearing of his death, should call in a doctor other than his regular medical at- tendant, to ascertain and satisfy himself, by any scientific or other means, that life had left his body, and that he was not in a state of "coma, trance, or suspended animation." The second will was that of Miss Caroline Townsend Kobarts, of Bromley, Kent, in which the testa- trix desired that on her death a medical man should cut an artery or apply some other means to ascertain that death was certain, and to avoid the danger of her being buried in a trance.