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

After two years' abstention from drink, Robert Robertson, hawker, Berwick, six days ago went on a drinking bout which ended the other day in his being convicted for endangering the safety of the public, he being in charge of a horse and I cart. It was stated that Robertson had spent £60, his savings, in six days in making him- self, his wife, and friends drunk.

I T.P." AND LORD SALISBURY. Writing in "M.A.P." some time ago, Mr. T. f. O'Connor said: "The truth is that Lord Salis- bury is'a very shy man, a very reserved man, a studentânq philosopher by instinct, and a politi- cian by accident. He knew much about electri- city long before it had become the proper pur- suit it is to'-day; and had fitted up Hatfield House with an ingenious electrical plant, whilst most even wealthy people were still sticking to their gas jets or their oil lamps. And he is, like Lord Rosebery, an omnivorous reader. People are often surprised to find, indeed, how much he has read; and how up-to-date, his reading always is. It is often asked how he can find time with all his work to do this vast amount of reading; and I am told that the friends he gathers now and then around him at Hatfield are often surprised to see how apparently easy- going and leisurely his life is. The secret is that Lord Salisbury is one of the men who always seem to work less than they actually do, and that he can despatch his tasks with such extraordinary rapidity."

SOMETHING LIKE SPEED, Mr. Barney Oldfield, -qre are glad to say, is an American, not an English motorist. Mr. Oldfield has ambitions, the chief of which seems to be to drive his car one mile in 35 seconds. Inter- viewer by a "New York Herald" reporter, this ambitious gentleman issued a challenge to +he world. He bars none. He prefers to meet Harry Fournier because of the latter's great re- putation in America, though there are three ether European racing experts who, he thinks, wi'l be harder to beat than Fournier. These three are Jenatzy, the Belgian, who finished first for Gar- many in the International Cup race Gabriel, the hero of the curtailed Paris-Madrid1 race, and Charles Jarrott, the Englishman who was in- jured in the Irish contest. Any of these Oldfield will meet on a track or an enclosed course, either in Europe or America. If sufficient inducements be offered for a match across the water he will sail on a week's notice, or if any of the foreign cracks will come to America for a series of .natch races, he will personally guarantee expenses and find backing for himself to the extent of £ 4,000. He specifies only that the contests must not ex- ceed five miles. "I realise that every time I go on a track I take my life in my hands," Oldfield frankly remarked, "and consequently I see to it that I am right physically, that my car is right mechanically, and that the track is right." He feels confident, he says, that a mile in 35 seconds may be easily accomplished. Indeed, he goes farther, and declares that automobiles may be built with speed of practically no limit. They can be made of such power "that no human being will dare to extend them to their full capacity." From this list he does not even exclude himself. It is interesting to learn that the "champion I chauffeur" is just"25 years of age. He is also a commercial traveller and a boxer.

ALLEGED CURE OF BLINDNESS. New York scientists have accomplished what they claim is a positive cure for blindness. A little Austrian girl, named Lillie Spitznadel, who has been blind from birth, has been treated with radium and the Rontgen rays, and is now re- covering her sight. Dr. Amon Jenkins and Mr. William J. Hammer, an electrical engineer and expert in the use of radium, experimented rath the child. First of all tests were made which de- termined that she was totally blind. Dr. Jenkins then took an X-ray apparatus, and this was tried in conjunction with the radium. Seven tubes of radium, ranging from 75 to 7,000 radio activity, in several narrow chocolate boxes, were held against the forehead, the basie of the brain, and the temples of the child. A momentary sen- sation of light was the result. An hour later Dr. Jenkins was taking the child home in a trolley car, when she explained, as another car passed in an opposite direction, that she had seen something go by them. When she passed an electric light she said that she could distin- guish it. Since then, when she has been in the street, she can tell when some object passes her.

I A DEAD MAN DINING. A correspondent writes: "The 'Lancet' so often tries to make our flesh creep by pointing out the dangers we incur by eating, drinking, and even breathing, that perhaps the following story, told in that staid journal, is worth reproducing: "Whilst residing at Rome, I paid a visit to the lunatic asylum there, and among the more re- markable patients, one was pointed out to me who had been saved with much difficulty from inflict- ing death upon himself by voluntary starvation in bed, under an impression that he was defunct, declaring that dead people never eat. It was soon obvious to all that the issue must be fatal, when the humane doctor thought of the follow- ing stratagem. Half a dozen of the attendants, dressed in white shrouds, and their faces and hands covered with chalk, were marched in single file, with dead silence, into a room adjoining that of the patient, where he observed them, through a door purposely left. open, sit down to a hearty meal. Hallo said he that was de- ceased presently to an attendant, Who be they?' 'Dead men,' was the reply. 'What!' rejoined the corpse; do dead men eat?' 'To be sure they do, as you see,' answered the attendant. If that's the case,' exclaimed the defunct, 'I'll join them, for I'm famished and thus instantly was the spell broken. "It may be as well to add that the above did not appear in the current number, but in the year 1846."

EDUCATION AND INCLINATION. I Mr. Alfred Mosely, who last year sent out an industrial commission to the United States, and has now made arrangements for the visit of an education commission, in an interview which ap- pears in the "Sunday School Chronicle," states that the lad trained on classics lacks resource and initiative."The youth seems to imagine that nobody can tell him anything. He fancies he has the best the world has to offer, and this breeds conceit, which issues in helplessness before un- expected and difficult situations. Now, America has no attachment to venerable theories of what ought to b" done. The whole educa- tional effort aims at chiding out a boy's strong points and inclinations. Here we attempt to turn out all boys to one pattern. Nothing is done to find out what a boy's real talents and inclinations are, and for this state of things parents are as much or more to blamr, than the schoolmasters. I do not believe in the cry of a decadent England. We have the finest natural qualities. English character, combined with knowledge, I will back againr 1. ^orld."

A novel game of draughts was recently played in Rangoon, one of the players being a local expert. In place of the usual black and whito draughtsmen the novice used rupees and the champion used sovereigns, the understanding being that the draughts captured on either side should be the property of the captor.

FIELD AND FARM. MANURES FOR GRASS LAND. The results for the present season of some Comprehensive experiments on the manuring of pasture, carried out for the Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester, for sixteen years, are given in the "Agricultural Students' Gazette." They show that the greatest crop of hay, about 42 cwt. per acre, or 24! cwt. more than the produce of the unma-nured plot, were obtained on two plots, one of which had twelve tons of dung, and the other 5 cwt. each of superphosphate and kainit, and 2t cwt. of nitrate of soda. These two practically tied, taking the mean of the two dunged plots. The kainit alone apparently re duced the yield, while the superphosphate alona gave an increase of 8t cwt. per acre of hay, and the nitrate alone one of only 2i cwt. When only the kainit was omitted from the mixture which gave the maximum crop, the yield was re- duced by only 3t cwt., but the quality also was 8 less satisfactory. Peruvian guano, at the rate of 5 cwt. per acre, did well, the mean produce of its two plots being 34 cwt. per acre, while the herbage of the plot was the best in the pasture. Nitrate of soda with other manures did better than sulphate of ammonia, so far as bulk of pro- duce was concerned. The plots have received the same dressings annually in the sixteen years in most cases, and in none for less than twelve years. COMPOSITION OF MILK. I A circular has been issued to local authorities by the Board of Agriculture, pointing out that, apart from a limited number of exceptional cases, there is no difficulty in accurately inferring what was the composition of milk when it was fresh from its analysis when sour. The circular, which gives full explanations of this statement, with comparative analysis of the same lots of milk when fresh and when kept till they were sour, has been sent out to correct the impression that the analysis of sour milk does not afford the information necessary in prosecutions for milk adulterations. THE HARVEST. Up to the date of writing, harvest operations have (says Prof. Wrightson in the "Agricultural Gazette") been delayed and interrupted. Corn has been laid and twisted, and repeated depres- sions from the Atlantic have been the cause of much disappointment and anxiety. There is little talk of sprouted grain, and no anticipation of corn growing out before cutting. The brief in- tervals of sunny weather, the low temperature, and the brisk winds have prevented sheaves from becoming sodden. Harvest is still before us, and the balance between a successful termination and disaster is still fairly maintained. The misfor- tune of an unsound harvest in these days falls principally upon the farmers, and indirectly upon the landlords, who necessarily participate in any great misfortunes to their tenants. We must still hope for a change after so long a continu- ance of wet weather, and we may feel thankful that green stooks are not as yet reported. A few wheat ricks have been built, but the policy of premature carting is as unsound in principle as the grain is likely to prove from the threshing I machine. We have been dealing with folk-lore, and must not ignore its practical wisdom. That more corn has been spoilt in the rick than ever was spoilt in the field is an old adage which ought to be kept in mind during moments of im- patience. The poor have more faith than the rich, and the honest labourer often remindsl his master that a season always comes at last, and that patience is often abundantly rewarded in the long run. The question as to whether to cut or leave standing in wet weather is a ticklish ene. Over-ripe corn is liable to blow out and lodge, while, on the other hand, reaped corn is more likely to sprout. On the whole, I am in- clined (says Prof. Wrightson) towards continuing cutting whenever the sheaves can be tied up dry and set up immediately. Well-put-up shocks will stand a. good deal of wet, if care is taken to lift fallen sheaves, and in extreme cases to move the I shocks and remake them. The admission of air checks germination and promotes drying, and a shilling or two an acre expended in this way is well spent. Besides, in catchy weather men can- not be better employed than in resetting stooks. CHICKEN FEEDING. The method of feeding chickens from the very start entirely on dry food seems to be going to enjoy a boom in the near future. In this system the chickens do not have any soft food at all, from the time of hatching to the time of killing, but are put on to grain immediately, not even receiving the orthodox egg and bread- crumb for the first day or two after batching. The first food consists of such small seeds as canary, millet, rape, and a little hemp. Later on wheat and maize are added, the latter being broken into sufficiently small pieces by means of one of the hand mills sold for the purpose. Meat and green bone are also usually supplied. It cannot properly be called a new method, for it is, in reality, going back to the time before finely-ground meals were commonly used for poultry, with the important difference that now the birds receive every attention in the way of grit, green food, and frequently-changed water, whilst in time past they were left pretty much to take care of themselves. When soft food was introduced into common use in the poultry yard it was considered to be an enormous advance on the old grain feeding, and its adoption was very strongly urged by all our poultry experts. If the new or revived system of dry feeding proves to be superior in its results it will practically show that the value of soft food was all a mistaken idea, and that authorities were wrong to advocate its use so strongly; but it has yet to be proved that this is the case. Surely, enormous strides were made in chicken-rearing when soft food came in, and the opinions of such recognised experts as Mr. Lewis Wright, that its adoption marked one of the greatest advances in modern methods of poultry-keeping, were not mistaken. Probably the fact of the matter really is. that soft food was found to give such excellent re- sults that, from using it moderately at fbst, chicken rearers gradually extended its use until at last they came to feed it to excess, and, in many cases, to the complete exclusion of grain. Having arrived at this stage, the next step, as is very frequently the case when a good thing is carried to excess, was a complete reversion— the present movement in favour of dry feeding. The principal advantages that the champions of dry feeding claim for their system are, that I the chickens so fed are less liable to diarrhoea and other common ailments of young chickens, that they keep more active and hardy, and are cheaper and less laborious to feed. That 't there is anything in the claim that the chickens keep freer from ailments remains to oe proved I satisfactorily, for the statements of dry feedcis, -that they are much more successful with the new system than with the old, proves very little, because the very fact of their making these statements shews that they were not very suc- cessful when they reared mainly on soft food, whilst others undoubtedly are. Many of the dry feeders now turn on the old system m:.è condemn it in hard terms, for getting that they are thus plainly showing their own incom- petence to obtain the excellent results with it that others are capable of getting. Even w'th excessive soft feeding, good results are obtain- able this is amply demonstrated by the thou- sands of fine chickens reared in the lleathficJd I district entirely on ground oats, or irixtures in which that meal forms the chief part. I

The Education Committee for East Suffolk have decided that where a school exists within three miles, children living within such a radius are to be compelled to attend. The oldest paper in Dawson City, Klondyke, has changed hands. The former owner made a fortune by charging Is. for a paper of a single sheet. The oldest teacher in the world is presumably Herr Rorfer, in Sodehmen, Prussia. In spite of his ninety-seven years he is still teaching. He never has been ill in his life. The bracelet which King Edward w.ars on his left wrist, is one of his most cherished posses- sions. It belonged originally to Maximilian, the ill-fated Emperor of Mexico. The great iron bridge over the Danube near Jullor, which is nearly 800 yards longs and weighs 3,000 tons, has been shifted to a new position rbout 450 yards distant. The whole work was done in 44 minutes.

OUR SHORT STOllY., I OUTWITTING THE GENERAL. "How dare you suggest such a thing?" ex. claimed old General Lebrun hotly. How dare you, sir?" He gripped the arms of the chair in which he sat, half raising himself in his anger as he glared from bulbous eyes, set in the florid face of a gourmet, at his nephew Neville Lebrun. The latter, accustomed though he was to his uncle's outbreaks of temper, was alarmed at this storm, and hastened to calm it. There is no daring on my part, sir," he answered equably. Miss Lobb is good and hand- some, as you will acknowledge when you see her-- "Which I shall certainly not do," interpolated the General testily. And," the young man went on, without heed- ing the interruption, though I have not considered her wealth, she has heaps of money-or her father has, and she is his only child." And you would marry American money made in pork perhaps," sneered the old gentleman, or maybe beans ? Or is it pork and beans ? The girl's father is in the canning trade, isn't he ? and they put up everything in tins nowadays. How would you like your wife to feed you on the paternal brand? tell me that, sir!" Neville withstood even this volley, though ho bit his lip. I love Susan," he returned stoutly, and she loves me; the rest is mere detail. And I have asked you—as you have brought me up, and as I acknowledge frankly that I am dependent on you—to sanction our engagement. If you don't He stopped abruptly, with a significant shrug of his broad shoulders, and the other broke out again. If I don't—as I won't—you will. I suppose, take your own way; and so shall I. If you marry this girl-or any other American -not a penny of mine shall you ever have; never a,gain shall you set foot in my house. The Lebruns have never mated with rebels they will not begin now with my consent." This was raking up ancient quarrels with a ven- geance, and Neville could not forbear smiling. That is surely an old story now, sir," he re- marked. "Not so old. My father-your grandfather— who married late in life, as all Lebruns do-was at Yorktown as a subaltern, and a brother of his was killed in front of Baltimore in 1814. Just you tell this Susan Lobb of these things from me," the General went on more softly, and if she has any sense at all of what is right and proper, she will understand how impossible it is that you can marry her." This appeal, based as it was on sincere family feeling, had more weight with Neville than the explosion of anger which had preceded it, and he yielded somewhat, whilst adhering to the main point. li I'll tell her, sir, as you desire I should," he re- plied t: but I cannot'see that it should influence her. These old political differences cannot last for ever. They must be forgotten some day, and the sooner the better." They will last long enough to lead to your dis- inheritance," returned the General grimly, "if you persist in your obstinacy against my wishes." The grey eyes of Miss Susan Lobb were full of wonderment as she listened to Neville's account of his conversation with his uncle. Then, as he ended, he noticed with anxiety that her small mouth had hardened, her dainty head was poised a trifle higher —even what he regarded as her divinely tip-tilted nose appeared to have attained to a slightly more acute angle. Sakes alive!" she exclaimed, but the General must be an antique, and no mistake. I reckon, though, that the Lobbs stock just as much pride in their way as the Lebruns. I do, anyway, and I guess I'm the principal Lobb left this side of Jordan. I don't figure on poppa, he being only a mere man by our way of counting across the Pond. Neville," she added seriously, I reckon our little biz is off until your relative comes down from his hobby-horse and asks me to take you." The young man started this was? the decision he had least expected. "Don't say that," he pleaded. "My uncle will never consent. We must do without his sanction." I guess not," Miss Lobb returned coolly. I've got no use for a runaway match, and I calculate on being that much of a rebel that if your family don't cotton to have me in at the biggest kind of a front door they own, I'm not going round by the hack. The General has just got to climb right down, and look pleasant about it, too." But how can we bring that about ?" asked her lover despairingly. You needn't pull a long face on an easy thing like that," retorted the lady after a moment's thought. Your uncle is a bachelor, isn't he, who likes his food good and won't have a man cook ?— you've told me as much." Have I ?" returned the bewildered suitor. I don't recollect saying so much about him. But surely you don't think of getting at him through the kitchen ? He wants a cook now." Neville made this remark in a facetious spirit, thinking he had struck upon his sweetheart's plan, but she shook her head with decisive negation. I should smile," said she, "for I can't cook worth a cent, and I guess it wouldn't be good for us to kill the old gentleman with indigestion. What I am going to do is tell poppa he's just got to trot me round Europe for a couple of months." May I come too ?" inquired Neville inanely. Good ness No. As I figure on it, I'll see plenty of you when I come back, for we'Il--we'll be married then," she added, with more of hesitation than she had yet shown. He seized both her hands and looked down into her eyes. Do you mean it ?" he exclaimed. And yet you won't tell me how." I'm not giving anything away." Miss Susan released herself, and waved him off. "J ust you leave this to me to handle, and go away and kill something somewhere—that will keep you out of mischief." Yes," said he humbly; but what am I to say to the General ?" She thought for a moment. I guess," she said at length, that you'd best just r«II him exactly what we are going to do— he'll do the rest for us himself, or I'm mightily mistaken." When Neville Lebrun returned to town after two months' salmon-fishing in Norway, his first visit was to the hotel at which the Lobbs usually resided when in London. There he learned that they had not arrived, but were expected the same evening and he went on, therefore, to his uncle's house, where ho found the General in rude health and in the best of spirits. You must dine with me to-night, my boy," he said. when the first greetings were over you must indeed—I've hit on a jewel of a cook at last. You should have tasted the sauce she served with that fish you sent me; and her curries are simply works of art. They beat even those I had when I was with the Rajah at Allumbad--and he cut off the heads of a dozen curry cooks till he got the right man. Just you wait and see; I am dining alone to-night." And where did you procure this treasure?" in- quired Neville. Heard of her through Melton; you know Melton, who was with me in India. Good fellow he is. and knowing I was in a hole for a cook, he wrote me of this one, who was lodging with one of his farmer tenants. A young widow she is—quite a lady in manners. Willcox is her name-Mrs. Willcox." He jerked out the latter part of this information with a certain degree of what would have been bash fulness in a younger man, and Neville laughed inw ardly, for—though he could not uuclerstand it appeared to him that so far Miss Susan's plans must have been well laid. Of course I'll dine with you, sir," he said heartily. I had hoped to have done so in any case, and it will be an additional pleasure to sampla the productions of such a marvel. The old hour, 1 suppose—eight o'clock ?" No, no. Seven-thirty. I have put it on—could not wait, in fact." So shortly before half-past seven Neville re- turned to the residence of the General. His familiarity with the house rendered him free from any attentions from the servants after he had DeeD- admitted, ahd he sought his uncle in the smoking- room, where the old gentleman was wont to await the announcement of dinner. He was not there, and Neville made his way to the drawing-room. As he opened the door the. sound of a woman's voice met him, and he stopped abruptly behind the old- fashioned draught screen that guarded the en- trance. I surmise, General," said the voice, that it is my kickshaws, and not me, you want a pre-emption on Neville heard a fervid mutter of protest from his uncle, but the other went on— I don't mind calling it a deal if you take up that baronetcy you say you've been offered. I'd be just too pleased, you bet, to be My Lady. Neville had stood dumbfounded—now he strode on into the room, which was lit by only one heavily shaded lamp. And in the semi-darkness he saw two figures rising hastily as he appeared. One was the General. The other possessed the small mouth, the daintily poised head, and the tip-tilted nose of Miss Lobb. Susan," expostulated the young man, as he advanced, "this is carrying the joke rather too far." But the General interfered. This, Neville, my boy is—ah—Mrs. Willcox, he explained awkwardly, of whom I spoke to you to-day. I can't think how you knew her—ah— Christian name, but your use of it is—ah—only a little premature, for she has just this moment promised to be my wife and your-ah-Aunt Susan." Two months ago," retorted Neville grimly, she had promised to be my wife and your niece Susan." "I don't belie7e it' spluttered the General, his rotund face looking alarmingly apoplectic. "I don't believe, sir, that she was ever your Susan. And if she was—which she isn't he added, becoming incoherent in his wrath, she is mine now." Neville's passion was also by this time at white heat, and he raised his voice in remonstrance, when the sound of familiar tones from behind the screen checked him. Come right in, poppa," came from there. "I guess cousin busan has touched the spot, as I figured she would when I spoke of her to Lord Melton and by the noise I surmise Neville thinks she is me, and is making the fur fly. Come right in." Accompanied by a little elderly man wearing a goatee beard and a worried look, Miss Lobb entered and sailed up to the General. Say," she said, addressing him and pointing dramatically to the widow do you know her father packed pork ?" She can cook it," gasped the General. And that her grandfather-and mine—fought at Yorktown as what you call a rebel, and had a brother killed at Baltimore in 1814—also as a rebel?" That doesn't matter—now," muttered the General feebly. General feebly. P'raps not," continued his tormenter; but if it does not, and you marry cousin Susan, as I reckon you mean to, what is to be done with Neville here ?" I think," returned the General, pulling himself together as he noted the laughter in her eyes, that if you would take him you would-ah —confer a great obligation upon him—and my- self." I guess I'll oblige," returned Miss Lobb cheer- fully. "I calculated cousin Susan wasn't in Eu-rope for touring, and would help roll our log if I rolled hers. Poppa," she concluded, turning to her parent, from whose face the worried look had vanished, "give us your blessing, and yon'd best spread it out a bit over cousin Susan and General Lebrun."

AN ANCIENT CASTLE. In view of the fact that the Castle Museum Committee of the Corporation of Nottingham have resolved to ask for a loan of £ 10,000 for carrying out various restoration, some particu- lars about the castle may be interesting. It was built by William Cavendish, first Duke of New- castle, in 1670-6, after the Classic style having been afterwards sub-divided into separate tene- ments it was sacked and burned in 1831 by a band of Reform Bill rioters. The structure continued in a state of ruin until its restoration by the corporation, who holds the castle and grounds from the Duke of Newcastle, as a mu- seum of decorative, industrial, and pictorial art, at a cost of £ 30,000.

I A FARM MOTOR-HORSE. The' Marquis of Tweedale has just added a motor to his Home Farm equipment. It is to be used at Yester, his Scottish estate, for har- vesting work. When tried the other day with a grass-mower behind, it performed the work of a horse with ease. But as the motor is 11 horse- power, and weighs 25cwt., it will have a heavy harvesting machine to drag, thus fulfilling the duties of two horses. Five tons is the guaran- teed weight this motor can draw, and one man handles it with ease. Petrol is the motive power, and a metal cover can be removed in a minute, disclosing to view all the machinery in the event of any stoppage from unforseen causes. The makers, however, aver that the working parts are of exceptional strength and easy to renew. Farmers and hinds in the Lothians are deeply interested in this new de- parture, and the Yester harvest is attracting attention.

A YOUNG MAN'S RISE. Owen Root, the youngest street railway mag- nate in America, tells in the "Washington Post" for the first time the story of his rapid rise. Eight years ago he was an impecunious college graduate, with brains and grit as his only capital. But he began an uphill time, with a gloomy outlook. It was a hard winter, and he stayed in bed each day till after noon to save buying breakfast and lunch. This was in St. Louis, where he failed to get work. Young Root at length started East on money borrowed from a friend. He arrived in New York with a capital of exactly five cents. It is singular that that nickel was invested in the Metropolitan, as car fare. The young fellow got work on the construction gang of the Metropolitan at 8 dollars a week. He spent his evenings studying the new power, and the way the cars were operated. Unknown to himself he was seen thus occupied by one of the officers of the com- pany, and was promoted. Step by step he rose till he was last March appointed general manager.

I JENNINGS' CLAIMANTS. The latest claimants to the Jennings' estate, tvhich comprises property in the midland and other English counties, valued at between forty and sixty millions, are Charles Seymour Palmer, of Leederville, West Australia, and his father, Henry Charles Palmer, the latter of whom is now in London. They dispute the contention that William jenniiigs died witnout maxing a will. They assert that the will was made, and that the statement, or a material part of it, was stolen. William Jennings, they continue, left the bulk of his fortune to Lady Charlotte Palmer French, who was a near relative of his, and a daughter of the fourth Earl of Aylesford by his marriage with Lady Louisa Thynne, daughter of the first Marquis of Bath. Lady Charlotte married the Rev. Charles Palmer, of London, who was born in 1826, and their son is Henry Charles Palmer, now in London, who with his son, Charles Sey- mour Palmer, are the latest claimants. Mr. Palmer, sen., is now being advised by solicitors in London. He and his son have many docu- ments in their possession supporting their claim, and they are not daunted by the fact that scores of others have failed to establish their title to the estate.

EPITOME OF NEWS. In a Chicago hospital the skin of a frog has- been successfully grafted on the hand of a patient. In several Russian trains second-class sleeping carriages are now provided. A New York capitalist in 1880 invested £ 8,900s in land in Chicago. The other day he sold out and realised for his holding £ 44,000. It is now officially stated that the new bridge at Kew, opened by the King last May, cost £ 192,585. A grand. nephew of Pius X. resides at Bockum,, in the midst of Germany's industrial district. He is a dealer in penny ices. Two smacks were run down off Ostend by a steamship and a barque, three fishermen being drowned altogether The most "elevated" restaurant in the world is probablv the Telsan restaurant at the Eiger- wand station, on the nearly-completed Alpine line, extending to the summit of the Jungfrau* Accommodation has been hollowed out of the actual rock, within which, however, the traveller who has got thus far can do himself well, and rest at ease in this modern cave-dwelling. At a recent society wedding a novelty was introduced. Instead of the throwing of the con- ventional and undoubtedly hard-hitting rice, the prettiest and softest of tiny shoes made of silver paper, with "Good Luck" printed inside, and tiny silver horseshoes made of the same harmlbSfci material, were used by the bride's well-wishers,; and thrown at parting. We have heard of paper wheels, paper houseeri and paper canoes. Now we hear of paper cigars. This is how they are made. The paper is steeped for some time in large vats filled with a prepara- tion of tobacco juice, but when it has been! thoroughly saturated it is pressed and afterwards cut into leaves resembling the real article. At New York there is said to be a factory making these paper leaves as quickly as ever it can turn them out, and it has been said that these cigars have an excellent flavour. Mr. S. Turner, who is the first man to have trod upon the summit of Ilam Rock, Dovedale, is one of the finest climbers in the world. He holds the record for the quickest ascent of Mont Blanc,, and also that of the Matterhorn. Last year Mr. Turner made the difficult ascent of the Charmoz,; and again this year he has made several climbs in the Altai range in Siberia, where he has ascended peaks from 15,000ft. to 17,000ft. high. Many men of modest dimensions have thought it hard that they should be charged by their tailor on the same scale as the men whom twice as much; cloth is needed to clothe. The Garment Makers' Convention at Chicago has decided that in future the clothing of corpulent men will be paid for according to bulk. The weight of men of normal size is arbitrarily fixed at 1501b., and for each 1001b. over that weight the fat man: will be taxed 5dols. additional for his clothes.. "Anti-Fat" and similar remedies will be more in demand in the States than ever. Mr. William C. C. Whitney, the American millionaire, is an enthusiastic sportsman. Ha has won the Derby once and tried on other occa- sions. He has two magnificent racing establish- ments in America-that in Texas the biggest place of its kind in the world. He has the greatest game preserve ever bought in one plot —70,000 acres of it, in the Adirondacks-and a mansion in New York containing tapestries- valued at £ 10,000, bronzes, miniatures, paintings, and ceramics beyond price. The Sultan of Turkey, it is said, keeps fifteen dragoman secretaries constantly employed im. translating the best of the world's literature fon his reading. The translations include not orilyl serious works on history, politics, and science,; but novels in every European language. They- are written on large sheets of thick white gilt- edged paper, fastened together by ribbons. The Sultan is said to have a special weakness for the reports of famous trials, and for novels in which; a great crime is the chief motive. Some interesting revelations of the gun trade were made the other day during an arbitration case at the Surveyors' Institute. A hammerless gun selling at 15 guineas cost £ 10, and one selling for E14 10s. cost C9. The profit on an Express rifle was 20 per cent. A little device called a. 200 yards elevator range realized 400 per cent.1 profit; 40 per cent. was made on targets, and Simplex wind gauge costing 9s. sold for V,2 14s. The profit on gunpowder was about 150 per cent. ;) cordite cleaners costing 24s. 6d. a gross fetched 96s. while a cleaning oil costing 25s. a gross realised Is. per bottle. A magistrate's clerk has been known to have his tie-pin stolen while in court, and one in Birmingham a few years ago lost his coat in this way; but a more remarkable example, perhaps, of a thief's cleverness under the very eyes of the police was that of the burglar at Clerkenwell, who managed to conceal two diamond rings while the police were searching him, and passed one of them to his wife in the cells while the police were looking on. The rings were under his tongue, and one of the passed from his mouth to his wife's when he was kissing her good-bye. There is a man of seventy in Paris named Wallace Superneau, who still sleeps in the cradle he was rocked in when a baby, and he has never slept one night of his long life in any; other bed. The youngest of a family of boys,; Wallace retained his place in the cradle as he grew older. He soon became too tall to lie in it at full length, but he overcame this difficulty by, drawing his knees upward. Each night to this day he rests his feet squarely on the bottom of the cradle, sways his knees to and fro, and rocks himself to sleep as he did when a small boy. The habit was formed in babyhood and never broken., Surely no stranger motive for travel was ever- known that that which urges Count Rocca. Dianovitch to make the circle of the globe. For nearly forty years this nobleman has wandered up and down the earth on foot. His object is said to be a desire to enter himself on the pri- son records of the world, and in order to speak from practical experience he insists from time to time upon being locked up like any vulgar malefactor. In carrying out this plan' he has already, it is reported, made the acquaintance of the prisons of Spain and Italy, of England and America, and experienced the hospitality of the penal settlement of Guyane. There is residing at Grantham, Lincolnshire, hale and hearty, despite his ninety-seven years,' a gymnast and contortionist who has a remark- able record. Henry Johnson, born on Christ-: mas morning, 1806, at St. Mary's, Norwich, performed, in company of Mullaba, the preat Chinese juggler, before King William IV, in 1830, on a stage erected on the lawn at Buc- kingham Palace. Johnson and Mullaba so de- lighted the King that he gave them a Royal license to perform m any Town, market-place, or hotel, and a present of P,50 each. Johnson also performed before the Duchess of Kent and Queen Victoria at the Royal Hotel, Tun- N l^ XT ,receiV]ng a present at the latei Qu e ictoria s hands of five sovereigns. There will be houses in the tops of trees at the •1; ~f s. Exhibition next summer. They are intended for a tribe of Filipinos, who are to live T'^ ij?Pls just as they do in the Island of ,H.?uses of the type which Robinson. WK0-6 llt are found in several jungle-lands* ,i i:11. lslands to the south-east of Asia and on. t a.T peninsula. Now and then a returned raveller tells of these aerial abodes, perched on the Iii-nbs of trees, sheltered from sun and rain; by thatches of leaves and twigs, and connected at times with the earth by a bamboo ladder. „ ^rian has just been the scene of a remarkable- 'rain," or downfall, of butterflies or moths. They settled in tens of thousands on almost every, available inch of space on the ground and on the buildings of the central quarters of the city. The: insects are described as perfectly black and mar- vellously active. Their presence is ascribed "to an air current swept along in front of a hurricane. The new Government buildings in Whitehall' have been delayed, it is said, by the discovery of an underground lake, 12ft. deep, extending over every part of the site. Powerful pumps were kept going night and day, and eventually a solid foundation of clay was made at a depth of 42ft. below the surface, and on this a bed of concrete 10ft. thick was laid. The work of construction will begin at an early date.

GARDEN GOSSIP. Cool treatment is best for Cyclamens (says "The Gardener") in nearly all stages of growth. At this season the lights should be tilted off the plants at night. The white Malmaison Carnation Nell Gwynne is one of the finest of the newer introductions, and should be in every collection of these plants. Pentstemons are beautiful border plants, easily raised from seeds or cuttings; plants to bloom next season may be reared from seeds sown now. That fine early Pear Clapp's Favourite will soon be ripening; the fruits need watching, or they may fall from the trees and be spoilt. Sobralias are lovely Orchids, and where a fair amount of heat is at command comparatively easy to grow; they will thrive in a stronger compost than most other kinds. Enchantress is a beautiful Tea Rose, very free flowering, its long creamy buds being plen- tifully produced on healthy plants. White Japanese Anemones, with fresh young trails of Ampelopsis Veitchii, will serve for decorating the table in a simple yet most effec- tive manner. Those who recognise the decorative attributes of the Foxglove for the garden, and have not yet grown the newer strains of this popular plant, should obtain and sow seeds at once for next season's blooming. Eryngiums, or Sea Hollies, are apt to take up to much room in small borders, but space should always be found for E. amethystinum, which is probably the best of the genus. Cuttings of Roses inserted in sandy soil will now root readily. Once past their best, Tuberous Begonias should be gradually died-off and rested; they will only produce a few small blooms if kept growing, and the energies of the tubers will be wasted. Rudbeckia purpurea is seldom found in gar- den borders, but when successfully grown it is a noble plant with large, richly coloured flowers. Hints for another season's display may now be obtained from the bedding out arrangements t, of one's friends and neighbours. The spikes of Gladioli now in bloom ought to have stakes placed to each; this may not be absolutely necessary, but the plants are much tidier in appearance than when allowed to flop about. A fine strain of Antirrhinums was recently noted; they were very effective as bedders. Seed should now be sown to produce fine plants for next summer. BEDDING PLANTS.—Delay no longer in get- ting cuttings of such things as Verbenas, Agera- tums, Mesembryanthemums, and Heliotropes dibbled into boxes of sandy soil, placing them either in cold frames or in frames lately occu- pied by Melons, in which a more rapid root pro- duction follows. LOBELIA.—Named Lobelias are best managed if a few plants of each sort are either potted or kept in boxes till now, when each plant must be placed in its pot. It is fatal to the perfect keeping of Lobelias during winter, permitting them to flower and seed now. Therefore trim off all flowers as they appear. SCHIZANTHUS.—It is not yet too late to sow a few seeds for flowering in pots of such pretty forms as S. Wisetonensis, S. retusus, and S. oculatus. BULBs.-Get a batch of early sorts of bulbs, either potted or boxed. Tulips do best set thickly in ordinary cutting boxes, from which they are lifted when well advanced. Roman ) Hyacinths treat in the same manner. Place Hyacinths and Narcissi in pots. CRocus.-A selection of these, the eorms I placed almost touching in 5-inch pots, provide useful material in early spring. At the same time pot some C. speciosus, standing them in a cold frame, when in due course the loveliest vision of blue will greet you when Chrysanthe- I mums engage most people's, attention. CHRYSANTHEMUMS.—If there is space to spare a selection of budded plants for large blooms may be set under glass, where they will expand in a I more kindly manner than in the open. ZONAL GERANIUMS.—Forward plants for winter blooming should be placed in a cold, dry structure, where the early trusses will expand slowly. Pinch out the growing point immedi- ately in front of each truss, and be careful not to over water. Weakly shoots are best removed and the stronger allowed more space. FUCHSIAS.—These, with Begonias and other material for autumn blooming, if still in the open should now be got under cover. Late Tube- roses in frames must now be moved into a warm structure, where the spikes will quickly develop and prove useful in September and October. YOUNG PEACH TREES.—The thorough ripen- ing of these must also be attended to. Last year, in cool houses, young growths ripened badly. It will be a wise precaution therefore to apply just a little fire heat with, of course, ventilation. At the same time see that all side shoots are rubbed off, and the growths to remain have plenty of space. Do not over water the soil, and if the growths are very vigorous it will do no harm to pass a sharp spade downwards so as to cut the points of the roots. MUSCATS.—Fruit still unripened should during the incoming months be treated to a higher tem- perature, not letting the glass fall below 70 degrees at night. Muscats must on no account suffer for want of water at the root, and manure water at that. Remove all pushing growth as it shows itself. GROS COLMAN.-A higher temperature by means of hot water piping must also be accorded this variety. It takes a long time to finish and to attain thorough ripeness. APPLE GATHERING.—The earliest varieties will now be attaining ripeness, but thtre are indications that the few Apples on trees will be later than usual in ripening, therefore do not be hasty in harvesting. CABBAGES.—As soon as seedlings are fit to transplant let them be taken in hand, or at least the stronger of them, making a second transplan- tation later. If following potatoes or Straw- berries, a dressing of semi-decayed manure should be dug into the lines the plants are to occupy. Where slugs abound dress the surface of the soil from time to time with the least sprinkling of hot lime. LATE PEAS.—As the haulm reaches the top of stakes or of wire trainers have a part trimmed with a hood in order to force the plants to break strongly from the under part of the haulm and so cause the production of later pods. FRENCH BEANS. Plants producing more I Beans than CIQùl be used in the kitchen should from time to Hme be examined, and those be- coming too old for use gathered either for pre- serving or destruction. CUCUMBERS.—These will now appreciate more fire heat, and if formerly grown largely by the aid of sun heat alone a more abundant supply of water will be needed at root. Let the water always be strengthened by some manurial agent. Suffer only a few fruits on each plant at a time^ and by pinching and laying in vigorous growth keep the plants in health.