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

FIELD AND FARM. BACK END WORK. If results in human affairs are seldom as good as one hopes, they are also (remarks the H Agri- cultural Gazette") rarely as bad as one fears. A month ago the farm outlook was almost as gloomy as it possibly could be. There was a great acreage of corn still exposed in the fields, including a considerable expanse even in the comparatively early counties of England, and of course a very much larger area in the late parts of Scotland and Ireland. The land was like a bog after the tremendous rainfall of Oc- tober, and neither root-carting, nor ploughing, nor sowing could be carried on. It seemed entirely improbable that the corn could be stacked, the roots carted, and even half the land intended for winter crops ploughed and sown by the end of November. That month, however, proved the least rainy on the whole, and in some districts the most sunny of any month in the year, and corn and root carting was finished. As to sowing, for many days after the month began, it was impossible to plough or sow to advantage. Where sowing was done, it was mostly broadcasting, adopted to save most of the trampling by horses involved in the preliminary harrowing, drilling, and covering the seed. But the condition of the land steadily improved as the month advanced, and towards the close freshly ploughed land worked well enough for wheat. Probably the latest planted will be the best this season. If the early part of this month proves fine, and free from frost, sowing will probably be continued; but De- cember is not a propitious time for the work. FOWLS AND TAINTED GROUND. Whn fowls are at liberty, and are allowed a free range of the farm, the danger of the ground becoming tainted and impure is con- siderably less than when the birds have to be confined in runs. At the same time, however ("E. T. B." writes in the "Agricultural Gazette"), I have known in many cases disease to break out, and great loss perhaps ensue, entirely owing to the fact that the ground was impure, through having been used for too long a period for poultry. The reason of the ground becoming tainted is an evident one—the manure from the birds being continually deposited upon the same small area, without being used in any way for growing plant life. In a short space of time the ground will become saturated with the manure, and will be totally unfit for the fowls. When any vegetable life can be kept growing the chief danger is overcome, as the grass, or whatever it may be, will absorb the manure, but the great difficulty arises when the land becomes bare, as there being nothing to utilise the manure, the land speedily becomes foul. A question frequently asked is as to the num- ber of fowls that may be permitted per acre. This, like a whole host of other questions re- garding poultry keeping, is one that cannot be satisfactorily answered with figures. So much depends upon the quality and nature of the soil. the breed of fowls, and the time of year, that it would be folly and most injudicious to attempt to state any exact numbers. It depends, too-- when the fowls are confined-upon the shape of the runs, because a long narrow run is able to support more birds than a square one, even though they contain an equal number of square feet. The only satisfactory way is to tell by the condition of the land. If it is found that the grass is becoming too long and thick, the num- bar must be increased; if, on the other hand, it is becoming bare, the number should be im- mediately reduced; or if it is already quite bare the better plan would be to entirely remove the birds, and give the land a rest for a year or two. When one has only a small amount of land at one's disposal, it is sometimes wiser not to attempt keeping grass in the runs at all, but to either gravel or cover it with ashes. In this case it would be beaten down so as to make a hard bed, and would have to be swept every few days. Or another way would be to cover it I with ashes or loose earth to a depth of two or three inches, raking over every day, and re- newing every few weeks. HOUSING STOCK. Now that farm stock of all kinds will be mak- ing full use of the various sheds and buildings provided for their winter quarters, a few re- marks anent a highly important matter may not (observes Mr. F. Wilson) be amiss. It is, un- doubtedly, things that at first glance seem to be simple enough in themselves which ultimately produce momentous and far-reaching effects. The personal experience of many readers will, no doubt, coincide with that of the present writer in that disease-infected buildings-those in which cattle or horses have been confined when suffering from some contagious disease- are responsible for much trouble with, and loss among, farm stock. In many cases, it is true, some manner of precaution is observed, and sheds and buildings are brushed down and swept out and vacated for the time being. But on most farms the accommodation is none too plen- tiful, and often, in winter especially, has to be utilised to its fullest extent. This is particu- larly the case with stables and cow-houses. Where only one range of either is at command it will readily be seen that it is almost im- possible to dispense with them, even for a short space of tkne. space of tune. POOR STABLES BAD. If possible, every farm team should be housed in good stables, as poor stables tend to create disease. Shut a horse in a close, dirty, low- roofed, ill-ventilated stable, and sooner or later he is bound to become the subject of disease. Good stables being, however, not always to be found on the farm, and the farmer unable to induce his landlord to build the same, and be- ing indisposed, or unable from a monetary point of view, to provide them himself, he must make a virtue of necessity, and render those he has as habitable and comfortable as possible. In all stables cleanliness and proper ventilation should be insisted upon. This lies well within the province of most masters and men. If more attention were paid to ventilation, glanders, catarrh, and other diseases would be less com- mon. The mention of disease brings up an im- portant point. Many of the disorders from which horses suffer are infectious, and a very little thought goes to show that it is a highly dangerous proceeding to put well horses in a stable which has been used for an'animal or animals suffering from glanders, pink-eye, or influenza, etc. All stalls, loose-boxes, and what not, should undergo a most thorough process of disinfection—lime-washed, brushed and CliC swept—every corner and crevice being subjected to the germ-destroying influence of some reli- able, disinfecting fluid, before they are again used for their legitimate purpose. DIRT DISEASES. Ringworm is often very prevalent among farm stock, calves being especially subject to it, and it is by no means infrequent among cattle and horses. Here, again, is a disease—a .dirt disease, some experts declare-which infects the walls and wood of stalls and sheds for a length of time. It hangs about the place and .is com- municated to fresh stock time after time, while much trouble is taken to eradicate it, as far as possible, by dressing with some lotion or other the animals infected. Here very frequently preventive measures end, and the consequence is that the pest still flourishes. Not only should the beasts themselves be attended to, but all buildings and sheds in which they have been housed should be rigorously and effec- tively cleaned and disinfected. Another point: if it is possible to isolate a sick animal, do so; and this whether the disease be contagious or not. Cows especially are disturbed and greatly upset when one of their number in an adjacent stall-or the same, if it be a double one—is under treatment for some disorder, and is, may- be, moaning with pain. Cows have the most highly string nervous organisation of all our domesticated animals, and excitement of this kind is really harmful to them, and acts ad- versely on the flow of milk. Yet this is often done. I have seen (says Mr. F. Wilson) a cow at death's door with milk fever, with a sister cow chained in the same stall, the latter animal being well formed in calf, and visibly uneasy at the proceedings going on around her.

GARDEN GOSSIP. Those who have not yet grown the pretty pink Hybrid Tea Rose Killarney should (says The Gardener ") make a point of obtaining this charm- ing variety. Plants of Malmaisons rooted in early spring are now producing a number of useful blooms. Two year old plants that have been jotted on will, if kept in a temperature of front 45deg. to 56deg., continue to flower throughout the winter. Give young Tomatoes all the light possible, and do not unduly crowd them, or they will be useless for early fruiting. When ordering plants for forcing do not forget that charming old favourite Staphylea colchica. A little care bestowed upon the old Chrysanthe- mum stools now will be well repaid when flower- ing time comes round again. Remember that fine cuttings may reasonably be expected to result in fine plants. Grapes of the Muscat class should always be planted in inside borders, as cultural requirements are more easily provided when the roots are thus controlled. Many impoverished lawns would derive con- siderable benefit if dressed at this season with basic slag. Give Cyclamens producing their flowers gentle heat; they are apt to damp and become stunted in a low temperature. Salvia splendens is one of the best plants for blooming at the present time; after the flowers have fallen the calyces are very bright and durable. Choistya ternata is a splendid flowering shrub for the cold greenhouse. When planted out it is I quite hardy in many districts. Never plant Figs in loose rich borders of un- limited extent; this is especially applicable to those it is intended to grow under glass. Keep Disa grandiflora growing freely; if dried to any extent now the growths will be weakened and refuse to flower. For heating small houses there is no better boiler than the Kind known as the Loughborough; it is economical and efficient. Remember to strike a few cuttings of Goose- berries and Currants; they will come in useful either for forming new plantations or filling gaps in the old ones. POINSETTIAS.-Though it is not safe to transfer plants with fully expanded bracts to cool conser- vatories, as is customary in the south, the plants will nevertheless be found to continue in condition longer if a lower temperatuie and drier atmos- phere than that of the plant stove is accorded them. Little water is at this stage wanted at the roots. AZALEAS.—Plants in flower, and those that are coming forward, require abundant supplies of water. If any appearance of thrips is seen the plants should be laid on their sides and abundantly syringed with warm soapy water. ROSES.—It is now time to protect the more tender of these by drawing some of the soil round their stems, placing Bracken among the shoots, and as an old-fashioned precaution covering the soil with a 6in. layer of littery manure. SHRUBS.—Any tender flowering or foliage shrubs of value should also be protected at once. Not infrequently any virtue following this practice is discounted by too fearful attendants applying the protecting material weeks before it is required, thus weakening the plants. Applied now, when there is a complete cessation of growth, it does no harm, and in the case of moderately severe frost is certainly effective; though in long-continued hard visitations it must not be expected that any simple method of protection will save tender sub- jects. HousE PLANTS.—Crotons, variegated Pines, variegated Ficus, and other tender subjects are much valued at this season, and if the plants have previously been prepared by a lowered tempera- ture and less water at the roots, it is surprising how well they stand in warm rooms, providing plenty of light reaches them. At the same time it is unwise to let any of these remain longer than five to seven days without changing. ISOLEPIS GRACILis.-This is a valuable furnish- ing plant, but it ought not to be placed in any position where water cannot be supplied liberally, and is best when stood in a saucer kept full of water. PANDANUS VEITCHII.-This forms a splendid subject for apartments, but it must be kept quite dry at the roots, or the result will be very dis- heartening. SEAKALE.-To come on quickly, this useful vegetable must still be forced in a warm house; but if not already done a batch should be placed in the cooler Mushroom house to succeed the earliest lots. VICTORIA KALE.—Where there is a shortage of Spinach, leaves of this very fine strain of Scotch Kale will be found an excellent substitute. In fact, as a first rate vegetable on its merits it may be used all through the winter and spring, selecting, however, as a matter of thriftiness the best leaves only and not cutting over the plants. LIFTING VEGETABLES.—As we must be sus- picious from this date of the earth becoming hardened at any moment by frosts, the practice of lifting supplies of Celery and Leeks, and storing them meanwhile in cool sheds, should be adopted. In the case of autumn Cauliflowers still to cut and winter Broccoli, itjis of much service to be able to lift those that are heading and to lay them in any cool structure available. MUSHROOMS.—As long as mild weather con- tinues employ little fire heat. At the same time, if the heat derived from newly-made beds cannot keep the temperature of the house above 50deg., or say about 55deg., the heating appartus must be depended on, with an additional amount of atmospheric moisture to counteract its drying qualities. RHUBARB.—Clumps will come on slowly in the Mushroom house from this time. Inexperienced hands are apt to water the roots too abundantly at this season, a practice that delays cutting. ON PLANTING CLIMBERs--There is no better time in the year for planting climbers out of doors than December, as they have plenty of time to get established, and this is not always so when the matter is deferred until after the turn of the year. p Prepare the ground before procuring the plants, whatever they are, as in the case of hardy sub- jects it is always well to remember that a little extra trouble bestowed at the time of planting brings its own reward especially do these remarks apply to creepers and climbers on house walls, where the whole of the compost has to be brought, and frequently before one can make a start, not a little of the builder's rammel has to be cleared away, and a good soil substituted. So much de- pends on a good start with climbers, details of this description should not be lost sight of in the anxiety to get the plants in. anxiety to get the plants in.

OUR SHORT STOR). ELSIE'S RiJNSOM. A MOTOR-CAR ROMANCE. Good heavens, man, what's wrong -with yoa! Hurry up, you laggard, or you'll keep the bride waiting and wreck all chance of matrimonial bliss at the outset. I had been suspicious of him for quite an hour, but even then I was not prepared to find Geoffrey Haydon, the imminent bridegroom, still gowned and slippered, the growth of yesterday's beard still unshaven, lying back in a chair and looking withal quite unconcerned abouii it. And I was best man to that! "Half a moment, Bob," he begged. "I'm in a beastly dilemma, and I want advice. No; I'm not wanting to shuffle out of the wedding I'm too desperately in earnest for that. But read this He handed me a letter, postmarked London, received at Sherringham that morning. I read it: "Be warned in time. T. B. has sworn to wreck you. If you will travel to church by motorcar, look well to your chauffeur." "What shall I do?" besought Geoffrey. "Carry out the programme," I replied. "The letter's a hoax. Tom Banks didn't write it. It's the work of a woman. A silly hoax, I tell you. Shave and tub, and don't be an ass. If you're late for the ceremony-but you shan't be As your best man I'm responsible for your due and ttife delivery, and I'll do my duty if I have to carry you there unshaven." "Dead, you mean," corrected the melancholy Geoffrey. I stared at him in amazement. "I dreamt it last night," he declared, leap- ing to his feet. You and I were off to the wedding. At Sherringham Cross the motor ran away with us, and the smash that followed killed us both. And the driver of the car was Tom Banks, disguised!" "I dreamt that last night," added Geoffrey, after an effective pause; "this morning I received another warning in the shape of this letter. Now, Bob Standing, you who are respon- sible for my due and safe delivery, arrange for my transfer to Brampton Church without a broken neck. It's all up with the motor ride. Now, I am not a superstitious man, but I had experienced a similar dream in the course of the previous night, and Geoffrey's corroboration was creepy. I knew Tom Banks for an adventurous fellow, though I had hitherto disregarded his threat- ¡ made when Elsie's father rejected him, as Elsie's suitor, in favour of the wealthier Geoffrey Haydon—that Elsie should marry him, in spite I of all opposition. It seemed such an idle threat, the stupid terrorism of a big boy who had lost his first II sweetheart, to be forgotten in a week. But Tom Banks was long past boyhood, and there was no gainsaying the fact that he was deliriously in love with Elsie. But Elsie was bent upon a motor-car wedding, and much thought and money had been devoted to the arrangements. The village of Sherringham, where Geoffrey lived in the romantic old home of his ancestors, was sixteen miles from Brampton Church, while Elsie lived but two miles nearer. Apart from its novelty, therefore, a motor procession was a highly convenient method of transferring prin- cipals and guests to and from the picturesque old church at which, for generations past, the Bruces had been joined in holy matrimony. Sixteen motor-cars had been requisitioned from London for the occasion there were nine private cars in the locality; twenty-five flower-bedecked motors would make a very pretty and unique procession, and Elsie was absolutely determined upon it. "You'll have to travel by motor," I declared at last. "If Tom Banks is in one of the imported cars disguised as a chauffeur, we must expose him before we start. I'll guarantee to put the drivers under the microscope of an intense scrutiny. It's impossible that Tom Banks can slip my vigilance. Hark Hoot-toot! Here they come. Buck up, man It'll be time to start in less than an hour. Rely upon me, old chap. I'm your best man, and I'll justify your selection, never fear!" < All the motor-cars from London were drawn up in the roadway with the exception of one, the bride's special, that had branched off to the Bruces' house. Decorated freely with fresh flowers, the cars made a, pretty and imposing show, and as I inspected them I talked in turn to the profes- sional chauffeurs in charge, and satisfied myself, beyond the shadow of doubt, that Tom Banks wa.s not amongst them. "The letter's a silly hoax!" I reposed to Geoffrey, when I went to hurry him up after the inspection. "Our dreams were mere coinci- dences. I was thinking considerably of Tom Banks yesterday, and the shindy he created when Elsie's father showed him the door; probably you were, too hence our dreams. Now, are you ready? All the guests are below, and the motors are in order. By starting at once we can reach Sherringham Cross without hurry. We must not risk stoppage by the constabulary for exceeding the pace limit. Come along It took me quite ten minutes to fit the guests into their respective cars, and by that time I had begun to realise the meaning of master of the ceremonies but at last I was able to take my own seat-beside Geoffrey, in the leading car—and give the sign for a general advance. Without a hitch we glided away, and a sigh of intense relief told me that Geoffrey was well satisfied with his inspection of our driver, who had neither feature nor movement in common with Tom Banks. It was a perfect morning, sunny, yet exhilarat- ing after a night's rain. At Sherringham Cross, where four roads meet, we pulled up. From that point Elsie's car was to pilot the procession, and at the stroke of the hour, with a warning" hoot-toot!" out from one of the roads glided the bridal car, hooded with a mass of gaily coloured flowers that trailed almost to the ground and half smothered the prettily costumed occupants—Elsie and her two bridesmaids. Even the chauffeur had been laughingly bedecked with a garland of flowers, and as the car swept round the old wooden cross to take its place at the head of the procession, quite a burst of admiration rose from the guests at the back of uS: "Hoot-toot!" We were. off again, no longer the leaders. "It's symbolic of the future, old man," I laughed to Geoffrey. "Hitherto you have led; you now take your proper place—the matrimonial place—in the rear of the lady who 11 A grip upon my arm arrested my tongue. "Bob! Look! What are those letters?" Geoffrey was staring at the bridal car, staring as though his eyes would leap from their sockets. I followed his gaze; and then I, too, began to start, for over the middle of the car, and immediately above the gaily cushioned seat occupied by Elsie, rose an archway of flowers. From end to end the flowers were of purest white, but in the middle were two large patches of the brightest red. And, as I looked, the red patches resolved themselves into two bold letters—T. B. "T. B. I muttered. "It's a stupid joke. Who on earth is responsible for that frivolity?" "It's not a joke. It's not frivolity. It's Tom Banks!" groaned Geoffrey. "Don't you see him? He's the chauffeur! He's driving Elsie's car!" Tom Banks raised his cap; Elsie waved her white-gloved hand, then dropped it affectionately upon Banks's shoulder. At the same moment the bridal car swung out of the main road that led to Brampton Church, and plunged into a cross road that pointed to London. Which admitted of but one explanation Elsie and Banks had plotted to defy Mr. Bruce and to inflict upon Geoffrey a cruel blow. Cruel? I reflected; then I was uncertain whether, at least, it was not partly deserved. That Mr. Bruce-It notorious spendthrift- had sold Elsie to Geoffrey I had half suspected; if Elsie, at Tom Banks's persistent solicitation, had at last agreed to end the intolerable situa- tion and take to herself the man she loved, was it unnatural? Geoffrey'had been an eager party to the love- less arrangement, hoping eventually to arouse the responding spark of effection by the passion that burnt within his own breast; was Geoffrey blameless? But I was his best man. My duty was to him. And Elsie's father (had her mother lived the deplorable predicament could never have existed), mistrustful of motor-cars, had preceded us in a dog cart to await Elsie's arrival at the church door. "We must catch them and demand an explana- tion," I said w Geoffrey. "Without doubt, Elsie is eloping with Tom Banks. A word of instruction to our driver, and our car shot forward like a bounding ball. The movement was at once perceived, and answered, by the bridal car in front of us. "More speed! Faster!" I urged. Again our car leapt in pursuit, and again the bridal car answered spurt for spurt. "She's a faster car than ours," explained our chauffeur. "We were instructed to prepare the fastest car for the bride." Geoffrey groaned. "But we can keep her in sight," hopefully added our chauffeur; "and if we should happen to come across a long descent we, being the heavier, might overhaul her." "Descent!" I echoed. "It's coming! Over three miles of down-hill! See! The bridal car's begun to drop already." "Hold tight, tiien." grimly responded the chauffeur. I gave one glance back at the ragged, scattered, leaping line at the rear, then, as I clutched at my seat, we shot over the brow of the hill and plunged, with a breathless leap, down the long, steep slope. It was the ride of madness, a nightmare flight that blotted out all incident, all consciousness of detail excepting that mud was flying around us in showers, spattering face and wedding garments with a continuous volley, and that we and the car had ceased to hold connection with earth; we were flying-flying downhill in pursuit of a dark smudge ahead of us, a smudge that we were slowly approaching, gradually but certainly over- hauling. "We're catching her," quietly announced the iron-nerved chauffeur. "But I daren't pass her at this speed. We should collide." "Do it!" I cried, wrought to recklessness. "Crash into her! Take her off wheels away Disable her It's the very thing But Geoffrey was alarmed. "Don't do any such insane trick!" he angrily exclaimed. "Where's the use of risking our necks in that way! Driver—the responsibility of collision rests with you. If you disobey my order and-" It was too late to argue. The bridal car had pulled up, alongside the hedge. "On with the brakes!" yelled Geoffrey. By a lucky chance we cleared the bridal car by an inch, but as we shot past it, something hard and sharp struck me on the cheek. "A note exclaimed Geoffrey, as he caught the missile. The chauffeur stopped the car. Geoffrey burst open the envelope. Looking over his shoulder I read:- "Dear Mr. Haydon,—Enclosed you will find a cheque for CIO,000, the price you paid for me. Mr. Banks (whom I am going to marry imme- diately we reach London) and I decided long ago that I was bound to you until he was in a position to redeem me, but we were afraid to mention it lest you should be tempted to advance my father a further sum, and thus increase the amount of my ransom, which, as it is, has drained Mr. Banks's resources. I can only now, there- fore, plead for forgiveness, and beg you not to interfere with our plans. The fact that I never professed a wisp of affection for you, together with the letter I caused to be posted to you last night from London, should, in some measure, have prepared you for this.—Yours truly, "ELSIE BRUCE." At that moment the bridal car swept past us on its way to London. "Let her go growled Geoffrey, as he put the cheque into his pocket-book. "I think I'll walk back home," I said as, with a sigh of disgust, I leaped from the car.

j TOASTING THE KING. I HIS MAJESTY GIVES WISE ADVICE. I Although in indifferent health, Sir Oswald Mosley. Bart., attended a recent rent audit dinner to his tenants at Rolleston Hall, Burton-on- Trent. Sir Oswald drank to the King's health, contrary to his doctor's orders, in a bumper of old port wine. The baronet acquainted his Majesty with this incident, and Sir Dighton Probyn wrote in reply:- "His Majesty particularly requests me to say that he thinks is undesirable that anyone suf- fering from your complaint should drink too fering from your complaint should drink too many healths in old port." It will be recalled that in July last the King's private secretary wrote to a naval officer that "his Majesty will be glad if it is circulated privately that he considers that his health is as much honoured by those who drink it in water as by those who drink it in wine."

"WOMEN'S PETITION TO THE QUEEN A petition of Englishwomen to the Queen has been signed within three weeks by about twenty- eight thousand seven hundred women in all parts of the kingdom, appealing to her Majesty to use her influence on behalf of the Macedonian women and children. Mr. Brailsford, honorary agent of the Macedonian Relief Fund Committee, reports from Kastoria that the mortality among the I population is appalling, and unless help comes from England thousands will die this winter.

CONQUERED BY ICE. HOW THE ANTARCTIC WENT TO HER DOOM. M. Skottsberg, the naturalist of the Norden- skjold expedition, says the Antarctic was caught in the ice > the north coast of Joinville Island in December 1902. The ice began to move on January 1. The members of the expedition slept in their clothes every night, believing that each would be their last. On January 4 they found an open lead to- wards Erebus and Terror Bay. The ice, how- ever, reappeared in a dense mass, and the ship was again imprisoned and completely helpless in the middle of the bay. A gale began to blow on the 9th. The pres- sure of the ice increased, and the bow of the Antarctic was raised 4ft., and all on board felt that a catastrophe was imminent. Water poured into the hull in torrents through a large hole in her side. The pumps worked by the engines were kept going, and though the pres- sure of the ice was still tremendous, the vessel kept afloat. Attempts were made to effect re- pairs, but without much success. On February 9 the vessel listed, and the order was given to lower away the boats with a supply of provisions. The ship appeared bound to founder at the slightest increased pressure of the ice. A few days later the vessel floated. By February 12 the Antarctic had been car- ried clear of the ice, and an attempt was then made to make sail and steer for Paulet Island. The voyage had hardly begun when a strong wind drove the vessel back among the icebergs. A fresh imprisonment appeared to be inevit- able. The water in the hold of the ship, despite every effort, continued to rise, and it being evident that any further attempt to save the ship must be futile, the order was given to call all hands on deck, for the vessel was sinking. The Antarctic was moored to a great mass of ice, and clothing and boxes and barrels of provisions were discharged on the ice. The Swedish flag was hoisted at the masthead, the party landed, and then cut the moorings. The current carried the vessel away from the mass of ice. The doomed ship gradually sank, going down bow foremost, the flag being the last to disappear beneath the waves.

I Bread and butter and plenty of good Scotch oatmeal and milk, says Professor Kihgsford, are the foods on which children thrive. Four hundred members of the Society of Stickmakers and Mounters are either locked out or on strike. While hunting wild boar, King Carlos was faced by a huge wolf. The King killed the savage beast with his first shot. One of the novelties to be exhibited at the approaching Automobile Show in Paris is a motor-car with six wheels.

EPITOME OF NEWS. The United States has imposed a countervail- ing duty on sugar coming from the Netherlands. During the last century war caused the death of over 30,000,000 civilised men. Cake-walks are said in Paris to produce a disease somewhat like influenza. It is called "the fever of the kangaroo." In order to pay a bet, a student of Yale Uni- versity is spending a week disguised as a rag- and-bottle merchant. Fifteen men have been arrested in America in connection with a Mafia conspiracy. The house of a miser named Augustin, of Kloosterheide, Belgium, has been broken into and £ 5,000 taken. Lighted candles were held to the man's back and feet until he disclosed where the money was. According to present arrangements, the Ger- man Emperor will proceed to Hanover on De- cember 18, and on the following day will review three regiments which will then celebrate their jubilee. The officials of Earlswood Asylum issue an appeal for public help, as failures in the founda- tions of the building will necessitate an expen- diture on underpinning estimated at £ 25,000. Sir James and the Hon. Lady Miller, who were recently on a round of visits in the south, have again gone to Manderston House, Berwick- shire, where they will pass the hunting season. Owing to the smallness of the demand for embossed envelopes bearing 2 £ d. stamps the Post Office has decided to discontinue the issue of them. The Marquis of Bute has returned to London from his big-game hunting expedition in the Soudan, and will shortly proceed to his Scottish residence, Mount Stuart House, Rothesay. Middlesbrough new theatre, which is estimated to cost £ 40,000, and is being built in Linthorpe- road, is rapidly approaching completion. Captain Carleton Haynes has been appointed provisionally to the governorship of his Majesty's prison, Leeds. Lady Pirbright, who is spending the early part of the winter in Venice, will return to her residence in Grosvenor-place about April or May next. Mr. H. E. Nicholls, for many years secretary of the Continental Gallery, has now become associated with the Dore Gallery. The Korean Government has ordered that all Koreans, without regard to rank or class, should not wear clothes except of a blue or dark colour. A medical authority says that in railway collisions the passengers who are asleep escape the bad effect of shaking and concussion. Among 5,000 tramcar drivers in Vienna a recent census showed that there are 400 knights, about fifty barons, and four counts. The War Office has decided to arm pioneers, pipers, bandsmen, drummers, and buglers with the rifle, and an Army Order to that effect will shortly be published. Popular feeling in favour of an ultimatum to Russia is growing in Japan, but the Govern- ment remains firm. For some time past experiments have been made, at Herr Krupp's Germania Works at Kiel, in the construction of a new style of submarine boat, and the engineers there are said to have succeeded at last in building a boat which satisfies all requirements. An Association of British Sculptors is in course of formation for the general good of the profession, and the maintenance of existing copyright. ° On account of the diminution of traffic re- ceipts the London and North-Western Railway Company are reducing their staff up and down their system, and at their various workshops at Wolverton and Crewe the hands are on short time. Chief Inspector Patrick Quinn has been ap- pointed successor to Superintendent Wm. Mel- ville, of the Criminal Investigation Department, New Scotland yard. The Congregational Union of England and Wales has accepted the invitation of the Congre- gation churches in Cardiff to hold its autumn assembly there next year, commencing on Sep- tember 26. A marriage has been arranged, and will shortly take place, between Captain Norman E. Tilney, R.H.A., and Cicely, second daughter of Mr. C. H. Alston, of Letterawe, Lachawe, Argyll. A new organisation has been formed by the Automobile Club under the title of "The Motor- van and Woggon-Users' Association." 0 Mr. Edward John Lupson, who for forty years has been parish clerk at Yarmouth, has officially attended 11,570 weddings, besides giv- ing away 1,250 brides. Man-eating sharks, which have not been seen in the Baltic for more than a century, have again appeared off the Danish and German coasts. The King of Denmark has a very valuable collection of birds' eggs, which include speci- mens of nearly every kind in existence. The collection is considered to be worth about £ 15,000. A German medical paper reports that at a school inspection in Brandenburg an eight-year- old boy was presented wno weighs 9 stone and stands 5ft. 3- £ in. The young prodigy is physic- ally and mentally well developed. Bishop Murphy, of Hobart, Tasmania, has the distinction of being the oldest Roman Catholic prelate in the world now in active service. He was born on the day the Battle of Waterloo was fought. The International Society of Sculptors, Painters, and Gravers, has elected M. A. Rodin, the distinguished French sculptor, president, in succession to the late Mr. Whistler. Mr. Carnegie has refused to give to Scar- borough a sum of money for free library pur- poses unless the borough gives the customary pledge to maintain the institution for the pro- vision of a building for which he is willing to pay. A merchant at Dresden has just notified to the registrar of births the birth of his twenty- sixth and twenty-seventh children. His first wife presented with with twelve and his second with fifteen, and twenty of his children are still living. Although the sea covers three-fourths of the earth's surface it does not provide in the same proportion for man's wants. Only about 3 per cent, of the people in the world gain their living directly from the sea. A marriage has been arranged between Charles Carlisle Pilkington, fourth son of George Pilkington, of Stoneleigh, Woolton, Lancashire, and ErrKlia, youngest daughter of the late Sampson S. Lloyd, of Dolobran, Mont- gomeryshire, and The Priory, Warwick. The cripples and beggars of Gross-Becks- kerek, Austria, have gone out on strike as a result of a new asylum having been built for them by the magistrates. They say that the profession prefers to live in the open air" and obtain what it can from house-to-house visita- tion. Mr. Joseph Ellis, who has just died at Acle, Norfolk, resided in the same house for sixty- seven years. Though ninety-one years old, he is said to have missed Sunday morning service at the parish church only twice in the last fcity years. I Dr. Koch has expressed the opinion that coast fever will spread throughout South Africa, kill- ing 90 per cent. of the cattle. Sixteen hundred children have died by fire in two years, most of them through the absence of fireguards. A lion in the Scottish Zoo at Glasgow recently attacked and killed a lioness, all efforts of the attendants to separate the animals being unavail- ing. Mr. Monypenny, who has all along been opposed to the policy of Chinese labour on the Rand, has resigned his post on the Johannes- burg "Star" in consequence of the resolution passed by the Chamber of Mines. The Japanese Government has decided to em- ploy women booking-clerks at one of the prin- cipal Government railway stations, Shimbashi. If the innovation proves satisfactory it is pre.- posed to do away with male ticket-sellers' alto-, gether. A twelve-year-old schoolgirl named Annie Woodhall was remanded at Birmingham on a charge of attempting to poison herself. She said she had been beaten by the teacher at school, and threatened with reduction to a lower standard. After eating a tablespoonful of tinned salmon, which hii wife had told him was tainted, a Bristol labourer became ill and died from septic sore throat and gastritis. His daughter, who also ate some of the fish, is none the worse. A handsome marble cross has been placed over the grave of Miss Camille Holland, the victim of the Moat Farm tragedy, in Saffron Walden Cemetery. It bears the following inscription "In sympathetic memory of Camille Cecile Hol- land, of Maida Vale, London, who died at Claver- ing under distressing circumstances on the 19th May, 1899, aged fifty-six years. Nunc Domen Requiescat in Pace." Mr. Geo. Foster, a Canadian statesman at pre- sent on a visit to Great Britain, says that one of the great obstacles in the fiscal campaign is the difficulty of giving forty millions of Britons an adequate idea of the resources of the Colonies. A clockmaker named Crake, of Norwich, had an apopletic fit, and the constable thought he was dead and sent for an undertaker, who ar- rived to find the supposed corpse rolling on the floor. Crake died several hours later. A dynamite bomb which had been placed on the window of a house at St. Etienne, occupied; by M. Baret, an engineer, exploded, and did con- siderable damage. All the windows of the neigh- bouring houses were broken. The death has just occurred at Watton, Nor- folk, of Mrs. Frances Thompson, at the age of eighty-seven years. Mrs. Thompson and her husband (who has reached the age of ninety) were a remarkable couple, having been married* sixty-eight years. The Cape War-losses Compensation Commis- sion has nearly finished its work. More than 30,000 claims, involving a payment of £ 1,750,000, have been passed. A Yarmouth tradesman, soliciting orders for- Christmas poultry, states that he will supply a register of birth with each bird he sells. Preparations are being made for the National Sports Exhibition which is to be hed at Olym- pia from Boxing Day until Easter. The Venerable J. W. Diggle, who was at one time Archdeacon of Westminster, has been appointed, with the King's approval, to the Archdeaconry of Birmingham. 0 The King has presented a photogravure of himself, wearing Field Marshal's uniform, to the Princess Alice Memorial Hospital, East- bourne. Mr. Ffrangcon Davies has been appointed a professor of singing at the Royal Academy of Music. One million two hundred and six thousand seven hundred and forty two bicycles were regis- tered in France last year. "Habitual neglect to carry out rules" on the part of a signalman is the official explanation of a recent accident ner Piers-hill, on the Norths British Railway. Painting on spiders' webs is done in Norway, and the pictures are framed like any other draw- ing. The webs employed, which are of a re- markably dense weave, occur only in a few localities difficult of access, and the supply of them is very limited. Six hundred Leeds scavengers, who have had an increase of Is. per week, have decided to, give the first week's extra money to the widow of a former fellow-workman. Mrs. Jeannie L. Vandewater has been dis- missed by the New York Board of Education' because she is accused of "committing matri- mony" while holding the post of teacher in the public schools. In New York a child was recently forbidden by a magistrate to appear on the variety stage, on account of her tender years. She has since added an imitation of the magistrate to her repertoire. A burglar at Stuttgart last week stole a clock. In the street it began to cry "Cuckoo!" The startled burglar bolted, was pursued, and the clock continued its cry until he was capght. Clacton Council was offered iron water pipes at £ 5 5s. 6d. and £ 5 lis. 6d. whereas the lowest tender for English-made was at E5 12s. 6d. and £5 15s. The contract for I foreign pipes was accepted. About £ 500 was. taken from the parish by a travelling theatrical company, complained a lady member of Bumham (Bucks) Parish Council. Tradesmen had suffered in consequence, she- alleged. Mr. Joseph Crosby, a Colchester labourer, who has rescued twenty-five people from drown- ing, has been presented with tbe Royal Humane Society's testimonial on vellum. A "Scientific American" writer, in an in- teresting article on the new turbine Cunarders, concludes that the vast size of these vessels,' the enormous momentum which they will have when running at full speed, will render them; comparatively independent of adverse weather; and it is quite within the range of possibility that a ship leaving New York at 10 o'clock on Saturday morning will be in the Mersey early in the afternoon of the following Thursday. The electric post invention by which letters and parcels are to be carried at 250 miles an hour is shortly to be put to a practical test. A syndicate, says the "St. James's Gazette," has been formed, with a capital of £ 150,000, divided into 60,000 six per cent. cumulative Preferer co- shares of El each and 90,000 Ordinary shares of £ 1 each. King Menelik of A:oyssinial proposing to take advantage of the scientific methods of minting coin which prevail in the civilised world, has just imported from Germany an outfit of ma- chinery for his mint, which is to be set up at his capital, Addis Ababa. The last stage of the long journey of this machinery will be by caravan, and a month will be occupied in thus transport- ing it from the nearest railway station. It is said that Menelik, who for several years has had a limited silver coinage circulating in his kingdom-the coins were struck for him in France-has accumulated more than 110,000 pounds of gold bullion, besides a still larger amount of silver, awaiting the arrival of the minting machines. A dwelling-house, or villa, which turns with. the sun has been designed by MM. Pellegrin and Pettit, Parisian architects, and exhibited at the Expositon de l'Habitation, Paris. The house, in fact, is helotropic, and emulates the sunflower. The foundation is a sort of turn- table resting on ball-bearings, and the house can be turned by hand or by means of a motor. In very hot sunshine the front rooms and the back can be made to exchange places. The general object of the plan, however, is to get as much sunshine as possible. The movement in following the sun is a few inches every hour, and the inhabitants hardly perceive it. When mechanism is employed the house turns once round in 24 hours. Twenty-nine of the most important Italian sugar refineries have formed a trust which will; restrict the output by twenty-five per cent. Professor Markmann, of Leipsig, has (accord- ing to "Science Siftings") discovered that ink- bottles contain quantities of microbes. While eleven men were being hoisted to the top of the shaft of a mine near Liege, Belgium, the rope snapped and the cage fell to the bottom, killing the miners instantly. The income of hatters is not solely derived from the profits on the new hats they sell. When purchasing a new hat many customers leave the shop wearing the newly-purchased hat, and pre- sent their old hats to the hatter. These old hats, have a considerable market value. The hatter- sells them to dealers in second-hand clothing. They renovate them, and sell them to cabmen and other persons wno like to wear a tall hat, but have not the wherewithal to buy a new one.