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

HYARCHER& GOLDENRETURNS 1 life REC13TERED Vjfl |M :ft'I!II U Facsimile of One-Ounce Packet. Archer's Golden Returns ft. Pt»a Cool, SWMI. US fUOMlT. — FLANNELETTE. If purchasers of this useful material for underwear all the year round would buy the best English make, which can be obtained from al I eading Drapers, they would avoid the risks they undoubtedly run with the inferior qualities of Flannelette. HORROCKSES' FLANNELETTES, made by the manufacturers of the celebrated Longcloths, Twills, and Sheetings, are the best. UnUDfiniTCIlf'C! Stamped on sel- flUiiilUUAljJilO vedgeevery5yds.j

CHEPSTOW. Agent.—Mist Clark SERIOUS CYCLING ACCIDENT.-As Mr Frederick Jolliffe, of Chepstow, was cycling to London, on Tuesday, at the bottom of the hill outside Blakeney he ran full tilt into a loaded coal cart. He was terribly cut and bruised about the face, and suffers from concussion of the brain. Dr Harris, of Blakeney attended him, and stitched the wounds. The patient is in a precarious condition, and cannot be moved. He appeared to have lost control of his machine, which was wrecked. HUNT Supppp.On Monday, the farmers, earth stoppers, and keepers connected with the country huuted by Mr Curre's hounds were entertained by the Master and members of the hunt to supper at the Church Boys' House, which was prettily decorated, and about 160 sat down. Mr E. C. Curre presided, and was supported by Major Stacey, Drs A. G. and Gwynne Lawrence, Messrs. G. Seys, H. Clay, H. H. Clay, A. G. Burchardt Ashton, J. W. Stanton-Simpson, the Rev C. M. Perkins, and others. DISTRICT CO-UNCIL.-Vir W. Woodgate presided over the meeting, on Monday, when the estimate was presented for the general district rate for the year ending 31 st March. It amounted to a total of £2,579 1O, but the credits which came to an aggregate of X628 8s 4d brought the amount down to £1,951 Is 8d. Last year there was a 3s rate. On the motion of Mr H. Gorman. seconded by Mr R. Hanbury, supported by Mr W. C. Thomas and others, it was decided to make a 3s 6d rate for the current year. On the proposition of Mr E. Dutaon, seconded by Mr A. E. Mullins, the Council re-elected Mr G. Dewdney as a scholar- ship manager under the Welsh Intermediate Act.

r NEWPORT. Agents-Ifesirs Greenland and Cc- SPBBD OF MOTOR CARS.—The London Gazette of Friday night contains a notice stating that the Newport Town Council have applied to the Local Government Board for a regulation limiting the speed of motor-cars to ten miles per hour in Commercial-street, High-street, Newport Bridge, and Clarence-place. THE TRAMP QUESTION.—At the meeting of the Newport Board of Guardians, on Saturday, Mr T. Dutfield presiding, Mr Charles Crane, the superintendent of the casual ward, reported that during the past fortnight 302 vagrants had been admitted, being an increase of 59 on the corresponding period of last year. As upon some nights there was not sufficient accommodation at the workhouse, 14 men were sent to lodging- houses in the town.—Mr Charles West said that there must be some way of dealing with these persons. He suggested that they should be put to work under the Corporation.—Mr W. H. Brown said that at Monmouth the Guardians had adopted most stringent regulations, and after a year's working they had reduced the number of tramps by more than one-half. He suggested that they write to the Clerk of the Monmouth Board of Guardians for particulars.—This was agreed to. INQUEST.—Mr Lyndon Moore, coroner, held an inquest at the Town Hall, Newport, on Monday, touching the death of a little girl named Lilian Jane Bishop, aged eight years, a daughter of an engine-driver living at 19, Edwin-street, who appeared to have died from eating the skin of tomatoes. On Thursday the deceased had water- cress for tea, and at night ate for her supper two small tomatoes cut in vinegar. About two o'clock next morning she awoke and began to be very sick. The sickness re-occurred, and Dr Bassett was called in on Friday about mid-day. He found that inflammation of the bowels had begun, due in his opinion to the child eating the skin of the tomatoes. It was, he considered, a very dangerous thing to eat, especially at this time of the year, when the tomatoes were not quite ripe, and the skin was very thick. The child died on Friday night from inflammation of the bowels, and the jury returned a verdict accordingly. I

NATIONAL UNION OF TEACHERS. I The Monmouthshire District Union of the National Union of Teachera held their ninth annual meeting at Newport Town Hall, on Friday in last week. The Mayor (Cotincitior. Clifford Phillips) presided, and his Worship, in introduoing the proceedings expressed the hope that whatever came of the educational controversies of the present day in Great Britain, some form of religious instruction would be allowed to be given in our schools. (Hear, hear.) Mr Blackburn, the deputation from the executive of the Natioual Union. then addressed the meeting on Some Pressing Educational Problems," and alluded to the problem which had for the past sixteen months troubled Newport, namely, the constitution of the education committee. He would not discuss the principle of co-option, but he pointed out one or two underlying principles in the constitution of any such authority, and said that in the effort to balance the interests involved, there was danger of forgetting the very essence of the problem, namely, the well-being of the children for whom the committee was called into existence. The speaker spoke of the ardour shown in Wales in bringing into operation the Intermediate Act of 1889, and asked why the enthusiasm for education in Wales had evaporated in regard to the Education Act of 1902. He regretted that Newport had not seen fit to put on its education authority a representative of the teaching profession. Alderman Canning, in moving a vote of thanks, expressed a hope that before very long an education committee would be formed in Newport. The vote was agreed to. There was a good attendance of teachers from all parts of the county. The retiring president (Mr T. Harries, Eoth" Yale), introduced his successor, Mr Theodore Evans, of Aberbeeg.

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I RAGLAN. I I Agent—Mr. IK Parker, Photographer. | 1 ——————— I DEATH OF AN OLD INHABITANT. I It was with feelings of the greatest regret that the inhabitants of Raglan learned on Monday, April the 25th, that Mr Wrn. Jeffreys, of Penypark Farm, had passed peacefully away. Deceased was a native of Raglan, and one of its oldest and most respected inhabitants. He had been in failing health for some time, but his somewhat sudden demise came as a painful surprise to residents of the district. The funeral took place on the Thursday following his death and was very largely attended. The three sons of the deceased and his brother Mr John Jeff. reys were chief mourners. Messrs Albert Perkins, (The Elms), Nabor Crump (The Lodge), J. Powell (Cefn Coch), and H. Haggett (High-street, Raglan), acted as bearers. The Vicar of Raglan beinsr from home, the officiating minister was the Rev W. Evans, Tregare Viearage, who was an old and warm friend of deceased. Beautiful wreaths were went by the wife and children of deceased, Mr John Jeffreys (brother), Messrs W. and A. Stephens (brothers-in. law), Mrs Stephens, Croes-y-gyel (sister-in-law) Mr and Mrs Taylor, Monmouth, Mr and Mrs Williams, Lydart; Mr and Mrs Thomas, Llanvi. hangel Court; Mr and Mrs Raglan Somerset; Mr and Mrs C. J. Sgunders Mr Townsend and family, Castle Farm Miss Jones, Post Office; Mr and Mrs Crump, The Lodge; Mr and Mra Lane, Old Shop Mr and Mrs Herbert, London House, Raglan Mr and Mrs Jones, Old House, Llansrovan and Miss Matthews and family. Much sympathy is felt for the bereaved and sorrowing family. Mr R. Jones, Raglan, was the undertaker, and the hearse and mourning coach were from the King's Head, Mon- mouth.

THE GREAT REMEDY. A I  a    'wjtDfSr GOUT PILLS GOUT, RHEUMATISM, SCIATICA MBAGO, Is quickly relieved and cured witont restraint from diet, by these celebrated Pills. All Chemists and Stores at Is. lld. and 2s. 9d per box.

Markets. I USK, CATTLB, Monday.-There was rather a short supply, especially of good aheep, at the ordinary monthly market to-day, probably due to Caerleon May Fair. The following were the prices:-Beat quality beef 6-ld to 6d per lb, seconds 5id to 6d wether uiutton 7d to 8d, ewe 6d to 7d; lambs, 25a (la per lb) real, 8d to Sid per lb; cows and calvas, .£15 to £18; yearlings, S.6 to 110; two-year-olds ill to £ 14; sows and pigs, 47 to 410; strong ittoraii, 358 to 4Sa each; three montha old, 20a to 23s; weaners, 16* to 20<; heavy-weight porkers, So 6d per score; light ditto, 9a; baeoners, 8a 64 per aoore*

Parliamentary. In the House of Lords, on Thursday, the Sale of Intoxicants to Children Bill was read a third time, and passed. In the House of Commons, on Thursday, Mr R. McKenna (R.), North Monmouth- shire, renewed his attack upon the honour of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and asked Mr Balfour, to whom the Chancellor referred him, whether, in view of the large and exceptional import of unstemmed tobacco in the month of March in anticipa- tion of the Budget proposals, he will grant a Select Committee to inquire who are the importers, and whether the import has been induced by information that it was intended to make such proposals," to which the Prime Minister replied, amidst loud cheers, The Government do not propose to grant a committee of enquiry," and complained that the hon member came down with a prepared attack on the honour of one of the members of the Government. The rules of question time prevented a fuller repudiation of Mr McKenna's attack on the Treasury.

In use 90 years. MURZIE JAMIESIS WFOZEM SAFETY RT^J9 FEMALE F>L L.L.S. Gentle, Direct, Natural. Recommended by Mothers and Nurses. 5a Si 1/11 2/9 & 4/6 per box, post free, from ? i w LLOYD, Chemist, MERTHYR. VIIRE 0^, SUN FIRE OFFICE. kO" Funds in hand— £2,386,639. For all particulars apply to MR. THOMAS REES, JUNE., AGENT AT USK.

CHOOSING A. PIPE. A soft clay is invariably cool smoking, says the Lancct, because the acrid oils obtained on the destructive distillation of the tobacco are absorbed, instead of collecting in a little pool, which must eventually, either by volatilisation or by mechanical conveyance, reach the mouth. An old wooden pipe or briar, so dear to inveterate smokers, becomes "smooth" smoking, because the pores of the wood widen and so absorb, as in the case of clay and meerschaum, a large proportion of the tobacco oils. A hook-shaped pipe must be better than a pipe the bowl of which is on the same level as the mouth, for the simple reason that in the former a consider- able quantity of the oil is kept back in the U-shaped part of the pipe, while in the latter the oil travels easily down the stem. Ebonite stems are in general objectionable, because they commonly spoil the true flavour of tobacco smoke. We know instances where ebonite stems have produced distinctly objectionable symptoms in the throat. Bone or real amber makes a much more satisfactory stem, or the pipe should be of wood throughout. Amber substitutes, and especially celluloid, should be discarded entirely as dangerous. Pipes of special construction cannot be regarded with much favour, such as those which are said to be hygienic, and usually contain a so-called nicotine absorber. Those smokers who require such auxiliary attachments had better not smoke at all.

For Printing of all Descriptions Try the County Observer Office.

The Far East. Reducing Port Arthur's Garrison and Artillery. Rome, Friday. A telegram from Chefoo says that the Russians have reduced the garrison at Port Arthur to four thousand men, and all the Field Artillery guns have been moved to* Mukden.

Japanese Forces Landed. St. Petersburg, Friday. Japanese forces have been' landed at Port Adams and Riszewsy on opposite side of the Kioantung; Peninsular, behind Port Arthur. The recent movements of the Japanese fleet in the Liaotung- Gulf were intended as a feint to- cover the real landing.

I Tornadoes in America. New York, Friday. Severe tornadoes raged yesterday in Oklahoma and Texas, causing: serious loss of life.

Steamers Caught in Ice Floes. Halifax, Nova Scotia, Friday. Steamers report that the Allan- Liner Hibernian, and several other steamers have been caught among; the huge floes off Cape Race.

The Sensational Slander II Action. In the sectional slander action,, to-day, Mr Sievier, cross-examined,, said Lord X" was Lord Deerhurst. He did not remember playing cards with Benson, the Jubilee plunger. The newspaper, Hawh, in 1892, said he lived by preying on women and young- men's credulity. He commenced proceedings, but reluctently drop- ped them on Mr Gill's advice.

Waterloo Railway Accident. The injured by the Waterloo, Railway accident are progressing favourably.

Cricket. Marylebone, out, 102.

Boys' Training Ship Aground. The Cruiser Northampton, boys7 training ship, ran aground at Queenstown to-day, and remains fast.

Stocks. Stocks irregular. o Priated and Published by "THH Coony OIIIITH, KiWBFifiB and PRINTING Courkigv, famitod. Ur JAKIS HINBT CLARK, at their Ofim". Dqllm Street, Usk, in the Ceaaty of monageth, xafawappw May 7tb, 1004.

The Visitation of the Archdeacon of llonmouth. The Yen. W. Conybeare Bruce, Archdeacon of Monmouth, commenced his spring Visitation of the clergy of the Archdeaconry at St. Woollos' Church, Newport, on Monday, and delivered his charge, after a shortened form of Morning Service. At the outset, he referred to the changes which had taken place during the year among the incumbents, of whom six had been removed by death. During the year only one mission church had been licensed-St. Mary's, Lower Pont- newydd-and no new church bad been consecrated. In dealing with church restoration, allusion was made to St. Mary's, Chepstow, where the third instalment of the work was being entered upon to the re-buildiug of St. Luke's, Newport; the restoration of Bassalleg and Roggiet churches and to > lans for the restoration of Llanvihangel. Partial restoration was being carried on at Bedwellty; and Llanvihangel Pontynaoile church had been re-opened for service. Reference was made to the need for immediate work at Skenfrith and Llangeview, and to other churches where partial restoration is necessary. In dealing with the Prime Minister's Commission iuto the alleged irregularities in the Church, the Archdeacon observed that the fact of its being appointed suggested some serious reflections as to the probabilities and possibilities of the future. The present situation was one of GRAVB PERPLEXITY, and could not but be most painful to all of them, whatever their personal view. point, who loved the Church of England and desired its influence on the moral and religious life of the nation perpetuated, broadened, and deepened. A primary factor in the difficultiei which beset them was the failure of Church parties to understand one another. A large section of Evang-licals were as keenly alive as High Churchmen to the value of the Prayer Book and to the importance of securing orderly and reverent arrangements for services and suitable appointments for the House of God. The teaching of extreme Protestantism treated the constitution of the Church of England as of little moment, and narrowed down its doctrines in form and substance to the limits of those taught by one or other section of Nonconformity. In such cases there seemed to be no valid reason why teacher or taught should not become Nonconformists, while, on the other ban 1, with regard to the teaching and practice of, as he believed, a minority of the Anglican section, it was impossible but that when a certain habit of thought and practice had been leached the question should be put: If all these doctrines and practices are advisable and right, what sufficient justification is there for remaining outside the Roman fold P There was at that stage but one answer for most people. Yet it should be remembered that the differences which divided each from each were much exaggerated by party spirit, and most of them could be resolved into mere disputes about terms. Those which lay deeper, as doubtless some did, resulted from a difference of mental constitution, and belonged to THB DOMAIN OF 7IIBTAPHYSICS rather than of religion. The object of every wise Churchman should be to keep each of the main schools of opinion from extravagance on the one hand, and from stagnation on the other, and the existence of counteracting parties was a check providentially working to this end. Obedience to the law aa declared by the highest available civil and ecclesiastical authorities, and not as individuals and societies might interoret tht-same, seemed to be the first condition of beneficial change in the present situation. The Archdeacon then dwelt on the importance of the attempt to revive a true ecclesiastical government, and to re-animate the Church by restoring those functions to her members which had for many generations been too exclusively usurped by her ministry. In his view, which was shared by α- large section of Churchmen, a serious mistake was made, and a grave injustice committed in the exclusion of women, not merely from sitting on Church Parish Councils, but from the right of voting at elections. In very early times women had been admitted to, and taken a very active part in, Church councils. It was not precedent which should decide a question such as that, but principle founded on the new conditions, circumstances, and require- ments of the twentieth century. Women already acted, greatly to the benefit of the country, as guardians, school managers, governors of schools, and as churchwardens. A large amount of their national, benevolent, and philanthropic work would fall to the ground but for their inspiration, their self-denying labours, and their CAPABLE AND ELOQUENT ADVOCACY. Under the Parish Councils Act women might not only vote, but he elected as members of parish meet- ings, parish councils, and district and urban councils. It was ridiculous, and worse, that a woman who was legally qualified to take her share in civil and municipal work of the country should be debarred from any share in the ecclesiastical organisation— that a woman whose capacity and business qualifi- cations secured her election as a parish councillor should be without franchise and representation on the Church council: still more absurd that a woman who was a churchwarden of her parish should be excluded from any voice or part in the work of the Church council of the parish of which she was churchwarden. The Archdeacon then proceeded to discuss the rights and liabilities of lay rectors with regard to the chancel, and held that the respon- sibility for keeping in repair the chancel arch rested upon those who are under the obligation to keep the nave in repair. With regard to the question whether a lay rector has, as such, a right to put a monument or a brass plate in the chancel without reference to the vicar, the answer was that the lay rector was not entitled to do so without leave of the ordiuary- that is, without obtaining a faculty. He held that while residence was legally A NECESSARY QUALIFICATION I for the office of churchwarden, it not infrequently happened that circumstances and common consent indicated a member of the congregation, as the best available appointment. He alluded to the claim of the people's churchwarden to be solely responsible for the offertories and collections at St. Andrew's. Cardiff. The rubric directed that sums collected at the celebration of Holy Communion should be at the joint disposal of the incumbent and churchwarden, but that money collected at other times during divine service, except money collected expressly for church expenses or repairs, was under the control and at the disposal of the incumbent alone. That was the general law, though it was open to incum- bents and churchwardens to make any joint arrange- ment which they might prefer, and it was often well that this should be done. Passing on to the edtipa- tion question, he said: Sir W. Anson has introduced his EDUCATION (LOCAL AUTHORITY DEFAULT) BILL. « •_ • It is not quite clear to me whether under Motion b of the first clause, dealing with the repay- ment to managers of expenses incurred for whioh provision should have been made by the local authority, the Board of Education is empowered to taks into account the period from the first ap- pointed day, or from that ultimately fixed by the County Conncil. Great financial lose has resulted to our schools from the deferring of the appointed day, and. inasmuch as it is now in evidence that it was at no time the intention of the County Council to afford to our schools the support to which the are legally entitled, but it was their consistent policy to differentiae between provided and unprovided aehools, thOT action in postponing the appointed day to a date six months later than that adopted by the Glamorganshire County Council is open to coinething more than the suspicion that the post- ponement was not bona-fide, but was intended TO AGGBA.VATS TUB DIFFICULTIES I of non-provided schools, and, in some cases, to COB pel their cession to the County Council. On these grounds I venture to think that, in justice, our posi- tion should be dealt with as from the data on which our schools might and should have been taken over. It is to be noted that the measure will only operate Ao long as the County Council refuse to discharge their whole duties. It ia a temporary expedient Adapted to a eondition of twnporarj inaaoity. I venture on the opinion that the relief brought to our schools will be shared by a considerable number of the caucus-driven members of the County Councils, who are now given time for reflection, and the op- portunity of withdrawing, even if under the plea of coercion, from a position which their judgment must have convinced them to be untenable, and their self* respect to be intolerable. Continuing, he said noth- ing else, than the TEAKING UP 01? THBIE TBU8T DEEDS e was contemplated in the programme of the Free Chureh Council, or was contained in the terms of any concordat or compromise suggested but he ventured on the prediction that their trust deeds would never be torn up. To sanction religious teaching out of school hours only was to sanction a system which would exclude religion as an essential part of education, incorporated with secular educa- tion, and give away everything for which they had striven as the pioneers of Christian education. They could not consent for the sake of peace to the secu- larisation of education. Dr. Macnamara made re- cently an earnest appeal for consideration for the children of their country, of whom he said that they came under their influence only FOR THE SHORT PERIOD of six or seven years. They admitted the force of the appeal, they associated themselves with it with all earnestness and sincerity of profound conviction and unalterable resolution. For what else had they contended during all the long years ? For what else oid they contend still ? For what else had they spent millions in providing and maintaining their schools, and borne with patience the passionate hostility and the reckless misrepresentations of their opponents ? Because of the children. Because they believed in the late Mr Grote's definition of educa- tion, that it is the placing of a growing child in such circumstances all shall maJoe the best of hitn." They had made many concessions, they had sur- rendered many privileges, they were prepared to assist in the unification of their national system under guarantee.* that their denominational teaching was secured and thf-ir trust deeds (so far as religious teaching was concerned) respected. AT MONMOUTH. On Tuesday, the Archdeacon delivered his charge at the Parish Church, Monmouth, and amonurst other subjects dealt with the polls taken at vestries in electing churchwardens, with the duties of churchwardens, and with the question of seats in Church. In common law the use of the pews belonged to the parishioners, and pews were allotted to them by the ohurchwardens, subject to the control of the ordinary, who was the guardian of the rights of the parishioners, and to whom their appeal lay if those rights were infringed They (the church- wardens) were officers of and under the ordinary, and in dealing with seating the parishioners, as in all their other relations with the Church, they acted, not on their own authority, but as the repre- sentative officials of the ordinary. Subject to him, they had the sole appointment and arrangement of the seats. They were to act in the matter to the best of their judgment and without favour, to the best advantage of all. He then referred to the claim so frequently put forward of a vested interest in a pew or seat, either as belonging to a family or else as annexed by prescription to certain houses, so that the right to the seat or pew passed with the house, giving each tenant in turn a prescriptive right to such sittings. That there were cases, but rare cases, in which pews and sittings were annexed by faculty to families or houses was true. but in each such case the title to such a faculty must be proved before it could be admitted as legal. The allotting of pews or seats by the churchwardens in no way gave a permanent and exclusive right to such sittings. Even if the same sitting might be occupied by the same person or family year by year, it was only held by the year— from year to year. The churchwardens were elected on an absolute equality. The incumbent's churchwarden was not elected to look after the incumbent's interests only, nor the parishioners' churchwarden to look after the parishioners' interests only. They could not act —save by common consent—except jointly, and the vestry was powerless to clothe one churchwarden with any authority or office that was not by right and by law equally vested in the other. Any claim, then, on the part of either of the wardens that he should have sole charge of the parish funds to the exclusion of the other warden was illegal, and not even a long-established cudtom could support a custom itself bad in law. Amongst those who attended the Archdeacon's Visitation from the Usk district were the Rev P. L. C. Nash, the Rev D. S. W. Nicholl, Mr J. H Clark and Mr A. H. Watkins (churchwardens), the Rev Jas. Blower, Gwernesney, Rev W. W. Jones, Llan. trissent, Rev W. Jones, Llansoy, &e. On Wednesday, the Archdeacon brought his visitation to a close at Abergavenny, where he dealt especially with the Education Act.

Bronchitis, -io"lds, cli stpains, and IN TUBES lli. E Tiped M

CAERLEON. I Agent— Mist M. A. Evans, Newsagent, Cross-street. I CAERLEON RACES.—The 18th annual races and steeplechases of the Llangibby and Tredegar Hunt began on Thursday, at Caerleon. Six events were marked on the programme, but the Nantgoch Selling Steeplechase did not fill. In the other five races the entries were above the average. The meeting was well patronised.

■«- PONTYPOOL. Aunts —>•. T. 'Tf li'it, f 'fr vie'Vituse The Market, and, JunrA. Jones and Edwards. LATE MR REES EMANUEL.—Letters of adminis- tration of the estate of Mr Rees Emanuel, Sunny Bank. Griffishatown, proprietor of the Millbrook Colliery, Crumlin, and part owner of the Monmouthshire and Cwm Collieries, who died on March 27th intestate, have been granted to Mrs Mary Richards Emanuel, the widow, the value of such estate amounting to S9,254, including personalty of the net value of £ 7,840. COUNCIL MEETING.—At a special meeting of the District Council, estimates of the cost of scavenging bv contract and upon the council's own under- taking as presented by the surveyor (Mr W. Wynne), were discussed. Taking the average annual cost for the years 1902 and 1903, the surveyor considered that the Council would be able to do the work cheaper themselves by Z134 a year, which meant a saving in the rates of a little short of 2d in the t. The Council decided to do their own scavenging in future. SHOCKING FATALITY.—At the Glyn Colliery, Pontypool, on Friday in lagt week..Tames Lear, a hitcher at the colliery, pushed a tram of coal out of a heading towards the shaft, believing that the cage was there waiting for it. The cage, however, had gone up, and Lear, with the tram. fell headlong into the pit. When recovered by the manager, Mr E. J. Bevan, the body was in a mutilated condition, and was conveyed to his home at Sowhill, Pontypool. Lear was a married man. The evidence at the inqueat held on Monday, showed that the fatality was the result of an error of judgment on the part of the hi!cher. The jury returned a verdict of "Accidental death."

v BREAD AND PASTRY FOR DYSPEPTICS. Many people with poor digestions are unable to eat home-made bread and pastry. This is very often because the raising agent uted by the cook has not done its duty. and the pastry is doughy and heavy. Brown & Poison's new raising powder, called "Paisley Flour" changes all this. It is used mixed dry, one part with 6 to 8 parts of ordinary flour, and takes the place of yeast and baking powder. It is a real help in baking and pastry making, enabling the work to be done quickly, easily, and pleasantly. There is nothing at all harmful in it, and it makes little crusty loaves and delicious pastry, so well raised, light, and free from any suspicion of doughiuess, that they can be eaten with benefit by those of weak digestion. Brown & Poison's Paisley Flour is packed in 3d and 7d packets, the latter being enough for half-a-stone of flour. Try it now. 3

SILLIEST OF BIRDS. Dodo is the Portuguese name for simpleton, and it is given to the silliest bird that ever lived. Three hundred years ago, when the Portuguese first visited the island of Mauritius, they found a great number of these birds. They were about the size of a large swan, blackish grey in colour, and having only a bunch of feathers in place of a tail, and little ,,s. useless wings. They ran about making a silly, hissing noise like a goose, and the sailors easily knocked them over with their paddles. They couldn't fly, they couldn't swim, they 'couldn't run at any great speed, and as for fighting, they were the greatest cowards in the world. They were much too stupid to build a nest, and so they dropped an egg in the grass and went off and let it hatch as best it could. Added to all these things, their flesh was fairly good to eat, and the Portuguese pursued them so steadily for food that in less than a century's time there wasn't a single dodo left. It was quite too silly and stupid to save its own life, and so it became extinct.

A NEW MINE EXPLOSIVE. Inventors have been endeavouring to discover a safer and cheaper explosive for blasting coal than gunpowder. With this in view some tests were re- cently made in Airerica to determine the relative strength and efficacy of a new explosive. The conditions of the test- in each case were the same, ten grammes of the explosive being used. This was placed in a steel mortar loaded with a projectile weighing 351b. All shots were fired at an angle of 35deg., with the following result: Gunpowder threw the projectile 51 yards; kynite, 88 yards; benedite, as the new powder is called, 155 yards; and dynamite, 161 yards. Benedite contains no nitro-glycerine, and it was also subjected to severs tests as regards handling.

> SOME TEXTILE FACTS. I The Chinese were weavers nearly 5,000 years ago. Joseph's famous coat was made of camel's hair. Under the old Mosaic law the Hebrews were not allowed to wear garments of mixed linen or wool. It is said that the American Indians made cotton garments before the coming of Europeans. Calico came originally from Calicut, India. Broadcloth originally got its name from its width. There are more than 32,000, varieties of woollen goods known. Persons with incomes less than Z100 a year were forbdiden to wear furs in England in the fourteenth century. An American society organised for the encouragement of wool production in 1765 forbade the eating of mutton or lamb.

SUSCEPTIBLE TO TYPHOID. M. Vincent stated at a meeting of the Academy of Medicine, says the Lancet, that he has found that French soldiers are on an average a hundred times more subject to typhoid fever than native soldiers —a singular observation, because this disease is in general serious when it attacks Arabs. The com- parative exemption of the Arabs depends, in his opinion, neither on a previous attack nor on a slow acclimatisation consequent on residence in towns, but on a nat"ral immunity comparable to the immunity of negroes against yellow fever, or o? Algerian sheep against anthrax.