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THE PUBLIC GARDENS' ASSOCIATION. I The Metropolitan Public Gardens Associa- tion, of which Lord Meath is president, has set an example which might very well be adopted by the great provincial town3. The idea is that the appearance of the streets in the poorer parts of London could be improved greatly by the cultivation of flowers in pots or boxes outside the win- dows. There is nothing very brilliantly new in that theory, but still we are con- fronted by the fact that the poor do not as a rule beautify their dwellings in this way, and in the majority of cases have no am- bition to do so. The Association has pro- claimed its willingness to co-operate with flower show Societies, by offering prizes for such displays, and there is every reason to hope that the cultivation of flowers in such circumstances will be increasingly adopted as a result of the society's public-spirited action. If that is so, the improvement will not be confined to the appearance of the streets, seeing that the cultivation of flowers contributes to the culture and civilisation of the grower. I "MURDER WILL OUT." The Coventry tragedy and one or two other crimes which have been committed lately serve as illustrations of the truth of the dictum that" murder, though it have no tongue, will speak with most miraculous organ." A murder always places the police upon their mettle, and it is evident from the boldness with which such crimes are committed that the murderer generally under-estimates the resources which the detectives have at their commaud. A man may think that if nobody sees him commit a murder, and he can get clear away, he is in that event safe from discovery, but he generally finds, sooner or later, that he has made a mistake. The police have sources of information which he little dreams of, and while he is congratulating himself upon his escape they may be keeping him under observation while they are completing the chain of evidence which is intended to bring him ultimately to the gallows. In the Coventry case, it would, of course, be pre- mature to assume the guilt of anybody in particular, but it is evident that somebody or other cherished a vain hope that by placing the bodies in a trunk he would prevent the discovery of the crime.

I A DANGKROUS CRIMINAL. I The Recorder of Leeds, Mr Tindal Atkin- son, is quite the reverse of a ferocious judge, and he seems to have acted very leniently in the first instance towards a prisoner who was stated to have been twice previously convicted of burglary. In such a case a a y sentence of eighteen months' hard labour could scarcely offend the susceptibilities of even people like Mr Hopwood, famous for his short sentences at Liverpool: but it was resented by the prisoner, who by some means had possessed himself of a large bottle, which he hurled with great force at the learned Judge. The Recorder recognisino- that he had to deal with a dangerous man, thereupon substituted a sentence of five years' penal servitude, which seems to have been approved by all those who witnessed the outrage, and is not likely to be criticised very severely by anybody, except the man who received it. One need not go very far to find the moral of this incident. In cases where there is any prospect of the prisoner's amendment, the lenient system is an admir- able one, but where the Court has to deal with a dangerous criminal, whose liberty involves a danger to society, the best thing that can be done is to keep the man out of mischief for as long a time as possible.

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Huntsman's Throat Cut. Thomas Holmes, 48, for the past six years huntsman of the Muskerry (County Cork) Foxhounds, of which Mr Harry Leader is master, was found dead with his throat cut at the kennels on Saturday Deceased, who leaves a widow and three children, had arranged to take the position of huntsman with an English pack next season.

I The Diocese of Llandaff. I The Lord Bishop of Hereford, acting under a commission from the Archbishop of Canterbury, held a general ordination in Llandaff Cathedral on Sunday morning.

Monmouthshire Cricket Club. I The annual meeting was held at the King' Head Hotel, Newport, on Friday in last week, M Edward Phillips presiding. The annual report was as follows:—The number of members (147) shows a slight increase over the two preceding years, still the present number is quite insufficient to make the club a success, and every effort should be made to increase the membership. The county occupies fifteenth place in the second class counties' competition as against seventh place in 1903. This is entirely due to the fact that on no occasion was the team at full strength. The club's best thanks are due to Dr A. L. Tatham for his services as captain. The club is deeply indebted to Messrs. Bowden and Taylor the secretaries of the East and West football match, the committee and players, for the invaluable financial assistance rendered to the county club. The accounts sent herewith show a gain on the year's working of £ 42 2s 2d, as compared with a deficit of £ 29 Os 3d in 1903. The total debt now stands at £17 10s lid. Every effort must be made to wipe this out. A con- siderable increase of membership is absolutely necessary before the club can be in a satisfactory position. The best thanks of the club are due to the Newport Athletic Club, Mr A. J. Gould, cricket hon. sec., and Mr G. LI. Lloyd, general hon. sec., for the courteous way in which they have assisted the club.—The report was adopted. Lord Tredegar was re-appointed president, and Colonel Courtenay Motgan and Colonel Ivor Herbert were added to the list of vice-presidents. Dr Rutherfoord Harris, M.P., resigned, as he said he was connected with a great many clubs in Dulwicb. Mr Fred Phillips, J.P., was re-elected treasurer. The Hon. Secretary (Mr Aubrey Butler) resigned his position, as he felt that he could not devote sufficient time to the club. He proposed as his successor Mr E. S. Phillips. Mr Foster Stedman seconded this, and it was agreed to. A special vote of thanks was passed to Mr Butler for his services. Upon the proposition of Mr Stedman, a vote of thanks was passed to Dr A. L. Tatham, who resigned the captaincy of the team and Mr P. C. Phillips was elected captain in his place. The Hon Secretary reported that he had written to the Monmouth, Chepstow, and Abergavency Clubs informing them that the club would give a subscription of five guineas towards engaging a professional for each until they were qualified, and then the subscription would be ten guineas, provided the professional signed on for three years. The Chepstow Club had already replied, stating that they would accept the terms. The match against Berkshire, at Reading, was altered in date from that first announced to Monday and Juesday, June 19th and 20th. I MONMOUTH CLUB. I The annual general meeting of the Club was held on Monday night, and was well attended. Lord Llangattock was re-elected president for the year, and Lieu ten ant-Colon el Courtenay Morgan. Mr E. E. Micholls, and Mr Lewis Haslam were added to the list of vice-presidents. Mr G. H. Morgan was elected captain, and Mr E. Whittington vice-captain and secretary. The Institute Cricket Club, which has hitherto been a separate club, has joined the town club this year, and will be known in future as the Second Eleven. Mr J. H. Dobbs was elected captain of the second eleven, and Mr H. Vaughan vice-captain. The accounts showed an adverse balance of JEI1 2s 7d. I NEWPORT CLUB. I The annual meeting was held on Tuesday evening, Mr L. Foster Stedman presiding. The chairman was re-elected captain of the first eleven for the season, and Mr W. G. Jones captain of the second team. Mr A. J. Gould was re-appointed hon secretary, with Mr W. G. Jones assistant hon. sec. -A letter was read from Mr J. H. Brain asking if the club would allow the three professionals— Silverlock, Steeples, and Diver- to assist the South Wales team aeainst Yorkshire at Cardiff on May Ist, 2nd, and 3rd. It was decided to comply with the request.

A Convicts Effort to Redeem the Past. ■ I Oscar Leopold Otten stood in the dock at Bow. street, on Monday, charged with having failed to comply with the terms of his licence. He was liberated from prison on September 30th last on a ticket-of-leave, and it was his duty to report himself to the police every month. When he first reported himself he gave an address in Gower- place, but it was recently discovered that he did not sleep there. According to the terms of his licence any change of address should be at once notified. Mr Harry Wilson, who defended, said he had never heard of a harder case. The man had a wife and child, bad worked hard to redeem the past, and was living honestly and frugally with the object of becoming a good citizen. He was fortunate enough to obtain a situation as manager of a chemist's shop. His employer did not know that he was a ticket-of-leave man, and he was naturally anxious that the knowledge should be kept from him. Many of his customers were constables connected with Hunter-street Police Station, and he did not want them to know he was on licence. When he had to take rooms for himself and his wife in Hunter-street, so as to be able to dispense medicine at night, he kept on his room in Gower- place, and did not report the change because if he had done so he would have been compelled to report himself at Hunter-street Police Station instead of at Tottenham Court-road. Otten fainted in the dock when Mr Marsham discharged him. On Tuesday. Otten attended the court to complain of the action of the police. Mr Boutall, my late employer, informed my brother. in-law," he said, "that while I was in court Detective.Sergeant Peddar called upon him, told him of my conviction, and even counselled him to check my accounts. «• During the evening, and while I was ill in bed, Mr Boutall sent to tell me that I could not be permitted to resume my work at his establish- ments." In reply to the magistrate, Otten said "I have no doubt that, owing to the publicity given to the case, I should have been dismissed, but fortunately, I have had another post offered to me." What I object to is that a police officer should try to keep a man down when he is endeavouring to raise himself up and to redeem his past." Later in the day, Sergeant Peddar, in response to an order by the magistrate, appeared in court, and denied the charge, and Detective-Inspector Dew said Our men have strict injunctions not to take any steps, or speak any word, that would injure a convict who is trying to earn an honest livelihood." Otten's one conviction, to which he pleaded guilty at the time, was for forgery in connection with some bill transactions, and he was sent to penal servitude for three years. On Wednesday, at Bow-street, in the presence of Inspector Dew and Otten's brother-in-law- who had made the allegation—Mr Boutall said that neither Sergeant Peddar nor any one else had told him that Otten was a convict on licence. Otten was dismissed in consequence of a dispute with a customer. Mr Marsham then completely exonerated the officer.

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200,000 JJIALECTS IN THE WOBLD. I Mr. J. Collier is authority for the statement that there are no less than 5,000 distinct languages spoken by mankind. The number of separate dialects is enormous, there being more than sixty distinct vocabularies in Brazil, and in Mexico the Nahua language being broken up into 700 dialects. There are hundreds of dialects in Borneo. The complexities are beyond classification in Australia, but generally the number of dialects decreases with the intellectual culture of the population. If there is an average of fifty dialects to every language we still have the enormous total of 250,000.

BOOKWORMS. I Mr. William Blades, in his interesting volume, "The Enemies of Books," has shewn that several very real bookworms are undesirable tenants of old libraries, and he has studied closely several specimens sent him and described their ravages. Two grubs in particular richly deserve this name, the anobium pertinax or eruditus, and the oecophora. The anobium, a small, light-coloured, brown-headed grub, with a "body like thin ivory or transparent wax, bears a close resemblance to the white maggots of a Stilton cheese. Working with a pair of strong jaws, like a steel bit, the grub begins at the wooden boards, and if allowed will perforate the whole volume. The oecophora, similar to the anobium, except for the possession of six legs, is not unlike the so called deathwatch. M. Peignot asserts that he found twenty-seven volumes in one row pierced from end to end by a single worm tunnel. Mr. Blades doubts this, but has himself seen two volumes so treated, with no fewer than 212 distinct holes on one cover. 11

WARSAW'S "SOCIAL GLASS." I The town of Warsaw may be called the milk- producers' Eden, although the milk consumers' Eden it certainly is not. There is probably nowhere such a milk town as this. Restaurants are but little frequented. On the other hand, the public frequent the various dairies in great numbers in order to chat with friends or read the newspapers, to the accompaniment of a black or white coffee or a glass of cold or warm milk. To close a bargain or to talk business the milk saloon is resorted to; chess and billiards are likewise to be played in these recognised places of public resort. But, in spite of this enormous consumption of milk, the supply is of the most wretched; in fact, it is indescribably bad.

BEACHY HEAD. ) Our loftiest South Coast cliff line is, of course, Beachy Head. Beachy Head, which forms the east end:of the South Downs, consists of perpendicular chalk cliffs that are no less than 575ft. high. There were frequent and fearful shipwrecks here in the old days, before the erection, in 1831, of the Belle Toute Lighthouse, which is two-and-a-half miles to the west, and, from an elevation of 285ft., flings out a light across the sea by night that can be seen over twenty miles away. The front and sea skirts of the precipitous cliff are pierced with caverns, which are the resort of multitudes of sea fowl. It was off this famous headland, on June 30th, 1690, that the French fleet of eighty-two sail, under the Count de Tourville, defeated the combined British and Dutch fleets of fifty-Six sail under Lord Tor- rington. In clear weather the view from Beachy Head extends to Hastings, the Isle of Wight, and France.

AN UNFORTUNATE INSECT. I Bees and ants are the most altruistic of insects, and their subordination of themselves to the common weal almost puts man to shame. In the ant and bee colonies, said Mr. Benjamin Kidd at the London Institution, natural selection does not operate directly on the individual. Bees and ants preserved their class characteristics, and the nests of the wild humble bees of Great Britain contained from fifty to 150 individuals. Among the ants, whose societies often numbered 500,000 or more, the social efficiency was marvellous. In the com- munities of the termites, the mother foundress now led a life entirely devoted to egg production. She laid eggs at the rate of 80,000 a day. She was phy- sically incapable of movement, and, with the male with which she mated, was imprisoned for life in a clay cell by the workers, who fed her continually and carried off the eggs as they were protruded.

CHINESE PAPER SUPERSTITIONS. I Paper figures largely in the many curious super- stitions of the Chinese, that having characters upon it being solemnly kept and burnt. An old man is employed for this purpose by the benevolent societies; and, armed with a pair of big chop- sticks, he sets out every day to pick up scraps of paper from the roadsides and out of the crevices, afterwards burning them. By his fellow-country- men his calling is considered a most honourable one. Again, when the Chinaman takes a voyage he throws overboard quantities of imitation gilt paper money to propitiate the god of the sea. At the ceremonies connected with the Chinese New Year, about February 1st, elaborate long robes and magnificent suits, made of paper, are offered up in smoke before the various josses. At the feast of the joss of the seven sisters, which takes place on July 7th, many valuable robes, &c., are burnt by the women, among other things being a paper trunk, in which is a complete paper costume, a paper cap or headdress, and slippers of paper.

EVOLUTION OF THE CRADLE. I Baby nowadays has things so much his own way that he would doubtless feel very indignant if he were put to sleep like the baby of the Middle Ages. In the ninth and tenth centuries cradles were made of a section of the trunk of a tree scooped out. Small holes were bored at the sides, and through these straps were passed to fasten the baby in. Later on rockers were used. Sometimes the cradle was hung by cords or slung between two wooden supports. In the sixteenth century cradles were often very elaborate and beautiful. Sometimes they were made of silver, and again they were of wood.. richly carved, and ornamented with gilt mosaic work.

The Bute Wedding Dowry. ———— After carefully investigating the claims of the six candidates for the Bute wedding dowry this year, the Mayor of Cardiff (Alderman Robert Hughes) has decided in favour of Miss Caroline Harvey Virgin of 17, Rose-street, Roath, who for nine years has been in service at Aberdare Hall. Miss Hurlbatt, the principal, gives Miss Virgin an excellent character, and states that she has never had reason to complain of her work or conduct. The successful appli- cant, who is 23 years of age, is the eldest of four girls, and her father being occasionally ill and out of work, she, for several years, gave her earnings, after making small deductions for clothes, to her mother. Her fiaued is Arthur James Oram, of 56, Ruby-street, Roatb, who is 28 years of age, and a retailer of coal. The dowry was instituted by the late Mar- quess of Bute on the occasion of his silver wedding. His lordship gave 21,000 to be in- vested, the annual dividend arising out of the fund to be given to a girl of the poorer class, who shall be domiciled in Cardiff, and whose marriage might be facilitated by the receipt of such a sum. The dowry averages about 230. When it is presented, the mayor, or someone deputed by him, must read the first eleven verses of the second chapter of St. John, relat- ing to the marriage in Cana of Galilee.

Parliamentary. In the House of Commons, on Tuesday, Mr Akers-Douglas, Home Secretary, intro- 11 duced the Government's new Aliens' Bill, and it was read a first time, Mr Gerald Balfour introduced the Govern- ment measure for dealing with the unem- ployed and that was also accorded a first reading. On Wednesday evening Parliament ad- o journed for the Easter holidays, until Alay 2nd.

:0<, The King at Algiers. Algiers, Wednesday.—At the dinner on board the Royal yacht this evening King Edward, in proposing the toast of "France," declared he was delighted with his stay at Algiers and thanked M. Jannart for the very cordial reception he had met with everywhere. M. Jannart thanked his Ma- jesty' forhis:gracious words.-Reuter.

Strlk es in Russia St. Petersburg, Wednesday.- Owing to the railway strike in the Caucasus, Eliza- betpol has been without mails for four days, Russian trade with Great Britain is threat- ened by the possibility of a dockers' strike at the Baltic ports.—"Times," per Press Association.

Primrose Day, With the passage of years there is no diminution of enthusiasm on the part of the Primrose League in paying allegiance to the distinguished statesman to whom it owes its being, and the monument in rarlia- ment-square on Wednesday bore testimony to the esteem in which Lord Beaconsfield's memory is held. The simple primrose occupied the chief place of honour in the decorations, which were positively on a particularly generous scale, and generally speaking the same plan employed in pre- vious years was followed.

The Late Mr J. A. Shepard. At Tredegar Connty Court on 'Tuesday, his Honour Judge Owen Teferred;in sympathetic terms to the death of Mr John Alexander Shepard, the registrar of the court.—Mr John Sankey, on behalf of the Bar, and Mr T. G. Powell, on behalf of the solicitors practic-itig at that court, associated themselves with the remarks^of his honour. The Judge's appointment of Mr E. H. Davies as the new registrar has been confirmed by the Lord Chancellor. At the Tredegar Urban Council meeting, Itir H. J. 0. Shepard was unanimously elected clerk in the place of his father. The following tribute to the late Major J. A. Shepard, as a Volunteer, is given in a con- temporary-" The Volunteer movement in Monmouthshire has lost one of its veterans by the death of Major J. A. Shepard. For many years he was the mainstay of the Tredegar Company. He was wholly responsible for its formation, he spared neither energy nor money to keep it going, and he was instrumental in providing the company with one of the most commodious drill halls in the county. Regular in his attendance at camp, he was one of the most popular officers in the battalion, and his jovial demeanour brought life at many a flagging moment. To his company he was most devoted and painstaking, with the result that his men marched into camp stamped with smartness and efficiency upon which he was more than once complimented by the inspeoting-officer. He viewed his company with boyish pride after these occasions, and the feeling of the men towards him was one of marked affection. Volunteering is all the poorer by his death."

A Fearful Tragedy. A terrible domestic tragedy was discovered at Hightown, Manchester, on Tuesday morning, Mr David Taylor (60), the manager of a phonographic company, shot his wife and his two boys, aged ten and fourteen, and then committed suicide by shooting. The bodies were found by the servant, the only living inmate of the house where they lived. A note written in pencil by Taylor was found in which he stated that he intended to poison the family but could not get the poison, Mr Taylor was a deacon at a Presbyterian Church near his house, and was also superintendent of the Sunday school.

A Russian Absconder. St. Petersburg, Thursday. A sensation has been caused by' the absconding of a prominent member of the Ministerial Board with a large sum belonging to the- Victualing Fund.

U.S.A. Neutrality in the Philippines. Washington, Thursday. Admiral Train, commanding- United States Squadron in the- Philippines, has been ordered ta take every measure to prevent a violation of the United States territory.

I British Naval Manoeuvres. Gibraltar, Thursday. The British Atlantic fleet sailed to-day for Palermo Bay, where it will manoeuvre with the Medi- terranean fleet.

I Abandoned French Barque. The abandoned French barque, Mazatlan, was towed into Fal- mouth to-day. Her crew had previously been rescued and landed in France.

American Motor Boat Missing. The American motor boat, Gregory, is missing; at Gibraltar much anxiety is felt. I

I The Trunk Murders. Arthur Devereux was again charged with the trunk murders ab Harlesden to-day. No evidence, was offered, and the prisoner was again remanded. 0

I Obituary. The death is announced to-day- of Sir Reginald Hanson, ex-Lord Mayor of London, and formerly member for the City. Rev. Principal Salmond, of the United Free Church College, Aber- deen, died to-day. wz He was assistant professor Jof Greek in Aberdeen University.

Coroner's Verdict of Wilful Murder. A Coroner's jury at Deptford to-day, inquiring into the deaths of Mr and Mrs Farrow, returned a verdict of wilful murder against the brothers Stratton.

Stocks. Stocks idle. Bank rates unaltered. Printed and Published by"THB COUNTY V NEWSPAPER and PRINTING COMPANY, JAMBS HBNBY CLARK, at tbeir OFFICE"* JO™ Street, Uak, in the County of Monmouth, S&tWtf J April 22nc1, 1905. <

EXCHANGE VISITS. It will be a great day in London when the City Corporation entertain the officers of the French fleet, and when, by means of a public subscription, the non-commissioned officers and men are afforded some tangible evidence of the fact that they are heartily welcome to our shores. The march of the Naval Brigade through the cheering crowds of London was an event not easily to be for- gotten, but we have little doubt that the reception extended to the French sailors Vill be equally enthusiastic, and it will, in their minds at least, dispose once and for ever of the opinion that the British are a phlegmatic ruce. Meanwhile reports reach us from Brest which make it certain that the welcome extended to the British fleet will be no less cordial, and it is scarcely a matter for wonder that a large number of British people have already arranged to be in Brest ou the historic occasion. Alto- gether this exchange of visits is a splendid idea, and whoever first conceived it certainly deserves the hearty thanks of both nations. THE POSITION OF NEUTRALS. Lord Lansdowne was able to state in the House of Lords that, since Count Lamsdorff issued supplementary instructions to the Russian fleet, there had not been any further case in which a British vessel had been interfered with by a Russian cruiser. In this matter, therefore, some acknowledg- ment is due to Russia for her courtesy. But because Britain has, in this instance, obtained her request. it does not follow that there is less necessity than existed before for a settlement of all international ques- tions which arise upon an outbreak of war; and, indeed, there must he in this country a general concurrence with the views of Lord Lansdowne on this particular point. There ought not to be any difficulty in de- termining the position of neutrals in the event of war, but as a matter of fact the whole question is in a state of chaos, and if a neutral Power considers itself aggrieved, there is no coda of international law to which it can appeal with the slightest confidence. Such a position is, of course, fraught with extreme danger to the peace of the world, and, unless the anomaly is removed, it must one day cause the area of a war to be unnecessarily extended.

The Japanese Advance. St. Petersburg, Wednesday.—General Linievitch reports the further retreat of the eastern reconnoitring column in consequence of the Japanese move from Sinminpu threatening to cut off its retreat to Hai- lungchen. A telegram from Harbin says the hospitals there now contain 40,000 sick and wounded.—"Times," per Press Asso- ciation.

fVECESALIS TABLE SALT WHICH IS SALT. fVEGESALIS^ Stable salt whichjs salt. Jf ISWP Dainty and Digestive, with Vegetable. ■H Virtues. Does not Blacken Silver. W§5 JnR A»k j/our Grocer for tt, and insist that vow hove it. H||i

Reckless Motoring. Joseph Lisle, motor-car driver, was charged at Wolverhampton with reckless driving on the Holyhead road, near Wolverhampton, on April let, when his car ran iuto a carrier's cart, seriously injured three occupants, and killed the horse instantaneously. It was stated that defendant, who has driven a car in the Gordon Bennett trial, said, after the accident, he was "only going 60 miles an hour," and the accident was due to the dust caused by cars in front. The impact was terrific, the horse's neck. back, ribs, and two legs being broken. The Bench imposed a fine of £60, endorsed and suspended defendant's license, and disqualified him for two years.

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-9 1 Japan's Protest to France. Paris, Thursday. It is confirmed that Japan has protested against the stay of the Russian fleet in French water. .0.

I ftegofoatoff's Squadron. The Matin to-day states that, Nebogatoff's Squadron has reached Sunda Straits.