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

DEATH OF CAPTAIN O'SHEA. ECHO OF A FAMOUS SCANDAL. Captain William Henry O'Shea, whose life was so intimately connected with that of the late Mr. Parnell, has died at Brighton at the age of sixty-five. The only son of Mr. Henry O'Shea, of Dublin, he was educated at Oecott and Trinity College, Dublin, entering the 18tti Hussars in 1853, and retiring as a captain in 1865. He was a magis- trate for County Clare, and a Count of the Holy Roman Empire. Captain O'Shea married, two years after his retirement from the Army, Katherine, youngest daughter of the late Rev. Sir John Page Wood, second' Baronet, of Riven hail Place, Essex, and the circumstances under which he obtained a divorce from her in 1890, for her misconduct with Mr. Charles S. Parnell, need not be recapitulated. They led to Mr. Parnell's political and social downfall. Captain O'Shea's own political career was but brief. He was returned for County Clare as a Home Ruler, in company with The O'Gorman Mahon, at the General Election of 1880, and represented that constituency until the dissolu- tion of 1885. At the ensuing General Election he contested the Exchange Division of Liver- pool as a Home Rule Liberal, but was defeated ;byfifty-fiv,e votes on a total poll of 5,873. At the same election Mr. T. P. O'Connor had been returned for both the Scotland Division of Liverpool and the borough of Galway. Mr. O'Connor eloct,ecli to sit for the former, and at the by-election to fill the vacancy for Galway Captain O'Shea was put forward by Mr. Parnell as the candidate of his party. The selection gave great oli'enoe to a number of prominent Home Rulers, but Mr. Parnell persisted in pressing the candidature of.Captain O'Shea, and he was returned. His occupation of the seat was, however, but of the briefest duration, for when the dissolution succeeded the defeat of Mr. Gladstone's first Home Rule Bill—for ■which, by the by, he did not vote—the Captain did not offer himself for re-election, and, saving for the distressful occurrences connected with His divorce suit, never again came before the public eye.

MARK STATE TRAGEDY. THE DISCOVERED MOTOR-CAR. Much interest was shown on Monday in the proceedings at the Hemel Hempsted Police- coutt, when Rococo Cornalbas, the Spanish chauffeur to Mr. Hildebrand Harmsworth, was brought up, charged with causing the death of William Clifton, a child, by furiously driving a motor-car at Markyate on Tuesday of last week. Cornalbas's age was given as twenty-six. Super- intendent Frogley said on Saturday evening the Chief Constable telephoned to him to proceed to Hatfield Police-station. He went at once and found the accused detained. He told him that the Chief Constable had stated he had come voluntarily to the police, and the accused re- plied, Yes, certainly." He then asked him if he was at Markya,te about four p.m. on April 18, and he replied, Yes." He then charged him with causing the death of the baby boy Clifton by furiously driving a motor-car. Cornalbas made no reply. The witness subsequently brought him to Hemel Hempsted. On this evidence the Bench granted a remand. Bail was refused.

i HOLIDAY DISASTERS. J NINE LIVES LOST. A distressing boating disaster occurred on Easter Monday at Holywood, county Down. Mr. Robb, a shipyard worker, of Meadow-street, Belfast, took his two boys by train to Holy- wood for an outing. They hired a skiff from a local boatman and left the pier with a small sail set. At the time the sea was somewhat rough and- the weather squally. Some time later a young man named Lavery, when walking along Kinnergar Embankment, saw a sailing boat in difficulties in the channel. There was a heavy gea running, and as he watched he saw: the boat struck by. a squall and capsize. Hugh Shannon, an experienced boatman, launched his boat, and accompanied by his son, rowed quickly to the scene of the catastrophe. They found the dead body of a boy between, seven and eigijt years of age, dressed in a sailor suit and cap floating in the water. The bodies of Robb and the other boy have not been re- covered About noon on Easter Monday a fatal boating accident happened in the Thames at Putney Bridge. Two young men in a rowing-boat failed to steer the craft clear of one of the middle buttresses. Tl- craft capsized, and both occu- pants" were thrown into the water. One of the youths succeeded in swimming to a barge an- chored near by, but the other, Walter Londley, nineteen, a butcher, of Roehampton-lane, was drawn under by the current and drowned. Three Greenwich youths, named respectively Holmes, Feared, and Whitson, were boating on the Thames at Limebou-se on Easter Monday afternoon when Holmes, in changing seats, over- balanced himself, fell in the water, and was drowned. A boy of sixteen years named James Gray 1,est his life at Seaham Harbour on Easter Monday afternoon in a gallant attempt to rescue a com- panion. Deceased and other boys were sailing -on a raft on a pond at the mouth of Dawdon Dene, on the north beach. Gray sailed across a-wd back, after which another boy, named Win- low, went across. When Win-low was returning the raft capsized, and the boy fell into the water, which is of considerable depth. Gray pluckily rushed to Winlow's assistance, and vwh.ila tine latter managed to scramble ashore Gray sank. The body was recovered in about twenty minutes. Artificial respiration was tried for an hour and a half, but without suc- cess. Deceased belonged to 28, North-street, Murton Colliery, where his father is a miner. At Ramsey, Huntingdonshire,a, horse and cart, conta.ining two men, named William Whitwell and Henry Fresher, backed to the edwe of the river bank and toppled over into the water. Before assistance could arrive both men and the horse were drowned. Whilst a large crowd of holiday-makers were leaving the pleasure steamers at South Shields on. Easter Monday morning a seaman named Robert Hunter was going aboard his vessel 111 the river, when he fell overboard and was browned. When the body was recovered Hunter found to have a severe wound on the hpd, caused bv striking the side of the vessel. The Wow had evidently rendered the man uneon- eci'ous. J Ernest Spencer, a tube-drawer, and Alfred nonmson^ a companion, were practising marks- *n a garden at Bournbrook, Birmwst- S Easter Monday afternoon, when the +h,<a JT6* ^nng fire. While examining the cause, •off snf?*?11 »eing in Thompson's hand, it wert itrf -x hullet entered Spencer's body. At was found that the bullet had J r^ ° abdomen, but efforts to locate it were-unsuccessful.

The Hon. gjr T vost of Glasgow i n ^Primrose, Lord Pro- Jones, and Sir u 1^Q,8S?r- Sir Alfred banquet over which M* v i attend the side on behalf of the T n-amber.a n will pre- Medicine on May 10. on cj Tropical Lady Florence Dixie ia Times," draws attention to tht f Ju to tiie ie a probability that the body o/tf t\'ere Lord Francis Douglas may d SiivSod^f. the -slowly-moving glacier on the Jn™P+i,-y summer. It is forty years since Lord$U ™ lost his life in ascending the Matter horn. 013 The Government of the Netherlands is insti- tuting a competition for the purpose of dis- covering a new method of diamond cutting which shall do away with the danger of lead poisoning. The prize to be -awarded for a com- plete solution of the problem ie 6,000 florins.

I WOMAN'S WORLD. I JEWEL I FASHIONS. The most fashionable jewel to. day all over the known world is a string of real pearls. Pearls increase in value, and never diminish in beauty (for the more they are worn the more beautiful they become). Imitation pearls are much worn, too; even these are far from cheap, a perfect row costs forty or fifty pounds. There are jewels which go in and outof fashion with almostthe same celerity as hats and bonnets. For instance, the ruby, twenty or twenty-five years ago, gained immensely in value because it was so fashionable; and now one of the best-known jewellers in London has many of these beautiful precious stones locked away because rubies are out of fashion, and do not, at the moment, fetch their legitimate price, where- as emeralds grow more and more fashionable day by day, and also more valuable. Opals were years ago laid aside as unlucky, but now are greatly worn, particularly when they are surrounded with small rubies. Catseyes a short time since were all the rage, yet they are out of fashion now, and therefore unsaleable. A" LADY'S TOILET. For the following quaint tips" we are indebted to the Star:' 1. The Enchanted Mirror: Self- I knowledge. This curious glass will bring your faults to light, { And make your virtues shine both strong and bright. 2. Wash to Smooth Wrinkles: Contentment. A daily portion of this essence use, 'Twill smoothe the brows; tranquility infuse. 3. Fine Lip Salve: Truth. Use daily for your lips this precious dye, They'll redden; and breathe sweetest melody. 4. Best Eye Water: Compassion. These drops will add great lustre to the eye, When more you need-the poor will you supply. 5. Solution to Prevent Eruptions: Wisdom. It calms the temper, beautifies the face, And gives to woman dignity and grace. 6. Matchless pair of earrings: Attention and Obedience. With these clear drops appended to the car, Attentive lessons you will gladly hear. 7. Indispensable Party Bracelets: Neatness and Industry. Clasp them on carefully each day you live, I To good designs they efficacy give. 8. An Elastic Girdle: Patience. The more you use the brighter it will grow, Though its least merit is external show. 9. Ring of Tried Gold: Principle. Yield not this golden bracelet while you live, 'Twill both restrain and peace of conscience give. 10. Necklace of Purest Pearl: Resignation. This ornament embellishes the fair, And teaches all the ills of life to bear. 11. Diamond Breast Pin: Love. Adorn your bosom with this precious pin; It shines without and warms the heart within. 12. Universal Beautifier: Good Temper. With this choice liquid gently touch the mouth, ispreads o'er all the face the charms of youth. ^13. A Graceful Bandeau: Politeness. The forehead neatly circled with this band Will admiration and respect command. WOMEN AND DRESS. Our womenkind (writes Brum- mellf" in the World "), if they wish to be really chic, are obliged to imitate the women who are chic by birth, so to speak. Quite young girls wear wigs, which they change to suit the colour scheme of their dresses, and paint their faces to make themselves look like Spanish dancers. Their mothers, who look far younger than their daughters, are even more dangerous to be seen about with. They are so young, and so elaborately simple, and they look far more like musical comedy j ingenues than musical comedy ingenues away from musical comedy. HOME SCIENCE. Housekeeping is a trade quite as much as plumbing and carpentering, and has many more details to master. The I hope of a country is the digestion of its people. Given a nation of scientific house- keepers, and you produce a healthy normal people. Cooks are chemists, and the importance of their familiarity with the action of one food upon another is quite as necessary as like knowledge on the part of the demonstrator in a laboratory. Make a woman realise the importance of domestic; science, appeal to her pride in her own skill, and you will win her devotion to the enterprise. BRIDAL. SHOWERS. When girls become engaged, as girls have a way of doing, it is a custom for their friends to "shower" them with some of the things they think they will need in fitting up the new dovecote. It is because of this practice that kitchen showers," linen showers," lingerie showers," and various other kinds are heard of. These showers begin with the announcement of the engagement, when some dear friend usually gives a tea, and the invitation is a signal to each one to bring a pretty teacup and saucer. Then some other friend gives another tea, inviting all the guests to bring china or linen or kitchen utensils. This kind of tiling has grown and grown like bridge," until now it has reached such dimen- sions that the impecunious young woman who does not," get engaged "wonders if she will have enough money left to buy even the simplest of trousseau when her time comes. One young woman who had spent every spare shilling, and many she could not spare, upon these rainy days of her engaged friends at last promised herself to an estimable but poor young man. This was, of course, a signal for her dear friends and relations, both married and single, to begin to plan for the different kinds of articles they would shower upon her. After the engage- ment gathering of teacups and the downfall called a kitehen shower" this most sensible young woman refused to receive any more donations. She intimated, however, that someone might give her a shower that would not only be of great benefit to herself, but no tax upon her friends. This was to be the" recipe" shower. It is needless to say that it was given. Everyone collected their favourite recipes, including those special dishes that they had each discovered and made up by themselves and of which they are especially proud. Besides recipes, nearly every housewife dotted down all those simple but clever little wrinkles and suggestions that make the housework lighter and easier, and this shower proved to be not only the most amusing but the most acceptable shower that ever fell upon a bride. BLOUSE FASTENINGS. No hooks and eyes on washing blouses should be the motto of the amateur dressmaker. Buttons I wherever possible, for under anv I circumstances they are far preferable to hooks. In the dressy blouses buttons and buttonholes can The hid under a fold. In the washing blouses hand- some buttons may be fastened on with a tiny split ring and readily removed when the blouse has to go to the tub. In the blouses which fasten at the back, buttons are much more reliable than hooks and eyes or hooks and loops. So fewpeople make good buttonholes that the temptation to use hooks and eyes, as being less trouble, is very great. But it is a mistake, just as is the using of strings in lieu of buttons on undergarments. The best fitting garments, whether those that are visible or those that are hidden, but nqne the less require smooth- ness in order to make the garment set properly above them, are those securely fastened with plenty of buttons which will not break in the wash. The need of plenty of buttons should be emphasised, because the tendency seems to be towards fasten- ing a skirt-blouse at the back with about five buttons, and this means unsightly and untidy gaps.

"Is your father well now, Johnnie?" "Oh, yes; pa. got well all on a suddent like, yester- day." "Did' he take-" "No, he didn't take no phyeic. He just heard my mother's mamma asking if his life-insurance policy was in a safe place, and he was up in a pair of minutes."

I CURRENT SPORT. I THE "SOCCER" CHAMPIONSHIPS. Play on the very last day of the season is left to decide the championship in the premier League, Everton, Newcastle, and Manchester City running a neck-and-neck race for the season's honours. On Saturday, Everton had to meet Woolwich Arsenal at Plumstead, this being a re-played match from last November, when the game was aban- doned through fog, Everton then leading by three goals to one, with only a quarter of an hour left to play. The Arsenal now further showed how moderate and brilliant in turn they can be, for after last week losing to the" wooden spoons," Notts County, they now defeated Everton, on their merits, by two goals to one, this being the Arsenal's final league match of the season. Fortunately for the Toffee men, Newcastle also went under, their neighbours, Sunderland, winning by three goals to one. On Easter Monday Everton finished up with 47 points by beating Nottingham Forest (2—0), but Man- chester City also climbed to 46 points by virtue of a victory over the Wolves at Wolverhampton (3-0), which left them with the chance of reaching 48 and so ousting the leaders. Newcastle were also so placed as to be able to reach 48 by winning their two outstanding matches. After being in suspense for many weeks, Saturday's re- sults finally decided who should join Notts County in relegation to the lower ranks, Bury's defeat by Aston Villa making them certain of second position from the bottom. The Shakers," however, made a great fight of it with the Cup-holders, and were only beaten by the odd goal in five after actually leading at half-time— two goals to one. Saturday's Second D i vision results also went to show who would be the lucky clubs to be promoted in the place of Bury and Notts County. After having for weeks made a bold fight, Manchester United's hopes were finally dashed by reason of a thorough trouncing from Liverpool, who head the list, and with Bolton Wanderers also annexing the maximum points from West Bromwich, Liverpool and Bolton will next season once more take their place in the first division ranks. Liverpool will go up with leading honours, Bolton losing on Monday to Barnsley (2-1), while Manchester United are a good third and must wait yet another year for their chance. They finished with a defeat by Blackpool (3-1) on Monday. In the Southern League Bristol Rovers carry off the Championship to the west for the first time, having outdistanced their most serious rivals, Southampton and Reading, in the final stages of the struggle. On Easter Monday the Saints, already out of it, had a bad fall to Fulham at Southampton (1—0) to finish with, while Reading I were left so that they could not reach the Rovers when they had two more matches still in hand, as the Bristolians had annexed all the points possible to their Berkshire rivals with a winning goal average to fall back on. Plymouth Argyle made sure of the Western League on Monday by beating Reading (3—0), Brentford (who only drew with the Queen's Park Rangers, one all) being the runners-up three points behind. SHERIFF OF LONDON'S CHARITY SHIELD. Corinthians v. Sheffield Wednesday: The annual match for the Sheriff of London's Charity Shield took place at the Crystal Palace on Easter Monday, some 15,000 of the big holiday crowd at Sydenham watching the play, which ended in favour of Sheffield Wednesday, who scored two goals to one. ARMY Cup.—FINAL TIE. R.E. Service Battalion v. 2nd Grenadier Guards: As many as 20,000 spectators assembled on the Army Athletic Ground at Aldershot for the final tie of the Army Cup, which resulted in a victory for the Grenadier Guards by two goals to none. EAST LANCASHIRE CHARITY CUP.—FINAL TIE. At Turf Moor, Burnley won the final tie of the East Lancashire Charity Cup, beating Blackburn Rovers by three goals to none. GLOUCESTERSHIRE CUP.—FINAL TIE. Bristol Rovers and Bristol City met on the Rovers' ground in the final of the Gloucestershire Cup, and played a drawn game of two goals each. WELSH CUP.—FINAL TiB. Wrexham v. Aberdare: The final tie of the Welsh Cup ended at Wrexham in a victory for the I 'oeal club by three goals to none. EASTER RUGBY. I NOlTHBRN UNION LEAGUE,—DIVISION I. I Oldham 23 points, Hull 0. Swinton 9, Halifax 4. 1 Hull Kingston Rovers 7, Wakefield Trinity 3. Leeds 11, Broughton Rangers 6. St. Helens 9, Runcorn 0. DIVISION II. Morecambe 7 points, Bramley 3. Barrow 18, Huddersfield 3. CLUB MATCHES. Rugby club matches on Easter Monday included the following: Newport beat Rockcliffe by two goals (one dropped) and two tries (15 points) to one penalty goal (three points). Plymouth and Leicester played at Plymouth, and ended in a draw of five points each. Bedford beat Eccles by 13 points to six. Swansea beat Belfast Col- legians by a goal and six tries to nil. Glou- cester beat Cinderford by a goal and a try to a goal. Barbarians beat Cardiff by a goal and a try to a goal. Devonport Albion beat the United Services by a goal and eight tries to a goal and three tries. Percy Park defeated Bath by two goals (one dropped) and two tries (15 points) to four tries (12 points). Aberavon beat Bristol by two goals to nothing. Neath beat Pontypridd by a goal to nothing. CRICKET COMMENCES. Easter Monday saw the opening stage of a cricket match in a cold wind between Surrey and a team of Gentlemen of England captained by the ever-green Dr. W. G. Grace; The Surrey team was skippered by Tom Hayward, and Mr. Brearley and Mr. G. W. Beldham disposed of them all for the moderate total of 86. The Gentlemen made 115, Mr. C. L. Townsend doing best with 41 not out. In the second hands Surrey had scored on Monday night 81 for no wicket, Hayward 29, and Hobbs, a capture from Cambridge, 44.

Discussing the proposal to establish horsed ambulances in London, the City Press says Under the proposed scheme there will be two ambulance stations serving the western and the eastern portions. of the City; cases from the western portion being conveyed to St. Bartholo- mew's Hospital, and those from the eastern dis- trict to Guy's and the London Hospitals. Provision has been made for an ambulance station at Bishopsgate, the estimated cost being ;E600 a year. A station at St. Bartholomew's Hospital has been offered at a nominal rental. The net annual cost of the entire system is estimated at £ 1184. One of the strangest incidents ever recorded in the annals of crime is alleged to have "taken place at Szeged, in Hungary, where a peasant woman, named Barua, is stated to have carried on a nefarious trade analogous to that of Romeo's Culler of Simples," as a vendor of poisons. The climax to this Hecate's practice is said to have been reached by a husband and wife named Bursa, each unknown to the other, applying to her and obtaining poison for use by each against the other. Both had some success, but neither died, and they are now to be tried, together with the woman Barua, for attempted murder.. The "sea gipsy "is not known in Europe, but according to the Madras Mail," he leads a happy life in the archipelago Mergui. Instead of carts the gipsies own covered boats, in which, with their families, dogs, cats, chickens, and pets, they float about on the sea and wander from island to island. By day they fish or harpoon turtle, or dive for oysters; but every night they put back to the shore. A man of world-wide reputation in the field of aerostatics has passed away suddenly in the per- son of Colonel Renard, the celebrated head of the French Department of Military Ballooning. Col. Renard was at work alone on Thursday in his office at the balloon park, when a sudden carditl- seizure carried him off, and he was found dead on the room being entered. The colonel had done much to promote aerial navigation and auto- mobilism. He was a pioneer in the application of automobilism to military traction, and was the inventor of the first automobile road train."

Gentleman (who has saved a lady from drown- ing): "She opens her eyes! She lives' Can you speak, miss?" "Ye-es. Have you a look- ing-glass about you?" Great Novelist (dictating): "The storm i-n- creased in fury, rain fell in torrents, and the gate shrieked all night like—like—what shall I say?" Secretary (father of three) "Like a baby cus ting its teeth."

I NATURE NOTES. CARROTS OF SIZE. Two corrots recently dugs from a garden at Ash Thomas, Devon, measured 3ft. llin., and a third 3ft. 10§ine WHERE GRASS WILL NOT GROW. It is strange that in Asia and Africa, where grass will not grow, the most beautiful flowers and shrubs flourish to perfection. A REGIMENTAL PET. Bob, an antelope nine months old, the new pet of the 2nd Royal Warwickshire Regiment, has arrived at the Verne Citadel, Portland. It has been sent home by the 1st Battalion from India. A GIANT COD. The largest codfish ever brought into Boston has just been landed on the pontoon. It weighed only four ounces short of thirty pounds, and under the hammer fetched but 8s. 6d. THE SCARE THAT FAILED. At Dagenham, in Essex, two sparrows have built a nest under the arm of a dummy which is used for scaring birds. A STRANGE CARNATION. Mr. Bui-frank, the well-known grower of strange nosers in San Francisco, is the envied producer of a new carnation, the peculiarity of which is that on the first day the colour is snow-white; on the second day pink-white and thereafter a deep red until the b ossom fades. FOWL-CATCHING DOG. A farmer in Essex has a novel way of catching fowls for customers. A dog performs this task. The farmer simply points to a fowl and tells the dog to catch it, which he does in a ve -y skilful and remarkable manner, always catching and holding it by the neck till the farmer approaches to kill it. GLOW-SHRIMPS. Luminous shrimps have been discovered by the Prince of Monaco in the course of his deep-sea fishing in the Mediterranean. They live at a depth of from 1100 to 1600 fathoms. They are of the size of fine prawns (says the Telegrapli's correspondent), and are studded with small phosphorescent spots. These light their way in the gloom of the deep waters. I THE PLANT BAROMETER. The Austrian meteorologist, J. N. Nowak. who forecasts the weather by means of a plant called I- AbrLis Precatorius," discovered by him in Mexico many years ago, will erect his first weather stations in Vienna and London. Nowak maintains that hiE forecasts are obtainable from three to eight days ahead. PARASITIC 6ROWTHS. At Brookdale, Santa Cruz County, Cal., a fine specimen of the sequoia, or redwood tre, was blown over in a recent storm. The tree iis esti- mated to be over 330 years old. Ten feet from the top of the tree, and at a distance of 165 feet from the ground, was found a hole somewhat less than two feet deep. It had once been the nest of a woodpecker. In this hole had grown a sturdy, three-stalked huckleberry bush, two feet tall. Its roots, extending six feet into the heart of the tree, had absorbed the sap of the redwood. The huckle- berry had flourished and borne fruit. FLIGHTS OF BIRDS. A discussion is, says 11 T.P.is Weekly," being | waged betweon two Germaia scientists as to the j height above sea level attained by birds-, Hum- ] boldt held that the Andean condor rises habitually j to as much as 20,000ft. But one of the combative Germans insists that only very rarely does the average bird fly higher than 1200ft., the air above the level of two or three thousand feet being too thin and the temperature too low for his comfort. I The rival scientist, whose observations have been taken off Heligoland, declares that migratory birds usually fly at an altitude of from 10,000ft. to 15,000ft. Some day, when airships become common, we may be able to settle the question for ourselves. AN ANIMAL "PASSIVE RESISTER." A correspondent of the Spectator" tells a story of an animal passive resister." Some years ago, when I was living in Yorkshire, the cat of the household one day entered the room where I was sitting dragging a nearly full-grown chicken in its mouth. The chicken made no resistance, and was quite motionless and, on my making the cat drop it, it lay apparently quite dead. I chased the cat from the room, and cn my return to the chicken I was surprised to see it slowly open its eyes, raise its head, and look cautiously round, and, as soon as it felt sure or the I disappearance of its enemy, got up and run off as fast as it could." REPTILIAN BIRD. Easy to be overlooked, but oue of the greatest treasures in the British Museum at South Ken- sington, is a split slab of buff-coloured limestone, some two feet long, displaying rather slender bones, and very distinct impressions of feathers. Under the same glass is a similar slab, with similar markings, which, however, on closer examination proves to be only a well executed cast. The creature obviously in many respects resembles a bird. It was about the size of a rook, had feathered wings, and feet armed with rather strong claws, as if accustomed to perching. The jaws, however, instead of a bill, carried small conical teeth, and the tail was long, consisting of 20 vertebrae, to which the feathers were attached in pairs. In these and some other respects, only intelligible to experts, it differs altogether from existing birds, and closely resembles a reptile. Zoologists, however, after careful study of its anatomy, are convinced it is a true bird, though retaining certain characteristics of the other class, which have since been dropped. It is, in fact, a bird in the making, and the process, though it ha., gone far, is still incomplete. THE RECTOR'S PARROT. The rector of a Hampshire parish possesses a most wonderful parrot. Though the rector lives two miles from the church, the bird invariably accompanies him to the sacred building. While the service is proceeding the bird recognises his master's voice, and when he reads a lesson or preaches one can hear the bird outside chattering away. The parrot also joins in the Amens," R-uct is evidently quite conversant with all church ser- vice routine. The service over, the parrot screams with delight, circles about its master's head, perches on his shoulder, and finally accompanies him home. The attachment of the master to the bird is only equalled by the parrot's eviuent pride in and affection for its master. A PARROT RANCH. There is probably only one parrot ranch in the world, and it is situated at; Victoria, Mexico. Established a, few years ago its owner, Marshall Holts, is said to have made a fortune out of it. He was formerly a conductor on a railway running between Victoria and Tampico, the heart of the parrot country. In his spare time he collected many specimens, taught them to speak English, and sold them to tourists. After a time he retired from the railway to devote his time to raising parrots, and purchased a large tract of forest land near Victoria which was teeming with wild parrots. Wire netting was placed around and over the trees, and thus the birds were secured. Holts is a linguist, speaking English, Spanish, French, and German fluently. He divided his flock of several thousand birds into four classes—one for each language. He then took a few birds from each class, and set to work to teach them to talk. At the end of a few months Holts had taught f, number of birds English, Spanish, German, arid French, and the educated birds were placed in their respective sections. It was his theory that by doing this the educated birds would teach their companions to talk. His hopes were realised to the fullest extent. He says that at the end of the first year he had several hundred educated parrots.

THE EASTER EARTHQUAKE* HOW THE SHOCK WAS FELT IN THE MIDLANDS. An alarming earthquake shock was felt over the Midland Counties and parts of Yorkshire early on the morning of Easter Sunday. A remarkable story was related in Leeds by a cyclist, who stated that in company with four, companions he was journeying to Leeds from the North shortly before two o'clock on Sunday morning. When some distance on the Leeds side of Wetherby they heard what sounded like an explosion, followed by a rumbling noise re- sembling distant thunder. One of the party remarked, "That must have been a thunderbolt, but I saw no flash." For some reason which at the time was unexplainable, their machines all showed a tendency to wobble to one side of the road. Finally one of the bicycles fell, and, the rest colliding, all the travellers came to the ground. Beyond bruises and scratches nothing serious occurred, though one of the party was rather more damaged than the rest by falling upon a heap of stones. "The accident might have been worse," the cyclist said, "had it not been that for a few seconds previous to the occurrence we all experienced great difficulty in propelling our machines, and our efforts only seemed to bring us nearer to one another and the side of the road." A correspondent writes that two distinct earthquake shocks were felt at South Cave, East Yorkshire, at 1.25 on Sunday morning. The air was still and the heavens somewhat cloudy, when, without a moment's warning a distant convuLsion seemed to be passing below, resem- bling the vibration and rumbling of an immense traction-engine. The house shook and the windows rattled about five times in quick suc- cession at intervals of about a minute, each shock leaving behind a deathlike and appalling stillness. ri ° Interviewed on Monday with reference to the seismic shocks in the Midlands, which were plainly felt at Worksop, Matlock, Sheffield, Lincoln, Retford, and many other places, Pro- fessor Milne stated that he was decidedly of opinion that he would have no record of this earthquake, for the simple reason that his in- struments at Shide responded only to very slow undulations occurring at great distances. He suggested that a. few instruments might be estab- lished in England that would record distur- bances of local origin. In all probability these vibrations did not occur in this country more frequently than half a dozen times on an aver- age in a year, and seeing that the number of earthquakes throughout the world during that period numbered several hundreds of thousands, it must be admitted that we in Great Britain got off fairly lightly. 13

I SHIPS IN COLLISION, I TEN MEN MISSING. I On Saturday night a shipping collision occurred in the Bristol Channel, off the Foreland light- house, an unknown three-master schooner being cut down by the French steamer Racine, and all hands lost. The Racine was outward bound from Barry, laden with coal for Havre, and was pro- ceeding at full speed down the Channel, when in I the darkness, about 9.30 p.m., the steamer's bows crashed. into the schooner, which also was apparently loaded, and heading across the bows of the Racine. The vessels remained interlocked for a couple of minutes until the steamer's engines being put fulls-peed astern they parted, and the schooner sank immediately. Pitiable cries were heard from those on board, and the scene in the darkness was indescribable. Lights were hung over the steamer's side, and a lifeboat was at once launched, and searched for an hour and a-half in vain for any trace of the schooner's crew, all of whom must have been drowned. The Racine was extensively damaged, both bows being stove in. She also had a large hole 6ft. long and 4ft. high on the water-line on the port side, the water-tight bulkhead alone keeping the vessel afloat sufficiently to reach Barry a few hours afterwards. Capt. Legac, master of the Racine, describes the schooner as being of about 300 tons, and carrying a cfew of about 10 hands. Judging by her course, she was also bound down Channel. Inquiries on board steamers arriving at Cardiff and Barry yesterday failed to elicit any informa- tion likely to lead to the identity of the ill-fated ship.

SHAKESPEARE COMMEMORATION". The Shakespeare commemoration at Strat- ford-on-Avon, which, is to extend over three weeks, opened' on Easter day. The town is full of visitors, and is gaily decorated. The Shakes- peare Memorial Association and the Shakes- pearie Club held their annual meetings, and there was the usual floral procession to the church, when hundreds of beautiful wreaths and bouquets were placed on and' around the poet's tomb. An address was delivered by the vicar, the Rev. G. Arbuthnot. The most interesting item of the day's programme was the produc- tion of Ben Jonson's masque, "Pan's Anniver- sary, or the Shepherd's Holiday" (as presented at Court before King James), which was given in the Bancroft Gardens, the performers being, for the most part, residents of Stratford and the neighbourhood. The masque had not been performed since Ben Jonstsa's time, and great public interest was taken in the production. Interspersed were morris and maypole dances and old English revels. The music for the masque was specially written by Dr. Vaughan Williams, who conducted, the whole being produced under the auspices of the local Shakespeare Club. At night "The Merchant of Venice" was played in the Memorial Theatre by Mr. Benson's Shakespearian Company. During the three weeks Mr. Benson's company will present fifteen of Shakespeare's best-known plays. At the, meeting of the, Shakespeare Memorial Association the chairman (Mr. A. D. Flower) read a letter from, Sir Henry Irving, who expressed his sorrow that his intended visit to Stratford-on-Avon had- been frustrated. Sir Henry added:—"I trust my visit is only post- poned, and that I may on another occasion have the pleasure of playing on the memorial boards, and seeing you and! my other old friends at Stratford."

GREAT BANK FRAUDS. I SERIOUS CHARGE AGAINST A BANK PRESIDENT. I According to a telegram from Milwaukee Mr. Miller, one of the directors of the First National Bank, on Monday announced that Mr. Bigelow, president of the bank, and ex-president of the American Bankers,' Association, had com- mitted defalcations amounting to 1,500,000 dols. of the bank funds. The directors have sub- scribed 1,635,000 dols. to meet the demands of depositors and any other creditors, and have requested the Comptroller of Currency to examine the books of the bank. The capital of the bank is 1,500,000 dbls. Surplus funds amount to 1,200,000 dbls., and the aggregate wealth of the bank is estimated at 20,000,000 dols. Mr. Bigelow has turned' over 300,000 dols. of the bank's property, and his net defalcations amount to 1,200,000 dols. He has admitted1 that he lost money in speculation and falsifiedl the books of the bank. An assistant cashier is charged with being a. party to this falsification. A friend of Mr. Bigelow's says that the recent Armour-Gates wheat battle caught Mr. Bigelow's father and son for all. The directors of the bank now report that Mr. Frank. J. Bigelow had speculative dealings with a Chicago firm, of which Mr. G. Bigelow was a member. A Chicago telegram says that Messrs. Tracy and Company now announce that theywhave dissolved partnership, and that Mr. Bigelow is no longer a member of the firm. A number of prominent Chicago bankers have promised to give unlimited assistance to the First National Bank, and 1,500,000 dols. was received on Monday afternoon. When news of the defalcation spread! a. run upon the bank was started, mostly by small depositors. There is no excitement nt the other d T) <, c, bank".

A lady having occasion to run out one day, left a child of about two years of age playing on the hearthrug, and a large collie dog in charge. On her return in about half-an-hour's time there was no sign of either the dog or the child. She found the child asleep in the. dog's kennel, and the animal on guard outside.

I NEWS NOTES. The spell of wintry wind, with sleet and gnow accompaniment, which succeeded a very enjoyable foretaste of summer, precedent to the festival, upset the calculations and disappointed the hopes of many who had looked forward to a mild and sunny Easter holiday. It is one of the characteristics of the British climate, however, that meteoro- logical conditions in April should at best be uncertain, and we must take the weather as it comes, genial or chilly, even when Eastertide fall-s laite, as in the present year, waiting until Whitsuntide for a general out- ing under conditions more likely to prove pleasant all round. The King and Queen's visit to Algiers began in mild and mirky weather, but continued through brighter and more auspicious days, and their Majesties went about among the interesting places and people on the north African coast a good deal, and were every- where received with enthusiasm. It is fixed now that Prince Margaret of Connaught's wedding will take place shortly after midsummer, in St. George's Chapel, at Windsor. Prince Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden, the happy bridegroom-expectant, hopes to be honoured at his nuptials by the presence of King Oscar, who is arranging to come to England for the occasion, in his Royal yacht Droit, bravely escorted by two ships of war. Soon after the marriage solemnisation, the young Royal couple will proceed to Stockholm, and thence go to Sofiero, in Southern Sweden, before they settle finally in Christiania Castle. Earl Stanhope was worthily held in the highest esteem by all ranks of people, not only round about his quietly-beautiful Kentish demesne of Chevening, but in London among men of affairs, notwithstand- ing his lordship's personal unobtrusiveness. He was a handsome peer, a pillar of the Church, rather a doer than a talker in both Imperial and local administrative matters, and a man of great taste and culture, as became the bearer of so distinguished and honoured a name,. He was an aristocrat of the best sort-, and might have gone as far in statemanship as his great foregoer, who led tne wtugs to pre-eminence when George the First was King, had he so chosen, but he preferred the life of the squire and the scholar, and the solid work of the County Bench and the Church Commission, to the storm snd stress of politics. A staunch Con- servative, he delighted to gather at week- ends at Chevening the leaders of his own and opposing parties, who benefited not a little by the shrewd lucidity of their host in the handling of themes of national import.. Lord Stanhope was deeply interested in educa- tion, and sat on the London School Board for a little while before he succeeded to the earldom thirty years back. Princess Christian's visit to Llandilo this week to lay the memorial stone of the West Wales Sanatorium for Consumptives at Alltymynydd has naturally roused a good deal of loyal enthusiasm in the neighbourhood, this being the first occasion of Royalty going to that particular portion of the Principality. Elaborate decorations and a very warm wel- come were prepared for the august guest of Sir James- Williams Drummond, the Lord- Lieutenant of Carmarthenshire, at picturesque Edwinsford. A very interesting prelude to Easter is always the distribution of the King's Maundy gifts at Westminster Abbey, which was observed with all the customary ceremonial this year, in the presence of a distinguished congregation, which included several of the I younger Royalties. The recipients corre- spond in number with the years of the monarch—or rather with his prospective years —so that as His Majesty is approaching his sixty-fourth birthday sixty-four men 0 and sixty-four women this year participated in the Matindy. Moreover, a similar rule applies to the silver Maundy, which is equal in the case of each person to a penny for every year of the monarch's age, and is made up of sets of specially minted money, including four- penny, threepenny, twopenny, and penny pieces in silver. The clergy, the quaintly- clad Yeomen of the Guard, the Almoner to the King (the Bishop of Ely), Sub-Almoner (Sub-Dean of the Chapels Royal), the secre- tary of the Almonry, on Thursday of last week marched in the usual way in procession up the nave to the choir, and passed between the aged people. A stalwart "Beefeater" deposited a dish containing the Royal alms on a table at the approach to the Sacrarium, and a special service then took place. During an interval the alms were distributed by the Bishop of Ely, each man receiving £ 2 5s. in lieu of clothing, zCl 10s. in lieu of provisions, zel gold Maundy, and 5s. 4d. silver Maundy, making a total of £5 Os. 4d. The women got 10s. less, the clothing allowance being El 15s. instead of L2 5s. It is scarcely surprising that the silver Maundy possesses much more than its face value, and that many of the fortunate recipients made a good thing out or their gratuities. Others, however, would not part with their Maundy money at any price, but will hoard it jealously, proudly hand it down to their posterity when the end of their lives shall come. Miss Nancy Carnegie, niece of the Scottish- American multi-millionaire ironmaster, who has been a very popular personage in Pitts- burg society, has made a rather startling— and as far as the public was concerned—secret marriage with Mr. James Hever, who was at one time a member of her mother's domestic establishment. He is a handsome Irishman and an expert equestrian. Mr. Andrew Car- negie, the bride's benevolent uncle, is said to smile upon the unconventional match. "Hever"—the great free library giver is said to have remarked-" is not rich, but he is sober, moral, and well-doing, and the family would much rather have such a husband for Nancy than a worthless aristocrat. There is absolutely no parental objection to the union. It was a true love-match, and the pair are idewlly happy." And Mrs. Hever that is, was rich enough to make her own choice, for her father, the late Thomas Carnegie—though not so rich as his more famous brother—left her a lot of money. She has refused, it is said, the offers of many aspirants to her hand, in- cluding one young millionaire. The report of Royal Commission on the un- fortunate dispute as to Scottish Church pro- perties embodies a series of recommendations as a basis upon which future legislation may be obtained to settle the serious questions at issue between the United Free Church and the Free Church of Scotland. In their con- clusions the Commission report that it is impossible for the Free Church to administer the properties which have been given to them in trust by the decision of the House of Lords. What will be done now remains to be seen.