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

I NEWS NOTES. The banquet to the French officers at West- minster Hall was much more than a courteous social function. It was a guarantee of the solidity of the friendly understanding that animates both the French and the British peoples. The banquet was attended by Vice- Admiral Caillard and about 130 of his officers, who were entertained by members of both Houses of Parliament, including the Prime Minister, the Lord Chancellor, and the Speaker. Mr. Balfour repudiated the idea that such a gathering was a menace to other communities. He regarded it as a harbinger of peace all the world over. Mr. Morley emphasised the far- reaching significance of the occasion, and heartily endorsed the views of the Prime Minister as to its pacific meaning. The crowd who assembled in the vicinity of Westminster Hall enthusiastically cheered the French Officers. The Russian reply to the Japanese peace con- ditions was delivered on Saturday morning. Some of the proposals were accepted, and others rejected, among the latter being the in- demnity and the cession of Sakhalin. The Times" correspondent says there is no real change in the situation, nor any greater pro- bability of peace than there was before the reply was delivered. The sole hope of peace lies in the withdrawal or modification of certain of the Japanese demands. Up to the present there is no sign that Japan intends to give way. The situation n Manchuria remains unchanged, and there is practically no fighting. t The Home Office have just issued a repor giving some instructive particulars as to the measures adopted in foreign factories to pre- vent such explosions as often occur at Wool- wich and other places in this country. Several examples are mentioned, and one of the most effective is the method adopted in a factory at Schlebusch, where only nitro-glycerine explo- sives are produced. In the event of an alarm all the cocks to the drowning tanks can be turned on by means of a piston driven by com- pressed air, which can be operated by turning on a small air-valve outside the mound of the building. The inspectors who drew up the Home Office report were impressed with the attention paid to the comfort and well-being of the workpeople in all German factories. The crisis in the cotton trade, brought about by the present demand for an increase of wages, is not likely to lead to a strike, according to an Oldham correspondent of the" Daily News." The mills appear to be doing well, and the recent advance in the price of cotton does not affect them as much as is supposed. It is said there are no less than 49 new mills at present in various stages between registration and completion., The recent boom in cotton gave the card-room operatives their chance to demand an advance, and the spinners, who held back at first, did not join them till after they had given the subject their most serious consideration. The visit of King Edward to the Emperor of Austria is regarded with particular satisfaction in that country, not only because the King is personally popular there, but also by reason of the hope that the visit may result in improved relations between Great Britain and Germany, with whom Austria-Hungary is in alliance. Wo may be quite sure that the Emperor Francis Joseph will do his best to pave the way for a better understanding. No Royal personage is in so good a position to accomplish that pacific object as the Austrian Emperor, who is a warm friend alike of King Edward and the Kaiser. The close of the first Volunteer brigade camp at Ludgershall on Saturday furnishes an oppor- tunity for the Standard" special correspondent to say some commonsense things about our citizen army. If the Volunteer is to be main- tained as a sound defender more money must be spent upon him. To train masses of infantry without guns, cavalry, or transport, is a fatuous waste of time and opportunity. He declares that brigade training for Volunteers leans too much to the make-believe. It is at best blind drill, especially for home defence. But the Volunteer force, properly handled, staffed, and equipped, contains the elements of a successful defence army. The Entente Cordiale is a phrase much in use just now, and the reciprocal hospitality of the English and French Fleets gives a special emphasis to the expression. The two fleets have looked at one another, like two huge and powerful hounds, and after careful inspec- tion have ultimately decided to rub friendly- noses as a token of mutual respect, and each feels that in the event of an attack from out- side their combined strength would be n great advantage. But naval demonstrations are only part of what is needed to ensure true friendship between England and France. There should be a continual exchange of schoolboys between the two countries, so that the manners, customs, views of life, and the languages, on both sides of the Channel, might become familiar in either case. Insularity of thought leads to misunder- standings and misjudgment. England has no monopoly in morality, nor is France one big school of vice, while the solidity of the English character would gain from the brightness and lightness of touch which the French possess, as much as the Frenchmen would be the better for an infusion of English seriousness. The nations are in character complementary to one another, and together would be wonder- fully attractive and altogether invincible. The King has added one more to the long list of his tactful acts, by in person giving a hearty welcome to our French guests. He was called the other day "the only statesman in Europe." This may be a slight exaggeration, but it indicates the general admiration felt in all classes of society, for his keen insight into political situations, and his unrivalled in- tuition as to what is the right thing to do, under any circumstances requiring delicate handling and prudent conduct. Professor Goldwin Smith, who celebrated his 82nd birthday on Sunday, and was the reci- pient of many congratulations^ says he has discovered the secret of longevity. It is no patent specific, no impossible or fantastic recipe. It is simple moderation. He declares that he has lived an active life, following the hounds and mountain climbing in Switzerland being his favourite recreation, but he has always done everything in moderation. It so happens that the vast bulk of medical opinion is in complete agreement with the Toronto professor.

While grazing in Blankney Park, Lincoln- shire, recently a herd of cattle broke into an adjoining plantation, and ate freely of yew. Nine of the animals have since died, and others are ill. In a case at Tottenham Police-court a man who was charged with driving to the common danger attributed the wildness of his horse to the fact that it had just arrived from Russia.

I RUSSIA'S REPLY TO JAPAN. I WAR INDEMNITY REFUSED. M. Witte handed Russia's reply to the Japanese terms of peace to Baron Komura on Saturday. It was drawn up in English and French. Reuter's correspondent states that on the two crucial points—an indemnity and the cession of Sakhalin —the reply is an absolute non possumus. Other points are acceptable as bases of discussion, while others again are accepted conditionally. On receiving the Russian answer, the Japanese met in consultation thereon, and their deliberations continued from before noon until seven o'clock in the evening. It was officially announced that the Envoys of the two countries would meet in con- ference on Sunday afternoon, but when the day came the sitting was by mutual consent" post- poned until Monday morning. Both Russians and Japanese issued official statements in the course of the day. I PROGRESS OF THE NEGOTIATIONS. At Monday's meeting of the Peace Envoys some definite progress was made. An official statement issued after the morning sitting was to the effect that "Article 1 was disposed of and the Confer- ence proceeded to the discussion of Article 2." Which, being interpreted, means that an agree- ment has been arrived at in the matter of Japan's position in Korea, the Russians, it is understood, recognising Japan's protectorate. Article 2 presumably concerns Japan's acquisi- tion on behalf of China of the Chinese Eastern Railway. It will be seen that the crucial points-Sakhalin and the indemnity—are still kept in the back- ground, the immediate object of both sides pro- bably being to gain time to consider the situation as it was unfolded in Japan's first Note and M. Witte's reply. I TO CARRY ON THE WAR. A St. Petersburg correspondent is informed by an important personage there that if Japan does not abandon her demand for an indemnity, the negotiations will be broken off this week. Every preparation is being made to carry on the war with vigour in Manchuria, and the order for a general mobilisation will be issued before the end of this month. The Japanese Press insists that the terms demanded by their Government are moderate, and that if the war be continued, Russia will have to submit to still more severe conditions.

THE KING ON THE CONTINENT I I FOR A WELL-EARNED HOLIDAY. I After a long and arduous season, during which he has been almost uninterruptedly busy from morning till night, King Edward left London on Monday for his well-earned holiday. His Majesty travelled from Charing-cross at half-past ten, and crowds of people had gathered in the vicinity of the station to cheer him. His Majesty drove into the station in a closed brougham drawn by a pair of horses. He was attired in the uniform of a British Admiral, with a white cap. On alighting from the carriage he greeted several of those standing around, including the Austrian Ambassador, and was engaged for a minute or two in earnest conversation with Sir John Fisher. The armoured cruisers Kent and Donegal escorted the Royal yacht from the Nore, and the war vessels at Sheerness remained dressed rainbow fashion until she passed out of sight. The Victoria and Albert arrived at Flushing on Monday evening, and the King started on his train journey to Ischl, where he met the Emperor of Austria. WBWifcWjmiwijiii in

FATAL MOTOR-CAR SMASH. f LADY KILLED NEAR DUNSTABLE. I A terrible motor-car accident occurred on Mon- day evening near Dunstable on the road to Hock- liffe, resulting in the death of a lady and serious injuries to two men. The car, which was practically wrecked, was owned by Messrs. Montague, Hawnt, and Co., motor engineers, of Clerkenwell-road, London. It was on its way from Leighton Buzzard to London, and had called at the King's Arms, Hock- liffe, where the occupants had tea, their intention being to reach town to fulfil a special engagement early in the evening. On leaving Hockliffe the car was being driven by Mrs. Hawnt, and a male friend was sitting by her side, Mr. Hawnt riding behind. When about half way to Dunstable they overtook a heavy motor-trolley, with which they collided violently, in spite of the fact that the driver of the trolley turned on to the side of the road. The occupants of the car were chrown out, the lady being so seriously injured that she expired a few minutes afterwards. Her husband and his friends were also much injured, but the other occupants of the car escaped with a severe shock.

I ROMANTIC ELOPEMENT. I I ONLY MET A MONTH AGO. I According to the Paris edition of the "New York HeraJfd," all Aix-les-Bains is very much interested' in a very romantic elopement which occurred there early on Sunday morning. The young people, both under twenty, failing to obtain the consent of the girl's mother, nill away together to ask her father's permission to marry. The Toung man is of a very good and socially well-known family of Naples, and the girl, who has been much noticed1 in Paris for her beauty, is the daughter of a very much talked of New York politician. They only met a month ago.

I FATAL FALL FROM A TRAIN. I On Saturday the body of a man was found ly- ing in the six-foot way on the main line of the Caledonian Railway, near Crawford Station. The deceased man, identified as Joseph Pointon, of 11, Claoton-grove, Hammersmith West, was travelling by corridor train from Stirling to London with two companions. All of them had been asleep. One of the men was awakened by the draught, and found the carriage door open and Pointon missing. It is supposed that he had wished to go into the corridor, but had opened the door on the other side of the train.

I THE BIG GOOSEBERRY. I Gooiseberry shows, for which the north country is famous, are now on. At the Windlaton Show the chief award was for the heaviest single berry, and this was secured by a gooseberry that weighed 28dwts. The weight of the winning two gooseberries was 38dwts. 8Jgrs.

t FOUR-LEGGED POLICEMAN. I A man and three youths were summoned at Sunbury on Monday for stealing plums from an orchard. Police-constaible Mortimer said that from a plaice of concealment he saw the defendants helping themselves to the plums. He managed to secure the three lads, but the man got away. He sent his dog after the man, and the dog stopped him and kept him until he (the police- man) arrived. The man and one of the youths were ordered to pay 40s., or go to prison for a month; the two other youths had to go to prison for fourteen days or nay 20s.

I CURRENT SPORT. MIDDLESEX GO UNDER. The Australians beat Middlesex, at Lord's, on Saturday, by 132 runs, the match coming to an end just before half-past five. Given a full day's cricket some such result was only to be expected, the Australians, with one wicket down in their second innings for 19 runs, having left off on Friday with a lead of 135. Middlesex had toplay mma remarkably good bowling from Mr. Armstrong, but it must be admitted that their efforts tosave the game were rather feeble. For the most part the Australians, played very well on Saturday, but some catches that they dropped might easily have robbed them of their victory. Batting up to 2 o'clock they carried their Friday's score to 195, and then declared the innings closed with nine wickets down. In doing this they put themselves in a safe position, and were able for the rest of the afternoon to go right out for a win without any fear of being beaten. A DRAW AT LEYTON. The return match between Essex and Nottinghamshire ended, at Leyton, on Saturday, in a draw, a result which always appeared inevita,ble with the wicket playing as easily as at any time during the match. The features of Saturday's play were the brilliant hitting of Mr. A. O. Jones and the steady cricket of J. Gunn. Nottinghamshire increased their over- night total of 210 for three wickets to 552 for nine before the innings was declared closed, and left Essex with two hours to bait and 235 runs to make to avoid an innings defeat. When Essex went in a second time Carpenter was out to J. Gunnis, fourth ball, and Mr. Fane when he had scored six had a narrow escape in the slips but subsequently runs came with freedom, and at 6 o'clock, when there was no prospect of a definite result, stumps were drawn. BAD FIELDING AT CANTERBURY. Lancashire beat Kent at Canterbury on Satur- day by eight wickets. Careless fielding and bad bowling by the visitors prolonged the game much beyond the expected time of finishing, indeed, the test four Kent batsmen met with so much success that no only was the balance of the arrears, 131, hit off, but Lancashire were put in to get 32 to win. Fairslervioo had three lives and Blythe was once missed, and by much fortuniaite hitting these batsmen added 120 runs in 75 minutes for the ninth Kent wicket. This surprising turn in the game aroused great enthusiasm; but the falling-off in the Lanca- shire cricket must have been disappointing to Lancashire's friends. Mr. Brearley took eleven wickets, and he was the chief sufferer by the slack fielding on Saturday, and it was only after the dropped catches that he, lost his length. WARWICKSHIRE'S VICTORY. Warwickshire gained a remarkable victory over Northamptonshire at Northampton on Saturday, winning the match by nine wickets. The home side on the first two days had had the better of the game, and on Friday evening, with five men out, they were 219 ahead. Eventually Warwickshire were set 272 to win. Mr. Fish- wick and Kinneir began the batting for War- wickshire, and they put on 170 before they were separated. Afterwards Devey hit finely, and the runs were got without further loss. The pro- ceeds of the match are to be given to Thompson as a benefit. GOLF AT NORTH BERWICK. In fine but breezy weather, Archie Simpson, of Aberdeen, and Arnaud Massey, of North Berwick, played a 36 holes match on the Bal- gowni,e links, at Aberdeen, on Saturday. Massey was 1 hole up at the turn in the first round, but J Simpson led by 1 at the 18th hole, his score being 78 strokes. In the afternoon, Simpson outplayed his opponent, and the match ended in his favour on the 15th green by 4 holes up and 3 to play. SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIP. At the annual meeting of the City Police Athletic and Swimming Club, which was held at the Crystal Palace on Saturday afternoon, the mile amateur swimming championship of the Southern Counties was won by A. G. Harvey, of the Ravensbourne Club, by over 40 yards from W. J. Hawesi, City of Westminster Club. G. F. Simmons, also of the City of Westminster Club, was third. Time, 31min. i sec. Ten others competed, among them being the holder, A. A. Green, of the Seal Club. The quarter-mile police championship, decided at the same meet- ing, was again won by P.c. Robinson, of the Manchester City Police, P.c. Innocent, City of London Police being second, and P.c. Bilson, City of London Police, third. The time for this race was 6min. 54 3-5sec. An open 100 yards handicap ended in a win for D. A. Brooks', of the Invicta Club, Woolwich. THE COWES WEEK. The Cowes week concluded, on Saturday, in brilliant weather. There was no racing at Cowes, and s-everail, yachts left the Roads, some going up Southampton Water, others to Gosport, and many direct to Ryde to await the Royal Victoria week. The Solent division of the Minima Yacht Club held a regatta at the Hythe. All the German yachts have finished racing for this season. Navahoe had a string of seventeen prize flags flying, which chiefly repre- sented prizes won in the Baltic. Therese was flying sixteen flags. CELTIC FOOTBALL CLUB SPORTS. About 15,000 people witnessed the annual sports of the Celtic Football Club, at Celtic- park, Parkheiaid, Glasgow, on Saturday. R. S. Stronach (Glasgow Academicals) beat E. S. Amisler (Pennsylvania University) easily in a 120 yards level hurdle race, in 16sec. J. W. Morton (South London Harriers) (scratch) won the 100 yardis invitation hasn-diieap, in 10 3-5eec. A. Russell won, the 3,200 yards steeplechase, from scratch. G. Butterfield (Darlington Harriers) won the mile and a half level race, by -three yardsi, from A. Shrubb (South London Harriers), who -beat J. McGough (Bellahouston Harriers) by a. yaird, in 6min. 55 2-5sec. W. D. Anderson (Belabouston Harriers), ten yards' start, was first, B. J. Blunden (Herne-hill Harriers) eight yards' start, second, and! J. B. Taylor (Pennsylvania University) scratch, third, in the quarter-mile invitation handicap, time 52 2-5sec. LAST TEST MATCH. The fifth and last Test match between the Australians and an eleven of England began on Monday at the Oval. As on the four previous occasions, the English captain won the choice of innings and put his men in, and at the close of play they had scored 381 at the cost of seven wickets. Mr. Fry made 144. Sussex met Middle- sex at Brighton. The visitors, who were one man short, compiled a total of 277, including 109 by Mr. MacGregor, and Sussex lost three wickets for 88. COUNTY MATCHES. At Portsmouth, on Monday, Hampshire were dismissed for 181 by Kent, who scored 153 with only two wickets down. Lancashire, encounter- ing Gloucestershire with a weak team at Bristol, were disposed of for 209, and Gloucestershire made 225 for the loss of three wickets, Mr..Sewell contributing 113 not out. At Derby, Derbyshire obtained 207 against Surrey, who replied with 237 for three wickets. Hayes scored 139 not out.

The ceremony attending a marriage at South- broom, Devizes, Wilts, had a peculiar feature, inasmuch as the contracting parties were married by their respective fathers, who also gave tLe blessing. At Mayland, Essex, man lives in a shed which has neither door nor windows. Entrance is made from a hole in the roof by means of a ladder. The shed was built by the occupant, and the MaJdon Council doubts its powers. to order its removal. An Acton shooting enthusiast who practised i his bacJs garden, sent bullets whizzing across the road, and narrowly escaped "potting" a young lady in another garden. He was sum- moned, but was let off on promising to give up garden shooting.

I TWENTY DAYS IN AN OPEN BOAT I Four Japanese fishermen, who had a terrible experience in the recent East Indian cyclone, arrived at Waterford on Saturday on board the steamer Dungeness. While fishing off the coast of Java they were blown out to sea and were tossed about in an open boat for twenty days before they were picked up by a French barque. The men had no food except the fish they caught, and no water. The Dungeness took the men on board from the barque. The men left for Southampton on Saturday night.

I IN THE PUBLIC EYE. IT is said that the Duke of Richmond is en- gaged to Evelyn Lady Alington, widow of the late Lord Alington, but the report has been contradicted. The Duke has already been twice married, first to Miss Ricardo, who died in 1879, and secondly, to Miss Craven, who left him a widower in 1887. Lady Alington was Miss Blundell Leigh, and is a most charming and popular woman. Quite as interesting is the rumoured announcement of the engagement of Lady Mary Hamilton, only child and heiress of the late Duke of Hamilton, to Captain Mac- Neill, the Master of the North Cotswold, whose first wife, Lady Hilda Rous, met with such a tragic fate about a year ago, losing her life in a vain attempt to save a friend's son from drowning. Captain MacNeill and his future wife have many tastes in common, as he is as enthusiastic a Nimrod as she is a Diana, and neither the one nor the other is really happy out of the saddle. The bride-elect is of Royal descent on one side of her house, her grand- mother, the wife of the eleventh Duke, having been a Princess of Baden. Her other grand- mother, the Duchess of Devonshire, has reigned as a social queen in London for many years, first as Duchess of Manchester, and then as Duchess of Devonshire. :o: THE arrangements for the visit of Queen Alexandra to Scotland are probably being made, as they were last year, with a" view to her Majesty passing a short time at Balmoral. But pa i although everything will be got ready at the Castle, it is more likely that the Queen will go direct to Mar Lodge. Her Majesty greatly enjoys the freedom from all Court trammels which obtains in the Scotch home of her eldest daughter. She is extremely fond of fishing, an occupation in which she can indulge to her heart's content when at Mar Lodge, the little brown trout which abound in the lochs about the hills affording excellent sport. Although an enthusiastic and clever angler, Her Majesty has not, up to now, been a very lucky one, thus bearing out the tradition that very great, very successful, or very prosperous people are seldom attended by good fortune when pursuing the gentle craft. o THE latest child prodigy, little Vivien Chatres, is the daughter of a well-known London journalist. She went at the age of seven, two years ago, to study under the noted Professor Sevcik at Prague, where early this year she made her debut. Her technique is amazing, and the expression evoked from the instrument little short of uncanny in a small girl. She plays as if for the time being possessed by a personality other than her own, and yet when the last note has died away she is a child again, ready to run with an air of relief from the plaudits of her hearers. o: WHEN she made her debut as Lady Violet Ashley, the beauty of Lady Mar and Kelly created a sensation, and she still remains one of the loveliest among young married women in Society, though her elder son, little Lord Erskine, is ten years old. Her beauty is of the sparkling and vivacious type, with dark eves, srcod features, and well-poised head. She is invariably dressed to perfection, whatever mav be the occasion, and is a good musician, though not possessed of so beautiful a voice as her sister, Lady Maud Warrender. THE Hon. Henry J. Coke, who has recently written a book of recollections, knew Captain Mairryat, the famous novelist; and remembers his spinning yarns which grew more and more preposterous with the hearer's credulity. Mr. Coke was at a children's ball at St. James's in King William IV.'s time, and received a sugar- plum from the sailor monarch. It is interesting to note, by the way, that a diary kept by King- William when he was middy—known to the public as "jolly young tarry breaks"—has re- cently been sold. o: SIR FREDERICK TREVES saw some curious native dancing when he was in Ceylon during his tour round the world; but in this case it was in intended, not for diversion, but to sea-it; away disease. Sir Fredrick found it a little noisy and confusing, and as full of mystery a's a physician's prescription. He was introduced to the demons of argue, fever, small-pox, and cholera. "The medical practitioner, to show that he was abreast of the times," says Sir Frederick Treves, "introduced me, with special formality, to the demon of appendicitis. I was glad and interested to meet him, although he was unreasonably noisy, and had a look of a child's Jack-in-the-box." o: DR. O'REILLY, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Adelaide, South Australia, possesses an un- usual accomplishment. He is perhaps the only living prelate who can set up type. Before he became a bishop he was the editor of one of the Australian Roman Catholic journals. His com- positors went out on strike, and in the emergen cv he helped in the mechanical department. By the time the difficulty had been adjusted he had prety well mastered the art of type-setting. and for the rest of his editorial career he did not write his leading articles. He just went into the composing-room and set them, up. -:0:- KING ALFONSO is perhaps more securely and carefully guarded during the hours of darkness •than is any other European monarch, except, perhaps, the Sultan of Turkey. For four cen- turies the slumbers of successive Sovereigns of Spain have been watched all night by the "Monteras de Espinosa"-a body of men to whom is relegated the exclusive privilege of guarding their monarch from sunset to sunrise. They must have an honourable military career and be natives of the town of Espinosa". Cere- moniously they lock the palace g:ateis at mid- night, opening them at seven the next morn- ing. -:0:- WHEN Mr. Arthur Balfour and Mr. Gerald Balfour were boys, their motuer compiled a little manuscript magazine for their amusement. It was commenced during Mr. Gerald Balfour's convalescence after an illness, but was kept up afterwards in holiday times. The magazine, which was called "The Whittingehame Adver- titser, lived for some years, and was read aloud when the boys were home from school. o: MR. EDWARD A. PARRY, who ie part-author with Mr. F. Mouillot of the new farce at Wyndham's Theatre, "What the Butler Saw," is Judge Parry, of the Manchester County Court. Some time ago, it will be recalled, he was sho+ at and hit, but the effects have not impaired his enthusiasm as, a playwright. The son of the late Serjeant Parry, whose wife sur- vived him but a few hours, Judge Parry built up an excellent practice in Manchester. HL- health failing, he was giving a County-court judgeship. He has now recovered. o: LORD FAIRFAX was born in the United States, and has a residence in New York. He is twelfth baron, is thirty-five, and unmarried. The sixth baron inherited nearly 6,000,000 acres of land in Virginia from his mother, and the romance of the family can be read between the lines in Thackeray's Virginians." The present Lord Fairfax was formerly in the employ of a firm of bankers in New York; but he came over to London for the Coronation, made many friends. and now has a house of his own in Upper George-street, Bryanston-square. -0:- SIR EDWARD RUSSELL has been very many years in journalism and done great things in Liverpool. In some respects his early career was the counterpart of Sir Edward Clarke's. He commenced, after several clerkships, in London suburban journalism, then went down to Liverpool on trial, on the paper on which he has now for so many years been editor. Sir Edward created the London letter" which forms so excellent a feature of the great pro- vincial dailies. In the confidence of many great statesmen of the time, he had no outlet for much of the matter which they communicated, so he used to send it to a Scottish daily, which would pay him sometimes five guineas for as many lines, sometimes merely 30s. for three-parts of a column. That was the origin of the London letter," though he little thought a.t the time how great a featur6 he was bringing into being.

j ART AND LITERATURE. Mrs. Grant Richards has established a pub- lishing business of which her husband is the manager. The new business will be carried on at 7, Carlton-street, Regent-street, and its first production will be a series of editions of the classics. The syndicate taking over Mr. Grant Richards' old business includes Mr. Moring, Mr. Doubleday, and Professor Gollancz. Mr. Henry Sotheran, who died on July 30, at H-eathside, Upper Norwood, in the 86th year of his age, came, says a Times" correspon- dent, of a family that had from the beginning of the 18th century been settled as booksellers in the city of York; but Mr. Thomas Sotheran was sent up to London at the beginning of the last centurv, and set up on his own account, at No. 2, Little Tower-street, in 1816, and there Mr. Henry Sotheran was born. On the father's death, in "1832, the business devolved upon his son, then a bov of 12 years of age, in course of education at the once well-known Pesta- lozzian School "at Stockwell; and this boy of 12 took actual charge of the business. But lie was a youth of remarkable natural aptitudes and physical and mental energy and force of character; and his name rapidly became known as that of a most promising young man of business. A newspaper for the blind, printed in the Braille raised type, is the latest novelty in the publishing world. It runs to sixteen pages, and deals with current affairs. The price ia one penny, and "The Braille Weekly ""is pub- lished at 24, St. Giles'-street, Edinburgh. Under the title Charles, Duke of Brunswick, a Historical Paradox." Mr. W. Fitzhugh White- house will publish shortly, through Mr. Elliot Stock, an account of a mysterous episode lead- ing up to the Franco-German War. For those interested in Japanese Physical Culture, Messrs. Putnams have issued a hand- some 8vo volume which should meet every re- quirement, by H. Irving Hancock and Katsu- kuma Higashi. The title is somewhat alarming to Western ears, it runs, The Complete Kano Jiu-Jitsu, Jindo the official Jiu-Jitsu of the Japanese Government, with the addition Ho- shino and Teutsumi, and chapters on the serious and fatal blows, and on Kuatsu, the Japanese science of the restoration of life." Price. 18s. net. The August Dickensian contains amongst others articles on The Topography oi Bleak House," by Mr. H. Snowden Ward, illustrated Dr. Manette's House in Soho," illustrated; and Oliver Twist Dramatised." There will be also a poem by E. J. Millfken. entitled A Man of the Crowd to Charles Dickens," and other interesting items. The cover will the reproduced from Phiz's design used on the original parts of Bleak House." That excellent American weekly paper "The Nation" announces that the completion of its fortieth year was celebrated by a testimonial presented to the editor on July 6, the date of the first issue in 1865 "An inscribed vase of beauty was the visible token, and it was accompanied by a congratu- latory note signed by more than two hundred of 'The Nation's' staff, some equal veterans with the editor. Had all this been done in a corner, it should so have remained-a matter among friends. But the utter secrecy observed in carrying out the enterprise having bts,n followed by advertisement in the daily press, the editor is reluctantly compelled to snare the news with his readers." Messrs. Macmillan and Company have nearly ready an elaborate bock on Cricket, which is the joint work of Messrs. G. W. Beldam and C. B. Fry, the former being responsible for the 600" aetion-phot-ograplis included in the volume, and. the latter having contributed the letterpress. The title of the book is "Great Batsmen, and the style of all the leading players of the day is vevy fully illustrated and described. The work is to be followed shortly by a similar book tin "Great Bowlers and Fielders," by the sw-lao authors. We regretto hear of the death of Jean Jacques Henner, who has been seriously iLl for some months. Henner was born on March 5, 1829, in the little Alsatian village Bemwiller, and studied art under Drolling. In 1858 he carried off the Prix de Rome with his "Adam et Eve re- trouvan,t le Corps d'Abel." Whilst at Rome he sent to the Salon a portrait of M. Sehnetz, the Director of the School, 1863. His principal works in public galleries include "Madeleinei Penitente," "Le Christ en Prison," "Jeune Romaine," "Jeune Baigneur endormi (the four are at the Colmar Museum); "La Chaste Suzanne," 1865, "Femme Couchee," 1869, and "lSt. Sebastien" (the three are at the Luxem- bourg); ••Biblis ehange.e en Source," 1867, at Dijon; and "Le Bon Samajitain," 1874, at Montpelier. Henner had been an incessant worker for nearly half a century, and his output was enormous. For a long period of years he had enjoyed success, although in early life his povertv was great. He succeeded Cabanel at the Aca.demie des Be-qux-Arlos in 1889. This year, as last, the Paris Academie des Beaux-Arts has again withheld the first Grand Prix de Rome, eo that there will be three such prizes available next. year. Two se-cond prizes have been awarded, one of which is taken by M. Aubry, pupil of Gerome and of Gabriel Ferrier; and the other by M. Jonas, who studied under Bonnat and Maigna-n. Both MM. Aubry and Jonas are represented in this year's Salon. Honourable mention has been accorded to M. Rousseau. The two vacancies at the Paris Académie dea Beaux-Arts, caused by the deaths of the sculptor Dubois and Baron Alphonse de Rothschild (who was a "membre libre" of the Academie), were filled on Saturday last. M. Rene de Saint- Marceaux succeeded to the chair of Dubois by nineteen votes against twelve given to M. Tony-Noel. For the vacancy caused by the death of Baron A. de Rothchild five ballots were necessary—Dr. Paul Richer, of the Academie de Médecine and,, Professor of Anatomy at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts, obtaining twenty-two votes against thirteen cast for M. C. Bellaique, six for M. Comte, end one for M. Mounet-Sully. The St. Petersburg museum Empereur Alexandre III. has acquired, at a cost of 100,000 roubles, all the pictures and sketches made by Verest.chagin on his last journey to the East. At Messrs. Christie's, on the 21st inst.. the following pictures wem sold.: School of Raphael, Portrait of a Gentleman, in black gown and cap, £ 924. Rembrandt, Head of a Young Man, £105. Watteau, A Fete Champetre, £ 105. In connection with the forthcoming visit of the British Association to Rhodesia, the British South Africa Company have issued a special set of postage stamps, the design on which represents a view of the Victoria Falls. Th& design is effective, the mass of water being well shown ifijgainst a dark ground on each side. We have received the following appeal, which ■we heartily commend to our readers Mr. Bret Harte. the famous novelist whose works have given so much enjoyment in all English- speaking lands, died in poor circumstances, leaving his daughter Ethel totally unprovided for. Miss Bret Harte finds the struggle for a livelihood, verv hard. Her health has broken down at a time when she has been striving to- earn her living on the concert platform and the etage. It is thought that many in Great Britain and the United States who knew her father per- sonally, or who loved his books, would be dis- posed1 to contribute a small sum (amounts of even 5s. would be exceedingly acceptable), ia order that a fund may be raised which may permanently benefit MIPS Ethel Bret Harte." The appeal is. supported by a strong committee- Subscriptions may be Bent to the hon. sec. to the fund, Dr. L. C. Alexander, of Holly Lodge, Upper Parkfields, Putnev, S.W., or to the London and County Bank; Putney branch. Simpkin, Marshall and Co. are issuing « special author's edition of Miss Braddon's (works. "Lady Audlev's Secret," one of the widest-read novels of the Victorian era, opena the Braddon library. Lady Napier contributes an interesting 32ft well-written story to current fiction, entitled "As the Sparks Fly Upward." Mr. Drane is thepuhlisher.