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SAVED BY DEATH; ..'' OB, THE…
SAVED BY DEATH; OB, THE SECRET TREASURE OF GAVASE. BY S. AUGUSTA SQUIRES. Auihor of 46An Eviction and its Consequences* A Brave Little. Woman," "Marriage," Ac. dec. CHAPTER V. ON THE ROOF. FOR several days, Ida Trevor lay between life ,and death. At length, she began to recover slowly, but Dr. Dawson expressed his opinion that his patient could not be restored to health, while re- maining an inmate of St. Agnes, where she was de- prived of many comforts, and even of necessaries, ,and suggested her removal to Rowen Castle im- mediately, in order that she might receive the care and attention which her case required. At Harold's urgent request, Jeanie accompanied Miss Trevor, and took upon herself the duties of nurse and companion. Ida possessed an irritable nervous temperament, which had become more delicately susceptible to adverse influences by the scenes of terror through which she had recently passed. She lay and moaned out her woe on Jeanie's breast; she was unconsciously soothed by her companion's quick, instinctive sympathy. These two had met in a dark hour. An affec- ,tion which has its birth in sorrow is ever true, pure, and disinterested; even if, after a time, it cease to exist-killed by neglect or deceit-there still clings about its memory a sad and tender regret, like the faint aroma from the crushed petals of a once exquisite and sweetly-scented flower. The remains of Lady Gavase were deposited in the crypt beneath the chapel, situated in the centre of the Castle, near to those of her late husband, Sir Henry Gavase. Harold stood alone as chief mourner at the tomb of his grandmother, for his father, now Sir Philip Gavase, was on his way home from India, and 'had not yet received tidings of his mother's death. The body of Mr. Trevor, encased in a massive oak coffin, found a temporary resting-place amidst the honoured dead of the House of Gavase. Ida's progress towards recovery was very alow. One day she was reclining on a couch drawn near to the window of the boudoir, a tastefully decorated apartment, the special sanctum of the late lady of the Castle, which communicated with a bed-chamber. Jeanie had been reading aloud to her com- panion. "You have a clear, musical voice, Jeanie," re- marked Ida. "Do you sing?" "No. Nor play." There was a faint inflection of pain in Jeanie a voice. It had always been a source of regret to her that she never had an opportunity ot culti- vating her, artistic abilities. There were times in lter solitary life, in the silence of her own chamber ;at midnight, or when ensconced in some rocky nook, when the hush of the dying day was as a breath held expectant, that all her being thrilled to harmonious sound; it was not music-techni. cally so-called—but emotion, feeling, ideas, as yet not concrete, floating past the borderland of silence, and seeking to be translated into rhythmic and poetical speech. A long spray of wild roses was flung into the ■room, through the French window which opened on to the balcony. A shadow crossed the sunlight. Will you permit me to enter?"- asked a merry voice. The two girls started. Jeanie's face grew a shade paler. The hectic flush deepened in Ida s cheeks, as Harold, after obtaining permission, ■entered the room. He bowed pleasantly to Jeanie, and held out his hand to the invalid. Your are looking better," he said. She smiled softly. Her eyes were brilliant, but they fell shyly beneath his ardent gaze. Then her mood changed. She turned towards him with a sad •expression on her face. "What is troubling you ?" asked Harold. The terrible sense of loss—the utter loneliness —Papa—" Her voice broke, and tears gathered on the ihining lashes. "You have friends—Jeatiie—myself; is my affection of no value ? The trying scenes through which they had recently passed together the near presence of death, which seemed to rise up from the vault and cast its shadow over them, lent a subdued and loving tenderness to his manner, which at another time,0 and under other influences, it might not liave possessed. He raised .her hand, and left a lingering kiss upon it. *11 & She lay back again with closed eyes. A look ox xest and peace settled on her face. Jeanie stole through the open window on to the ibalcony, and knew not why she longed to rush over the wide expanse of undulating park, to some ,secluded nook, and press her hand upon her swell- ing heart, which seemed as though caught in the iron grip of a sharp and torturing pain. When she re-entered the room, Harold had taken his departure. Ida treated Jeanie as an equal. If she had been .made acquainted with the great difference in their ,social positions, she gave no indication of that knowledge by word, or sign. Now you are nearly convalescent, you can do without my services," said Jeanie, abruptly. "It is time I went home." "What, go home—and leave me cried Ida, in dismay. "Mrs. Marshall can do for you all that is required. She is very kind." "I can't do without you, Jeanie. I feel better when you are by. Your nature is the stronger, it dominates my weak one. I am a light, careless creature; a butterfly flitting from flower to flower sipping the sweets, at least I was, until-until something happened." And that was ? "Oh nothing dear—and you are grave, a regular has bleu. You needn't look so conscious, Jeanie, if the door is open a chink we can see some part of the interior. It would be as easy for a clear glass globe to conceal the flame of the burn- ing lamp it surrounds, as for you to hide your cleverness. Jeanie looked embarrassed, almost pained. Her shy, sensitive nature shrank from the intrusion of a strange and unsympathetic gaze. Although she entertained a strong regard for Ida, she felt, intuitively, that she could never reveal unre- servedly to her new friend all the thoughts that filled her mind, the emotions that swelled her ^breast. There was a limit to Ida's mental vision beyond which comprehension could not pass, where .all was blank and mystification. She could never reach to the region of beautiful poetic imagery and pure exalted ideals, where Jeanie's imagination loved to soar and linger, like a bird winging its flight to the empyrean. 0 Have you forgotten what I said a. few minutes ago ? asked Jeanie My father wants me it is time I returned home." "Why, no, I should think I havn't, but I can't part with you. Would you leave me here, ill, and alone?" U » There are Mrs. Marshall and Mr. Gavase." Jeanie, have you considered what a difficult and painful position niiue is? I've been suddenly deprived of my natural protector, and thrown pro c ^amongst-strangers. Now I feel stronger, I believe I ought not to remain here,sllo ptused, and sighed deeply—" there is no lady in the house." Is that of any consequence ? » aslied Jeanie, in isurprise. "My, I should think so Don't you see dear, rthat I couldn't be the guest of Mr. Gavase for long, unless a lady relative were staying here too." What difference would that make ?" asked Jeanie, simply. "Well, you are innocent! your knowledge is not worldly knowledge you know nothing about (Society and the stringent laws it has made for itself-" 41 But if one does what is right ? Beau monde doesn't care about the doing of Sright, it only asks that there may be an appearance of right doing. It is no sin to be ■vnifchant it you wear the-face of innocence, that, in fact, is commendable, shows your cleverness, the unpardonable sin is to ni/kJiant and appear so." Jeanie's lace expressed surprise and dismay. I'Ul dead tired. You go and take an airing while I rest." Ids retired to bed early that night. Jeame felt disinclined for sleep. She opened her chamber window and looked out. The twilight was deepening into night. The full moon was brightening in the heaveas. She stole softly forth into the corridor, and paused before one of the large oaken panels at the farther end; then she touched a secret spring, revealed to her by Harold in the days of their childhood, the polished wood glided back, and she stepped on to a narrow stone stair. After ascending a dozen steps, she gained a wide passage with doors on either side; one of these she pushed open, and entered a spacious chamber, where a large four-post bedstead stood out grim and dark, like a catafalque prepared for the reception of the dead. > She wandered through the deserted apartments with no sense of fear. The weird objects, distorted and indistinct, in the thin purple darks and gray lights, lost their solidity, and appearing like ghostly images of the originals, excited her imagination, and produced a kind of exaltation, a quickening of the spirit-pulse, and gave an access of mental force, that vivified into brighter hues the brilliant colour-picture which formed and stamped themselves on her active brain. She ascended a winding stair, and passed through a trap-door on to the roof. What a world of enchantment, of unrealities The roof was flat in places, sloping in others. Here and there were short chimney shafts, or tall columns, casting black, defined shadows across the white patches of clear moonlight. At one angle rose a round tower built of stone the low entrance had formerly been protected by an iron gate, but that barrier had fallen from its hinges, and lay rusting on the moss-grown flags, Jeanie gained the top of the structure, and stood with her hand resting on the parapet. The night was full of sounds, distinct and individualised the sharp, needle-like cry of bats, as they flitted phantom-like round her head the liquid notes of a feathered songster, poured forth in the moonlight; the sighing of the breeze in the pine tops and the voice of the distant waves beating upon the listening ear of the night. There was beauty, too, weird and spectral, with no touch of warmth, but limned in hues mixed on a palette of ebony and applied with a brush of snow. The wood, resting upon a sloping hill, was a dark patch upon its breast,; the tall stately flowers, in the garden beneath, were hueless and motionless. The light lay blanched on the white stones of the court-yard, and on the sea was a dusky gray, broken here and there by rippling waves of liquid silver. Above, there was a touch of colour, but that too, was cold. A faint blue spread over the heavens, and through its subdued softness pierced the golden points of myriad stars the i-noon,shed her radiance forth, like perfume from a celfestial vase. Jeanie stood motionless, her face turned upwards her soul expanded, and seemed to become interfused with the soul of the universe. Suddenly, her nerves thrilled. A step was ascending the tower. She held her breath. It was a light step animated with the spring and buoyancy of youth, just touching the stone and leaving it instantly, in its swift progress upwards. A tall figure emerged into the light, and stood silent, startled Mr. Gavase ? "Stella; you here He advanced, and stood by the young girl's side. "I do not know why I caino to the tower to- aight; perhaps I have taken a liberty she said apologetically. "I hope you are not angry." "Angry with you That would be impossible. Perhaps the memory of bygone days drew you hither ?" "I must confess, that, when, by a mere accident, I stood before the secret door in the corridor which leads to the North Wing, I felt an irresistible impulse to visit once again the scenes which were the familiar haunts of my childhood." "What splendid times we had together Have you forgotten, Stella ? "No," she answered, softly, her dark eyes deepening. "How lovely the night is; I know its beauty appeals to you. What were you thinking of when I interrupted your meditations ? The stars." She paused, and then went on, "If our little planet, one of the most insignifi- cant of the astral bodies, is peopled, why should not others be? On some there may be human creatures inferior to ourselves on others, beings endowed with greater intelligence. I wonder, 3ometimes, whether our disembodied souls ascend to a more fully-developed planet than our own, and pass on from thence to other worlds, rising higher and higher, in the spheres of knowledge, truth, and purity until at length they are per- fected, and fit to enter, and to dwell for ever, in that heaven of heavens, which is lifted far above all worlds." Her eyes were raised, as though seeking to pene- trate into the mysterious star-depths. His were Sxed upon her face. "You are the same Stella—my guiding star, only I perceive that you have grown m wisdom as well as in beauty." A faint blush tinged her cheek her pulse beat quicker. They began to converse, and she poured out to him the deep thoughts of her heart. In that hour, a bond, more delicate, yet stronger than that of their childhood, drew them together. There was, mutual trust, mutual confidence, per- fect sympathy, and a something warm and tender, which, as yet, had no name. Stella, my dear friend, my more than sister, he said, bending towards her. At that moment there was a sound of horse's feet on the gravel beneath, a barking of dogs, and a sudden ringing of bells. They started apart, and looked at each other in alarm. "Something has happened cried Harold; we will go down at once." ( To be continued.)
WORLD'S GOLD AND SILVER. I
WORLD'S GOLD AND SILVER. I The world's production of gold and silver in 1904, according to a very interesting report just issued by the American Government, had a value of £ 72 393 06< £ for gold, and of £ 20.359,625 for silver, or a total of £ 92,682,689. Of this the United States produced gold to the value of £ 16 817 333, and silver to the value of £6,982,500, a total of £ 23,799,833, and Canada to the value of £ 3,429.166 for gold, and to the value of £ 449,333 for silver, a total of £ 3 878 499. The most important single gold field in the world-the Transvaal—produced gold to the value of £ 16,277,235. The report eatim-ites that the world's production of gold and silver in 1905 will exceed that of last year by about £ 5.000,000; while that in 1904 exceeded that of 1903 by about £ 4,400,000.
GAY" FAMILY COACHES." -.
GAY" FAMILY COACHES." The gay docoration-, of the days of "family coaches" are coming back, apparently. There is a bright wine-coloured brougham to be seen, lined with vivid crimson satin; another in canary-yellow, with yellow wheels, and blue padding and* a third has risen to the heights of sulphur-yellow, picked out with ruby-red. Perhaps this is owing to the bright colours in which motor-carriages often„painted. For those latter, stripes of. yellow. on dark-green, or claret and blue, are popular; and evidently this taste is affecting the decoration of horse- carriages. Mail-phaetons seem to be enjoying a. revival of favour. The have long been over when to drive one of these was the utter- most mark of fashion; but several very smart turn-outs have been seen recently about the West-end; particularly a very dark-blue phaeton, w;th f::¡Wl1 cushions. .4
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"You here, James!" exclaimed the slum- worker, visiting the gaol. "Yes'm," replied the new prisoner, who was in for burglary. "Well, well, I certainly am surprised. "So was I, Tnear,a or I wouldn't be here." "Nonsense," remarked Synnek, "it len t love that makes people marry. It's flattery, rank flat- tery. The man is pleased because the woman took a fancy to so inferior a being as he knows himself to be, and the woman's vanity is tickled for a precisely similar reason. 1\1 a word, each loves the other for showing poor ta&ta in choos- ing a mate."
[ THE CLUB WINDOW. I
[ THE CLUB WINDOW. I Great Britain consumes one-third of the world's crop of cotton. < < < Moravian missionaries have been maintained in Labrador since 1760. Geography as a science was introduced into Europe by the Moors in 1240. < • The Emperor of Austria is a King nitie times over, having altogether over a hundred titles. • ■ • Mr. Justice Wills, whose favourite recreation is mountaineering, took a keen interest in Alpine climbing even in his youth. Sir Thomas Lipton adopted early in life as his motto the words, Never despair; keep pushing on." Sir Frederick Treves, the King's surgeon, is an extremely powerful man physically. The strength of his wrists is phenomenal. Mr. H. G. Wells can scarcely remember the time when he did not want to write. He was only nine when he published a paper in imitation of Punch." < King Edward's chef, M. Manager, is believed to be one of the most accomplished cooks in the world. He has been decorated with the Victorian medal. The Emperor of Japan studied foreign languages in his youth with so little success that he decided to rely on interpreters in dealing with foreigners. Strangely enough, though he rules over the great naval Power of the East, he does not very much care for the sea. < « • Switzerland has more post offices in proportion to population than any other country. It The first law degree is believed ito have been conferred by the University of Paris in 1149. Tradesmen live, on an average, about two-thirds as long as farmers. n • In Japan coins are generally made of iron, while in Siam they are chiefly made of porcelain. • Europe's locomotives, as compared with those of the rest of the world, are in the proportion of three to two. The Czar's closest friend in this country is Prince Louis of Battenberg. • • About 3,500,000 people are on the sea, either as passengers or workers, every day of the year. • • Russia has 86 general holidays throughout the year. The deepest bog in Great Britain is to be found at Tregaron, in Cardiganshire, where the peat is from 20 to 25feefc in thickness. Pineapples are sometimes so plentiful in Natal that they are not worth carting to market, and consequently are used as food for pigs. Investigation of raindrops leads to the conclusion that some of the large ones must be more or less hollow, as they fail when striking to wet the whole surface enclosed within the drop. Sweden is the most Protestant country in the world. Of the population of 6,000,000 there are only 2000 Roman Catholics, the remainder of the population belonging almost entirely to the Lutheran Church. < The French angler uses with much success a tiny mirror attached to a line near the baited hook. The idea is that the fish, seeing itself reflected, hastens to snatch the bait from its supposed rival. • Mr. George Grossmith, who is at present on a farewell tour round England, is the most adept photographer in the theatrical profession, having practised with the camera for the last thirty years. The world annually makes and eats 1,946,000 tons of butter and cheese. < The King of Greece is the greatest linguist among monarchs he reads 12 languages, and speaks most of them. < < Mr. Arthur Collins, manager of Drury-lane Theatre, is a clever scenic artist. < < The use of cocaine has become quite common among the negroes in Southern towns and cities. They derive exhilaration and stimulation by sniff- ing it, but in a year or two they are physical and mental wrecks. In 1833 one of George Stephenson's engines smashed a farmer's waggon and 960 eggs. Dear me!" said the director, this won't do. Can't yon make your steam make a noise ? So Stephenson rigged up the first steam whistle. < Alfred Austin, the poet laureate, is reported to have replied to a newspaper-clipping bureau that offered its services: Mr. Austin does not care to pay for gnats' bites." Sheet-iron can now be rolled so thin that it takes 15,000 sheets to make a single inch in thickness. Light shines as clearly through one of these sheets as through ordinary tissue paper. • • • What is claimed to be the oldest specimen of pure glass is in the possession of the British Museum. This specimen is a small lion's head which bears the name of an Egyptian king of the eleventh dynasty. ♦ « The power to wag the ear is common among the West Indian half-breeds and the Maya and other derivatives of Mexico and Central America, and many whites have the power who hardly realise the fact. < < It is thought that the Egyptians and Etruscans were further advanced in the art of dentistry than any other people in that early period, for teeth filled with gold have been found in the mouths of mummies. Debtors in Siam, when three months in arrears, can be seized by the creditors and compelled to work out their indebtedness. Should a debtor run away, his father, his wife, or his children may be held in slavery until the debt is cancelled. According to the method which is now adopted for reckoning leap years in England, December, January, and February will be the summer months about 720,000 years hence. ) A couple of cyclists in London, were the princi- pals at a wedding, and they added a new wrinkle to marriage etiquette. The .bride and groom rode to the church on single machines, but they returned on a tandem. The greatest beer-drinkers in the world are the inhabitants of Munich, Bavaria. During a recent warm week 850,000 gallons of beer were consumed in that city, an average of two and one-half gallons for every man, woman, and child. The people who possess the best eyesight are those whose lands are vast and barren, and where obstacles tending to obstruct the sight are few. Eskimos will detect a white fox in the snow at a great distance, while the Arabs of the deserts have such extreme powers of vision that on the vast plains they will pick out objects invisible to the ordinarv eye at ranges from one to ten miles distant. The baobab tree, which has been transplanted from Africa to Asia and America, has a fruit whose pulp—"monkey bread "—is eaten by negroes, and seeds that are prized by natives of Madagascar for the oil that is extracted from them by crushing and boiling in water. The round seeds grow to a diameter of three-fourths- of an inch, and their kernels contain 53 per cent. of oil, with much nitrogenous matter,,
-rENGLAND AND JEWISH j MASSACRES.
ENGLAND AND JEWISH MASSACRES. The people of England, without distinction of creed, have been moved to the utmost indignation by the terrible massacre of Jews in Russia. On Monday night at a mass meeting of protest held in the Memorial Hall, Farringdon-street, under the auspices of the English Zionist Federation, tele- grams and messages of sympathy were read from, among others, Mr. Balfour, Mr. Chamberlain, Lord Rosebery, Mr. Asquith, Lord James of Hereford, Lord Rothschild, the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Archbishop of Westminster, the Bishops of London and Ripon, the Chief Rabbi, Mr. W. T. Stead, the Lord Mayor of London, Dr. Clifford. Rev. R. J. Campbell, and Mr. 1. Zangwill. "Government'have heard with pity and horror of Jewish massacres," ran the Prime Minister's telegram. They have already taken every step which seems possible to mitigate the calamity." As a token of deep mourning, tays Reuter, the Jewish clergy at Odessa have decided not to con- secrate marriages for thirty days, and on the thirtieth day to celebrate solemn services at all the synagogues for the martyrs. On the same day there will be a public fast. The Chief Rabbi Kreps, who has incurred general animosity among his co- religionists, has resigned.
I" ENTENTE MUNICIPALE* -
I ENTENTE MUNICIPALE* Sir Edwin Cornwall has received a letter from M. Brousse, president of the Municipal Council of Paris, inviting the members of the London County Council to seat the entente municipale of the two capitals by visiting Paris next January. The date suggested is January 8, the visit to extend to the 15th. The due course of public business would not be interfered with, as the committees of the council would not be sitting between December 19 and January 18. In his letter M. Brousse says: We cannot hope to equal either the splendour of your official recep- tion or the charm of your welcome in the intimacy of the home, but we will do our best to prove ta you the sincerity of our affection. The entire people of Paris, like the people of London, will take upon itself, I am sure, to give a true character and a high tone to this reunion, which will definitely seal the entente municipale of the two capitals and be a manifestation at the same time, symbolical and practical, of the entente henceforth indissoluble between the two countries."
IA HUGE BANQUET.I
I A HUGE BANQUET. A monster banquet was recently held in the Machinery Hall of the Champ de Mars, Paris, near the Eiffel Tower, when no fewer than 50,000 delegates of mutual aid societias eat down to dinner. They were attended by an. army of 5,000 waiters, and there were provided :-25,000 bottles of red wine, 25,000 bottles of white wine, 10,000 bottles of champagne, 25,000 bottles of beer, 10,000 bottles, of milk, 50,000 bottles of mineral waters, 30,000 cigars, and 5,000 boxes of cigarettes. The cost to each delegate for the dinner was only 3s. The delegates, with bands and banners, first mustered in the Tuileries Gardens and marched to the Trocadero, where they were addressed by President Loubet. After a concert the vast army of delegates, who came from all parts of France and from foreign countries, resumed its march across the river to the venue of the banquet. The seating of the 50,000 naturally took a considerable time, and the earliest to arrive were kept in. good spirits with music from the massed bands and with glasses of wine which they found poured out for, them. President Loubet entered the building when all were seated, and on a raised platform drank prosperity to mutual aid societies amid enthu- siastic applause. Sirloin à. la Roosevelt" was one of the principal dishes on the menu.
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Lieut. Crowther, who, together with a number of bluejackets, was injured by a staging col- lapsing at the submarine depot at Portsmouth, is making satisfactory progress, but Stoker Smith is in a critical condition. The escaping gasoline affected the men badly. A porter noticing the weight of two portman- teaus and a sack, lifted into an excursion train at Merthyr by two men, became suspicious. As a result the two passengers, with two other men, were remanded, charged with being in the un- lawful possession of brass bearings. All nations are asked to take part in next year's great exhibition at Christ-church, New Zealand. A parrot which has just died at Cardigan is said to have been in th.e possession of the same family for nearly eighty years. 0 A prisoner at Grimsby, who was ordered to be remanded, begged the Bench to send him to another gaol. He mournfully declared, "Thene is no light here, and nothing to read— absolutely nothing to occupy the mind. A man might go mad 'there in a week." The request was not complied with. Henry Emery, a middle-aged dentist, who said he had been out of work for twenty-three years, was given three months' imprisonment at Mary- lebone Police-court for begging. ,flow naval strength and all connected with it ig the very essence of our national life and prosperity," said the Archbishop of Canterbury at Exeter Diooeean Conference at Plymouth. Qwing to the Yarmouth Guardians refusing to fill the vacant position of chaplain at the workhouse, religious services are being volun- orlt í tarily undertaken by the vi-car and Free Church Council. The ratepa-yer4, are thus saved £70 a j year.
l _TOWN, TOPICS iI
l TOWN, TOPICS I I (From our London Correspondent.) I Threatened institutions, like threatened men, live long. Time and again has the Lord Mayor's Show been denounced as an antiquated and useless survival, quite out of place in this utili- tarian age, which ought to be swept away into the limbo of obsolete anachronisms, but, never- theless, it is a fact that the show has never been more popnlar than it is at the present day. Commercial men may grumble at the interrup- tion of business, and cynics may sneer at a mediaeval procession in the twentieth century, but the show remains as a potent attraction for the populace. This year's crowds were, in faet, the largest seen for some years past, and this though the weather was foggy, and Lord Mayor Vanghan Morgan's show offered no special attractions, being constructed on quite the old familiar lines. Fortunately the fog lifted some time before the procession started from the Guil d- hall, and though the Lord Mayor was denied the smiles of sunshine the weather was not unplea- sant for the vast numbers of citizens who gave a genial acclaim to their new Chief Magistrate, There was the usual display of fire engines manned by members of private fire brigades, there were bands of music in plenty, drawn both from the Regulars and the Volunteers, and the customary representation was given of City Companies and of open spaces which the City Corporation preserves for the good of the public. Three emblematical cars typified respectively "L'Entente Cordiale," "Peace," and "The Colonies." Perhaps the most stirring feature of the show was the presence of the boys. They were drafted mainly from Dr. Barnardo's Homes, from the Watts' Naval Training College, and from the training ship Warspite. Not only did they look trim and smart, but they appeared thoroughly to enjoy the occasion and appreciate the importance of the part they were called upon to play. The Barnardo boys had two cars gaily decked with yellow trappings showing the lads engaged in the work of various useful trades which they are taught within the homes. The last carriage of all in the procession was of course that of the Lord Mayor, who rode in the State Chariot from which Lord Mayors for many generations have acknowledged the salu- tations of the citizens. The simple life" craze has found new ex- pression in a club which is called The Caravaneers." The members, who are all chosen by severest scrutiny from among the highest flights of society, undertake to spend a certain minimum of time each year in small groups on wheels, over the country roads, "gypsying," without domestics and on a fixed maximum for provisions, which they cook and serve themselves. Five or six caravans are already built, with kitchen, salon, book and work room and bedrooms, for the simple-minded scions of the aristocracy. The founder, explain ing the scheme, declared that while the first idea was pleasure in simplicity, there was a moral utility in the practical lessons of life learned by the amateur gypsies; it was good for a countess to wash up dishes for three weeks, and all our life would be purer if instead of breathing the air, physically and morally un healthy, of artificial pleasures, we would seek our happiness in nature. London is rapidly filling wp for the winter season, and some of the principal places of resort are almost as full as they generally are in May or June. In the Prinoe's Restaurant, for instance, last Sunday evening every table was occupied, and among the guests might be recognised many of the best known representa- tives of politics, art, literature, and the drama not to speak of 'society leaders of both sexes, This fashion of dining out on Sunday, by the way, is becoming increasingly popular, and most of the fashionable restaurants now find Sunday their busiest day. The idea, of course, is to relieve one's servants of Sunday duties as much as possible, in order that they may have a days rest. It may be argued that increased duties are thrown upon the restaurant staff, which is, no doubt, true, but on the other hand a vast number of domestic servants are set free from duties that they would otherwise have to per- form. Some interesting experiments are about to be made by the Coal Smoke Abatement Society, in conjunction with H.M. Office of Works, with the object of encouraging the manufacture of open fire grates which emit little cr no smoke, afford the maximum of heat, and are economical in use. The venue of the experiments will be the great block of Government buildings now nearing completion at the southern end of Parliament-street. Twenty-five manufacturers haveflxed grates in the building, and the grate, which comes best out of the tests will be the one chosen for the furnishing of the offices. The coal used will be the ordinary Government offices fuel, and the some quantity will be placed in each grate, while all the fires will be lighted at the same time. The rooms must be heated to 60deg., and kept at about that temperature for eight hours. Fresh coal will, of course, be put on as required. Each chimney-pot will be watched by a man, who will mark a chart according to a definite standard. There are six smoke degrees of com- parison No smoke, light grey, dark grey, very dark grey, black, and very black. At the end of each day a composite chart will be compiled. giving elaborate details as to the character of the smoke emitted, the degrees of temperature (these being taken every half-hour) in the room. and the amount of coal consumed. At the end of the third day's tests the results will be tabulated and the award made. The battle of electricity versus gas seems to be going more and more in favour of the latter. The advent of the electric light has certainly stirred up the various gas companies to fresh efforts, and they have succeeded in making wonderful improvements in gas-lighting. The latest development in this direction is shown in the illumination which has just been installed at Broad-street Station in the City by the Gas Light and Coke Company. It was formerly lit by old-fashioned gas burners, and presented the usual gloomy and depressing appearance with which all travellers are familiar. The eight platforms are now lighted with 59 Sugg's Newark lamps each giving a light equal to 800 candle-power, the total lighting power being thus equal to 17,700 candle-power, with an hourly consumption of 590 cubic feet; Thus the lighting of the whole of the eight platforms only costs Is Sid. per hour with gas at 2s. lid. per 1000 feet. In addition to the foregoing the parcels-office, cloak-room, booking-offi'ce, &c., are lit by low pressure incandescent lamps, giving an illuminating power of 5040 candles for a gas consumption of 252 cubic feet, costing 8fd. per hour. The high pressure gas incandescent lamps are cheaper to use than electric arc lights even if the current is supplied by the Electric Company at l|d. per unit. At the same time the light possesses great brilliancy, is perfectly steady and entirely free from the fluctuations and shadows so common to the electric arc light. Colonel Arthur Haig, the newly-appointed Conservative agent, has all his life been a favourite of fortune. He attracted the atten- tion of the late Queen when he was a smart young lieutenant of Engineers at Aldershot, with the result that he was appointed to Prince Alfred's household, which was then being formed, and he served his Royal master when Prince, Duke, and reigning sovereign of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha. Another stroke of luck was the gift of an estate which came to Colonel Haig merely through his name. Two ladies were the sole surviving members of an ancient border family, the Haigs of Bemersyde, and when the rising Engineer officer came to the front they made ovetsares to him, proposing to adopt hiov and bequeath the property to him. They were anxious to carry out the local tradition, that Whate'er befalls, whate'er betide, Haig will be Haig of Bemersyde." When Cfofonel Haig re- tired from the Army he settled at his own place, but found time to take an active. interest in polities, with the result that he succeeded Sir Reginald Macleod in due course as Conservative agent for Scotland. T.
NEWS NOTES.
NEWS NOTES. Queen Alexandra has showed her sympathr with the distressed unemployed by subscribing &2000 to a fund for their relief, and appealing to all charitably disposed people in the Emphe to assist her. This noble lead is sure to be widely followed. Her Majesty's appeal comes at the most opportune moment-before the cold and frost has had time to render the position of the workless men and women and starving children even more intolerable than now. It is quite true ;that charitable subscrip- tions will not touch the root of the unemployed difficulty. But they will do one essential thing —they will relieve the existing distress, and give our legislators time to devise some sure method of getting at the root. The visit of the King of Greece to this country will remind the public that for many years the two nations have been on terms of complete sympathy. His Majesty's visit is of a semi-private nature, but opportunities have been given for a public manifestation of the" regard in which the King of Greece is held by the British people. His Majesty's visit to the Guildhall showed once more that the City of London knows well how to entertain foreign rulers with becoming magnificence. A St. Petersburg correspondent, while admit- ting that the situation in Russia is serious, and even critical, says that the reports as to the recent disorders have in some cases been ex- aggerated that the alarmist reports of an im- pending massacre of Jews and foreigners are grossly misleading and that there is no danger whatever for British subjects* TheHolySynod of the Russian Church has issued an appeal to the people against the maltreatment of the Jews. A Ukase issued by the Czar, proclaiming martial law in all the governments of Russian Poland, has caused great surprise and exaspera- tion in Warsaw. Lord Roberts is still advocating the forma- tion of rifle clubs. In opening a new miniature range at Wandsworth on Saturday his lordship gave an interesting account of the progress of the movement in various parts of the country, mentioning that in the last three months 35 new clubs had been affiliated to the Society of Miniature Rifle Clubs. This represented a membership of over 1000. Lord Roberts also stated that since he had expressed regret that his appeal for assistance for rifle ranges and rifle shooting had not met with much success, he had received a cheque for 100 guineas from the Mercers' Company. Sir Frederick Treves was elected Lord Rector of Aberdeen University on Saturday by 390 votes against 153 given for Mr. Ritchie, M.P. Sir Frederick opposed the late Chancellor of the Exchequer on academic 'and non-political grounds, and he probably owes his election by so large a majority to his distinguished position in the world of surgery. It is difficult, how- ever, to explain the fact that nearly 300 students did not vote. Probably they belonged to the political party, of which Mr. Ritchie is a member, but wished on this occasion to do nothing to prevent the return of the illustrious surgeon as Lord Rector of their university. That excellent movement known as "The Quieter London Movement "is making progress. At a meeting the other day it was stated that the association intends to promote a Bill in Parliament next session which will give the police power to suppress organ-grinding and street cries. The County Council by-laws have proved quite ineffectual for the protection of the public, as the organ-grinder can take refuge under the clause that makes his removal subject to reasonable objection. In these cases the police have no power to prosecute, but the householder who objects must himself summon the offender, and few people care to spend the time necessary for putting the law into opera- tion. In the course of the meeting it was stated that No organ notices were now placed up in about 200 localities, and that applications for further similar notices were being received faster than they could be dealt with by the association. The memorial services and meetings held in this country on Saturday and Sunday in con- nection with the awful massacre of the Jews in Russia were extremely touching. No fewer than 7000 people, chiefly of the Hebrew race, were present at the Assembly Hall in Mile-end, and it is reported that whilst the Hebrew chanting proceeded sobs broke out among the women of the congregation, and soon became general. Sir George White, the hero of Lady- smith, was present at a display of drill by the Jewish Lads' Brigade, and in the course of a short address said that England, the mother of nations, had stretched out the right hand of fellowship toward the Jews when other nations, calling themselves civilised, had treated them in a way which would be regarded as incredible if news of the massacre had not come to them with indisputable authority. The Prince and Princess of Wales have been busily occupied since their arrival at Bombay,, which has a rival claim to Glasgow as the second city of the Empire. The Prince laid the foundation stone of the new Museum on Saturday, and emphasised the interest taken by the King and by himself in educational and artistic progress. The Princess held a purdah reception of native ladies in the Town Hall. Her Royal Highness, according to Reuter, walked on priceless carpeting" of pure gold." She was deeply interested in the mysterious ritual attending the ceremony. The appointment of Dr. Nansen as First Norwegian Minister to the Court of St. James has been welcomed with great cordiality in thia country. His fame as an explorer has reached to the ends of the earth, and it is a great honour to us that he of all men should have been chosen to represent, in Great Britain. the newlv-formed Norwegian Government. Let us hope "that Dr. Nansen will be as successful in the realm of diplomacy as he certainly is dis- tinguished in the world of discovery and adven- ture. A fierce gale visited the east coast during last week-end, and inflicted much damage on shipping. Along tbe east and north-east coasts of Scotland its violence from the south-east quarter was greater than any experienced for a long time. At Walton-on-tlie-Naze the gardens of many of the houses near the 89a were flooded, and at Clacton the waves leapt over the sub- stantial sea wall. Volumes of spray drenched the promenades on the upper cliffs, and also the houses on the front foof t. from high-water mark. Several wrecks were reported, but fortunately the loss of life does not appear to be.so,.great as might have been expected.
!NORWAY AND ITS KING.I
NORWAY AND ITS KING. All the public buildings and many private dwell- ings at Christiania are beflagged in honour of the plebiscite, which was begun on Sunday to confirm or reject the decision of the Storthing authorising the Government to enter into negotiations with Prince Charles of Denmark for his acceptance of that throne. Throughout the country the people have taken part in the voting in very large num- bers. In Christiania there is a total electorate of 40,000. According to returns received in Christiania up to nine o'clock on Monday evening there had been given 167,431 ayes and 41.225 nays. In Christiania itself there were 24,027 ayes and 6960 nays.
II I FOOTBALL BEFORE JUSTICE.I
I I FOOTBALL BEFORE JUSTICE. At Essex Assizes on Monday, Mr. Justice Grantham sentenced James Mead, aged twenty- nine, labourer, to three years' penal servitude for breaking into the pavilion of the Leyton Football Club and stealing punching balls and other pro- perty. The case was adjourned from Saturday so that Jackson, the former captain of the Leyton team, might get away to play for West Ham United against Brighton and Hove. When the judge granted the adjournment, Jackson jumped into a motor-car in waiting and reached Upton- park in time for the match.
FATE OF THE CLAVERDALE'S j…
FATE OF THE CLAVERDALE'S CREW. f An expedition which was recently despatched from Vladivostok to discover the identity of a large steamer reported ashore on the coast to the south of that port has now returned to Vladivostok. The vessel in question turns out to be the British steamer Claverdale, which left Hong Kong for Vladivostok over twelve months ago, and had not since been heard of. The expedition reports that the stranded steamer has been plundered of everything movable by the natives. The Claverdale was laden with coal, and it is stated that about 500 tons of the cargo can be salved. There is also a prospect of floating the ship next spring. It is added that the expedition found -no trace of the crew of the Claverdale, numbering between thirty and forty men. It is presumed that the men have either been drowned or murdered by the natives. London underwriters have already paid on the total loss of the vessel.
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The inmates of the St. George's Workhouse, SomtJhwark, have made 11,464 useful articles of clothing during the past twelve mont-his while at the eame time repairing some €00 articles. There industry saved the ratepayers a gabistantial IS atfjBOney.