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[ALL RIGHTS RESERVEI^ For God and Labour. (THE STORY OF A GOOD WOMAN'S SIN.) BY C. HALL FEILDEN. AUTHOR OF A Good Mail's Sin," "When the Te-wiptev, F,ails," &c., &,c. CHAPTER XII. IN THE SERPENT'S POWER. Sir Donald Barclay did not see a great deal -of Herbert Blake, probably not half as much as Herbert Blake saw of him, for there was very very little thai, went on at Rainsford Hall which Blake did not know. Already he understood the characters of every- one of the servants employed in the household, and those whom he had discovered were either dangerous or useless to him had, for some reason, been dismissed. The same thing pertained withth-o officials pt the Mill. Only those who possessed subdued spirits were kept; anyone who had dared to dis- agree with him in any shape or form had had to find employment somewhere else. So far as the men were concerned! anyone who dared to look at him with suspicious eyes was no longer employed by the firm. Hence it was that Herbert Blake was not ex&ctly the best loved man in Blacktown. So far as his actions at the Hall were con- cerned nobody attributed them to him. He wac; too discreet for that. Any dismissing that had been done was never traceable to his actions. It was Sir Donald Barclay on whose shoulders the blame fell, and Sir Donald was really a willing victim. Perhaps it was because he knew that it was futile to fight against this man. Anyhow he was of an easy turn of mind, and when Blake thought and planned it saved him the trouble. But still, the conversation that he had had with Enid Burton that afternoon had somewhat roused him from his lethargic condition. Per- haps it was that she had touched his vanity in pointing out the tremendous power which he could wield, and as Blake entered his study he looked at him for the first time in a way in which a, master is apt to look at a man. "There seems to be a lot of trouble j?oirig on at the Mill, Blake," he said sharply. "1 ou know men won't stand it. You can be firm and treat them with an iron rod, but you don't want to put tJpikes in it." Blake walked leisurely across the room and threw himself into an armchair. He appeared not to have heard the remark that was addressed to him. "It isn't a bit of use," the baronet continued, "grinding down people who have to work for you. Temper a little bit of moderation in your actions. You will get on ever so much better. My father was a strong man. He stood no humbug from anyone, but he didn't conduct the Mill in the way in which you are trying to do it." Blake for a second looked at the young man contemptuousily before he replied. Then he flicked the ash off his cigar. You were speaking about your father, I think," he remarked, coolly, "and! the way in which he conducted the Mill. You forget that three years' enforced absence scarcely leaves you in a position to discuss the way in which he car- ried on the business." Donald looked up nervously. Whilet this man was before him all his power seemed to forsake him. However, he felt that it was wise not to allow himself to be brow-beaten. "I don't need reminding of that, Blake. Cir- cumstances have altered considerably. As your employer I have a right to speak, apart from the fact of being master of the Mill. You must alter your way of dealing with these men, or else some other arrangement will have to be made." Blake rose from his chair, and throwing his legs apart stood leisurely in front of the fire. To anyone entering the room at that moment, he indeed would have appeared the master. He was a tall man. He had the knowledge that when mental strength was allied with physical strength the result was rather impressive. And so it was that he towered over the young man before he condescended to reply. "You remarked, Sir Donald, that since your absence from here some time ago circumstances have altered. I quite agree with you. Now I want to be perfectly candid with you. It is still possible for the wheel of fortune to take another turn round and for circumstances to alter once more. In all your dealings with me whenever I want to do anything it must be done my way, and in order to encourage you to remember this fact I should like you to have ever before your mind, when you are attempting to go contrary to my wishes,, a certain place called the Red Lion Inn at Shoreditch." "For Heaven's sake, Blake," the baronet said1, "don't drag that beastly matter up—it is all dead and gone. Your silence is adequately purchased by the remuneration and the position which you have as manager of the Mill." "My remuneration will be sufficient, Blaire replied, "so long as it meets my requirements. My position will be satisfactory so long as it is not tampered with. Some gossiping individual has been here talking to you I can see. Be- fore you make up your mind again Sir Donald to censure me for reports which have been brought to your ears you will perhaps turn the matter over in your mind and see whether it is advisable. At the present moment you are drawing the interest on something like £ 2,000,000 capital. You have nothing to do— you can go away to the other end of the yor?1 if you wish to. The interest on the capital will still continue to come in. Leave me to do the work and to carry things out as I wish. Her- bert Blake is essential to the welfare of the Mill and any man who is dismissed it is because he is not conducive to the welfare of Herbert Blake." His remarks were made calmly but em- phatically, and before Sir Donald had time to appreciate that the law had been laid down to him the manager had taken his departure. CHAPTER XIII. I HERBERT BLAKE'S FIRST ENCOUNTER WITH I GRACE ROOKSTON. The Mill commenced work at 6 o'clock in the morning, and on this particular occasion, as Mr. Blake entered the building, he noticed one of the female hands in conversation with the porter. "What's the matter, Yates?" he said sharply. Yates looked at him nervously, as though he iwas afraid to speak. "There is no need for him to hide the matter, "whatever it is," the girl spoke for herself. "I should have been here at six o'clock this morn- ing. I am late, and I was explaining the reason why." Blake looked at her critically for a moment, and his keen eyes soon pointed out to him the strong resemblance between her and the photo- graph which he had found in Sir Robert Bar- clay's coffin. A conversation with the girl would be useful to him. "What is your name?" he said, still uphold- ing his managerial role. "Rookston,' she replied, not for one moment flinching. "You will come to my room in an hour's time, Miss Rookston," he said, as he moved away. "Strange how these things work out," he Murmured to himself as he entered the room where the late baronet had transacted all his business. Sir Robert Barclay's name had been removed from the door, and in its place was "Mr. Her- bert Blake, manager." He surveyed the room with pride. All the old fusty books and the ancient decrepid desk which, unknown to him, had contained the baronet's great secret, had been removed. At the present moment it looked more like a reception-room than an office. The floor was carpeted with a most expen- sive Brussels, and around the room were signs of luxury and certainly good taste. "This is only the beginning," he said to him- self. Money, the god whom I serve, will do more than this for me before I have finished. The time is not far distant when I shall have cringing at my feet a vast mass of humanity. All eating their daily bread with money pro- vided by me. Every breath they take will al- most be because I have permitted them to live." As he looked over the desk he found a letter from Nobbs, his confidential foreman. Next to himself, he was the most hated man on the premises, consequently Nobbs was useful to him. The letter simply contained the names of three men who had dared to voice the opinion that Herbert Blake was a "slave-driver." He turned to the telephone and rang up lIIr. Nobbs. "That you, Nobbs?" he asked; and the reply was evISently in the affirmative. "Dismiss those three ingrates who were mentioned in your letter immediately. That will do." And dieia he rang off. He threw himself back in an easy chair and allowed his thoughts to run riot. Incidentally his eye rested upon a sheet of the firm's notepaper. Yes, he thought to himself, "the firm is built on a rock. It started well—plain Robert Barclay was the name, I believe—then it became Sir Robert Barclay, and then Sir Robert Bar- clay and Son. The next move is close at hand. Barclay and Blake is casting its shadow, and when the total eclipse takes place it will be Herbert Blake, Mill Owner." A messenger boy interrupted his meditations by announcing the fact that a Miss Rookston was waiting to see him in answer to a sum- mons which she had received from him. Show her in," he said. As the tall, graceful girl entered the room, intuitively Blake rose from his chair. Something in the beautiful girl's face made him feel that for once he could not play his part. He knew in that moment that she was the daughter of the late baronet. There was no I question about the matter; still, he must not start by allowing his mind to be prejudiced. "You were late this morning, Miss Rookston," he said, sternly. "Any breach of discipline that takes place in this building I like to deal with myself." "I have noticed that," the girl said quietly. He looked at her almost awestruck for the moment. No one since he had entered the mill had ever dared to cast any imputation upon him .-at least, not in his presence. "Your case is very flagrant," he continued. I shall have to consider how I shall deal with the matter. "In doing so," the girl ventured, "will you take into consideration any reason which neces- sitated my being late?" "I scarcely think so," he said. "It is not for me to study reasons. If you buy finery with the money which you earn here instead of food, and, as a consequence, are at starvation's door, that is no business of mine." "The moneys which we make here," Grace said, "scarcely admits of our purchasing finery in even the most modest degree." Her words were spoken fearlessly, and in a quiet tone. Nothing as yet had roused the dominant Barclay blood which was in her veins. "Well now, come!" the manager broke in. "Since you have been a bit outspoken I will listen to the reason why you were late." "My father is ill," she said deliberately. "Oh—your father?" he said, feigning not to know the man "is he employed in the Mill?" "No," the girl replied, with a look in her eyes as much as to say "You know he isn't." "Does he work at all?" Yes, when he is well enough. "What is his business?" "He is an undertaker." Ah, yes—yes—now I remember. And you lay that he is ill-has he been ill long?" "Not very long." "Oh, then, perhaps his illness dates from the day of Sir Robert Barclay's funeral?" he said, watching her face at the same time. The girl thought for a moment, and then it occurred to her that her father's illness had com- menced that day. "You are right," she said, sharply; "what made you think that?" "Oh! only because some people were so attached to the Barclays that the dramatic death of the two might have upset all those who knew them. Still, that is by the way. And your mother? Couldn't she look after him instead of allowing you to be late?" "I have no mother," Grace replied. CI Ah-that is unfortunate; has she been dead long?" "I never remember her." These remarks satisfied Blake that he was on the right road, and he changed the, subject. "You have rather interested me, Miss Rookston," he said. "I think it is very possible that you might have an advancing position in the firm. I always like to feel that I have one or two people in every branch of the business from whom I can expect absolute confidence. Now I am just going to put you to the test a little bit. There is a young fellow belonging to the works who is very popular with the men, probably because he sides with all their unjustified grievances. I want you to tell me something about him. His name is Stephen Bond, I believe." The sarcasm of his tone as he mentioned the name brought the flashing eyes of the girl upon him, and the colour rose to her cheeks. "What you wish to know of Stephen Bond you can learn from him—he keeps nothing in the background.It "It might not be well for Stephen Bond' if I heard all that he knows about himself," the manager said, meaningly. "I would prefer that you told me the exact position in which he stands with the men, as to whether he is strong and influential." "I am here,1- the girl replied, "to answer as to why I was late this morning. I am in this build- ing to do my duty so far as the Mill is concerned. I am not here to answer for the actions of Stephen Bond, or anyone else." It was the first time Herbert Blake had been openly defied, and for that to be at the hands of a. girl was more than even his imperturbable spirit could stand. I You mustn't attempt to defy me," he said, "as his brows knitted together. I will make you speak." "You will never do that," she cried, drawing herself to her full height. "My father has never attempted to coerce me." "Your father," he laughed sarcastically. "He 18 «T*1C0 reprobate to hold up as a model." If you mean to cast any slur upon my father's head," Grace broke in, "if you have evil words to say of him, I can only tell you that you are a liar." Herbert Blake was now white with passion. "You shall suffer for this. You refuse to bend to my will. I will make you. I won't discharge you, although 1 could send you out into the world for your insolence. You shall stop here, and, mark my words, the day will come when vo'u will bend to my will." 9 "You have used your threats as far as you dare go," Grace said, between almost clenched teeth, when she had sufficiently recovered herself to speak. "In the rooms which I have just left are 2,000 people. If you looked in there now you would find that work has been suspended—they are waiting for my return. Had you laid a finger upon me, or treated me in any way unjustly, those 2,000 people would have struck work to-day." "And what are you going to tell them when you go back?" he said. For a moment Grace hesitated, then she tossed her head back proudly. "I shall tell them that the interview with our manager has been completely satisfactory. That he had endeavoured to extract information from me under threats, but at the end he hadi to yield and confess himself beaten." Had the girl's existence not been so necessary for the furtherance of Henry Blake's plans, the sudden frenzy which had seized him might have almost prompted him to kill her; but, with the wonderful mastery which he had over himself he quickly controlled his emotions. "Miss Rookston," he said, "provided that neither of our careers come to an untimely end, we shall often meet again. At one of those meetings you will cringe before me. Then I shall lay down such terms to you as to convince yoa that Herbert Blake is a man of his word, and that when he says he can crush a person's will he means what he says." And then he showed her out of the room. There was a dead silence as the girl stepped into the great work-room, and all eyes were turned upon her. She took the place where she stood day after day, and in answer to the inquiring look in her comrades' eyes, she did as she had told Herbert Blake she would. "My interview with our manager has been completely satisfactory," she said, firmly. "He endeavoured to extract information from me under threats, but at the end he had to yield and confess himself beaten." And the next moment the roaring sound of machinery almost deadened the murmur of satisfaction which greeted her ears. (To be continued.)

OLD FOR HALF-A-CROWN. An extraordinary account of the sale of a child to gipsies for 2s. 6d. was told at the Neath Police-court, when Albert Woold, a boy of eleven, and his eight-year-old sister, Martha Ellen, were charged with stealing three hens from a pheasantry and three ducks. The cul- prits confessed their crime, and the boy de- clared that he cut the heads off the birds and would have roasted them if he had possessed matches to light a fire. It was stated that after the theft the father gave the girl to some gipsies, from whom she was taken by the police. The boy was ordered to a reformatory for five years, and the girl was sent to the cottage homes. This decision necessitated a consideration of her case by the guardians later in the day. The clerk said that the father, George Albert Woold, of Skewen, received 2s. 6d. for the girl, and handed the following letter to Mrs. Rose Lovell, to whom he sold the child: I do give my child to Mrs. Rose Lovell in her care and to be answerable for her care for good, and i don't want to take her back again after she has been clothed and dressed, and i de singe my name and never to take her back again, and she is to rite to me once a month to let me no how she is getting on, and i have singed my hand this day, July 20th, 1906, never to have her back again.—GEORGE ALBERT WOOLD.

LIGHTNING COURTSHIP. The wedding of Mr. James Baird Jackson and Miss Mary Slaker, of Huntley, Aberdeen- shire, which took place at Oban, is invested with a strong tinge of romance. The parties met each other for the first time a week pre- viously. Mr. Jackson was cruising in his yacht the Eileen, and on arriving at Inverness met Miss Slaker at a friend's house. It was a case of love at first sight; he proposed, was accepted, and the sequel was reached in the chambers of an Oban solicitor, where they were married by declaration of the sheriff. Mr. Jackson is a young gentleman of wealth, and is a grandson of the late Mr. Baird, of Gartsherrie, who is well remembered for his extensive benefactions to the Church of Scotland. Miss Slaker is said to have been a nurse.

TEA TABLE TALK. Miss Ellen Terry delights in keeping anniver- saries, and never forgets the birth and wedding days of any of her intimate friends. The Duchess of Skaane (Princess Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden)—better known to English people as Princess Margaret of Connaught—per- haps more than any other English Princess resembles her illustrious grandmother, the late Queen Victoria, in the days of her youth. The infant son of Mr. and Mrs. Kennerly Rum- I ford (Mme. Clara Butt) was baptised at St. Paul's, South Hampstead. Princess Christian consented to become godmother to the child, who received the names of Victor Ian Melton. Lord Linlithgow's two sisters, the Ladies Es- tella and Dorothea Hope, have a charming place near Sevenoaks, where they go in for farming; their speciality i the breeding of tiny Shetland ponies. < A police ordinance has come into effect in Paris requiring laundries to disinfect all gar- ments as soon as they are received. They must. be conveyed to the laundries in hermetically sealed bags and immediately on their arrival be scalded in an antiseptic solution. • For the first time on record a woman's name appears on the list of Presidents of the Eistedd- fod, to be held this year at Carnarvon, the lady being Mrs. Alicia Adelaide Needham, the gifted Irish song composer. The Duchess of Somerset has for many years actively interested herself in promoting tne wel- fare of children, which she herself describes as the best work of her life," and her Grace recently said that she would like to see a Minister for the Children' in the Govern- ment. Women postage-stamp collectors are increas- ing in number, and at a recent philatelic ex- hibition, gold and silver medals were offered by the Prince of Wales to, and were won by, women collectors. Madame Adelina Patti always says that her most mirthful recollection is her first appear- ance as Lucia in London. She was very anxious to dress the part correctly, so she studied her Walter Scott, and finding that Lucia in the earlier scenes was described as wearing a scar- let cloak, she discarded the traditional pearl- grey silk and tartan scarf of the Italian prima donna, and came before her audience in the guise of the original bride. But the audience had accustomed itself to tradition, and did not recognise Lucia in such homely attire. They did not know what I was about," laughs Patti. I do believe they thought I was going to play Little Red Riding Hood, and was poking fun at them." A shopkeeper in Berlin lately dismissed one of his young lady assistants because she per- sisted in using scent before appearing in the shop. Some customers, it was alleged, refused to be served by a scented assistant." The young lady brought an action for wrongful dismissal, producing a sample of bottle of perfume in court, and the judge, finding in her favour, ordered the employer to pay about six guineas. Lady Curzon was the first American to enter India as the wife of a Viceroy, but not the first American to be a Viceroy's wife. The Marquis of Wellesley, one of the greatest of the rulers of India, married secondly, in 1825, Miss Marianne Caton, daughter of Mr. Richard Caton, of Maryland, and widow of Mr. Robert Paterson, whose sister Elizabeth was tHe first wife of Jerome Bonaparte, King of Westphalia. Another of Miss C a ton's sisters married the seventh Duke of Leeds. Gardening is the favourite hobby of Ladv Helen Vincent, and at Esher Place she has a charming cottage garden planted with old- fashioned flowers surrounding a quaint sundial, and enclosed by thick yew hedges a pretty scented garden," where such plants as helio"- trope, verbena, honeysuckle, and mignonette flourish in abundance. Her favourite corner is a lovely rose garden, where roses of every variety are trained round pillars and over a long pergola. A Berne doctor has discovered that tea made with melted snow is a cure for nervous diseases. The doctor declares that he has cured people with this elixir when all other remedies have failed. He melts the snow over a slow fire, and then boils the water. Whether he uses incanta- tions is not stated. The tea has rather a dis- agreeable taste, but so have most medicines. Dont sew too much; don't embroider too many hours a day; don't do one thing exclu- sively and all the time, for this means a strain upon the eyes. And when there is a strain upon the yes, the?e will surely be a wrinkle in the forehead. Vary your occupation if you want your face to be nice and smooth, tranouil, and at ease. In her younger days Queen Maud of Norway was famous for her partiality for athletic exer- cises and sports of various kinds, and was gene- rally regarded as one of the cleverest and most versatile members of the Roval family. Out of doors, boating and cycling were two of her chief delights, while chess, bookbinding, and photo- graphy are among her other hobbies. She is also a first-rate linguist, while she takes a keen interest in public affairs. w *■ I The Shah of Persia was the donor of perhaps the costliest thimble in England, which is the property of a lady with whom he once took tea. He was her. guest but for half an hour, and the present of a thimble encrusted with jewels of the finest water was surely a right Roval acknow- ledgment. It is, however, she declares, the most uncomfortable thimble she ever tried to wear. If you would avoid worry, train yourself to be methodical, and to act up to the good old maxim of sever putting off till to-morrow what can be done to-day. Half the women in England suffer from their neglect of the little details of every day life and their habit of procrastination. In household affairs, social duties, or financial matters, make a rule of clearing up as you so on; in this way you will save yourself an infi- nite amount of trouble and worry. You will also find not only that your own life is far simpler, but that things go much more smoothly for those around YOU. • The Queen of Holland and the Dutch nation have again been disappointed in their hopes of an heir to the Throne, and general sympathy will be felt for both the young Monarch and her people. It will be noted with satisfaction, how- ever, that her Majesty's condition gives no occa- sion for anxiety, and since Queen \Vilhelmina is yet only 26 a young Prince of Orange mav still be expected in due course. When the late Quet-u Victoria's first child proved to be a girl her Majesty made the laughing remark, "Never mind-, the next shall be a boy" and the Queen of Holland will doubtless have philosophy enough to bear her present disappointment in a similar spirit. < Lady Carlisle, as is well known, diffsrs pro- foundly on political and social -questions from her husband and other members of the family but these divergencies do not interfere with their domestic happiness. Lady Dorothy Howard, the elder of her two unmarried daughters, inherits her mother's talents, and, like her, is an excellent public speaker. She was formerly a pjpil r. t Girton College, and is an accomplished lingmst. The Queen Alexandra Imperial Military Nursing Service, of which her Majesty is pren- dent, lias more than 200 members, consisting of a matroi in chief, principal matrons at the War Office and at Pretoria, and 26 matrons, 85 sisters, and 89 staff nurses in military hospitals in England, Egypt, and South Africa, and at Lhe Mediterranean stations.

MAGISTRATE'S PETITION. I Mr. Charles Eustace Hutton, J.P., of Rid- worth Dale, Nottinghamshire, on Monday peti- tioned before Sir Gorell Barnes for a divorce on the ground of the misconduct of his wife with the Hon. Malcolm Lyon, a captain in the 2nd Life Guards. There was no defence. Mr. Bar- nard, K.C., for the petitioner, said the parties were married on July 13, 1902, at St. Peter's, Pimlico. They lived happily till December, 1905. when the wife went to the South of France for the benefit of her health. While there Cap- tain Lyon appeared on the scene. Ultimately, after a visit to Bournemouth, the wife told her husband that she was in love with Captain Lyon, and wanted to go away with him. The petitioner stated that he had tried to reason with his wife, but without success, and he had also pointed out to the co-respondent, in the presence of Mrs. Hutton's father, the stupidity of encouraging the respondent in her foolish infatuation. He learnt that when he thought his wife was staying at the Newlyns Hotel, Bournemouth, she was really occupying a suite of rooms with Captain Lyon at the Hotel Dore, and also that when she went to the South of France Captain Lyon was in attendance. The Judge granted a decree nisi with costs.

KILLED BY COLLIERY COLLAPSE. I A terrible accident occurred riear Bishop Auckland, Durham. Four hewers and a boy were working a mile and a half from the shaft bottom of Bolckow, Vaughan, and Co.'s colliery, and no indication of danger had been observed, when a large section of the roof fell on them. All were buried beneath the debris, and I Samuel Wilson and the boy, Alfred Perry, were killed outright. The crash of the collapse and the cries of the others attracted the attention of workmen elsewhere in the colliery, and a rescue pary set to work promptly. After two hours of digging three men were brought out alive and not very seriously injured. A fall of rock at Vivian Colliery, Abertillery, caused the death of William Owen and injured William Clothier so severely that he died. I

PRIEST AND HIS FLOCK. I An extraordinary state of affairs reigns in the Keadue district, co. Roscommon, consequent on the action of the parishioners of the locality, who refuse to recognise the right of the parish priest, Father Meehan, to appoint a teacher to the Greaghnafarnagh national school. Some time ago Father Meehan, as manager of the school, appointed a stranger named Fleming, against the wishes of the people, who wanted the son of the former teacher Gaffney to be in- stalled, said they should have a voice in the matter, and insisted on popular control of the school. As the priest refused, scenes of violence en- sued, and graves were dug outside the residence of Father Meehan and the teacher. The latter has a police escort to and from school, where the attendance has fallen off perceptibly owing to the people's determined stand. The Rev. Dr. Hoare, Roman Catholic Bishop of the diiocese, has ex-communicated several leaders of the re- volt. Over twenty people^ were summoned for intimidation.

Sweet Girl: uMother, George told me solemnly that that pretty hairpin-holder he gave me cost five dollars; yet to-day I saw exactly the same kind on sale at ten cents." Mother: "You know, my dear, George is very religious. Most likely he bought that at a church fair." Charlie," said his mother, when that boy threw stones at you, why didn't you come and call me??" "Call you!" replied Charlie, in tones of disgust. Why, you couldn't hit a barn door."

I INTERESTING ITEMS. I The Duke of Devonshire has become a vice- president of the Decimal Association. John Augustus McHenry, 84, was danger- ously burned by a fire in Newington-butts. James Rowe, 25, single, of Hillington-strest, Walworth, hanged himself in the back garden., "There ought to be a law against any man playing golf before he is 35," said Professor Allbut at Leeds. The German Emperor arrived at Swinemunde on his return from his cruise in Northern waters. The Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland and Lady Aberdeen arrived at Banbridge from Dublin on a three days' visit to Ulster. The Princess of Wales left Marlborough House for Frogmore. She will stay there with her children for the next few weeks. The British Mediterranean fleet, with the ex- ception of H.M. battleship Formidable, sailed from Gibraltar for Malta. Official reports show that the net total loss of insurance companies through the San Fran- cisco disaster was £ 33,000,000. At the next meeting of the Greenwich Borough Council a scheme to purify the sewers by the introduction of ozone will be discussed. Colonel F. R. C. Carleton, late Durham Light Infantry, was married at Norbury, Derby- shire, to Miss Alice Diana Clowes, daughter of the late Mr. S. W. Clowes, M.P. There was a brilliant display of flowers, parti- cularly carnations, at the fortnightly show of the Royal Horticultural Society, at the Royal Horticultural Hall, Westminster. A conference representative of the command- officers of volunteers at the War Office dis- cussed with Mr. Haldane and the Army Coun- cil matters relating to the Volunteer Force. A meeting between King Edward and Kaiser Wilhelm has now been definitely arranged. It will take place in Germany during the autumn. The resignation, owing to ill-health, of Prof. John Wortley Axe, M.R.C.V.S., the chief veterinary officer for the county, was accepted I at a meeting of the Surrey County Council. A verdict of "Accidental death" was re- turned at the Salford inquest on Alfred Hall and William White, who were killed through an explosion at Pendleton Colliery, the deepest pit in England. A young farmer named Mullins, aged 37, has been found dead in his bed near Wexford. He had been lying dead about four days. For the parts they played in the Singer sew- ing-machine frauds Samuel Cohen and William Mackie were each sentenced to 18 months', and John Robertson to 12 months' hard labour at the Leeds Assizes. The New South Wales autumn and winter lambing amounting to 10,376,000. It is calcu- lated that at the end of the year the sheep in New South Wales will number between 45 and 46 millions—the highest number since 1896. A fortnight ago Elizabeth Jane Richardson, who had recently returned from Australia to Wolverhampton, died suddenly. The jury found that she had poisoned herself with ammo- niated mercury. It appears that her married life had been unhappy. The Turkish Government does not altogether encourage tourists. Guide-books bearing upon any part of the Turkish Empire are seized when found in the baggage of persons arriving from f abroad. They may, however, be secured again through the medium of a diplomatic representa- tive. "Death by misadventure" was the verdict at the Rochester inquest on John Alexander Sullivan, 28, employed at the Chattenden Ex- plosives Works. He kept some powder in a tin, and upon trying to open it he jarred the box. The powder exploded, and he received fatal injuries. In Inverness-shire and Caithness-shire good average bags of grouse are anticipated. The Duke of Connaught, with a large party, visited the Austrian Exhibition at Earl's-court. For killing cats and selling them as hares, two women in Meissen (Germany) have been fined 15s. each. The Labourers (Ireland) Bill was read a third time and passed in the House of Lords. This was the Bill on which the Government were defeated. For assaulting a girl, aged 13 years, Daniel Leary, a British ship's fireman, has been sen- tenced to 16 years' penal servitude at CODen- hazen. Mr. Francis, the magistrate at the Lambeth Police-court, was called on to decide whether or not pigeons are "noisy animals," by a man who said his sleep was disturbed by his neighbour's birds. He was told to get others to join in the complaint, when the case will be dfecided. The Bishop of Sodor and Man, speaking at the prize day ceremonies at King William's College, Douglas, said that he valued military training, and looked back with pleasure to the time he was a Volunteer at Cambridge. Four members of his university squad, he said, were now bishops. The South Wales Colliers' Association de- manded an advance of 5 per cent. in colliers' wages at a meeting at Cardiff. A young woman named Barrow was thrown from her bicycle beneath the wheels of a farm waggon at Dorking, and severely injured. The treasurers of the Middlesex Hospital have received £1,0050 from Mrs. Arthur Busk to endow a bed in perpetuity in the cancer wards of that institution. Lieutenant General Sir Neville Lyttelton, chief of the general staff, will direct an impor- tant staff ride in Wales from September 3 to B. Only senior officers of the general staff will attend. The medical superintendent of the St. Pan- eras Workhouse stated at an inquest on a pauper ninety years old that another inmate of the workhouse had reached the age of 104. A verdict of "Accidental death" was returned at the Holborn Coroner's Court on Grace Evelyn Maud Ball, Annie Fraser, and Maud Ethel Ball, the victims of the fire at Tower- street. The chairman of the Strand Board of Guar- dians said at the meeting that 60 of the board's old pupils were serving in naval and military bands. Three had become army bandmasters, and one had gained a commission. The King has received an address on the work of the Church of England Waifs and Strays Society during the last twenty-five years, signed by the Dukes of Fife, Devonshire, and Portland, and the Earls of Pembroke, Leven, and Melville, and Sandwich, and the Bishop of London, and has given a donation of one hundred guineas in aid of the Forward Movement" of the society. I suppose, nowadays, a great deal of busi- ness is done by telephone," remarked Judge Lumley Smith in the City of London Court. "It frequently leads to disputes. I wish people would write instead of telephoning." A couple were married at Crayford Parish Church, who were both deaf and dumb. The officiating clergyman pointed to the lines in the marriage service with his finger as he read them, and the bridegroom signified his assent by an inclination of the bead and the bride by making a guttural sound. i Susan Butler, aged seventy-two, known as "The Diamond Duchess" on account of her" fondness for diamonds in her earlier days, was sent for trial from Tower-bridge on a charge of helping a man to steal luggage at Waterloo Station. At one time, said a detective, the woman was an expert pickpocket, and "worked" the cross-Channel boats. Since the late rains hundreds of roach and jack have been found floating helpless or life- less in the river Stort at Bishop's Stortford. One lad removed sixty dying roach of fine size with a landing net. It is believed locally that the fish have been pOIsened by disinfectants used in the street gullies, and by the exudations from motor-cars.

GARDEN GOSSIP. o American Blight.— If any reader ha.s th<? slightest trace of American blight or woollv aphit in his garden, let him take immediate steps tc clear it right out. There are several advertised insecticides which are excellent for the purpose, but few are superior to a wineglassful of paraffin in one gallon of very soapy water. To secure a perfect amalgamation of paraffin and water is not an easy matter, but if the oil is added when the water is boiling furiously, the operation will ho much simplified. Application to the infested trees may be through a spraying syringe, directing alternate syringefuls into the bucket and ou to the trees. Budding Stocks.—At some time or another everyone with a garden does a certain amount of budding, and thereby increases his interest in gar- dening. The season for doing this work extends to the middle of August or thereabouts, and ex- perience may be gained on Roses or fruit trees, according to convenience. As long as the bark will lift sufficiently to allow the bud sheath being slipped into position, the condition of the bud need not disturb the operator. The bud should be cut with a bark sheathing anywhere about two inches in length, the bud being situated in the middle. In taking the bud, a thin slice of wood will be cut out, and this must be removed by in- serting the point of the knife under one end, and grippingthe tip thus raised between the thumbnail, and the blade. If it either flies cut or hangs very tightly, the bud is not in condition. When coming away, there should be gentle resistance, and nothing more. The cutting and tying in have been so many times described, and are so simple, that they need not now be dealt with. < » Sweet Peas.—As usual, these splendid annuals have done well where the preparations were thorough, and proper attention has been given through the whole season. Many rows and clumps are now, however, beginning to get over, and where successional plants are not coming along an effort must be made to give the old ones a new lease of life. Cut the plants hard over to remove all pods and blooms, and encourage fresh breaks by regular watering and fairly frequent applica- tions of weak liquid manure. Any kind may be used, but those of a nitrogenous .nature will bo found most serviceable for the purpose in view. If a mulching of manure can be applied, it will do considerable good. The secondary flowers will not be carried on such bold strong stems, but they will be very welcome. Flower Beds.—These ought to be looking especially attractive by this period and no efforts should be spared which will tend to maintain or improve the display. The surface of the soil should be kept quite loose, by pricking over with a small fork or a pointed stick in those cases where the use of the Dutch hoe is precluded. If any gaps should occur, they must be filled up from the stock of plants held in reserve for this purpose. Keep all dead flowers picked off, and do not water until it is imperative. w w Black Currants.—When bushes have finished fruiting it is an excellent plan, if time can possibly be found, to look them over carefully with a view to the prompt removal of any growths which are obviously superfluous. Black Currants produce U, their fruit on young wood, and old branches left in the centre cannot be of any future service to the grower; on the contrary, the reverse may be the case, as they will deprive the young shoots of light and air, and thus prevent perfect maturation. The work can, of course, be done in the autumn, but now, when the bushes are full of leaves, it is much easier to see which branches must come out, and no advantage accrues, upon leaving the work to have attention later. < Bush Fruit for Transplantation.—Those who are so fortunate as to have some healthy young Gooseberries and Red and White Currants for moving during the coming autumn, and from which it is desired to have fruit next summer, might well commence their preparatory work at once (says a writer in The Gardener "). If the operator will take a very sharp spade, and cut down all round each bush, the travelling roots will be severed. Then fill in the cut made by the spade, and give occasional heavy soakings with pure water, well up to the stems. The result of this will be that hundreds of new fibrous roots will be formed between now and November, and it will be a matter of the greatest ease to lift each plant with a perfect balrof soil and roots. The advantage of this is obvious—no roots will be severed in the process of moving, not the slightest check will be given to the plants, and they will almost assuredly crop well in the followii season. # m Asparagus.—Neglected beds of asparagus are a fruitful cause of a weedy garden. So long as the coveted "grass" is in fit condition to use, the beds receive every attention, but directly cutt?bg ceases weeding does too, in many instances. We all know how rapidly the asparagus grows after the cutting of the plants is finished. I need scarcely say that weeds grow quite as fast, but they are not clearly seen, so are allowed to remain and ripen seeds. When the wind blows, the light, fluffy kinds of seeds are borne to other parts of the garden, and so more trouble is caused. Destroy the weeds while they are quite small; it entails less labour, and the asparagus greatly benefits. ♦ » Peaches and Nectarines.—All amateurs are not so fortunate as to have the opportunity of growing these choice fruits for themselves, but those who have will find an important work awaiting attention. It is imperative that the ripening fruits be pre- vented from falling to the ground, as this means spoliation. The easiest way of securing the fruits is, no doubt, to hang fish netting in such a fashion as to catch every fruit that falls, but if each one can have a net of its own it is better. Pieces of netting can easily be made into bags for enclosing the Peaches, and attached to the growth immedi- ately above the fruit. Picking may be done a few hours in advance of perfect ripeness, but it is not really necessary when one of the above methods of preventing damage can be adopted. Onions.—Very large bulbs, which are being grown for exhibition, are liable to split when rain follows a spell of dry weather. To prevent this splitting, place some very dry soil--dry as dust, in fact-from the potting shed or wherever it can be found, around the bulbs in the form of a mulch, about two inches deep. Although a continuous rain will penetrate the mulch, showers will not saturate the soil around the bulbs to any great extent, so that the roots will not have the chance of absorbing a lot of moisture. # # # Brussels Sprouts.—These are now growing freely, and the young sprouts will soon form on the stems. No time should be lost in giving copious waterings of liquid manure, either from the farmyard or obtained by soaking manure in a tank of water. Do not wait until dry weather comes before applying the liquid, but give it durii; g rainy weather. There is no better Ime--the soii is moist, the manurial properties will thorough iv permeate the whole of the soil, and the plants will show signs of improvement very quickly. Small quantities are better than none at all. Planting.—Take every opportunity of fillin- all ground as it becomes vacant with Savovs Cab- bages, late Broccoli, end other winter andlnri'i-J crops. A large sowing of Turnips should alsVhe got in. Roses on Wal,ls.-Aong all the various plants which are grown to aaorn walls, Roses are per- haps, the most popular. And yet in the maioritv of cases the plants look weak and half-starved.ami are commonly infested with mildew or green fly In these circumstanc-es it is impossible for them to do well and produce fine blooms. If they are sup- plied with an abundance of water at the roots a r., have an occasional application of liquid manure, it is quite certain that we shall see much less mil- dew, which is far more prevalent on starved plants than on those that are well fed. Green il v must be kept down by applying a solution of Quassia and soft soap as frequently as may be necessary, and if some of the old growths arc cut clean out every year the Roses will soon be vastly improved.