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

I Welshmen Qualifying for Home Rule. I AN OBJECT LESSON. In a case heard at the Bristol Police Conrt on Tuesday, when a Cardiff youth was charged with assaulting a tram conductor by biting hie ear, the Company's solicitor said that defendant was a Welsh tripper, and the tram officials had more difficulty with half-a-dozen such trippers than with all the population of Bristol put together. -=

I The Cockermouih Election. The result of this election, announced on Satur- day, was a gain to the Unionist party, Sir John Randies (U.) polling 4,593 Hon. Frederick Guest (L.), 3,903; and Mr Robert Smillie (Lab.), 1,436.

I The Montague Abandoned. Salvage vork on the wrecked Montague has been practically completed. The crew will abandon the vessel to-day. Some of the attendant vessels have already left.

Motor Car Smash near Barnstaple. Miraculous Escapes. An automobile, belonging to a French gentleman, was wrecked near Barnstaple last night, in collision with a pony trap; the occupants of both vehicles had miraculous escapes.

I For the R.Y.S. Prizes. Cowes. Big schooners are racing for the Royal Yacht Squadron prizes in fine weather.

Receiving Order against former Lord Mayor of London. A Receiving Order has been made at London Bankruptcy Court against Sir Horatio Davies, ex- M.P., for Chatham, formerly Lord Mayor of London.

I Reduction of Dunlop's Capital. The Chancery Court, to-day, sanctioned the reduction of the Dunlop Pneumatic Tyre Cos. capital by £ 1,875,000.

I The Townshend Enquiry. In the Townshend enquiry, to- day, Mr Robins was examined con- cerning expenditure on the. Marquess's account.

Cricket. I Kent, out, 479.

I Weather Forecast. Cool, showery weather pre- dicted. Printed and Published by THE COUNTY OBSERVER," NEWSPAPER and PRINTING COMPANY, Limited, b\ JAMBS HBNRY CJS,ARK, at their Offices, Bridge Street, Usk, in the County of Monmouth, Saturday, August lith, igo(-

W THE CHAMELEON. There is nothing in the world will induce a chameleon to take even the slightest apparent interest in its surroundings unless it be the sight of what it considers a toothsome insect. The chameleon's method of taking its prey is very curious, being effected by shooting out an enor- mously long, worm-like tongue, the end of which is clubbed and covered with a viscid secre- tion, to which the insects stick and are thus drawn into its mouth. The actual projection of the tongue is made with marvellous rapidity. The eyes of the chameleon are very curious; they are very large, but, with the exception of a small opening in the centre, are covered with skin; they are also entirely independent of each other, with the result that occasionally the crea- ture is looking forward over its nose with one eye while with the other it is intently watching something directly behind it.

DATES OF NOTABLE INVENTIONS. Some notable inventions have dates assigned I to them in Delmar's History of Monetary Sys- tems." The first wind and watermills were intro- duced into France, Holland, and England some time during the twelfth century. The first saw- mill in England was erected by a Dutchman in' 1633; the spinning-wheel was invented in 1530; the diving-bell in 1538; and great improvements were made in ships during Queen Elizabeth's reign. The canal which connected the Loire and Seine was begun in 1605 and completed in 1640. Two thousand square miles of swamp lands were drained in Lincolnshire, &c., 1629-52. Tram- ways were invented at Newcastle in 1602. The steam-engine was invented by Blasco de Garay, of Barcelona, 1543. An armoured paddle-wheel vessel, moved by crank and hand power, was employed, 1574, in the relief of Leyden (Motley); the experiments of Giambattista della Porta were made in 1601; of Solomon de Caus, a Frenchman, 1615; a wheel driven by steam was exhibited by Branca, an Italian engineer, 1629; the Marquis of Worcester's steam-engine was seer in motion by the Grand Duke of Tuscany al Vauxhall in 1656, and is described by the Mar quis in his "Century of Inventions," 1663; Gil bert produced frictional electricity in 1600; Schwenger, a German, planned an electrica machine, 1636; and Otto von Guericke construe ted one in 1647. Coach is a Hungarian word, meaning a covered carriage suspended on straps In modern times coaches and carriages WNO first constructed in France, 1547, and in England 1555. Carriages were first let for hire in Paris at the Hotel Fiacre, whence the name of fiacre, it 1650. In 1550 there were only three pleasure car riages in Paris, in 1580 only two in England. Turnpike gates were introduced in 1663.

« JAPAN'S PAT*LIAMENT. The Japanese House of Representatives con- sists of 300 members, elected by ballot, each member receiving a salary. Its House of Peers consists of members of the Royal Family, princes and marquises, counts, viscounts, and barons, elected as representatives of the several orders, and persons elected for seven years by and from the fifteen highest taxpayers in each city and prefecture.

THE ZOO'S FOOD BILL. The denizens of the London Zoo" cost the society nearly £3,500 a-year in food alone. They are terrible idlers, yet they live like lords. In one year they consume, in the form of soup, forty-eight large jars of extract of beef. Fish figures very largely in their menu, 22,703 whitings, 4711b. of plaice, 2,2011b. of flounders, 546 herrings, and 1,488 pints of shrimps having to be bought for them in the year. A delicacy in the way of fowl-heads—18,720 of them—was another interesting item. Although Slgcwt. of potatoes, 137 loader of hay, and 133 loads of clover form part of a year's food, our captives in Regent's Park are not even bordering upon vegetarianism, for they manage to eat 207 horses, at a cost of £ 249 6s. 6d., in a twelve- month, as well as 270 goats, worth £ 160 4s. 5d. Nor are they satisfied without dessert. Nearly 2,000 dozen bananas, 11 bushels of apples, and 25cwt. of monkey-nuts were paid for by the Zoo cashier. .Â.

SOME CURIOUS LAWS. The old Blue Laws" of Connecticut are not generally known to the American public, far leas to English people. Here are a few interest- ing specimens: "If any pemon turns Quaker he shall be banished, and not suffered to re- turn upon the pain of death"; No one shall run on the Sabbath Day or walk in his garden or elsewhere except reverently to and from meeting"; "If any man .shall kiss his wife or wife kiss her husband on the Lord's Day the party in fault shall be punished at the discretion of the court of magistrates"; "A debtor in prison swearing he has no estate shall be led out and sold to make satisfaction."

v WINE FROM GERMS. I Wine germs, which make it possible to dupli- cate the famous winee of Bordeaux, Burgundy, or the Rhine, are obtained from the dregs of casks which have contained genuine old wine, and those of each particular brand are placed for safe keeping in a substance prepared from Japanese isinglass and fruit-juice. In the jelly. like mass the germs won establish a colony. When needed, sufficient germs may be placed m a tube of sterilised fruit-juice. After two or three days the juice will be in full fermentation, with plentiful effervescence. This process is said to impart to the wine the exact bouquet and characteristics of the wine from which the gerxna originally came. AN out-of-the-way Bag, the only one of its kind ia Scotland, flies oyer Mr. Andrew Carnegie'e ouuiBion, Skibo Castle. It has the Union Jack OD one side and the Stars and Stripea on the other. It is made of the two flace secured together.

e ASSELL S MftOAZIWE i Brightest and Best of the Magazines-Profusely Illustrated Throughout Famous for the Excel- lence of its Short Stories. The Foremost Writers, and Artists only. Monthly, Sixpence. 1111111111111111 II IIi; Cassell's Magazine Monthly, Sixpence. Amongst the Contributors are: MARIE CORELLI, RIDER HAGGARD, HALLIWELL SUTCLI, [ ROBERT BARR, BART KENNEDY, -f* PETT RIDGE, TOM GALLON, JOHN OXENHAM, M. E. BRADDON. Cassell & Co., Ltd., London; and of alt Newsagents and Bookstalls. ,:i;;2ft!.1{f?k:¥¡;i;:ir\{'\c, Sills Nt N'S MAGAZINE TH]r, One Penor A T Musical HOME U Journal 1 JVednesdays I d. Unheard-of value to everyone r interested in music. New copyright Songs and Pitcis II weekly-Sacred Songs. Ballads, Coon Songs, Humorous Songs—Music for the Piano, "Represents a value Organ, Harmonium, Violin, of 8s." Manchester Banjo, etc. etc. Full music Evening News. size. Its contributors include names of such world-wide renown as H. Trotere, Clifton Bingham, J. Ord Hume, Ezra Read, Milton Weilings, Ed. St. Quentin, Theo Bonheur. Interesting and helpful Articles and Chat on musical matters. A Complete Story Weekly. Bargain Counter" for the Purchase, Sale and Exchange of Musical Instru- ments, Music, etc. Questions and Answers on Musical Diificulties Replies Paid For. Prist Competitions with Valuable Prizes Also Monthly, 6d. CASSELL & COMPANY, Ltd., London; and of all Bookstalls and Newsagents. fin Hlustrakd Journal for amateurs. Every Thursday, Id. "An admirable" The Gardener" abounds in pictures journal for of choice flowers, illu trated gar- garden deninS hints and diagrams of ines- amateur and. tirtiable value to both the amateur professional." and professional gardener. A —St-James's feai ure of unique interest is Top- Gaxette. ical Tables," which tells the gar- dener what to do now, and how to do it in the most effective way. Other distinctive features are :— Pictorial Practice-Garden flossip—Vegetables— r Current Work in the Garden (an Illustrated Weekly Cal- endar for all classes)—Illustrated Ideas-Fruit-Roses- Chrysanthemums—Trials and Troubles fin which the gardening difficulties of readers are discussed and solved)—Covent Garden Market Report. To the amateur, The Gardener" makes gar- dening doubly enjoyable; to the professional it makes it doubly profitable. CASSELL & COMPANY, Ltd., London; and of all L Bookstalls and Newsagents. I id>' 0 V fiWOR THE ILLUSTRATED WEEKLY JOURNAL OF HANDICRAFTS -Q Fridays, ld. "There is not To all of a practical turn of mind' a Person'• • • WORK is invaluable. It shows you rara° from h°\v to do things about the house 'Work' how anc* 'n gar<^en which you would to make otherwise have to pay to get done. a living." Diagrams and working drawings are —Saturday given for making all kinds of things Review. for the home- The" Questions and Answers" Section has proved its practical value to readers in all parts of the world. Readers of WORK add handsomely to their incomes in their spare time. WORK makes your hobby pay. Also Monthly, 6d. CASSELL & CO MPANY, Ltd., London; mnJ of ag — bt.111< mj Newsagents.

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THE IMPASSE" IN RUSSIA. It is impossible to avoid the impression that the internal peace of Russia is trem- Tbiing in the balance, and that for some -weeks the situation has been becoming less and less hopeful. Many suggestions have Z, t5 -been made for avoiding a conflict which -would develop into revolution, but the great danger lies in the fact that neither the government nor the discontented popu- lace feel prepared to trust each other, so that something like an "impasse" has been reached. The peasantry are impelled "by the belief that the Government will concede reforms only on compulsion, and the Czar and his Government, while ap- parently willing to grant at any rate some measures of reform, are afraid that any- thing in the nature of extended self-govern- ment will be utilised by the extreme section to advance their ends. The difficulty might have been met a few years ago by an enlightened policy on the part of the Czar And his advisers, but now a stage has been -reached which it almost passes tTae wit of man to deal with in a satisfactory manner.

-====-=-= D B UR Hijgheat in gu-Xllty. L-owout In Fmriae.

THE GROWTH AND IMPORTANCE OF BELFAST. The opening by the Lord Lieutenent of the new city hall emphasises the remark- able extent of the public improvements which have been effected in Belfast within a comparatively small number of years. The progress of educational institutions- always an index of the advancement and enlightenment of a city—is signified by the erection of the Campbell college, and a large technical institute; the sick are pro- vided for in the hospital which was erected to commemorate the Diamond Jubilee; slums have been succeeded by handsome new thoroughfares, one of which contains the new post office and public library; and a new bridge has been built over the Lagan; the city is well supplied with public parks large sums of money have oeen spent on improving the water supply and drainage system. These improvements, .and many others which have taken place, Jiave only been rendered possible by the almost amazing progress of Belfast in res- pect of its manufactures and commerce. Besides being the centre of the Irish linen industry, Belfast manufactures enormous quantities of whiskey, tobacco, and aerated -waters, and in recent years its prosperity las been increased by the phenomenal growth of the shipbuilding industry, the firm of Harland and Wolff being among the most famous in the world. The foreign trade has been stimulated by the increasing facilities for the loading and unloading of ships. With a population of 360,000, Bel- fast seems destined to increase every year in importance, and the only matter for regret is that she stands so nearly alone in Ireland in the prosperity of her manu- facturing industries.

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ADVICE TO BATHERS. The tragedy at Marlow. so inexpressibly ead, and yet so inspiring in the self-sficrifice by which it was marked, had not occurred when Mr William Haury, hon. secretary of the Royal Life Saving Society, prepared his suggestions for inexpert swimmers. Had that fatality occurred a -little earlier, 3Ir Henry would, no doubt, have said something of the danger of bathing in iresh water at unfamiliar spots which might be encumbered by weeds. He has, how- ever, given to the public many useful hints, and if attention is paid to them many lives will be saved which might otherwise be lost. Among other things, Mr Henry re- marks that too mu"h is made out against cramp as the chief cause of death by drown- ing," and he remarks that there is no occasion for a swimmer to take fright be- cause he is taken with cramp. The first thing, he says, is to turn on the back then rub and stretch the affected limb. If seized in the leg, turn up the toes, straighten the leg to stretch the muscles, and apply friction by kicking the surface of the water. These directions, perhaps, pre-suppose more familiarity with the water than a novice would be likely to possess, but they are useful to anybody who has made some little progress, and after all cramp does not seize the swimmer so often as many people suppose. A more frequent cause of death is failure of the heart, and in order that this may not occur Mr Henry ;A- gives the time honoured advice that no- body should bathe shortly after a hearty meal. Another suggestion is, that persons subject to giddiness should not bathe alone, and among his other "don'ts," intended as safeguards against accident, are:— Don't bathe in quiet secluded spots; don't swim out from shore in the sea, and other tidal waters, unattended by a boat."

THE NORTH AND SOUTH POLES. I A good many people have asked what explorers expect to find in the event of their reaching the North or South Pole. One enthusiast, at any rate, Captain Symmes, had very definite ideas on this subject, for he was convinced that an opening would be found at the North Pole which led to a subterranean world of wondrous extent and beauty. Symmes devoted many years and much money to the task of endeavouring to induce the Government of the United States to take possession of tlds unknown land, but when lie died in 1829 bis theory was very soon forgotten. Sir Clements M arkham, v;- .4:=: referring to the various expeditions to the Antarctic area, offered some opinion as to where the Poles are to be found, and as to what is to be learned by reaching them. The South Pole, he thinks, will probably be found on one of the mountains recently discovered by Captain Scott, and the North in the middle of a sea. He deprecated any attempt to reach either Pole for the mere sake of getting there first, and considered that in the event of such an enterprise suc- ceeding very little would be gained.

MERRYWEATHER ON WATER SUPPLY AND FIRE PROTECTION of COUNTRY MANSIONS. EXPERTS SENT TO ALL PARTS TO Report on EXISTING Arrangements. WRITE FOR PAMPHLETS: MERRYWEATHER & SONS, 63, LOllfi ACRE, LONDON, S.ft

THE LATE MR. J. L. TOOLE. I The funeral of Mr. J. L. Toole-" dear old Toole" as he was so often called- afforded eloquent testimouy to the affec- tionate regard in which the deceased actor was held. To the general public be was known chiefly as one who had given them true comedy, who was as superior in art to the majority of those who now seek to excite the laughter of their audiences as the light ef the sun is superior to that of a rushlight. They had heard, too, that in his private life Toole was a man of exceptionally kindly nature, a warm and faithful friend, a generous helper of all who were in need, and they felt irresistibly drawn to one who was known to have faced many sore bereave- ments with splendid courage. The audiences whom he delighted with his brilliant performances little thought how, while the house rang with their laughter, the man who was contributing to their gaiety was thinking of those whom he had Z5 lost, of his only son, his only daughter, his only brother, and fiually, his beloved wife. His intimate friends knew all this, and it added sympathy to their love. Among the most attached of these friends was Sir Henry Irving, and his death added one more to the sorrows of the distinguished actor, who, by his exquisite, unsullied art, had done so much to make the lives of others hap- pier.

The Volunteers In Mr. Haldane's Scheme. Whatever opinions may have been formed with regard to Mr Haldane's army scheme, it will probably be agreed that the right hon. gentleman is right in his contention that more ample use can be made of the volunteers. That fact is recognised by the members of the force, and it was empha- sised by the noble service which their war contingents rendered on the occasion of the campaign in South Africa. Pro- vided that they are appreciated, and receive such encouragement as they have a right to expect, the volunteers are quite pre- pared to do their part in order that they may become as efficient as possible, and if Mr Haldane manifests a sympathetic desire to co-operate to that end he will not have to wait for a response. All that is new in the right hon. gentleman's scheme is an apparent intention to lean more upon the volunteers for home defence in time of war, and it may be to hold them more nearly in readiness for mobilization than they have been held in the past. With this purpose, we are told, the General Staff are now preparing a scheme for giving the volunteer force A REAL WAR ORGANIZATION. That is well, and the volunteers who do not wish merely to play at soldiering, will not dis appoint either the Secretary of 8tate for War or the General Staff, provided that in their relations with the War Office all the sacri- fices are not to be made by them alone. Apart from smaller questions which concern very intimately the personnel of the force, the volunteers should be adequately sup- ported by a resolution on the part of the War Office to make the loeal fortifications which the volunteers are to man as effi- cient as possible. They must not be left to make the heart-breaking discovery that whatever effort they may exert is neutral- ised by some such blunder as that which was reported from the Bristol Channel, where it was found that the guns had been mounted in such a way that a por- tion of the sea by which an enemy might approach was left entirely undefended, It may, of course, be said that it is in- discreet to publish these weaknesses, but we may be very sure that the Intelligence Departments of Continental nations know as much about them as we do. and it is only an ostrich policy to suppose that they will not be discovered by potential enemies. It is gratifying to know that of late some attention has been given to these defects, and that obsolete guns on some of our coast batteries are being replaced by MODERN SERVICEABLE WEAPONS. with more than twice the range of the old ones. It is still said, by those who ought to know, that much remains to be done, that as Colonel Caldwell put it, much of the armament of our forts is as antiquated as catapults. Obviously it would not be fair to place the volunteers in charge of such fortifications, and expect them to repel an enemy who could destroy their position without being touched by the fire of the defenders. We ought not to require another lesson like that of Ladysmith, which would Irwe been almost defenceless if the Naval Brigade had not been able to rush through some of their guns at the last moment. Another large question which has been almost ignored is that of the defence of London, and our only arsenal at Woolwich. It is true that the defences of the Thames are strong, and probably invulnerable, kut the Thames is not the only road to London, and if only the arsenal were destroyed our forces would be in a position which it would be euphemistic to describe as difficult. Years ago plans were prepared by the Royal Engineers for the removal of this danger, but they are still lying in a pigeon-hole at the War Office.

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The Government Saved by Unionists. "L'Independance Beige" (Brussels) newspaper says" The English Unionists have given the Radicals a fine political lesson; it would have been easy for them to inflict a real humiliation on the Campbell-Bannermau Cabinet by either voting against it or abstaining; but they refrained from such niggardliness and supported the Govern- ment, saving them from the snare of their own friends."

TREES THAT FORM ISLANDS. I In the course of great rivers, islands are gene- rally formed by the stranding of trees, shrubs, plants, and such things, brought down by the current. In the Mackenzie River of Canada the whole process of island making in this way can be easily observed. The trees borne down from the banks by the undermining action of the cur- rent retain usually a considerable mass of earth and stones entangled in their roots; they, there- fore, readily sink, and by doing so form consider- able shoals, which time converts into regular vege- table islands. Then a thicket of small willows covers the newly-formed land, and their fibrous roots serve to bind the whole firmly together. A peaty soil is formed by the gradual decay of the vegetation, including the trunks of the trees, and on this many new varieties of plants spring up. Sometimes the island clears its moorings and floats away down stream until it is again arrested by an obstacle, or it may become, in a sense, waterlogged, and subside close to the bottom. In this latter case it often gets covered over with mud and sand, which form a new and more permanent land surface above it.

A WONDERFUL STONE QUARRY. I At Maestricht, in Belgium, which is famed for its subterranean quarries under the hill called the Peterberg, some of the passages are wide enough to admit horses and carts. They cover a space of four leagues by two; the number of passages amount to 116,000, 50ft. high and 12ft. broad. They are supposed to have been first worked by the Romans. The galleries, running generally at right, angles and lined by many thou- sand massive pillars, left by the excavators to support the roof, cross and intersect each other so as to render it exceedingly difficult to find the way out, and it is dangerous to enter this singular labyrinth without a guide. The workings abound in marine fossil remains. One of the phenomena pointed out by the guides is the formation of a small natural reservoir in the roots of a fossil tree.

4 THE MYSTERY OF SLEEP. Sleep with its strange phenomena remains, after the passage of thousands of years, as much a mystery as it was in the beginning, declares Health. Whence comes it and how produced? We as little know the answer to these questions as Adam when the deep slumber fell upon him m the Garden. The craving of the body for sleep is as imperative as its cry for food. This blessed loss of consciousness is the best general medicine known. There, is neither substitute nor rival for it. Sleep is the off-duty period of consciousness. It is during this time, when the entire system is in a quiescent state, that the final processes of assimilation take place and that the body is really nourished. This assimilation is said to go on much better and more rapidly before midnight than afterwards.