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

DRESS OF THE DAY. I Cowes week will fully demonstrate, I fancy,, the extraordinary popularity of the mushroom hat for yachting and general knockabout wear. For a useful travelling or morning hat this muishroom shape is hard to beat, as it sits firmly on the head, and is very becoming to most women, while its down-bent brim pro- vides a most useful shade for the eyes in glar- ingly hot weather. Many of the prettiest new mushroom models are made of Tuscan straw in a coarse, firm plait, and are merely trimmed with a twist of ribbon round the crown and two large rosettes, one on either side of the front. Occasionally two upstanding wings are arranged to spring from these "choux," but the hat is, in my opinion, prettier and more serviceable without them. A SMART NEW BLOUSE. I Smart new blouses for the early autumn are beginning to be quite a noticeable feature in all the leading shops. The pretty model sketched in our illustration is quite one of the newest and most modish designs I have yet seen. It is really quite a dressy afternoon affair, and would serve admirably for "At Homes" and similar festivities during the coming autumn and winter. The material of which it is fashioned is a soft, but firm, crepe de chine, in colour a lovely warm ivory. Over the shoulders PRETTY BLOUSE FOR THE EARLY AUTUMN OF CREPE DE CHINE AND IRISH CROCHET. and running right down to the waist in front is arranged a wide band of imitation Irish crochet in exactly the same shade as the blouse. This band divides in front just above the line of the bust and reunites at a similar height behind. It is bordered on its outer edge with a full frill of ivory net. In the opening between the divided bands is displayed a dainty little gathered vest and neckband of the ivory net. The blouse pro- per is gathered beneath the bands of crochet, the fulness being allowed to pouch slightly over the waistband. The sleeves, of elbow length, are finished with turn-back cuffs of the crochet and little frills of net. PRETTY COSTUME FOR A SMALL BOY. I The question of suitable summer attire far the small boy who is still too young for knickerbockers is sometimes rather a difficult matter. Washing materials such as drill, linen, and holland, are certainly charmingly pretty and dainty, but to look really nice they should be fresh each day, and, conse- quently, laundresses' bills are wont to as- sume alarming proportions. Very smart and pretty little tunics can, however, be fashioned from fine blue serge. This peren- nially popular material is admirably adapted for such a purpose, for its fast colour and hard wearing qualities make it practically unspoilable by even the most determinedly mischievous small boy. For seaside wear I would specially commend it, as it stands sea- water as nothing else will, while the woollen nature of the fabric prevents its small wearer from catching those seaside chills to which so many children are liable. SMART LITTLE TUNIC. I A very pretty and boyish little tunic, which might be advantageously carried out in blue serge, is illustrated in our sketch. This small garment is cut in one piece from shoulder to hem, and is held in at the long waistline by a sash of scarlet silk. The whole of the tunic is pleated in broad box-pleats, the pleats being sewn down aa far as the waist-line, where they are released to stand out jauntily about the knees. Bishop sleeves TUNIC OF BLUE SERGE. I of the serge are taken in to a succession of wide tucks below the elbow and are finished with turn-back cuffs of coarse white linen edged with little pleated frills. A wide sailor collar of the same coarse linen, feather- stitched with scarlet cotton, frilled like the cuffs and finished with a frilled and feather- stitched sailor tie, completes the pretty cos- tume. I DAINTY MUSLIN BLOUSE. I Dresses and blouses of white spotted muslin continue to be just "as popular as they were at the beginning of the summer. Indeed, the authorities inform us that they will be worn right through the autumn, out-of-doors when the weather permits, and indoors in every sort of weather. Many of the new muslin blouses are fascinatingly pretty, while at the same time simple and practical enough to wash and get up beautifully. I saw a very dainty and smart example of the kind at a fashionable northern watering place a few days ago. It was very simple, being, in reality, a plain full blouse, of soft spotted muslin made with full elbow sleeves. The front, shoulders, and cuffs;on the short sleeves were trimmed with bands of boldly designed broderie anglaise.

OUR LONDON LETTER. I 0 is understood that toe do not necessarily identify ourselves with our correspondent's opinions. With the conclusion of the regatta at Cowes, the Royal family party, which formed so great an attraction to the thousands of holiday-makers, has broken up. The King and Queen of Spain have gone on their visit to Scotland, and our own King has departed for his cure at Marienbad, while Queen Alex- andra will stay in this country until his Majesty's return, when they will both go to Scotland. The Prince of Wales has gone to the North for the opening of the shooting season as the guest of the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire, and the Princess remains at Frogmore with her children, afterwards going to Abergeldie, where she will be joined by the Prince. On his way to Marienbad King Edward visits the Kaiser at the Sohloss Friedrickshof, near Cronberg, and later, the Duke of Con- naught will attend the German manoeuvres, i which Mr. Haldane, our Minister for War, I has been invited by the authorities to witness. He is well known in 1 Germany on account of his remark- i able acquaintance with German literature and I his proficiency as a German scholar. The Duke of Connaught is a Lieut.-General of the German Army, and is entitled to ride at the head of his regiment, the 3rd Prussian Hus- sars, of which he is colonel. People are won- dering what Mr. Haldane will wear. When Mr. Brodrick went to the manoeuvres in 1901 he was attired as a Colonel of the Surrey j Yeomanry; but Mr. Haldane is not connected with any regiment, and does not claim to be a horseman, so it is possible he will devote his time to studying the finance and inner ¡ t, workings of the German Army, instead of wit- nessing the elaborate parades and manoeuvres. The Schlose Friedrichshof, where King and Kaiser met, is beautifully situated on the Homburg road, with thick masses of pines on the hills behind, while in front are charming vineyards and fields. The castle was bought 'by the late Empress Frederick in 1888, and •it was here that she lived the last. years of her life, while the last time King Edward visited it was when he attended the funeral service for his sister in the picturesque old church of Cronberg. The house is full of most valuable works of art collected by the Empress, and many paintings from her own hand adorn the walls. At her death the castle came into pos- session of her youngest daughter, Princess Margaret of Hesse, and it is the Princess azzid her husband, Prince Ludwig of Hesse, who will be the host and hostess of King Edward and the Kaiser. It is felt that no more suit- able meeting-place could be found, breathing as it does of the spirit of the august lady who was sister of King Edward and mother of Kaiser Wilhelm. The presence of King Alfonso and Queen Victoria Eugenie (which is the name by which she is to be known in England) recalls the terrible outrage upon their wedding day. The Spaniards say that their escape from the assassin's bomb was a miracle due to the ring of Queen Mercedes, to which a curious story is attached. King Alfonso's father, it, is stated, gave the ring to Queen Mercedes, and a month later she died. He then gave it to another member of the Royal family, who soon after died, and a like fate befell two other persona upon whom it was bestowed. Then the King decided to keep it himself, and three months later the throne of Spain vacant. After that t11 ling, winch, is said to slay those unworthy to wear it and to bring prosperity to the sovereign who de- serves it, was placed upon the finger of the statue of the Virgin in the Cathedral at Madrid. On the eve of his marriage King Alfonso was seen to pray before the statue of the Virgin, and before leaving he touched the ring with his lips. This. the Spaniards say, is why he escaped injury in the terrible catas- trophe. Members of Parliament showed up well with regard to the large number of divisions during that part, of the session which has just closed. Altogether there were no fewer than 318 occasions on which the House divided," and the Education Bill was responsible for 117 of these. Only one member, however, can claim the distinction of having voted in every division, and this honour falls to Mr. Godfrey Baring, who represents the Isle of Wight. Several gentlemen were not far be- hind, for Mr. J. H. Lewis comes out with 314 to his credit, others close up being Mr. C. H. Corbett 312, Mr. Higham 311, Mr. Sullivan 307, Mr. Raphael 302, and Mr. J. D. Whily 301, Mr. H. C. Samuel being one below 300. Mr. Burns voted 251 times, and Mr. Balfour upon 162 occasions, but the Premier has only 63 to his credit, and Mr. Chamberlain only 57. Mr. Jee.se Collings and Mr. H. J. Reckitt did not vote at all, and Mr. Batty Langley only once. With so many new members in the House it is not surprising to learn that there has been a record attendance so far as visitors to the House were concerned. The Speaker issued no fewer than 24,000 orders to the Strangers' Gallery, and several hundred ad- missions to the special gallery and the floor of the chamber were given out by the serjeants, more than 200,000 persons walked through the palace under the Saturday visiting privi- lege, and people who visited the central hall for the purpose of interviewing members aver- aged 2,000 a week. The average attendance within the sphere of the House on important nights of debate, including members, strangers, Pressmen, police, postal officials, messengers, attendants, writers, cooks, watchers, and labourers, reached nearly 2,000. Three instances occurred of a member being locked in the House and sleeping in a division lobby, but their names are, with due consideration for their feelings, withheld from the public, and once a woman was locked iji overnight, but who she was, and whether she was a female suffragist, is not stated. There was a general fear, when the compo- sition of the House became known, that mem- bers would be much too busy even to eat, and that the receipts of the Kitchen Committee would suffer. As so often happens, however, the contrary was the case, and never before has the victualling department. been kept so busy. Altogether members consumed 131,000 meals of all kinds during the time they were sitting, and, notwithstanding the microbes which have, since been discovered to inhabit the Terrace, nearly 30,000 ladies were served with tea, there, the Labour members alone on a single afternoon having 170 of their fair friends to tea. The shilling dinner and the mnepenny high tea have been very popular, and the"e has been little decrease in the sale of cigars. Some idea of the appetites of our legislators C, May be gathered from the fact that during the session there have been consumed 12,000 chops, 9,000 steaks, 4,800 kidneys, 25,000 eggs, 500 devilled bones, 4,000 boxes of sar- dines. A falling off in the portions of devilled bones is believed to be one of the best indica- tions of the change of taste in the present, flouse, but it must be recorded, on the other hand, that on one day no fewer than 600 por- tions of ham and eggs were served. The House has slaked its thirst with 2,400 bottles of light wine and champagne, and 100,000 bottles of mineral waters, the total receipts for liquid refreshment having risen from £6,000 last year to £ 8,000 in the present year. But in this connection it must be re- membered that the weather has been very hot, and making speeches is very dry work. I S. J. I

I SUMMER SPORT. I KENT STILL WINNING. The Lancashire batting broke down in as- tounding fashion at Canterbury in the match against Kent. On Friday it was fairly obvious that the only real chance of Lancashire staving off defeat for any length of time depended upon the possibility of MacLaren and Sharp making a stand, but on Saturday morning Fielder and Blythe carried all before them, Kent winning by an innings and 195 runs. The summary ter- mination of the game was a disappointment to the spectators, but on the other hand the week proved a complete triumph for Kent, who in each match gained a victory by an innings and more than 100 runs. At the conclusion of the match the £ 136 collected on the ground on Tues- day and Friday for the Kent professionals was presented by Lord Harris. Scores -Kent, 479; Lancashire, 169 and 115. POOR SUSSEX As had been expected, Sussex failed to save themselves in their match against Essex at Ley- ton, the match ending in a win for the home team by ten wickets. Overnight Sussex, when an innings had been completed on each side, were 209 runs to the bad. On Saturday Sussex followed on, and whatever chance they may have possessed of making a good fight of it was de- stroyed during the first 70 minutes, five wickets falling in that time for 72 runs. Scores :—Essex, 522 and 5 for 0; Sussex, 313 and 213. SURREY'S BRILLIANT WIN. The match between Surrey and Middlesex came to an end at Lord's on Saturday at three o'clock. Overnight Middlesex had left off in an almost hopeless position, and with three. wickets down for 14 in their second innings they were 232 behind. The innings ended after lunch for 154, leaving Surrey victorious by an innings and 92 runs. Scores:—Surrey, 419; Middlesex, 173 and 154. DRAWN GAMES. At Leicester, on Saturday, Yorkshire startju the day 111 runs behind with seven wickets left, and when the game was given up Leicester- shire, with half of their wickets down in their second innings, were exactly the same number of runs on. Scores:—Leicester, 425 and 169 for five Yorkshire, 483. No less than 141 be- hind on the first innings Derbyshire played a fine uphill game at Birmingham against War- wick. Warwickshire began their second innings badly, but a draw was always certain. Scores Derby, 163 and 357; Warwick, 303 and 115 for four. Somerset led by 139 on the first innings, and, thanks to P. R. Johnson, they quickly ran up a good score when they went in again at Taunton on Saturday. Worcestershire had 348 to get in two hours, but were never in danger of defeat. Scores: -Somerset, 545 and 208 for four (declared) Worcester, 406 and 212 for four. WEST INDIANS WIN. At Norwich on Saturday the West Indians gained an easy victory over Norfolk by an innings and 118 runs. Apart from Dunning. Cozens-Hardv, and Worman, Norfolk showed poor batting form. Scores: —West Indians, 357; Norfolk, 91 and 166. ACCIDENT TO A CRICKETER. 7PL. AC- O* oeqa, 1:.h.. Nvr lb aiuptonokiua cwickcter, met with a severe accident while practising at the nets at Lord's. He received a severe blow on the left hand from a fast rising ball, and is now under medical care. In the absence of Crosse, T. Horton had to cut short his holiday, and return to the side. KING EDWARD'S CUP. The yacht race for the cup presented by King Edward to the New York Yacht Club for annual competition by American yachts, was sailed off Rhode Island. The schooner Queen was first across the finishing line. The yachts left the harbour in a rainstorm, but there were indica- tions that the weather would clear, and at the lightship a fair breeze was blowing from the south-east. Nine vessels started, three sloops, five schonoers and one yawl. After the yachts had all finished it was found that on time allow- ance the sloop Effort was the winner. She crossed the line 20 minutes after the Queen. WORLD'S SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIP. The 500 yards world's swimming championship at Weston-super-Mare, on Monday night, re- sulted as follows: H. Taylor (Chadderton), 1; P. Radmilovic (Weston), 2; T. Battersby (Wigan), 3; W. Foster (Bacup), 4; and A. S. Rttievey (Ravensbourne), 5. Taylor won by half a length. Time, 6min. 24sec. SIXTY-SIX MILES AN HOUR. The great motor race in the Belgian Ardennes was held on Monday over seven laps of a course giving a total distance of 373 miles. The race is of "interest to Britishers by reason of the success in 1902 of Mr. Charles Jarrott, and in 1904 of Mr. George Heath. Last year Hemery won at. an average speed of 62 miles an hour, but on Monday victory went. to Duray, on a De Die- trich, in 5h. 38min. 39sec., an average speed of 106 kilometres, or 66 miles an hour. Second place went to Hanriot, on a Darracq, in 5h. 40min. 21sec., and third to Barillier, Brasier, in 5h. 50min. 27sec. There were 19 starters.

GIRL KILLED THROUGH CRICKET. Mildred Emily Christie, the fifteen-year-old daughter of the Rev. J. F. Christie, rector of Stow, Lincolnshire, has died from the effects of a blow from a cricket ball. She was at school in Yorkshire, and last June was playing cricket with some companions, when the ball struck her on the chest. A few days later Miss Christie became ill, and was sent home, where she died. An autopsy showed that death was due to a tumour—the effect of the blow from the cricket ball.

FOR THREEPENNYWORTH OF MILE. I Benjamin Moss, a retired master tailor, living in his own house at Amherst-road, Hackney, was sentenced at North London to 21 days' imprison- ment for the theft of threepence worth of milk. A milkman said he left his barrow outside Moss's house, and on returning noticed Moss drawing a pint and a-half of milk from the churn. When spoken to, Moss replied that he intended to pay for it, but the man said he had missed milk on other occasions when the barrow was left un- attended in front of Moss' house.

The widow and brother-in-law of Pierre Lequen, whose dead body was found in a corn- field at St. Saviour's by some visitors on July 19, have been arrested. A broken watch-chain found near the body belonged to Conan, the brother-in-law, some remarks by whom after he had been taken into custody caused the arrest of the widow also. The Princess of Wales, accompanied by Prince Edward, Prince Albert, and Prin- cess Mary, had a long trip on the upper reaches of the Thames. The royal party were driven in a motor-car from Frogmore House to Reading, where the Prince of Wales's electric, launch May was in wait- ing to convey the Princess and her children to Maidenhead. I

I HUMOUR OF TI-IE WEEK. MAKING ANTIQUE CHAIRS In a dispute at Westminster about tome an- tiques including a Charles II. chaii, Judge Woodfall asked an expert how he gained his knowledge about Charles II. chairs, t id re- ceived the astonishing reply. By seeil.; them sold and making them." Judge Woodfall: You have made a Ch: ries II. chair?-Yes, many years ago. (Laughter.) Mr. Nonweiller: Was it sold as a Charles II. chair?—A Charles II. period chair. Is this a period" chair?—It was made about 150 years ago. Is it an antique?—Partly—part new. You are a repairer?—Manufacturer and re- storer. But 150 years ago would be the time of one of the Georges. Is this a Charles II. chair?— It is about 150 years old. Could it be repaired for 15s. ?—Yes. Then you agree with me?—There are two ways of repairing it-the right and the wrong. The 15s. way would be the wrong way. LOW, COMMON GIRLS. A lady who was sued for school fees in lieu of notice asked by Judge Bacon at Bloomsbury why she resisted payment replied that she complained about the common girls there were in her school. Judge Bacon: Did you stipulate with the schoolmistress that all her pupils should be well bred? (Laughter.) Well, I sent her there for a finishing school. In reply to the judge, the girl said there were a lot of very low, common girls at the school whom she would not dream of speak- ing to in the street. (Laughter.) The Judge: What is your mother?—A Court dressmaker. (Laughter.) The girls were very common; one even came from Mile-end. (Re- newed laughter.) My drawing-master did not take much trouble with me-in fact, less than any other master she had known. His Honour: The sooner you are sent to a school where you will be taught firmly, and not fooled by your mother, the better it will be for you. ON HIS FUNNYMOON. Sued for breach of promise, a young man at Birmingham conducted his own case. I want to know," he asked his lordship, if I promised to marry that girl at any time?" (Laughter.) The Judge: That is for the jury to answer. Defendant: She wrote me, sir, when she woke up one morning she had a surprise. It's for her to say what that surprise is. (Laughter.) She has told my people I'm a drunken man. Plaintiff: You were drunk when you sent the telegram. Defendant: Well, my lord, drunk once doesn't make a man a drunken man. (Laughter.) Asked as to a letter in which he said, Fred Matthews was married on Sunday at St. Paul's Church, and he is on his funnymoon, so it is about time we did the trick," defendant re- plied, "Well, I was only a young man at the time I wrote that." (Laughter.) I CLEAN SHIRTS FOR HIM. A man named John Owen arrested by Con- stable Parish as a suspected person trying doors in Oxford-street, was charged at Marl- borough-street Court. He said to the officer, I mean to have two or three pounds to-night somehow or othrr. I didn't know you were so close to me. I am an old hand, as I suppose you know. I suppose this will mean thirteen clean shirts for me." (Laughter.) That meant, it was explained, three months' hard labour. Mr. Denman: Where does the extra shirt come in?-The Constable: I don't know, your worship. FORGIVEN EVERYTHING. During the hearing of an action in the High court brought by Baroness von Perglass for false imprisonment against a Miss Tanner, Mr. Avory said that Miss Janotha denied having said that the Baroness was a thief. The Baroness: She is my best friend. (Laugh- ter.) Mr. Dennis: The Baroness bears no ill-will towards Miss Janotha, and she authorises me to say so. The Baroness: I forgive her everything. (Laughter.) His Lordship (to Mr. Avory): You may tell your client she is forgiven. (Laughter.) The Baroness: Yes, I forgive her everything. (Laughter.) Mr. Avory: I hope I am forgiven also. (Laughter.) The Baroness: Yes, you are, because you are her friend. (Much laughter.) WHO WAS PAT COLLINS? While the Townshend inquiry was in progress the judge held up a telegram which had been handed to him. He said it was addressed to Pat Collins, care of Justice Bucknill." "Is there anybody here whose name is Pat Collins?" he asked. Save for a roar of laughter there was no re- sponse, whereupon his lordship remarked. "I had better give it to the official solicitor." Ulti- mately it was sent back to the Post Office. HER MOTHER-IN-LAW. A female applicant at a London police-court said her husband's mother, who lived with her, could not be got rid of. She did not wish to do her any harm—(laughter)—but some means would have to be adopted to get her out of the place. Mr. Horace Smith: You are not obliged to keep her. Get her the wrong side of the door and lock her out. The applicant (dolefully): She won't go out. She annoys us night after night. VIN ORDINAIRE. In a case in the City of London Court Judge Rentoul, K.C., asked What is "ordinaire," as applied to wine?-Witness: That is a local term which has existed for two centuries in France. Does it mean wine made out of the refuse? ,Yes; that is what it means. It means that all the refuse of wine is put together and mixed up. Your honour is quite au courant. (Laugh- ter.) Counsel: At the West-end hotels it has a special label put on it. (Renewed laughter.) Iter.) A WOMAN IN THE CASE. A mother-in-law had stayed so often with her daughter as to cause a quarrel with the hus- band, and one day, when she again came to stay, she found her daughter in tears on the door-step. "I suppose George has left you/' she sniffed. "Yes "-sob. "Then there's a woman in the case?" she asked, her eyes lighting up expectantly. Yes "-sob. Who is it?" she demanded. "You It-sob. Gracious!" exclaimed the mother-in-law. "I am sure I never gave him any encourage- ment." SURE HE WAS HIT. A rural market gardener who claimed damages at Birmingham Assizes for being shot, said he knew what an air-gun was, but "he didn't use .'em." What do you use? A legitimate gun. (Laughter.) Lord Coleridge: You didn't mean to suggest that an air-gun is an illegitimate weapon? Plaintiff was handed a plan to point where he was when the accident happened. Up here he replied, indicating the spot near the edge of the parchment. The Judge: Off the map?—Yes. (Roars of laughter.) Counsel: You are sure you were hit ?-Plain.. tiff: Sure, when I've got a wound.