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

SALVATION ARMY'S WORK. Not the least interesting of the many Year Books which are issued at this time of the year in the Salvation Army Year Book. One learns that the number of meals supplied at cheap food depots in the United Kingdom alone in one year was 4,583,893; that the number of choip lodgings for the homeless was 1,472,926; the number of applications from unemployed registered at labour bureaus, 19,048: the number received into factories, 2,302; the number for whom em- ployment was found 12,768; the number of applications for lost persons, 2,435; lost persons found, 479; the number of women and girls received in rescue homes, 1,988; and the number of women and girls re- ceived into rescue homes, sent to situations, and restored to friends, etc., 1,673. With regard to the General's land colonisa- tion scheme at Boxted, on the borders of Colchester, the book states that the General has now appointed a Selection Board, consist- ing of experienced officers, and this board has already chosen a number of families. Some of the practical men are already on the land, doing such work as is required for the Re- paration of the ground before the other tenants take possession.

I DANGEROUS AT LIBERTY. I A servant girl's struggle with a burglar was described at Clerkenwell Sessions when Daniel O'Shea, 32, porter, pleaded guilty to burglary at the house of John Ayres, 160, Hammersmith-road, and stealing 51b. of pork. In the middle of the night prisoner inspected the house, and finding a garden hoe used it to forre the larder window. He then hooked out trio 51b. of pork, and, sitting down, ate all of it with the exception of the fat. After this he sought the warmth of the washhouse, and there fell asleep. At seven o'clock in the morning May Cooper, a young maidservant, found him, snoring heavily, and awakening him seized him and clung to his neck. v The prisoner struggled, and dragged her up the steps on to the lawn, where they struggled for about ten minutes. Just be- fore a constable came to her rescue the man escaped and scaled two or three walls before he was caught. Evidence of several previous convictions was given, and Mr. Loveland, K.C., said the prisoner was a dangerous man. Such as he could not be allowed at liberty, and he would now be imprisoned for twenty- one months with hard labour.

SOUTH AFRICA'S BRIGHT SPOT. I Sir Charles Metcalfe, who has just reached England from the Congo Free State border, asked as to the progress of the Cape to Cairo Railway, said: "The railhead is still at Broken Hill pending the completion of the survey to the Congo border. This survey was in progress when I left, and should by this time be finished. It will only take some four months to lay the rails from the present terminus to the Congo frontier, and this no doubt will be completed next year. The one bright spot in South Africa at the present moment is Rhodesia, where there seems to be no depression. The farmers are doing well, a good deal of fresh ground has been put under cultivation for grain and tobacco, and the increase of stock has been very satisfac- tory."

REMARKABLE GAS EXPLOSION. I As a passenger train was leaving Chorley Station a loud explosion, followed by a burst of flame under the engine, created consider- able alarm. When the train had passed, it was discovered that the gas main, which passes under the line at the level crossing, had broken, and that the escaping gas had been ignited by a burning cinder from the fire box of the engine. The force of the ex- plosion damaged the crossing gates, and ren- dered them unworkable, but the station fire brigade soon got the flames under. I

INFLUENZA AND INSANITY. I Dr. Forbes Winslow, the well-known men- tal expert, in the course of an interview said, with regard to the present epidemic of in- fluenza, that an important point lost sight of by those whose opinions have been quoted is the fact that it is the direct cause of much mental ailment. Previous epidemics have been responsible for many cases of suicide. All cases of influenza, especially at the early stage, require careful watching, particularly if the individual is always seeking solitude and brooding over his complaint. Of those who are predisposed to insanity, an attack of influenza will act as an exciting cause, and develop actual insanity of a chronic nature.

MOTORISTS AND THE C.T.C. I The question whether the Cyclists Tour- ing Club should be allowed to admit motor- ists into membership was argued before Mr. Justice Warrington, who dismissed the peti- tion on the ground that the proposed altera- tion did nQt come within the Act, but would completely alter the primary objects of the club. He was not satisfied that the change would be in the interests of the members as a whole, or that the voting expressed the views of the club. It was stated that since the introduction of motoring the member- ship of the club had fallen from over 60,000 ^9 nno The petitioners declared that the property of the club could be maintained only by admitting to its ranks all tourists, as was done on the Continent.

The Royal National Lifeboat Institution has sent to Newbiggin a new lifeboat to replace the lifeboat stationed there by the Institution many years ago. The new boat, which was built by the Thames Ironworks, Company, is one of the self-righting type, 37ft. long by 8ft, wide, rows 12 oars, and is 2 fitted with two water-ballast tanks. She is named the Ada Lewis, her cost and that of the equipment having been met from the gift of the late Mrs. Ada Lewis-Hill, of Grosvenor Square, London. <

LITERARY CHAT. Mr. A. E. W. Mason's new serial story "The Broken Road" commences in the January num- ber of the "Cornhill Magazine." A new story by Mr. Chambers, the American novelist, entitled "The Fighting Chance" is being published by Messrs. Constable. "In Vanity Fair" is the lively title of a book on Paris-in its social aspects—which Mrs. Brainerd has just written, and which Mr. Fisher Unwin is to publish. The Dean of Carlisle (Dr. Ridgeway) has written a pamphlet on "Sunday and How to 0' 11 Keep It," which is published by Messrs. Skeff- ington. 0 A novel, entitled "The Whirlwind," from the pen of Mr. Eden Phillpotts, which has been appearing serially in the "Fortnightly," will be issued in book form during January by Messrs. Chapman and Hall. So successful has the English edition of the Hohenlche Memoirs been, that a, second edition is now in the press. It is understood that a profit of between £ 2,000 and £ 3,000 has already been made on the issue, and the demand for the book is stated to show no sign of falling off. At the request of the Bishops of London and Southwark, the editors of the "English Hymnal" have decided to issue an abridged edition of the book. Mr. Henry Frowde hopes to have it ready early in the new year. Professor Thomson, who holds the Chair of Natural History in the University of Aberdeen, is bringing out, through Mr. Murray, in the spring, an important book, in which he proposes to discuss in the light of contemporary re- search the vexed problem of "Heredity." Messrs. Chatto and Windus promise for January, "Switzerland and its People," by Mr. Clarence Rook. The book describes the rise, growth, and consolidation into a nation of the twenty-two cantons which constitute the Swiss Republic. It is to be illustrated in colour by reproductions of paintings by Mrs. James Jar- dine, and the help of the camera has also been enlisted. At one period of his career Mr. W. W. Jacobs contemplated a life on the ocean wave, but a voyage in a coaster round the coast led him to change his mind. His experiences were such as to drive him to the conclusion that there is more monotony than romance in the seaman's life. Lovers of art will be glad to learn that Messrs. Black- intend to publish a series of facsimile reproductions in colour of the work of the Old Masters-Botticelli, Rembrandt, Van Dyck, Franz Hals, Greuze, and the like. The prepara- tion of the series has been placed in the hands of Mr. Mortimer Menpes. "The Autobiography of a Criminal" is the sub-title chosen by Mr. Roy Horniman for his new novel, "Israel Rank," published by Messrs. Chatto and Windus. Israel Rank, a gentleman in the line of succession to an English peerage, removes the lives which stand between him and that title, and is tried by the House of Lords, to which trial there is a startling denouement. Mr. John Long, who is now the exclusive pub- lisher of all Mr. Nat Gould's new stories, the sales of whose books exceed 5,000,000 copies, announces another new story from his pen, en- titled "A Sporting Squatter," in the familiar yellow back at 2s., or in cloth at 2s. 6d. The Rev. F. W. Macdonald, ex-president of the Wesleyan Conference and brother-in-law of the late Sir E. Burne-Jones and of Sir Edward Poynter, has written a little volume of reminis- cences, "In a Nook with a Book," which Messrs. Horace Marshall publish. It contains a chapter on the famous undergraduate periodi- cal of the sixties, "The Oxford and Cambridge Magazine." An historical book on Napoleon's Conquest df Prussia has been written by Mr. Loraine Petre, who seeks to show not only what happened then, but what may happen at any time to a nation unprepared for war, and living in a fool's para- dise, because of its reliance on an antiquated military system. Lord Roberts haw-.written a preliminary chapter, which throws into relief the moral of the story. The book is to be pub- lished by Mr. John Lane. In the artistic sense Mr. Charles Hamilton Aide, the novelist, dramatist, and artist, whose death is announced, was almost an Admirable Crichton. In his younger days he sang well, and composed several songs of more than average merit. He was successful as a novelist, and he wrote a farce, "The Kangaroo Girl," which ran for some months at the Avenue Theatre. From time to time he gave further evidence of his versatility by holding exhibitions of his water- colour sketches. He was a firm believer in spiritualism. There is an air of mystery about a new book which will shortly be published by Mr. Murray. The book which draws a lurid picture of the future of England, when Socialistic government has had full sway for a year or two, is m the form of a sensational novel. The author, who remains anonymous, forecasts what will be the outcome if the doctrines of the Socialist become permanent, and shows how the rule of the FS J by the "masses" for the "masses- must inevitably bring its own downfall. Mr. Murray has no idea of the identity of the author of the book, which he accepted on its merits alone. The "People's Friend," not long ago offered a prize of £ 100 for the best short serial story, and the prize has been gained by Miss Agnes C Mitchell, Dundee. On a former occasion when the People's Friend offered a similar prize it was gained by the late Miss Adeline Sergeant, who in this way commenced her career a a writer of fiction. Miss Mitchell s story, which is entitled "A Bond of Blood," will appear irr the "People's Friend" early next year. Messrs. Smith, Elder, and Co. have now pub- lished the eighth and last volume of "The Knutsford Edition" of the works of Mrs. Gas- kell (4s. 6d. net per volume). There is a de- lightful old-world flavour pervading these ex- c^ient literary productions, and the publishers have included several hitherto unreprinted con- tributions to periodicals, together with two poems and some unpublished fragments of stories. The volumes are beautifully printed and bound. They will form a welcome addi- tion to the library of many who like to have only the best literature on their booksnelves, for Mrs. Gaskell has undoubtedly won her place among the novelists whose works endure. Her stories evince simple directness and charm of diction And she had a story to tell, which is the essential quality. She had the gift of broad human sympathies which call forth the same response in the heart of the reader through all generations. When Mr. Rider Haggard was a child, a very old doll of battered wood, hideously ugly, was one of his favourite playthings, and also of the other children in the family. An old nurse used to call this doll "She," and in after years the novelist borrowed the name for the heroine of his most famous book. "The Letters of Dean Hole" are to be pub- lished within the next year or so. People who possess' any letters from the dean on subjects of general or special interest are asked kindly to lend them to Mrs. Hole. They will be care- fully returned in due course to the owners. The letters may be sent either to Mrs. Hole, Water- ingbury, Kent, or to the editor, Mr. George A. B. Dewar, 34, Cheyne-court, Chelsea.

j STRANGE & WONDERFUL j I FROM WHITE TO RED. The Araucanian race which inhabits thE southernmost province of Chili makes use of a strange barometer. If coiisists of the cast off shell of a crab, which shell is white in fair, dry weather. It announces the approach of a moist atmosphere by the appearance of small red spots and, as the moisture in the air in- creases, it becomes entirely red, and remains so throughout the rainy season. I DEAN SWIFT'S CRADLE. About twenty-five years ago there was a sale of antique furniture at Brighton, and some curios which were described atS "from Ham stead Hall, Staffordshire." Among the curios was the cradle of Dean Swift, which was en- tered in the sale catalogue as follows No. 40. Quaint old cradle in which the celebrated Dean Swift was nursed. From the Hon. W, Hastings's sale at Aylesford House, Worces- tershire. The little framed notice which hangs above the cradle in its present situation in Brede Church, Sussex, further explains how this unique possession came to be there. The cradle of Dean Swift. Presented to the Church of St. George, Brede, St. George's Day, 1895, by the Rev. George Ernest Trevor, M.A., Rector. Jonathan Swift. Born 1667. Died 1745. Dean of St. Patrick's, Dublin, author of Gulliver's Travels,' etc., etc. Died a lunatic." I SMELLING" FOR A LIVING. There are several trades which provide men and women with good livings simply because they enjoy an exceptionally keen sense of smell. Scent-makers, for example, need someone with a very delicate sense of smell to aid them in mixing the ingredients of perfumes in proper proportions. Queen Alexandra's favourite per- fume—violet—costs £10 per ounce-bottle, and it has to run the gauntlet of five professional smellers" before it is passed as being cor- rectly blended and ready for her Majesty's use. Some of the leading firms of perfume-makers pay their smellers from C4 to £ 7 a week. Contractors for the lighting of streets, large public buildings, and pleasure-grounds very often engage smellers to find escapes of gas, one shilling being generally paid for each escape reported. Some of these men frequently make over £ 3 in a single week, the result being that in many cases the fee has been reduced to 9d. per escape reported. I DIGGING OUT FISH. Mere is a curious sketch showing how the natives of certain parts of India get their sup- plies of fresh fish during the summer by digging down into the dry river banks. They dig out live fish liy hundreds, just as a farmer digs up potatoes in a field. The mud lumps are broken open, and the fi,sh, often ten and even twelve inches long, are found alive and often frisky inside them. The fish are caught and im- prisoned in the mud when the rivers begin to dry up rapidly. They are able to live for months in their mud beds, where the natives dig for them. BOTANICAL CLOCK. I A botanical clock grows in Mexico. In the morning the flower is white, at noon red, and 0 at night blue, the changing of the colours being so regular that the time of day can be told from the tint of the flower. MAHOGANY BRIDGE. I A bridge built entirely of mahogany, claimed to be the only one of the kind in the world, is in the State of Chiapas, Mexico. The bridge spans the Rio Michol, and its total length, in- cluding approaches, exceeds 150ft., while the width is 15ft. It is used by both teams and pedestrians, and, though somewhat rude and primitive in construction, is very substantial. None of the timbers of the floor were sawn, for in that region there are no sawmills, but were he.wn and split. DEVIL'S BIBLE OF STOCKHOLM. J There are many remarkable booics in the world, but few have aroused more interest than the noted Devil's Bible of Stockholm. It is composed entirely of leaves made of don- key skin, and is one Q"tb.e*valt,,ed treasures of the royal library of Stockholm. It is a pon- derous volume, and is carefully guarded. It is fantastically illustrated, some of the pictures of Satan which appear on some of its pages being very weird and bizarre. AMERICAN'S ARMED NOSE. I The story of a girl who has a finger-tip for a j nose, and a man, upon whom a similar experi- ment in rhinoplasty was made, who has a finger-nail growing out of his nose, was related by a doctor at a meeting of the Southern Surgi- cal and Gynaecological Society, held at Balti- more. The doctor explained how he giafted the girl's little finger on her face where her nose should have been, and then amputated it. The patient is now a very presentable-looking child. The surgeon then described a similar operation perfomed on a baseball player. After the man's finger had been transplanted to his face, it was discovered that a bit of the finger- nail had not been removed, and as it persists in growing the poor man is obliged to have his nasal nail pared at regular intervals.

> I' C.B." ATTACKS THE LORDS. Sir Henry Campbsll-Bannerman, moving in the House of Commons that the order for the i sonsideration of the Lords' reason of disagree- ing with the Commons' amendments to the Edu- cation Bill be discharged, laid upon Mr. Bai- four the whole responsibility of the failure of the recent negotiations, and then proceeded to argue that the amendments made by the Lords completely perverted the whole purpose of the bill. By those amendments the Bill had been killed, and the dead body of it had been left at the door of the Government and must now be carried away out of the sight of men. He added that the grievances created by the Act of 1S02 were so serious that there could be no educational peace or progress until that Act was amended. That was the opinion of the consti- tuencies who had returned an overwhelming majority at the General Election. Yet, though the party which was responsible for that Act had been condemned, as no party had ever been condemned before, the House of Lords was able to over-ride the judgment of the country. They claim that they are the true interpreters of the nation if that be so, why are we such fools as to maintain a representative system at all? "It is plainly intolerable," he 'said in conclusion, "that the second Chamber should be the willing servant of one party and should be able to thwart and neutralise the policy of the other. For the moment we must submit to this state of things, but the resources of the British Constitution are not wholly exhausted. The resources of the House of Commons are not exhausted. A way must be found—a way will be found—by which the will of the people shall be made to prevail." In the absence of Mr. Balfour, who was suf- fering from influenza, Mr. Walter Long spoke for the Opposition. He pointed out that it was untrue to say that Mr. Balfour was determined at any cost to wreck the bill. What Mr. Bal- four wanted was either that the Bill should be so amended as to make it a fair bill or else that it should be killed. He denied that this particular bill had ever received the approval of the country, and he doubted whether there was a single sincere mourner for its death even on the Ministerial benches. It was ab- surd, he went on, to argue that educational peace had been destroyed by the rejection of this bill. On the contrary, if the bill had been passed the educational warfare would have been even more bitter than the present. Appa- rently," he said," the real object of the Govern- ment is to pick a quarrel with the House of Lords, but I warn them that they have chosen their ground badly." Mr. Birrell said that this bill had been killed in another place at the will and decree of Mr. Balfour. It was irritating—nay, more, it wa's mortifying—that the first fruits of the General Election should be killed in this way. Mr. Long had asked what sort of bill the country had authorised at the General Election. "Well," said Mr. Birrell, "what the country had in view was a bill without Clause IV. and with pre- cious little of Clause III." He pointed out that the Opposition had again and again admitted that the Act of 1902 had left the Nonoconform- ists suffering under a grievance—"and you have taken care that we should not cure it, you leave it an open sore in the social system." The Opposition was trusting to its fetish, the swing of the pendulum. Well, the pendulum might swing, but it would never swing far enough to allow the Tories to force a denominational sys- tem of education on this country. "You have cast your hopes on the dim and distant future —well, however dim and distant that future may be, we, or those who maintain our views and principles—we will be there The Premier's motion was agreed to without a division.

PRIMA DONNA'S TEMPER. I'he Paris Courts have decided that Mme. Calve, the famous prima donna, must pay £ 52'? as the price of losing her temper. The case was brought by Mr. Schurmann, who claimed R920. Mme. Calve had been engaged by Mr. Schurmann, a well-known impresario, to tour Germany and Austria. A performance of "Carmen" was given at Dresden. Mme. Calve wished to change the action of the piece by dying in the last act on the stage. The tenor. Don Jose, forgot the change, and an awkward position was created. Then Mme. Calve sur- rendered to her irritability. She called tho tenor "imbecile" and other epithets, and finally used three times a French word so outspoken and uncompromising as to shock the least prudish. The Court, according to Mr. Schur- mann's counsel, was scandalised. The King of Saxony and his suite quitted the Royal box and left the theatre without a moment's delay. Counsel for Mme. Calve said the Royal family retired before the piece had reached its climax. He admitted that the word "imbecile" was used, but not the more improper word. How- ever that might be, the next morning Mme. Calve was informed that in consequence of the scandal she had created she could not be al- lowed to appear again at the Royal Opera House. Shortly afterwards, at Berlin, she abandoned her tour and returned to Paris. Ac- cording to her own counsel's story her refusal to play at Berlin was due to ill-health, and had no reference to the Dresden incident.

I ILLUSTRATED FUN. f —— He (who has known her three days only): "May I call you Edith?" She: "I don't see why my parents thought Emily was quite good enough." She "Is there any difference between a fort and a fortress?" Her Husband: "Well, I should think that a fortress would be harder to silence." ——— Merchant (to new boy) "Has the bookkeeper told you what you are to do in the afternoon?" Youth: "Yes, sir; I am to wake him when I see you coming." ^Master: "If Mr. Jones should come before I'm back ten him I'll meet him at seven o'clock." Bridget: "Yes, sir; but what shall I tell him if he don't come?" f I DIDN'T WANT MUCH! I Old Lady: Driver, I want the Bank of England." Driver: "Well, I could do with it myself, mum." Judge "Have I not seen you twice before under the influence of liquor ? Defendant: "If you were in that condtiol your honour, you probably did see me twice." Little Willie "I wish I was you Mr. Self- made." Mr. Selfmade (who has come to dinner) ftAnd why, Willie?" Willie 'Cause you don't get your ears pulled for eating with your knife." "Where's the umbrella I lent you yesterday?" "Jones borrowed it. Why?" "Oh, nothing; only the fellow I borrowed it of says the owner has been asking for it." Willie: "Ma, can people leave parts of them- selves in different places?" Ma: "No, dear. Why?" Willie: "Well, Mr. Jiggs said he was f going to the Riviera for his lungs. HORSEY! I Buyer: Look here, you! You said this horse was sound and gentle and free from tricks. The first day I drove him he shied a dozen times, and he's as bad to-day." Dealer: Um—you've been wondering if I cheated you, eh?" Buyer: Yes, I have." Dealer: "And the first time you drove the hoss you wondered if he hadn't some tricks, didn't you?" Buyer: Of course." Dealer: "And had your mind on it a good deal, most like?" Buyer That's true." Dealer: That's wot's the matter. You've hypnotised him! See?" Tom: "Are you deaf to my pleadings?" Eva I am." Tom But wuat if I were to offer you a diamond ring?" Eva: "Oh, I am not stone deaf." "Mrs. Small, this coffee won't settle," com- plained Mr. M'Watty to his boarding-house keeper. "Then it is in good company, Mr. M'Watty," replied Mrs. Small, frigidly. REMOVING A DOUBT. I A.: "Are you much happier since your second marriage?" B.: "Oh, much happier, Feel much more settled, you know." A.: "In your mind?" B.: "Yes, and all other ways. I was never quite clear in my first venture who ran the house, but in this case everything is plain sail- ing, and no occasion for dispute." A.: "She knuckled, eh?" B.: "Oh, no. She's master!" Elderly Gentleman (putting his head in at the door): Mrs. Wilkins, will you be my wife? I have two thousand pounds and a good house. I'll give you three minutes to make up your mind." Mrs. Wilkins (promptly): "I've three thousand pounds and a better house than yours, and I'll give you two minutes to get out of this." A new golf story is chronicled. It was a two- some, The player who drove off first was bow- legged. The second, in driving off, did not notice that his opponent had got in front of him, and the ball ran between the opponent's legs. Turn- ing round in anger, the bow-legged one said, Here, mun, that's no golf!" Weel," said the other, if it's no golf, it's croquet!"

I TO BE BEHEADED TWICE. a At Berlin, Tudwig Tessnow; the child mur- derer, has. been sentenced to death, having' been convicted on two separate counts. The "verdict condemns him to be beheaded twice, while he is given two years' imprisonment upon the third charge of murderous assault. linallv he is to suffer loss of his political rights. The verdict attracts widespread at' tuition in view of the fact that numero.is" medical experts, who testified at the trial, were unanimous in the opinion that the- mur- derer committed all his crimes in a state of degenerate immoral responsibility. Public opinion commends the conviction, however, because of the tendency in Germany to as- cribe these hideous crimes to insanity and to leij the perpetrators es-cape with a mild sen- tence. At West Prussia an inhuman mother was let off with a year's imprisonment for nearly torturmgto death her fourteen-year-old daughter. It was related during the trial that the woman tied the child to a post in the stable and beat her naked body with a thorny club so furiously that the stable floor ran red with blood from the child's wounds. In order to make them heal quicker, as the woman told the child, she then saturated the wounds with vinegar and salt. On another occasion the mother beat the child with a pair of tongs, lacerating the fiesh in the most horrible fashion. Yet again the mother drove wedges of wood into the child's ears. The physicians found eighty separate wounds upon the poor girl's body. upon the poor girl's body.

I LAW COURTS SCENE. A scene at the Law Courts was described to the Bow-street magistrate, when Charles Frederick Tracy, a surveyor, of Bedford-row, was summoned for assaulting Horace Labell, a, solicitor's clerk. On November 4 an applica- tion was made before Mr. Justice Bray at the High Court arising out of a pending action in which the defendant, Mr. Tracy, was one of the parties. The complainant was a clerk to the solicitors acting on the other side, and im- mediately after leaving the judge's chambers there was a discussion as to the truth of certain statements made to the judge. It culminated in the complainant calling the defendant a liar, and the latter then struck complainant a blow on the face. The judge was afterwards appealed to, and he hinted that defendant might apologise, but this was not done. The magistrate said he was sorry that there should have been this trouble between two gentlemen of this description almost in the presence of the judge. It was a pity that the judge's suggestion was not acted upon. He bound the defendant over to keep the peace aftd ordered him to pay £ 1 Is. costs.

RAILWAY TUNNEL SMASH. While a Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway goods train was proceeding through the 'inur- stonland tunnel, about six miles from Hudders- field, some of the rear waggons and the guard's van became detached. The 2.27 passenger train from Huddersfield to Clayton West, coming up behind, dashed into the detached van and waggons, smashing the van into pieces, and hurling two empty waggons off the line.' The guard of the goods train was badly bruised but no one in the passenger train was injured

EXCITING FIRE RESCUES. Exciting scenes were witnessed at a fire whmh occurred at the Swiss Hotel, Brownlow Forth, Bolton. Two children were gallantly lemoved from the burning building by Miss p. u • tne landlady s sister. The landlord and 'WP T1 a window with their youngest child, whom they dropped into the arms of willing rescuers below and they afterwards jumped from the window, which was only a short distance from the ground. The fire was confined to the kitchen, and was quickly ex- tinguished.

An inquiry was held at Cradley-heath regarding the tragic death of a tradesman named Joseph haybould. It appeared that during a dense fog deceased missed Jiis way and fell over a precipice into the river Stour. The spot where the accident I happened was described as a death-trap, which had been responsible for the death of several persons.