Wrexham and Denbighshire Advertiser and Cheshire Shropshire and North Wales Register

OUR LADIES' COLUMN. BY ONE OF THEMSELVES. SOMH OF F.AST YKAK'S PfCTUHES.—MAHAME RoXXt:R.—CAT PoKTHAITS.—A TURXUI.KXT I''AMn.Y.—Knrr:xs. — A'N(,11-NT CATS.—'i'nK CATS' HOMH.—WoOt.mN GAKMKXTS.—SHET- I.AXH V.'ttOL.—jAKGAR MATERtAI-.—DAtNTY SHAWLS.—HOW CHtLLS CAK !!E AVOIDRD.— THE AHT CHJB.—POKER WORK —How DONE. -ORAŒT AL DECORATIONS. PLEASANT FAXCY WORK FOR LADIES. A stroll down Bond-st. amongst the ptcture* reminded me of an exhibition which detighted me t!)ere a year ago, and I was espcc!a!ly pleased to recall it. for I have just had a beautiful volume presented to me, which contams nearly, if not quite all, the f-hanning paintings I there saw on the watts of the Fine Art Gallery, by Henriette Ronner, the great painter of cat life and cat character. They are reproduced as photograuves in this vo)un)e, and it is almost, as p)easant to study the expression and attitudes of these beautiful creatures thus presented to us in a wen-bound, l.n-ge volume, as to took at them a whole afternoon a-s I did last year when their portraits were suspended on the wails of the nttlegaHery in Bond-st. Looking at Madame Ronner's paint ings, it seems one of the easiest things in the w or)d to paint a cat, but it is noto- rious that acatis really oncof the mostdifncu)tof Itv'ngthingstopaint, a'-onemay wctt bcHevewhen this most attractive animal is regarded in all its varying humours and moods. Very few artists have ever attempted to devote themselves to this phase of art, and I beHeveMadnme Ronncr.the remarkable French woman whose portrait is on the nrst page of the handsome volume before me, is pre-eminent amongst the number. The proverbial chameleon is not more changeab)c in its colour than the cat in respect to her contour, expression, and attitudes, and artists are apt to shrink from the attempt to catch anything so nck)e minded and transfer it to canvas, but Madame. Ronner has not only undertaken the difficult task, but has been eminently successful in it. Those who love cats, and there arc many, I am n:)af) to nay. who do so, not on)y the pro- verbial old maid but strong, chivalrous men, who seem to delight in their feminine ways and humours, for it must be remembered that cats select their friends for themselves, and do not take np with anybody as dogs are too apt to do, lovers of character, wil) be charmed to see Madarne Ronner's rendering of their habits and graceful, fascinating ways. The texture of the fur she paints on her cats a!t)t0sttc)nj't one to stroke, then), and their very mischievous g:nnbo)s, whtch contd ne\'cr suggest themsehes to any one who did not tove them. are quite absorbing to behoid. I am sorry that Madame Rouner. this wonderfu) cat anist, j was never introduced to my own dear KoKo, witit his butlty tail and perfect coat, stow measured step, and dignifit'd bearing to stran- g('rs. or, I am sure. he wouhi have figured in this gaUery and atthough in times past many a poor old woman has paid for the constancy of her cat by being dectared a witch and in teague with the devi), in these iatter days we can ven- ture to face such dangers and to love our fc:.is do)?tcstic-its, even after the exquisite charm of her <ar)y youth, andkittenhood.is past. There is one picture in this deHghttni book which I especiaHy like to coutemptate—it is c.dted The turbulent family." and in it we see the anxious mother vain)y trying to curb the mischievous pranks of her troubiesome children, who have knocked down a bud cage and are disporting themselves round and about it. and a domestic spinning wheel, with att the pranks of kitten nature, as Mr. Ruskin says. "down to the most appaning depths thereof." Cats have. been subjects for the painter's art for ages past. The bronzes and statutes of Egypt and the mural paintings of Thebes give us specimens of ancient attempts to pourtray them and I well recoilect being attracted in the recent Tudor exhibition to a touching picture of a cat. which was said to have fed Sir Henry Wyatt with pigeons when he was imprisoned in the Tower. But these are but caricatures of a rea). true. beautiful cat; and it remained for Madame Ronner to how us the dinerence be- tween a portrait from life. done with all the enthusiasm of true admiration and appreciation of the subject, and a mere perfunctory attempt at achieving a fikcncss. This beautiful volume, though its first claim on our admiration certainty consists in the wonderful iHustrations it con- tains, has also many pages of interesting letter- press, written by Mr. Spielmann, who says that Madamc Ronner's genius, in her own chosen tine of art. is second neither toLandsecrnorMadam< Rosa Bonheur. The book is pubfished by Messrs. Cassell, and I shall certamly try to present a copy of it to a cat loving barrister friend of mine. who dctights to telt me how his own familiar pussie never settles to her nightfy rest till he is safely shut into his chambers, and how she always waits tor hhn at the gate ot the Temple, however fate it may be betore she hears his latch key in the took. when with a !oud purr of welcome she springs on to his shoutder and accompanies him upstairs. The weather of late has been so sharp, indeed bitterly co)d, that the at ten! ions of a soft purring pussie cat are not to be despised, and I \ve)come Ko Ko's smooth, warm fur on my tap when he honours me by jumping up. during this biting east wind, even more than I do under ordinary therma) conditions. I sympathise much with the Home which exists for cats in connection with the Home for Lost and Starving Dogs, although the merit ot either of these wet! devised institutions tiepen(i:s on their management, and I have had occasion totind grave fau)t ith many of the arrangements in the dogs' department and the admintstration oi the fumts. Things may be better now, but! tear the comfort and welfare ofthec)os:sisnot. the tir-Nt consideration in the management, and I am quite sure that Ko Ko would be very unhappy there. Six hundred and fifty cat" have tound retuge there during the year, and many cats are received as boarders when their owners are fro'n home, and dread to leave them uneared for in the streets of London. My heart is often made very sorry to see how little these pretty creatures are regarded by those who own them, but leave them to their fate. and how great their sunc'ings often are with no one to feed or shelter them. A little kennel at Hattersea and daity rations j can be secured for a smat) weekly sum by any one who desires to deat fairly with a domestic pussie whom they cannot otherwise provide for, when leaving home All one's wraps and comforts are as valuabte now as they have ever been through the winter, and I revert to my Shetland woo! garments with the greatest pleasure. I am bound to say that my affections arc divided between the very elastic, warm but Hght material, which comes from the far nort it, and seems constructed to keep one warm with- out knowing it, or experiencing any weight in wearing it, and the material known as "Ja*gar," in which I am now rejoicing. in the form of sheets on my bed. The machinations of the ordinary laundress makes the wearing of Jaenar garments very disheartening and expensive, for there seems to he no way of avoiding the nievitabtc and vexatioua shrinking which has to be endured. excepting: the use of the domestic wash-tub, and this is not always avaitabte. Where it is, how- ever, if the operation be performed with proper care, Jsegar under-ctothing is a delight and a pleasure, and in any case I sleep in my detight- fulJaegarsheetsof ampte size without dream- ing of the wicked laundress, for even her attempts to shrink them, unless malieious)y outrageous, could only affect my comfort by an inch or two, whilst in a garment a very little diminution in size is ruinous to one's peace and comfort- Japgar sheets are like the softest and finest cashmere made of the purest woo), and feel like the softest si)k. they are warm and very light now, and when the summer comes 1 am assured that they have every advantage suited to the season. A) chough this new and pleasant acquisition pleases me much, I am faitliful to my o!d love, and I regard my soft, white, Suny, !acey Shetland shaw)s, which originally came from Mr. White, of Edinburgh, with great aHection. Whilst recovering from my recent illness I have tested their c)aims both on my vanity and my comfort, and though it is difHcuIt to wear a lacey white covering in the dirty atmosphere of a London house and yet retain the sctt-respect which such a dainty and pure looking wrap ought to inspire, I persist in doing so on hygienic as well as on other grounds, and I have now two of these very becoming shawts, one of which is often being restored to its original purity in its native Scotch air, whilst the other is graduany losing its freshness by contact with chair covers and cushions that have been through several abominabie London fogs. And so they take their turns to be refreshed and cleaned, and as I welcome each one on its return I fancy I feet the whin* of a breeze from the Pentland liil m; even from Lervick itsetf, as unwrap the parcet. 'rhen the many and various devices of the Shet- land hosiery, not so dainty and delicate, 'tis true, as the fabric of my pet shaw )s, but reiiabtc and warm, and ready for any emergency by sea or land, in winter or summer, are too endiess and varied for me to describe, though I am never without an abundant supply of them all, for I appreciate their qualities most thoroughiy, especially as I grow older, and know how essential it is to have warm clothing winch adds as little as possible to the weight we all have to carry in the shape of clothes. Then, although things made of woo), without any admixture of silk or cotton, are sure to shrink a littic in w ashing, these Shetland garments are so loosely woven that they do not seem to suffer as much as more closely made fabric? do, such as Ja'gar's, and in this respect, as mere comfortable w raps j for night or day, I prefer them to any woollen garments I have ever woru. I continually endeavour to explain to such of my friends as are unwise enough to resist I w caring wooHen garments next their skins, an(t t declare that they are warm enough, and in the f summer far too warm, as they are, that my desire is not to make them speciaUy warm, but to secure them from takingchilis, and I try to make them understand thatwoolabsorbstheinsensibie perspiration which is constantly given off by a healthy skin, and protects it from the action of ourchi])y and changeful climate. It equalises the temperature as linen or cotton cannot do, and is as necessary and as comfortable to wear in hot weather, when the skin is acting freely, as on the coldest day in winter. I am quite sure that hundreds of colds and coughs and attacks of bronchitis might be avoided if the multitude of foolish young women who declare that they "really cannot wear wool next their skins," would listen to reason and common sense, and clothe themselves properly. I could give a sad list of sickness and sorrow amongst the young and charming girls I happen to know, entirely due to want of this precaution. An exciting game of lawn tennis on a hot after. neon, a drive home m the cool evening on the outride of a coach, necessarily caustng an Inevitable chill. because there was no woollen fabric worn to absorb the moisture, and the pe' spiratory glands, wliieh had been freely acting, of course checked and shut up so that the evil products of the btood, which are carried off naturally in this way, are sent back into the system and left there to induce uitlam mation and disaster too tenib)e to recall, I could give chapter and verse for many such cisea which I have personally known and grieved over. No wonder then that I am an ardent advocate forwooHcn underclothing for every one of any age. size, or sex. But meu are wiser than we are about such matters. Whoever heard of a cricket or football player robing himself in fine linen or calico for the occasion ? He knows that his flannel suit will be most comfortable and pro- tect him from the consequences of throwing himself down to rest awhitc on the green Sra-'s after violent exertion, as no other material could do, and so woe to the man who is seen paying cricket in a cotton shirt, however hot the day may be. But it is, I am sorry to say, of very little use to write or to say all this when common sense is the last tiling brought to bear on matters ef dress and costume. At regular Interval we have in ono of the Bond-st. Galleries exhibitions of the work Of members of the Royal Water-Colour Soctety Art Club. The club is made up of clever amateurs. who exhibit their works at the pleasant re- unions or soirees which are occasionally given by the members, of whom ladies form a large pro- portion and contribute largely to the objects of interest which are shown. Among the exhibits at the last soiree were specimens of a kind of etching which is very popular with ladies just now. "It is called poker work, and is now done with a fine point on wood, not as it was at first by the skilful use of the ordinary domestic red- hot poker. It appears that this method of tracing fi--ui-es on wood is quite an ancient one, and was !ong ago practised by the Dutch and Italians. Some very old specimens of Enghsh work of the kind have also been found it is, indeed, a revived art which is within the scope of any !ady who can draw fairly well. In o)acn times it used to con- sist in heating an iron point in the nre and sketching with it, or an ordinary poker on smooth plain white wood. Modern soence has greatly simplined and improved the methods of proceeding. What is commonty used now is a Iitt)e apparatus sold at Whitetey's and Shool- bred's, and at many art depots, of a very ineni- ous kmd. It is shaped like a pencil, and ends in a platinum point. The surface of the platinum is reduced to what is known to physicists as the spongy condition, this being heated in the name of a spirit tamp, it is eas.jy and pcrma nently kept hot by throwing on toUahmejetof, benzotine from an indiarubber handba)). H is attached to the pencil and has a tube for dipping into the bt'nzohnc bott)e. With very little practice it is easy to team how to regfiiate the heat of this platinum poker, and with it the most charming designs may be etched by the hot point upon all sorts of useful and orna- menta) trifles for the table, inkstands, porttotios, stamp boxes, photograph frames, &c. Some beautiful specimens were shown, and some of the larger specimens of panels are exceedingly we)! suited for decoration of chimney pieces, over-mantels, and picture frames. I know many ladies who have turned their artistic tatents to good purpose in this way, not only in decorating their homes and those of their friends, but also in replenishing their purses. The objects intended for decora- tion are largely imported from Germany and from Ireland, where this work is being success- fully carried on by the Donegal Industrial Fund, who show some pretty specimens at their depot in Wigmore-st. London, Thursday. PENELOPE. TO CORRESPONDENTS. H. I.—Thanks for your kind letter and sugges- tions for a comfortable bed rest. I think my string hammock which is used to help me op- stairs, or one like it, would make an ndmirabie bed rest to hold pHto\vs when one is silting up. 1 \viU certainly Lry it if occasion should occur again. I ineanundoubted)ytotrycitherAix)es Bains or some other baths if my rheumatism continues. C.D.B.-Singular is it not, that you a!so should ,.up;gest a hammock for a bed rest ? The idea seems to me cxceHeotand I will certainty try it. Thanks for all your kind words.

COMIC PAPER CUTTINGS. [From PuxcH."] A PROPHECY AS TO THE U. B. R. When the Eight!! are reaching Chiswick, One %%ill give the other physic. A WAITING GAME.—The Old Keeper (Mr. Glad. stone to a do-" Hadical Opposition" —tugging at thetcash): "Gently! Gcutty! my beauty! HI say when HASTY '—Mary If missus don't withdraw what ahe has said to me, I shall teave the house Thomas What did she say ?"—Mary Hhe Haid, I give you a month's notice A WARNING.—Archie (to h!s s!stcr, who has been reading him fairy tales): Woo'L there be a Jot of us if none of us go and get marrtcd ? Worse than Hep o' my Thumb !"—Sutcr Yes but you know I mean to be married !"—Archie Do you mean to say you'd go and live atone with a m.m attet reading 'Uluebeard?" A BROTHER PASTELLIST.—(Messrs. GoupHI admit Artists and Students free to Mr. Whistler's Exhibi- tion.) Gatekeeper (stopping aquatid straner): "Now then, what do you want S. S. Come to see Jta.iny's show.' Catekeeper: "One tljilliiifr, picasc." S. S. "N"t aje? I 'nia artist—corner'/ Daker-st.—eha]k- Le'tnnie through (Cliucketl SIGNS "Ot THE TiMES.—"Uc wa< brought Up to epeak )u the aate-stutuping era."—Lord !to"euel'Y on Lord Granvi)!e You fio well. my dear T-ord. <o spread Granvill,s renown. Knishth'. to'a), and courteous 10 n't'n.tnh or ctowt) ile had p)uck. :utd swtft, .,peeeh. [hom;)i no ntcre r.trty I'ump. To our )ate ptatform tcvc) hp hirdty worked don n But the popular si-ri of his day MM The Crown," Of ours 'US Thu Magpie and Stmnp." [FHOM JUDY."1 I A tong drop Herry de",cndl\lg' from the omce of public executioner to the proiesaiou of public lecturer. WHAT DID SHE MEAX.—" Excuse me, i-ii.-idini: but I think I l)ad tl)e p!ca.-urc of seeing yuu yesterday." "N« t never go to the Zoo." AN EMi'TY TjTLE. It it were cu'-tomary in this country to confer titles upon indid.Juals of rank m literature, wbat shouhl I be < H:))r<'n IdeM." U1'õANSWRHAnLF:. He: "You iiiiglit post this letter?" She: Do you think they c-:tu read the address?" tfc: "Lur, yea! Big a, I am She: "Dub not sf ptain." IN AND Our.—It is a curious trait of Parliamentary life that when a measure i.,3 IJIuughl in, the n::o:st coiiscicntiuua and uprighllllcUluers suaia every nt:rvo to carry it cut. tFrom"FuN."] I SiGVS OF AN EAR[.T who tuilet-s dreadfully wnh his feet, ,¡ay" his aclic-coril:5 arc beginiiiiig to Iio,ot alt-ca(ly. A P-ILI-FUL, StTE.—Titc (juvernment have no eyes for art—for :m Art Porlrait Cdlet V. ftL le;1.t-at any ra.te, ttmy have no site for it. Ma.[uma." sa.itl Tommy, I wa.nt a.uother ice, pipage." And he in rppty t" the contcut.K.'u t,liat it. woutdtt't du tmn good, th.tt, the Uxfurd crew trained p) iocip.ttiy on the I.sis.

What if that which ¿\.ks no qucstiulls but requires ma.tny answers ? The do"r- betL Irl<tvey<'u change for stxpeuc-e?" asked a tramp. Yes/'rephed the p:entteMia.n. "Where is the six- pence ?" 1 haven't one, but I thort if you had ctmnge for sixpence you might trnve a copper or t\vn for a poor man wot's seen hettcr days. All the gents I have asked for tip]? 'aid they hadn't any change." Mrs. Betiboiv, after the doctor had gone, How am I to take the medicine ?" Henbow: You are to take a teaspoonful now, and if there is no oo¡l eflect in an hour take another toaspoonfu)." Mr: Ben bow, despundentiy 1 know there won't be My good eitect, so you'd better civc me both spoonfuls now." li.}w is it possible for you," said one student to his friend. to be so easy under your load of debts— how you manage to sleep so peacefully—I can't understand." "Oh. I sleep like 3. top. But how my credttots can sleep any way peacefulty is something that, iu my turn, is perfectly iUi:llll'l'chen,;ible to ine." Crtudp,,t, does hens make their own eggs ?'* Yes, iudeed they do, Johnuie." An' do they al- ways put the yolk in the middle <" T))ey do, JQI'nn;a- ';An; do they puu the starch around it to keep the yellcr f:om rubbing ofY ?" Quite likety, iny tittle boy." An' who sews the cover on This stumped the eld gentleman, and lie barricaded Johnnie's mouth wl[h a Io)l!pop. A humorous ednur rec-Ctved a cruel rebuke from !us wife not long since. She had been to the theatre, and gave such a. very amusing account of the per- formance that her literary husband exclaimed. "Why don't you write that out just as you have told It to me ? It would make first-cla-.s copy. You ought to write for the paper." No, 1 th.\nk you. One crank In the family is enough," was the cutting reply. An honest German was asked to speak at a temperance meeting and did so In the fo)!o\ving exbaustive manner :—" I shall tell you how It vas. I put my hand to my head there iras one big pain. Then I put my baud in my pocket, and there vas nothing. Now there ish no pain in my head. the pains in my pody arc all gone away. I put mine hands in miue pockets and there Mh tive pounds. So I shaH sthay mil de tcmppra.nce." Before the days of chiorotorm there was a. quack who advertised tooth drawing without pain. Tht patient was placed in a chair, and the instrument applied to his tooth with a wrench, followed by a roar from the unp)c:tsant)y surprised suSerer. Stop," cried the dentist. Compose yourself. I told you I would give you no pain, a')d only p:ave you that twinge as a "PCeillll'll, to :-h"\v you Cart- wrinbt'.s metlfd of Again the Instru- ment was roar. Now, dun't be impatient. that, is Dumerge's way be seated and calm you wi)[ now be sensible of my superior method." Another application—another tug—another roar. Fray be quiet that is rarkinson's mode, and you don't like it, and no wonder." By this time the tooth hung by a thread, ann, whipping it out, the operator exultingly exclaimed, "That is my mode of drawing without pain, and you arc now enabled to compare it with the operations of Cartwright, Dumcrge a.nd Parkin' eon. Good morning sir, aud th&uk you."

AGRICULTURE. A(;nicul,TUR,M SEED TRADE, LONDON, Wednesday. -Messrs John Shaw and Sons, seed merchants, ofGrea?MazePond. London, S.E., report a s?-eam of sowing orders now coming to hand, ?icha? executed at the moderate quotations current S?? in consequence, are getting into ?'te ? "arrow compass. Perennials continue dear. Italian is easi? For tares there is an improving sale. Hempseed 6rm at the recent advance. Mustard and rapeseed realise former terms. Scarlet runners keep unusually low. THE VISIT OF THE RoYAL SHOW TO LHESrEB—A meetinc of the sub-committee who have charge of the local arrangements for the visit of the Royal Agri- cultural Show to Chester next year was held on Saturday, Mr J. Scovell presiding. The chief business was to settle the amount of prizes to be awarded for cheese, and in view of the position of Cheshire as a leading dairy county there was a unanimous agree- ment to make that part of the prize list as attractive as possible, and it was decided to recommend the champion prize to be JE50, but an improvement is made in the other prizes. Altogether JE4&0 will be given as prize money for cheese. There will be eight classes in this department of the exhibition.

FARMING AND THE CORN TRADE. The 1.11ark Lane Expre. of Monday says:— The exceptionally line weather which has marked the end of March and the beginning of April has been, unless tradition misleads, a very unusual occurrence, for a variety of weather saws speak of this very period us a cold, wet, and stormy one. Farmers' fears at the present moment are rather not that such a period has been only postponed, but tha.t, as in nia.ny instu.nces within the past ha.lf century, as an under-aver:tge r:nn- fa.11 during the nrst half of the year will be made up by over-avera-ge fall in the second h:df. including the harvest period, when drought is adv.t.nta.geous. TItC autumn-sown whent lo-d&y is improving in cotor, and the starved appearance of a fortnight ago is alter_ ing. Showers are hoped for, together with a genial temperature. A large area has now been sown with spring corn. Cats in some districts have had the preference of barley, but opinion favors the idea of barley, oats and pulse showing a fully-maintained acreage, rye an increase, and wheat a decrease. Some judges think that oats will show an increase. Practically, all agree that wheat is a smaller acreage thun last yeu.r.

MR CHAPLIN ON ALLOTMENTS. Mr Chaplin, the Minister of Agriculture, attended a congress of members of ra.rtia.ment, ca.ndida.tes, and delegates for Leicestershire, Derbyshire, Warwick- shire, Rutland, and Northamptonshire, at Leicester, on Saturday, under the presidency of the Marquis of Crranby, M'i\—Ueplying to the discussion of the d:).y, the right Iionorable gentleman said he noticed that two prevailing demands were made by a good many of the speakers, one being that to be really ad- vantageous it was necessary that the allotment shoutd be near the home, and the second that it should be held at a fair rent. He sympathised entirely a.nd com- pietelv with both these statements, The general principle he had always endeavoured to keep before him had been to add largely, if possible, to the exist- ing number of landowners. If that couid be achieved in any degree there could hardly be two opinions as to the advantages it would confer. Many laboring men would, under those circumstances, be well and constantly employed who were now often out of work, and it would be good also for the land. It would also benefit the community at large because of the increased produce which would be grown. lie had always held that a man who had so far raised himself as to be able to keep a cow had made a distinct step in agricultural life and he had not known a eaae in which a man had found that cow-keeping did not pay. Cow-keeping was not only a question of small hold- ings it was one of national importance, as they would understand when they considered the enormous amount of dairy produce which was annually imported into the country. (Cheers.) At present they imported annually nearly 20 millions sterling worth of dairy produce, more than the value of the whole wheat crup grown in the country. So far as lie knew, there was absolutely no reason why almost the whole of that should not be produced equally well, and probably a good deal better, in this country. (Cheers.) Two things were of course required for that. First, that a much larger number of cows should he kept—and he knew of nothing more likely to promote that than a great increase of small holdings and, secondly, a con- siderable development of dairy education, for which they must look to their county councils.

SMALL HOLDINGS. A gentleman farmer, resident in the district, in repty to our Hope correspondent, expresses himself as follows on the above current topic:—Some people there are who would cut all our land up into small holdings. Do you think if my own farm or some other well-known Ja.rge farms were made into ten acre hold- ings that they wouldcarryasmuchstockorproduce the crops us they do now ? I say without fear, Is'o. But, not only that, the men of energy and enterprise, the men who are the backbone of the country, would be driven out of the land, and they would take their capital with them. We must admit that some men are more capable of farming 100 acres titan others of dealing J with ten. We certainly waut farms as stepping-stones for men that are willing to rise, but, if you take an asTicuItural uarish. the tarms of between 200 and 300 acres are the best managed. Exceptions there are. of course, but these are not the rule. I think there is a deal of cant used from platforms and by some of the Press with reference to poor Hodge (as the laborer is called) and the abominable farmer, who is driving the laborer out of the country into the towns by not paying him higher wages. In answer I would say there is no class of men (with due respect to everyone) who are more loyal and have their country s welfare more at heart than the''British Farmer." But how is he repaid hy the country at large ? Often with the greatest contempt. I contend that the farm laborer is paid as well as other men of the same class, and it is not the farmer that is driving him into the towns. Home of the cause is in the townspeople them- selves, who send machinery (which they make.) of every description, and are therefore candidates in the harvest-neld and other work. Another cause is the small margin the farmer has had of late years to employ extra labor, and here again it is the fault of the townspeople for not giving us more remunerative prices for our products, but encouraging the foreigner at every turn. Think of the amount of imports to this country in excess of exports, which must be a drain upon our wealth, na.tura.Ily. Again, the advent into this country of the scum of every other. Trades Unions, too, which often by their strikes stagnate trade and drive it from our shores, these are a few of the reasons why the town labor market is over- stocked, the remedy for which is thought 30 Small Holdings Bill to attract the laborer to the soil. Let me mention one item that is worth the whole Hill (if it was carried out), send less lawyers to Parliament, so that we may have land transfer the same as buying so much stock.

RUTHIN BOARD OF GUARDIANS. MoxnAY.—Present: Mr Thos. Jones. presiding;. Rev. J. F.Reece. Messrs. C. Gr.Jones. W<n. D:bvies. LIysf&si. John Williams, and Mr R. H. Roberts, clerk. LIST OF ATTENDANCES. The following is a list of attendances made by every fu:t.rc}i:tn through the year, the possibtc tiumber was 25 meetings, a.ud the list does not include committees for which there were a. larger number. Owen Willi-.iilis, C.C., 17, Wm. Jones 15. Henry 11-illiaiiis 8. Maurice Jones 10, J. T. Lloyd 12, F. Beech 11, Ed. Jones 17. J. Worthington 12 Ed. White 5, Ed. Roberts 16. Gomer Roberts 15, W. Davies 12. John Roberts 16, Saxon G. Ellis 8. J. F. Reece 18. Jsnn.c Wynne 12, R. Williams 8, John Jones 16, John Williams 15. W. Lloyd 8, Thos. Jones (chairman) 22, Richard Williams 7. Ed. Jones 16, Thos. Jones, LIanferres, 10. Isaac Jones 4, C. Groodman Jones 19, T. P. Roberts 14. Ex-omcio members—Dr Jenkins 12, E. 0. V. Llovd 11, M&jor Etiis 2, Brook Gunliffe 1, Thos. Wiliiams, LIewesos, 1. THAXHS TO THE CHAIKMAN. On the motion of Mr Wm. Jones, seconded by the Rev. J. P. Recce, u. vote of tha.nks was passed to the cha.irma.n for past services, n.nd both gentlemen coui- mented upon the :tb!e and business-tike mn.nner in which the transactions of the board h:)d been superin- tended by the cha.irma.n. The cha;irnia.n responded brieHy. I HETUKX fF EXrKNDITt'KE Axr* rAtTERISM. The clerk submitted a report of the in and out- door paupers, and the expenses of the union for the half-year. Lady Day, 1889. In-door paupers 123, vagrants 2.063, in maintenance .€422. in-door JE502; expenses XI,322. Lady Day, 18SO, .E113, vagrants relieved, 669, in maintenance JE419, out-door JE520; expenses JE1.340. 1891, in-door, 90, vagrants. 771. in maintenance JE453, out-door ;E458 expenses jEl,233. Lady Day, 1892, in-door paupers 77, vagrants relieved 1.170, in maintenance £450, out-door relief JE421; expenses JE1.175. There were no comments made upon the report. THE VICE-cnAIMTEX. I On the motion of Mr Goodman Jones, a. vote of I tba.nks wiis passed to the two vice-ch:urmcn, Mr E. 0. V. Lloyd and Mr Owen Williams, ajid Mr I Owen Williams responded. I THE HOUSE. ) The mMter reported thn.t the number of inmates WIILS 58, n.ga.inst 63. vagra.nta relieved during the fortnight 84. increase 15. of whom 64 were English, 1 one Scotch, 15 Irish, four Welsh, mM-rier) f,- ar, v-i:;it"a 1 the house previously 42, been in the armv 10. I

BRYN LLITHRIG STUD, SEASON i892. The undermentioned stallions will be available this season, the number of mares to each stallion being limited. Gentlemen desirous of obtaining nom- inations will please communicate with C. Wright, agent, Bryn Llithrig Hall, St. Asaph. who will furnish all particulars as to fees, &c. :—" Eglamore," thorough-bred chestnut, 16 hands, foaled in 1884. Winner Queen's premium JE200, 1891 and 1892, by Thurio out of Blair Urae." by Blair Athol." out of Molly Carew." by Wild DayreII. "Marengo," hacknev stallion, 3,789, bav. foaled 1888, sire Fimber Fiieaw&y," 1.482. da.m "Wildnre" of Fimber" 1,596, winner 4th prize 8th annual horse show. London, 1892,15,1st and 2nd prizes, best blood in England. Pra.tt's Pride of the Va.Ie." shire stallion, three years old, foaled in 1887,highly commended Shire Horse Show. London, 1891 and 1892. Winner of many nrat prizes. 17 hands high. about n, ton weight, nine inches width across hoof sire Decoy." 4,992, dam "Bounce." by "Champion," 450 Lake Commoner, 11,744, shire stallion.blaclr. three years old, sire Whaplode Wonder, 8.584 Wonderful bone 12A- inches below knee. Hi'Thly commended London Shire Horse Show, 1892, out l of a class of 102. Terms for mares sent for foalili- and keep. Foating mares 20s a week barren mares 12s week. N)ght watchman on duty to look to mareq every half-hour. Over 80 loose-boxes. 639

ALL MEN WHO WISH TO MARRY And be ha.ppy—those in search of health-should see the "MiRROR." Address—THE SECRETARY, 3, Fitz- allan Square, Sheffield, England. Free. Write to day. 1552j

I HOPE WHISPERS. All's well that ends well, for once, election exnenf:" are saved and everybody satisfied. Forensic talents are not always judiciously di. played. The cemetery walks are now in much better ojr) than they have been for a long time. Padgett, the guard, is again prostrated. The r t way omcials have opened a subscription list on his behalf. Tempus Fugit." No, it doesn't, at least not in Hope. Which is the dominant quality in an angler, veracity or voracity ? Our last veatry was more like a Mutual Aùmiratiû Society than the bear-gardens of yore. n Messrs S. Smith and Herbert Lewis will visit tacr gwr!e in Easter week. It can hardly be said they come to Btonn the walls." Yet electors of both political sections wi)I ))g ?,< of this opportunity of hearing gentlemen of "?" ability. Too bad that Whispers was forestalled with that 6rst snake of the season. Never mind, we shall, later on, have the pl'O\'c:rhial gooseberry, We, in Hope, are not alone in oar desire to )'? the vestry meeting on any other dav but E?.ler Monday. Easter Tuesday would not suit. because rf the political fireworks on that day. Father O'FIynn caused more heart-burnin° f than was thought of last week. Mr Samuel Young represented the unde1'¡';1'nund and Mr Ftdler the surface men. at tl!(, of the Permanent Htdief Society. The men are of opinion that royalty'-owners do nrt adequately subscribe to this fund. The constant inquiries by cyclists and passing Aberniorddu, as to the rend to lIa\\ankll fr Mold, are getting iiritating. When will the cnger-pcst be ereeteJ ? please note., The 'Lord-Lieutenant believM th:(t in :(. t wr portion "f Ftintsinrc no NN'ul.h is  g?ti-e little It wou!d be well if we occasionally g;ne a htt? thought tt. the sacrifice of time and nionev th?t thn'-t- give wl? accept omee in our parocldal interests. As a rule they receive more kicks than halfpence Our neighbours at Gv.ersyIIt. in ve.str'v :ts'-cnih]ed have evidently no intention of being h:tt upon. ami besides they )/'i7< have a voice in the matter. No sturdier chnmpibn of people's rights cou'd have presided than their chairman. It would be well if the inspector fer the Royal Humane Society for Crue-ity to Animals occasion.div visited this neighbourhood. If the cap Bts, wear it." How true thi-, is. The Railway Company are leaving no st.,r:e un- turned in trying to accommodate the public fur Dydd L.Iun i'awb. The first meeting of the new School Hoard w;is held last Monday. Credit is due to the Sanitary Authority for its prompt action in stopping the spread of disease in the New inn portion of (jrwersyllt. Have our local volunteers made up their minus to be, once more, the premier shots of Hie Batt:tliulI Indies are making complaints here, of the language used by very young men on the high-roads. e'pccmitv on Sunday evenings. Are these would-be-mcn. aware that the offence is an indictable one Several of them in this neighbourhood ha.vp been especially noticed. This is intended as a friendly warning. The telegraph service will soon be an accompHshed fact in (Jaergwric, thanks to Hr W Ureer B.n- croft. The resignation of an official is rumored. Messrs E. Edwards, W. Fryer, and Thomas Lewis, deserve our thinks for their public spirit, in with- drawing their nominations as guardians, and so saving the expense of an election.

I MARKETS. u WI{EXHAM. CATTLK, Mouday.—There was a full supply of stocK at market, especially of beef. which met with a good ctear- auce at from 6d to 6lù per lb. Muttuu wa.s dearer, inid made 9d to 9Ad per lb. Veal fetched from 6d to 7d per Ib.. and pigs. for which there was a sharp trade, fro;u 9s to 9s 6d per score Ibs. Welsh couples (cue and lamb) rcali-cd up to .548, and there beinR a better Jem:njd fur (lain they nmde frotu .E13 to JE17 10s each. TUUHSD.Y. s. d. R. d. Red whcat (new), per 751bs. 5 o to 5 1 Oats told), per but<ht.'t of 451bs. 5 1 tu 3 '3 M:UtiiiK barIey, per 701bs. 4 3 to 4 9 (jrmduig b.irley, per 651bs. 3 9 to 4 3 l'otatoes (o]d), per l201bs. 5 0 to 3 5 Hutter, per lb. of l6ox. 1 3 to l 4 Beef. perlb. 7 to 9 Mutton, per lb. 5 to 9 1'ork, 7 t<. 9 Yeal, 7 to 9 towls. per conple. 4 0 to 56 Ducks, „ 5 0 to 00 Eggs, 14 to 16 for a shilling. MOLD. ED?ESDAT.—Whea.t (new), lls 6d to 12s; barley (seed), I 9s 6d to 10s: oats (old), 6s to 6s 6d; pota.t..cs. 8s 6d to 9s per bumper; butter, Is 6d per Ib.: eggs, 8 for a shUliu. I HUTHIX. .TUESDAY.—The monthly fair was a successful one, :ui<t the quality of stock exhibited was prime. hudmt: rt.tdv sale. C:).tHe were well represented, aud quickJv challged owners :tt proiitable quotations, ?17 to ;E20 :i head. hhup wore scarce, and the prices quoted eoud v.Uuc. H,,rst,s obtamed prompt ctcar:mce, n.nd the demand w.).s in c\ccss of the supply. Pigs maiutained their value. :UKl furincr quotations were adhered to. I n'- DENBIGH. I:DF.J)AY.-Tllcre was n. large attcnd.uicc nf but busmpss was turjy. Butter. Is 4d awl Is 5.1 n.r tb. Kggs, 17 and 18 for n, shiUing. Fowls, 4s to 5s per C(.t:ptf. A prumpt clearance w:is effected in all departntcuts. I CHESTER. uoiin-. haturday.—The market for wheat m< n ]owcr tcndenev, and although the supph frut)) farxicrs is H'ry sntaU the prices are agaillt skiers. Id u,2d})tr75n. highest value ùeillg 5,; to 6,; lù per buhcl. lkaH are .w Ircch cErcrcd. and pricus M'c uileli.,Liigt.I. Oat,; i\.r purposes inquired lor. and are f.tea.dv iu vatue N,,tlliilg I)assiiig iii barley. Indian conns 6<1 )uwer the week. tuutatiolls :A lic.Lt, white. 5s Id wheat, red. 5s to 5s Id per 751bs.; oats, 3s to 5s 6d per 461bs.; beans. 5s M per 80Ius.; beans. Eg'ptiall, ?s per2401bs.; Indian curn.l2,tu 12s 6a per 2401ùs. SHRr'WSHT-nv Conx, ??--?s market w? poor))- attended. ? ?? ?" ?''??' ??st week's prices. ]?ricv ?a'. )lo. ok? ed ?ftcr for seed, but masters were curf.Ics<. 'Oats were firm. Quotations:- \Yhite ?cat. 5s to 5s 2J: r? ??h?eat. T4s ?8d ?to 4sl0d per 751hs.; barley. 4s 3d to 4s M rcr 701b?,?. ?' ?s Sd to 18? 6.1; pe?s.l5s6dto 16-, 6.)? ZZ?Ibs.; bc.nis, 15s 6d to 16s 6d per 2401b<! OSWESTHV ??? '?? ???' ''S 10.1 tn 5s 2d: rc.t ?wh"r ? ? ?"?? ? ? ? ? S": ?t" <"ew). 15s to 17. .nn)t- ? b???] '???= Potatoes.2s 9d to 3s per n.ensurc; butter, ? ? to ??'?f,7dto9d; n.nuoji. 8dtuM: veal, 7d to ? ?''?' ? ? ? pertb; fowhs. 4s t.) 5s; ?(tU?L'K'b. ? bs ? to b? per couple: cccs. 16 to 18 fnr a shillin: CATT?, Wednesday-S't?k ? th????? ? <hin.?.w..I) all round and the sales were a nttic Inrcer if nnUhiti?f ?? ?? ?? ?? '?? "??? ?? ?? :-I? malle ? 6d ? ??' ??-??? SM. v?I. 7. ?d porh,!5<dttto5?d. TheMftowine ?cre th? n.'<h.< ')???r< hithc)d a..id Son sold 1M catUc ?d c?-? ?.d'? 500 sh?p ???'? = ?T"- ?Y?' ?dCo.heM?r ? ?Kt: '?Nlr, C. McKie ?? ?MtUe &nd calves M.d 24 sheep; ?1' V?? ? ??i?' ""? Groves ?M it mnnbc.r of catUc ? :T.n<d l ?ca? lves a.nd sheep :unl pi?s i. ??'?? Mt'TTKM AKD CHKESE FAIR—At this fair hcM in the l'owis l\Iarket Hal!, on cdue?dav. tli. re v as lu, Uu?tt! C]; offennK. the season behjf! over. '1 here were. how- ever. upwards of 300 cheese pitched. The following were the quotations:—Cheese—skims made from Ms to 35s. ha If-meated 455 to 50s, n.nd fat Gas to 65s. Hams real1"eù 8d to 8ù per Ib.. n.nd flitches 6d to 7d. MONTHLY HORSE FAiu.-This fair. hc)d in the Horse Mart, on Wcdnesda.y, was well attended by dealers ami larmcrs. The horses nn ofTer were rather a mixed class. but there were some good cart horses showuiR and these realised fairly good prices, ranRinH from .E55 to JM5 apiece. There were also a few nice cobs and hacks, but there were considerably fewer offering than a.t last fair. M_- ELErR. JL Wlie-it, 5s IMtoes; red. ss 5d to 5-; 7d per 7511)s. barlei-, 48 10d to Ss: oats. 3s 9d to 3s 11.1- c. 14 to 15 for Is batter, Is let to Is M Per 16oz -fows 3, 6J to 45 6tl pLr couple; ducks, 5s to 6s per coMie TuE l.iin.-There ii-,ts agiiin a good supply of stock of :ul classes in the &nnthhpld on Tn"]" n'f .l 7? ?h? ?tou was in good demand atlr?n. 74( (f t( o fM ? ?? ?' ? ???"'bs. which made up to £1 158 ?M?? ?? P"? P? "eain met ? bri.k ?c? Sh 6d to 10s 6d n, score. Store ni.? were very scarce, the fact of the fairs being openno? havi? b?n ? ?hFt??? ""? ? Peo??? a? drst?c.- from the town to put their piss iuto the market. Yea) a?t 7<m? ?? h? ??? ? ?? ? ?? supply) reluaincd fairlv steady at Ji ? ? ??? ? ""? ??ho sold 87 cattle 166 ccaalves. 103 sheep and !amt)s. und 69 pies '\Ie-?rs Cookc ? ?' "? ? ?" ? ??'?. 72 s?p aud I?bs. and 108 p WHITCHURCH. VT"tT'T'o. & "JAr H neat, 4S 6d to 4s lOd per 751bs.; barley, 4s M to Ss 3(1 per 70Ibs.; oatq, 35 3d t" 4'1 3d per SOIbs.: egg, 15 to 18 for Is. butter. Is 2d to Is 3d per 16uz.; fowts. 3s 6d to 45 per couple; potatoes, 3s per measure; beef. 5d to 8,l pet Ib.; mutton, 7d to 9d; vetU. 8<t to 9d: cork Gd to 7d. BIHKENHEAD. '.lTE¡;;T\AY.-Hay, £3 to JE4 per ton: clover. JM to JEj: .,traw, o:it, JE2 to JE2 5s manure. 3s to 5s Mr tou. LIVERPOOL. TUESDAY.—Cheese, per ll2]bs.: Finest States an'! Ca.MdMU). 56s to 58s. EuRs, per 120-Irish Hen. 5s 8d m 6s 6d; duck,8s2dto8s8d. Coit\, TucsJa.—Wheat.—'Mi)!ers agiiii purcltnse'1 sparingly of wheat, imdhoMers on'erinKfrpch ,I),,t pirccl-; were about Id perlOOlbs lowerth:m ouFrid:n. t':)!if"rnt: future- with onlv n. jnodcratc donaHd trum spccuha'.t- Rave wu.y .1(1 to M per ccntnl for :iH pnsiu.'tis cxeprt AuKust, which ctospd fractionally higher th:)n M"nd. Red American futures ruled tinner, and f:)ir qnnt'lit" ch:uip:in{; hands, filial rates showed It partia) "t ld to Ad per lOOlbs. on the day. East ludi:m futun' cm' tinned nominat a.t very irresular prices.

WARNING.—When you ask for RECKITT'S BLUE sec that you get it. The ma.nufactuieis Leg to caution the public against imitation square Blue, of very inferior quality. The Paris Blue in squares is sold in wrappers bearing their ua.me and Tr.-lde Mark. Refuse all others. 782c,