South Wales Echo

TO ADVERTISERS. The South Wales Echo is GUARANTEED 0 have a Larger Circulation than that of ALL the other Evening Papers of South Wales and Monmouthshire added together. As regards Cardiff alone, it is almost un- necessary for us to add thab the circulation of the South Wales Echo is IMMENSELY GREATER than that of any other Evening Paper. ROGERS' A Iv ALES AND PORTERS IN 4Va GALLON CASKS and UPWARDS tnoM lOn PER GALLON, 18s BREWISIIY, BRISTOL. CARDIFF OFFICES, 2, MILL LANE.

The Man About Town. I It was a Bank Holiday tragedy after all The rain-pitiless rain !-fell intermittently. Wet, disappointed, and bedraggled thousands paced the streets of Cardiff, and the umbrella parade was kept up till the last Rhymney and Taff trains had steamed out of the town. What sad reflections there must be this morning on a holiday wrongly spent-a holiday which produced a greater measure of misery and woe than was expected of pleasure. A people's holiday in wet weather is one of the most depressing things to contemplate. They seem to be like Gold- smith's traveller- Impi;ll'd with steps unceasing to pnrsua Some fleeting good that inocks me with the view. What hosts of holiday seekers realised the truth of this trite saying For whatever the weather they must turn out. Where home is only a place to sleep and snatch an occasional meal, the young people have no alternative on a holiday but to turn out and pace the streets or go upon some excur- sion. They cannot consider the weather. There is no room for them under the roof- tree to sit about, and go out they must, some- where, and that somewhere is usually the streets. This is the secret of the crowds of young people we see promenading along the principal streets on Sunday nights, in winter or summer, wet or fine. The Local Reformers and Forward Movement men have a big problem here to solve, and their best season, the wmtertime, is at hand. If you are a host unto yourself and fortunate enough to have comfortable quar- ters the rain is of little inconvenience to you on a Bank Holiday. The tedium of a day quickly passes away as you bury your head in the realistic romances of a Balzac or a Poe, or transport yourself into the green glades and forests of Early England with those Canterbury Pilgrims of dear old Chaucer. The rain may patter on the window pane then, what matters it to you ? The happy possessor of a few books, you turn from one subject to another as though you had the power of an Autocrat, the means of a Prince, and the palace of a King. The great ones of the earth are at your bidding, and though you may not be able to pass a nod of recognition to a friend in the street or on the fete ground, you can place yourself upon nodding and speaking terms with Shakespeare or Ben Jonson, and defy the weather and the world. Not so the genuine holiday makers. Home comforts are not theirs, and the only plea. sure they have lies beyond themselves at a crowded pleasure resort, on a fete ground, or in the streets. Our climate deals harshly with them, and never more than yesterday for the August Bank Holiday. I made my pilgrimage of duty yesterday in the character of an observant Man About Town. Holiday crowds were early astir to catch excursion trains and boats. In the forenoon there was ground for hope Floating clouds were constantly scanned by upturned faces which wore changing expres- sions of hope and despair as the handful of blue became brighter or disappeared behind the thick watery vapour which ultimately prevailed. This is Chapter one, Hope. The afternoon became more doubtful as the clouds con- signed their watery treasures to the streets Chapter two, Disappointment. The evening set in for a thoroughly wet night Chapter three, Despair. The tragedy was complete I It is surprising to notice how people hope against hope" on a wet holi- day. When the rain subsided a little, paterfamilias, with the younger mem- bers of his household, sallied forth, determined to snatch some sort of change, only to beat a hasty retreat before a heavy downpour of rain. II Hot-blooded youth'' had the greater advantage. They turned out and dodged the showers or faced them. Enamorados converted shop entries and door. ways into fair Rosamonds' bowers, which served the double purpose of sheltering them from the rain and affording them some seclu- sion from the gaping eye of the world as they whispered in each others' ears I "sweet nothings," or sighed deep siglis against the Fates which spoiled their holi- day plans. The world wags on somehow, despite the weather, and there is after all 11itGÎe change in the waya of mortals. [: "9. the' Bank # & cf\tamity. '-N<? the Bank Holiday was a c?Iannty. i I Where Bummer's sun should have prevailed, tempered by cooling zephyrs, there were torrents of rain, rivers of mud, and a November gloom. For the masses in the towns the holidays of the year are over. One sighs to think of the disaster which has befallen their last and only opportunity for a day in the country before Christmas comes, with its changed occupation and differing thoughts. The only comfortable place outside the Theatre was the fireside. One expects to hear anew the cry that Cardiff is deficient in aids to public amusement. The question is raised after every wet Bank Holiday, but like a convenient ghost it disappears without causing any great shock to the public nerves. But of what use were athletic sports, Blondin on the straight and narrow way," Chepstow pageants, and Salvation Army demonstrations under such conditions as we experienced on the first Monday in August ? Verily they were all vexation and vanity. The Theatres and places of indoor amuse- ments were crowded as a consequence. Holi- day programmes were provided at each place and the holiday crowds were apparently pleased. This reminds me that the local Theatrical Season is now in full swing. Comic opera had a phenomenally successful run at the Royal last week, and next week Dr. Parry's new Grand Opera, Sylvia," sees the light. The Grand Theatre has reopened its doors. In a novelty- lovifeg town the Ladies' Orchestra should prove an attraction at this bright and roomy theatre. I suppose the old fogeys will sigh as they contemplate the advance of the New Woman upon the orchestral chairs of the theatres. The ladies are elbowing their brothers in the Post Office and Telegraph Departments, and squeezing them out of the counting office, they are rapidly appro- priating the bicycle, and running them hard for University honours. There seems to be little more incongruity in a lady blowing a trombone or tootling a cornet than in riding a bicycle or operating a typewriter in a commercial office. These musical ladies are new to the orchestra of a theatre, but they made a good beginning on Monday night after playing for a season on the Piers of the watering places of the South. Their orchestral band is a musical novelty. 4(. If one may judge by present appearances the Theatrical Season up to the time of Pantomime will be one of excep- tional interest in Cardiff. A whole series of London successes is booked for the Grand Theatre, commencing with The Triumph of the Philistines," from the St, James's Theatre. This is one of the successes of last season. It will be followed by the comic opera, His Excellency," a piece of work that all local theatregoers are waiting to welcome. These will be followed by The Professor's Love Story," The Notorious Mrs Ebbsmith, the latest problem play in which Mrs Patrick Campbell carried London by storm and bewildered the critics. Though this is a strong list of novelties for one season, I have only mentioned a few of the attractions which are promised. The ways of the climate of the British Isles are beyond finding out and above the reach of the social reformer, or else one might agitate for the formation of a Bank Holiday Sunshine League, or an Anti-Rain Society. We are left, however, with a sufficiency of reform movements to take our attention. Mr J. Craven Thomas, writing from Plasturton-avenue, Cardiff, calls atten- tion to a subject of some interest Dear M,,tilkboutTo %,n, -To the majority of our townsmen no doubt the Sunday delivery of letters is already a nuisance, but w hen in addition to this whole shoals of trade circulars arc poured into the letter boxes of our peaceful habitations on Sunday mornings at 10 a.m., as on Sunday last in particular, by over-hungry business firms, it becomes intolerable It is not so much against the personal annoyance that I plead as for the already overworked postmen, who need a day of rest as much as anybody else. Now I cannot understand why Cardiff —wonderful, progressive Cardiff-should be behind other large towns in this matter, where the postmen have a free day and as there exists no excuse for Sunday delivery at other places, it is obvious none can be urged here. The Mails arrive on Saturday night sufficiently early to admit of the delivery which is now effected on Sunday morning being done on Saturday night. You, I know, with your usual chain- breaking principles will ling out a word on behalf of our worthy. Postmen, and suggest that the usual course be adopted of petitioning the Postmaster-General .(copies of the petition being placed in every church, chapel, or public institution for signature) in order to do away with Sunday delivery, and give our postmen a free Sabbath day." The liecord, a tiny local journal published in the interests of the Baptists, presents its readers this month with a portrait and biography of the Rev. R. O. Johns, the pastor of the Tredegarville Baptist Church, I make one excerpt :— In reply to a question concemihg Cardiff, Mr Johns sitid :-It has all the vices anrl virtues of a young town. There is a great deal of youthful vigour here, but the taint of commercial enter- prise is over all. The University College, though undoubtedly doing much for Wales, nxerts but very little influence over Cardifl; and I regret to say that our public representatives are not equal in many respects to the public representatives of other smaller towns. Without taking up either of the three gauntlets which he throws down, I would ask the Rev. R. O. Johns what some of his own friends, the ministers of the town, are doing outside the narrow limits of their own particular church work for the improvement of the town ?

DROWNING ACCIDENTS IN _I NORTH WALES, A Llandudno correspondent states thab on Monday, while bathing in the river Conway, Arthur McQuinne was drowned, presumably having been seized with cramp. He was a clerk in the Cunard Steamship Company at Liverpool, aud was on his holidays.

EXPLOSION ON A WARSHIP, I NEW YORK, Monday.—A telegram to the New York Herald from Rio de Janeiro states that the boiler on board the Brazilian 2nd class cruiser Trajano has exploded whilst the vessel was in harbour. Sixteen of her crew were either killed or wounded.—Central News.

TO-DAY'S WEATHER. 4.30 P.M. I TO-DAY'S FORECAST. FOIl RNGLAND, S.W., AND SOUTH WALKS. North-Westerly winds at first. changeable and showery wind baciting again later. GENERAL.—There is no indica- tion of any permanently fine settled weather at present. WAnNixes.-The south cone is up in 5 and &

Murderous Outrage in a Train. A WOMAN SEVERELY STASIBED. Arrest of the Husband. The Freeman's Journal states that Iat evening, siiorfciy before the arrival uf the 6 o'clock train from Waterford at Kilkenny, tiia passengers heard a woman's cries for help proceeding from one of the carriages. Vioen the train reached the station a man named Denis O'Neil, of Glen- gariff, and his wife were found by themselves in a compartment, the woman having been stabbed in seven places on the head and aim?. The woman was conveyed to the County Infirmary in a dangerous co-idition and the man was arrested.

ACCIDENT TO A CYCLIST. Smashed Up oii Tumble-tiown Dick. This morning :t nasty accident befel a cyclist named Harry Farr, of Harvey Villa, Weston- super-Mare. Farr was journeying from Bridgend to Cardiff with Mr Nolan, a Cardiff friend, and got on all right till he came to the steep hill known M Tumble-down Dick." Shortly after starting down the hill he lost all control of the machine, with the result that he was upset, the bicycle coming on top of him. His arm, face, and indeed all his right side was dreadfully scratched. Two of his fingers were also broken aud his wnsb was badly. strained, whilst tha machine was smashed. The injured man was taken to his friend's house, where he received medical atten- tion.

DEATH OF MRS SARAH PARKER. I NEW YOIUt, Tuesday.—The death is announoed of Mrs Stkthh Parker, of London, who hits been lecturing here on Oiiental topics. She died in I Massachusetts.—Central Newt,

I To-day's Epitome. I News Frem Many Quarters, I A RURAL ELOPEMENT. I Mucn excitement was (says an Alcester correspondent) created in a quiet little hamlet near Alcester on Sunday morning by the rumour that the wife of a respectable labourer, who has lived there for a number of years, had eloped with a middle-aged man who had evidently served in the Army, and who first made his appearance in the village a week or two ago as a peapicker. Husband and wife lived happily together, and had a family of six children, the youngest being only about 12 months old. They left on Sunday morning, and at noon yesterday nothing had been beard of their whereabouts. A SUMIRR LUXURY FOR PAUPERS. Daring the recent warm weather Mr Augustus Shand, chairman of the St. Olave's (Southwark) Board of Guardians, supplied a commodious tent for the use of the poor old folk resident in Tanner- street Workhouse. A cool corner in the yard was selected, and in this the tent was pitched, and during the very hot days the inmates had their tea under the canvas. The Chairman ot the Workhouse Committee (Mr Ecroyd) speaks of the enjoyment the old people derived from this summer luxury, and the board has passed a vote of thanks to Mr Shand. A PINE OP £ 1.820. Ab Castleconnel, county Limerick, Petty Session yesterday the Irish Board of Works were fined the minimum penalty of 21,820 for not having provided a Queen's or free gap, in two eel weirs at Castleconnell, of which they are lessors. HALKERSTONS COW. I A tenant of Lord Halkerston, a Judge of the Scotch Court of Session, once waited on him with a woful countenance, and said My Lord, I am come to inform your Lordship of a sad misfor- tune. My cow gored one of your Lordship's cows, and I fear it cannot live." Then, of course, you must pay for it." Indeed, my Lord, it was not my fault, and you know I am but a very poor man." I can't help that. The law says you must pay for it. I am not to lose my cow, am I ?" Weil, my Lord, if it must be so, I can say no more. But I forgot what I was saying. It was my mistake entirely. I should have said that it was your Lordship's cow that gored mme." Oh, is that it ? That's quite a different affair. Go along, and don't trouble me just now I am very busy. Be off, I say." I HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY." In order to be a successful criminal a man should be careful to hide physical defects. If one leg is shorter than the other lift ought to be satisfied to earn an honest living, because the police can easily find him. A man with a hump on his back ought not to indulge in pocket pick- ing, for the same reason. Now, Mr Mulligan recently did something he oughtn't to have done. He had a wart on his face just midway between his feyes. Of course he was caught. How could he hope to escape ? He must either have that wart removed or he must enter some other profession than that of burglar. Thus it is that nature sometimes tells a man that honesty is the best policy. I -0- I PATRIOTISM. There is a good deal of patriotism that talks big and acts little. Here is a verse with a dos- perata lot of triith in it IlL; country called him to the fi-ont- For noble statesmen^wishing He winked his eye and gave a grunt, And then-he went a-<ishing --o I A CURIOUS QUESTION ANSWERED. In reply to the question, Are reserved or talkative people most eager to hear the secrets of others ?" the Gentlewoman has received the follow- ing I think talkative people less eager, and certainly less able, to find out the secrets of others than are the more reserved ones, Great talkers often show their hands too freely, and thus defeat their object to gain information of a private nature. Thoroughbred gossips care very little about the topic of their conversation so long as they can babblo contentedly on, retailing odd scraps of new.?. delighted with having something to say. Perhaps, too, as conscience makes cowards of us all,' a latent fear haunts the mind of a taikative person that he may betray his friend's secret, and so he shirks the responsibility of learning it. People who are extremely reserved about themselves often take groat interest in the affairs of their neighbours. They enjoy being in the know, and bide their time for making good use of their information whilst the knowledge of their own powers of reticence tempts them to worm out the confidences of their victims. To prove this note the half triumphant and wholly self-complacent expression on the featuros of these very discreet ones when a State secret is divulged to the community, and which they alone have known all along. Much mischief is done by idle gossip and malicious tale-bearing, but a really kind-hearted chatterbox (who is generally too simple to do much harm) is, I think, less to be dreaded than our mysterious, unpenetrable, and decidedly uncomfortable acquaintance." --o NO LATCH KICYS AT BUCKINGHAM. I Queen Vietoria^evidently disapproves of young ladies carrying latchkeys. The Princesses Vic- toria and Maud of Wales recently paid a visit to their royal grandmother at Buckingham Palace. These young ladies are most democratic in their tastes, and they would have preferred to enter I and leave the palace by a side door, and thus dispense with tho formalities of the royal entrance. Accordingly they asked for latch keys. This request, after receiving the attention of several inenibero, of the household, was fuiaily laid before the Qaeen, who spent little time in considering the question, and sent word to the Princesses that she considered latch keys out of place in Bti,.kingliazn Ptlace.-Neto York Herald. I TlIK COCKNEY LOVELt AND HIS LASS. She You will take me to 'Enley, dear, won't you ?—He Henley, my pet,Henley not 'Enloy. —She I didn't say '.Enley, Charlie, you know, I didn't. I never drop my aspirations. I- BAT8 ON THE BED. I II Am I to pay any rent ?" a labourer asked Mr Mead at the Thames Court on Saturday. Most people have to," the magistrate replied. But the applicant continued But look at the circum- stances. The house isn't fit to live in. It is over- run with rats. If I wake up at night I find rats sitting on my bed. My children are frightened to death.—Mr Mead How long did you stop there ? Seven weeks.—Mr Mead Why did you stop so long ? Because of the landlord. I got another place, and he went and gave me a bad character, so they would not let me in. I call that adding insult to injury. I only owe one week must I pay it ?—Mr Mead Let him summon you for it at the 2 County Court, and when he does tell your story to the Judge. PUBLIC ANNOUNCKMKNT. r At Kattowitz, Fraulein Valeska S-WRS recently betrothed to Herr Jalcob K- Herr K-- has now made the betrothal public, by advertising in a local paper, with the following notice t: I haroby give notice that I shall not allow any one to speak to my bride. I MISTRESS AND MAID. I Ladies who have trouble with their cooks-a thing which does happen sometimes—may be interested in reading the experiences of a lady with regard to a Swiss maid, related in the Corn- hill Magazine for August Celeste's ideas of cooking," says the writar, were most eccentric. She would put tho potatoes on soon after break- fast, let them boil a little, cool a little, and then boil a second and ihird time. Finally they sat on the kitchen table and degenerated into a tepid, sodden mass whose solo virtus was economy, for we could not eat them at all. In self-defence I one day made i. cake, and left Celeste to bake it. She let the fire out at least three times during the baking, and brougiit the cake twice to me on the balcony, remarking that we should be fortunate if it were done by to-morrow. As I had forgotten the butter it is perhaps well to draw a modest veil over the result." MRS TALMAGK. The wife of the Rov. T. De Witt Talmage, the famous New York preacher, diecl yesterday morn- I ing at Danvillo Sanitarium of a nervous trouble, the resnlt of hight and shock when the Brooklyn Tabernacle was destroyed by fire in 1893. --0- EXTRAORDINARY TREE. I One of the oldest and most remarkable trees in Great Britain, says the Gardener's Magazine, is to be found in a chestnut at Torworth, the resi- dence of tha Earl of Duoie, near Bristol. The tree ig, in all probability, 1.000 years of age at the least. Tho trunk measures 50 feet in circum- ference, although it is only 10 feet in height up to the point where it branches off into three large trunks, one of which measures nearly 50 feet in girth. Another remarkable tree is to be seen nearer London, being a thorn in CI¡so¡d Park, Stoke Newington. This is also of great age, and it has long been railed in for safety. When in bleum in presents a magnificent sight, and is accounted one of the oldest, largest, and handsomest thorns in the United Kingdom.

A BEAUTY SHOW. Competition for a Gald Watch. t A Beauty Prize has just been competed for at Kahlenberg. The chief prijse is a gold watch, to be awarded to the prettiest Viennese girl. Thiit year it was contested by a troupe of really hand- some girls. The spot selected for the competition, was a roomy show-place, and each candidate wa( surrounded by her acquaintances. The first prist was awarded to Fraulein Marie Jeringbauer, atf orphan, aged 18 years. a worker in amanufactory, who obtained 430 votes. The second prize went to Fiiiulem Marie Stark, 17 years old, with 411 votes the third prize was won by Fraulein Leopoldine Servuss, 22 years old. with 266 votes l and the fourth prize by Fraulein Emma Klein, 20 years old, with 150 votes. The winner of the first prize-a delicate, slender brunette, was led by her acquaintances in triumph through the I garden. Her face beamed with smiles as she thanked them for their congratulations.

I ASSAULTING A POLICEMAN I A Cardiff Man Fined. Although there were a number of charges (A drunkenness ab the Cardiff Police Court this morning as the outcome of Bank Holiday indulgences, there was, with the exception of one case, an entire absence of those cases which usually figure so prominently on the charge sheet, of assaults on the police. The only instance which spoilt what promised to be a clean record WM the one in which Ellis Williams (52) was charged with being drunk and disorderly in Christina-street on August 3rd, and with assaulti. ing P.C. Day at the same time. The officer told the Court that prisoner's behaviour was like that of a madman. Williams was fined 25 and costn or a month's imprisonment.

I SUNDAY CLOSING ACT. I Prosecutions for Evasion. This morning at the Cardiff Police Court the following summonses for illicit trading in beer were heard by Mr Stipendiary Lewis -Julia Ann Woolley, of 7, Buzzard-street, and Mary Davies, of 2, Garth-streee, were, upon the evi- dence of i P.C.'s Wootton and Thomas, each fined J310 and costs for offences at their respective addresses. Norah Mahoney, an old woman, being the occupier of No. 2, Garth-street, for permitting thesale in herhouse was fin,-d;C!Oand costs. Emily Saunders, for an offence at 15, Gough-street, was fined £ 25 and costs, there being a previous COR- viction.

I COVVES YACHT RACES. I Withdrawal of the Meteor. I The special correspondent of the Press Axes. ciation at Cowes telegraphs thab after the Queen's dinner party last night the German Emperor at a late hour returned to his yaohfa Hohenzollern and slept on board. rhis morning he was up early, and, donning ayachting costuma, went on board his racing yacht Meteor. The Meteor was entered for the Queen's Cup, but at the last moment she lowered her racing flag and is not taking part in the contest.

I TERRIBLE FIRE AT BRESLAU. Four Persons Burned to Deatfe. BRESLAU, Monday.—A terrible fire has occurred near here. A country house was burned to the ground last night, with aU its outbuildings. Four women and a child perished, and four other persons were terribly injured. They have been taken to the hospital. All the cattle were burned in the stalls. Incendia.rism is suspected.— Renter.

BRIGHTON DISASTER, A Brighton correspondent telegraphs that a lafe aged 14, named Carpenter, succumbed to-day to the terrible injuries he received last night owing to the bursting of a firework bomb (reported on the 4th page). Two other injured persons, Quinn and Nutley, are in a very grave condition, bat the remainder are progressing favourably.

I THE ROOSEVELT BOMB. A Hoax. NKW YORK, Tuesday.—An examination of the. mysterious parcel sent to Mr Roosevelt shows that only a hoax was intended. The infernal machine proves only to have been a cartridge covered with sawdust.—Central News.

BRUTAL ASSAULTS ON WOMEN.' A Well Merited Sentence. Edward Holleran (28) surrendered to his bail at the Cardiff Police Court this morning charged —before Mr Stipendiary Lbwis-with what appeared from the evidence to be a peculiarly brutal assault. On Saturday he struck a Mrs Stone on the shoulder and face as she was leaving a shop without any provocation, and on the same day he went to the house of a Mrs Thomas in Warwick-street, and when she answered the door he made a savage kick at her. The woman, who had a baby in her arms, escaped the full force of the kick, but she had a nasty blow in the stomach. She was in a delicatv state of health. Prisoner subsequently kicked in all the bedroom doors. Holleran, whose onl, excuse was that lie was drunk, for the first assault was sentenced to 21 days' imprisonment and for the second to two months' imprisonment, the terms to run concurrently.

EXPLOSION AT WEST HARTLEPOOL*" Two Mon Seriously Injured. At w est Hartlepool to-day a party of Royal Naval Reserve men were endavouring to dislodge a shot from a gun, when an explosion occurred. Patrick Kane had his thigh terribly shattered, and was removed to the Hospital in a dying con- dition. Alberb Collins was also seriouslf injured.

CARDIFF CREMATORIUM. At to-day's meeting of the Cardiff Burial Boait Committee, held under the presidency-of Coun- cillor Trounce, the question of deciding upon • site at the Cemetery for the erection of the pro* posed crematorium, as approved by the Counci was again discussed, and it was resolved that tt board should visit the Cemetery after the vaf tion and select a site most suitable.

the title of ft NEW novel by Miss Br;u!(!on, the Queen of Novelists, whiel' commenced publication in the Cardiff Timet 8.M lr,"h Wales Weekly NetcS on June 13th. Two serials, short complete stories, special features, and the new. of the week A magazine and newspaper combined for I P, nanny.

SOUTH WALES TIDE TABLE. Aug. ■ ■ ■ | CARDIFF* SWANSEA.t I N WPOUT t Aug. I ,?for. IEvn.Ingt. Mor.|Evn.|Hgt. Mor.iEvn jllgt SM? 7 6'72531 4,610'62929* 7 '719' 7 38 31 9 g 7 M 7 5932 5? 6 44 7 q: 8 i} 7 W;! 8 15 8 2933 11 7 18 7 32'M 10: 8 28 8 4233 6 8 T 8 45. 8 5933 4? 7 48 8 231 0 8 58 9 12 33 9 9 i, g 14 9 n å ig g 34 30 91 9 27 9 n Ii 10 Si 9 40 9 54 32 10' 8 47 9 3 29 10' 9 5310 7 7.3 3 11 510 810 24 31 9 9 19 9 34 28 710 2110 3732 2 12 M 10 3910 5230 4 9 4910 727 410 5211 5 30 9 *Roalli'Jta.sin. tPrince of 1":1.16;; Hk !AI.xallrÎt':I, Dk.

The Dunmow Flitch. THREE CLAIMANTS. AN INTERESTING CEREMONY. Yesterday afternoon, in accordance with ancient custom, the now historic competition for the Dunmow Flitch of Bacon by married couples who have lived in Great Britain for one year and one day atter matrimony without difference or dispute, took place in the little Essex town bearing that name. The interesting event was celebrated in a large marquee, erected especially for the occasion, in the presence of a crowded audience. There were three claimants for the much-coveted flitch-viz., Sergeant-Maior and Mrs Baker, of Parrot-road, Plumstead Mr and Mrs Johnson, of Market Harborough, Leicester- shire and Mr and Mrs James Clough,ot Surhng- ham, near Norwich. The trial of the claimants as usual took place before. A Jury of Maidens and Bachelors. the judge, who was clad in scarlet and black, being Mr J. M. Welch, a well-known local auc- tioneer. Mr Robert Marsh, of Takeley, acted, as on previous occasions, as counsel for the claimants, while the donors of the sides of bacon found an advocate in Mr T. Gibbons, a local brewer. Both learned counsel were attired in wig and gown. The jury sat to the left of th. judge, while the | three interesting couples who insisted on their claims to the time-honoured flitch of bacon were posted on the right of that functionary. The first claim investigated was that of Sergeant-Major Danie1 Baker and his wife,a pleasant-looking little woman, many years the junior of the old warrior whose parbner in life she had become. Bakf>r himself is a tall, handsome, bearded man, over 60 years of age, and he looked extremely well in the dark blue and gold uniform of an instructor of the Polytechnic School, with half-a-dozan war medals g leaming on his breast. The story told by his counsel was a Straightforward and Simple one. Born in Paisley in the thirties, Baker successively belonged to two crack Scotch infan- try battalions, and fought with gallantry both through the Crimean War and the Indian Mutiny. In the latter campaign, indeed, he was severely wounded. Returning home after a lengthy period of honourable service, he became a sergeant-major of the Yeomen of the Guard, and in December of 1893 met his future wife, Miss Louisa Horner, a hospital nurse, at a picnic party. The couple were married three week after their first meeting, and had ever siuce lived happily to. gether, as he (Mr Marsh) had abundant testimony to prove. The Sergeant-Major, questioned by his counsel, said he had never had any reason to regret the step he so hurriedly took, and considered he and his wife were in every w:ty entitled to the flitch of bacon. There was a little kissing under the mistletoe at the picnic, but that was thoroughly English. (Laughter.) I Amusing I. Evi6ience," Mca Baker corroborated generally the evidence of her husband. Mr Marsh (to witness): Have you ever regretted the step you took ?—Never, sir. Yon have no desire to return again to your oc- cupation as a hospital nurse ?—No, thank you. (Laughter.) The Sergeant-Major, in cross-examination by Mr Gibbons, said he did think of the flitch of bacon when he married Miss Horner. Mr Gibbons In fact, then, you had one eye on the lady and the other on the bacon ? (Laugh- ter). Witness Well, I can't exacbiy say that. Mrs Baker (cross-examined): Now, about this picnic. Had you aaiy idea you would meet Mr Baker there ?-No. But you had heard about him, what a ;fine fellow he was ?-I used to look out of the window at him. But you did not suppose when you looked out of the window at him that he would come the old soldier over you ? (Laughter.) No answer. Did you at once fall in love with him at the picnic ?—I did. And have been happy ever since your marriage ? —Yes, certai n i y. Did he tell you before marriage that he had been engaged on several previous occasions ?— Yes, on the field. (Laughter.) You never wish yourself single again ?—No. You never wished Mr Baker single ?— No fear. (Laughter.) The Jury s Finding. Tho jury ultimately found that Mc and Mrs Baker had fully substantiated their claim to the flitelt of bacon. The other claims were also allowed after due investigation, and at the close of the ceremony, which throughout was provoca. tive of much amusement, the successful couples were chaired and carried round the grounds. _&

R-ATH OF JOHN DUNN, DURBAN, Tuesday,—The death is announced of John Dunn, who was so well known for the assist- nnee rendered by him in the settlement of Zuht. land after tho termination of theZulu War in 1879. At that time he had already resided in Znluhmd for some twenty years, conforming to the manners of the Zulus, and was formally recognised by Lord Wolseiny, then Sir Garnet Wolseley, as a Zulu chief.-Reuter.

CRUELTY TO A DONKEY. A I A man named Levi Henry Rice, of 8, Ruby- street, Roath, was at the Cardiff Police Court this morning fined £ 2 and costs for causing a donkey belonging to him to be worked whilst in an unfit condition. George Allen, an inspector of the R.S.P.C.A., said the animal was suffering from an old wound on the shoulder, which was bound to cause it pain. Defendant's son was cautioned for working the animal.

THROWING GLASSES ABOUT. Before Mr Stipendiary Lewis, at the Cardiff Police Court this morning, James Hier (29) was charged with assaulting and wounding James Irving on the faco with a glass at the Packet Hotel, Bute-street, Oardiff, on the previous day. From the evidence it appears that there was some row in the public-house and prisoner threw a glass at prosecutor. Irving put up his haud to protect his face and received cuts on the wrist and face. The man was subsequently ejected and taken in custody. A fine of B5 and costs, wlh the alternative of a month's imprisonment, was mposed.

POLLING IN ORKNEY AND SHETLAND. The polling clerks have left Kirkwall for the north isles of Orkney to make ready for the poll- ing, which takes place to-day and to-morrow. The result will not be known until Saturday afternoon, as the ballot boxes will not reach Shetland till Saturday morning.

I Fortune Telling. Clairvoyance and Psychemetry. A shameful hoax has been played upon ( fortune teller at Liverpool named Emma Smith( who describes herself as "an expert it clairvoyance and psychometry." The other dat a young woman called upon her and said sht was in trouble owing to the fact that het engagement with a young man at the Post Office was broken off. Of course the seer found it necessary as a preliminary to the consultation that her visitor should hand over something valuable. In this case it was a brooch whicll was to be "psychometrised." The love -lorit damsel was then assured that the young mailt only wanted coaxing and all would come right. It was just a little unfortunate, however, that the young man had no existence outside th< imagination of the caller, who happened to ba the wife of a policeman intent on obtaining incriminating evidence for a prosecution foi fortune telling. Another visitor was informed that she was courting a dark young man, and that she must beware of "a fair young ladf with light hair." The latter piece of advice waa. of course, perfectly ?afe, but as for the young ) man, the woman had again made an unlucky shot. Half our young men are dark, but nature had put a different complexion on the young man in question. At the Police Court, where tht facts came out, the prisoner's counsel vainlt endeavoured to make out that the woman was t Spiritualist, who believed what she said, and she was fined R5. An offer which was made by t witness to give then and there, for the edificatiof of the Court, a spirit message from her decease^" son was declined.

THE GERMAN NAVY. BERLIN, Tuesday.—The question of the conver- sion of Dantzig, now a gunboat station for the reserve division, into a station for the fleet, is being discussed here, the object being an efficient naval harbour near the Russian frontier. Central News.