NEWS FROM NEAR AND FAR

Evening Star, Issue 13092, 27 October 1908, Page 8

NEWS FROM NEAR AND FAR

The-' consternation that was created at Royal Ascot in June of last year, when the Gold Cup, the trophy attached to the principal race of the year, was stolen from under the very noses of the detectives and the representatives of the manufacturers, is hardly forgotten. Nor is the joke cracked by Mark Twain when he assured King Edward that he had not clapped eyes on th-o trophy. From Sheffield there now comes a remarkable story that soon after the audacious theft was perpetrated a firm of gold and silver Tefiners in that city was called on by a man, who wished to dispose of an ingot of gold. It was of unusuaUy pure gold, and they became suspicious. Thsy found the gold was 20 carat, corresponding with the unusual carat of the Ascot Cup, and that the ingot was within two and a half ounces of the weight of that trophy. Inquiries were made, and the man's story that' he got the gold in Abyssinia was ultimately accepted, but the heads of the firm now believe that it was the Ascot Cup melted down.

Opium-smoking is rapidly becoming a fashionable craze in Paris. Several turneries have been recently opened, where, to the accompaniment of music, the wealthy and aristocratic members of the French capital inddge in their latest and most dangerous fad. A few years ago the number of opium smokers in Paris was very- Limited, and was mainly ' confined to artists—among them many famous men, who took the druc for the sake of experiencing a "new sensation" —and to actresses and dancing girls. Today, however, there are hundreds of op : um dens in Paris. The authorities are seriously considering the matter, and are endeavoring to stop the spread of the fatal habit. During the hearing at Northampton (Eng.) of a .charge ~oi window-breaking against a- man named Malone, it was stated that he gained his Irving by going front town to town exhibiting freshly-caught rats- These he tethered to a table with string, giving them a certain latitude, and then with his haaids tied tightly behind him,he_fought and kijled a rat with his tee,th. Nine times out of ten. he was said to.'lsucceed, but frequently the rat bit hhn severely. St, Betiet's Church,.. Cambridge, has just had! restored to it a' Black Letter Bible, "presented by Hobson, the carrier," in 1627, which was printed by. Barker in 1617. Fc* taany yeare this Bible has been missing from; the church, but wias recently discoyered;!uV:the University 'Library. Upon re-presenta-tions being made, for its restoration td'Hhe church, the Library Syndicate at oriiJe' complied. It is a-perfect arid valuabse?'copy:

: motion 1 -Was carried by the Anglican Synod at ChrieStchuTch yesterday ■ -iwißiat this Synod,: while 'unable on-the eviae'noeat preseat before-them to express anjf authoritative or unanimous opinion oh tW\ relative "merits , of- ; Incense and No--liceßse; wdccine effort to decrease the many deferable evils due "to mtefhperunce in the use of alcoholic liquors ' aridHJommend the whole matter to the earn', es6 s «nd careful consideration of all Church, pedple'-'of. the diocese.""i : motion was then' That this Synod '-commend Nolicgftfe as the''only available reornedy. at tho piKfeeatF. time for the grave-', arid increasing eVfld>'-bf- intemperance." This proposal was fciNfe 37 votes to 25. «* ; t