HERE AND THERE.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1511, 14 February 1901, Page 12

HERE AND THERE.

The crew of the Italian, steamer Falla, wjhj.oh was crocked on December 7 in tf*e j-»aj of Biscay, have arrived at Bilbao. During a severe storm, a big sea smashed the screw and dashed it against the side of the ship , making an immense feole through which the water rushed. The crew had barely time to launch the boats. The captain refused to go into them, and remained at his post until the vessel sank. Just before she went down he blew the steam whistle as a last farewell to his men. The crew were picked up by a. passing steamer and taken to Bilbao. The Falla was from Elba to Glasgow.—“ Central News.” * * * * *

During the cruise of the gunboat Bing among the islands of the Santa* Oruz group, which were annexed gome twelve months ago, it was found that the Union Jack was still flying on all of the islands except one. A landing party was consequently ordered to go ashore and avenge the insult. They found the colours, and found the wearer of .them-—a native lady, who had been so fascinated by the gaudy tints that ©he now proudly wore the flag as a dress to eke out an otherwise somewhat too scanty wardrobe.

Kitchener is carrying desolation into the/Transvaal, bat mour own Civil War, it will be remembered, there was a time when a ©row could not fly across the Shenandoah. Valley without taking his rations with him. —“Ledger” Philadelphia.

The most threatening danger to British trade lies : partly in the inadequate ■and. antiquated educational provision which-we make for our people, rich and poor, but most of all in the absence of the spirit which alone makes education of any value.—Mr Birchenougk in “Nineteenth Century.” * * * * *

The mere idea that a word ,on behalf of the South African Republics might be taken amiss by England frightens all of the Powers. Mr Chamberlain’s dream of an alliance between England, Germany, and the United States, which at one time was laughed to scorn* seems to> be approaching realisation, even if it is not drawn up in a treaty.—“ Valeria nd,” Vienna. "* * * * *

The House of Gammons delights in men who can make it laugh, but it is ewer, suspicious of their legislative abilities. One of the ablest men in the Chamber Mr Gibson Bowies. He knows the rules of procedure better than the Speaker himself. He can explain the financial schemes of the Chancellor of the Exchequer better'than the man who devised them. He knows all as>out naval manoeuvres and army manoeuvres. He knot’s what is in every Blue Book, and more than the casual suspjedts. But “Tommy” will persist in making jokes, so he is never likely • to get even the office of Civil Lord of the Admiralty.—“ Yorkshire Phst,”

The cardsharping gang which is preying upon gilded yqungj London, and whose : operations have fluttered some vpry 'aristocratic circles, is receiving the aistavo attention of Scotland Yard. The leader of the'gang, is now found to be >a notorious ex-oonviot, while a member 6f it—who acts ah a decoy—belongs to aa aristocratic family. One wealthy yming man parted with £6OO to this gang over cards, and gave a written undertaking to pay £27,000 when he came of age. A proposal was actually made that the young, man should borrow £50,000 to .he-raised on the security cf a life policy. The victim informed his : trustees* who promptly took steps to defeat the ends Of the conspirators.—“G lasgo w Herald.” ~:: ~... . '

pien and women (and; even boys and girls) discives things at* the present hour which would have made our mothers

faint with horror and have sent our .-grandmothers into a fit. The mid-Vic-torian fashion ordained that if a subject Wj3tf© “unpleasant' it wan not to be mentjoned ;; Vwith the swing of the pendulum, unpleasant subjects .are precisely those "with whioh wO are nowadays pro-occupied in fiction, in the drama, and in read Life. —''Ladies Field.” v. m . * * * . *

When , one beans of sulphate of lead, zinc, alum,: Epsom salts, magnesia, etc., being manufactured into cloth, one wonders how the poor tailor will get on who has to make it. Visions rise of sore

fingers and poisoned blood by the introduction of these obnoxious chemicals, and ..if- this practice is not speedily brought .to ant end, we shall have a clothes scare of even greater dimensions than- has resulted from the use of beer.— “Tailor -and. Gutter.” - ;. .;

Ottawa may get one of the gtms ••.aptured at Paardoberg. Mayor Payment has written Sir Wilfrid' Laurier stating that a kumter of the returned .soldiers kqve requested him to solicit; the. Prim e SMinisteFe aid securing, from- .the British authorities one of the -Boer guns captured from Cronje on February 27 last, when so many Canadians, including six Ottawans, lost their lives. —-“Ottawa Oitizon.”

-Fi'om Coront-garden comes xlie welcome intelligence of a boom in Chr’etma-s trees. * The stirring events of the past year have brought the nation to a

frame of mind which cannot tolerate anything like decadence and fashionable ennui. Britons, therefore, will v elebrato the last* Christmas of the century with as much jovial abandon as their great forefathers' celebrated the first; the children will shout themselves hoarse round the Christmas tree, and Blind Man’s Buff wall find many a sedate father groping cheerfully among his giggling children like a general searching for I)e Wet.—‘‘Globe.”

Certain charges” have become unpleasantly frequent of late against the conduct of the croupiers at the Monte Carlo Casino. Time was when these officials were beyond reproach. But in the last year or two the custom has grown up among them of soliciting tips from winners. In the wake of this come, as might he expected, complaints that those who refuse such tips are apt to find that when they next win a coup their money is uneereihoniously Iran tied over to somebody else, and that remonstrance is futile. One of the latest complaints refers to the case of an English lady.—“ Truth.”

The chargei has often been made against our national system of public school education that too much attention is given to athletics and outdoor sports in general. More to the healthy love of out-door sports and open-air life, engendered at the English public school than to aught else, is due the undoubted pre-eminence of Englishmen as colonists and pioneers in new countries. lic School Magazine.” * * * * *

For the second time in succession Lord Roberts will spend his Christmas on the sea. When Lord Roberts left England last Christmas Eve he went to take the command of an army dispirited by blunders and reverses; it was, perhaps, the darkest hour that England lias seen in the century just now closed. He returns, a victorious general, to receive the grateful acclamations of bis fellowcountrymen .—“Evening News. ”

There is not a single princely family in Caucasia that does not claim to be direct descendants of King David of the Jews. . Some even claim t-o be descendants of cne of the sons of Noah, whose ark, it is assumed, landed on Mount Ararat, in Caucasia. It is historically correct. that the Jews 2500 years ago came to the Caucasus'.—“Neue Freie Presse,” Vienna.

In the matter of sheer, besotted, overmastering drunkenness, We (Scotland) stand without rivals in shameful isolation.—“ Dundee Advertiser.”

“The ‘Highlander,’-’ says Mr J. Macleay in the “Temple Magazine,” “is not yet educated to short sermons. Even in the advanced burghs of the. east coast, which regard the w r esfc as. the ‘Hielans,’ length is often-a saving quality.. I remember how at at communions in Inverness we used to take a pocket full of toast with us to munch when hunger attacked our young stomachs, and a lady acquaintance on turning to look at the church clock—it was five in the evening, and the- service had lasted since twelve—was remonstrated' with sharply, from the pulpit—‘Never mind the clock, mt good woman,’ said the minister,. addressing her directly, ‘never mind the clock; you’re in good time yet.’ ” ...

-K- ' ' *SF ’ '• ft ■ 1 - # *•' • - -Hr -*.’- The modem girl who has ousted , the male from employment, who has usurped his calling, and cut down his wages, still clings to the tradition of her .sex, “The man pays!” She writes ineffably silly letters to such silly,, papers as publish, them “On the Meanness of Young Men” —the young men whose businesses in. life her competition has ruined, but up-, on whose purses she still endeavours to sponge..- She is able, to compete against man, however, only by the splendid chivalry of* man,-which, like,the scent of roses, still clings to* the shattered jar. —“Skopos,” in “Adelaide Critic.”, . . * * -* ; ; 1 *• . * At* the Southampton Docks there waits, says the “Express ” and has wait-; ed for nearly a year, a terrier dog; Out on the veldt, under a rough-hewn cross, lies the body of his master, who has gone to answer his “Last /Roll Call.” But the dog still waits/and meets ©very incoming transport with an eagerness pathetic ill its intensity. It mingles with the landing l troops, yearningly searching for its dead master, and when its quest has resulted in the usual failure, it disappears as mysteriously as it came. The dock police have now given the poor terrier a home, and between them and their recruit, who figure upon the muster-roll as' “Jack,” a warm attachment has sprung up. •' - * it' • • ' &■> : /*/’.* Afr v

A New' York telegram says that a ; ; merchant of Columbus, Ohio, was compelled the other day to call in the ser- ' J vices of a* professional “safe cracker” to ' open his safe for him. The merchant’ lost the combination of the safe, and sent to the manufacturers 'to supply him with an expert to open it; 1 The ex— J pert spent three days trying different combinations, but made no impression whatever. He was joined by another expert with no better success. The ~ merchant, in a quandry, went to the bead keeper of the Ohio Penitehtiary, and asked for a burglar to help him A man undergoing five years’ sentence was taken to Columbus, and' immediately set to work on the combination/ ’

* * * * The St. Petersubrg correspondent of

the “Daily Mail” says an invalid who has reached the remarkable age of 140 years is now lying in the hospital at Tomsk. He still remembers Catherine 11., and talks of having buried his wife 100 years ago and his son 90 years back. His record was nearly approached by a Georgian who died a few days ago in Tiflis at the age of 128. •* -S •* * *

The Emperor Francis Joseph has sent the Austrian aeronaut and engineer, Wilhelm Kress, 5000 crowns (£208), to enable him to continue the experiments with his aerial machine. This (says the Vienna correspondent of the “Daily News”) would have been completed long ago if Herr Kress had not lacked the means. It was much regretted in scientific -circles in Vienna, that while Count Zeppelin was able to make trials with his machine on the Lake of Constance, Herr Kress was obliged to remain idle. A number of high authorities approve his system, and there has been a wish that this Austrian inventor should be given the chance of solving the problem of aerial navigation. He needs 20,090 crowns, which it* is hoped will be forthcoming now that the Emperor has made a beginning.

An extraordinary claim on an insurance policy was decided at Birmingham assizes recently before Mr Justice Channel!. Albert Taylor, a manufacturing jeweller, cued Charles Irving, an underwriter at Lloyd’s, for £I,OOO insurance in respect of an alleged burglary on his premises in February. The defence was that no burglary had' been committed, and it was admitted that the safe had bebn unlocked ' and not forced.—Detective officers gave evidence that no marks of violence could be found on the doors which were alleged to have been forced.

It was also contended that no strange hand had rifled the safe, that plaintiff had claimed for goods which he had never possessed, that the policy of insurance covered only travelling stock, and that there had been no concealment of important circumstances in obtaining the policy. The hearing of the action lasted a day and -a-h'alf, and in the end the jury found for the defendant. * * *■ *

At a meeting of thd Rathdrum Board of Guardians recently, the relieving officer handed in a notice of eviction from the solicitors to Earl Fitzwilliam against John Howard Parnell of Avondale. The entrances to the Parnell de-

mense are on the Fitzwilliam estate, and rent has not recently been paid for them. The result of an eviction, should Lord Fitzwilliam so desire, would .be that the public Would be precluded from visiting the late Mr Parnell’s residence. * . * * * «• A disturbance occurred at Kingston (Jamaica), recently, arising out of a quarrel between civilians and soldiers of the West India Regiment* at a race meeting. Over 100. black soldiers marched through the* street, attacking

and beating the townsmen. A large body of police quickly turned out, and Lieut.-colonel Allen, commander of the regiment, despatched strong pickets to the town and had as many as possible

of the rioters arrested and marched back

to camp. Much alarm prevailed for a time, but although several people were severely beaten only one had to be conveyed to the hospital. *■ . *sr «• . * *

A statue has been unveiled in . Vienna by the Emperor Francis . Joseph. This was the crowning figure of a handsome monument to Gutenberg, the father of printing. Gutenberg stands upright and very tall, in a long mantle, and wearing a broad cap. It is one of the many Fausts we have seen on the stage, characteristic only by the long flowing beard that frames his face. Behind the statue rises an enormous building erected quite lately on the site of one of the most

‘ interesting old Vienna -houses, the Regensburger Hof. That old house, if it > were still there, would te a fitting back- * ground to the mediaeval statue. On the pedestal a fine relief in marble shows 1 the Awakening of Man, the rays of the sun being: made to symbolise the art of printing. .j . -a*. it ■ . • -. .it a

A “Capd Argus” correspondent at Pretoria says: Baden/Pc.well was on the point of embarking upon the southern-bound train when a plump, pleasant-looking little woman tapped him on the arm. “Good-morning, sir,” she said, “are you not* General Raden-Powell P ’ I am Mrs Sarel Eloff ”

8.-P. looked a little scared. “You know you took my husband prisoner at Mafeking.” “Oh, yes,” said 8.-P., still nervously, “you see, he came and tried to kill us, so we took him prisoner.” “Oh, I know,” said Mrs Eloff, accepting the apology; and then, after, some conversation, they parted,. 8.-P. saying, as he entered the train: “Your husband was a very brave man. I don’t think he bore me any malice, and I hope you don’t.” And the cheery little person, who, by the way, was by no means in anything approaching mourning, replied brightly: “ No, of course not; you were very kind to him.” - * * •* * ■» «•

A correspondent of “London Literary World’’ writes: So many instances are quoted of the stupidities of school children. that it may be a change to hear occasionally of their triumphs. A schoolmaster has told the following story as occurring in his own experience: “The children in the fifth standard were asked to give an example of a sentence

containing more than one subject. Instantly up rose a ragged, shock-headed ‘hoyden,’ who straightway began *. to quote from Browning's ‘Pied Piper’ c “ ‘Great rate, small rats, lean rats, brawny rats, . . - Brown rats, black grey rate, tawny rats. Grave old plodders, gay young friskerg, Fathers, mothers, uncles, cousins, Cocking tails and packing whiskers, Families by tens and dozens,. Brothers, sisters, husband's, wives. Followed the piper for their lives.’ By the time the end was reached examiners, teachers and puniis were all alike in ecstasies. The shock-headed girl achieved a triumph for the whole of her ’ class in literature/’

* * * _* * Among the apocryphal stories in the new volumes of Augustus Hare’s “tetory* of My Life,” one relates to Tennyson’s “Crossing the Bar.” On one of his dark days his nurse said to him: “Mr Tennyson, you ought to be ashamed of yourself for grumbling in. this way; ‘ you. ought to be expressing your gratitude for your recovery from your bad illness by giving us sornet-liing—by giving it to the world.” He went* off repentant to his own room, and returned in half an hour with “Crossing the Bar.” The light of the story is somewhat dimmed by the fact that Mr Tennyson was Lord Tennyson at the time, and that the poem was certainly written while he was crossing the Solent on his way to Farringford.

The Rev Mr Moffat says that “the natives of South Africa are increasing almost as fast as the white races/’

Thoughtful persons would net regard the matter as so serious, if it'were no worse than that. Mr Moffat is a great authority, but so is Mr McCall Threal, and the latter has studied* this ouestion. There is a passage in his history of. South Africa which begins with the de-

monstration that the Kafirs in Britisn territory have trebled bv natural increase, in the last fifty years; and st proceeds to show, by -careful statistics, that this increase at present is 20 to 4b per cent, faster according to circumstances than that of any white people under the most favourable conditions. We are 1 not aware that this startling assertion has been 'disputed. In confirmation of it, may be adduced the circular which was despatched by the Capetown Government in 1885 to officials, missionaries, and traders in native territories and reserves, asking to what cause they attri- , but.ed the “gfeat increase” of the black population/arid whether it is likely to be permanent. There are those who predict that, sooner or later, the whites must be simply “crowded out” of South Africa by the multiplication of the Kaffirs. ■ *' * ‘ * * * Writing from Greymouth, New Zealand, to the “London Spectator,” R.S.H. says:—Your issue of July 14th arrived here last week, in which you relate the picturesque incident of the trooper and his horse at Germistcu. A young fellow of nineteen, Frank Bird, who went out as trooper from, Westport, the town next to this on the northward, with one of the New Zealand contingent©, had in. two or three months trained his horse to follow him, to lie down, and to kneel, and so aptly or completely was he trained that though Bird went away into ' bush the horse.- would follow and! find him. He would blindfold the horse., and still, he would go to Bird. Shortly before leaving, when the Westport squad had been paraded, Bird went Off the ; ground and concealed hiiUSelf, while another trooper went with » bowl of corn l and tried to attract it. But the hoTse j refused the seduction, and followed till ■ it found its master. While no little trouble was experienced *, with other horses in getting them on board ship, Bird’s horse followed him without hesitation into his stall on deck* * Bird is - quite a little, slim fellow*, but an admirable horseman, taking after hid ’ Mother, who was an accompliEhed rider. * •• * •-> - -•> • ■■ A story was published : a few weeks age, says a London paper, of a well-known ; Southwark merchant who left; £3O on a bank counter at London Bridge, . and found it there an hour ise same gentleman happened to witness a still more extraordinary incident at the Bank of 'England on Tuesday. As he was standing at the counter anotner customer came in somewhat hastily,, and , v said to the cashier, “Do you know that you gave me £.10,000 short P” ... * The , cashier made an indignant reply in tile negative. “Well, you did,” persisted the customer. “You gave me £30,000 instead of £40,000, as you will see if you look at. your .book.” / Referring to his book'accordinglyi the . cashier admit- ~ ted that' an error had been made, and : handed over the missing £lo,ooo witnout f moire' ado.' ’ There was no excitement 1 perceivable on either side and the in- • cident occupied barely five minutes. ■» ■ • * *- v • .*. It is high time that Per© Kruger realised that he has already gone too far, and that it is hot t’o the interest of his country to increase the sanguinary devastation which a guerilla struggle must involve, seeing that there is not the remotest chance of the Boers regaining j their independence.—“Svenska '!D% •; blad,” Stockholm. •*. * * * A soldier who murdered fourteen sons in. Fekuoka, Japan, has been qhitted by court-maftial' on the greii’ ' that he was suffering from delirium mens.—“Pinang Gazette.”

The number of juvenile George Washingtons in Austria is likely to be increased by certain remarkable proceedings, in which a schoolboy of Zuaim,' in Moravia, has been unpleasant 1 concerned. : : He had a share in Sentimental histrionic temperament, an 1 when fie. arF?tvd home one evening, and declared excitedly that a Jew had dragged him into a ; house, which he described, locked him up in the kitchen, and left him hungry and thirsty until nightfall, his parents, who had searched all afternoon for him, believed the story implicitly, and- the more readily because of the recent Austrian rumours ol the murder of Christian children by Jews for ritual purposes. In point of fact,- the boy had been playing truant, and had concocted what he regarded as an ingenious fiction. ic would have been better for him if his parents had disbelieved it and given him a hitting on general grounds. They raised an outcry, which reached the police, and the result of their inquiries was a sentence of 20 days’ imprisonment for slander, which is an unsuitable punishment fcr a. boy of twelve, who presumably did not realise that his ingenious and elaborate lie might have caused a racial riot.

A. pennyworth of new bread and four quarts of water —that’s the recipe for a man who hvants to make himself heavy enough to pass the Army attesting officer. At least, that is what a youth named Walter Webster told the Marlborough street magistrate recently. He tried it—on the recommendation of the recruiting sergeant, he said —but he went further, and made a false declaration, and for this offence he was sent to gaol for fourteen days. Sergeantmajor Rose, of the Recruiting Department, said he had heard of the bread and water method, but had never seen such a thing done.

**** . * _ Beware, playing with fire may inCxe a conflagration. This conflagration the perverse madmen of Nationalism are striving to light. Consciously or unconsciously, they are, by exciting public opinion against England, bringing us face to face -with a conflict or an affront. “Petite R-epublicfue,” Paris.

A young chief from Khama’s country has been knocking about the town lately got up in faultless style, large “smasher” hat, short overcoat fitting like a glove, magnificent stockings, and brown shoes, all of brand-newness, the Avbole finished off by a stick that in magnificence equals the descriptions of that of a fashionable cbirurgen of ve olden times. A suite of three, attired in civilised but less wonderful attire, followed close behind It would have Warmed the hearts of Exeter Hall to see the little party. —' Bulawayo Chronicle.”

•X- * * *X* * * The greatness of England in the future depends upon her students of applied sciences. What the navigators of the Tudor Period were to the Empire then, her engineers are now. They will follow in the track of our South African army, and begin an era of the long and patient contest with nature which will make the land fitly, respond to the expansion of the mother country. The names of the hundreds of men who will do this will not be immortal, but their works v.iu live till the earth grows cold.—‘‘King’s College Review.” *•* * *

Ten years ago, or peihaps a little longer, the uresent Lord Fearer and Mr E rnest Foxwell jointly brought out a book, entitled “Express Trains, English and Foreign.” Their bosoms evidently swelled with patriotic pride as they recorded the gratifying fact that in respect- of express speeds Britain wa-s facile prineeps of the whole world—it was a case of England first, and the rest nowhere! We are as completely beaten now as were all other countries then. — ‘Railway Magazine.”

Closter ha.s a number of most estimable young gentlemen who are engaged to an equal number of most amiable young women. Some of these couples deport themselves in. a dignified manner, and thereby win the admiration and respect of. all who know them. Others bill and coo on all occasions and everywhere, and parade the streets giggling, smirking, and trying to be as silly as possible. '“All the world loves a lover,” when the lover deserves to be loved. But Tthen couples publicly demonstrate their amorous fervour by squeezing, hugging, and other similar capers, they become offensive and wearisome. ‘Closter Times,” Bergen County, U.S.A. * * * * *

By blindly serving the interests of England, Portugal risks drawing upon herself complications which might nob be devoid of gravity.—“ Temps,” Paris.

The spectacle of a part of the English Press carrying on a campaign against Mr Chamberlain while the war in South Africa is still in progress is not exactly patriotic.—“ll Pungolo Parlamentare,” Rome.

After having been deeply shaken eight months ago, England i.s to-day stronger than ever. Under such circumstances, the British Government will, we are convinced* not do anything to alter its military systems.—“ Correspondence Politique,” Vienna. * * * * *

A cheap way to bring American capital into Canada Avon Id be to create a few dukes, Avho could capture the daughters of American millionaires. It costs nothing to call a man a duke, so

that all the fortunes they could living in would be so much found money.— “Toronto Globe.”

There was a mistake recently on the London Stock Exchange in the Kaffir market. Gold Fields were bought instead of Chartered, and the error was not discovered until the operator came back from a short holiday. He then not only discovered the slip, but also that it had resulted in more than paying all the expenses of his trip.—“ World.” -if •* -A- •*

There are now several hairdressers in Paris who have adopted antiseptic methods. In front of each chair there is a gas burner. Bone or celluloid combs are no longer employed ; metallic combs are used instead. The barber turns on the gas, and before he commences operations he slowly passes his metallic comb several times through the. flames.- His scissors and razor are likewise thus purified by fire. Also the risk from the brush is mitigated by tne constant use of antiseptic hairwash. —“Lancet.” if it vt it #

The new r Companies Act will come into operation on the Ist prox., and the rush to bring out new companies in December must in many cases ®be attributed to the desire of the promoters to avoid the provisions of the Act. Thus very few of those now forming give such essential particulars as Avill be required in future with respect to the* minimum subscription upon which the company will go to allotment, details regarding underwriting, and the very important fact of the price to be paid for goodwill. —Glasgow Herald.” .

“We have read thy manuscript,” writes the .o-entle-souled Chinese editor, in returning it to the disappointed auditor, “with delight. By the bones of cur ancestors we swear that never have we encountered such a masterpiece. Should we print it, his Majesty the Emperor would order u.s to take it as a criterion, and never again to print anything which was not equal to it. As that would not be possible before Ten Thousand Years, all trembling we return thy manuscript, and beg of thee Ten Thousand Pardons.”—“Table Talk,” Melbourne.

In France, Avhen a train enters a station the engine-driver is bound to signal his approach by a prolonged whistle. Some time ago a man was run over on the Nord Railway as a train was coming into the station, and his relations claimed SOO.OOOfr damages, alleging that the driver of the locomotive had not blown Ills whistle long enough. After an inquiry they have been non-suited, an engineer having maintained that the warning whistle lasted three seconds, while two seconds would have been sufficient to clear the driver of responsibility.

Public life never offered m-ore brilliant prizes to a Canning or a Disraeli or a Randolph Churchill than it does now to any one capable of folloAving in their footsteps. To some new man the future assuredly belongs. England is in tbe mood to surrender herself, not necessarily to a prodigy of genius, a Napoleon of politics, but to any man of marked independence, faith, and capacity . —“National ReA'iew.”

Philadelphia is to put up a monument to the man who discovered coal. Other cities will cheerfully contribute to a monument and all funeral expenses for the man Avho put up the price of the fuel.—“ Republican,” Denver.

* # “Alas!” cried Paul,

* * “AA-ould I had been

A guest art St. Helena : For, as I found false Wilhelmn mean, I now find Wilhelmina.” —“The Onlooker.” * * * ■* #

The other day a lady, after making a purchase at the Army and Navy Stores, absent-mindedly Avalked out of the department with another customer’s umbrella. The customer hurried after her, and the lady, with apologies, returned the umbrella. This reminded her that she wanted new umbrellas for herself and her daughter. After buying them she entered ail omnibus, and on sitting down found herself opposite the owner of the first umbrella. The latter stared at the tAvo new umbrellas, and then, with the iciest of smiles, leaned forward and said, “I see you've had a .successful morning.”—“Evening NeAvs.”

At. the beginning of next session, says the “Leeds Mercury,” Mr Gumming Macdona, M.P., will introduce a Bill to deal Avith a certain class of marriage frauds which in recent years have become scandalously common, and he Avill ask Parliament to declare that no foreigner shall be allowed to contract a marriage in these islands without producing a certificate from his Consul, demonstrating that all the formalities which would make the union legal in his OAvn country have been complied Avith.

The other day, says the “Westminster Gazette,” a dealer in the Westralian market found that by some mistake he Avas a bull of 1500 Associated. He kneAv that if his mistake Avere discovered in the market it would mean a swift putting down of the price. He calmly transferred the bargain to the bear side of his dealing-book and walked into the centre of the market, asking the price of Associated., Those around caught sight of his innocently-open book, saw that he Avas, as they thought, a bear of 1500 shares, and started lustily bidding for them. The astute jobber by

this means -was enabled to -sell “11 bis shares at £ profit, clearing £lB7 10s over the error.

From the very commencement of the war, complains the "Daily Chronicle,” it has been quite a common thing for the War Office to announce that it had no news at night, while important dispatches have been issued to the Press on the following morning. We have convincing reason to believe that the explanation of this is that the despatch arrived the night before, but was not decoded. To delay consistently the publication of such news not only gives the evening papers an unfair advantage over their morning competitors, but it is an injustice to the public. If the existing War Office staff is not sufficient for night work, extra men should be employed. The present system is a grave public scandal,, and demands immediate remedy.

In the recently issued report on British trade with Switzerland for the year 1899 by Mr J. C. Milligan, British Commercial Agent, some interesting particulars are given on the trade in Swiss watches. As is well-known, the watch trade forms one of the principal features of Swiss commerce. Not only are the Swiss the largest manufacturers of watches in the world, but last year they considerably exceeded all previous outputs. Switzerland exports an enormous number of watches, and it is worthy of note that Great Britain takes the great part of the Avhole quantity exported. The chief trade is in silver watches of which over three millions were made last year, and we took over six hundred thousand, at a cost of under ten shillings a watch. Nickel watches, 'however, run the silver ones fairly close, as Switzrelarid made over two and a quarter millions of them. For some reason or other nickel watches were more popular in England than those made of silver, for we took more than seven hundred thousand of them at about six shillings apiece. Of gold watches the Swiss made eight hundred and fifty-nine thousand.

Sir Weymss Reid’s new book contains many good stories. Here is one of himself : —One morning his landlord at the hotel at which he was staying was very apologetic about a young man who had usurped Sir Weymss’s chair in the sit-ting-room, where he breakfasted, hut Sir Weymss assured the landlord that it was all right. Coming down to breakfast, he sat opposite the young man, and found him an uninteresting and dull companion. All at once he learned that the young man had been at Haworth, and had hopes, for what else could take anyone there but a love for the Brontes? Sir Weymss indicated as much to him, and received the reply : —"Me go to Haworth to see where the bones of some women were buried? No, sir. But they gave me a book to read about them Brontes7 by a man called: Weymss Reid. Say, don’t you/ ever read it—it’s a noor book!”

Then Mr Swinburne, we also learn, regretted missing the author, Avho had called on him at his house in London, but met Avith a rather cruel reception from the landlady. Sir Weyniss and a butcher’s boy had come to the door together,- the former knocked timidly, and received no answer, but the latter attacked the door without ceremony, and brought an irate AA’oman to it quickly. She loudly berated the boy, attended to bis business, then, turning to Sir Weyrass, asked —“And Avho may you be?” Sir Weyniss gently asked if Mr SAvinburne was at home. “No, he aimshe retorted, “and ’twould be well for him if he never was in to the likes o’ you,” then slammed the door in his face.

The London, County Council recently experimented Avith a new line-scraper on one of the all night tramcars to Clapham. Should tho apparatus come into use_, the men scrapers will be done away wiuq and half a dozen cars will suffice to keep the line clear. The contrivance, which resembles a straight pump-handle with an oblong box at the end of it, is fixed on the botton of the car between the wheels. It has a short, thick knife hanging from it, which fits into the grooves in the lines. The conductor controls the machine by a chain, and can put it in or out of action. While working it makes the car vibrate \ T ery unpleasantly, and it also appears to be a great drag on the horses.

The construction of a railway to the summit of Mont Blanc, similar in all respects to the Jungfrau line, is under consideration. Well-known experts like M. Vallot, director of the Mont Blanc Observatory, and M. Deperet, Professor of Mineralogy at the Lyons University, who have lately been examining the different routes and atmospheric conditions, believe that the scheme is feasible. The route which presents the’ least obstacles, and which is likely to be chosen, is on the Savoy side, departing from the village of Houches. There will be tAA r eh r e stations, which will be supplied with every convenience for travellers. The length of the mountain railway is estimated at eleven Yniles. The hydraulic poAver for supplying the electric current Avill be obtained from the 'River Arve and the Mer de Glace. The author of the scheme, a French engineer named Fabre, has laid the plans of the neAv railway before the French Minister of the Interior. There is eirnry likelihood that

in a few years the immense panorama, from the summit of Mont Blanc will be able to be- viewed without danger or fatigue by tourists.

With a view to band Scotsmen, and others the world over in a league to discourage over-indulgence in .strong drink, the! "S.S.S.” or' “Seotish Selfcontrol Society,” ha.s been formed. It is to supplement ane not supercede other Temperance societies, and those who would, hot, become Teetotallers may 'be induced to subscribe’ to its three simple rule. 5 :. Not to drink intoxicants before noon, nor at any tiine except at a regular meal- . '. Not to. “treat',” i.e., not to offer or accept alcoholic drink except with a regular meal. Not to give or accept drink in return for services rendered. Fred Archer, travelling ’with- some brother jockeys, said t-o cme who" was wearing a breast-pin of peculiar shape, “I have Oiten wondered- what- --that pin is you wear always' in your scarf.” “Oh, don’t you know : that’s a tooth of old (naming the hor.se), when 1 rode- him second in the Derby.” “Is that- so?” queried Archer. “By heavens, you must have been holding him blooming hard then when you pulled a tooth out of bis head.”

Lord Charles Beresford, in t-lie** ‘North American Review,” says, that :—British society has been eaten into- h-• the canker of money. From the top downwards the tree is rotten. The most 'immoral pose before the public philanthropic and as doers of all good tvorks. Beauty is the. slave of gold, and Intellect, led by Beauty, unknowingly dances to the strings which-are pulled by Plutocracy, y .- This iSt be danger Avhich menaces the Anglo-Saxon race. The sea - -which thfoatens t-d" Overwhelm it is not the angry waters of the Latin races, or of envious rivals, but' the cankering worm in its own heart, the sloth, the indolence, the luxurious immorality, the loss of manliness, chivalry, moral courage, and fearlessness AA’hichj that Avorrn breeds. This danger which overt-hretv Babylon, Carthage, Athens, Rome and many 7 other mighty nations and races in the past, now threatens the race to Avhich we belong:-’' but to it we oppose what they nether possessed on anything like the same principles or to the same extent as we- —the poAver of democracy. Despite these forebodings Lord Charles thinks that- “we may look confidently forward, tot he future, and hope and pray that , there is something after all in the A 7 isionarie«’ prophecy that through the Anglo-Saxon race “all the nations of the world shall be blessed.”

An action in which Charles Cummins sought to recover. £IO.OOO damages: the London and ••"North-Western; railway for injuries sustained while travelling from Holyhead to London was concluded recently at Dublin. It appeared that the points of the line were, fouled: at Stafford, and the -carriage in;.which.'the plaintiff was seated was jerked on to a goods line. A goods tram ran into it, with the result the plaintiff sustained internal injuries, from which, according to medical testimony, he is not likely to permanently recover. The jury found the plaintiff with. damages, t * * ■* * •*

In connection with the electric installation of the German Atlantic liner, Deutschland, there are 375 connections for ladies’ electric hair-culling irons—a luxury Avhich is sure to be- appreciated, and is in itself a means of ensuring safety, for there have been, recent .eases of fires caused by ladies using spirit lamps for the purpose.—“ Engineering.”

* * * * ' ,*:: On the outskirts of New York , city a, colony of Boers is to. be established. Seventy families, who have resolved not to live under the British flag, are to form a settlement in Nassau county.— “New Cork Herald.” * * -* m

Public opinion in England hah received with joy the announcement that the Vancouver-New Zealand cable will be completed in 1902. When this isdone an all-British cable will stretch round tbe AA r orld. England has given to the other Powers* an example/they would be wise to folloAV. — “Memorial Diplomatique,” Paris.

The American contingent in the Latin Quarter of Paris was recently invited t*o the wedding ceremonies which marked the union of Julian Carter, a fantastic noet, hailing from North Dakato. Cftrt-er has been stopping for eleven years at Mme. Panavard’s cheap hotel, Avthout paying for board or lodging. Finally! the long-threatened ejection seemed, likely to take place, Athen'the artistic colony induced Carter to marry his landlady.— “Chicago Tribune.”

The Anglo-Portuguese treaty puts an end to England’s isolation. Thanks to the success 6f her' arms and the ability of her statesmen, England is to-day stronger than evei*. Although the military forces of Portugal are small, the alliance with her is of inestimable value to Great Britain, inasmuch ag she obtains the control _ of important positions against the time Avhen the struggle with France for supremacy, in Africa breaks out. —“Vaterlandj” Vienna. ;