NEWS AND NOTES.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1612, 21 January 1903, Page 18

NEWS AND NOTES.

One of several magazines in the Cairo citadel blew up on November 1/, and eighteen Egyptians were killed and a number of others were injuied. the magazine contained nitro-glycerine stored by a private company. Some rocks were blown through the Egyptian army magazine. £ * * # *

Liu Hann Yu, the mandarin who was responsible for the deaths of the two missionaries, Messrs Bruce and Lewis, and who was reported to have escaped, was executed at Changsha, the capital of Hunan, on November 16th, in the presence of the British Consular ' 0 representative.

' The New York Fire Department has tested the fire appliances of a new building which rises 304 ft above the street level. The building is fitted with a six-inch metal standpipe, which runs through its twenty-two storeys, and conveys water to the roof from a fire engine in the street. The chief of the fire department declared that trie tests proved that a proper equipment or standpipes could protect any building, no matter what its height. • * * *

At the opening of the sitting of the French Chamber on November 19 some sensation was caused by a sudden noise of firearms in the lobbies. The shots were fired by a non-commissioned officer of Colonial Infantry, who was waiting in uniform for admittance to the galleries. He discharged four barrels of a revolver in succession, 'shouting, “Vive la Patrie.” The man was at once arrested and taken to the Quaestoi s office. He is supposed to be a lunatic. i * * * *

The award of King Oscar of Sweden in the Samoan arbitration case was officially made known on November 16, says a Washington telegram. _ It agrees in substance with the details already published unofficially, but these did not convey tho full extent of the success obtained by the Germans. It appears from the official announcement that on every point submitted to him King Oscar adopted a view altogether favourable to the German claims. The amount of damages is reserved for future decision. . *******

It is announced from St. Petersburg that twenty-four persons accused ot participation in the disorders at the Pastoukhoff factory at Soulinovo in the early part of the year have been tried at Itostoff, on tbe Don. The ease was heard with closed doors. Eleven of the prisoners were sentenced to eight months’ imprisonment and the loss cf certain civil rights, and eleven others were, owing to their youth, sentenced only to two months’ imprisonment without loss of civil rights. One only of tho accused persons was discharged. ******

A movement fern tlie abolition of the pistol duel has been initiated by the students’ associations in Berlin, and is extending throughout the universities of Germany. The students’ associations of Berlin University and several other universities have decided to present an address to the officers’ corps and to the War Office pointing out that the lives of students and officers are too valuable to their country to be jeopardised for trifles. They urge that pistols shouiu be allowed only in the case of the gravest quarrels.

While a well-known female lion tamer, known as La Goulue, and the employees jn her menagerie were holding the usual parade outside at Pans ' on November 15, a hyena and a bear began to fight in full view of the people. Before they could be separated the bear was killed. La Goulue ■was much exasperated, and accused her husband of negligence in not looking after the animals. A quarrel followed, and they came to blows. La Goulue suddenly ran into one of tlie caravans, and returned with a loaded revolver, • with which she fired three shots at her husband, all the bullets taking effect. Ho was taken to the hospital m £ serious condition, and La Goulue was arrested.

In Russian Government circles it is , stated that the Ministry of the Interior intends shortly to revise the state of the law regarding life insurance :n Russia- The chief cause of this revision is the ever-increasing number of foreign insurance companies doing business xn the country, where they are establishing themselves more and more firmly, to the detriment of Russian insurance companies. The official consideration of this question, Reuter’s St. Petersburg correspondent states, will certainly be the signal for a newspaper campaign against the foreign companies-—especial-ly American institutions, against which the Russian newspapers have always manifested great hostility. * * * * * The epidemic of plague which has now been raging at Odessa for nearly five months is stated on good authority to have had the following' remarkable origin:—An Austrian 'vessel arrived at Odessa last summer, having on hoard the body of a member of the crew who had died on the voyage. As the ship’s papers were in order as far as the sanitary regulations were con-

cerned, the Russian authorities did not make any objection to the body being interred in tbe Roman Catholic cemetery. During the funeral ceremony an Austrian flag was hoisted over the grave, and when the crew left at the conclusion of the service this "Hag was carried in turns by two seamen, who on the way hack to the vessel entereu different public-houses. in each ot which, they laid the flag down when they sat down to drink. "Shortly afterwards both these men fell ill, and quickly died, and before long it was found that people were ill in every one of the houses they had entered with, their fatal flag, which evidently contained plague bacilli in its folds. ******

Lord Kitchener’s opinion that all good soldiers should be. unmarried, which he is said to have expressed in Paris, does not come surprisingly from him. It is said that Lord Kitchener, on his own confession, has never met a woman for whom he cared to step aside from his work, and the story of his compliment to Queen Victoria ?s probably true. The Queen, who several times received Lord Kitchener, is said to have once asked him if it were true that he did not care for any woman, and the tactful Kitchener replied that it was true with one exception. “And who is that?” asked the Queen. “Your Majesty,” said Lord Kitchener.

At the present moment there is hut one “monorail suspended railway” in the whole world. This runs between Barmen, Elbert eld and Vohwinkel, m Germany. This curious line was inaugurated in March, 1901, and the whole line (13.3 kilometres) is to be opened in March next, probably by the German Emperor, who takes great interest in the enterprise. The municipal authorities both of Berlin and cf Hamburg are just now considering schemes for the construction of suspended railways similar to the one just mentioned. It is proposed to huilcl a suspended railway from Berlin to Rixdorf, and the line will be so constructed that the cars will run above the overhead network of the electric trains in the city. ******

A curious and unique incident has been unnoticed amid tbe series of scenes which have characterised the proceedings in the House of Commons. Mr Sloan, the successor of the late Mr William Johnston in the representation of South Belfast, had as one of his introducers to the House, on the taking of his seat, Mr Wolff, who is the employer of IVfr Sloan, who l holds a position in the shipbuilding works of Messrs Harland and Wolff in Belfast. This is the first occasion, so far as we are aware, in which an employer has been the Introduce-!- of an employee to the House of Commons, and its piquancy is emphasised' by the circumstance that Mr Wolff and Mr Sloan by no means see “eye to eye” in matters political. Mr Sloan, as everyone knows, beat the Tory “official” candidate in the recent contest for South Belfast.

The Kaiser was to open a new museum at Gref eld, and maids of honour were wanted for the Empress. But Gref eld is not aristocratic. Nevertheless it has beauty, and an enterprising lady suggested beauty rather than birth as the test. It worked out finely until the most beautiful of the whiteclad maidens wss asked by "tlie ]Kaiser if she had good dancing with the officers. “We have no officers in Crefeld to dance with,” replied a sharp-witted girl standing by. Thereupon tlie Kaiser promised a regiment of Hussars for the Crefeld dances. At once the German papers began asking why the German army should he disorganised to please a few girls. After all, the explanation seems to be that this was only the Kaiser’s pretty.way of announcing a settled arrangement. v *3 *b ■S’

Mr George Lambert, M.P., has made an interesting discovery during the course of his recent visit to South African colonies. On the top of Spion Kop, which he visited, a spring of clear and limpid water has been found in the middle of what were tlie _ British trenches. Here is indeed the irony of fate! The one thing needful for the holding of the position, the lack of which was said to be responsible above all else for a disastrous retirement, was within easy grasp of the parched men who gasped and sweated in the shambles. The spring, for all its clarity, will have for those who reflect upon these matters a somewhat bitter taste, although the water may be excellent in quality and quantity. * * * A scientific demonstration of the earth’s rotation is given in Paris. It is made by means of a pendulum consisting of a globe suspended by a wire over 200 feet long from the dome of the Pantheon. From the lower part of the globe a needle projects, which, as the pendulum swings to and fro, marks lines in the fine sand placed beneath. M. Berget, scientist from the Sorbonne, explained to the public that the line along which the pendulum oscillates is always the same, but when the pendulum was set in motion, at each "swing it made a different mark in the sand, which is regarded as evidence that it must be the earth which moves.

There is an islet out in the Pacific, leagues from everywhere, which fell to the United States after the Spanish War. There is in the American navy a commander whose amusement has been tho study of sociology. Commander Sewell has now been sent to Guam as Governor,, “with a free hand.” Ihe new Guam Governor believes in the single tax theories of Henry George, and has made “deep researches into the philosophy of popular government.” as the islet possesses practically no po-pu-laco, and as tho few natives live by fishing and own 110 land, the conditions are unique for an experiment in popular government which shall be supported by a single tax on land values. We await with curiosity publication of future Guam blue books. * * * ® •

Not for tho first time Mr Balfour has confessed bis great faith in his uncle. “Can you tell me one man, the Prime Minister was asked twenty years ago, “in Parliament or out of who habitually and naturally thinks of his country first and only afterwards of his party ?” “I admit there are not many,” said Mr Balfour to his interviewer, who exclaimed, “Many! I do not ask for many; I ask for one —a solitary one.” “Yes,” went on the man for whom the highest post in England was waiting, “I do know of one who always looks at things from the standpoint you describe, but then you do not like him.” “You mean your uncle?” “Yes,” said Mr Balfour; “but I do not say it because he is my uncle. I say it because it is the fact. . Ho always looks at things in that way, and so far as I can remember, be has always dene so.”

News comes from Buluwayo that the Matabeles are deserting the Matoppo Hills, where the tomb of Rhodes is situate, for the Mopani region of the south. They assignees the reason for their departure that the depredations of tho baboons which infest the hills have become intolerable, and that without firearms they are incapable of resisting the inroads of these ferocious animals. For some time past the baboons have been increasing rapidly, and are a source of considerable loss end annoyance to the natives. They are therefore to be left in possession of the “World’s View,” and save for their presence, these famous hills will become more desolate and lonely than ever.

There were, fifteen or twenty -rears ago. says the “Garden,” parts of Hamp-stead-heat.h which might have been planted if that dreadful levelling and destruction of gerse, broom, and other wild plants, such as sundew and buclcbean, which destroyed the irregularity and natural arrangement that seems to' offend some.of our councillors and managers of wild woods and commons, _bad not been ordered or decided upon. Why should not bamboos, rhododendrons, etc., he planted in numbers 011 many of our healths ? The cost . would he slight, and the instruction and delight afforded to the people of all ages and classes immense. A few level places might he kept for games and gymnastics, but here and there the general area might be planted with dwarf shrubs and British and foreign wild fiGwers.

****** A writer in “Country Life,” thinks it is a great pity that the bird-collec-tor should set a high value upon “Brit-ish-killed” specimens of birds which happen to bp rare with us, though common enough in other countries, because his acquisitive enthusiasm leads .him to nip in the hud each attempt which these birds make to gain a foothold in Britain. “I know,” he says, “where the rare White’s thrush has been seen in two successive winters, and where the golden oriole has nested for two> successive summers, but tlie localities have to be kept secret, lest: the collector should travel thither for the express purpose of killing them off. Sooner or later, of course, the man with the gun will get them, as he gets all the waxwings, hoopoes, buzzards, and eagles that come to England. But it is a great pity.” * * * »

The German Emperor, who is now on a visit to this country, keeps au courant with British newspapers, and it would surprise some editors to know how he follows their criticisms upon his doings. I happen to know (says a writer in the “King”) that certain articles, emphasising the unfriendly attitude of Germans towards this country, have been read carefully by the Kaiser, and he will not let his visit pass without trying to establish more"- happy relations between liis country and Great Britain. King Edward does not trouble himself half as much as the Emperor as to what the newspapers say, although he realises to the full the importance of the Press. But he is not so much affected by “pinpricks” as some other sovereigns are, and trials for lese majeste in modern times would seem to him quite contrary to the spirit of' the age.

A floating dock “on the Joose” on the high seas is not a pleasant thing for navigators to meet, but fortunately such derelicts as these are not often to be seen in the seven seas. The great floating dock for Bermuda has just arrived at Its destination .without injury. It took many weeks to do its journey from the Tyne, and it was towed by several large Dutch tugs. The Natal

dock was intended for Durban, andt would have proved very useful far docking warships and merchant vessels. Its lifting power was about 11,000 tons. 3 « « m A few days ago the new floating dock that has been constructed by Messrs Swan and Hunter for tlie Natal Government left the Tyne in tew of the Bucknall steamer Baralong, and now the news comes that it has gone ashore in Mossel Bay and is likely to be a total loss. The dock was on. its way to Durban when it fell in with a hurricane which caused it to break away from its towing steamer. Mr. 11. G. Wells, in his fascinating “Anticipations,” said that he found it incredible that there would not be a sweeping revolution in the methods of building during tho coming century. The erection of a house-wall, he pointed out, was an astonishingly tedious and complex business, and the final result was exceedingly unsatisfactory. Ho predicted that bricks would be manufactured by machinery, and that houses even would be built by mechanical contrivances. Both of these anticipations appear to be on the point of being realised. Bricks are actually now being made by machinery, and an ingenious apparatus has been invented that will build walls and compose houses as easily as a machine that makes butter from milk. Mr Wells’s idea was “a thing running to and fra along a temporary rail that will squeeze out walls as one squeezes paint from a tube and form its surface with a pat otf two as it sets.” We understand that the now machine works on very much tlie same lines.

Under tho heading “Trcp de Zelc,” the “Figaro” relates a pleasing incident which occurred in a Paris thoroughfare the other day. A Passy-Bourse omnibus was passing one day along the rue du Quatre-Septembre when a policeman noticed that the coachman had his pipe in his mouth. He at once ran after the omnibus, climbed up on top and reminded the driver that it is against tlie regulations to smoke on duty. “±’m not smoking,” replied the latter; “my pipe is out- I have it in my mouth, it is true, but I was just going to put. it ill my pocket-.” The policeman was about to leave tlie bus when he was stopped by the conductor, who claimed fifteen centimes. “But I only went up on top to make an observation to the driver,” explained the unfortunate hergent de ville. “That’s no business of mine,” replied the guard, “I rang you up and I want my money.” Tbe best of the joke was that the policeman did net havo any money in his pocket and was forced to borrow the three sous from a colleague.

It is not difficult to imagine the plearsant little thrill of excitement which ran through the Indian Army when it became known that Indian troops would be wanted for Somaliland. There is no question, says “Army and Navy,” that the i>rospect of any sort of fighting would bo immensely popular in India’ just now, and, although - the Somali business, serious as it may be, is not likely to appease the hunger and thirst of the Indian Army in this direction, it may prove a welcome “smack.” Enforced inaction during the South African war was a hitter trial to oui native troops, and the China embroglio interesting as it was, was unsatisfactory even to a large proportion of the corps actually dispatched on the expedition. Without going so far as to say that the Indian Army is spoiling for a fight, there is no sort of doubt that if a fight comes in its way it will jump at it, and .experience keen enjoyment in carrying it to a workmanlike conclusion.

Contrary to general expectations, Britons making South Africa their homo are marrying Boer women. Awo ot these unions have just taken place at Port Elizabeth. The bridegrooms Fere stalwart members of tne South African Constabulary, and the brides genuine Boer maidens, who with their imperfect knowledge of the British language had some difficulty in getting through the marriage service. Brat this little hitch was overcome, and the girls looked very happy as they drove aivay.ia their wedding carts. The vehicles by the Avay, were decorated with yellow ribbon, the ex-Free State colour, while the horses were adorned v itn red, white and blue.

It took 590 grains of cyanide of potassium eight minutes to kill a vicious elephant in Central Park, New York, the other day. A small fraction of that quantity would annihilate a human’ being as by a stroke of lightning. Big Tom had no actual homicide vto bis charge, but his bad temper was deemed incurable. ■ no

The following are, it is stated, the profits made by Mr Pierporit Morgan during 1902 in financing his worldfamous and other combines: —The Steel Corporation, £4,068,000; the Louisville and Nashville Railroad, £1,200,000; the Harvesters Merger. £1,100,000; the Northern Securities. £900,000; the Realty Company, £600,000 ; the Steamship Combine, £500,000. _ This gives a total income from the six schemes £8,368,000.

A sotting of Ben Jonsons “Brink to Me Only With Thine Eyes” was published recently by a Newton Centre firm of puoiishers, and in a few weeks thero came a meter from a woman who had been a singer in light opera, but quitted the stage because she could make a better living popularising songs by singing thorn into the phonograpn. She wrote from a small New 5 ork town, addressing the letter to Mr Ben Johson, Newton Centre. It reads: — “Bear Sir, —For five dollars I will include your song ‘Brink to Mo Omy With Thine Eyes’ in my new catalogue of phonograph records, and will also send you a record of the same.” Iho letter was answered by Arthur barwell, the composer, in this strain: “Boar Madam, —As Jonson was a pal of ‘Bilk Shakespeare’s, he isn’t with ns at the present time. In any case he would not sanction this expenditure of a wain which might- be much more satisfactory applied to tlie Mermaid Tavern. We feel that the last three centuries havo sufficiently heralded nis name abroad to- make it unucccssaiy to resort to the phonograph in the pio.-mnl emergency.”

Someone has said that there is an association between fat and humour. Thackeray’s “English Humourists” supports this view :—“Swift was lat, Aadison was fat. Steele was fat, Cay ana Thompson were preposterously fat—hi. that fuddling and punch drinking, that club and coffee house boozing, shortened the lives and enlarged the waistcoats of the men of that age.”

A statue of Sir Thomas Elder, an eminent South Australian benefactor, was recently passed through the Customs, but Mr Kingston ordered duty to be paid upon the pedestal. That m his judgment, was not a work of arc . There ho is in direct disagreement with Mr Augustine Birrell, who once sam in the House of Commons that Hie pedestal is the prettiest part of the average London statue.

Very mysterious is tiie origin of the fierce savages, now almost extinct, who were in possession of the smaller West Indian "islands when the first white men burst “into that silent sea.” They showed distinct Mongolian character, and it would be hard to distinguish a Carib infant from a Chinese child. Some twenty years ago a Chinaman who had drifted-to .Dominica declared the Caribs to be his own people, and married a pure-bred Carib woman. The resultant child ’showed no deviation from tho native. To-day they have dropped their man-eating ways; but m tho sixteenth century they scoured the Spanish main in search of human rood, and from Puerto Ili'co- alone are sam to have taken more than 5000 men o be eaten. Though Spaniards, Frenchmen, Dutchmen, Negroes or Arrov/aks were all meat to them, yet these Caribs seem to have shown an interesting preference for certain nationalities. Davis, for instance, in his “History of the Caribby Islands, tells fus that “the Caribbean s have tasted of all tho nations that frequented them, and affirm that the French are the most delicate, and the Spaniards are hardest of digestion.' Labordo, also,, in one of liis jaunts in St. Vincent, appears to have overtaken on the road a communicative Carib, who was beguiling the tedium oi his journey by gnawing at the remains o a boiled human foot. This gentleman only ate Arrowaks. “Christians.” he said, “gavo him the belly-ache.” * * • ■» «=

The unconscious critic is the best et all. Such a one was the brusque youth in the pit at. a performance of “Hamlet,” • who turned to his neighbours with the remark, “Can you tell me—does that young mall” (pointing to die actor who was playing Hamlet), “come on very often?” “Vvell,” replied the neighbour, “he does—rather often. “Oh,” said the youth, “then I’m off.” And he made a hasty disappearance. * He *■ * r

Sir A. Conan Doyle, in proposing “The Press Club,” said tnat was a trite proverb that every nation gets the press it deserved. He remembered making the remark to a great American author, wlio exclaimed, “Greati heavens! What national sin have we committed ?” If there was truth in tliai proverb, then every Briton might take a rational pride in the sanity, the moderation, the sense of fair play which characterised the British press. • « • • 4 *

Recently, at St. Aiugustine’s Priory, Newton Abbot, Devon, a great and venerable figure in the Roman Cathode hierarchy in Great Britain passed away. The Right Rev. William Vaughan, D.D., Bishop of Plymouth, uncle of Cardinal Vaughan, was born in London on 4th February, 1814, and had thus approached his 89th year. One of the Weld-Vaughans, of Courtfieid. Monmouth, lie received his early education mainly at Stony4iurst and Oscott Colleges, and was ordained in 1838. Seven years later he became President of Prior Park College* Bath, removing again to a canonry at Clifton in 1852. On IGth September, 1855, lie was consecrated Bishop of Plymouth, which, together with some high Pontificial honours, he had retained, although for nearly ten years the more active duties of his' diocese have been performed by an assistant, hishnn. A state-

ly prelate of the characteristically English type of Homan Catholicism, he was much beloved, and will bo deeply lamented alike by bis clergy and nis hock.

Mr Lucy mentions a little “aside” he heard in a speech by the late Frank Lockwood some years ago at the Sheffield Press Club. Alluding to Ins long connection with Sheffield. in the capacity of recorder, he said: “I hope that during the ten 'years I was connected with this city I gave satisfaction—there the company broke into a loud cheer). “I was about to add,” continued Lockwood gravely, “I gave satisfaction to those gentlemen who came before mo in my capacity. Jdid not realise fill I heard the applause that there were so many present licie to-niglit.”

If the two new cruisers of this years programme, one of which is to be bunt at Pembroke Dock Yard and one in a private yard, come up to expectations, they will bo the swiftest in the voi id. It is reported that they will be smaller than, the Good Hope, bub will steam three knots faster; their trials at full power, it is anticipated, will give 2b knots, or over 291 land miles an hour, and in addition they will carry the heaviest armaments ever mounted in a British cruising ship of similar size. No large man-of-war lias ever been propelled “at 2(5 knots an hour—which is two knots in excess of tliG best speed of tho Deutschland before tlie German liner broke down. These two mon-or-war are tlie first of thc-ir class entiioly designed by Mr Philip Walts, the new Director of Naval Construction.

At Frcsncs prison, the model establishment of its kind in France, an original scheme has been started for the reformation of the inmates undergoing punishment. An official comes _ down once a week from Paris, and gives a lecture on an edifying subject. The remarkable feature of these conferences is tho aspect of the hall. Only two human beings are visible in the room the lecturer and a warder. All along the walls of the hall are placed closed cabins, having an aperture on the side nearest the chair. Tho prisoners are closeted in these cupboards, which arc securely locked. They listen +o tue lecture through the holes mentioned. ,At tho conclusion, warders file in, unlock the closets and take- away the prisoners. The latter, who are forbidden to speak, wear black veils* falling over their heads and faces. These they, must not take off except when alone. The veils are intended to prevent tho prisoners from communicating with one another by signs.

The charge of woman bating is absurd enough, hut there can be no doubt of Lord "Kitchener’s opinion of the “womanish” man. Nothing can be more uncompromising than his contempt for effeminacy. On his return from Egypt, it is said, a young social fop asked the general for his autograph, which he intended to have worked in silk on a flimsy lace handkerchief lie took out of his pocket. Kitchener took up the scented handkerchief, with the remark, “Your sister’s, I presume.” “No, sir, my own. A very pretty pattern, isn’t it?” replied the young lord. “Very; what is your taste in hairpins?” asked the man who had won back Khartoum.

The wife of one of America’s many millionaires recently had her baby christened in a style of such gorgeous pomp and howling splendour that the poor little kiddie might be excused if he told liis regal ma, “he dun no where ’e are.” Amongst other trifles that welcomed the little lump of pink putty to this world (which may be a rougu one for him, after all) was- some piano pounding by Paderewski. When that was over, ' the proud mamma carried her latest donation to the population over to the sliock-haired hero, and begged him to “kiss the dear baby, as that would perhaps set the seal .of genius on him. “Paddy,” who looked as if he’d far rather mug the ma than the squaller, performed the job like a tradesman, however, and was thanked profusely.- But when someone afterwards asked him how he liked the kiss, he replied it was “very like kissing a poached egg.”

The Rev. A. W. Cooper, Vicar of Filey, who has gained the title of the walking parson from his long tramps abroad, having recently walked to Venice, told an excellent story in a lecture on his experiences. He one© arrived at a little German village when it was raining hard. He only had the clothes he was wearing, which were wet through, and he arranged to go to bed while they were dried. It was agreed with the bausfrau that dinner should be ready in an hour, but at the end of that time the clothes were not nearly dry, and as the hostess had no husband or sons, Mr Cooper said he was forced to attire himself in a couple of the woman’s skirts! “Only a man,” he feelingly observed, “can understand 1 my agony of mind while I was fastening those petticoats on to nothing ! It took me about ten minutes to accomplish.” ******

The London of tliei Metropolitan Police district contains more than six millions and a half of people. Of these,

according to ordinary proportions, nearly three and a half millions would bo females, of whom about 1,370,090 would bo over thirty years of age. Putting the matter in this way, says the “Hospital,” it would appear that m London there may be a single drunkard to every 154 women over the age of 30, or one to every 380 of the female population. V hen tho facts are thus regarded. we obtain an approximate measure of what female drunkenness means in relation to women generally ; ’it being borne in mind, of course, that the temptations to and the causes of excess are much mere prevalent among a crowded urban population than elsewhere, and that London is a place towards which a good deal of the general immorality of tho country lias a natural tendency to gravitate. Vve arc inclined to think that the proportion of female drunkenness thus disclosed is hardly, if at all, in excess of the natural waste of such an aggregation of human atoms. The stress of life is too much for many of the feeble; and tho solace which they seek from drink may often bo tho effect rather than the cause of tlieir downfall.

Tho wiseacres who tried to engineer an early season boom at Cannes by sta--ini) 1 that King Edward was expected there in November and that- everything was ready for his arrival have done more harm than good. One of the most important and vexed questions a Cannes is the water supply, and unfortunately this seems as far from being satisfactorily solved as even. Alter many years’ discussion it v. as recently decided to obtain a good and pure water supply by means of a new channel to be called tho Canal du Loup. In October tho President signed a decree authorising the construction of this canal. Now it has been discovered that the sources from which it was proposed to draw the water dwindle so low that in February they'are apt to prove insufficient and tho town 'will then have to fall back on tlie old and at times contaminated Siague water supply. The local powers are now in a grievous dilemma and do not knoAV vrhat to do. Apropos of this question, the “Cannes' Gazette” says: “A long-wished for imnrovement is now on tlie point oi achievement, for by next week it is to bn hoped that the deviation of the filthy torrent Xjg Ohataignier, ay inch, runs into the sea near tlie Albert ltd ward bieakwater, will be completed. But it will bo of little use to deviate the torrent if tlie small private drains which now trickle onto the sands are allowed to- remain.”