ENGLISH NEWS AND NOTES.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXII, Issue 4824, 29 November 1902, Page 3 (Supplement)

ENGLISH NEWS AND NOTES.

(From Our Special Cov.-c-poudcnt.) In Hie lIOTSI of a South African doI hale in the Common.-, hit year, Mr A. I Ji. .Marl, -ham. M.P. for the Mansfield i Division of Notts,made a strougly-word--1 cd speech . in which lie accused tho wc-ll-I known Eolith African financial linn of [ v.'enihr-r, iie.it ami Co. of being “swiu'ih rs and liiW-ves.” and promised at tho .sumo Lime la reiterate hi-’. as-ortion ontsi'!o rhe iloir-c. ami so give the firm tho opportunity of proving him a bar by moan > or a iibN action. -IN repeatml ins statement some weeks later in his oni constituency, and in duo course tlio branded finn brought an action tor slander, in -which there wore certain int er incut ory proceedings that were finally carried to the llamo of Lords. The result of tho appeal was, briefly that a number of particulars of justification of the -words used by Air Alarkbam wore struck out as irrelevant to tho Fsno. The net.ion."which had arouerl imirli public interest, ■was expected tr> coino on for trial in the Michaelmas sifctincr* of tie’ II: rI * Court: hut at tho te/ifh hour Afr Alarkham lias “climbcH ciown.” swallowed his own words, anti humbly apologised to Afe'ers vvernhor, Beit and Co,, who liavo rewarded his performances and penitence by withdrawing the action. Mr Alarkham explains that he based bis language upon information which ho has now discovered to have been false. Ho has taken tho only honourable course open to him, hub the question remains whether a. man who formulated such serious charges in tho House of Commons upon information which would not stand investigation is a fit and proper ]XT-nn to occupy a scat in tho Imperial Parliament. His

allegations, made under tho conditions they wore, carried tho weight almost of a jury’s verdict with a largo part of tho British public, and doubtless tho firm could prove to-day that they had sustained very serious damage through the libel. Mr Markham cannot be congratulated on having escaped punishment by tho withdrawal, lor ho stands before his political supporters ana tho public at largo labelled as ono who sentences first and tries afterwards. Now that we know all tihe facts relating to Sir Kcdvcrs Bailor's suggestion that Ladysmith should surrender after Colenso, the public aro_ beginning to appreciate Sir Georgo A\ lute’s gallantry and dignified silence at their true worth. Whatever,.may bo his ability as a strategist, there is no doubt as to Iris character as a man. Ho chivalrouslv took tho whole blame for Nicholson’s Nek upon himself, and in the proceedings that followed his opening of’ tho Gordon Highlanders’ Memorial Institution at Aberdeen last Saturday, it was for justice, not for himself, but for Ids comrade, Sir lan Hamilton, that ho pleaded. At tho crowded meeting held in tho Music Hall. Sir Georgo expressed his satisfaction that tho institute was to be conducted ou strictly temperance principles, and his belief that the first requisite to enable soldiers to carry out their contract with the nation with courage and endurance and to use their arms of precision was temperance. Ho then paid an eloquent tribute to tiho memories of Colonel Dick-Cunyngham, Colonel Downmn and other officers who had fallen. Ho was sorry he could not greet there that clay the gallant Meiklej'olm, who led his men in tho front line of tho battle at Elandslaagto, where the Gordons and their comrades, tho Imperial Light Horse, carried everything before them.

| T?;’f'’"rio l r to Ah'Nr who was >, Vv, pi,A f :nn . Sir Gem-.* >;iid - Thom-m Jhe light m battle may not. ! frig!;' on the-’- ev.,> lhae looked on i>o bravely b=-i‘ei--. t Smw is a spiritual ili’di;- t'na. v,i ; ! s 11• u< • aroi.n.d that lend:-]! head vie-u Gu-w -yes would 1 j..,, v 'Town dhu in lie- d-’C.nt‘”:c-' of orili’rrv uarurc, and G:e of. endow of his 'bright --eonplc and his mau-hless courage wl.l; Ij*< an example to many a .Gordon JIF blander yet to bo.” i Lieutenant-Colonel limes thou hand:oxl .Sir Cc-orgo White a pome contain■ni. IC-0 guiii'Oix Sill, .c !•■'->.-cl by til.; roail- ■ ,;f a'local ocv,--paper for the purpose <ll in-ofp’il i?ig Ir> Inin a. S'.vord of honour, which, however, lie*declined at, tills jnnciure. bir Gi'orgo fort t\v*th jgave tihe money to tho institidc. Lady I "White was presented with a silver i [;aper-cnt; er in Hie Hiape cf a inmiaj t i;,-o claymore. I Later. Sir Heorge was entertained by I t.ho Corporation at luncheon. Replying Ito tho toast of hi» liei-.Hli, lev paid a warm tribute to General Hamilton, who nor only planned the attack at Kiandslnagte, hut personally Jed it. It was lie vdia at the met critical moment; of the fight, by his personal example and devoted courage, cheered (bn Gordon Hhddauders on to victory. That grand judge of .stern fighting, i General French, recommended General I Hamilton for the Victoria Cross for Jus ' courage on that occasion, and he warmly j supported the He ho- ! liovetl it was ruled that General Hantil- ’ j ou was too senior to receive, tho decoraItion ; hut he would like to speak in tho 1 presence of tho nmi-commjssionoil olh- ! tors and men of the Gordon Highland- { cry, or a.nv other regiment,'and appea. ito them whether, in their opinion, at I a critical moment such as ho referred

to, the leadership of a man of General Hamilton’s reputation and status would not bo of ten times more value than the bravest deeds of any junior officer. A similar ruling, by tbo way, was first applied to Captain Congreve’s attempt to rescue tbo guns at Colenso, but he got his V.C. in the end. There is nothing whatever in the regulations to confiuo tho award cf the V.C. to juniors, and it is high time that tho original principles for which tho decoration was instituted wore reverted to. Tho present tendency is to convert the V.C. merely into a Humane Society’s medal. It is hard to seo why, if Captain Towse deservedly’ received tbo V.C. for leading his handful of men in a desperate charge when called on to surrender, the Cross should be refused’ to Sir lan Hamilton for rallying and himself leading on his men at a critical moment.

Ifc was fitting that Sir Georgo White should ho honoured in tho Gordon country. Although nob a Scotsman by birth, ho began his career iu tho regiment which tho beautiful Duchess of Gordon kissed into tho King’s service. He went through the Afghan war with tho Gordons, and at Charasiah, on tho road to Kabul, won his V.C. A body tf Afghans threatened tho line of march, and Major White wont with a force of his Highlanders to dislodge them. But, turning a hill, ho came suddenly upon a largo number of tho enemy. The Afghans were a dozen to ouo, and their unexpected presence almost promised the destruction of tlie Gordons. Major White saved tho situation by plucking a riflo from tho soldier nearest him, shooting tho loader of tho Afghans down, and then, with a “ Como on, Gordons!” charging straight at them. They bolted, and by another daring deed at tho battle of Kandahar Major White practically won the V.C. twice over.

(Alone! Dick-Cunyngham also won a ; V.G. in i• io Afghan- campaign during Uio ■ lard fighting at tho Shierpnr Pass, when ;t ;v>: ined for a moment as if a mass I Afghan idllni'.-n were to overwhelm Liu* tijin red lines of Gordon Highland-; “rs. Lieutenant Ijick-Cunyngham saw ; tlm danger, mid flung himself, .sword in hand, at* the Afghans. Ho and his men waded Uuougli a perfect rain of builds, broke- the wedge of Afghans, and saved the hour. j A hideous story of maniacal ingenuity j in self-desLruction comes from Balluior, ; County Alenih. A man named Smith.; who only recently returned from Sonth* Australia, sent for the parish i>riest, and Father Alartiaks curate, the Ilev. 0. Kane, answered the summons. 1o him Smith vouchsafed the information that he only sent for Father AlaHiu for tho purpose of killing him. Father Kane, trying to humour him, inquired how ho had intended lo commit tho act, and Smith replied “with a razor.” a few further remarks tho priest was horrified to see tho man take a razor from his pocket and draw it across his throat. The priest immediately dosed with Smith, and after a severe struggle, during which both became covered 'with blood, succeeded in getting Smith down, and Ids foot on tho wrist of tho hand which held the razor. Smith, finding tio means of using it. gradually worked tho edge upwards, and then, bending his head down, deliberately drew his throat across tho Ifade. Father Kanfc jumped up, and with a kick sent tho razor flying out of tho maniac's hand, and throw_it into an. adjoining field. Father ivano then, seeing that Smith had but a short time to Jive, administered the last rites and hurried away for assistance. "When ho returned Smith had succumbed to his

self-inflicted injuries. At tho inquest, tho usual verdict was returned, hut tho plucky priest appears to have escaped the. commendation of the jury. Yet how few would care to tackle a madman armed with a razor? Somehow cold steel has infinitely more terrors for tho average man than anything in tho shape of firearms. Inspector Webb, of tho Great Western railway, effected a smart capture last Sunday of two individuals named George Smith and James Williamson, said to bo Americans, but who' arc, 1 believe, associates of.tho so-called “Australian Gang” of “bunco-steerers,” which has been so sadly depleted by the imprisonment of Thompson, McNally. Lovelock, “ Darcy Middleton,” Cassel and Company. Webb saw Smith and bis “pard” with a third party on tho Paddington platform, and for reasons best known to himself, kept an eye upon the trio. By and by there came on tbo scone an innocent and healthy--1 coking young countryman named Randcll. Whilst this young fellow was waiting for his train,- Smith and tho third man got into conversation with him, and when he took his seat in tho train Smith made himself at homo beside him a.nd began “confidences.” Smith was a Now Zealander, a stranger in a strange land, who had fought for King and country as a member of Thorncycroft’s Corps in South Africa, whither ho was returning in a few days. His mission at tho station was to seek for some missing baggage, etc, etc. Having pitched his talc,' Smith commenced to he hospitable. He persuaded his neighbour to have a cigarette, hnt Randell drew the lino at taking drinks with a five miniates’ acquaintance. The novb scene in (he comedy was the appearance of a third man, who handed Smith a pocket hook and an unpaid bill. The latter said be hadn’t sufficient change

; to pav it, .and leaving the carriage for ’ a few- moments, returned regretting : that the refreshment bar was closed ant] ■ lie was i hert foro tinabie to get change . for the £lO note (a ‘‘stumor”) ho ha 1 ■; in his hand. Could Handed change '.it? JRandcU couldn’t; he had only a waiter of seven or eight shillings on ■ him. Would Handed lend Smith that • amount until the bar opened. Handed ■ wouldn’t. Grievously hurt at the counj tryman’s want of faith in him, Smith | took the third man away. W ebb at once ! contrived to get speech with Handed, I ;l nd as a result the hitter took a stroll iup and down the platform. Ho had not peregrinated long, ere Williamson came up. and in an austere police-inspector stylo, demanded to know whether Rande'll was a friend of tho two men who . had just left him. Handell intimated . that they certainly were not friends of his. “ Oh. then,” said Williamson, “you’re the man I want. J nose fellows are sbarpiors, and you’ll have to come with me to give evidence against them. , Randoll told Williamson in plain English that he’d other business to attend to, but Williamson, putting on bis very best detective air, gravely informed tho recalcitrant countryman that ho had moans at command to compel him to l do So, and ordered Handed to go outside the station with him. Meanwhile, Wpbb bad been an unostentat ious spectator of the scene, and, thinking it about time to ring dowi.i the curtain, brought forward sundry oflicial friends of the police, persuasion, and nabbed both Williamson and Smith, who bad boon waiting the denouement “just round the corner.” Tho third man, however, had skipped. _ Smith and Williamson. having been briefly interviewed by the Marylebono Magistrate, are now . enjoying tho hospitality of the country

at Holloway pending further investigation into their pasts. A very pretty legal puzzle arises out of the simultaneous death of Mr and Mrs Charles Fair, of San Francisco, in a terrible moto-car accident in Franco a fortnight ago. Both were hurled at tho same moment against a tree, had their heads split open, and died at tho same instant. Mr Fair left five million dollars 1 and a will bequeathing a great part of j this to Mrs Fair, with the usual provi-| sions to take effect in the event of hcri predeceasing him. According to English] law, since Mrs Fair did not survive her \ husband, the properly bequeathed to her by her husband’s will never vested in her; since she did not die before him the alternative disposition of the property cannot take effect, and an intestacy apparently results. A similar case occurred in 1853, when Mr and Mrs 1 Underwood were drowned in the wreck: of tho Dalhousie, and no one could say’ which died first. Each had made a will leaving property to or for the benefit of tho other, with a provision against the contingency of the death of the legatee: in the lifetime of the testator. Neither; will could take effect, for there is noj presumption of Jaw that cither man or woman, adult or child, will succumb > first in wreck or accident. It is. how-1 ever, claimed, that the law of California presumes that, in tho absence of any evidence as to survival, the woman, be-! ing physically weaker, is the first to die. j Doubtless there will he a keen tussle j between Mr Fair’s heir-at-law, his sisters. Mrs Hermann Oelrichs and Mrs W. K. Vanderbilt, and others who maintain that an intestacy did not arise. There are on record many attempts to swim the English Channel, and three pooule have claimed to have accomplished the feat, namely, Captain Webb, who crossed from Dover to Calais

twenty-seven years ;v£i>, Cavill, who iwo rears later swam from-the French shore to within fifty yards of the bencii at South Foreland, but could not effect a landing, owing to the breakers, and Davis Dalton, the American back swimmer, who, in August, 1390, landed on the beach at Folkestone m a fainting condition, after swimming from Boulogne. Crave doubts have been cast on the claims of both Cavil I and Dalton, and there arc those who do not hesitate to question the bona lidos of the illfated Webb's swim. Captain Webb’s crossing is said to have occupied twenty-one and tbrco-quarrtr hours, Dalton’s twenty-three and a bait hours, and Cavill only twelve hours. The difference in the times probably is the principal reason for the doubts expressed as to Cavill’s performance, but this father of swimming champions was infinitely superior to either Webb or Dalton in speed, and the fact that ho was in the water nine or ten hours less than them can bo easily accounted for. Ho would, by Ins superior puce, be able to get the fullest advantage of the tides and Dims generally lessen the distance lie had to accomplish. Hut whatever doubts have been cast upon the Channel swims of these lights of other days, posterity would have had no reason for doubting the legitimacy of tho performance of the ex-cycling clinmxhou .Montague Holbein, bad lie achieved success in his third effort to swim the Channel last Wednesday. Holbein and his friends took every precaution to give the fullest publicity to the trial, and, if need had been,, a dozen cyq-witnesscs of undoubted probity could have sworn to the accomplishment of the seif-imposcd task. Unhappily the physical powers of the swimmer failed when within threequarters of a mile of the land, and ho had to bo rescued from the water after an immersion of 22hr 21min, during which period he swam and drifted about 53 miles. Whether he wijl make another attempt appears doubtful, ami personally I hope ho won’t. He is a man of magnificent physique, with marvellous powers of endurance, and who can add little to Ins fa-mo in Iho athletic world by emulating Captain Webb.

Holbein started for Ills great swim from lliQ rocks at Capo Grisnez on AVodnesday afternoon, and on Thursday morning Air Frank Holmes, a ingliain amateur with a similar ambition, made his third attempt to swim the Channel, starting from Hover soon after five o'clock. He swam well until close upon ton o'clock, a fit of nausea caused by the sun beating down on liis unprotected head and nock, and an attack of cramp compelled him to abandon his effort. A third aspirant for Channel honours, whose intentions have been widely advertised these last two or three years, was to have made an attempt to cross during the week, namely, Mdllc Isacesu, an Austrian damsel of noble proportions, with sundry inspiring long distance “records' 5 alleged to have been made on the Danube and in other Continental waters. She came, she saw, she practised (at Boulogne), and then decided to go homo again.

Some half dozen members of tho detachment of the Australian Contingent, oi about 150 strong, just arrived at bhornclifle from South Africa, have made complaints of robbery while on the-*voy-age Home, The men had drawn considerable sums of pay before sailing, and on the voyago some of them lost amounts. One trooper was robbed of A4O which ho had sewn up in a belt, and another of ,630 which ho had sewn into a strap in his sleeve, and two more were robbed in similar fashion. The robberies took place whilst the men were sleeping at night, and unpleasant as the assumption is to the men, they believe other soldiers to have been the culprits. As the Australians had chosen to come to England fox- disbandment, they will bo stranded unless the military authorities make some exception in the wa>- of passes to Australia when the ineu wish, to return, the ordinary conditions being that they must pay their own fares.

For a largo proportion oi colonials the only way in whieu to keep tlieir pay is to gel rid of it at once— by going to tbo lirst bank they come across alter the receipt of their money, and despatching a araxc to tneir uesunation. What with thieves and robbers in South Africa ready to decoy you into drinking and other dens, or into the parks and knock you down and rob you of your 'all, tbo temptations of “crown and anchor,” "nap” for half-crown points, and other gambles on board ship, to say nothing of dishonest comrades, the army of confidence tricksters and rogues of all sorts in London lying in wait for men in khaki or “pom-pom” suits (as the civilian garb served out to those who take tlieir discharge in South Africa is termed), and—quite apart from dishonesty—the danger summed up by Henley in his ballade of Villon that “booze and the blowens cop the lot/* a colonial after tbo transformation from the'privations of the veldt to the luxuries of modern Babylon ha? every possible inducement to go through his money, if some shark has not already saved him the trouble by going through his pockets. Colonials, even those who have skilfully avoided all the ambushes of brother Boer, have to he on the alert against the wiles of the "slim” and extremely plausible swindlers of London. The . only safe course is to have no dealing whatever with the stranger who accosts you in the London street, bo he ‘‘swell’' or “swagger,” A "widow or a nurse may turn out a wolf in -sheep’s clothing, a mere decoy, while a casual chat with an agreeable‘and well-groomed young man on the top of a ’bus may—as a barrister found to bis cost the other day—result m an attempt to ievy blackmail by threats to accuse you of the vilest of crimes. For the same reason the solitary and attractive “lady” in_ a railway carriage is to bo shunned like Shaitan. It is these dangers that account very largely for the reserve and reticence of the Londoner. Ilia objection to converse with strangers and his tendency 'to scrutinise von verv closely before be admits you to his con fid puce, .

Tlie 'Baltic Mercantile and Shipping Exchange, St. Mary Axe, in which the new premises ot the Australasian Club are to he situate, is expected to he completed by the end of the year. The chib apartments will he at the top of the building. well h't. and ventilated; and reached hy two lifts. The smoking and billiard-room will bo large and comfortable, with lounges all round and adjoining it will be the secretary*? room, writing-room and lavatory. On. the next door is the dining-room, with sitting accommodation for 60, kitchen and store, rooms. Above this is the balcony, where- members will be able to sit and smoko under an awning in summer and to get a fine view of the Tower Bridge. The membership of the club increases steadily and when it reaches 300 it is proposed to lew an entrance fee of three guineas in addition to the_ annual subscription of five guineas. Sir .John Cockbum is the present nresident. the vicepresidents comprise Sir Montague fvelson, Me-srs Dobson, Grainger and Defray, Acents-General for Tasmania. South Australia and Western Australia-respective-ly. The chairman of the committee is Mr L. J. Davies, of West Australian timber fame, the vice-chairman, Mr F. W. Braund, of South Australia. A miniature Madame Humbert made her appearance before Mr Shell last Fridav in the person of a tall, dark woman, Ella Phvllis Heads, alias Phyllis Brown, who, I fancy, has tried her wiles on not a few colonials. She was described as a stewardess, and charged with obtaining board and lodging, jewellery and money by fraud and false pretences. Mrs Elira

Pullinger. 38, Marlborough road, Chelsoa. said that on September 28, 1901. Phyllis (/‘sometimes cunning, sometimes coy”) took lodgings in her bouse, paying a small deposit, aud mentioning that Sir Andrew Clarke, the Agent-General fer Victoria, was settliug her affairs, and transferring her money from, an Australian to an English bank. She said that Sir Andrew would bo responsible for any debts, and witness, believing her story, gave her board and lodging for a mouth, advanced her money and entrusted her with gold rings and a locket, which she said she would have stt with diamonds and opals which she bad'by her. Prisoner wrote out a document which sho described as her will, and in this thorn was reference to tho Sir Andrew Clarke. Koado went oil without notice, and witness then mad© inquiries at the offices of the Agent-Gene-ral for Victoria, aud found that all her representations were false. Mr H. G. Neale, clerk in the office of the AgentGeneral, said the prisoner was absolutely unknown to the late bir Andrew Clarke. No money was ever remitted for her from Australia, and her statements had given a great deal of annoyance and trouble. Witness had appeared against her übfore as a witness in this Court. Detective-Sergeant Duggin, C division, proved that prisoner was sentenced to fifteen months’ hard labour in January, 1900, for various cunning impostures, ah© then left a sealed box with a confiding tradesman, stating that it contained family jewels, but when it was opened its contents were found to be the top of a cheap bonnet pin and some old newspapers. Prisoner had also posed as a wealthy lady from tho Transvaal aud Die owner of Rhodesian shares. Mr Shell committed her for trial.

A cable from New York tells us that Sir Edmund Barton and his party sought last Sunday to pay homage to the memory of George Washington at his tomb at Mount Vernon, his former home, hut wore unable to do so as the grounds are closed on {Sunday by tho Board of Regents, consisting of ono woman from each State. A report, for which there seems some foundation, declares that an American has purchased Sulgravo Manor House, tho ancestral homo of the Washington, family, and will take it down and reerect it in America. Tho nouse, which is about eight miles from Banbury, has been for many years an ordinary farmhouse. It is a gabled building of two stories, consisting of two blocks joined to form u ground plan in tho shape of the letter L reversed, the top of th© letter pointing northward to tho road, and having a gabled porch extending southwards on tho other side. This porch has tbo Washington arms in the spandrils of the arch, and on the dripstone over the door is a shield with the same arms defaced. Tho porch led to the original hull, now divided into a dairy and sittingroom, and having a fireplace' under a four-centred arch. There is some embossed plaster work over tho entrance, • bearing the Boynl initials "E. 11." and the Royal arms appear over a sun-dial. There are dormer windows in the roof. Tho other limb of tho house, contains no ancient features, and is probably not original. It has been suggested that the-house was never completed in its original d©-; sign. There are flooring, panelling and. cupboards of good old oak. and the build-j ing is a good specimen of domestic work l of tho sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. Before the Reformation the, manor of Sulgrave belonged to St. An-' drew’s Priory. Northampton, and in 1330' the Prior and Stephen de Trafford were i certified to be loros of Sulgrave by the service of contributing.2os yearly to tho castle guard at Windsor. The priory was dissolved in the spoliation of Henry tho Eighth, and in 1538-9 Sulgrave, with certain lands belonging to H, was given to Lawrence Washington, of Northampton, gentleman, from whom George Washington- wps descended, and who probably built tho manor house, or those portion* of it which are earliest in date.

The Americans had at one time'a similar design on Anno Hathaway's house, but Tt was frustrated just in time, and it is sincerely to be hoped that the purchase has not been completed, and that some patriot will put his hand in his pocket and retain the house for England. Transferred to tho TJ.S.A., it would no longer be the ancestral home of the Washington family. Tho estate on which ii stands and the surroundings constitute the home, and Americans who desire the preservation of tUe home of their hero should buy estate, house and all and keep it as a guest-house in England for meritorious American officers. A small charge to the public for admission would pay for repairs and caretaker, but American patriotism would doubtless soon provide a capital sum, if necessary, to defray the upkeep.- But England ought to consider George-Wash-ington one of its heroes also, and nationalise the home.

There is some talk of a prosecution of the organisers of the military ride from. Brussels to Ostend, which resulted in so much useless cruelty. F’rom JMew York comes the intimation of a proposed roughrider race from Deadwood to Omaha—a distance of six hundred miles—on tho same horse, the journey to be completed within a week, for a prize, which is to be the right of first shaking Mr Eoosevelt’s hand on his arrival at Omaha. Several humanitarians and societies are pretest, ir.g that it would bo cruel not to use relays, and are moving to have Mr Hoosevelt condemn the race, to which, it is hard to believe that the President will give his approval. Tho Brussels Ostend ride, the "Westminster Gazette” says, as a test of endurance would bo thought nothing of in tho colonies. As an illustrfu tion of the immense distance which ordinary coach-horses in good condition can cover, it quotes tho following incident., which recently took place in the course of an ordinary coach ride in New Zea-. land. At the end of a hard -day’s drive of. forty miles over rough tracks, ft was. found that one of the passengers had lost a valuable dressing bag. The driver ati once started off on one of the coachhorses, and eventually found that the bag, had been left behind at tbe starting place. Earlv the next morning the bag was restored to the passenger, the driver 1 apparently thinking the eighty mile* night ride nothing out of the way; and after a wash and breakfast the same rider slarted to drive tho coach the next day’s stage of fifty miles. Such a feat is no mean test of enduranco on the port of tho rider as well as the horse.