Here and There.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXIX, Issue XIII, 27 September 1902, Page 781

Here and There.

Royalty is often puzzled what to do with the jiresent it receives. The following brief par from an English paper tells its own tale: There was sent to the Zoological Gardens the other day from the Royal Mews, Buckingham Palace, the very remarkable zebra-hybrid gelding brought, from South Africa by Lord Kitchener as a present for the King.

Gem of botanical information from London: “The ‘cannibal’ tree grows in Australia, and people are shy of it. It is the shape of a huge pineapple, and attains a height of eleven feet. It has a series of broad, boardlike leaves, growing in a fringe at the apex, and strong enough to bear the weight of a man. The. instant that a person touches one of these leaves it flies together like a trap, crushing the life out of the intruder; Formerly the natives used itvfor executing criminals.”

A new title of “Dostor Engineer” has recently been instituted. at the technical high schools in Germany for the different classes of .engineers who have obtained the Government diploma. Young students will haves to pass at least one year in a large engineering establishment, where they.will be treated as ordinary employees, mixing with the men, that they may learn their methods and mode of thought.

Nellie Stewart is the subject of many and various wiki rumours that have been floating round Melbourne, says the “Adelaide CWtic.” Nellie, has announced that she wiH never act again, but the announcement :s not taken seriously, and her engagement to go on to Maori land still stands. (This has since been.cancelled.) Certainly the excuse of illness does not explain her absence from the Princess performances. One report that was whispered to many pressmen last week, was that George Musgrove was importing a brand new leading lady; hence these tears.

Here is the latest lay of the lazy man: Winter is too cold for work: *" Freezing weather makes me shirk. Spring comes on ami finds mo wishing I could end • my days a-llshing. Thon in summer, when it’s hot, I say work can go to pot. Autumn days, so calm and hazy, Sort of make me kind of lazy. That’s the way the seasons run, Seems I can't get nothing done. The Rev. James Lyall, the Presbyterian evangelist, now visiting New Zealand, interviewed in Napier, said, speaking of the scenery of the colony: “The Auckland Harbour is a dream of beauty. 1 prefer its beauties to those of Sydney Harbour. The distances and extensiveness of view add a charm Sydney does not possess. Then, too. I have seen the Rhine in Germany, and believe that for pure natural beauty the upper reaches of the Wanganui excel that great river. Of course, the Rhine has historical associations, and' has legendary and literary traditions that fascinate the interest. Still, the Maoris give a picturesqueness to the Wanganui scenery that almost makes up.”

Many of the Royal Family are devoted to fishing. The King himself has fished, and is not particularly devoted to it. says Mr. R. B. Barston in the “Fishing Gazette.” The Queen, however, is a keen disciple of Izaak Walton, as is also Princess Victoria, and they often fish together when in Scotland. Iler Majesty has killed sqlinon in Ireland, and so deadly is the “Alexandra” fly, named after her, that its use is prohibited on many waters.

The Prince of Wales is perhaps the best, angler of the Royal Family, and will spend long days on Deeside enjoying the sport. Prince Edward and Prince Albert, sons of the Prince of Wales, each caught a nice lot of roach with the flj’ recently. Even little Princess Mary was successful in landing one. Last month the young Princes tried their hands at the trout in a Norfolk stream, and Prince Albert (aged six) got a brace, and Prince Edward (aged seven) half a brace.

The infectious diseases hospital, to be erected at Point Chevalier, was the subject of a conference at the Auckland Municipal Chambers on Wednesday afternoon between Dr. Mason (the chief health officer of the colony), the Mayor of Auckland (Mr. Alfred Kidd), and representatives of other local bodies in the province who have to provide the funds. The contributing bodies number 51. The conference approved of the the plans, as described in the “Star” on July 21 last, and authorised their acceptance at a cost not to exceed £B5OO, of which the Government will pay half and the local bodies the balance of £4250. The Government propose to give five acres of land, and it is intended to purchase 40 acres more to complete the isolation. The plans provide for accommodating from 30 to 40 patients, beside the staff. The contributions from the local bodies will be ■proportioned on the same basis, as the Charitable Aid Board contributions. Tenders for the building - will be invited shortly.

An unfortunate mistake was made by a bridegroom the other day. After getting into the train which was to take himself and his spouse away on their honeymoon, he noticed a shoe lying on the floor of the carriage. Thinking one of his friends had thrown it there during the sendoff he picked it up and flung - it out of the window. A little later he was surprised to see a commercial traveller, who had awakened from a deep sleep, peering under the seats and on top of the rack and inquiring if anyone had seen a shoe which he had taken off to ease his corns. Then the bridegroom discovered his mistake and the first purchase of his married life was a new pair of shoes for an absolute stranger.

A highway robbery which occurred on the Breakfast Creek - road, near Brisbane Gasworks, about 4.15 a.m. o’clock the othei” afternoon was a daring affair. Frederick Charles Henry, pay clerk, an employee of the Brisbane Gas Company, was proceeding by tram io the gas works on Breakfast Creek-road, with a bag containing £225 in notes, gold, silver, and copper, to pay the workmen. When he alighted from the tram and was proceeding towards the gas works, he heard a horse galloping up behind him. He turned, when the offender - presented a revolver at him and said: “Give me that bag - .’’ Henry took no notice of him at first, but was still followed by the robber, who persisted in his demand. Henry then called two men. employees of the gas works, who ran to his assistance. When the first, named Stenson, was about thirty yards away Henry threw - the bag to him. The robber, speaking to Stenson, said, “Don't touch - that bag,” remarking that the revolver might go off. He then jumped off his horse, picked up the bag. rr -f-united. and galloped away towards Bowen Hills. The photograph of a well-known criminal is saiil to have a strong resemblance to the robber, and the police are now in search of the man.

This story of the devotion of a pony finds a place in the “Spectator.” Captain 11. T. Barrett, of Thorneyevoft's Mounted Infantry, who was killed in a fight in South Africa, was

rilling at the time a faixmrirte pony. “We brought Barrett brack to our camp, ami buried him on a little knoll just outside the camp, and put a rough cross up over the grave,” wrote a brother officer to a member of the deeea-ed’s officer’s family. “Another of our officers took his pony.” “Aibout a week or so ago he was < »rt with a patrol near the pla.ee where the fight of September 20 took place; he got off his pony to look through his glasses, leaving the pony to stand, Which all these welPbroken coloured ponies will do. ‘“Suddenly the pony looked up, pricked up his ears, sniffed, and then started off. galloping straight for the >i lie knoll where Barrett was buried, which could be seen four or five miles oil; he jumped two wire fences in the v.ay, and finally reached the knoll, where our chaps could see him quite plainly with their glasses, standing quite still beside the little cross over ■his old master’s grave. "The patrol had to push on fast- in the opposite direction, and so the pony was never recovered.”

The young man who wishes to be popular with the opposite sex should study this paragraph. A young women’s debating society has decided on a certain youth as the nicest in their town, because “he is good all the way through; honest, considerate. ami kind-hearted. When he treats the girls he makes them feel that they are doing him a favour in accepting his hospitality. He is always good tempered and jolly, and is as nice to a homely girl as to a pretty one. He isn’t spoony or foolish, but is just a nice, lovely fellow, and he has more sense than any young man we know. He never says or does unkind things, and always sticks up for every girl he knows.”

Great fun has been caused at a two days’ church bazaar at Slough by the introduction of washing eompetiti nis open to the clergy of the parish. The competitors included the rector (the Rev. I’. H. Eliot), the Rev. J. B. Marsh and the Rev. B. Lester. Each of the. rev. gentlemen was provided with a bowl of water, a piece of soap, and a, dirty duster, which had to be washed in three minutes. A committee of three married ladies found the dust-

ers of the rector and the Rev. B. Lester so clean that they were unable to determine which was the better, and got out of their difficulty by giving two prizes. Is the barmaid to go (asks Christchurch “Truth”)? Apparently not, since she claims a share in so tie forthcoming legislation. Wlu- r she ought to go is another story, . nd a well-thrashed-out and much-debat-ed story too. Our opinion is that there is no excuse for her existence, for several reasons. She is compelled to endure K long and fatiguing hours of toil, too long for many men,,and certainly for any woman. She lives, also, in an insanitary atmosphere, breathing the germs and tobacco smoke and alcoholic fumes of man in the mass. While we think her wouldbe abolitionists go too far in their unjust and sweeping denunciations of the unwomanliness engendered in our Hebes, and exaggerate the temptations to which they ere exposed, we yet think the occupation is attended by circumstances that are calculated to offend, and in some cases to kill, the sensibility of any woman. Among Hebe’s most strenuous supjmrters is the economist, but the economio difficulty that operated in Glasgow and in larger cities is absent in our smaller colonial towns. At the same time, we hardly sympathise with the Women’s Institute’s cry for the abolition of the girls of the bar. This weird convention, which has clamoured us deaf on the equality of sexes, is femininely illogical in its attitude towards Hebe. It seems to want thf» soft places reserved for woman, and the thorny roads kept for men only. It is really a pure accident that the W.I. wants Hebe to go. Anyway, what does the W.I. know about barmaids?

The best Melbourne cattle show story that I have struck (says “Atticus”) comes to me from a Gippsland district which sent a young couple to the metropolis to see the show, and incidentally to get married. The pair evidently arc not ridiculously young, seeing that they have been engaged for over twelve years. They were on the point of being married on half a dozen occasions during that time, but something always happened to put off the ceremony. The young woman, quite a local expert in matters connected with dairy work, and poultry breeding, entered a brace of exhibits at the show, and was accompanied by her venerable father as well as her lover. They had put up at a suburban hotel, and found Melbourne so wonderful a place that they went about in a condition of half-stunned amazement during their stay'. Added to this was the tremendous elation of a great success, for the young woman’s exhibits had both won prizes. She was greeted on her return to Bog Hollow as a conquering heroine. The people flocked about her, pouring out congratulations. Great excitement prevailed, and it was quite half an hour before a relation cut in with, “Yes. but what about the marriage—how did that come off?” A sudden silence fell upon the party, the lovers looked blankly at each other for a moment. “There!" cried the bride that was to have been, “didn’t 1 say we’d forgotten something?" They had quite overlooked the Wedding.

The wholesale disinterments of Chinese that have been taking place in the South, the Acting-Premier stated in the House, are being made under a license granted by the Colonial Secretary pursuant to the Cemeteries Act. 1882. The license prescribed the conditions to be observed, and these conditions were sufficient to prev< ut any danger to the public. He had not received any comolaints in regard to the matter.

The Levin paper reports the discovery of gold-bearing quartz in the Tararua ranges, and urges that an association should be formed to carry on further prospecting. It is over thirty years ago since indications of gold were found In the Otaki and Waikanae Rivers. A very old resident, known as “Scotch Jock,” long since dead, discovered a reef in-

land from Waikanae, and went back repeatedly to locate it, but always failed to du so. He was confident to his dying day that there was gold, and “plenty of it,” in the gullies of the Tararua Ranges. “There will be a big crowd here,” he used to say, “where now there isn’t a soul, working reefs and alluvial after I am dead and gone.”

A “shandygaff statesman.” This seems to be the last name attached to that best-abused Minister of all times and in all Governments, the Irish Secretary, says a London journal. _ Most people who have played cricket on a village green have drunk shandygaff, that compound of gingerbeer—in the days when ginger-beer was ginger-beer—and ale. What its derivation can be has puzzled the students of “Notes and Queries” for the last forty years. One derivation that is absolutely impossible is that given in Ilotten’s Slang Dictionary: “Perhaps”—mark the much virtue in that word “perhaps"—“sang de Goff, the favourite mixture of one Goff, a blacksmith.” Who was Goff. and where did he blacksmith, and why did he drink blood? But possibly some reader may enlighten the world on the derivation of a word which has been raised to the dignity of a political epithet.

The Wanganui “Herald” says: — “The amount asked for by the Minister of Works for expenditure by the Wanganui River Trust Board on the improvement of the Wanganui River, viz.. £ 1500, is quite inadequate to the requirements. At least £3OOO ought to be voted for so vitally necessary a work, as that sum would enable the River Trust Board to improve the navigation of several miles of splendid water-way sufficiently to allow the light-draught river steamers to carry passengers and goods at cheaper rates than those ruling on the railways and roads of the colony.”

White Cliffs (Australia) provided a novel court case last week. A resident was charged with “unlawfully attempting to indite divers people there assembled to act unlawfully.” Ranting at a public meeting he propounded his Socialistic theories a little bit too freely. However, as he had previously borne an excellent character, the charge was reduced, and he was simply bound over to keep the speech. Free speech is all very well in theory, and great latitude is given in all parts of the British dominion; but a call to a public meeting to act contrary to the law must be noticed. The accused, who announced his willingness, if the worst came to the worst, to lead an attack on local stores of water, was told bv the bench that if the laws of the State didn t please him he should leave the State. He seems to have been lucky in escaping so lightly, but apparently the bench thought that a warning would meet the ease. The warning might be noted by a number of Australia’s professional agitators.

Orders had been issued during the American War to kill all bloodhounds, as these used to be kept for hunting slaves. One day a soldier, seizing a poodle, was carrying it off to execution. in spite of the heartrending appeals of its mistress. “Madam.” he said, "our orders are to kill every bloodhound.” “But that is not a bloodhound.” “Well, madam.” said the soldier, as he went away with it, “we cannot tell what it will grow into if we leave it behind." Mr. A. J. Massey, of Gisborne, was in Wellington for the purpose of introducing the gam« of table bowls, which he has invented. He has set up one of his tables in the Wellington Bowling Club's pavilion, and gave an exhibition upon it- recently. According to a description in the “Poverty Ray Herald,” the bowls themselves are about the size of a cricket ball, and biassed in the same way as ordinary bowls, and are made of ironbark, and then polished. The jack is about the size of a ping-pong ball. The table is about 16ft long, 46in wide, with a protected ditch at

one end, and covered with a cloth resembling that of a billiard table, the bowls running silently and smoothly. The ditch is constructed of a kind of netting, and the bottom of it is padded, so that a fair-paced drive may be made without injury to anything in a room, and as the bowls fall in a padded ditch the noise which would be caused if the bowls dropped on the floor is thus avoided. On each side of the table is a kind of light railway along which the bowls run smoothly to the starting base, thus doing away with the necessity of carrying them back to the starting place.

A typewriter expert, giving evidence in the Abrahams Customs appeal, at the sessions lately, pointed out that a peculiarity in the shilling mark on certain invoices showed that they were written with the same machine. “What is the peculiarity?” asked counsel. “It is off its feet,” promptly replied the witness. “Off its feet,” echoed the man of law; “what on earth does that mean?” “It means,” rejoined the witness, “that the stroke is thicker at the bottom than at the top.” “I should rather say that, having the heaviest side down meant that it was on its feet,” said counsel. “Or off its head.” remarked Judge Hamilton, amidst laughter.

The “beautiful blue Danube” (says an English paper) is a delusion. An observer watched the river for an hour each day during a whole year. He found the water to be brown 11 times, yellow 46, dark green 59, light green 45, grass green 25. greenish grey 69, other shades of green 110, and that it never had anything like a beautiful blue tint.

It is not easy to excuse the action of a prosecutor who actually swore an information against, a lad who stole twopence from his till. The facts, as made public, do not show that the lad was a hardened offender. The action of the police magistrate who, when the ease came before him, lectured the young culprit and sent him away after some good advice, is to be commended. But. it is a matter for regret that, a conviction was recorded against the lad. If at any time any charge should be made against him, the fact of this conviction will be remembered. Let justice be done though the heavens fall is a heathen maxim after all, and one which. is sometimes sadly misused. We do not want the heavens brought

down every time a youngster commits a petty theft. An immediate thrashing from the person offended would have been a satisfactory punishment. It is by such unwise action as was taken ia this case that gaolbirds are made, a

A resident of Eketahuna has a small large family (says the “Express"). One son stands 6ft. sin. in his stockings, another 6ft. 4in., and a third 6ft. 3in.

A very well-known American lady, after visiting the Kaiser, pronounces that versatile monarch “the brightest, and, I think, the smartest and most accomplished man I ever met, and, to use what you English call an Americanism, ‘jtist- sweet t’ He talked in English, and I wish I could speak my own tongue half as correctly; it’s one thing to speak a language, and another to jest in it. and the Emperor was as ready in that way as my husband himself.” “What little jest of His Majesty’s do you remember best, may I ask?” “The one that took my husband’s fancy most —and made Mr. Morgan- smile—had reference to our ocean trip. His Majesty asked me how I liked the Ger- , man Ocean. I said I didn’t like any * ocean particularly, and the German Ocean had been very rough. ‘Sorry,* said the Emperor; ‘the next time you come I will pour oil on the waters—Standard oil.’ ”

When one thinks that any bee that walks out of its cradle, pale, perhaps, but perfect, knows at once all that is to be known of the life and duties of a bee, complicated as they are, and comprising the knowledge of an architect, a wax modeller, a nurse, a ladies’ maid, a housekeeper, a tourist agency, and a field marshal, and then compares that vast knowledge with the human baby who is looked upon as a genius if it gurgles “Goo-goo” and tries to gouge its mother’s ej'es out with its finger, one realises that the boasted superiority of the human brain depends largely on human vanity.

A Russian admiral has invented a sounding instrument which, it is said, will give warning of the approach of torpedoes and submarine boats.

The emus were lately reported to be coming to the populated parts of South Australia from the dry northeastern plains in search of food and water.

A policeman called at the sports ground of a leading school and inquired for one of the teachers. Being Informed that the object of his quest was not present he volunteered the information, “Oh, it’js nothing very important. He has neglected to have the baby registered. That is all. I will call again.” The happy possessor of the baby was naturally rallied a good deal about this. “It’s the wife, you know,” he explained. “She won't have the child christened, So I suppose I shall have to pay the fine.” “Oh, I don’t know,” suggested a young unmarried teacher, “could you not let them take the baby?”

•While the Royal Arthur was at Suva (writes “Dora” from Sydney) the mosquitoes played havoc among officers and men, raising great blotches and swellings on their faces. Those who smoked least suffered most. Had they known they would •have followed the example of some of the Royal Arthur’s commission (now in the Charybdis at Newfoundland), who, to prevent the same thing, cover their faces and hands ■with a mixture of tar and oil. The ship’s company, nevertheless, got some enjoyment out, of their trip, though the rain came down in torrents for four days out of the seven they were in port. Various “functions” were held, including the Fijian Club ball, a citizens’ ball to the Administrator, prior to his departure for Levuka, an At Home on the flagship, given by the Admiral. At Government House there was a garden party and a musical At Home, at which dances and fire-walking were performed by the natives. The war dances were gone through by Samoans and Solomon Islanders, who remained after the Coronation festivities. The fire-walking was performed by natives from the island of Bora (the only natives who ever undertake the ceremony). It consists in making a huge fire of leaves and then placing stones on it. After the fire has burnt steadily for two days the stones attain white heat. The natives walk on the hot stones, chanting a dirge, and appearing not to mind the heat at all. The flagship’s officers tried to imitate the natives in climbing trees for cocoanuts, but found they could make no headway. The Royal Arthur is very proud of the spears and other weapons decorating . the ward-room, brought from Fiji by offivers.

A Wellington resident has received a letter from a miner who recently left the West Coast (South Island) for South Africa, which gives a very discouraging account of things there from a labour point of view, says the “Post.” The writer was earning 7/ a day at Durban repairing railway carriages and trucks, but that wage was by no means general, the great majority of unskilled labourers in the railway service receiving 5/ per day, although good carpenters and bricklayers receive 15/ and 20/. The railway men had just been on strike for better pay, and after being “out” for eight days, went to work on receiving a promise of a shilling per day extra, pending arbitration. At the date of writing it was not possible for workmen to get to Johannesburg unless they produced a letter promising immediate employment, and signed by some military officer. Things are much worse at Johannesburg than in Durban, wages being only 5/ per day, while board costs £ 7 10/ per month, as against £5 in the latter place. The writer adds that new arrivals are streaming into the country from all parts of the world, and there are at least fifty applicants for any vacancy, no matter what the employment. “The more references you bring the better if you want to get on.” In conclusion New Zealanders are warned not to tempt fortune in South Africa unless they have means.

A late Christchurch High School boy has (says the “Press”) just completed his career as medical student at Glasgow University. Dr. John Guthrie, jun., eldest son of Dr. Guthrie, late of this city, was “capped” M.B.C.M. on July 15th, and received •commendation,” thus going through kia complete course of study with

very satisfactory honours. He has been appointed Demonstrator of Anatomy to Professor Clelland, of Glasgow University, for a year, and in consequence has had to postpone two hospital appointments—one at the Royal Infirmary, as resident physician for six months; the other for the same period at the Western Infirmary, Glasgow, as resident surgeon. Dr. Guthrie will therefore be engaged at the university and hospitals for the next two years. After that time he will be free to make a career for himself.

A recent Canadian invention consists of bricklaying by machinery instead of by hand. The machine, according to a consular report, worked by two men and a lad, will lay 300 to 600 bricks per hour. Door and window spaces cause only a slight delay. The machine is suited for all plain work, such as walls, sheds, mills, factories, rows of cottages, piers of bridges, etc. Considerable pressure is put on the bricks, and it is claimed that the work is more firmly done than by hand. The invention will do the work of six or seven skilled bricklayers, and it is believed that a machine adapted to build a factory covering about sixty feet by forty feet could be put on the market for £lOO. The apparatus can be readily worked after a fortnight’s instruction.

The Duke and Duchess of Orleans have returned to London. They left it some couple of years ago because the Duke, having endorsed a scandalous and disgusting cartoon of Queen Victoria done by a Frenchman, whom, to call an artist, would be to insult an honourable word, found himself “sent to' Lord Coventry, to whom no one ever speaks” as a witty pseudo French translation once put it. The cartoon was done in the Boer interests. probablj r paid for by some of the Boer funds which were being scattered in Europe for such purposes. That the Duke’s offence, for which he subsequently expressed regret, has been condoned by the statement of King Edward VTL, that the door has been reopened to him, argues well for that British good temper which is always able to control itself. The Duke’s regret was caused most likely rather by the consequences to himself of his almost blackguardly act than by sincere repentance. Though remembering the long asylum which he and his family obtained in England, he should have felt some penitence. The French government. to whom the Duke is an enemy, cannot complain of his social restoration in England. The cartoon which caused his downfall, was only one of a series of filthy and insulting productions against the British, and Queen Victoria, with which Paris was full at the time, and which were permitted by the French Government.

The reckless cyclist was again in evidence in Christchurch last week, when the alarm of fire was given, and that a fatality was not recorded is surprising. At the Bank of New Zealand corner one engine was fast overtaking the other, the cyclist in question riding between them. Hearing the second engine coming he drew out. and came so close to the engine that the pole was only a few inches off his body, and had he not been going at a fairly fast rate he would in all probability have been run over, as the driver of the engine would have found it impossible to draw up his horses in a short distance. Cyclists riding to fires are prone to be somewhat careless, and should take warning in time before one of their number meets with serious injury.

It’s an ill wind that blows nobody good, and the shearers’ strike is regarded as quite a godsend by a class of bushmen on Sydney side. The strikers in the vicinity of big runs, working on the principle that might is right, carefully kidnap any nonunionists who are likely to spoil the unionists* chances of success by going to work at the pastoralists’ rates. The kidnapped men are usually won over by arguments, protestation and appeals, with a certain suggestion of mischief at the back of all if moral suasion is not successful. The aim is

to win the sympathies of the nonunionists, and consequently the alleged prisoners are royally treated in the union camps, and are boarded and lodged gratis. The result is made apparent in a Riverina rabbit inspector’s story. “I met old Tim the Whaler, the biggest beat and most hopeless loafer along the Murray; he was looking quite decent, and carrying a shearer’s kit. ‘What,’ I said, ‘you’re not come down to work, have you, Tim?’ ‘Not so low as that,’ he said. ‘I am making for Pentlands. I’m a non-union shearer.’ ‘But the unionists are in camp there. They won’t let you through.’ ‘Of course they won't*, I’m going up to be took prisoner. So long.’ Half the sun-downers In the country are now ‘prisoners’ in the unionist camps,” adds the bushman, “and having a high old time. They're being kept from work by force, but you couldn’t drive ’em to it with a bullock whip.”

No artiste has ever quitted England under such conditions of enthusiasm and distinction as those associated with the farewell to Madame Melba. A royal saloon was attached to the special train for her use, and the centre platform was kept clear for the large and distinguished party who came to bid her farewell. Her carriage was massed with a most remarkable display of flowers and fruit, and other parting gifts took the form of a diamond and turquoise necklet, a superb diamond ring, silver and jewel-set frames, several diamond-set gold pencils and purses, and numerous diamond trinkets. In fact the many notable people who compose her circle of private friends vied with each other in the bestowal of costly presents. All the great society personages who have closely associated themselves with Melba’s career were either present at the station or represented by deputy.

The tour of the Australians in England closed last week. Two bowlers have obtained more than 100 wickets, but Jonah has not been given a chance lately. Darling and Hill both topped the 1000 runs, but the latter is not nearly so far forward as his friends expected him to'be, and Trumpet has entirely eclipsed him.

The name of the late Lord Cheylesmore has lately been much before the London public. It was announced a few days ago that he had left his magnificent collection of mezzotints and engravings to the British Museum. The first Lord Cheylesmore had a splendid collection of paintings. The second, lately deceased, was distinguished for his gallery of engraved portraits. The present peer is one of the most eminent of living authorities on war medals. During the past ten years there has been an enormous and sudden increase in the. price of mezzotints. The possession of these works is becoming quite a fashion. Some of the prints

which the late baron purchased for £BO to £2OO are now worth ten timea those amounts, especially the engravings after Reynolds. Besides the interest attaching to this bequest Lord Cheylesmore’s name has also appeared in the law courts. All the parties interested in the late peer's estate appeared before the Probate Court this 'week to ask that the lawyer’s draft of a will made by Lord Cheylesmore some years ago should be accepted for probate. The actual will was stolen by a train thief named George Smith, at Waterloo station, some years ago, and from that time to his death the late peer was mentally incapable of making a new will. Smith, the train thief, who is now serving a term of penal servitude, appeared as a witness before the Court. He admitted that he had appropriated Lord Cheylesmore’s dressing bag, and finding in it a number of papers, including a will, which were of no value to him, he had destroyed them. The Court thereupon pronounced for the solicitor’s draft of the will.

An interesting coincidence, recalling a story which was told of the King some months ago, has just come to light. The King, then Prince of Wales, it will be remembered, was one day leaving Marlborough House on foot, when he saw one of the maid-ser-vants about to be removed in an ambulance carriage to a private hospital to be operated on for an internal malady. The Prince walked over to the ambulance and spoke a few cheering words to the girl, assuring her that if she would be brave and endeavour to keep up her spirits she would soon be back again entirely cured. It was a “life or death” operation, and the girl afterwards confided to her friends that nothing could have given her greater courage to undergo the ordeal than “the master's” confident and cheering assurance.

The history of her case justified the Prince’s optimism, and in due course she returned to her work in the Royal household. It has now transpired that the ailment from which the girl Buffered was appendicitis, and when recently the King fell ill she was among the first to learn that the. operation which His Majesty had to undergo was similar to her own.

Queen, who had, like the King, taken the deepest interest in the girl’s case, personally learned from her the details of her treatment and recovery. There can be little doubt that both His Majesty and the Queen accepted the inevitable with all the greater confidence because of this living testimony to complete success of a similar operation, and to permanently improved health arising from it.