The Cardiff Times

{ < AMBER ALE, 9 PALE ALE, \4>>X stout. Vt. fr IN CASK J TOYING AGENTS N5 /> WATTLE A Apply for ^eg BOiA AT TERMS, &c. —— P STORES AND OFFICES— at PENARTH-ROAD yf\ jj| Wear the Harannah Training Ship) •>^SK CARDIFF. I 31523

OETZMANN & COef 62, 64, 67, 69, 71, 73, 75, 77, and 79. HAMPSTEAD-ROAD, LONDON, W. ALL CARPETS MADE UP FREE OF CHARGE. FOR CONDITIONS UPON WHICH GOODS ARE SENT CARRIAGE PAID PLEASE SEE ILLUSTRATED GUIDE TO HOUSE FURNISHING. „ Contents :—Complete Estimates for Furnishing at £ 120 and £ 250, with full-page illustrations; Notes on Furniture, by M. F. Frith, late of Lady's JJJ Pictorial. Articles on Artisiic Furnishing reprinted from the Lady." 642 pages, and over 2,000 illustra- tions, with description and price of everv item required in Complete House Furnishing. GRATIS AVft DAiT ITT? I? li" -wT

j WORKMEN'S TOPICS. BY MABON. SLIDING SCALE COMMITTEE, Now that the Miners' Conference is over there is no further objection to publicly discuss this settlement, and to make clear the position of the ten representatives of the workmen who at the "neeting of the Sliding Scale Joint Com- mittee, held at Westminister Palace 80",1, London, March 28th, agreed to Recommend to the workmen employed In and at the Monmouthshire and South Wales Ooalowners' Associated Collieries and others, whose ftgee are indirectly governed by the Sliding Scale arrangement thac the Sliding Scale agree- ment shall continue in force until the 30th of September in next year, and henceforth until ? titber party to it gives six months' notice to ter- minate the same. The principal point that seems to be raised Igainst us by our colleague who refused to join with ua in the action we took, and who further- more charged us with cowardice for engaging to tive that recommendation and others is that we had no right to do so. But a more childish and absurd plea could not Well be put forward. fust fancy the humihating position for eleven representatives to be in to pretend to represent body of workmen without power to give them recommendation that even committed them to k nothing. But although, when in London, I was "moog the few that held the opinion that we bad 00 power to commit the workmen to any definite Agreement before the employers withdrew the notices, I now find, by reference to the minute- book of our secretary, that the larger number of our colleagues (who held that we had received plenary powers to make the best bargain we sould) were right, a resolution to that effect having been passed at our last conference at Cardiff. In the official report of the same con- ference, and whose chief manipulator was our friend Mr I. Evans (who, by-the-bye, is also reported to have said that he really considered that the workmen's representatives had gone further than they should have gone in Pledging themselves for a period of 18 months, even Wing for granted that it was only a jecommendation on their Part, ") will be found the following paragraph There was a furthef recommendation given by the conference to the workmen in general—that the miners' repreaentttives on the Sliding Scale Committee seek Mother interview with the Mftployers, and that tisy be empowered to make the best arrangement hey can." Reference to the reprt of that same conference Prill also find the repieentative of the South Wales butty News, evidentlytfter conferring with some of the delegates presnt, reports as follows :— lb was deemed desirole that the ballot papers should be printed an seat out as speedily as Possible, for should te workmen be found to favour a Conciliation Board another delegate conference would hav at once to be convened. On the other hand, shoid the majority favour the continuance of the Scalt no such conference will be needed, and the representatives of the work- tnen will be deemed o have received planary Powers to reopen negotiations with the employers, and to btain the best terms they possibly can." The Sliding Scale members were asked t. draft a circular, to be sent with the ballot papa to the collieries giving direction as to the votig, and reporting the recommendations of that onference." For that purpose the Sliding Seal* members held another meeting at Cardiff the fobwing day, and issued forthwith the following ciralar "To the Miners and other Colliery Workmen of South Wales and Mnmouthshire. "Fellow WorkmeD,-In u=rdance with the decision of the conference of representatives appointed by you to confer ith us as to the beet way of proceeding in the impnding crisis, we are to inform you that we have ben instructed to ask you to take a ballot on the follwing issue:- "1. For withdrawing notfe and continuing, for the time being, the presenScale. 2. For a Conciliation Boa). Ballot papers accompany ais circular. II Furthermore, we are to itorm you that a vote to show the opinion was tain at the conference with the view of recommendg you how to vote upon the above issue, and wh the result that 62 votes were in favour of No. and 35 in favour of No. 2, and we would therefe ask you that in recording your vote to take fea recommendation into your serious consideratio" This was signed by a the representa- tives, including D. Monn Now what was the recommendation sferred to which was decided by 62 voteeto 35? Accord- ing to the official reporb lrawn up by Mr Isaac Evans, "That the milrs' representatives no the Sliding Scale Comittee seek another interview with the employe, and that they be empowered to make the be arrangement they can." In the resolution pasli by the conference the same words were used. towever, the word- ing of the official report notes it clear enough that the representatives at t conference recom- mended to the workmen thatieir representatives on the Sliding Scale shoul.have full power to make the very best arrangennts that they could with the employers. The cialar issued made it further clear that the esolution at the conference was represented tQuestiou No. 1 on the ballot paper. Thereforat becomes abun- dantly clear that the asserms that the ten miners' representatives exceed their powers in agreeing to recommend to thforkmen that the Sliding Scale should contis in force for 18 raouthei preserving the right either partyjgiving the necessary notice to then >rminate it at the end of the 12 months, viz., tllst of April, 1896, teprosents only the prejudict opinions of those who make them. In effect, -at was done was exactly the same as if the:had agreed for a definite period of 12 monthsvith the right of then giving six months' notit to terminate the same. In fact, though not )rded in the same way, it was in effect, with rard to the length of the agreement, exactly 16 sam.e as was done in the beginning of 189 in the agreement of that year with this Bignifict difference that then the representatives sipd the Scale and committed the men to it, wboas at present they only agreed to recommend; the workmen to allow the Scale to continue 1 the same length of time. Moreover, when the mi surrounding this matter has been cleared awr all misrepresenta- tions and misleading referent to it removed, it will be seen that all that %s been done is in effect to simply recommend 3 men to lengthen the agreement by six monthnly then it would have been as if nothing hfio been done in the matter. When the workme representatives at the conference, and the worien themselves by ballot, agreed to send the re^entatives back to the employers to reopen negations and make the best bargain they coulfor them, no one dreamt for a moment thanobices could be banded in on the first of Apro terminate that which had not yet been agd upon. Hence the first opportunity to p notice would be on the 1st of September, is year. That can still be done, if the workmen'smmittee so desire it, on the 1st of April ne Thus extending what, under any circumstaas, would be a positive agreement for 12 mots into a positive agreement for 18 months. -ked, candidly, I don't believe that any marsspeoially anyone that had experience how for? agreements had been arrived at, could for moment (hope, or even think, that the renewal (he old Scale upon the present occasion could hi been done at a day's less lengthened period tl it has been done. That evidently is not the glance, that it has been done at all is much TIt likely to be the tame point by those that opo it. It is well known that where were endeavour- ing to agree upon the termf the agreement of April, 1893, the employers b, as on mostly all previous occasions, ere exceedingly strong on the length the agreement." foMpAcst pltoe. they, were Qee&ogiK. Moioofl that the workmen's representatives should not again give notice to terminate the Scale without first placing the matter before the men. They were also very strong upon having the agreement signed for three years. Many hours were spent in discussing these points. Upon the firsb point Mr David Morgan, speaking on our behalf, gave his word to the employers that another notice to terminate the Scale should not be given without first seeing and consulting with the men them- selves, and that no early rupture should take place. Upon the other point it was urged on our behalf that if the employers agreed to have the agreement signed for 12 months positive, with the option to either party then to give six months' notice to terminate it, then we on the other hand would agree to recommend to the men that the Scale should have a lengthened existence and, it I remember correctly, the chairman, in accepting our terms on behalf of his side of the committee, said that they would accept the 12 months' agreement from the 1st of April, 1893, subject to six months' notice, with the assurance already given by the workmen's representatives to do all they could to avoid giving notice for a length of time." That then, with regard to the length of the agreement, is practically what has been done now. It is evident, therefore, that there is in principle no difference between what has been done on this occasion and what was done in March, 1893-juab two years ago Moreover, there is one-and the principal- point in connection with this affair that has been lost sight of or conveniently ignored by those that object to the action of the representatives on this occasion-the fact that it was essentially necessary to take the course we did before the employers would agree to withdraw their notice at all, a decided majority of them being adverse to taking that step, only on one condition, viz., that the Scale of 1882 be reverted to. Conse- quently, if the ten of us had not courageously taken the step we did aDd faced the tem- porary unpopularity that we knew, the timorous act of our colleague would bring upon us a result which would be dreadful to contemplate. The action saved a lock-out, saved more than a hundred thousand workmen from being forced back to the ;Scale of 1882, and therefore lose 1% per cent. on every shilling in the advanced price of coal; yea, saved at least the major part of half a million people from suffering the pangs of hunger, want, and degradation. Talk about cowardice after that, no to men such as these was not given the spirit of fear, but of power, of love, and of a sound mind."

Musical and Eisteddfodic. BY MAELGWYN. Mountain Ash Eisteddfod. Next Monday's Eisteddfod at Mountain Ash promises to be the greatest event of the kind ever held in the little colliery town, and it is not too much to say that the committee who have pro- moted it will deserve all the success that their venture is likely to get, and more. The amount of energy they have thrown into their work has been tre- mendous. The secretary, Mr D. T. Evans, and a few kindred spirits have been here, there, and everywhere attending to the interests of the great gathering, and he must indeed be a benighted individual who does not know that next Monday a big Eisteddfod will be held in Mountain Ash. Of course it was not to be supposed that in all they did the committee would obtain the approval of everybody; there are plenty of people ready to tell you that this arrange- ment or that selection has been ill-advised and is sure to work out detrimentally. Bub on the whole it must be owned the promoters of the Eisteddfod have done very well indeed, and re- membering that for the most part they are inex- perienced men nobody can reasonably withhold from them a big measure of praise for what they have done. The chief choral competition, upon which the greatest amount of interest was wont to be bestowed, will on this occasion be only a matter of secondary attention. The refusal of both Dowlais and Rhymney to compete, and the failure to brmg down the Leeds Festival Choir, have ieft the prognostications which were openly spoken at the time of the last Treorky Eisteddfod in a fair way of being fulfilled. Only three choirs, viz., Trecynon, Mountain Ash, and Merthyr, have entered, and beyond the radius of the "hills" district the contest is not likely to evoke much interest. But if this particular competition is likely to fall flat, there are a host of others which will be watched with the keenest interest, and which will rouse the spirit of rivalry—not violent antagonism let us hope-to the highest pitch. The handsome prizes offered to juvenile choirs have brought no fewer than nine candidates into the field. Most of the choirs bear the old stereo- typed designations, such as Abercanaid Juvenile Choir, Clydach Vale Band of Hope Choir, Tredegar Children's Choir, and Treharris Juvemre Choir. But let me, in thought at least, grasp the hands of the good people who have imparted a spirit of originality to the thing by sending in such pretty entries as Vochriw Minstrels, Gobaibh y Rhos Little Fairies, the Village Children, and—prettiest name of all- Precious Jewels. The last four hail respectively from Mountain Ash and Ebbw Vale- two from each place. The male voice choral competition prize has tempted the following choirs—some of which are already well- known victors-into the arena, viz. --Cyfartlif. Music Lovers, conducted by Mr J. M. Webber Trecynon Glee Society, conducted by Mr J. Morris; Abercarn Choir, conducted by Mr. Stephen Allsopp Nantymoel Glee Choir, con- ducted by Mr J. Phillips; Ebbw Vale Choir, conducted by Mr George Harris Penrhiwceiber Glee Society, led by Mr S. Davies Mountain Ash Choir, conducted by Mr Hugh Ellis and the Aberdare Choir, led by Mr D. Phillips. The lesser competitions have brought out an enormous entry. The soprano soloists number 20 the contraltos, 25 the male altos, 16 the tenors, 23 the basses. 25 and the pianoforte soloists (two classes), 63. These figures must be highly satisfactory, and we who have for years fought for a due recognition of the importance of the alto voice cannot but feel delighted, for the above list shows that the female altos out-number the tenors. I don't recall a case where the same thing occurred before. The ambulance competition to which I referred a little while ago has brought in the names of 20 different teams, and the elocutionists number 25. The band competitions promise to eclipse, numerically, all others that have hitherto been held in South Wales. The brass band entries number 17, and the drum and fife bands 16. Both these lists include some of the best known bands in Wales. The Brass Band Association has never appeared stronger than at present, for in addition to the imposing show that its members will make at Mountain Ash, it will also have a good number of representatives at the Abergavenny Eisteddfod on the same day. The artistic and miscellaneous competitions at Mountain Ash have brought in a total entry of close upon 250 names. Thus in every single department there is a colossal entry, and the prospects of the Eisteddfod as a competitive meeting pure and simple are exceedingly bright. Practically all the residents of the Cynon Valley will be present, for up to last Friday no fewer than 3,000 tickets had been sold. It is a committee like that—one that does not mind a bit of hard work—that merits the warmest admiration of the true eisteddfodwr. Let us hope their Herculean efforts will be crowned with deserved success,

Who's thab your husband is taking in,' dear ? I really don't know. He's done nothing but take people in since he took me in,, and I doii'fc bother about it now."

WELSH GLEANINGS. In the small town of Bridgend no less a sum than between £10,000 andjj £12,000 has been paid for erecting and restoring Nonconformist churches within the last 10 years. ♦The Rev. W. Davies, C.M., of Graig Chapel, Merthyr, has accepted the unanimous invitation sent him from Bethel Church, Melinorybhan, Neath, and proposes entering upon his duties early in June. The South Wales Argus, referring to the striking success of the Rev. Elwyn Thomas's ministry ab Newport, says, it is an inspiring sight to see the deacons puzzled where to find seats for the people on Sunday evenings." The church seats 1,200. The rectory of Kemeys Inferior, vacant by the death of the late Rev. Chancellor Woods, M.A., has been offered by the patron to the Rev. W. H. Williams, jun., M.A., the present rector of Langston, near Caerleon, by whom it has been accepted. A marriage was solemnised at Bridgend last week (says the Sridgend Chronicle) and each of the five males present held the same Christian name. These were all Thomas's. The registrar was Thomas, the minister, the bridegroom, the bride's father, and the bride's brother, who is a junior. The Senate of the Welsh University have con- cluded their four days' sitting at Bangor under the presidency of the Vice-Chancellor, Principal Viriamu Jones. The business transacted was the drafting of the syllabus, &c., for the degree courses of the new University. On Thursday night Principal and Mrs Reichel held a reception at the College, which was largely attended. Holywell water, it is said, is very good for broken crockery. A person had the misfortune to break into fragments a much-prized jug. The owner sent for two quarts of Holywell water. She put the fragments into the water and the jug at once became whole as before, and there was not the slightest indication where the pieces had been joined. If anybody does not believe this miracle (says P.W." in the Cambrian News) he is no better than a heathen. In the present number of Young Wales is pub- lished an ode composed by Mr Lewis Morris, for the occasion of the laying of the foundation stone of the New Hall of Residence, Aberystwyth, March 1st, 1895. We append one of the beauti- ful verses :— Once I found woman's heart Dwarfed the swift woman's mind Divorced, they pined apart. Now heart and brain combined, A loftier height shall reach. Each soul that blossoms here Still through a widening sphere, An it has learnt shall teach. Be glad, dear Wales, 'tis spring to-day, 'tis spring. A curious point under the Local Government Act has been raised at a, meeting of the Denbigh- shire Districb Council. Mr Grimsley, the clerk to the Union, claimed the clerkship to the District Council by virtue of the former office. Mr Wallis Davies, the clerk to the Abergele Highway Board, which has now been merged in the Districb Council, advised the board, on the other hand, that they had discretion to appoint their own clerk. The Board adopted this view and unanimously elected Mr Wallis-Davies, Mr Grimsley protesting against the appointment as illegal. Mr Watkin Mills writes from America that he has more work than he can comfortably get through up to the third week in June. He has promised to take a third professional trip across the Atlantic next spring. He will return to England in time for the autumn festivals, this year held in Gloucester (the Three Choirs), Leeds, and Cardiff. The American Press from Boston to Chicago are enthusiastic in his praise. At Boston, which is conceded to be at the top of all culture, one eminent musical critic said they had never heard such a perfect rendition of the solo "Why do the nations," etc., from the "Messiah." The Marquis of Bute's favourite project of transferring the Scottish Roman Catholic College at Blairs, near Aberdeen, co St. Andrews, and connecting it in some way with the University, has, "fter mature deliberation," been rejected by the Pope and the Propaganda. The Marquis is understood ( says the Leeds Mercury) not to be a prime favourite with the Roman Catholic clerical leaders, either at Rome or in Scotland his munificence to the Roman Church being regarded as hardly atoning for his independence of judgment, and his association with Protestant divines. But his failure as regards Blairs will save him some £16,000. Lady Charlotte SchreibSr left unfinished at her death a month or two ago her task of illustrating the history of playing cards" from the re- sources of her own collections. Two folio volumes have already appeared under her editorship, and with the co-operation of Sir A. W. Franks, of the British Museum. It is this gentleman who has undertaken to superintend the preparation of the third and final volume of the work, which will embrace the cards of all countries—so far as they are represented in the Schreiber collection be- queathed to the museum—other than England, Scotland, Holland, Belgium, France, and Ger- many. Through the commendable efforts of Mr Charles A. Jones, the town of Carnarvon will in a few days be formally presented with Mr Phil Morris's celebrated picture of Edward I. Demanding Allegiance to his Infant Son," which was exhibited at the Carnarvon National Eisteddfod last year. The Eisteddfod Committee, ab the initiation of Mr Jones, promised a handsome subscription provided he collected the remainder necessary to purchase the picture. Mr Jones's appeal fell somewhat short of what he had anti- cipated, however, and on learning this Mr Phil Morris generously agreed to waive a considerable proportion of the purchase money, with the result that the picture becomes the property of the town To those who remember the highly important experiments which were conducted a year or two ago by Mr Praece, the chief electrical engineer of the Post Office, between the mainland and the Flat Holm, it will be interesting to know that the cable between Oban and the Isle of Mull being out of order, messages have been transmitted across the water without any connecting apparatus whatever. This result has been achieved by means of the well-known telegraphic phenomenon called induction. A wire is erected on the mainland opposite to and parallel with a portion of the telegraph line on the island. The message which it is desired to communicate to Mull is transmitted over the wire on the mainland in the ordinary way. The signals thus trans- mitted pass at the same time over the parallel line in the Isle of Mull, and telegraphic operators there read them by means of a telephone. This fairy-like achievement of science is not by any means novel as an experiment, but we believe it is the first time it has been turned to account in the praotical, everyday work of telegraphy. Great credit is due to Mr Preeoe and his assistants on the engineering staff of the Post Office for their ability and readiness to translate into actual fact the latest abstract discoveries. The current number of Franciscan Annals, which is published at Pantasaph, Holywell, con. tains the following note :—" Wales and the Welsh are at present an ecclesiastical problem both to English politicians and prelates of the Church. Whilst Lord Rosebery is seeking to disestablish the Anglican hierarchy in the Princi- pality, the Holy Father and the Catholic Bishops of England are anxious to establish the Catholio Church upon a firmer footing than it is at present among the Welsh people. Roman cor- respondents speak of a Welsh diocese, or rather mission, governed by a vicar-apostolic. For Franciscans the religious fate of Wales has a peculiar historical interest. In olden days the sons of St. Francis were most popular ..as wen with the people as with the native princes of Wales. OWen Glen- dower so revered the friars that he gave their houses the right of sanctuary, and made the friary his home whenever he happened in his progresses to be near one. The last Catholio Bishop of St. Asaph was a Franciscan. And in these latter days of Catholio revival the first Franciscan monastery established in Great) Britain was that of Pantasaph, among the Welsh hills of Flintshire. May the faith again flourish in Wales, and^he^ot^ of St. Frappis ba "ipffinT

I THE HOUSEHOLD, i I f ROCADE3 surely were never so beautiful orso cheap as they are at the present moment it makes one positively oug for new devices, or utilising their :c Vttiy subsliance, in fact we are apb to multiply all sorts of little articles for which we have no actual use, simply for the pleasure of seeing these dainty j-bits of colour amongst our sur- roundings. I have a friend who is exceedingly natty in the way of turning out little artistic home-made articles, and when I go to see her I always make a point of looking round to see the last addition to her household chattels. The other day she did not wait for me to make my usual suggestions of a voyage of dis- covery, but with much pride took ine at once to her bedroom and showed me a series of dainty little articles made en suite out of Louis XV. furmture brocade. These consisted of, firstly, a shallow tray, twelve inches by nine, made simply out of a cardboard box of that size, with the sides cut down neatly. They only stood up for little under an inch all the way round. The corners were strengthened by the addition of a strip of strong brown papor pasted round them, PKKTTY ACCESSORIES. very slightly wadded, and the whole was neatly covered with brocade. This made a charming receptacle for a pair of brushes, and a narrow pocket placed along the inside of the upper part made a place for the comb. Mext came a hairpin box about half the size of the other and madewith a lid so as to keep the dust out; inside were a number of divisions for small and large hairpins, and iu the lid itself was a little stuffed ridge like a pin-cushion, in which various ornamental, hair- pins reposed in the utmost comfort. The third article was an ordinary collar-box covered so that there was a pincushion on the top, and the con- tents might be either collars or, if little divisions were inserted, they could be used for various every-day trinkets. Now, it is not an easy matter to cover these boxes neatly, but it is not at all difficulb to do it very effectively if you only buy a little fanciful galloon about half an inch wide, something reproducing the various colours in the brocade with perhaps a touch of tinsel here and there about it would be best, and with the help of this for binding and covering up various joins a most effective little set may be made very inex. pensively and with but little trouble. Anyone who has the slightest affection for their ornamental china will certainly endeavour to wash it themselves, and, as I know to my cost, this is a somewhat messy proceeding. One presses into the service all the trays m the house, but, sooner or later, they get flooded, and everything gets wet all over again, at least that is my expe- rience. Other people may be more fortunate, but I daresay that there will be some who will agree with me, and will be ylad to hear of a new patent folding table. It can be very easily collapsed so as to take up next to no space, and, as the little drawing shows, can be set upon any table without making any great mess. The bowl in which the things are washed will be sufficient to catch the drippings from the china as it is put there to dry, and another thing about ib is that if you are in rooms or a particularly smaU flat, and therefore space is of the utmost OLOSED. IN USK. FOR WASHING CHINA. value, you can do all sorts of things by aid of this littM table, and yet it is easily folded Logether and stood in a corner. The great thing in wash- ing china is first of all to make it thoroughly clean, which, if it be very fragile, is better managed by dissolving packets of powdered soap in the water instead of rubbing it on. Then place it to drain, first take off the worst part of the wet with one cloth, dry with another, and polish with a third absolutely dry. If care be taken to carry out these simple instructions, china will last clean double or treble the time than when it is put up in a slighbly damp condition, which happens a great deal ottener than we imagine. ETHEII.

Not a Common Deg. Gentleman (to dog-dealer): I gave you a high price for this dog last week because you warranted it to be a good house-dog, My house was broken into last night, and the dog never even barked. Dog-dealer No, sir I quite believes yer. He was too busy lookin' at the burglars, so as to be able to identify 'em, to even think of barkin'. If you was out with this 'ere dog, and was to meet them burglars he'd know 'em in a minute. He ain't no common barking dog he's a reg'ler 'bective, an' worth 'is weight in gold, be is. <

Bos CONDOCTOB Here, I say it we do have to show er bill o' fare my bus ain't er eating house! house!

¡ BIBLICAL ITJCM.Teacher Last Sunday, dear child, we read about Joseph and Pharaoh. What was done to Joseph ?-Toiiiniy He was made to sit on the roof. Why, Tommy, what do you mean by such nonsense ?" Well, you read ,tI8RÀfQQJ¡.-o.PQlOf 1,

THE QUEEN Of HOLLAND. The approaching visit of the young Queen of Holland will be quite a private affair notwith- standing that our own Sovereign has in an informal way offered to place one of the royal residences at the disposal of the young lady and her mother Queen Wilhel- mina. who has ruled the stout Dutchmen for five years, is not fifteen bill August. It is assumed by those who should know that the Queen Regent is arranging in ad- vanoe for her a matrimonial alli- ance which shall ance which shall strengethen the throne of her nt. THIC YOUNG QUEEN OF HOLLAND. cestors, but although there is much in common between England and Holland since the days of 1688, when the Stadtholder came over here to dis- place the Stuarts, there is no grandson of her Majesty residing m England who as Prince Consort of the Netherlands could do more than be an ornamental figurehead. There may be dark days coming when Holland's unique sea- board, already envied by Germany, wili have to be fought for, and it is far more probable that the Council of State at the Hague would seek to marry their Queen to a son of one of the German Princes. The little Queen is decidedly plain, but haR a sweet modest expression and a look of con- siderable intelligence. She bears a strong family resemblance to her aunt, the Duchess of Albany, and has the latter's intense love for fine needle- work. She speaks, in addition to her own tongue, French, English, German, and Italian, and is an accomplished horsewoman, besides being an expert swimmer.

ENGLHND AND FRANCE. M. HANOTAUX. The speech of M. Hanotaux in the French Sen- ate in reply to the observations of Sir Edward Grey was digni- fied, and In ac- cordance with what one has a right to expect from the Foreign Minister of a great nation (says a corres- pondent), but it was far from satisfactory, as ic simply corro- borates and ac- centuates all the worst features put forward in Sir Edward's statement. To begin with, M. Hanotaux regards the Niger territory as simply in the possession of an English private trading company, and in no way reoognises any special English Govern- ment rights there except "those which may become the subject of friendly discussion." He therefore considers the mere fact of two French expeditions exploring Niger territory as a matter which is perfectly fair and equitable. Turning to the Nile, he declines to recognise British maps, and admits that a French expedition has started to explore those regions. The situation, therefore, so far from being cleared up, is considered in London club circles grave to an alarming degree. What makes it so very awkward is the knowledge that our own Cabinet, although apparently ex- ceedingly firm, is engaged with many difficult and controversial questions, and can soaroely afford the time to enter upon delicate and dispu- tatious matters with another Power. That France has reached high-water mark in the way of aggressiveness has long been obvious to the most casual onlooker that no nation in Europe, not even excepting Russia, would be otherwise than pleased to see her checked, is equally obvious. What remains to be said is that the tortuous diplomatic methods of Cabinets and Bureaux generally end in patchwork only, and the patchwork is ruthlessly torn to pieces the moment a rupture begins.

ONE OF THE DANGERS.—Miss Shorthair Don't you think this celebration of St. Patrick's Day has a tendency to make the Insh arrogant t- Professor Longhair: It unquentignably gives rosy. tbttP ft aweUed head.

Our Country Column. I Endives. Endive is a salad plant of much value when properly grown, but too often it is put on too poor soil, the result being that it becomes extremely bitter, a quality not at all desirable. To grow endives well, a deeply trenched and heavily manured friable soil is necessary, while in hot dry weather liberal supplies of water are desirable. Seeds should be sown fornigbtly from April to the end of July, sowing thinly in shallow drills about eighteen inches apart, and when the plants are in their second leaf, thinning out to a foot apart in the rows. Endive should not be transplanted, as checks are usually productive of bad results, too many of the plants bolting, or running to seed. When the plants are of fair size they should either be tied in the same way as lettuces, or covered with an inverted flower-pot, the object being to blanch the leaves to a pearly whiteness. Such kinds as the green and French moss curled should always be covered to blanch, and when well done they are most ornamental, but the broad-leaved kinds, such as the improved round leaved Batavian, can be tied with advantage, as these would be cut up in making salads, while the moss leaved varieties would be broken. In August, a sowing of some broad leaved variety should be made at the foot of a wall facing south to stand over the winter, and possibly the ordinary broad-leaved Batavian is as good as any for this purpose. Early in September a fair stock of the late July sowings should be put out in cold frames to prolong the season as long as possible, and provided care is taken to keep the foliage dry, very useful salad material will be available until after Christmas, but if the foliage gets wet in the dull cold weather, the plants rot away. In the case of sowings to stand over the winter, it is necessary that protection be given against frost and snow, while if such be possible, rain should be kept off, although this is often attended with considerable difficulty. The early endives and lettuces sold in the shops are usually imported from abroad, and few places in this country are sufficiently favoured to secure this class of saladmg. Bee-keepers' Calendar. APRIL. Bees having in March tasted the first-fruits of spring in the shape of crocuses and willow flowers, usually become very much alive in April. Of course a great deal depends upon the nature of the season, and April is not necessarily always up to its reputation. Writing now, it is impossible tu know how the month will turn out, but if it is normal the bee-kgeper will know what to expect. His hives will increase, and the warmth will cause more and more activity. Quite a number of flowers are out, and a few of these yield among the best supplies of the year. At the same time this is a critical period, and in some seasons more stocks are starved in April through want of food than in any other month. An eye should therefore be had to feeding, and unless this is done quite a number of ills are certain to follow. Among these will be the appearance of immature bees on the alighting board and food failing, avipositing will be stopped, eggs and larvae will be eaten, and the chrysahses will be found thrown out of the hive. The only way to check these ills islby gener- ous feeding, and even then much of the harm will be already done. During this month—according to eircumatonee-i-artificial pollen may be given, and water should not be overlooked. If necessary, spreading the brood may be undertaken and, if queenlessness be suspected, it will be policy to unite the stock to a weaker one having a queen. These things, of course, should be carefully done, and if the beekeeper be inexperienced it will be well to call in the aid of someone who is skilled in the various processes. Queen raising and drone-raising stocks should now be selected, and foundations may be built into comb. Grafting, Grafting is a process of much simplicity, and is within the means of anyone possessing ordinary intelligence, although, of course, a beginner will hardly do the work as neatly as a practised knife- man. Whip, cleft, and sddk-grafting are the forms most used. These are shown in the accom- panying illustration, which scarcely needs ex- planation. The principles which govern the work cannot be explained by drawings, but it is neces sary that they should be understood if any success worth speaking of is desired. The first point is to remember that a hardwood tree consists of three parts, i.e., the mature wood, the alburnam or growing wood, and the bark, and that to secure union of the stock and scion, it is absolutely neces- sary that the alburnam of both shaH be in close contact, as it is this which actually unites, the mature wood and bark being alike incapable of forming the necessary union. This being the case, it will often be found that an ordinary slip" graft, as shown in the illustration, in which the scion is cut with a clean, sloping cut, two or three inches long, and the bark of the stock is slit and lifted on each side the slit, the scion being then inserted, will give a good result, while both speed and accuracy are ensured. In fact, provided the union of she alburnam of both stock and scion is complete, there Hlittlechoice as to the form of grafting adopted. After the scion is inserted the graft should be tightly bandaged with raffia, or bast, and made air-tight with grafting-wax or clay; but usually Wax, is best in the bands of novices. It is always desirable that the stock should be in a more advanced state of growth than the scion for this reasor), the wood from which the scions are prepared shoald be laid into the ground under a wall facing the north, as here the growth is kept back as much as possible. Good varieties only of the various subjects should be used, and the stocks should be vigorous, as it is not policy to put poor scions on to good stocks, or good scions on 10 feeble and decrepid stocks. It is here that the professional knifeman has so great an advan- tage over the amateur fruitgrower, or propagator. 0 A. Saddle graft, *h •wiuj; stock and scion. B. Whip graft, showing stor k and scion. C. Cleft graft, show- ing stock and scion. D. Slip graft, showing stock andpcion. E. Method of binding graft. P. Method of claying graft after binding clay shown in section. Birds and Gardens. The question of birds in their relation to fields and gardens is one which County Councils are just now—at the invitation of the Secretary of State—taking up. Owing to the work of bird- catchers and professional egg collectors, it has recently been found that certain birds, beneficial to both agriculturists and gardeners, are becom- mg extinct, and an effort is now being made to protect them. Collecting the eggs of the lapwing, or green plover, has been made so much a trade of that in some of the midland and southern counties t he bird has almost become extinct. The eggs find a ready market in London, and early in the season very high prices are paid for them. The bullfinoh has a habit of shearing buds off goose- berry and other bushes, and is detested accord- ingly. A great many of the buds it destroys however, have grubs inside them, and could never come to anything even if allowed to remain on the tree. Firing shot at bullfinches does far more mjury to the trees than the birds can ever do. All the titmice are usefnl as insect destroyers, as are the members of the thrash family. No more useful bird exists than the starling, although it, like the blackbird, pilfers a small quantity of fruit in the atitumn. The house-sparrow, which exists in suoh numbers, is really harmful both in the field and garden, and nearly nothing can be said in its defence; and the same applies to the cushat or woodpigeon. I have closely studied birds all my life, and I believe that these are the only two which do far more harm than goed. It is well to preserve birds of prey-liawks, owls, falcons, &c. Than owls, no more useful birds exist, and they ought to be everywhere encouraged instead of being destroyed as vermin. Answers t. Correspondents. "Fowls" (Ipswich).-Igoudea and Minorca ought make a gooii, useful cross. The off-. spring would be dark coloured, good laying fowls, and would make fair average birds for the table. Their strong point, of course, wou'd be as layers. "Plum Grower."—Standard plums are planted from 21 to 15 feet aparb, and bush trees about 12 feet apart. ThAY live from 40 to 50 years, and bear in perfection from 15 to 20 years. "R. E. (Cheim-;ford). -Yon ought to get an Ayrshire-a spring calver-at from 217 to 219.

Gardening Notes. — Flewer Garden. Sow hardy annuals in the borders where wall- flowers and other things have been killed by frost. Finish pruning roses. There will be a good deal of dead wood to cut away, especially in the case of old or weakly plants. Tea roses which were earthed up are quite safe. They will require cutting back lower than usual, but otherwise they are quite safe. Laurels and other shrubs which have suffered from the frost may be cut back to where the incipient buds are showing. Divide and plant early flowering chrysanthe- mums. Such kinds as Madame Desgrange, Source d'Or, and Gloire, which have been grown in pots, will make good plants to turn out into the borders. Plant out pansies and any other hardy plants from nursery beds. Sow primulas, aricu- las, and polyanthuses in shady borders. Canter- bury bells and Sweet Williams may also be sown now. Bulbs which have been forced and have rested a bit since may be planted out in the border. They will make useful flowering stuff outc-irlf but will be of no further use for forcing. Manure and dig beds and borders in readiness for the bedding plants. Replant hardy edging plants. These will include cerastium tomentosum, stachys lanata, golden thyme, euonymus ns, variegata, veronica incana, poa glauca, sedum g. un, &c. Plant evergreen shrubs. If the weather is t?ry and the soil light, puddle the roots in. Anything ilanted before the frost may require watering, espec, illy evergreens. Mulches will also be exceedingly valuable. Plant hollyhocks out of pots. -Lilium auratum, epeciosnm, and any other lilies out of the ground should be got in at once. Unless the soil is very suitable, work a little leaf mould round to encourage the roots. Stir the soil among late tulips and hyacinths Groups of gladiolus and of hyacinthus candicans are very effective in the borders. Plant five or seven bulbs in a group. This is the best sown to niove hardy ferns. Fruit Garden. As soon as the peaches are set in the orchard house, if there are any signs of green 6y fumigate with Macdougall's tobacco slips or use a vapour- ising implement. Either of these methods for the destruction of green fly, thrips, etc., is more pleasant to use than tobacco paper. Thin the young shoots of peaches by rubbing off those not required for extending or filling up the tree. The blossoms of all trees in the orchard house are setting well this year. Several of our neighbours keep bees, and during sunny days hundreds of the bees have paid our houses a visit and have been a great assistance. Unfortunately several had not left when the house was closed, and died during the night. Apricots and peaches on walls must be protected in some way. In most districts a double thickness of fishing net answers every purpose. The soil round recently planted strawberries should be made firm, and afterwards, if a little short manure can be spread between the rows, ib will be a great heip. Figs on walls when un- protected will bear no fruit this year. As soon as the cap is moving, cut baok to sound uninjured wood. 10 many cases this will involve cuttmg away most of the branches. It is useless to grow firs away from the south-east unless protection can be given during severe winters, and the pro- tection required is easily applied. If the trees are taken from the wall and enveloped in straw or mats or fir branches they will be safe. Make up hotbeds for melons, one plant is enough in au average sized light. The soil must not be light, or the plants make too much growth and the fruit fails to set. Vegetable Garden. We are getting a little over the first pressure of the work now. but there is still plenty to do. Potatoes grow well. The best way of planting potatoes is to plant in drills, and the worst is to use a peg. When planted in drills or trenches, if any artificial or manurial composb is used, scatter it along the drills over the sets. Cover not less than tour inches deep. Regulate the distance between the rows and the sets in the rows according to the amount of tops made by each variety. There is yet time to 1 sow tomatoes for outside planting, if they can be helped on in heat till the end of April and then moved to cold frame to harden but the bulk of the tomato plants are now sown and pricked off still I would rather use those plants which has been sown the beginning of April and grown on in a light, warm house near the glass than set out plants which had been standing about starving in small pots. Sow vegetable marrows and ridge cucumbers. Both of these will come much earlier if sown under glass in a little warmth, and then, when hardened, started outside under hand-lights or wire frames covered with oiled calico. These latter covers are most useful, and are also very cheap. Greenhouse. Move bedding plants to pits and frames. They will be safe now if covered at night. Pelar- goniums, fuchsias, and other plants are growing freely now and must have more room, and the forwardesb plants, at any rate, should have liquid manure. Seedling cinerarias which have done flowering, unless it is intended to increase them, should be thrown out. The same course is generally followed with primulas. A few of the best hardy primulas, auriculas, and polyanthuses are charming under glass, and they begin to flower very early in the new year. I have had them in bloom at Christmas, There should be abundance of flowers now. Everybody should pot up a few daffodils, and bring them on gently in the greenhouse. If potted early in September they will flower by the new year without foroing. Sow tender annuals now in quantity. Windew Garden. The shrubs in many window boxes have a wretched appearance. It is some time yet to the bedding out season, but a pretty scene might be created by lifting up clumps of snowdrops or tulips from the garden or pansies will be in bloom soon, and anything looks better than dead shrubs. Do everything possible to encourage the growth of window plants. Use the sponge often, and anything growing freely may be helped with a little weak stimulant.—Cottage Gardening.

Me, Tee." When a well-known opera company was in New York, the ladies of that city were bitten by a mania for obtaining the autographs of the artistes, and would send their books with requests for signatures to be appended. In one of these books Signor Campanini had signed his name, and some one had wntten after it: The finest tenor in the world." Shortly afterwards the same book reached Signor Ravelli, whose knowledge of English was rather more peculiar than extensive. He saw the addendum to the signature of his friend, and could not at first understand it. However, somebody explained the meaning to itim and when the owner of the book received it back, she found written under the fluttering description of Signor Campanini- I Luigi Ravelli; me, too."

Sir JOHN These glasses are no use, I t-l! you. I see double with them. ISAACS Vell vat you vanb ? I charge you no more

I Now, here is a stove that we guarantee to be simple enough for the average servant to run." I Um What you need is one that will run ip < spiteof the average serving"

Welsh Tit-Bits. Neu Wreiohion Oddiar yr ELingion. [BT CADRAWD.J Telyn. Dr. W. 0, Pughe says in his Welsh and English Dictionary that the word telyn is purely Welsh, and is derived from Tel, i.e., what is straight, even, or drawn tight; hence the name "telyn" is coeval with the knowledge of a stringed instrument among the Cymry. That the Britons had the harp and adopted it as the domestic instrument, excepting the Hebrews, prior to any other nation is very probable. In former times a performer on the harp enjoyed many privileges. To a professor of the national instrument his lands were free and his person sacred by the law. It was also one of the chief accomplishments of a Welsh gentleman to be able to play the harp. The seven domestic achievements were poetry, to play upon the harp, reading Welsh, play the violin, to sing penillion, the feats of arms, and heraldry. My esteemed friend, Mr T. H. Thomas, of Cardiff, communicated to me this week what he found the other day, even in our own country of the old style of life among the Cymry still re- maining. In a farmhouse in the neighbourhood of Merthyr, he found a fine old man and his wife in a rather old house, and where, while he and his friend were entertained to a pleasant cup of tea by the serehus old landlady, the farmer, her husband, straight from the harrowing, sat down to his harp and played them some Welsh airs thereon. Alas! that such simple, yet refined, entertainments are so rare, and that this and other ancient and interesting customs have been replaced by the English self-consciousness. 0 may the Cymry yet enjoy their language, cus- toms, and innocent pastimes, "Tra mor tra bry thon." In the dwellings of our Fathers, Round the glad blaze, Now the festive circle gathers, With harp and lays Now the r'i=Ii-strewn halls are ringing, Steps are bounding, Bards are singing, Aye the hunr to ail is bringing Peace, joy, or praise." MRS HSMANB. Nid oes nag angel na dyn Nad wyl pan gano delyn." D. AT EDMUND. The Conquest ef Glamorgan. The story of the Conquest has been told maiiy times over, and how it WM brought about. The tale runs thus:—About the year 1088 Cadifor ab Collwyn, Lord of Demetia, died, and his sons, Einion and Llewelyn and his brother, Einion ab Collwyn, induced Gruffydd ab Meredith to take the field agoinst Rhys ab Tewdwr, Prince of South Wales, and a severe battle ensued in which Gruffydd was vanquished and both sons of CadifLr slain; but Einion ab Collwyn fled to Iestyn ab Gwrgan, Prince of Glamorgan, who was also at war with Rhys ab Tewdwr, and stated his cause. This Einion had been an officer in the King of England's army. Iestyn, being aware of this, faithfully promised him his daughter in marriage, with the lordship of Mis- kin for her dowry, if he would procure assistance from England against Rhys ab Tewdwr. Einion accordingly went and engaged Robert Fitzhamon and twelve knights to join him, and, hasten- ing to Glamorgan, united with the forces of Iestyn's, and entered the territory of Rhys, and met him at a place called Hirwain Wrgan, near Breconshire, in which battle Rhys was ultimately defeated, and being pursued he was taken and beheaded at a place called Pwn Rhys. His son Goronw was also slain, and Cynan, pursued, was drowned with most of his men in attempting to cross a lake called Crymlyn, near Swansea, since called Pwll Cynan. After the battle Fitzhamon and his Knights mustered their forces at Lwyn Colwyn, where Iestyn paid them in sterling gold, whence the place has ever after been called The Golden Mile." Einion hastened to claim Iestyn's engagement, but he only laughed at him. Incensed to phrenay, Emion hastened after Fitzhamon, and telling him of the indignity he had received, described to him and his Knights the fertility of the country and the facility with which it might be con- quered. Fitzhamon heard Einion with joy, returned gladly, and, being joined by the native chiefs which detested Iestyn, a battle was fought on the great heath near Cardiff, where Iestyn was put to flight. The absurdity of the above tale is very plain, if one will give it a moment's thought. In the first place, the idea of an army about going away by sea from Cardiff should come from Pontypridd to Tregoiwyii across country to be paid off, seeing that it was so easy to carry their pay to them and save them three or four days' march. Another argument, which must be conclusive, is that there was no courage in Wales at this time, and very little in England. Another reason against the story is as regards Pen Rhys in the Rhondda Valley. There is no instance, I think, on record ot a place being called after a man's head it is absurd. Pen in Welsh means a hill, and there are plenty of them in the Rhondda. Rhys again means extreme ardency, or a rushing. The wind in Glamorganshire is traditionally called Rhys or Mynydd." Rhys y gwynt a Morya y gwlaw, Chwythodd fy hat, a'm gwlychodd rhagllaw." Again, there are two other places in the county called by this name, if not more, all of which are proverbially exposed to the wind. The story of the "Golden Mile" near Cowbridge, being called after the payment in gold of the Norman Knight by that name, must be of a late invention. The place is called in very old documents as Y Filldir Oer, a very appropriate name but the correct reading would be, I should think, Y Filldir Oer, oer being the old Welsh word for battle, or combat. There is a farm close by called the Twmpath," on which there are several mounds, which shows that warriors had fallen there in battle and buried under these twmpathan, which was the mode of interment after great battles.

Songs for the People. Andrew Fletcher, ot Saltoun, in a letter to the Majquis of Montrose, wrete :—"I know a very wise man that believed that if a man were permitted to make all the ballads he need not care whe sheuld Make tie laws of the nation." MOMENTS. Ye moments of eternal Time That ever come and Kf), And bear to every coast and clime Your freights of weal and woe Ye reap what former moments sowed, And, as ye onward sweep, Drop in your course the seeds abroad Which after momenta reap. And while ye singly troop along, Unchecked, relentless, fast, Th' eternal spirit of your song Is future—present—past. With eye of sense we only see The present moment's scope The past exists in memory, The future lives in hope. Seize on the present, earnest mind I Call up your noblest powers, Dare to be swift-we can but find The passing moment ours BUBRINOTON.

THE DYING KNIGHT. While the descending sun with glory shone, And filled with ruddy light the golden west; Far through the forest lone they bare him on Slowly, to rest, to lest. The golden sunlight through the ferest trees Fell on his armour as in oays of yore But spirit voices in the evening breeze Whispared No more, no more. Ah. now no more upon the battle field His well known cry shall cheer the warriors on And he no moie the lance or sword shall wield, For he to rest has gone. The can to arms, from every tower and keep, The herald's trump; the sound of gathering foes; No more shall wake him from his last long sleep, Nor break his calm repose. No martial pomp, nor proud funereal train, Shall o'er his grave a passing lustre shed But in the minstrel's song his deeds remain, Though he, the Knight, is dead. FRANK W. BURGESS.

THE CoKING SHAKESPEARE.—Mrs Yerger I'm afraid there's womethiug the matter with Tommy. —Col. Yerger What makes you think sot—Mrs Yerger: He sits in a corner all day long and doesn't say anything to anybody. Either be is going to be a great poet, or he is going to have ebe neeefee. I y«i decide frbk* it is.

I GOSSIPS' CORNER. Floral and Chint ribbons form quite a feature in this season's millinery. It is estimated that there are altogether OTK 113,000,000 women in India. About 2150,000 a year is paid in pensions to British soldiers' widows and allowances to their children. The great Ordnance Survey Map of England is all but ready. It has cost 20 years and £ 4,000,000 to produce. The Royal Commission on Agriculture decided to visit Scotland and take evidence, commencing on June 3rd. The Prince of Wales will be the guest of the Printers' Corporation at their annual dinner on the 8th prox. Every play which Ibsen writes is most earn- fully revised, and in many cam ro-writ ten at last three times. During the last three years the deposits ia the Irish saving banks have increased by over a million sterling. The question is beinir asked in Paris whether the time has not come for an English theatre ia the French capital. The emigration from Ireland last year it the lowest recorded since the collection of return* commenced in 1851. One fashionable dress-designer in the West-end of London is oomputed to make between five thousand and six thousand pounds a year. The country in which the large towto are most nearly equidistant is Holland. They are at an average distance of 20 miles from each other. The British Museum possesses a oolleotion of old Greek advertisements printed on leaden plates which show that the practioe it very ancient. Mr Thomas Hardy has under consideration the project of dramatising his novel Teas," with a view to the impersonation of the leading character by Mi'3 Patrick Campbell. As many as 1,500 packages of cut flowers are being shipped at Calais daily from the South of France tor markets in London and the North of England. The.- consist chiefly of violets. Some of tli, "topi with which the Chinese t amuse themsel' t, are large as barrels. If takes three me to spill 'Ou'nd it gives off a sound that may y >e heard several hu- YRrtjg j, t-hat 's» candles wL.J ipped candl?-.•>, „rease time aftefoks were dipped m ,r me.tea form » cylinder o. until they took L p enougn respectable si: *.e, were A.D. 1200. ;A rAnlv to the Kai«or'« Thus Prince 5ismarck, Majesty'* congratulations CH—" n,y most humble feet, witb deepe,ai*sfc 1 cvereP°e' on Wj thanks for your A^'GRACIOUS cong birthday." v" £ One newspaper Surely this is a p^atfhi0ns for next winter, is already discussuiu the e through in tbt After what we hr>oa"4ve this is just • shape of frost and ^urst water-p.p* little too much. ,fx fc r)ft Lunn Miss Willard an w the White Rtbboi chartering a ship to Le Ho8r,nK is expect* Women" of America48 '• aroundljondo that as many as 250 PUI "a e Women. will be occupied by Teni}^he 8U^W Ozar of Russia is W One of the fads of the ntComs>>ii»ntensely interested study of electricity. He is Beavifc^^ science, and everything pertaining to elecaot u., 01 •J I > mako. Baldwin Wh; said to have made sever* ,tl i{ he would tnvances himself m tfa»«imp!er i.^ot in tbo,,NrIUGU7 manipulation. The highest mountain ascents are those credited to Mr W. H. Johnson, of the Indian Survey, between 1860 and 1865, in Cashmere. In 1865 hi climbed three peaks of the Kuen Lun, one of which, according to the measurement of the Indian Survey, is 23,800ft. high. At the Russian town of Reni, at the junotion of the Pruth and the Danube, a rich find wai made lately of gold coins of the time of Philiji of Macedon, the fil.ther of Alexander the Great. They are in excellent preservation, and 512 o( them have already been seized by the pohce and sent to St. Petersburg. The chief features of present season fashion (says a lady writer) are-the increasing breadth of shirts and drooping tendency of sleeves, thi shortness and immense fulness of capes, the widti and squareness of bonnet and hat kimraini effects, and the throat ruff, which in lisse, chiffon, or lace, with da'nty little bunches of flowers, ot rosettes of brightly-coloured ribbon, is raodll asserting itself. A regular class of professional wedding tutors has sprung up, who are ready and willinf —for a suitable consideration, of courae-tll instruct all concerned in the admittedly beat possible methods of carrying out their share it the wedding festivities and proceedings, and tc guarantee that everything is done in the mo* fashionable style. The New York Niagara Power Company k starting on the enterprise of a" model city "in dm neighbourhood of the Falls. It is to be the mosl perfect city in existence, lighted and heated en- tirely by electricity, and therefore wholly frei from smoke and fog 30,000 families are to havi homes of their own, five square miles, with 60,000 horse-power, are to be given to the manu- facturers, and there is to be no liquor saloon ia the place. A faculty for excellence in games seems to rui in certain families. It is necessary only to nanM the Graces, Lytteltons, and Studds in cricket) Robertses in billiards, the Pitmans in rowing, by way of evidence. The Morrises, Parks, Duns, and many others have shown, remarks the P41t Mail Gazette, that the principle holds good enough in golf also and now we find that Waltet Toogood, professional to the Eltham Golf Club, i. keeping up the family reputation established by his cousin, who played so remarkably well in last year's open championship at Sandwich. One would hr.rdly have supposed that there waa still any danger from the batteries that "volleyed and thundered at Balaclava, yet such appears to be the fact. It is stated that several hundred loaded shells have just been discovered, which have been lying in the earth ever since the battle, and the authorities have decided to take them out to sea and sink them. It wouli seem as though someone's ammunition was of a very bad quality in this battle, and one would be glad to know whether the shells in question were Russian, French, or English. The most exquisite work in this year's Aoademy will perhaps be voted Sir John Millais't "Speak!" Despite his long and trying illness) the great artist has been hard at work on thu great picture for many hours a day for monthi past. The subject of the picture is a young man reading the love letters of his bride who hat perished untimely on the very eye of has marriage as he reads them he glanoes up and sees her vision beside him. Sir John's other woto is the stoning of Stephen.

A SATURDAY SERMON. III the mighty realm of music there is but out single speech." Music forms the universal language which, when all other languages wen confounded, the contusion of Babel left nnooa. founded. The white man and the black maa, the red man and the yellow man, can aiM together, however difficult they may find it to b< to talk to each other. And both sexes and ( ages may thus express their emotions simol. iii taneously for, in virtue of the power of tlx ear to distinguish, side by side. those diberina 9 but concordant notes which make np harmony, 'i there is not only room but demand for all tlw qualities of voice which childhood, adolescence maturity, and old age supply. Thus a love oi music is much more frequent than a love ol painting or soulpture and you will reach tiw. hearts and touch the feelings of the majority 01 mankind more quickly by singing them a sonf than by showing them a picture. In truth, the sensitiveness of the ear to melody and to harmony is so great that we not oafy seek to gratify fa when bent upon recreation, bat even im the mUtf of the hardest Itbou ira .certify it if we ma.