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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Brussels Post, 1899-4-14, Page 3Aran, 14, 1S99, TRE EIBUSSLS P OST. Diamond Cut Diamond_..... OR, THE ROUT OF THE ENEMY. CHAPTER, XXL-Coutinued. but not before the watcher had seen "Good afternoon, Madame de Bre- i enough to swear to the face of Loon four. I did nut observe who it was elm entered the menage ut the last sta- tion, I hope you tire well," ltose Inclined her bead wildly. What- ever surprise or disguet she may have experienced at the encouuter, sbe shove ed no outward sign of agitation. "Ilow is your father-in-law, Ma- dame '?' Tbis being a polite quedion, she waS peeforoe constrained to give it a polite answer ; ''Thank you; Monsieur de Breeour is 110W a constant invited, I regret to say." ''Does he suttee mueh 1" 'Jam voice was kind, and Matthew Dane leant for- ward as though really anxious to know. A. softened look came over her beau- tiful face; and the teuderness that is in every true woman's heart towards the weak and the poor and the miser- able, made her lip tremble, and brought a dewy sadness into the heaven -blue of her eyes. "Dreadfully at times," she answer- ed; "but he is so pateent and good—" "I should like very much to come and nee him, it would Meer him up to have a visitor who would eit and chat with biln." In a moment the whole expression of her face changed. She was no longer the tender sick nurse, opening her head to the expression of kindly sym- pathy, but the watchtul guardian of the peace and satiety of the creature whom it was her mission to protect. ''You are very kind," she answered coldly, but that es Impuesible. Mon- sieur de Brefour reeeives no visitors, all excitement and. agitation is strict- ly forbidden to him, he sees no one save his attendants and myself." "And it, would be dangerous for his health to see even an old friend like myself ?" "11 would be dangerous to his health to see yuu," she repealed, altering his words somewhat pointedly. Mr. Dane threw himself baek in his seal, 'rein a sigh. "Alt, poor man 1 poor man I" he ejacu- lated, "what a sad state of things to be sure! And if so small an excite- ment is likely to be prejudieial to bim, how anxious you must be eto ward off any real trouble and pain from him." And then he sighed again and looked at ber furtively from between his dos- -ed eyelid. It May be assumed that by this time Matthew Dant, was thoroughly enjoy- ing himself; to pit himself against any fedow-creature was always e pleasure to h:m, but when the battle was being fought out with a woman whom he had reason to believe was as unscripulous and as clever as henself, the contest was doubly delightful. lie was like the conventIoual war- horse, who, seenLing the strife from afar, goes forth to meet it with a __sense of rapture. He had got her in his foils, he had, but to close his and. and erusb her, but he prepared lime Bele to watch her hopelese struggle with pereed ecstasy a joy. It Wes a de- light to bim to see the doubt and mis- trust in her eyes as she slowly repeat- ed his words. "Real trouble ?-of what kind do you mean?" "Well. Such as, eor instance, any fresh complication concerning his un- fortunate son." She turned white 1.0 the lips and shrank a litte bade in her seat with a gesture of distress. 'Hie 80111 You forget, Mr. Dane, my besband is dead." "Ale my dear lady 1 Now do you really take me for a fool?" be cried, 'with a light babbling laugh of mingled contempt and amusement. "That is all very well to keep up before the world but between you and I surely the farce may well be dropped. You have hidden him very cieverely be- tween you -you and the old gentleman -but you know I never did believe mob in evidences of his death, al- though crape and a widow's -cap became you ravishingly, madante,"-here he made her a little bow, part mocking, part complimentary, and then he sat boll upright. and opened his eyes wide at her, and they flashed, like the cold fire of metal that is clashed, into hers; "and latterly f have discovered -I know that Leou de Brefodr is alive I" There was a brief silenoe, she was dill very pale, but she did not look frightened, her eyes met his steadily. "Tbat Is so easy to say, is it not V" she cried, entemptuousty. "We all say we know, when for the most part we only guess. A clever mind like yours, Mr. Dane, no doubt is always guessmg, but for 'knowledge' a few facie and proofs are neeeseary in this hard, pro:laical world." From the very bottom of lals soul he admired her. What a woman she was! With sueb a wife as that the world taiglat have been at his feet 1 But fox all his admiration he had no intention of sparing her. "My facts and proofs are quite sim- ple," bo .answered quietter. "I had you followed on you last visit to the north- ern outskirts of London." "By a blundering detective, who in- terpreted a visit of charity to a bed- ridden relative 01 013 mother's into the existence of PI person Wilma you had made it his interest to tihreovere" she eried scornfally, • 'Not. so, madame. ern not yet so devoid 01 the rudiments of common- sense ao to trust my affairs to the dull wits of what you very appropriately call the 'blundering' professional de- tective. The person who followed you. Watt a traded friend, whose interests! are my own, and who was able to 'time tiey the man he went to look for." 'lloev ean one identify what one does does not 85(1 1' she ejaculated. And whilst she spoke, ways and means were Dashing quick art lightning througli her braie, ways of getting down that very night to that lonely bongo omongst the Hampstead lanes, Means of oinuggling teeth ite wretch- ed inmate aert oonveylug blee to some safer refuge. "13ut be did de," replieel her Itiquisi- tor, °Minty, "After yo a had gone he dame to his window and looked forth Mad you, and he held a liglited cendle it his hand, and the vele flame, flick- ered across his featneee, 'Then some one came and palled hint back, and dreW the euetain across the window, 48 Brefoure "'Who was 11. 0" her lips framed tbe wordo, leer void, was all but inaudible. A _presentiment ob tbe truth eeemed toCe paralyze her -the answer wile senrcely unexpected. "Jt watt Albert Triehee." Then, for the first time, there Wail a real terror in her eyes; oho looked about her vaguely, like a hunted ani- mal, and a midden shudder convulsed her frame. Well, too well, she had had cause to dread that hated name -the bloodhound, who had been set to dog tbe footsteps 01 her unlucky bus - band for months before, apparently, a brentb et suspicion had rested upon him; who had dined at her table, shak- en her by the hand, laughed witlx her, brought ber booke and flowers, sung French clia.nsonettes with her in the evening, whilst her busband and fath- er-in-law were smoking their cigarettes in the veranda 'without; and who, through all this simple and friendly intereoursee- had been sending daily bulletins home of everything that her husband said and dicl, from morning till night. If that fiend was again up- on her feotsetps, of what avail was it to keep up the struggle? Matthew Dane. was watching her with a smile. "You don't seem to like poor Trichet ?" Then 110Se turned upon bim. ed to be but of very email importame ludeed. "Sureoundloms" are Gene whieb the ignorent may souff at, bul which the WtHe man will nut be eo fool- hardy ae to set at nougbt. " Rose by any other name" would -in spite of the Immortal Williant- Ix? aa lloaveeeel wshotomr:n oifu irlaspa twtrialtinteeovnesl,, appeal to mankind with s0 much form as If eleti be dad in velvet and dia- uclik0tindasn.d gOr, agiiin,plungt. ,haerainwtoual eott; in a tboustued be bold enough to af- firm, that the same subtle charm will cling to lid presence Lai 111 her own fru gran I; 0.41)1 rose-tbeted boudoir Women seldom do disregard these man who Is apt to dee Heise them -often to his own (1011001- 838. It e.. le There is a homely and somewhat vulgar proverb, vrhieh explains trite- ly where and holv a barn -door fowl can crow to the best advantage, And it is to this proverb that I would, -as delleately IknOW }IOW -Make allu- sion. Perhaps, even Mathew Dane may have recalled it to his mind, as he wheeled forward that luxurious arm (hair for his visitor, placed Gambian at het bank, and a footstool beneath her rf oe ue r"eTo eamebeeertencl nitty., Madame de Bre"" He has trapped me nicely'," she said to herself, with a grina sense of impending defeat, "0410 must speak civ- illy to a man in his own house." The umbrella had been tlee beginning of defeat, the study arm -chair finished and setteld it. " Now we can talk,. said Mr, Dane pleasnntly, sitting down opposite to her and rubbing his hands one over the oLher with a seraphic smile, and a nom - fellable inner sense of regained sup- eriority. "You and I, my dear lady, have surely no object in, quarrelling with each other, have we ?" " That depends," demurred Rose somewhat coldly. "004110, come, don't be hard upon me. Why shouldn't we tionee to an under- standing in this matter? Now did you not come to See me a Bette while ago inthe City with the objeet of asking me to give you a written paper, a sort of free pass as it were, -past, present and future -for your untuoky hus- band 1" I asked you to give me an assur- ance of pardon for his sin, in order to Diamond Cut Diamond bring peam to the mind of his unhappy father." "Well, that is much the same. Per- haps you desire to take back the err- ing sheep to the bosom of conjugal at - edition ?" He eyed her narrowly, and be saw how involuntarily she shuddered with dalosngust and revulsion at Lhe sugges- He smiled. Tt was clear as daylight to him. "WoU, then we are agreed! 1 am not at all averse te giving you sudi a written acknoevleagment, signed and witnessed if you wish it of forgiveness and of peace -for the sake as you say of that poor old father, whose melan- choly condition you have deecribed so touchingly." She had never done more than hint at it, but the woman's loving heart carried her away. "4.11, then indeed you will be good!" she cried, clasping her hands togeth- er in her agitation." " You will do this one good action? Then God will surely ble.es and rewerd you!. Perhaps if she had not been resting in his arm -chair she would not have been guilty of the weakness of this outburst of feeling. Ile, smiled. Such a smile as Satan may have smiled when first our Moth- er Eve fell into the guile of his devices. and after the smile he sighed and look- ed down. "Ah, yes! But then what on your side, are you, dear lady, going to do for mef" "To the end of my days I will piety for .you," she answered quickly. And Mr .Dane smiled anew. What Lo him would be the prayers of all the archangels of Heaven ? " Many thanks," he answered polite- ly, " but I think besides that, we MUMmake a little compact." And then he thrust his hands into hie trou- sers' poekets, raised hie eyebrows With a nice ingenuous expresston such as would not have discredited Mr. Irving, and pursea" his lips up into a dubious pout, as though to say: "It's very hard on me, you see, but I have to be just in Ibis matter." " compact 1" she repeated slowly. It. began to dawn upon her that some- thing more lay behind -something rtgn.ran 141i101'04100. twoheieh she was as yet in absolute "Well, yes. We may as well be ex- plicit, you know. If I, for instance, agree -in wetting mind you, signed and sealed -to let you alone, it would only be fair, wouldn't it, that you should agree le let me alone 1" "To let you alone?" she repeated in genuine amazement, "What on earth do you mean ?" "Well, to cease from obstructing my pl?"11Fsr'llnkly, Mr, Dane, I do not in the very least understand you. You are talking to me in eiddles." She was looking at him with a blank surprise, He leant fotrward with both elbows 'upon the table, so that his face mem near to hers, his eyes, no longer veil- ed and mysteriatis, flashed at her with that keen hawk -like glance of Power with which he knew 10011 11030 to bend his fellow -creatures to his force of will. "Let my nephew go, then 1" he said below his breath, but in a whisper that was OS clear and (letting as the raps of a hammer. From brow to theoat the ceirason blood flushed in a torrent over her face; all the consciousness of 0111(1(100 love betraying itsele in the uncontrole table weakness. She was so over- whelmed evitb surprise, so utterly tak- en aback by the suddenness of the et - tack, that her eentunion of heart leapt into her Pam with the strength of nee thee itself, In that fatal moment her semi; lay before her. lays the egg for a borer admits deer A thousand tongues shouting it Meth and bigb land, because perheps in - upon the hill tops mulct not have 1500- stied tells it that the low lend Moly claimed it to him mare certainly and be liable to flood high enongh ttp the unaltertthly than eitl that cruel blush. tree to 'destroy the egg befdre the He theew hineself back into his chair borer is hatched out of it, latighing eoftly. She was in his pow- er nOW 1 foe all her eoterage, for allrem- __- ete..1' 13' '5 1)0N'T NEED, her cleverness, she had been unable te ettee hereelf-the was hie, his to tor - "Do not dare to speak ot him!' she weed, and the blaze of indignation that flared up into her beautiful face al- most cowed him, hardened and callous as he eves. "Why do you mention his foul name to met 11. 18 an insult 1" And then there happened to Mat- thew Dane something that had not happened to bim fax years. He lost his temper. "Ale 1 a good joke that, from the wife of a thief I" The moment he had spoken the words he would have given worlds to unsay them. The train was slackening at the Gloucester Road Station. it was his destinaiton, but it was not hers. Nevertheless, sbe 1108e and lowered the windotv, and got out without a word, He followed her quickly. " Madame de Brefour, I beg you ten thousand pardons,“ he said, as he walk- ed by her side, along the platform, With a face of the profoundest re,speet and repentance. She unswered birn not a word. They went up the stops Logether, amongst the crowd, and presenely found there selves in the comparatively empty steeds. Base did not; know where ithe was going, she only wanted to get rid of him. old Dane was exhausting him - salt in apologies, I3e eould seie how, by that one augry sentence, he had los, hie power over her, for the time at least, an4 he could have killed her beeatme she had so far triumphed over him as to make him lose his sell -con- trol. Yet through all his rage and anger there 30418 preseut an almost comic wonder at her talent. She was as great a diplumetist as hmself, and with all the armoury of female wit and fascination to back her uP inte the bargain. Ot course all her righteous indignation at Trichet'S Uaine, all har proud silence now, wore nothing bee a part and parcel oi the same thing': her superhuman power ot playing the cards in her hand to thew utmost advantage. This was how it seemed to Matthew Dane, to whom goodness and truth, and kindehearted- ness, were but contemptible synonyans with itliotcy, but in whore Power of Brain was as a god, to be worshipped above all other gods. Then, as he continued to apologese, and she continued to be silent, one ot those small things happened that ere perpetually turning the whole cur- rent of human life by their apparently trivial and meaningless influence. It began to rain; Madame de Brother had no umbrella, and Mr. Dane un- folded his and held it up over her head Now it is absolutely and morally im- possible for a lady to be beholden to a gentle,man for the shelter of his um- breilla-which is extended to her at the sacrifice of his own, Lincoln and Bennett -and that she should remain insensible to the attention. An umbrella, thus distended, brings about an hastinetive rapprocbernent Many is the love -tale that has been whispered, multifarious the quarrels that have been patched up, numberless the misunderstandings cleared away, beneath the mystie shade of a whale- bone ad silk. Thus, as Mr, Dane unfurled bls peace offering, and continued to apologise the while for his cruel and unmanly. re- Proriale, nese found herself constrained say=" Thank you," And, in saying it, her anger geve way and her soul became softened. Thereupon Mr. Dane ' was not slow in pushing his advantage. Allt 'un- known to her, every sI ep had been taking them nearer to his house in Cromwell Road, rind now they stooel in front of his very door -step. "1 fear there is going to be neheavy storm,Madame; T must beg of you 1.0 mimi e n Until it dears up. This is my house ?" " Your house?" she repeated, stand- ing still just bemuse he stood dill, and she could not get away from the advantages bestowed upon her by that umbrella-" Your house?" And then she looked up at it in a puzzled way, and it flashed upon her all 'at owe that she had walked into a very come elete little trap all of her MU accord. Will you walk into my parlour 0' Said the spider to the fly." A.nd .she melted in, There was noth- ing else to be done, She heel got out of hoe train, without an ulterior thought, in her rage and indignation; and there mute, elapse a whole bout be- fore she eould get another one. It was raining heavily, and she multi not Walk batik to the station, without getting wet through. So sloe went into the house, end sat down in Mr. Dahe'e steely, in a com- fortable arm-eltair, which he drew po- tilde torward Car her. --- CHAPTTAR xxxr. There is no Sort of doubt Ilea every living men and worrtan is enormously effented by 6008 otiteT innuennw whiph. 111 ibonmo4..4, 11-1113' lo rralrn11- 0 wood, and in young trees to retard, MERRY OLD ENGLAND. fruit beering. What the tree mainly Itedradleetee „roineleteveneeeseetatete courage a rank, mantel' greveth ef' # Oh the Farm. ‘$ 1 needs Is potash, and if fruiting some DOINGS Ole THE ENGLISH PEOPLE, 01114~)040911,11011i- -110444014,6 plonpbete abee This mill furnish tee I REPORTED BY NAlle FOR THE GENERAL FARMER. 'Mineral metered for prothecing ante& --- What kind 01 settle shall the gene 10101.0ream, ,.°un.i ,u.i '?"°,4 tind 14"" 4)1 4 Rec,41:7(111 'tt"t;uricerli,v;101,::.fialltienrgesit'lirm tIttetlitlie. g 0181 farneer raisee The general farmer fru"' '''''''e "I'm 01 lee mettle': ronetb, ' if sound and healthy, is taken erten , is the man that follows divereified ! th„ 8,1„11 amount, a earb„ale e„ie gue 1 A rubber trust company, conaposed fa rming, corn, wheat, hal len, ilay, can, te the a haw athere, and elaborated in ' of the leading rubber men in Brig- and berries, cattle, sheep and bogie He I the euirlight by the leaves. It' a young ' lane, hee eeei, erg,theeee with a eepe. neither devotes all of his land to i 11.1 ri,t0"1',.eehanLtuene0m104:.'ageibeaxinflehta,,lhnea lauzr,. tal etude of a moomoo. A new eishup ie to be appointed for raking one kind of grain, nor feeds alle IL Aunda, hem a0 more manure, (3.. of his crops to me kind of stuck. Ile rept putash and pboophate, until t ' ' efornbana in the leganda proteetorate. forree1112. 1121,1,bitoesblunlksbofoottslattpettr•ooydeugrroilsVlells, flriagitianalsboishpii;OpIrreftit.OEeglaylvabt.11Sh a sa- wed:I as le beet for them. At this mod- 1 Tile Board of Trade returns concern - orate rate of growth the tree will keep on, hearing Belong as it has plenty of potash and ing the changes at wages and hours oe !about. in 1898 show thee becreaees phosphate, and be remelt does not depend upon one thin entire, ly for his Dimino, doe it the specialist. Stock are keel, in order to feed the crops raleed on the farm to the great- est advantage and to preserve as Much ef the fertilizer constituents of the crops raised as possible, feet them are obstacles to sp. cialized farming that at present seen ineurreountable, stable. manure Is sure tu be applied than i$ for the best good of the tree. Cattle are kept on therm farms for two purposes, to furnish milk and butter -..----. and to produce meat. The milk and SPLITS ENGLISH BANK NOTES. butter produced ars primarily for the u8o of the farmer'e family, and the !Remarkable Peat Create,. Voir le 414 surplus Is usually sold in the open elrel 88. market. The calves are raised by Some years ago the conameicial hand on skim milk, and the steers are world was taken aghast by tbe an - kept until they are two or three years nouncement that a certain edentille eld and than sold to local butchers or gentleman could actually split a bank Le shippers. The heifers are kept 1.0 note so exactly into halves that it was replace ibeir mothers, or else are sold impossible to distinguish Lhe separate as mileh time. It is very evident pieces of paper from genuine notes. that ehe special dairy cow is not suited The authorities of the Bank of Eng - to this class of farmers, although she land took alarm, for it appeared that would admirably fill the requirements this invention would speedily open the fax milk and butter, yet her calves way Loa new kind of fraud. The imi- uvould be worthless felt feeding pure tation of the engraved plate, however, poses. On the other hand. the special well performed, was always discover - beef cow cannot. fill the bill, because able by experienced eyes, and he must she cannot yield enough intik to supply be a good forger, indeed, who could the family wants and raise her cad. prepare the paper on which the Neither can the Iarmer afford to keep . piate.was printed so as to imitate the both cherries, one Le supply milk and r water marks on the Bank of ilionicticeartLained. the other 1.0 supply feed- Pemba England note with anything like sue- Dut the kind of cattle demanded ems. But here was a discovery mud; be a oimeination 01 both the beef which set et naught the preeautions of and dairy animal, or as Prof. Shaw has christened them, the dual purpoee PaPer-Mtikers, engravers and printers. cattle. They must produce. a good It was really a serious matter. A quantity ot fairly rich, milk and their long correspondence ensued between calees must xn.ke good Leeding cattle. ,. The cow hersele must be of good size e otnifie iariosproirettohreobf Ole secret and the so that when ber days of usefulness ing a large sum of, money for Ins ank the former ask. - end capable of being fattened easily, are Passed as a mileh dow she may be knowledge, and the latter requiring etteily fattened for beef. Although actual roof of his ability to perforin the dual purpose cattle stand midway P between dairy and beet cattle they do the alleged feat. not result from the, first cross, any Paragraphs began to appear in the more than the hackney results from a cross between a heavy el f newspapers, and public attention was and a trolling horse. But they brse drawn to what seemed a very extraore distinct breeds and the breedinfme dinary fact -teat the thin tissue ne paper of which a bank tette is 0001 - dual purpoee cattle requires as much posed could really be divided into two and if any difeerence, more skillthan leaves. it became necessary to test the breeding of epee:al purpose cattle. the truth of dais remarkable discov- 'the dairy quality must not be develop- ery, and so it was arranged that trial ed at the expense of the beef quality, should be made with an actual note of nor the beef at the expense of the dee dairy. Both qualities must be ad- BANK OF ENGLAND. Named together, and it takes skill Preliminaries were settled, and a note and experience in breeding to do it. properly marked, so that it might be Probably no one breed is ideal as afterward identified, was suemittedto dual purpose cattle, but the lebort- the inventor. In the course of two or horu, the Red Polled and the Devon three days back came the note to the approach most nearly to it. It is from owners, eutually split in two. IL was these breeds that the general farmer eagerly examined, but in a little time must look for his supply of dual pure the btu* infidels ceased to feel any pese male. 'the breeders of these alarm, marl coutidence in the commer- should recognize the importanee ot de- dal world was quite restored. 1, eloping both the. beef and dairy quail- It was true the bank note was Dom - Gee, and all tendency to breed for pletely split, but it was also true that single or special purpose should be tin only one half of it was the printed eliminated. impresslou ste ficiently plain to allow number 1 WO and dear mos 50 heel hier then if over supplied with ' a -- nitrogenous fertility, One of the The Colonial Offiee have appointed objeetione of cropping orchards is the Impeder Perrett, of the C division of fad that to melte the crops mere the Metropolitan Police, to be thief in- spector of the Criminal Investigation department at the Straits Settlement, The superintendentA of the several Regal Doelcyards have been officially informed that the Admiralty have de- cided 4.0 enter a total of 150 naval ap- prentices at the dockyards this year. A Queen's Beneh jury reeently awarded Mr. Barrett, member of Lon - of its being circulated. Any atLempt WOOD ASHES FOR COWS. to pass the other, or batik half of the note, would, it was declared, he im- mediately the early settlement of the Doan - mediately detected. try, when cows had acmes to newly St,11, the discovery was curious, and cleared land with its burned and mi h. lead to ei ag.eeable cense- charred stumpe, they used often to go1,nucerneeaesse sthheeterdwaenaeLpebrysonaneaanttsemoiplpstto t to where stumps had been burned and bank notes. Another kind ot ink was lick up the charcoal. Many farmers therefore ordered. for the future to be believe that cows thus allowed free u -ed in the printing of the bank secu.ri- range were less liable to abortion ties, so that in case anyone Mose to try than those kept in clese stables. The the experiment the one half would be ashes probably satisf.ed some want in left blank. the animal economy, 11 may have The secret, however, did not long re - been the phosphate they lontain main hidden from the World. Indeed, which is regeured by tbe eones of the its very s.mplielty seems to have pre - growing foetus. If cows "eat too vented 'its being discovered by the much ihe potash in the ashes corrects dever men who felt so much anxiety the aoidity of th Ir atom ells, whieb about it. often results where stook is highly fed 'Lhe method of splitting paper is just in stables where it has little exercise. thia-two sides Of calico are firmly glued to the sides of the paper, leav- ing the ends of tin calico loose, and HOME 'MADE CHEESE FOR FRAM - the whole is perfeetly dried. By a ERS. gentle and equable pull on each side A greet deal 01 the oompiaint of the paper is split completely in halves, one of which adheres to the calico on overproduistion of dairy products would one side and the oi her to the opposite. be obviated it more, farmers made a The fad thlt the adhesion between prat:lice eaeb year of using enough the paper and the eloth is greater milk for Meese to have a supply al- than :het between Ube surface of the paper to each other is the cause of ways on the family table. There is One phenomenon. no better, cheaper or name healthful Having now divided the pnper the nutrition then can be found In cheese, two halves may be removed by damp - It contains tai the strength -giving ing, and so loosening the glue be - nutrition tor Whial meat is often eat- tween the calioo and the paper. What en, and even when bought nt retail, was ones a great and puzzling secret thecheese gives this much more Men- is no longer in the possession of one ly than meet could do. Almost every- person. These happy individuals with body likes cheese, and if more farmers bank notes tu spare may while away a made and used it, they would avoid winter evening in trying this experie the necessity of eating an excess of meth,. meat, as many now do, in hut weather. A PERFECT .1013ATION. SOIL AFFECTING FRUIT. On tbe occasion of a visit to his Apples are mucle earlier, even in the waive town by a member of Parlia- seine loenlily, when grown on warm, ment, otie citizen wbo had been em- ery and sandy soils thaeggre thosepro- vented from going to listen to the duced on day soils. They are often speech in the town hall, asked another who had been present how the tlis- large rind well colored, but lack keep- tinguished man Inte been received. Ing gettlities. The apple trees are us- "Did they cheer him?' be asked. "Cheer ually aot as long lived. on seedy soU, hire" said the dame; "I should think partly perhaps becaese such soils leek )bey did. Why they gave him a per - potash, but quite as often beemee the tee( jobetionl" This Mall MUSt 8Urely dry soil Maim a better harbor for the have hem related ter the long-suffere apple tree borer. The beetle that ing landbuly who wits compelled to put up with ;tome emey ,noisy end un- ruly lodgers, who were 'accustomed to make the night hideous with their tine seemly revellings. She confided hey evoes to n sympathetie frietul: "There's no putties 41 51014 to it, drat aen, and " shell 110 'riving tho poliee down on oxi a Cbaldeatt tablet, 1141104, . 0. my 'ease soon, I know I shall. Itte It has all entry 01 ''Oe pure vesttnents the mune thin eVery night. As peon for the priests." Among the items arel as I gets into bed, they're up to all "Ten white robes orate Temple„ eight robes ot the }Mese of his lady, ten col. Ines of the house ot his lady, ten pair ef gold eollare, twe Whitt robes, and four scented robee." Also "two Wind- ers," probably sestets for binde ig the wida. NITROGEN. don county council, 4200 for damages Lor libel contained in a certain state- ment published in the Lundon Evening Sun. Lord Lister Iles received another dis- tinction, he has been awarded the Hare ben gold medal for 1898 of the Royal Institute of Public Health in recogni- tion of his services to preventive mecli- eine. Sir Lindsay Wood is to be presented by the Durham Coal Trade Assodation with Ins portrait, painted by Mr. Or- chardson, and a service of silver plate, in recognition of his services as their chairman for 25 years. The criminal statistics for 1897, just issued as a Parliamentary blue book, show that the total number of persons tried at melees and quarter sessions during the year under review was 11,- 215, a number less tban in any year since 1857, with the exception of 1800. Mr. Faithful! Begg, M.P., lute con- sented to tutdertake the leadership of the Women's Suffrage question in the House of Commons in consequence of the retiremen1 from that position ot Mr Wyndham, M.P., un leis acceptance of the office of Under Secretary for War. Mr. Justice Mathew, in his Marge to the grand jure at the Surrey as- sizes, said that in 'uture the assizes woulrl be held rn Surrey in the autumn as in wry other city in England, and he hoped precautions woul4 be taken that he three assizes were held at equi-distant periods, so that prisoners were not detained for an undue time before they were brought for trial. Joseph Best, of Edgbaslon, has left by his will 4100, free of duty, to each of the following Birmingham institu- tions :-General Hospital, Children's Hospital, Blind Asylum, Deaf and Dumb Asylum, Birmingham Dispen- sary, Blue Coat Schuol, Eye Hospital and Women's Hospital. The bequest to the last-named institution is made in memory of the late Mrs. Mansell, wife of Robert Mansell: During the week ending Jan. 14 no fewer than 16 steamers landed cattle, sheep and fresh beef at Liverpool froxn various American and Canadian ports, and the arrivals were the largest for some time past. The total arrivals amounted to 4,490 cattle, 0,922 sheep and 28,311 quarters of beef, which, conapared wit11 the arrivals of the pre- vious week, shows an inerease of 2,808 ocattbleee,5,544 sheep, and 8,575 quarters ff. 'Ile postal authorities give notice that Zenzibar, Burmah, and British Columbia are nOW included in the pen- ny postage scheme; also that the parcel postage rate has also been revised both ear British Guiana and Zanzibar. They, however, warn the public that the post- age of letters to Australia, New Zea- land, Cape Colony, anmalca, Malta and Mauritius still remains at 21-24. per halfounce, and that letters prepaid only a penny will be charged 3d. per half ounce on delivery. At Trefonen church, near Oswestry, the elute, the Rev. George Williams, has taken exception to people reading in church during the sermon. On a recent Sunday, he asked a lady to dis- continue doing so, as she disturbed him. She could leave the church it she liked. She did so. Later the vicar gave notice that pensons wishing to read should retire during the singin of the hymn betore the sermon. If he saw a13 One reading be would at ones dose the servioe aud report the matter to the bishop, by whose decision be would loyally abide. The lady referred to and her friends left clueing the singing of the bymu befere the eermon. The report of the committee appoint - ROYAL WOMEN COLONELS.' There 801 0100101 royal ladies in Eur- ope who are Colonels, some of whone , are not only proud of aide titles, but honor their regiments by giving 1.1010 end attention to their welfare and ad - enurement. The Germin Emprese eonmands the " Queen's. Familiars, the Eighly-sixth Bahl eswig-TIO,klehlere, and dm is not Infrequently seen rid- ing at their head as Colonel, ene sal- uting the Emperor, then reining in bet. Hide bine to eee them pass, Empress Eredeeick, the Kateer'0 mother, has the Eightieth Infantry and the Hussar Regiment, " Kairierin" No. 2, as her tivin, and Queen Victoria, hie grandmother, is privileged to ride at the heed uf the " Vietoria" Regiment, the First Prussian Drage.= Guards. Other women chieftains in the Em- peror's army are Queee Marguerite of Hale, whose regiment belongs to the Hessian Ceasseurs; the Erapreee Dowager of lius,sitt, who is Colonel of Lhe Secund Regiment of Dragoons; the Hereditary Princess of Saxe-leleiningen, 30110 commands the Eleventh Grena- diere ; the 'Princess Royal of Greed,. the Emperor's sister, mad PrincessLon- ise, Duchess of Connauglat, who (tome mends the Sixty-fourth Infantry. Prince Frederic Charles of Prussia's." The Queen of Wurtemberg is Col- onel of the Uhlan Regiment "Konig Wilhelm I. ;" the Princess Vera of Wur- temberg, who was a Russian Grand Duchess, the Chian Konig Karl;" the Grand Duehess Victoria Melita of Elesse has the 117t11 Infantry; the Princess Charles tif Prussia, the Twelfth ed by the Board of Trade on the ques- tion of the rule of the road at sett wael discussed at a conference at Hull of owners of steam trawlers, IL wart con- tended that a steam trawler could not be regarded as a free vessel when fish- ing nor was it possible for her to be manoeuvred with the same facility as a free steamer. Under these einem- etiumes it was not possible, without se- rious sacrefiee ot effieieney to duly totie the suggestions of the eommittee nfratd of horses, ehe teitlish royal so as to eaake the vessel practiertlIS free Princes ere, however, all expert !levee - to (tete and a resolution to this etfeet men, but Coetinental Europe can only Met with the Unanimous approval of bond of two sovereigns who are really the conference, a$ well as a suggestion at home be the saddle, the 'emperor otoritlyhelle,ettprtorrl.of Trade to adopt the min " gain eitall 80,1n110 esti-dirt i x°f F Ittiluar 813 601; re 1100. Reginient of Dragoons; the Queen Re- gent uf the Netherlands, the Fifteenth Westphellan Infantry, and the Grand Duchess of Baden, the Fourth Regi- ment of the Grenadier Guards, Empress Frederick shows herselt a very active commanding officer of the Eightieth Infantry, bat talions of which are stationed at Homburg, Soden, Gens - doll and Wiesbaden, stations within a short railroad ride of be summer residence. She frequently invites the Colonel, staff and line officers to dine with her and discuss regimental mat- ters, and at times she attends the field exercises. Another woman Colonel, who consid- ers herself bound in more than ntLMO, to het: regiment, is the Grand Dachess of Home. She is often noticed on the parade ground, when the regiment is at work. in undress uniform, consisting uf a dark -blue cod, red collars and cuffs, edged with blue, and a heavy black skirt, a peak cap with red band, sword and belt and knotted epaulets. At parades and reviews she heads the 1170a Regiment in all the glory and pomp of full-dress uniform, the helmet totMed with plumes and strapped un- der her chin, tasselled belt, and her breast covered with decorations. the great Order of the Red Eagle being conspicuous. At a recent Kaiser par- ade at lionburg the Emperor sent his personal Adjutant to escort her to him and publicly congratulated her on the magnificent appeurance of the com- mand. The Duchess of Connaught is known as one of the MOSt unassuming and un- pretentious wonaen at the English enure Educated under the eye of her father, the "Red. Prince," she was brought up as a soldier's daughter should be, was a fearless rider at an early age. and sits her hortte with grace and dignity. When Prince Arthur in the natural routine of events. becomes the Commander -in -Chief of the Brit- ish Army, the Duchess will oe one of the most antis° and foremost of the royal women soldiers. In Holland, just now, there is the liveliest satisfaction at the apparent interest Queen Willeelmina shows In her army. Recently, while at °need her country residences, word was brought that a regiment was approaching on O prectice march, and would soon pass the residence. She mounted hurriedly, galloped out to mad the dusLy, travel - stained troops, saluted the Colonel, and putting herself at the beadeof ehe col- umn, personally led. it in front of .the Queen Regent Emma, giving the word. of command for the salute as it pass- ed her mother. Queen Wilhelmina held her first re- view of the army of the Netherlands, slime ascending the throne, at Renkum Heide, near Arnheim, on Sept. 21 last. There were nbout 20,000 soldiers of all arms present, and as their young Queen rode unto the field she evoked frenzied enthusiasm among them end the people. Tt was at first decided that Queen Wilhelmina should appear at the review wearing the uniform of a General of the Royal Horse Guards, rank blue wall geld facings, epaulets ami the other insignia ot rank. Her hiejeety, however, vetoed the proposi- tion and wore a white amazon riding habit with the regulation tall black hat. She rode her pet pony, "Baby." It is a curious fact, that wbile 1100.1., ly all the royal women rif Europe are superb and piceuresqUe horsewomen, few of the reigning eovereigns are even tolerable riders. Emperor William hoe not a firm sent and is at a &sad - vantage because of his crippled arm and always mounts with assistance oe some kind. King Ettunbert of Italy is famous for his falls; the Emperor of Ressia is not a master of the art, and the Kings of Sweden, Greete and Den - meek absolutely tubber riding. The King of Portugal finds no enjoyment when mounted, because of bis stout- ness. Prince Ferdinand of Bulged& named ride for an hour at a time, and King Alexander of Servin, ie Most likely the oldest dressmaker's 11111 101 the world has boon discovered tetra a,nd to Dullish, hie to bend to bis etr et herever orchards are mattered their eager:est will and to crude beneath his feet, (To )3c, Continnede w le ith Sta1 I teanure, bauch ot the valtee a Slite seornfuller--I believe he only of the manta% is net Merely waste , In....1,140 1 , 1 ,i, 1 r e ._ ee „ . cianerdlyt lei o te ulantly. ,up, ne. One -theca of the population of the but woese than twisted, 'the effeet. Well, he has eertainly dole- s worldteak the Chineee lent:name, i of the nitrogehous fertility la to ern ea it. GOLD priODIJCTION.. The gold bullion produced thirthg 1898 was 18,075 ounces, valued et 3271,- 900, but thee does nol ineltule the pro. duel et ene mine on the Seine river. In 1897 the bullion proattet Wes 11,412 ate in 1808, 7,154 oz., mut in 1895 it was but 8.038 �z, It le expedite that the 441 188131 year will dune a nuteli heavier i1te80418e, both relatively and positively, than the past four years.