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The Brussels Post, 1913-3-6, Page 7f — OUR LETTER FROM TORO1T01 MOST IMPORTANT SUBJECTS BEING DISCUSSED IN THE CITY. A Heavy Opera—What New GoVernmonf House WIII Cost—Population of the City—Tax Reform and TomPoranoo, Toronto /um had the privilege of wit. nessiug "lierodiatle ” the grand opera which Areithlshop '13ruehee1 ordered the contpany not to produco in Montreal. Some of Otago who new the opera here Were almost thelined to wieli that the Archblehop hn1 wade his etliet fueled° Toronto, end were inclined to regard His Greet-. as more than ever a pnblio bone - factor, Not Mutt objection rould be taken to "Hermliad(1" on the ground of tinnier - elite. Scone' oV performanees are Reel) in Toronto and Montreal every yeer that nthst give infinitely more °lifeline to pure minds thee would this modern Preneh onnthosition Wised on the old tale of Ilrbfe day. Nor In it offoneiVo in trnmoonteeoto, all hes been sante other stage reprodue- tiong of ecenee based on the game atory. There is no head of the Baptlet on 0plat- ter or any of that boldness. The behead- ing Is supposed to tnke place behind the nano, fie accomplishment being an• nounced by the headsman at top speed running arronn the roar of the stage. TVs weapon wag supposed to bo bloodstained, but I will swear that no one saw an? bloodstains. A Tremendous Opora. But the fact le thnt "fferodiado" is one of those tremendously strong owns with the most pondermie tyhe of music, and not a single melody from start to entail, The miisical critics till agree that the performance was one of the most orfeet and tho opera 0110 of the greateat that Toronto hes over seen. Tint I am not a musical orate. To me it wan late -meting t° "0 and bear —MVP; but I would have to be paid to go to it n. second tinie. And I tenet eonfees, too, to an exceedingly de- veloped weakness far grand opera of a certain type. "Trovatore" and "Aida," fer example, induce raptures even when sung th Italian, of whieli 1 do not understand a word. In the plot of "Tferodinde" Massenet, the composer, hes discarded the hieterical version ef the Rimy. He makes Herod, king of the Jews, fall in love with Salome thrononneed Sall-o-rne. with the went cm the first syllable), while ehe in turn loves John the Deptiet. It 19 Herodiam the queen who demande the head of John, because he had affrented her in pnblic. At first Bernd declines to behead john, benause of the offence to the people, hut legions to do no when be finds all his efforts to eubdue Salome fall, because she loves John. Salem then kills herself with a dimmer. And retribution onmes to Her- odias when she finds that Salome in really her long loat child whom she had deserted Eta an Infant for Herod. It is probable that Archbishop Beuchesre objections were based on inefilente of the performance, sueh as a representation of the beet, and the carrying of palm leaves Ono of the most striking things In the performance was the contrast of the austere inflexible John the Baptist, elad in a single skin, revealing his naked limbs, with the luxurious costa/nes and habits of the court. The New Government House. It is oftleially announced that it is ex. peeted the new Government Mane in Chorley Park will be ready for °coupe. Mon early in 1914. The following state. mat of expendituree upon it to date has been made. Site ...... . 3146,880 50 Laying out grounds 76,452 33 Already spent on Howie 195.227 85 Total ..................8418,550 68 • It is expeoted that upwards of another 3100,000 will be required to complete the ediAce so that the total east will be some. thing over one.half a million dollars. Meanwhile the Lieutenant Governor is re- siding in the Beardmore residence at the corner of College and St. George Ste., where all the state functions are being held. As to who is to be Rir John 0113 - son's successor at the expiration of his term this year'there le still no hint. Criticisms of the looation and design of the new house are still being heard. Not utheit In being said in public, pdssibly on account of a disposition to wait to see what the finished struelure Is 15110. Then eriticism may -all blow over, or there may be a considerable outburet. Toronto's "Ellg Eyes." Some months ago Mr. W. F. Maclean of the Toronto World, in one of hie char. acteristie phrases, advised the people of Toronto to get "big eyes," Like many of Mr. Maclean's original shafts the phrase stuck. This ie no doubt due to the fact that with his journalistic, genius he gra- phically degoribed an attitude of mind universally recognized. Everyone is now getting "big eyes." and W. 17. Maclean, in hie delightful little skite on the front page of his paper, does not hesitate to make record of the various converts to the "big eyes" protession. One of the latest to be recorded muter hie list is the Telegram newspaper, which' the World had previously dubbed aa the chief exponent of the days of "wee York." The reason the Telegram got into the list of converts is that it published the other day an ea. Minato of population, and figured that there wae little doubt that Toronto will have a million people by the year 1923, that is 10 years from now. It publiabed two tables, the first shroviug the growth of the oity since 1837, this being as fol- lows:— Toronto's Population. 1857 ... 46,608 1857 . ..... , 009 1877 .. 70,867 1807 126,169 1897 ... , 183,172 1907 .......... 272 600 It next published an esthnate of papule: tion for the future, the estimate being ooniplied by applying the last percentage of growth to the future. This figured out an followe:— Tor.onttes Population. 1918 ..........................711,009 1923 .......... ..... ......1,109,697 1928 ........ 1,324,918 1933 ........ 1,682,021 1938 .... 1,889,016 1943 2,255,584 1948 ...,.... ...... 2,693,286 The Telegram then went on to deeoribe the territorial expansion that would need to take place in order that the city might keep 110.00 with its growth in population. This, of course, was the part that pleased Mn. Maelean, as he has sonie 1,200 fumes of sulthrhan property which, If Termite keeps on growing, will come within the city limit* Termite now has an area of 18,983 acres, that, is 446 acres to every 10,- 000 of population. Tax Reform Controirersy. Tax Reform and Temperance legielation continue to be the two biggest subjente in BroVincial polities. 11 is envious that 14 is the former rather than the latter that should have caused uoticeable dissension in party ranks. The outsider might have fruPPoged that the Temperance Question, being so lergely a my:polled matter of consoionce, would have been the first to have produced a oloacenge. With reference to the attacks of the Ottawa Citizen and some others of the more earnest advocates of Tax Beene) it 10 difficult, to Judge asyet whit Will be the effect. AM pparently the em: haft gone toe far th be healed. Ono story ln explenatioa ef the vehemence al tho. tack is that it nude some Insolretion In tho old disSalMfaction 01110118 00)1110030. tto Interests yttb Pm Whitney (levorn- inoni's llYdro Dleettio volley% 'rho Ottawa Citizen lo one of the string o1, 3)611009 owned by 061*Southern family HMA A. thil.' who have interests ht the etareet POW& �o,s one of the largest private benied aerWee 60nipttillee 111 Lhe 1,00V11100. thOin) ho 11100 neouttlated with Oro flogortemloommkslottspowinstar IT SATISFIES MILLIONS OF PEOPLE Worth your while to test it 9S Sustains and Cheers. Soiltharns, however, do nob question their sincerity on the taxation question, Mean- while, Sir Jamee has turned upon the Tax Beformere with a characterietie broad- side. Hu has told them that their theory is but the Sorialiette Doetrine of lIenry George and nothing more, and that le It is put into effect the next logioal steps will be the abolition of the home, of mar. riage, und of religion. DAMAGES MORE TIIAN WAIL Annual Loss by Plant Diseases and Insects: $2,000,00'0,000. Louis Dopl the vice-president of the International Inatitute of Agri- culture at Rome, Italy, in a telling article 601.111(113 an alarm regarding the great damage clone annually by diseaees to plants and the crying need for concerted action on the part of the world'e governments to minimize the evil. "A permanent war is waged against humanity," he says, "by, in- visible beings--anicrobes, inseete, and parasites—whieh threaten the a,grieulture of the world and cost pore than all the oonfliobs between nations. Two thousand million dollars is the Stun Which he estimates is lost annually to the commerce of the world in this wa.y. "Moreover," continues M. Dop, "so far from decreasing, the an- nual loss to agriculture is growing yearly, and, unless taken in hand promptly, menaces with ruin those countries which, like Franee, de- pend maenly on agriculture for prosperity.' Going into details, M. Dop points out that according to Liso caloula- -Eons of the authorities the losses suffered in France by the phyllox- era have already exceeded $2,000,- 000, while a. third of the wine -grow- ing population of the country has been forced to emigrate. At the present time in France alone the damage not only to the vines but to cereals, potat,ees, pas- turage, fruit and forest trees caused by diseases, as well as by noxious animals, may be eseimated at over $200,000,000. He also quotes calculations, showing that in the United Staten, G-ermany, Australia., eta, the an- nual loss of crops due to epidemios represents the sum of a thousand Iranian. Marshalling other figeires in sup- port of his assertion, M. pop states that he is conviffee,d that the "cost of living" question is otiosely connected with that of plant die -- eases, This terrific annual loss to agriculture he insists, could be largely eliminated, provided that measures be adopted by all the world's governments. He expects important results from the international commission on plant diseases, which will be convoked by the French Govern- ment tut Rome in April, and which will prepare a report for the gen- eral meeting of the Inberntutional Institute of Agriculture in tho fol- lowing month with a view to estab- lish an international organization to fight: plant diseases, supporbed by all the governments. Now Rates Apple Sauce. Frank Ifinee, of - Rockford, England, ate a barrel of applee in ten days. It Wag a regu- lation barrel. Blase eacom- plished the feat for a bet. His wager netted him £10, and he was 17 lbs. heavier when he had finish- ed. Re has now a dislike fer ap- ples which he eennot express in words. He figures it will be ninety years at least before he asks any- one to "please peas the apple- sauce," Hinse wall visiting the warehouse of a friend when he re- marked sorne apples on display looked ao good he believed he could eat a barrel oe them. His friend wagered :610 that Rinse couldn't eat a barrelful in ten days. Scorei called art, the store daily to see how Hines was getting along, and many side wagers were made. A diplomat, knows when it is policy to know noehing. renlinogoon...MSZAlligualsoyal 016- WU" Elter 23 Bit/Ingo 10 Cents. Makes tho Clothes as Whits as Snow Try It • • The Zolin01n•ItIchavd080 Co 1,18111ed, hiofitroal, 080, IUNATICS DISPLAY CUNNING SOYfE ARE SO CRAZY AS TO BE VERY SANE. illSlifie Seulptor Created a Master- piece After World Had For- gotten What chenee has the rational men. when there are 80 many clever lima - the in the world? Reading ell that the alienists have to etey regarding the kinship of manias to insanity is almost: enough, to convince ue that the sound and well-balanocel brain is a misfortune, If one's ambition rises -to great heights, it mu.st be disconcerting, to tory the least, to be infermed that, very few of the great- est figures in history were wholly sane. Alexander, julius Caesar, Napoleon, Wellington, Frederick the Great—not one of these has es- ea,ped the charge, by modern author- ities ou mental diseases of having shown symptoms of madness. By- ron, Shelley, Stott, Lantb, -Carlyle, Schopenhatter, De Mueset, in face, dozens of lieeerery geniuses have 001110 under the .saane charge, to say nothing of Swift., De Mampassant and. a few others who became mad beyond a doubt. Disoouraging, isn't it, if you want to rise very high in the world, to know that you must compete with the whirling bruins of a lot of mad- men—that is, unless you are one of the queer ones, ecol In this case, you have a chance of being num- bered among the immortals some day if the ,asyluen keepers don'b get you first. But whether the alienists who go about crying crazy at the geniusee are right or wrong, the supeeinten- dent of any insane asylum knows that there is an Immense Amount a Sanity going te waste in minds that are certainly deranged. And sometimes it does n.ot go to waste after all. If you have been in Naples perhaps you remember Vinoenzo Gernita, the sculptor. Severe} years, ago., when lie lost his mind, he had executed some very fine pleoes of work, and the oritics regarded him WS a man of great poesibilities. When insanity crept into his mind it was called a, mis- fortune to. Italian art. The years went by, and before very long Gemita was forgotten. But he had not forgotten his art. Being a harmless sort of lunatic, he had been allowed -to r.emain in his home, where ale day long he toiled in his studio as he had done befeas his wits went asbray. Nobody paid much attention to what he did there. But at last an artist, who had known Gemita in bis better days, came into the atudrio and saw there a figure that astonished him. It was a hall-finiehed statue of the Virgin., and it showed the work of a master hand. "I leave toiled on it for years— ever since the world lost track of me," said the sculptor. "It will be my crowning effort, any master- piece." And so it turned out to be. When it was coanplebed nothing tharb he had ever done could compare with it. It was one of The Finest Pieces of Sculpture that had been done in Italy in years. "And yet they eay Geanita is crazy," -exclaimed the cribies. Crazy he was, beyond a doubt; hopelessly so, the alienista .said. Yet with his reason gone, he had won the fame that his tational mind had failed to bring him. When his statue of the Virgin was exhibited just after its oomplebion it al-onset:I the admiration of all the seulptors and art lovere in the country. But that, of course; is a very ex- creta -thecae case. Genitte may lnrk in the minds oe hundreds of insane pa- tients with momentary flashes, but only once in many years is there ever a man of whom it accomplishes anything worth while. It is not 80 much the genius as the cunning of the lunatic that is perpethally sur- prising and baffling hie keepers. Perhaps this faetulty IS at its best when, to accomplish some mad scheme, he lia8 to delude serangers into believing that he is a, perfectly rational being. At the gate of the royal castle of Konigeberg n woman appeared one day and informed the guarde that she was the Prineess Oharlotte of Mecklenberg. The Princess Char- lotte is aunt of Prince Frederick William, son ,a the late Regent of Bruneweck, who was living art the castle. At the sound of her distinguished name the gnards saluted. The visi- tor deolared oho wished to see her nephew, The eergeamt of the day WW2 willed, and he iin,mediately Stepped All Traffic on the surrounding etreets. Efe groteed eo inform the prineess that the prinoe wee, out, and, aecording to the strict etiquette preseribed for sueh °oat:Alone, ahe could not enter until his meant. But elle was offeted 00 elletir in float of the guardhouee, and in a moment bugle.e mid drums wee° eummoning the entire garriaon to pay the ueual respeets tv Li. etritemee of the imperial fmily. rite eel- diers presented arms befere the visitor, who set watching with cold dignity the honors that were being amended her. Soon small a crowd had gathered that a equael of policemen were mtmmoned to clear the space in front of the gates. The einem, ia: charge of the squed eh:motel to let his eyes wander in the direction oi the honored vititerr. He gave a start of almaeonmet. "That the prineess 1" he cried to the eergeant of the day. "Why. thatee an old woman named Bauer, whit lives behind her son's bake- shop, She's been crazy for years." The next moment the woman upon whom imperial -honors 12114 bee:: bestowed 11091.0 unceremoniono ly dragged away. But it was little elm care.c1; it had always been her ambition to be a princess even for juat a few minutes • and at last she had achieved it'. Gladly she went back to her home behind the bakeshop to epend the rest of he: days in going over and over tilos:: moments when the garrison of Om caAle of Konigsberg had been sum- moned te present arras before her. BIRDS FAR OUT '370 SEA. Rare 0110S ATP Sometimes Caught By Sailors. The ship's harbor of the Atlantic liner Minnetonka hos found a new and profitable pastime in catching wandering birds during the voyage across the Atlantic and selling them on his arrival in port, All ,s.orts 01 birds come aboard at sea, be de- clared, and many of the rarer s.peci- mens find a ready sale. His ehief assistant is a whistling brown. linnet, which lures the wan- derers aboard from its cage in az, open port. When it whistles the vagrant -Mere alighe on the ship, aed presently flutter inside. Then the port is closed and the strange birds are quickly made prisoners. "I have canght hundreds of them, and I supply the London Zoo regu- larly," •said the bird catcher to a representative' of the London Even- ing Standard. "On a recent home- ward voyage the linnet lured a snowbird. It was the first one the London Zoo had been able to secure in sixteen years. "What the biro require when they first alight on a ship is not food but water; and it must be boiled. Gulls follow a .ship all the way across the Atlantic and back. American gulls are regular con- voys as far asethe English Channel, where they desert us ta fellow a westward bounder home again. "The English eulls, which are dif- ferent, having °black feet, yellow bellies, and gray -white wings an.d backs,eon-veer liners over and back in thsame way. The gulls like emigrant ehips best, because the more passengers there are the greater quantity of scraps is thrown overboard, "I do not believe the lams against espeuring ivild birds apply to the high seas, beyond the three mile limit. At any rate ±11 ±8 humanity to care for them, and give them drink, food and medicine when they come aboard exhausted, My birds have brought me good luole; a,nd the passengers are fond of watching bleera. "I had a eurious experience with a, homing pigeon once. it was near Whitsuntide, at which etiason they hold rakes here. . A eat-rier flew aboard as we were entering the Channel, struck the 2110101 and Wag stunned. I cared for it until I thought it was strong enough to fly again, and then turned it loose. Tho bird, however, came back on hoard, Again I set it free, and again it returned, this time settling down on a ledge at the stern, whore it rested for a time, and finally left us as we neared Dover. It must have been disabled a,nd couldn't SWIM TO PASTURE. Reed of Island --0.14tie Cross Chen- nel Twice a Year. The island of Bernera, Lewis., in the Northwestern Hebrides, does not afford sufficient summer grazing foe the orofters' cattle. Conse- quently in the begineing el July each year they are smut to the main- land hills for is period of abou.t two months. In order to get there they have to evim a sea ch.annel about half a mile wide. On a certain day the cattle, num- bering about seven hundred, are gtueheasd together on the neashore. Two or throe of them are tethered to a rowing beat, a,nd When the re- :Tirol:187 ate these in the evater they plunge themselves aud eivim It occaaionally happene that as the time draw, n:petouernine ee the island lmina of le cattl, es- pecially the older ones, Steal away n rthe dead onight romthe graz- ings, travel a distaneoabut taxi miles to the seaehore, and swim back tthe ' _ Many is loafer startedeout• with - splendid prospeets. How maty unkieked kieles .have you eombagi gZeilgefl and apologiea do not al- ter eh-ewe:star:owe WERE KIN TO TURKS. Writer States Bulgarians Are 01d. emt Netion is: Europe. It is euritats to think that the original Bulgariane were probably closely akin to the Turks who to- day are the bitter foes of Bulgaria. In all probability they were a Ter. lar rave. part of the great Hun eon- federacy, which alinont made an end ef tho Roman Empire in the middle of the fifth eentury. After the break-up of the Minnie Empire !hey formed part of that of the ewers, hut in 02e. after their defeat before Cemetentinople, the power ef the AVal'a declined .and Kurt, the Khan of the Bulgarians. became in- dependent. The Bulgars at that thee lay on the northweet ehores of he. Bleck Seas, In 079 Khan Ispi- eels and part of the tribe oressed the Danube into ancient Moesia,, then waste and desolate except for a. eparse population of Slays. They were not, however, very lumen -els, and were steadily ab- erbed by the Slays among whom 'hey had intruded. After the lapse of three centuries little erf the Tar- tar remained in the Bulgarian na- tion. Today the Bulgarians are nearly pure Slays with a certain edmixture of the ancient Thracian bleed, The name is all that is left of the race which .came with Ispineh rtcrose the Danube in 679. leer hree centuries Bulgaria, remained an uneasy bed -fellow to the Roman Fenpire, sometimes in a ,state of vas- oviage, sometimee independent, of- ten fiercely hostile. In 971 Emperor Johannes I. con- quered the east—the present Bul- garia proper—and after a struggle • if thirty years Patel II., "The Bul- ger Slayer," subjuwated the west. and with it all the Slav lends to the head of the Adriatic. Bulgaria re- mained a Byzantine province until 1186, when it rose in revolt under three brothers and after many years 02 war regained its independence, which was assured by the destruc- tion of the eastern empire in 1204. Under Johannes Asen II, (1218-41) it rose to a great height of power, once more covering most of the in- terior of Balkania, but after this great monarch's death the kingdom steadily declined. DESTROY GERRS BY RAYS. French Idea to Purify Water by Ultra -Violet Light. Water purifying by ultra -violet light is a French idea, and in exper- iments by Professor V. Henri, oe Paris University, ell herniful mi- crobes were effectively destroyed in water clear enough to be penetrated by the rep:. A partable equipment is now be- ing tested by the Austrian army for giving troops pure drinking water. The apparatus is mounted on a pair of two -wheeled trucks, and includes a ease oontaining a small gasoline engine, coupled to a rotary pumee and a dynamo. A aterilizing tank, when wanted for use, is removed and set up on a tripod. The water is peraped from the pond or other •source of supply, passed theough a rapid filter if not clear, anti then delivered to the tank. Wires lead the current from the dynamo to the mereury-vapor lamp, generating the ultea-violet 329473. Automatic devices control the a.ppa- rates, and eut off the current and stop the pump when no water is be - Mg used. Ae infectecl water is the ohief 0£61100 'Of tiltt high mortality in army operations, a suceeseful apperatue of this kind must be an important advance. Ready Cooked Meals are rapidly growing in popu- lar favor. ost T asties served either with cream or good milk, or preserved fruit, make a most appetizing dish for breakfast, dinner, or sup- per, Thesedclicieue -beaded flaky bits of white corn have 51 delicate taste rehab ie very pleasing at this thine of yea,e. Post Toastles are ecencini- cal, melee lese work for the busy housewife and please everyone at the table. "The illernnty Lingers" Sold by GM:ere everywhere Canadian :Posture Cereal 0o.WA. Windsor, Ontario, MIL CLAUDE GI/1111A.M Wants $5,000,000 From British GOT. eminent for an Alt Fleet, Claude Grahame -White, the well- known tlying man anti manufactur- er of aeroplanes, hes written a long article which is publiehed in several Lyndon and provincial papers, M which he declares that the British Governmeut must spend at least $6,000,000 this year if it wishes to keep pace with France and Germany. The money, he says, is nut only needed for aircraft it- self, but for the trainiug of pilots, observers, and mechanics. Mr. Grahame -White appends three tables :Mewing .the relative strength of the air fleets of Eng- land. France and Germany. The English table he admits represents the English fleet at its very best. It is as follows : Machines (actually in hand) ap- proximately, 30. Machines (at present on order) approximately, SO or 25. 'Military pilots (at present avail- able) approximately, 30. Pilots now undergoing training, approximately, 20. In regard tc: the aerial forces of France, so rapid is progress in that ceuntry that statistics as to the condition of her air -fleet cannot be more than approximate. The table set forth below should, however, enable the reader to appreciate the Claude Grahame -White. England's foremost aviator. immense strides that France has already made and is still making: Machines (in hand and on order), more than 500. Expert military pilots,. quite 800. Military airmen now in training, more than 200. 0.1 the 600 machines mentioned, appreciably more than 300 are ready for use in war. It will, per- haps, add to the significance of the above table if one adds that it is the avowed aim of France to pos- sess at the end of 1914 an effective farce of 1,000 war aeroplanes, com- plete with all their transport equip- ment, field repair shops, pilots, ob- servers'and skilled mechanics. Mr. Grahame -White continues: "The grant of a million pounds, which I suggested above as being essential for flying, would be quite inadequate if our Government could be induced to go whole-heart- edly into this all-important matter of lighter than air flying craft. In erler 0375i0i012 £1,000,000 estimate, in- deed, I have not provided for any appreciable expenditure on diri- gibles, as I consider that the whole of this amount is necessary for equipment and organization of tho heavier than air type of maohines, both for military and naval uses. At least double this sum should be available if we are to provide our- selves with serviceable dirigibles. "The sdety and indeed the very existence of our Empire may, in the near future, depend upon the efficiency and strength of our aeri- al fleet. In time of stress all air- craft would, of necessity, become contraband of war, and for this reason, if none more worthy ean be found, our home industry must be fostered at all costs. Manufac- turers numb be encouraged not only morally but finarreially ; otherwise all the talent which undoubtedly exists in England will be driven to seek the ready support and encour- agement offered by other coun- tries." Saeed Three Men and Two Women. Willie had beee forbidelen to try hie new sketes because his parents thought the ice Wag not safe. Con- sequently, wher: he appeared in the doorway, dripping wet, there was trouble brewing. "Don't lick me, ma," said the offender, "beam:tee I've just eaved three nom and -two womee froni -drowning," "How?" demanded his mother, "Why," explained Willie, "they Were last ,goieg on the ite when I broke throngh.” FROM DONNIE SCOTLAND NOTES OF INTEREST ER014 UEE BANKS AND BRAES. What is Going on In the Highlands and Lowlands of Auld Scotia. It is proposed to wind up the Marine Gardene Company, Edin- burgh. 'Rho average age of those who died in Gordon laett year ware 08 years. Kirkaldy Smallpox 'Hoepital now (slowed, the town being free of the disease. The statieties of Perth Savings Bank show is net inerea:ee on the Year of E30,510. There were about 240 entries ab the amnual ehow a the Scottish Cat Club held in Glasgow. Lord Tweedanouth -will rebuild Hutton Castle Mffl, which was re- cently destroyed by fire, Arrangements have been made for the celebratien of the Living- stone centenary at Balquhidder ne March. A new miniature rifle range for Dalbearetie Territorials has been erected and was opened by Provost McLaurin. The seamen at Aberdeen will ac- cept the rate of the Federated Shipowners, viz., 33s. Dd., en in- crease of lo. ed. per week. Alt a New Cumnock reunion the chairman raid that :one oould not fire a shot in the village without bit- ting a poet. Moffat shows a reoord in the long- evity of its inhabitants, which is not excelled by any town of it size in Scotland. An anonymous donor has given $500 to She Town Council of Gala,- shiels for the purpose of erecting shelters in the Pringle Park. During last year 1,007 crimes and offences were made known to the Port Glasgow police, an increase of 103 over the previous year. A destructive fire bloke out two weeks ago at Enackrivoch farm, about three miles frora Saltcoaes, oecupied by Mr. Andrew Picken, The Parks Committee of Arbro- ath Town Council have recommend- ed an inc.reased grant to the town band of 230 for this year. Mrs. Mulholland, Coatbridge, mother of triplets born on New Year's Day, has received the King's bounty. The infants. are doing well. Mrs. Gerrie., Glenlochlan House, has presented all the old and de - nerving poor in Kirkpatrick -Dur- ham with a pound of tea, and su- gar. Burglars entered the premises ocoupied by the Inland Revenue, - Edinburgh, and took over $160 in money, and jewellery valued at 560. The stained glass window placed in Bo'ness Parish Church in mem- ory of Mr. David Taylor, postmas- ter, has been dedieated by the Rev. Robert Gardner, B.D. In Edinburgh Sheriff Court, Je- mima Adams, 18 North Richmond Street, was sentenced to two months' imprisonment for neglect- ing her five children. The Fraserburgh Harbor Com- miesioners have decided to store 160,000 tons of rocle material exca- vated from the new Station. Harbor basin, now in oouree of c,onstruc- tion. The Plan and Works Committee of Edingurgh Town Council heve agreed to recommend the Council to make an offer of 220 for the pic- tures of Old Edinburgh painted 'ea the late Mr. Bruce Hume. .14 WEAPON LOADED WITII NAILS Slugs and Other Notious Discharg- ed Front a Blunderbuss. A very peculiar weapon, but largely in uee during the seven- teenth and eighteenth centuries, was the blunderbuss whose bore, quite moderate in size at the breeela steadily widened until at the muzzle it became a round or oval bell, of from over an inch to four inches in diameter. The smaller sizes, says a writer in the Notional Magazine, were usual- ly kept iaa country mansions and farmhouses for defence, many were , 'carried by the guards of e mail - coaches in the ela,ye when highway- men made travelling mitch more e•xeitring and perilous than now, and the larger sizes, loaded with a mixed cargo of bullete, nails, slugs and other notione were -mountedn n ttr oewii-ole oi4d ehips to distourage the ettempte 01 tine welcome "bearele.rs" who alight at- tempt -to ebtain a free paasage and provision5 by armed force. Indeed, many very handsome and costly 0111011: were made aft,er the perm:se-ion J01211(- W60 anti were consitlered a not tineuithe late teetinioniel for a captain of an armed vessel.. Othera, vary eliort in the loonal, were for horsemen/a uee, and largely Parried ±11 North- ern Africa, "Auntie, are eeriond thoughts boot?" "So we are told, my: dear." "Then why don't, pSeplo have theM fird