Dover Express from Dover, Kent, England • 3

WHO IS GUILTY? rights BY PHILIP WOOLF, M.D. CHAPTER Continued. He half filled two goblets with the hot water, and placed one of them on the table in front of Mi.S Percy. While he was busied with the stove, she drew the bottle from the bosom of her dress and poured a portion of its clear contents into her own glass, and then hastily secreted the bottle. She then stretched her arm across the table but hastily withdrew it as the old man turned round.

A wicked smile came to his lips. Squeeze a little lemon in your glass, ma belle, and I will squeeze a little lemon into mine. Now pour this dose of brandy into your glass and I will pour this whisky into mine. Are you ready, ma belle?" he asked with fierce joviality. I am ready, uncle, even to the sugar." Then, ma belle, we will change glasses in loving confidence! Hand me your goblet, sweetheart." Ho laughed harshly as the exchange was made; duped by his own suspicions, as the wise Miss Percy bad foreseen and prepared She submitted to the change of glasses with so much innocent directness, that be felt ashamed of his doubts.

"Your health, ma belle," he said gayly, drinking from the prepared glass. I hope this will melt your icy blood and free your tongue. Drink! drink! And talk to me as if I were a woman and your friend. Tell me about the doctor, and how uiuch money you frightened out of him." I owe him nothing, uncle," she answered dryly. Then tell me how much he owes you continued Mr.

Newton with a short laugh. He owes me nothing, uncle!" It was, then, love after all?" You are making the mistake you made once before. You are blind, uncle." "Be careful, ma belle, be careful. I am a free man again. I have plenty of time at mv disposal now, and if it becomes my humour to aguin hammer down your will and obstinacy, I won't fail this time.

Drink," he continued, emptying his own glass and refilling it. Loose your wits; I will keep mine! I could empty a wine-cellar without losing my senses!" In truth, alcohol, instead of rendering Mr. Newton helpless, only intensified his eccentricities. His brain remained clear but the muddy pool of his emotional nature was stirred, and its sediment universally diffused. Miss Percy's opinion of her venerable relative may be inferred from the fact that she kept her hand in the pocket of her dress; the slender fingers clutching the handle of a pistol.

How are we to know when the yacht arrives, nncle "We leave this place at twelve, and wait for it hidden near the shore have a prettier niece than I imagined! Your health, ma belle." The hand holding out the glass had lost its steadiness, and the liquid in the glass spattered the table. Come and kiss me!" He stammered in his speech paused, and over his face there passed a wave of malignant hatred. You he hissed fiercely, yet feebly. For the first time in the interview Miss Percy felt at ease she withdrew her hand from her pocket and calmly consulted her watch. "It was time!" she murmured, glancing at the old man who was sinking into passiveness in his chair, yet even in his impotency grinding his teeth and feebly clenching his hand.

If I had time I would box his ears for his insults but wanting time I shall surrender him to a friend who will be only too anxious to pay him his respects!" She opened his coat and extracted from its inner pocket a sealed envelope and with a contemptuous shrug of the shoulders left the room. Another victim of too much cleverness," she muttered. And still another is waiting my foolishness for assistance." She pushed open the heavy door and entered the large vaulted chamber. Securely tied, hands and feet, and with a gag in bis mouth, lay the redoubtable Detective Sharpe. Miss Percy was too much disturbed by her own thoughts to enjoy the humorous spectacle.

She removed the gag loosened the bonds, and the disconsolate and numbed detective rose slowly and painfnlly to his feet. I'm much obliged to you. Miss Percy," he said, humbly. But if 1 once get hold Excuse me, Mr. Sharpe, but neither of us has time to pay or to receive compliments.

The man you seek is in the room below this; but the tower is undermined and will be blown in the air immediately after midnight. There is no time to explain. Listen, and obey. There are still tifteen minutes of safety! Hare you any men around There is, or was, one in the veranda." 44 Well summon him, return here with him, and then remove the senseless man. Get him out of the house, and yourself out of the house, all within less than fifteen minutes Do you hear?" Yes, but I don't understand." 4 If you understood you would again make a fool ef yourself," she said, dryly.

44 Listen and obey. The man is in the room below, and you have less than fifteen minutes to act. Go! This way and return this way She pulled back the door opening on the hall, and secured it from springing forward. "Go, now, for help, and receive the merited honour of capturing the murderer! Kemember that every moment is precious." 44 I understand," said the detective, rushing into the hall, and if I'm caught this time, I deserve to be blown up!" Bbe listened for a moment to his retreating footsteps, and then returned to the room below, but not to wait. After casting one contemptuous glance at the sleeping man, she pushed against a projection in the wall.

One of the stones slipped aside, thereby revealing a high but narrow opening. 44 If I only knew where the explosive is I would remove it. My mistake but it can not be remedied now, and there is time even for a fool to act 1" She entered the narrow passage-way, and the stone closed behind her. A narrow passage-way, darker than the night outside it, with a flight of steps and a perceptible slope, with mysterious puffs of air blowing into it from secret openings. A long, carefully constructed passage-way.

costing years to build and the work of a madman! Miss Percy sped through the darkness as if she were well acquainted with the ground. Having passed straight forward for a certain distance, with her hand touching the walls, she turned to the right, and, in a moment, entered the aneurism of a cave, into which the artery dilated. Touching a spring, she entered a broader cave, and the sea, glittering in the moonlight, was before her. She glanced anxiously about; but no yacht was in sight. Ships were at rest on the water with furled sails but not the yacht she sought.

She glanced at her watch in the moonlight. Two minutes to twelve! Suppose she had been suspected! Suppose she should reach the yacht too late! Suppose a thousand Csibilities a thousand impossibilities a thousand rors! everything! anything! The passiveness frenzied her. She could have controlled her feelings to the end if she had plunged from activity into activity. But to stand idle with the goal in view, There was a strange tremonr of the earth She felt before she heard. She covered her ears with her hands and shrieked.

It was coming! Yes, with the faint sound of the midnight bell, it came! A flash of fire, and a loud explosion, causing the very rocks to shiver! That was over! She panted with terror, yet smiled in her relief. Again she glanced over the water and saw her yacht, as if it had dropped from the clouds. A small boat had emerged from its shadow, and was speeding in her direction. It touched the sand and she leaped into it, Take me first to the yacht, and then return with all your inen she said to the man in the stern. 44 He is in the cave, and he needs you all.

Quick 1" She spoke commandingly, and they obeyed with energy. 4 What was the explosion, Miss Percy 44 The bouse has vanished. It blew up before he expected; and he fears the report will bring the enemies on him You must be quick, and take your guns with you. There is a world of riches to share among you Pulled by the sturdy arms, the boat flow through the water. It reached the yacht, and Miss Percy was the first to climb to its deck.

A whimpered conversation, a slight pause, and then two emerged from the shadow of the yacht, and towards the shore. Miss Percy was in action again it was the ono stimulation she needed! She passed through the cabin of the yacht, unfastened a door at the other end. and entered a small, dark room too dark for its interior to be seen. Not a sound was to be heard. Geoffrey she called, with a nervous tremour in her voice.

44 Geoffrey!" All was silent. More activity, or she would fall into unconsciousness! Geoffrey Geoffrey ,4 Kh? what?" asked a voice from the darkness. "Thank Heaven murmured, with her hand tlasped to her heart. 4 Geoffrey, where are you I dare not light a lamp, or they will seo it from the outside. Where are you 4 neck and heels, on tne bed, ready for the fishes answered a cheerv voice.

44 But not a bil ofraid. having faith in a good angel." She entered the darlintst, and with ejtended hinds, groped her way. It was a small room, and she easily reached the bed. "If 1 hurt, tell me. I must sever your bonds in the dark." Cut away, angel; I will stand it!" With intelligence at the ends of her fingers, she cautiously severed the ropes that were twisted around a human form then emerged from the darkness into the light, followed by a handsome young man, who had evidently endured much suffering.

I hoped that friends would have met us, as I warned then). But they are all idiots, and we must depend on ourselves. Are you strong enongh to swim lteady to risk it, or any thing, to smell the air of freedom again 1" Well, creep through the window and swim to the shore. It is not far." And you I will remain I do not fear!" But I do! I will not leave you at this moment, weak as I am, and strong as you are They will have to step over my body first!" Escape! They are already returning, frenzied by my falsehood. Escape It is a fitting end Too romantic, by half, Miss Percy 1 I am not hero enough to let you suffer." But listen, they are on the deck." Evidently cracking each other's skulls.

Miss Percy. Do you hear the groans and curses "It is Captain Travers, she said, joyfully. "He has come in time!" The tension had proved too great, even for her, and as Captain Travers rushed into the cabin she uttered a sigh, and fell unconscious to the ground, CHAPTER XVII. AT LAST A paper in the city thus commented on the events of the evening before in Cyprcssville: A stiie fingerof time pointed to midnight, Cypressville was treated to another sensation; an attempt was made to blow up Lesbia Villa, the scene of the late tragedy. Fortunately, it was unsuccessful; the house is undamaged save for a few broken windows and cracked ceilings.

The reason for the attempt was a villain's desire to destroy Mr. Sharpe, the pride of our detectives, who escaped from a vile attempt to ruin him, that another laurel leaf may ornament his modest brow! Just before the explosion, he was in the house maturing his plans for the capture of the criminal who had murdered the ill-fated Mr. Addison. From the very start his subtle brain, which far excels in cunning those of the famed detectives of fiction, had pierced through the maze of mystery, and reached its nucleus Like a sleuth-bound, he steadily pursued the trail, and had finally planted his fangs in the throat of the quarry. In the cause of justice, we have hitherto refrained from commenting on the case but the reasons for silence are removed, and we can now freely state that Max Newton is the man who has stained his hands with a noble master's blood.

To Detective Sharpe, and to him alone, is due the credit of this discovery; and that the prisoner is not now in jail is owiDg to the fact that he mysteriously disappeared at the very moment the detective intended to arrest him. Detective Sharpe escaped by a miracle he was grappling with the frenzied criminal a few minutes before the explosion, and had bound him. The wretch refused to move and the detective rushed out to obtain assistance. At that moment the explosion occurred, fortunately, as we have said, doing little harm. The detective, followed by the devoted Mr.

Tomlins, rushed back into the building but the murderer had escaped. He had cut his bonds and by means of a secret passage reached the sea-shore, where, doubtless, a boat was waiting for him. We venture this statement from the fact that the three police officers were picked up out of the water. They had been placed over-night, by Captain Travers, in charge of the yacht Oriana, which they had bravely captured and rescued a prisoner from it. Trusting in the majesty of their shields and batoons, they were quietly walking on deck when they were seized by the crew whom they were guarding, and were unceremoniously pitched over-board.

The yacht has disappeared with the murderer, but Sharpe is on the trail! "The details of Sharpe's heroic act, and of the secret passages in the house, will be found in another column. We erect public monuments to our warriors, poets and statesmen; we patronise our literary men and our artists; can nothing be done for our brave detectives We have opened a subscription bureau that Detective Sharpe may receive the public approbation that he merits." Miss Percy read this enthusiastic narrative in her own room read it and read it again, and nearly laughed herself into convulsions. It isn't every tragedy that ends as a farce," was her amusing comment. Detective Sharpe ran away to escape our laughter, and not on account of the criminals. As for my good relative, luck has again helped and Mr.

is too conning to be caught now, and I was a fool to (rust any body but myself. They all went wrong but me, wise as they are! But I'm abnormal, as the doctor would say. The beast doctor 1 We are still to hear his wise comments." Miss Percy descended to the drawing-room, where were her mistress, looking very pale but not unhappy Doctor Dubois, Mr. Morris, Geoffrey Draper, and the good-natured, smiling Captain Travers. At the moment the maid entered the room, the doctor bad finished reading aloud the newspaper item that had so amused her.

This is the value of fame!" he exclaimed, throwing the newspaper aside. "I am net vain, and the thing is a trifle in itself; but if truth must be told, what succesa Sharpe met with is due to me. He was on the wrong track, until science demonstrated to him that Max Newton was the guilty man!" The doctor paused to turn towards Geoffrey Draper who was in danger of suffocation in his attempt to suppress his laughter. Excuse me, doctor," he said, unable longer to restrain himself, and laughing until he was purple in the face. The whole business is sad but hang me it is so funny Again he gave way to his mirth, and the sympathetic Miss Percy kept him company, to the indignation of the grave doctor.

Mr. Draper again apologised, and when he had conquered his sense of the humorous, he said May I ask, doctor, if you were convinced that Max Newton was the murderer from the very start I was, sir, and I am; and stake my reputation on the truth of this conclusion I am glad we have got a definite statement at last! he said, glancing demurely towards the now demure Miss Percy. The doctor retorted with fine sarcasm: I hope, sir, you will be able to demonstrate your case as clearly as I could demonstrate mine But we are waiting!" "I will start the ball," said Miss Percy, taking her mistress's hand in her own. "I suppose even the stupidest among yon is beginning to see that Miss Gower was the victim of a diabolical plot. Two wicked men pursued her, tortured her until I wonder she did not kill herself.

would. To gain forgetfnlness Oriana Gower, indulged in the vile habit of taking opium, and the habit grew on me till I was slave!" She took opium," said Miss Percy, quietly, "to escape from her agonies. Once, doctor, she waked up in the greatest pain, and at her request I gave her a hypodermic injection of morphine. You saw the mark on her arm and, no doubt, drew some rigid scientific deduction from it!" The doctor made no reply. Now, in all that follows, you will always remember that my object was to deceive Max Newton and serve Miss Gower at the same time.

If this man once suspected me, disaster would have fallen on myself and on others." Poor little thing murmured Mr. Draper. Before I was a lady's maid, I was enjoying the luxury of starvation. I was desperate, and Mr. Newton took me in hand.

He promised me a fabulous sum if I got engaged in Miss Gower's service, and prevented her from speaking until a certain plot was matured. To help myself, and an innocent woman at the same time, I consented to Mr. Newton's proposal, and became a lady's maid." In times ot famine very good bread has been baked from wood, bran, and husks of corn. The 44 wood bread is made by selecting the sawdust of the least resinous wood beech, for washing it with water to remove any soluble matter. It is then dried in an oven, and reduced to fine powder.

With the addition of a little flour, some yeast and water, it forms a dough, which, when baked, constitutes a bread resembling in appearance and taste our ordinary brown bread. Wiiat we call a hot bath would appear to a Japanese merely tepid. The Japanese take their morning tub at a temperature of Io4deg. Fahrenheit, and immediately afterwards douche themselves with perfectly cold water. Herr Nippold, who was for many years professor of law at the Tokio University, declares in his book on Japan that after a bath of this heat, and the subsequent cold douche, he used to feel warm all day in the coldest winter weather; while in summer the bath had the exactly contrary effect, and was most cooling and refreshing.

Prkmpiii's mother, now a prisoner with the deposed King of Ashantee at Elmina, has had 50 husbands, all of whom, with one exception, were put to death by her orders. In the towns and cities of Chili all the shopping of any consequence is done in the evening. In Santiago the stores are open till midnight, and during hot afternoons thev are locked up. DUKEY AND SUKEY. A TRANSATLANTIC COMEDY.

I was almost speechless with surprise. There the reporter sat, big as life and twice as impudent, perched on the top of the fence, his pencil scurrying ores the paper as if the deuce were in it, his eyes roving from side to side every time he paused, taking in every detail at one fell swoop, as it were; funniest thing I ever saw It happened this way; I had been engaged for years in the construction of an air ship with an electric contrivance attached, and the few experiments I had been able to make in a confined space satisfied me I bad achieved a grand success. I had completed the thing a week before, but decided to wait for a dull day for my first aerial trip. I was sitting at the window of my squalid upper room one morning waiting for my landlady's summons to my matutinal rations of hot muffins and coffee, when a hubbub on the street attracted my attention. An aerial livery stable was directly opposite my window, and a very fat man, with grey hair and coat tails streaming in the wind, mouth and vest wide open to the wintry blast, came sailing round the corner with three officers of the law in full tilt behind him.

His face was as red as a lobster, and he had so much speed on that he couldn't stop short enough, but ran bang up against the door casing as he turned into the stable. I threw up the window. Curiosity? Oh, no, of course not! I only wanted to see what was going all; thought there was going to be an arrest; and the old fellow was a nabob mistaking that. "Gi' fastest speed away boy. Quick, I My mind was made up in a twinkling; I would follow him, and submit to the loss of my breakfast, for I was determined to seethe end of the adventure.

I gave a last glance from the window, saw four air ships getting ready, and then flew to my own arrangements. My ship was a simple folding contrivance which I picked up and tucked under my arm seizing my field glass I mounted the ladder, which was all that intervened between me and the roof. I unfolded the craft, which opened out large, light and convenient when ready for use, and seated myself therein. I then swept my field glass over the sky in order, if possible, to locate the runaways. There they were in plain sight, in an old-fashioned slow-sailing Bhip, sure to be overtaken unless I went to their relief.

I arranged the steering apparatus, took a long breath and pressed my foot on the electric button. The next thing I knew I stopped with snch a jerk that it nearly tnmbled me, neck and heels, from the car; but I recovered myself and looked over the side. 1 wasn't used to the instant action of the electric contrivance, you see, and didn't remove my foot quite soon enough, and so overshot the mark and was all tangled up with the air craft I was after. I saw I had wrecked it completely, and the poor frightened passengers were only sustained by the tangled ropes attached to my own ship. Hold on a minute!" I shouted, as I hauled in the rope.

Here you are, safe and sound," I added, as I helped them over the side. The baker's boy held the girl till she was safely seated in a cosy corner, wrapped in a warm blanket which he had over his arm. I didn't blame him, either, fer she was a pretty little thing with a rosy, innocent face and big blue eyes, and he wasn't a badlooking chap himself but, bless you! they were both babies, nothing more; not a day over sixteen and eighteen, respectively. "Are you going to give me back to my pa?" she asked as soon as she was seated. Because if yon are I'm goin' to jump right out now." Don't do it!" I cried.

Why, I intend to help you. Now tell me all about it, there's a dear. Where are you bound for To the moon, to make tarts and buns for the man there; Sukey thought we might work up quite a trade," answered the boy baby. Oh, Dukey dear, it was you said it, yon know it was! You said he was so round and jolly looking he must be a great eater." I was astonished at their guilelessness, bnt I couldn't bear to be hard upon them. Yes," I replied, "he is round one way, bnt exceeding flat the other, by reason of standing plump up against the planet all the while.

I don't think you'd like it, though, even if you succeeded pecuniarily the society is a mere nothing." Well, what shall we do, then? Advise us we're bound not to go back," they exclaimed in chorus. I'll tell you what I think; we'll start out on a tour of the stars, and touch here and there until you find a spot you like, and then I'll leave you there how's that "Oh! oh oh! How lovely!" cried Snkey. "That's a boss idea, and uncommon jolly of you, too!" chorussed Dukey. What do you say to going to Man fint then They're doing considerable building these, it is thought, and the workmen ought to be hungry you might be able to do something." "Anvwhere you I never thought I'd like to take Sukey to Mars; it's uncommon lively sometimes, and Sukey's timorous Oh, I think you'll like it, once you're there," laughed, as the foremost of the other ships hove in sight. We canght sight of the grey hair and red face of the irascible pater, who was leaning over the side shaking his fist it our direction.

Suddenlv he gave a lurch and almost fell out; but the operator seized him by the legs and pulled him in just in time. Oh, my pa! Save him! Oh, my dear pa shrieked Sukey. 'Come rest in this bosom, my own stricken cried Dukey, soothingly, and Sukey went. "You don't repent he murmured softly. No, no, never! How could she answered, leaning upon him.

The other ship was perilously near, and I had not mnch time for deliberation. I set the steering apparatus according to my original plan, beaded for Mars. Take a long breath and away we go!" I cried, and the next instant brought us np alongside of a nice looking country where they seemed to be engaged in buildiDg some sort of masonry but we didn't have time to investigate, for, to my consternation, I saw the other aerial craft again in proximity to us. Some one else had been experimenting in electricity, and not unsuccessfully, either, though the thing was much clumsier and slower than mine. And now began one of the most exciting chases that was ever witnessed.

We scooted np under the handle of the dipper, and they popped round the comer a moment later. We set sail for the Great Bear, but the watchman there said he bad gone into winter quarters, and there wouldn't be anyone to show ns around and Sukey burst into tears, and said it looked so lonely, and she'd be so afraid of the bear she didn't want to stay so we made another start just as ship number two came in sight. I steered for Orion's Belt this time, bnt I made a miscalculation, and got all tangled up in the old fellow's belt buckle, and he was so crusty that I made up my mind not to leave the babies there, at any rate, even if we had time, which we hadn't, for scooting after us came the irate papa, in hot haste for the capture which he thought was now certain. He had reckoned without his host, however, for the children began to look disheartened, and I wanted my dinner; so I cheered them up as well as I could and pnt on my thinking cap, and this is what came of it. We shot off at lightning speed an instant later, and to show that we had profited by former experience, I did exactly what I aimed to this time, and ran alongside of Cassiopea's Chair in such a way as to be able to slip a noose over one of the upright posts in passing.

Cassie was enjoying a noonday nap, and was capsized so suddenly that she went sprawling on all fours, and scrambled up rubbing her eyes and pinning up her back hair, which had tumbled down, in a dazed fashion which made us laugh in spite of our attempts at self-control, We went a little past, you know, so she didn't see us, and wondered what had capsized her chair but before she had time to right it again up came the pursuing craft and ran right between the long I hoped and planned was wedged in in fine style. I knew we had full two hours' lime before us now, if we needed it. The old nabob saw the trick, and went into a raging tantrum he danced up and down and called on Jupiter, Jove, and Mercury to come at once to his assistance, but they didn't. Then he leaned over and shouted at Dukey: little pesky, low-lived, chickenhearted How it happened I never knew, but the next instant he was over the side, dangling in the air at the end of a rope. A stout hook was caught in his trousers, and it's mv private opinion that the operator, seeing his rising wrath, had fixed it there as a precaution at any rate, there he was, feet and hands wildly waving in the air and his face scarlet, for all the world like an animated boiled lobster.

I laughed in spite of his danger, but Sukey nearly fainted. Oh, help poor, dear pa! Oh, pa! Pray ki so At this moment the operator pulled him in and landed him in spite of his struggles. strangle you punch you black ana blue he cried, as soon as he could get his breath. No, you won't! 11l punch your head 1 I'll give you one in the "Oh. Dukey, dear, don't, don't! Remember he my pa pleaded the female baby.

They now turned their attention to setting the ship loose, and I made what I meant should be our last move. I bad always thought I should try the of the Hesperides if I ever decided to change spheres, and thither we took our way. 1 had taken careful aim this time, and we lit exactly on the top of the garden fence. I looked around, arid was just about to tell the babiee to get out and take a turn in the grounds to see how they liked the place, when I was astonished to see another craft tied up to the gate and a jolly reporter perched upon the wall writing for dear life." "Hi, there!" shouted. "What sost of a place is this to locate in "'Nificent he bellowed Deck without looking up.

and went ngbt on scribbling. He didn't seem tomotice me at all, except to look np once with a jerk, and a moment later he folded np his manuscript and stuck his quill behind his oar. I saw him give a sudden smirk and wink, and 1 followed the direction of his eyes. What did I see? Well, I wish I could tell you, but I can't. I suppose she was human, butshelookedangelic shewasa Hebe, or houri, a fairy princess but anyhow she seemed to know the reporter, and to have an understanding with him, for before I could catch my breath she was in his arms.

He bad jumped down from the fence as she came to meet him. I glanced around the garden 'twas a magnificent fountains, flowers, everything. Then 1 looked at the babies they were fairly beaming at one another, and so busy with making plans that I had to speak twice before they heard me. Think you'll like it here I queried. "Like itf I should say so!" they chirruped in chorus.

14 1 suppose you have money I asked curiously. Why, is to didn't think we began Dukey, sheepishly. "Of course you didn't I cried encouragingly. But never mind this; a little present, you know," I threw them a roll of bills. "And here's the blanket, in case yon decide to set up housekeeping." "Oh! oh! You dear, good Sukey, giving me a kiss that made my heart thump.

Please tell my pa that we've our marriage certificate all right." And she held it up for me to see. Dukey jumped down, and I heard a smothered ejaculation of bliss as Sukey followed suit, and be caught her in his arms. Good-bye I called, and was just ready to start when I turned to give a final look at the babies. There they were, and that everlasting Reporter was introducing them to the houri. We'll take care of them," he shouted as he saw me looking bock, and I bowed my thanks as I shot off.

Just as I sighted home a twinkling white streak darted by me. When I landed upon the house top I heard a great commoticn in the city newsboys were rushing wildly about the streets, doors and windows were flying open, and something extremely exciting seemed to have occurred. I folded up my ship, descended the ladder, and ran down to the door. Extry! Exfery! A reporter's account of the doings at the Garden of the Hesperides Here you ore I Extry! Extry I heard them shout. I bought a paper and read it over the dinner which awaited me, with the turkey smoking hot, as I descended to the dining-room.

Bure enough, there it was, a full account of everything scenery, aerial inhabitants, runaway babies and all not a word about the girl: the sly fellow kept that to himself. I never owned it before, but I don't mind telling Sou that his ship beat mine all to smithereens. But ben it had to, of course; he's a twentieth century reporter. DESTRUCTIVE FIRE AT NORTHAMPTON. A lire, which had disastrous results, broke out at midnight on Saturday on the premises of Watkin builders, Sheep-street, Northampton.

In less than four hours damage estimated at between £20,000 and £30,000 was done. In addition to levelling to the ground Messrs. Watkin's buildings, which occupied nearly an acre of land, Messrs. Wright's packing-case factory was burned to the ground; also nine wheelwrights' places adjoining, and a number of cottages on the opposite side of the road were bodlv damaged. Three hones were burned to death.

STORY OF A SHIPWRECK. The steamship Oropesa, which arrived at Plymouth on Sunday night, brought seven of the crew of the Liverpool ship Bankville, which has been lost on a voyage from Cubango. The Bankville encountered very heavy weather off Cape Horn. On April 20, a seaman named Eeenan was washed overboard. All the sails were blown away, and the sjas swept the deck, smashing in the hatchways ancT carrying away everything loose.

The vessel was fast settling down, and the crew were in a desperate plight, when the Balmaha, of Glasgow, hove in sight, and took off the men. They lost all their effeots, but were kindly treated at Monte Video, where they got a passage home. -w FIVE HUNDRED REBELS KILLED AND WOUNDED. The Imparcizl correspondent in Cuba telegraphed to Madrid on Sunday that a great battle has been fought near Najasa and Camaguay between the forces of Maximo Gomez and the columns of Generals Costellano and Godoy. The troops of the former general were attacked in their positions by the insurgents, who numbered 5000, and who frequently charged with machete.

The column held out for 42 hours when General Godoy came up, and the insurgents, who lost 500 killed an 4 wounded, were driven back. The Spanish had four killed and two officers and 32 soldiers wounded. BURGLARY AT A MAGISTRATE'S RESIDENCE. A burglary was committed on Saturday morning at West-hill-place, West-hill, Highgate, the residence of Mr. W.

P. Bodkin, J.P., who has for more than 40 years been chairman of the Highgate Bench of magistrates. The house stands a little back from the main rood, and the grounds adjoin Parliament-hill-fields, the position being most secluded. At a quarter to four Mr. Bodkin was awakened by a noise, and on looking out of his bedroom window he saw a man standing on the portico over the door leading to the lawn, and immediately under the window.

The man saw Mr. Bodkin at the same moment, and, raising his right arm, deliberately smashed the window in Mr. Bodkin's face. He then put his hand through the broken glass and snatched up a jewel-case, which was standing on a dressing-table near the window, containing a gold watch bearing the monogram E. 8." and eight dress rings, some of which were set with diamonds, pearls, and sapphires.

The police were immediately informed of the occurrence. The value of the stolen property is between £lOO and £l5O. HOUSEKEEPER And now, Bridget, is there anything more that von require before you become my cook?" Bridget: "Yes, mum; there's wan filing 1 forgot, muin. I'll expect the use of yer bicycle on me aftbernoons out. I've a pair ev knickerbockers ev me own." A LITTLE girl recently drank a pint of paraffin oil.

The doctor thought she would die, until one of her relatives hit on happy expedient. They slipped a yard of candlewick down into the oil, lit the upper end, and during the crening she lighted the room nicely, and then went to bed all right. KHATING'S POWKKB kills fleas, beetles, bugs, moths, and all insects (perfectly unrivalled). Harmless to everything out insects. Sold in Tins.

and la. LADY HELHSUT is the fortunate possessor of a very unique dinner service. It is, says the Minute, of white Minton china. Each plate and dish contains a painting of her home, Ingestre Hall. The border is of filigree gold.

It was a wedding present when she married Viscount Helmaley. Jviso HUMBERT or is the most heavily insured man in the world. The amount of insurance he carries is over £1,500,000. The late Czar Alexander 111. was insured for £1,000,000.

The Prince of Wales carries different policies on his life, to the amount of £650,000. A MAS in Rochester, New York, acting as agent for a friend, invested five or six thousand dollars in a bad speculation. The agent, finding that his friend's money was lost, mortgaged his own home and raised money enough to return the entire amount, and to this day, according to a New York pnper, the friend does not know that his little all" was ever in jeopardy. THE foods of which corpulent, persons ought to beware, and which thin people ougbt to take, are pot ktues, starchy food, sweets, cream, milk, thick soups and sauces, cocoa, chocolate, peas, parsnips, carrots, beets, and such-like foods. The foods which stout people may have with safety are lean meat, poultry, game, eggs in all forms, flat fish, green vegetables, succulent fruits, tea and coffee.

GEORGE means a farmer; defender of many John, the grace of the Lord Jane is the feminine of John Mary means better; Louisa is the feminine of Louis, and means the defender of the people; Emily is a corruption of Amelie, and means beloved; Annie is little Ann or Hannah, and means gracious; Caroline is the feminine of Charles, which is to the German Earl what church is to kirk, and means noble-spirited; Agnes means chaste; and Ellen is Helen, and means the allurer. IN Germany, when the vote of the jury stands six against six, the prisoner is acquitted. A vote of seven against five leaves the decision to the Court, and in a vote of eight against four the prisoner is con ricted. NEWS NOTES. Tnn price of coals is hardly a matter altom which the majority of us are worrying just iiow but the time will como when we shall be concerned thoreauent.

In a circular just issued to their clients one of the leading firms of coal merchants in London dealing with the prospects of the trade remarks that there is reason to fear that the Conciliation Board will bo broken up next August. The miners resolutely insist on the present minimum rate of wages being maintained, ami the colliery owners having suffered so severely it is certain they will not consent to have their hands tied for a further fixed period. It is by no means likely that the dissolution of the Board will be immediately followed by a strike or general lock-out, but there will probably be local difficulties which may easily spread through entire districts. CERTAIN influential supporters of the Government who are strongly opposed to the idea of autumn sittings, but who at the same time recognise the undesirability of sacrificing any of the essential portions of the Education Bill, suggest, we are told, the adoption of a standing order on the lines of that recommended by the Select Committee which sat in 1890, enabling public bills which have reached Committee stage to be hung up and proceeded with in the following Session without debate on the stages already dealt with. It is pointed out that four of the leading members of the present Cabinetthe Duke of Devonshire, Mr.

Balfour, Mr. Chamberlain, and Mr. Goschen in favour of this expedient when it was proposed six years ago, and that, although, owing to the length of time occupied by the Procedure Committee in arriving at a decision, the resolution then formulated was not pressed, the late Mr. W. H.

Smith plainly intimated that Ministers reserved to themselves absolute freedom of action in the future. It may be that the Government, with its great numerical strength, will see fit to adopt the suggestion referred to, save the bill, and avoid the always unpopular autumnal Session. THE initial instalment of the first annual report by the Chief Registrar of Friendly Societies of the proceedings of the registrars under the Building Societies Acts has just been issued for 1895. From this it appears that at the time of the passing of the important Building Societies Act, 1894, there were on the register the names of 4486 societies enrolled under the Act of 1836. The number on the register on December 31, 1895, was 965, thus showing that a large number have ceased to exist from one cause or another.

In Great Britain last year 32 new societies were enrolled. The funds of incorporated building societies in England and Wales reached their highest point in 1890 last year they stood at £41,401,653. Referring to the book-keeping of building societies, the Registrar observes: "It is not probable that any form of accounts could be devised which could not easily be made to cover fraud by the dishonest ingenuity of the fraudulently disposed." A HISTORICAL estate, Grove-place, Nursling, consisting of 100 acres of land, is about to be offered for sale as small holdings. The old mansion, which faces one of the finest avenues in the South of England, was visited by Queen Elizabeth on several occasions. At length it became a private asylum for the insane.

SION HOUSE, near Isleworth, where Countess Percy gave a garden party the other day, occupies the site of a once famous monastery, which was founded as far back as the year 1415 It was here that Katherine Howard, wife ol Henry was incarcerated prior to her execution, whilst the Princess of Denmark resided at the house in 1692. During the great plague the business of t'u9 State was occasionally transacted here, as may be gathered from the following extract from the diary of John Evelyn the year before the Great Fire: "To London, and so to Sion, where his Majesty sat in council during the contagion. When business was over I viewed that seate, belonging to the Earle of Northumberland, built out of an old nunnerie, of stone, and faire enough, but. more celebrated for its garden than it deserves yet there is excellent wall fruit, and a pretty fountain nothing else extraordinary." A NUMBER of bogus bank notes have been quite recently circulated, having been paid over in settlement of betting accounts. The bogus notes presented for payment hitherto have all been £lO notes, and it is believed that this is the only variety in circulation.

The notes are drawn on the Monmouthshire and Glamorgan Bank (an institution which ceased to exist some years ago), and are made payable by a city firm who formerly acted as London agents for the bank in question. It is assumed that somebody has got hold of either some of the old bank paper, or one of the plates used in printing its £lO notes, and has forged names and other face details. FROM a summary in the Agricultural Gazette of the results of experiments conducted by the Durham School of Science, under Dr.W. Somerville, on the manuring of root crops with farmyard manure alone or mixed with artificial manures, it appears generally that the addition of artificial to farmyard manure does not produce such good results as the direct application of the same amount of artificial manure alone to the crops. Many of the experiments have extended over thjee or four years, and were conducted on from 20 to 29 different farms.

The mixtures used in the experiments included nitrate of soda and manure, superphosphate and manure, and kainite and manure, but in each case the results were unsatisfactory. MEMBERS of the London Reform Union, under the guidance of Mr. Lough, M.P., paid the other day a visit of inspection to the dairy farm at Blythwood, near Standstead, Essex, by invitation of Sir James Blythe. After the inspection of the herd, the farm, and the dairying processes, Sir James Blythe read a letter just received from Sir William Harcourt, in which he said: "lam a bit of a dairyman myself on a very small scale, and follow the subject of milk production with a good deal of attention. I should be glad to know what you find to be the average yield of milk and butter per cow per annum, and what you regard as average annual value of the gross produce per head.

The fact that we should be beaten out of the field by Denmark does not seem creditable to our national intelligence." These words, said Sir James Blythe, pithily record the fact that many millrons (20 in fact) of ETiglish money are annually sent abroad which ought to be circulated at home for the benefit of our own people. Sir James's butter finds a ready sale at Is. Gd. per lb. in the summer and Is.

lOd. per lb. in the winter. WORMS IS CHILDREN are easily, surely, and with perfect safetv NOT rid of by using KEATIMG'S WORM TABLETS. TIIB Duchen of Northumberland is the possessor of a shawl which once belonged to King Charles X.

of France. It cost and is manufactured from the fur of a species of a Persian cat. The hair of this cat is so fine that single hair is scarcely perceptible to the naked eye. Tn r. stirring statement is made that the German Emperor has again altered the cut of his moustache.

AT the grand military review at Moscow, we read that the Pnvlovsky Regiment, with their quaint old helmets, attracted much attention. The correspondent goes on to add the curious fact that the men in this regiment are always selected from a resemblance, more or less striking, to the features of the Emperor Truly a wonderful country is Russia! WHO says that the palmy days are over when one could grow rich by shaking the Pagoda Tree On the contrary, the City of London has just been flooded with circulars, coming all the way from Calcutta, in which a certain Mir Buddiazama offers a recipe for making £655,360 from a capital of £2, by working only four hours a day for a year. The charge for the recipe is only 9d. It is little enough. But what are we to think of the soul of possessing this marvellous secret, and being launched upon the road to wealth beyond the dreams of avarice, still considers that ninepences, however nimble, are worthy of his serious attention Imagine Barney Barnato laying himself out to ensnare nineoence 1 MANSLAUGHTER OF A MOTHER.

At Guildford Assizes, on Saturday, Francis Winchester, 15, was convicted of the manslaughter of his mother, whom he struck on the breast with a stone aimed at his father. The woman fell down and died almost immediately. The jury strongly recommended the prisoner to mercy, and, as he had been in prison since January, he was bound over to come tip for judgment if called on. THE BARCELONA OUTRAGE. An Anarchist named Balart has been arrested at Malaga on board a vessel.

The widow of Anarchist Pallas declares that if the man is not himself she author of the explosion, he assuredly knows who is. The Cuban mulatto, Lafaut, denies his guilt, but cannot explain what has become of the sack he carried at the moment of the explosion. His injuries are on the lower part of the legs, which shows that he was very near the bomb when it burst. The total number of arrests is now 140. Without awaiting the rest of the squadron an ironclad has hastily started for Barcelona to receive the prisoners on board, as the authorities fear Anarchists will attempt to up the goal.

On Monday the Government wilf lay before the Senate a bill for the drastic repression of Anarchism. TERRIBLE EXPLOSION IN WEST AFRICA. Mail advices from the Niger concerning the terrible explosion at Bida state that it was caused by gunpowder, some thousand kegs of which were stored in the arsenal of the Emir of Nupe. The Emir, says Reuter, is a powerful ruler, who has recently succeeded the late Emir Malaki. The arsenal an iron building, close to the palace.

The reports received at the seaboard estimated the number of liws lost by the disaster at 1000, but this figure, coming from native sources, is probably much exaggerated. The Emir escaped. He is well disposed towards Great Britain, and gave a cordial reception to Bishop Tugwell, who recently visited Bida. A LADY REGISTRAR. A lady has been appointed a Registrar of Births, Marriages, and Deaths, by the Guardians of the City of London.

Miss Eemm, the lsdy in question, has for some time acted as assistant to her father. ARCTIC EXPLORATION. LIECTHHAHT PEAK 8 Lieutenant Peary, the Arctic explorer, arrived at St. John's on Saturday, and has chartered a steamer to convey himself and party to Bowden Bay, Greenland. His object is to complete his ethnological studies of the most northern Eskimo, and also to bring home from Cape York the meteorite of 50 tons found during his last expedition.

This meteorite is the largest known. Lieutenant Peary will be accompanied by two scientific parties. The first will be under the leadership of Professor Tarr, of Cornell University, and will land at Devil's Thumb to engage in geological investigation and study the glaciers. The second party will be led by Professor Burton, of Boston, and will land at Omenack for Scientific studies. The steamer Hope (says Beuter), which has been chartered, will sail from Sydney, Cape Breton, on July 8.

Lieutenant Peary expects to return to St. John's in October. GREAT FIRE IN EDINBURGH. A fire broke out on Saturday night in the Edinburgh brewery of Messrs. T.

and J. Bernards, Limited. The brewery, which covers an extensive area of ground, is situated in the western suburb of the city, on the Slatefordroad. The outbreak, which originated in the kiln house, had by the time the fire-brigade arrived obtained so great a hold of the premises that all hopes of saving the building were abandoned, and in less than two hours the brewery was totally gutted. The damage is estimated at between £75,000 and AN ATMOSPHERIC PHENOMENON.

An atmospheric phenomenon, reminding one somewhat of the story of Gideon's fleece, is vouched for by the newspapers of Montreal, Canada. It is often drv under trees when the rest of the ground is wet, but the Canadian scribee aver that on a recent morning the ground was dry everywhere excep under the trees. Bain seemed to fall through tht branches of the latter. An explanation is given to the effect that during the previous night a cold wind had chilled the trees, that afterwards a hot wave of moist air had passed over them without touching the ground, and had deposited its heavy moisture upon them, and that the morning sun had caused the drops to fall from the branches. Where a tree was sheltered by houses, hardly a drop of rain was found beneath it.

A REMARKABLE CURRENCY. The Government of Columbia has, perhaps, the most remarkable paper currency of any country in the world. It consists of notes payable to bearer, and are of all denominations from 10 cents to 100 dollars and more. At present the Government is not in a position to enable it to redeem these notes either in gold or any other metal, consequently they are at a discount with respect to gold. The discount varies according to the variations in the rate of exchange on bills drawn for gold payment on other countries.

The present actual value of an English sovereign is to-day calculated in the worth of sdol. gold, and the premium of sterling bills is 140 per cent. Thus the sovereign, with 140 per cent, premium added, to it, becomes equal to 12dol. in paper currency. Columbia covers an enormous expanse of territory, which is inhabited by some 4,000,000 of people.

But this is pure conjecture, for no census has ever been taken. AREA AND POPULATION. Mr. Arthur Clayden. lecturing in London, stated, as a startling fact," that of the 350,000,000 inhabitants of 11,000,000 square miles of the British Empire, no fewer than 340,000,000 are crowded upon the 121,000 square miles of the United Kingdom and the limited area of British India.

Nearly 40,000,000 people are packed like sardines on 121,000 square miles, while on the 3,000,000 square miles of Australasia there are fewer than 4,000,000 inhabitants. On the area which constitutes the metropolis, although only a four-thousandth part of the size of the seven colonies of Australasia, there are over a million more people than are to be found in the whole of those vast areas. A BIG BANK. Mr. Francil Augustus Beran is to be the head of the new gigantic banking combination which has been announced to the world aa Barclay and Company.

He is the eldeat eon of the late Mr. R. C. Lee Bevan, who died more than a millionaire a few years ago, and has inherited bis iltshire property of Fosbury and Trent Park near Barnet. where his father was so long Lord Stradbroke'a neighbour.

Mr. Bevan takes an active part in philanthropic work. He is treasurer of the Sunday School Union. The combination, which represents six millions sterling of capital, is a bringing together of a number of private bankers who are already connected by ties of blood and marriage. Most of the partners of the firms that now form Barclay and Co.

can Aum cousinship with the Barclays and the Bevans. The business dates back for two centuries. Huge fortunes have been made by partners of the various banks. In addition to Mr. R.

C. L. Bevan there are two members of the Qosling family who left close on a million at death, and one of the Gurnevs was considerably more than amillionaire. Members of the firm of Backhouse and Molineux of Lewes, and Fordham, Gibson, and Co. have also left great accumlations.

A ruby, the largest ruby evel cnt, so far as is known, was bought at a London jeweller's sale recently for £BOOO. A onc-carat blue diamond brought £6OOO, and a 140-grain black pearl, once belonging to Qusen Isabella 11. of Spain. £ll5O. THE oldest tree in England is the yew tree at Brabum, in Kent, which is said to be 3000 years old, while at Fortignal, in Perthshire, is one nearly as old.

At Ankerwyke House, near Staines, is a yew tree which was famous at the date of the signing of Magna Charta. THERE are rather more than a million andla ban people in this country who cycle. In 1886 there were G8 cycle factories in England. Now theie are nearly 700 COMMERCE AND THE EMPIRE. IUCKPrION AT IUIMCRIAL INSTITCTE.

The most brilliant function in connection with the Congress of the Chambers of Commerce of the Empire took place at the Imperial Institute in London on Saturday night, when an immense company assembled, at the invitation of Mr. and Mrs. Chatubeila.n, to meet the Prince of Wales. The Secretary for the Colonies had omitted nothing which could demonstrate his sympathies with the Empire beyond the seas. Fragraut flowers were lavishly poecd about the imposing staircases and the noble chambers, music mingled with conversation, and in tho open grounds, which, with their fairy illumination, afforded an attractive and welcome relief from the crush of the throng cf notable men and women, the strains of melody were also to be heard.

Mr. and Mrs. Chamberlain took up their position on the marble steps of the grand vestibule shortly before ten o'clock, and from that time until close upon midnights never-ending stream of distinguished persons passed before the Colonial Secretary and hie wife. Mrs. Chamberlain, who looked charming in a cost me of pale pink satin, carried a bouquet of orchids, and a crimson representative of the right hon.

gentleman's favourite flower was in the button-hole of hie frock-coat. Among the large company were Lord and Lady Loch, Lord Waldegrave, the Right Hon. C. T. Ritchie, M.P., Lord and Lady Herechell, Earl Stanhope, Sir John Colomb, MP, Mr.

Hayee Fisher, M.l'., Mr. and Mrs. Frederick A. Beer, Mr. Johnson, M.P., Lady O'Brien and Miss O'Brien, Lord and Lady Shea, Mr.

Faithful Begg, M.P., Sir H. Vincent, Mr. Henniker Ileaton, M.P., Mr. Mclean, M.P., Mr. the magistrate, and others.

Shortly before eleven o'clock the "Duke and Duchess of York arrived, wish the Duke and Duchess of Teck. They were received by Sir F. Abel and Sir Somen ine, and conducted to a retiring-room to await the appearance of the Prince of Wales. His Royal Highness entered, the institute a few minutes later, and the Colonial Secretary and Mn. Chamberlain, descending from the vestibule steps, greeted their Royal guest.

The Prince at once gave his arm to Mn. Chamberlain, and escorted her to the Duke and Duchess of York, and in a short time the Royal party returned to the vestibule, which was now entirely opened by the drawing of the massive crimsoD curtains which covered the Royal entrance. scene presented was a striking and imposing oar the rich dresses and the diamonds of the ItAv the Orders and ribbons of the lords and men, going to make up a picture full of colour and animation. After the Prince had taken up his by the Secretary for the Colonies, who continued for some while longer to receive the guests, the Royal party were conducted to a handsomelydecorated supper-room. Refreshments for the rest of the great company were provided in kiosks in the grounds, where hundreds sought the cooling breezes.

It was long after midnight before the last of the guests had departed. A VILLAGE BURNT. Hot long since the smiling Bussian village of Tareptino, in the province of Pskov, fell a victim to the devouring element. A terrible thunderstorm broke over the village one afternoon, and a bolt descending through the roof of one honest peasant's wooden habitation wounded the cottager and set fire to the cottage. The Barnes spread rapidly, for the red cock," as the Russian peasants call it, flies with alarming speed about the wooden villages of the moujiks.

In alittle while the whole village was wrapped in flames and burnt to the ground along with the granary in which was stored the peasants' seed-corn. In all the village of Tarep. tino, two houses, and two alone, remained, these were the two public-houses. A LITTLE HERO. There was an exciting scene on the banks of the Regent's Canal near the New North-road Bridge in London on Saturday evening.

A little fellow named Thomas Wall, eight years of age, and residing at Collingwood-street, City-road, fell into the canal from the towing path, and was at once carried into mid-stream, where he sank. There was a panic among the bovs present, but one of their number Frederick Langdon, 14 years of age, of Elliott's-buildings, Kotberfieldstreet, promptly pulled off his coat and dived in after the drowning child. He managed to catch hold of the hair of the boy and bring him to the surface, and thence to the bank, though it was said Ly those who saw it that Langdon was considerably exhausted, and behaved most pluckily. The child Wall was attended to by the police, and subsequently taken to his home. A SENSATIONAL MURDER.

Notice has been received at Scotland Yard that a reward of lOOOdol. has been offered by the Governor of California for the arrest of Joseph Planther in connection with the murder of Mrs. Philopena Langfeldt at San Francisco on May 15. Planther 10 years ago was a first lioutenant in the Austrian army, and it is not improbable that he has left for Europe. He reoeived decorations and orders from the Austro-Hungarian Government.

Mrs. Langfeldt, who was murdered, was robbed of five rings set with diamonds, pearls, and emeralds, which were subsequently pledged with a San Francisco pawnbroker for lUOdol. GENERAL STATE OF EMPLOYMENT. The Labour Gazette reports that the improvement in the state of employment last month was maintained in most industries. In the 110 trade unions, with an aggregate membership of 430,594, making returns, (or per cent.) are reported as unemployed at the end of May, compared with per cent, in April, and with 6'o per cent, in the 85 unions, with a membership of 387,411, from which returns were received for May, 1895.

In London little change was reported to have taken place, most branches of industry com tinuing well employed. Returns from 389 branches of 100 unions, with an aggregate membership of 68,555, show that 1910 (or 2'B per cent.) were unemployed at the end of May, compared with pel cent, in April, and 4'3 per cent, for May, 1895. BOKWICK'S BAKIHO POWDER. Pure and wholesome. BOKWICK'S BAHIMG POWDER.

6 Gold Aledals Awarded. BOKWICK'S BAKIKG POWDSE. Largest sale in the world. THS experiment of opening the Regents-park Gardens of the Royal Botanic Society to the public by payment on certain days has proved highly sueceMtful. No harm has bwn done to the plants.

THE ancestor of our domestic horse is to be found in Jungaria in the Eastern neighbourhood of the Thian Shan range in Central Asia. Prjevalsky tried hard to obtain a specimen, but failed. Tbe brothers GrumGrjmailo hare succeeded in killing two out of a herd of seven, which came to drink at a small lake; but it was only after great precautions had been taken against starting off these shyest of animals. These travellers, whose account of their journey to West China is published by tbe Russian Geographical Bociety, have undoubtedly established the existence of the wild horse. THE DOVER JUNE 19, 1896.

DEATH OF PROFESSOR MIDDLETON. AH OVER-DOSE OP HOEPIIIA. Mr. Luxmore Drew inquired on Saturday into the circumstances surrounding the death of Professor Middleton, Director of Art at South Kensington Museum. It was stated that the Professor had suffered greatly from nervousness, had recently been depressed, and had fears that his brain was weakening.

He did not sleep well, and had no appetite. He had for many years been in the habit of injecting morphia to induce sleep. Dr. John Harold said he was called to the house on Wednesday of last week, and found deceased in a comatose condition from narcotic poisoning. He attended till death.

A post-mortem examination revealed a very emaciated body. That was one of the conditions of chronic morphia. There was nothing in the brain abnormal, which was healthy, except for a little congestion. Death was due to coma from opium poisoning. The jury were unanimously of opinion that death was due to misadventure.

Shortly after the inquest the body of the professor was taken to the Necropolis at Waterloo, and conveyed by special train to Woking, where it was cremated. DEATH FROM FRIGHT. A remarkable cause of death from fright was the case of the Dutch painter Poutman. He was at work in his studio, where there was a number of death's heads and skeletons, when he happened to fall asleep. During his sleep there was a slight shock of earthquake, and when he woke up suddenly, he saw the skeletons and skulls dancing around in the greatest confusion.

He at once became panic-stricken, and rushed across the room and threw himself out of the window on to the pavement below. He died a few days after, not from injuries received in the fall, but from the nervous shock given by the dancing skeletons, though the cause of their festivity was explained to him. DEATH OF SIR GEORGE DASENT. The death is announced of Sir George Webbe Dasent, D.C.L., which occurred at Tower Hill, Ascot. Sir George was born on May 22, 1817, at St.

Vincent, West Indies, in which island his family had owned property since the 17th century. Educated at Westminster School, like his father and others of the family before him, he matriculated at Magdalen Hall, Oxford, in 1836. He went, on leaving Oxford, to Stockholm ss secretary to Sir T. Cartwright, then British Envoy to the Court of Sweden, where he acquired a taste for the literature of the ancient Norse language. In 1846 he married, at St.

James's, Piocadilly, Frances Louisa, third daughter of the late Mr. W. Delane, of Easthampetead Lodge, Old Bracknell, Berks. In 1870 he accepted the appointment of one of her Majesty's Civil Service Commissioners. He was knighted at Windsor Castle, for public services, on June 27, 1876.

Lady Dasent survives him, and he leaves, in addition to one daughter, two John 1 toe he Dasent, C.8., and Mr. Arthur Irwin in the service of the Crown. (To he continued.).