MEXICAN LETTER! tic forms, mom, frns.n. 4<n' hair sub- A CANADIAN'S VIEWS ON MEXICO AND ITS PEOPL5. trrmn la ihf Mrrra >l<1ri--A >lit I* (k tlBlr I Tf l Ci.rrin II Is < *f 111.- Crti I 4TuronHil Wa<tr of lh V..r rt IVr-n:i|.. dr *r. I presume, all your readers have read more or less about the Mammoth Cave, of Kentucky, and its enchanting chamb- ers; but not one of them have ever heard or read a word about the Magic Cave of Garcia, which ia situated in one of the adjacent mountains, northwest of tbe city of Monterly, Navo Leon, Mexi- co- As I don't know of anything at this time that would be appreciated by the patrons of your paper, than a de- scription of it, I will try and do so in this Letter. A few weeks ago a number of young ladies and gentlemen visited tbe cave. At S p. m. Saturday, they met at the Monterly and Mexican (Julf railway de- pot with lunch baskets well filled, and a band of music, ail on pleasure bent; and at 5.30 the train -pulled out. In one hour they were United at Garcia, twenty-four miles away. On the ar- rival of tbe train they were MT BY THK MAYOR and a number of prominent citizenB, and escorted to tbe residence of Senor Fntncuwo Khzoodo, where a sumptu- ous repast wan served. After the tables wen- removed a dance was inaugurated, and kept up until two in tbe morning. After tbe dancing the party were served with chocolate, sweat bread, cake, fruit and other light refrerthuwnt-s. When 1"h*y got thrv Udh they fo m-1 burrows (jack saies) ready to carry them to tbe " La Gloria Cave." six wiles away. At 3 a-m. tbe guides, servants, and mus- icians led the way. and when they reached the cave, they erected a port- able table, and covered it with tbe whitest of linen untied their lunch baskets, so that by the time the young people arrived they bad a sumptuous lunch ready for them. They seated themselves on pilllan of stalagmites, rocka. log*, and camp-stools. After lunch they plucked ferns and palm leaves from the rocks, and had their photo- graphs taken by Senor 0. Lagrange.who was one of the party, while the band discoursed sweet musk;. As the morn- ing was bright and clear, tbe scenery from the mouth of the cave was en- chanting. Off to tbe east and south- east loomed up the Sierra la Mitra and Sierra dc la Silla. or Saddle Mountain ; while to the soum rum;, ainve them all. I he Sierra Madre, wboee sierriud peaks seemed to pierce the starry skies, while off to the west and northwest, as far as the eye could reach, extends tbe leaser Sierras, and lt<-.-n t hem. nest- ling m tneir bosom, was picturesque Garcia with her flower gardens and pa- tios full of rose bushea and tropical plants, whoso sweet ml .ur was wafted towards them by a gentle breeze that New in through a canyon from the (in If of .Mexico; while above the borixou, in all his glory and brilliancy, blamed forth Jupiter, the morning star, to light tlwir pathway to the cave, and bid them welcome ; while off lo t he west, perch- ed on a lofty peak, stood Venus, in her night robes <<> bid them welcome, and "Adiou" (Uod l with you) before nbe took her rnorniruc Ivith in tbe broad Pa- cific. The scenery that spread out be- fore them that bright morning was the MOST PICTURESQUE that could Iw conceived of in MoiiUs- lumas land As soon as they got through with their lunch t be guides distributed ii>r< lies, the gentlemen selected their carl oers and explorations commenced. It goes without saying that some of the young men were reminded of tbe quotation. " Those who enter here leave hope behind." for there was more than one of them who buried in I be recesses of the cav the hope that they long had cherished of living a bachelor's life. Tbe first chamber that they entered was the " Salon de la Lux." or the chamlwr of light, which contains thousands of the most marvel- Ions formations that were ever seen in this wonderland. That chamber is very large, the ceiling is lofty and from it are suspended thousands of the whit- est of stalactites, which sparkled in the sunlight, that peeped through an un- seen opening in tne roof, while from the floor arose iuimcinae pillars of slal- agmiipi. The sides of that chamber are covered with moss, ferui and floral vines that live and bloom in that sil- ent tomb. V\ bile the Ladies and gentle- men were admiring the scenes in t bat wonderful chamlier, they were startled by the sound of sweet music which filmic. I in from the adjoining chambers and was carried through it until it reached the vaulted ceiling, when its echo was sent back from whence it came, and again carried to distant chambers until lost to mortal ears. An the chamber wan illuminated by the torches which the party carried. and whose light was blended with the subdued light of tbe sun. which peep- ed through the unseen opening alluded to. they photographed their shadows on tbe walls, which produced a panoramic we ne on that occasion, that very few }>eople have an opportunity of witness- ing in a lifetime. But the guides would not |rtnit them to tarry Tonic in that chamlier, as they had morn picturesque -lie.- ahead to show them. They then led them into the aalon del Pantuttero (Beautiful Chamher). This chamber is full of stalactites, stalagmites, petrified W.HM! nulls, ferns and underground plants, which bud and bloom in that ENCHANTINC. CM \MIIKR Tbe next one that tho guides led them to wan the salon del Agua or Water Chamber, whose waters are as clear as crystal, and they sparkle like diamonds as they skipped and flowed over the pol- ished s t.i Mies on their way through a subterranean channel to join the blue waters of the Gulf. The waters in that chamber is 'leep, and it. is one of the nwwl romantic pi ices in this wonderland to bathe in l>n Ihe walls are to be seen eiiiging to the rocks in the most fanUs- the roof are suapen ' i he whitest of stalacitee, which sparkle as bright H-S tin- wate.rs hen"--ith them. The next chamber thai I hey were led to was the. .-' ilon !< !./ M MIR Marv. -ii.i This is one largest that they visited. It is full of si a t nary, but < not made by bands. In the. middle of this cham'iei arisen an immense column of stalagmite, that took e.iirhi of ihe ladies and gentle- men by joining hinds to girdl The next, chamlier that iln-v were led into w:is ih" Salon del;us Campiinas. or tbe hell chamlier. Every word that is s, ,,k'Mi IM- noise that is made < wnind like, the ringing of Ixtlls. hence the name. It is also full of stalaciliies stalagmites and subterranean forma- tions. Tbe Salon del Teatro. or theatre, was Ihe next one visited. This chamlier is very large and resembles a theatre, hece the name.. The memlrs of the Ivind arranged themselves on pillars of stalagmites in front of the stage, while th' -rnnli-s, Kentlemen and ladies with torch** in their r-anda took seats on tbe stage, and as there was a number of vocalists in the, party, they sang some choice sonirs. while the band play- ed operatic pieces. It was a pictur- esque scene in a romantic place. and one that will never he forgotten by the young people who took part in it. The last chamlier that they visited was th" Salon de la Gloria. This is the most picturesque cb-imlier that has yet been discovered in this WONDERFUL CAVE, and the young people were slow in leav- irn? it. But liefore doing so, some of th"iu were reminded of the quoi referred to aliove. and resolvnl t hen and there to bury in tbe recesses of that iiMiii.fr the hope that they long bail chi" isheil of living a Ijachelor's life. Tbe pledge t.h'it were t hn made and I he sweet words that were whispered, "I love you ; will you be mine t" were wa/td by invisible angels to the I .a ils whose light surpasses that of the sun. and recorded in the tiook of life _ by their guarding angels. When they got through examining t he works of nature as displayed in i li it wonderful chamher, the guides and musicians led tbe way to the mouth . cave, where a sumptuous lunch awailed them. Wine, including -bain- pagne, was served, toasts drank, and I speeches were made, whila the baud dis- bursed sweet mm- ic. After lunch the lesser caves were ex- plored until tuna to return home. But before mount HUT th<> burros they form- ed a circle at tbe mouth of the cave and joined the I mud in singing and play- ing the sweetest of Mexican melodies, La Gaiindrina (Homeward the Swallows Fly). At 6 p.m. they mounted tbe burros, and in one hour morn they landed at the residence of their host, Senor Fran- cisco Khzondo. where they spent the night, and at 8 a.m. the next day they boarded the tram ami in one hour more lu.ii.lfji in Monterey The (i.trcui Cave LS one Af the great- Mi underground wonders m th' world. If one trill of what has been said alwut it is true, they could put i lie M uninoth Cave of Kentucky in one oham.lr of it and have room left for more like it. This cave has been explored in a direct line. KOUHTKKN MII.KS. and t h-- end was not yet reached. The Cave is within one hour's rule of Mont- erey. It is surrounded by lofty moun- tains. There is no stagnant waters within two hundred miles of it. Tbe air and the water in thai vicinity are as cool and fresh as when they cauu* from the bauds of I he-ir Creator. There are no tons nor cloudy weal her there; they have, almost perpetual sunshine, beiiiv that is the country for those whu are afflicted with lung troubles to go to. They are exempt from northers aud cold blizzards, while the waters that run dowu the mountain sides are al- ways cool, and they sparkle like dia- monds as they skip and jump over the iwlLshvU atones until they join tbe blue waters of tbe tiulf. There ia no doubt but what, the day is mil far distant when some live Yan- kee or progressive man, will go there, and lease I Int. cave, erecta hotel and put in an electric light plant, aud make it a summer and winter resort, for those who are afflicted with lung trou- ble, as well as tourist*) who come to this country on pleasure bent. I'F.HSliNAL. Dr. Andrew McMeans. a native of Brantford, has located in Monterey, and is doing tbe leading practice among the \iii-" I.MJIS. 1 first met him four years ago in Saltillo, the capital of the. State of Coahuila. He is surgeon for the Mexican Kailroad. Last Monday night 1 was present w hen be amputated tbe thumb and two foru fingers of the Idt hand of a six year olu American boy who was stopping with bis mother at the Topo Cbico hot springs, and it is needless to say but what he did the work well. He stivnds at the bead of tbc profession in this country. EUMOND LEV \N Disastrous Famines The muni disastrous famine, of modern times occurred in Northern China in 1877-78. It was so severe that 9.500,000 of the inhabitants perished. Tbe sum of 45,508 was collected in Kngland and forwarded to China lor tbe relief of the distress caused ny it. It appears by a Blue Book, published in 1X85. that the famine in India in IX7M caused the deaths of 3,500.000 people in the Madras dislrict. and of 2,t3l>.OiNl people in the Oudr dislrict. The potato famine in Ire- land in 1K46-47 was responsible for over 1.000.000 deaths, in Northwest India, during the famines of 1837-3H, over 1M, 000 of persons perished while in Bengal and Oriasa in l^UViiiii;. 1. 000.000 deaths ensued. Two years afterward, in Raj- pootana, over 1,5000,COO perished from hunger . A Little Girl's Appeal. A poor little damsel had trouble with her moi.her not long ago, Tbe direct consequence was that she was sent into her room for meditation and, sup- posedly, repentance. A listener hap- pened to overbear the mite's defiance, when she thought herself unobserved and alone. She threw beraelf on her knee* before her bed. and, burying her face in tbe pillow, began a prayer for guidance. But the petition had this Ix'i-.l. consider how I'm treated I" Lord, consider how I'm treated I EXTRAORDINARY WAR, BRITAIN S FUNNY CONFLICT WITH A BARBAHIAN CHIEF. Tkx Ir.ioii. trlzlil nfil liliiE Prrmi" li alllri will. rirrMurk* su4 Whli.il in-r rkru and Tlirr Thought 014 NI-I. Hiin.rlr W After Him. Tbe most )>eculiar war of modern times has just rli,*-d. 1'he ferot-i.iiiM :*rharian Kinrf of Ashantee has sur- reiiilered to the 1'rituih e\|)"ilil ion. The funniest part of it all LH the way i he Ivn.'lUh troops frightened the brave African monarch and his warriors al- most to death without even firing a gun. The path from the coast to the in- terior led through a dense African jungle an ideal place for an amhush. The army engineers went ahead of the troo, with a corps of wood-civ ppers to clear the way for the army. A the expedition approached the kingdom of the brave Kinir Prempeh they found the woods full of armed savages. Suddenly the engineering corps. after darkneaa had se.ttled on the forest, set off an enormous display of sky-rocket*. Roman candle*, aerial homus, pinwheels and fire-crackers. They sent the nx'k whizzing into the underbrush and ex- ploded the many-colored bombs ann't the trees. Red, blue and yellow lights { plowed here and there and Roman can- ' dies shot their exploding halls up over | the heads of King Preinpeh'a ambushed I braves. The warriors were astounded. Their 1 eyes bulged with terror and in five minutes there wasn't a corporal's guard : of the valiant army to be aeen. The fireworks were kept up all night and at daybreak a courier from King Prom- pt" h crept, up to the Briti&h picket lines anil lie^gvd to announce that tbe King was ready to agree to anything tbe Erudinh commaniier wanted. England has been quietly pushing her cnnquenl of Aahantee. while the aii.-n tii m of the world was directed to in 1. 1 her j>art of A trim. Thus a British tentjicle in tbe form of an army of con- .queat baa stretched out from tbe GREAT CENTRAL OCTOP" and another kingdom is to he quietly addrut to the lirillsh possetuiions. 1 he Ktv!i.-h propoee to "delimit tbe inidary" of Aobantee by absorbing such of it M possesses gold fields. The purpone of the present campaign against tne King of Vshantee. as the English allev. IH U> -i<i|i the in hi man sacnfices of that funny monan-h .Vs was retnt- ly described. Kin^ Premi>eli hao been maintaining a private shtiuhier yard for his enemies. H* 1 has 3,'13't wives and he orders people's hnada cut off when- ever it suit* liix whim. Clergymen all over England were shocked and horri- fied an they read nf the human sacr going on in the neiKhl-orhood of (' oiuan- sie. and a* rumors of the new gold fields were circulated a strong desire spring up for "advaucinff civilization" in that neighborhood. Nowhere in the history of war. per- hup*. is there rwvrd of a campaign so reinarkahle as thin for the methods hy which it has len conduct "d. The Ktirf Ii-li have shown great military iniclli trenc* in a foreign camiiaign Perhaps the reawm for this is that they went t.> ('oniiuittsii! '>n-e i-f.in' and that tlje jm j-ti' comniiindei'-in- chief of the Hriti.sJi Array w the tren- tleiuan who led that. axp*ditlon. Lord Wiilheley knew what was before the troooB. Me knew that a lanre army of In- vasion would 1 auseless eni-iinihrance, and the ordinary Uritish methiMls would lie wholly out of place, in \ h ant<w. He also knew that the follow- ers of King Pretupeh were up to date so far SB firearnuf were mncrrned. hut that their kncv. InUe. of science wan somewhat deficient Tbe Ashantee warrior will fight wlien you place a rifle in hi hands, but when you con fnint him with a kinetoscope. a magic lantern or a penny-in-t.he-lot machine be GOES ALL TO PIKl'KS The way t hU war has lncn carried out IK the funni<t iwrt of the. whole 'ijiera- botiffe |ierfoi inauce. Little or nothing ban been said alxmt it in the Knu'li-li new.Npii|H-ra. These publication* took the c\|K'<lii inn Hpriously and publiabed lengi hy detailed accounts of t he pmntiflH as if they were directed againnt a real military power. The steamer Angola left. LiveriHKil and arrived at Cape. Coant Castle early in December with the first dateebmaai of the expedition. Midden away down in her hold was an imme-nse quality of skyrocket* and Koinan candles. She hail tons of these fin-wi"k, .-unong her cargo of warlike ini|dcinent. There were skyrockets of every kim), fire l-al- loons. uootiag stars, red, white and blue powders, pinwheeln, "snakes," .m.l I'h i nese f i re-vrai k'' t > Another ship followed the. Angola siinilarlv loaded and containing no riflt- orcariridKen whatever. This ship Urn- no the Gold COBK! siinplv .in etmnnoiis c..n signmeni of fireworks. Tx>ng wotxlen boxen that looked as if they mnlained rif|e wilh which toshoot down t lie warlike Ashantiv really had wii hin tlmm harm lens skyrockets with |<atnt tails that made fiery si reamers of s;xirks through i he African .juiiKle and exploded in gorgeous clusters of stars of every hue. Some of I he-se sky- nx-kol.s ralMWd strings of red lialloons of fU* to float serenely over the dense A.shant- forest . (Vher roc-kets had N.nibs in their head and would finally terminal* their career wit h a loud explosion far from t he place thev have been set off Still other skyrockets that were taken alonfr on the A. xh.-int.ee expedition car- ried a carious whislle an<l as they shot through the air made a hideous uoi.-- thai could he hejvrd for many miles and wtnineil weird and uncannv in the thick tnn'ical forest through which (.he Urit ih forces had t advance. IN THK ASIIANTKK KUHKST. The puriHwe of this e.n<irmous onn- si>ininnt of fireworks carted into t lx> very heart of Africa wa to frighten the black satraps of King Prni|wh, who hve no fear of firearms, hut are wholly unacquainted with rockets. The roa<l from the (Jold C<iat to Co. miusie t ha,' was cut hy the British i through the dente forest* of Ashantee in 1874 had since completely disappear- I uder the fier.-e tropical sun. with numerous rains vegetal ion grows in a way to astonish (wople in nort limes. Trees grow by day and night. ind a path through the forest closes up liehind an army aliumi .LS it advances. II wax in ,_<' i iiu; thnmirh t hia dense forest thai i lie Kinrli-sh expected to en- i-ounier i heir greatest difficulty. The Ashantee warriors have no love for fighting in the ope.n. They appeared to rely upon nicking off Ihe British by sharpaboating 11 hints in the jungle The i hick un- derbrush the. numerous large trees and the dense foliage afforded them every apportniity for concealment Even at midday in this forest a semi- dark ness prevails. M. mkcvi are so numerous t hut you cannot tell whet tier you are looking at on of their number when you see briirht eyes peering at you or whether they may not lielong to ' .li hirst y follower of the Kim.' For this reason the. sharpshooters, who were intended lo cover I lie advance of i he sappers and miners in cutting a road ihi..u_'h ihe forest, had a most difficult and dangerous task in hand. They could mil tell at what minute a shower of liiilli'is \\ould |>our in on them from some ambush, while, the enemy, all un- seen, could reload or move off without losing a man. "MS HIM: THK NATIVES. Here it is, that the skyrockets, thenin- w heels, the "snakes" aud the cheap Chi- ne.v firecrackers came into play. A well directed rocket shooting lietween the tree trunks ami hissing over th* ground with its lon^ train of lire, to Finally expliwle in a gorgeous shower of brilliant.--., would have more effect in frigliiening the followers of King Prein- peh tlian a dozen actual shells from a mortar. Blue fire alone is enough to make the ordinary African native quake. Fire crackers make an admirafile imitation of musketry fire. To hear a couple of dozen hunches of them gooff you would think a thousand men were shooting. Fire balloons, pin wheels and Roman candles are enough to make an army of African natives throw up their hands and surrender. This is tne purpose of the great con- signment, of firework* in the Ashantee war. which is funnier in its various as- pects oven thai-, t lie Chinese war. The Krurlish hired IKK) sturdv negroes to hew away i h rough the forest la-fore they landed the main bi.lv of ihe troops. These natives wetv impregnable to the inui -mat i<- fevers of the region. They underst'xxl the forest and iis sir denizens, and. under the direct i in of the British sappers and miners, they made an admirable corps ol \WM>.ismon. They had to he protected, however. and thin protection from Ihe rifles of Prempeh't men has )ieen secured wit b the firecrackers and skyrockets. A larrfe qua nt it v of this material has been car- ried in advance of the corps that was culling a road through the forest, and it has been sufficient to scare off the enemy. \!I;KO wm:i-:\ HKI.PKD. Meanwhile the 1.400 or more men who made up the main Ixxly of the "army of invasion." as it has henu grandiloquent- ly called, remained on Eoop-shipl off the coast, wailing for the ton. I to Ic completed. Then, of .-ourse. ihe "dash to CoomaHsie" was an easy matter. Along the way "rest huts" had Iweu put up where the tired traveller <iulH rest his weary Umes and take a drink of half-and-half The first advance was to the I 'rah River, where Prahsu was the base of operations. A hospital containing sixty leds had Iwen built hen- and a similar hospital bad Iwen established at Mansu. nearer Ihe coast. A bnd^e was built across the Prnh. and as the column advanced beyond that place stations were estal lished wiih carriers and hammock. 1 * for t ! speedy transportation of the sick lo i he hospitals or the coast. Telephone wires were also taken along and comiiiiiuica- tioii was at all limes kept open with the coast. Stores of every kind had to lie carried on the heads of natives, and i lion of women, each to carry fifty iMiiinds. were engaged for work beyond Ihe Prah. Bakers were also sent across ihe river to bake fresh bread at tbe de- fensive noaU. Altogether the ex|>edition include,! 7X6 white soldiers, 400 men from the Weet India regiment and "ilKl hussars. The artillery consisted of a small mountain batlery, a battery of six seven-pounder fie.ld guns, a .Maxim gun and a large number of rocket I ube*. The King of K ,.: an/a, who is a neighUiring monarch jealnUM of l'rvni|ieh's greatness, volun- teered to help the British in "advancing civilization." THK KIM; S II \ I LMHl.MKD. Tbe result of the British expedition to Coonitt-iie in 1*71 woa summed up by Su \\ilfred I.awson. in I lie House of Com nn ins, when he said that all i he Kn,rliHh gained by it was "an old um- brella and a treaty." He was reminded thai i bent bad l>een no treaty and then remarked that lie was not sorry, as tbe treaty would have Iwen worth no more than i he. old umbrella. In I his he was referring to the um- brella of state captured hy Sir Caruet \\ols.|ey from Kiru,' Kofffle and brought to London. This lime they propone to bring l>ack the old plug hat ofPrempeh, which lias taken the place of I he um- brella of stale as Die symliol of su- preme Ashantee |>ower and great ness. Incidenlly 'lie .slaughter-yard will lie ; ;it an end to. \vlulc the mines will lie owned and |msil>ly ihe guidon sinol of I rempeh captured and reiainrd for what it is worth per ounce. What t he oilier European powers ihink of Brit- ain\ designs on Ashantue has not yet. appeared. WHAT IS dOINd ON IN THE FOUR CORNERS OP THE OLOBE. Old .m' New World Events ol Inumt Chros- kled Briefly loUr*tlntf Happening! ol Recent Uu. The Sultan of Turkey has just been presented with a sumptuously equipp- ed horseless carriage. There are 12.UOU.UUU silk hats made annually in I he I'nited Kingdom, worth 4.1)00,000 sterling. In some parts of Kngland people bind up ihe infant's right hand that it ma; have riches when grown. The Manx people believe that it will dwarf or wizen a baby if any one steps over it or walks all around it. Prince Pedro, of Couourg. the grand- son of the late Emperor Uorn Pedro, of Brazil, is now hopelessly insane. In France 1,550 miles of light rail- ways have lieeii already nuilt. thmigb many of the lines last year were work- ed at a loss. Miniature Indian corn grows in Bra- zil. The ears are about t be sice of a little finger, and the grains are aslit- tel as mustard seed. A fat man in Paris, named M. Canon I Berg, consumes almit live times as , much food as an ordinary person. His ! weight ia 560 pounds. In Yorkshire, Eng.. a newborn bah* is placed in a maiden's arms before be- ing touched by any one else, in order to insure good luck. King Humbert of Italy has absolutely no stmse of humour, it is said, and re- gards a joke of any kind as a gross breach of .'.liquet te. Lieuta. Churchill and Barnes of 'be British army have been decorated with | the Red Crow for gallantry with the Spanish forces in Cuba. In South America a book, a piece of money and a hottle of liquor are placed liefore the infant the day it is one year old. to ascertain its Itent ia life. J. McNeil Whistler look the seventh ! prize of $500, at tbe recent interna- Mi'tial exhibition at V'eriH-e, the only prize awarded to an English-speaking artist. Herliert Spencer never accepts a col- lege degree nor any other honorary 'trade-mark from an> society lie wants to stand wholly on his own iiient-s or ' lie forgoiu-u An Austrian named I)r M.i: mnrick. after four years' stay at the Pasteur Institute in 1'aris. claims to have dis- .d a secure cure for erysipelas aud puerperal fever. Mrs. Keely. tbe venerable actress. whose U:nh birthday was recently cele- brated in London, sang I lie " Mermaid's Sonjf " in a psrformanM of Oheroo-oon- I by \\elier himself, in IKJ8. King otto, of Bavaria, who has never mil* since his accession gone Itsyond t be lofty walls of the castle of Kurstem K-d. where he resides under the sit surveillance has jusl entered his IHth year. King Leopold, of Belgium, it is --'id. deie.si.s instrumental music ..f ur. kind. I -ins io cause him real physical suffering. If anyone siis down at the piano in the Kings presence his Ma- josly swiftly vanishes. At an official dinner rfiven to the (Mivernor of New Souih \\ale.s. I'ardin- al Moran. contrary i.> |.ieii-dent. pre- ,...,., i i he Anglican Bishop Smith. It is iindvis.. ibis was in accord- .11111- with a decision ol the I'oionial Of- It is said in Honie tliat Poiw Leo of- fered to arbitrate in Hie Vruc/uela ili- iniie but thai Hie offer was refused by England. Search is Iwiiig made in the in .in-hives for original d<n-uinents : n"irm on I lie conlm*'- The flying mouse is a receni discov- ery in the Can ier< HI n country il Afri- ca! It is a link llwen Hie lial and ihe i rue mouse, has a tail like a mouse, and lieuvy urey fur. while its WIHUM are not so well developed as those of the lutl (.mil S-hiKivaloff, Governor-General of I'olsnd. has lieen insl rucied by the Czar to prepare a memorandum on Hie subject of the reforms which be pro- poses for mi uxliici ion int. i I'oland The Czar i said to l sincerely anxious to bririK alNiiil a Iwlter slate of affairs in Poland. I be. late Mr. Andrew Moniaguo of \\eiheri.y. ^ m khire. Kngland. left a l*-rs.iiial estate w hu-h IKII.I .(uty on a net valuation of $.J5".000. lie left also vast real statis ,n five coiiniies The e.niaie duly col ler ted on i be i ersonal |i,.|xTiy alone wa JWIO.I10U. One of the miMl uiithusiaslic women hori iculiurisl-s us Miss \liie Ifoi h-cluld. whose i-il!e< lion of runes alone is said worib JftU.IHIO. I'he Archduke of \usiria owns I lowers lo the value of SiWI.IKK). and Sir Trevor l.awren,, lection at Dorking is worth over $2. r >0. (WO. \ fool race from Marai Imn i" \lh- ens. t.weiily-.six miles, probably in tneiii- ory of I'hidippidiMt. will l>e one of the features of I be ()l\ni|ic ^nuic.s which Iwgin on April ."> and ixMitinue till April 15. They will include. I*MII|CS fool and vi ! races, long and high .mini'- |>ole vault, putting the weight, fencing. shooting, tennis, crick. I . footliall, L'.MII- nasi ics, swimming and yacht races. Ki^n, hundred ileini.m KVllinawlir- si>- - are gomn to enter 'lie i.'.llne-s. RUSSIA AND TURKEY. jtlllsnrc Bim-i'n Ike Tw >, in n !>. r'ni,.i A despatch from Constantinople says that in an interview to-day llahl Ra- faat Pasha, the Crand Vizier, declared that the rumors of an offensive and de- len.siv e treaty between Russia and Tur- kev were absolutely unfounded. Such a treaty hail neither lioen concluded nor meditated. In well -mf.u me.d circles Ibis statement is believod to be probably a mere diplomut n- .(iiilible. The ar- rangement lx>twen the two powers may not ! emhoilied in a treaty, but il is Iwfoining lo ! generally lielieved i that an understanding exist* betwean t hem that, is tantamount to a treaty. It is customary for Japanese work- men to wear on their caps and hack* in- scriptions statiiiK their business and the names ui their employers. The (Juin wanis , i|.iM>int her grooiii-in-wail in^ General Sir Nl A.Bid- uiilph, to i he position of geni leman ush- er of the Uliu-k Ht, made vacant hy the death of Admii-al Sir .1 H llnuii inoiid. if Parliament will |ieiinn lier tx> do so. She. is willing that the commit tee of ihe House of Lords shall fix his salary. The committee is not willing to give its assent, and it. certainly will not allow General Hiddulph '<> oecuoy the old Ulack Rod's official residenne in Westminster. Genera.1 Hiddulph in a pluralist. He is keeper of the jewels in tbe Tower of London, in addition to being a groom-4n-waltinc, and is fav. mi rite with tbe Quean. limprmi Eugenie's Will Ex-Kmpress Eugenie has recently de- posited her will with a prominent Lon- don attorney .in which, true to bet pledge, she has left a legacv lo -irh of the o,884 male persons of rrajice Ixirt on the birthday of her sun, Prmot UMUS.