... TO-DAY1S TITTLE TATTLE. Every one is iaughing this morning at the ludicrous plight of the Bir- hningham Tories. A seat becomes vacant, They decide to contest it, and choose their candidate. They could no doubt easily carry him: when, lo and behold I mr. Chamberlain and Lord lartington meet in conclave, settle the aftairs of the local Tories for them over their heads, and send their deputation ...

... I WORD FOR A NA 7TIOAL ARMY. By ONE wno BaLIEVES IN IT. X gavE long been aware of the violent opposition that awaited any one in high office who should propose the introduction of universal military service into England. It was to~be expected that financiers would raise the alarm of ' national bankruptcy; that the Manchester school of Liberals, if it still exists, would cry out that ...

... CORRESPONDENCES ENGLISH SOCIAL DEMOCRATS AND INTERNATIONAL LABOUR LEGISLATION. To the EDITOR of the PALL MALL GAZETTE, SIR,- Honour to whom honour is due. Social Democrats are not particularly anxious to compete with Governments in the matter of credit for ideas, but there is no reason why it should not be stated that the Swiss pro- posal for the international regulation of labour is ...

... SCOTCH HOMAIE RULE IN A SCOTCH MIST, BY A SPECTATOR. TEERE were but few points of any interest or importance in the Civil Service votes taken during the first part of yesterday's sitting. Mr. Arthur Elliot could only elicit an uncertain sound from Mr. I'lunket about the insufficient accommodation of the Science and Art Schools at South Kensington ; and Mr. Cremer did not fare much better in ...

... OLD MORALITY AND HIS SUCCESSOR MR. BALFOUR, who may now be regarded as heir-designate for the leadership of the House of Commons, paid a graceful tribute last night to Mr. W. I. SMITH. It was no doubt deserved. Mr. W. H. SMITH is not a self-seeker, Office has sought him. He is not a genius. He is an honest man, with a good temper; a hard worker, with a practical head set squarely on his ...

... WEEK IN HOLLAND.-I, I f OL Y WHERE TO SPEND THE EASTER HOLIDAYS. 1HE leisured traveller through many lands turns towards Eastertide his face and thoughts towards the holy city of Rome. Easter at St. Peter's is his motto, and off he speeds towards the south to be bathed in incense and filled with solemn music. It is, however, only given to a select few to indulge in tours to Rome when Rome ...

... A FEW WORDS ABOUT WEALTH. MR. HENRY ARTHUR JONES AT HOME. I don't know tbit I can tell you very much about the play, said the authof of Wealth ti) a representative who, the rehearsals at the Haymarket over, secured half an hour's conversation with Mr. Henry Arthur Jones at his house at Regent's Park. The play, I hope, will explain itself on Saturday evening. The dramatist should ...

... THE STOR' OF AN UNSOLD BONNET. IT was evening in Oxford-street just before the hour of lamp-lighting. The daylight colours had faded, and the twilight softness had not yet begun, so that the street picture was printed in unsoftened black and white. Gas was beginning to twinkle, however, in some of the shop windows; and upstairs in the millinery show-room of Mr. X-- a boy had just come in with ...

... Mr. Gladstone would seem to have as lively an interest in all cassical subjects as in those matters that are of vital moment at the present hour. Only the other day he was commending the great educative power of his favourite poet, Dante; and from a book just published by the old Edinburgh firm of Oliver and Boyd, entitled, The Moods of the English Bible the same in Latin and in Greek, the ...

... OCCASIONAL NOTES, The statement of facts by Mr. Joseph Rowlands and Sir James Sawyer is at least as uncomfortable for Mr. Chamberlain as was expected. From his brief reply to Lord Randolph Churchill it seems that the monarch of Birmingham has decided to propose a general amnesty. His challenge has at least been fairly and fully met. He asked the Tory leaders to state (I) what the compact was, ...

... THE inner history of the controversy that is now raging in Birmingham is very curious and very instructive. Mr. BRIGHT was nearly six months dying. From the moment his illness assumed a fatal aspect the question of select- ing his successor was faced by the Unionists of the Central division, and it was agreed without dispute that a distinguished Conservative was to be nominated as Mr. BRIGHT'S ...

... A 2 THE SEAT OF CELESTIAL C-US TOM. (FROM OUR TRAVELLING COMMISSIONER.) THE GREAT I. G. cTiiE 1. G. These letters, meaningless at home, call up instantly in the mind of every foreigner in China a very distinct and striking inage- they are as familiar here in the Far East as H.R.H. or D.T. are at home. And a remarkable proportion of those who hear them, tremble. For the image is that of ...