... How the New Shield is Developing a Special Shell for its Destruction HThe German gun works known as the Rheiuischen Metallwaren und Maschienen- fabrik have been experimenting with a new type of artillery shell which is to perform the double task of destroying the armour shield protecting modern quick-firing field guns and of performing the ordinary destructive effects to infantry. The recent ...

... . The Princess Lwoff-Parlaghy, more widely known in the world of art as Vilma Parlaghy, the celebrated lady portrait- painter, was born in Hungary, but shortly after attaining her four teenth year her parents settled in Germany, which since became the land of her adoption. She studied m Munich under the famous Lenbach and enjoys the rare distinction of being that great master's only pupil. The ...

... . There is not an acre, I think I may say, in England-- certainly there is not alparish or a manor -that has not its place in English history and there is not, I think, an intelligent person in Eng land who is not in one way or another a sharer in such interests of tradition if he would or could realise it --Bishop Stnbbs. Steadily, without undue haste and without pause, a great national work ...

... TNiese extremely interesting pictures are taken from a book entitled Lenses, by Dr. Hans Harting, issued by the famous bouse of oigtlander. They give a vivid impression of what can be done with a modern camera. Dr. Harting urges most strongly that for a judicious working it is absolutely necessary to be clear first as to which lens is most suitable and then choose the camera and accessories to ...

... . The promise of May in the wide world of art lies overwhelmingly, and not in appropriately, in music. There, at any rate, we are getting the very best, and that in such bulk that if the working day were twice as long as it is one man could not hope to over take all that the gods have placed before him. It is a foolish arrangement which makes the concert season clash with the Opera, for even ...

... NEW HOSPITALS FOR- CHILDREN Hini Pairis aui&dl BeffMmi. IN BERLIN IN PARIS The general advance in medicine which has so completely changed the old hospital into its splendidly-equipped modern equivalent has with almost equal completeness changed the nature of asylums and hospitals for the treat ment of children. One of the most striking examples of these new institu tions for the treatment of ...

... . JAVA, the most important Dutch Possession in the Far East, described in a new volume just published by Chapman and Hall The radical changes which have recently taken place in the balance of power in the Far East lend a special interest to all works dealing with the countries of the East at the present moment. One of the most interesting of Eastern lands is the island of Java, the most ...

... . A musical critic of ripe judgment has just given it as his conviction that the London public now demand music at all seasons. It is to meet this demand that the Promenade Concerts of the Queen's Hall Orchestra have once more begun, and will continue nightly until October 26. The pro grammes which lie before me cover a wide area and include many artists. The idea of devoting occasional ...

... The Ardennes. BELGIUM has been highly blessed by Nature, and for the many workers as also for those who love beauty in its highest form this lovely country offers picturesque glimpses of mountain and valley scenery on that portion known as the Ardennes that are unequalled elsewhere at so short a distance from England. Belgium's King owns not one but many beautiful chateaux within an area of ...

... In one of Mark Twain's books -- I forget which -- there is an old pious sea captain to whom the miracles of the Old Testament presented no difficulties, and Mark gives verbatim his explanation of the mystical flames that leaped from the water with which Elijah had drenched the sacrifice: Rock oil, sir; rock oil, and once again the artistic has preceded the scientific mind, for in the current ...

... THE HEARTS OF OAK OFFICES, EUSTON ROAD The palatial building of the Hearts of Oak Benefit Society in Euston Road, which the King opens to-morrow, has cost nearly £100,000 and was designed by Mr. J. Coulson-Nicol of Birmingham. The society started in Long Acre in 1842 with a handful of members. Its invest ments now amount to £3,250,000, its annual income to £670,000, and its members to 285,000 ...

... Gossip of the XSJ e e k THE BURGOMASTER OF KOPENICK Herr Langerhans The gossip of the week beyond all question is what is called the Köpenick incident. In Germany it has actually superseded the excitement over the indiscreet revelations of Count Hohenlohe. That a worthy burgomaster, or mayor, of a large town should be kidnapped reads more like romance than reality. Our Berlin correspondent ...