MAIL NEWS.

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 438, 10 June 1902, Page 3

MAIL NEWS.

Paris, April 12,—Madame Melba recently. tried to emulate Madame Bernhardt in having savage household pets, like the “Divine Sarah’s” panther. So she bought at Marseilles from a sailor a pair of caged wildcats, .The experiment was abandoned after a large bill had been presented by the Ritz Hotel management for damage done by the escaped carnivora. The wild cats had been smuggled into tier apartment, and had been fed by Melba’s chambermaid, much to the girl's d stress. - While the cage door was ajar to introduce food one of the beasts clawed terribly the hand of a servant, who fled, shrieking, leaving the wildcats in possession of the rooms The brutes were on the rampage for two hours, climbing curtains, upsetting bottles and crockery and tearing valuable tapestries to stireds. Finally some attendants at the Zoological Gardens were telephoned for. They captured one wildcat in‘ a net, and killed the other, LondoD, May 5. Andrew Carnegie’s love of organ music induced him to present organs to several poor Scottish kirks to lighten up their services. But those benefaotions are now playing a considerable part in tho schism in the Scottish Prosbyterian Church. The old Presbyterians doscribo the organs as “ a kist o’ whustles, with a devil in overy key,” and this new parable has been made out of Mr Carnegie’s insidious presents : “ When Andy Carnegie camo back from America they say he consulted a deil to know how he best could help his work on in Scotland. 1 Send organs to their churches,’ the old gentleman said. ‘ Nothing would do my work better than that.’ So Andy is giving away all the organs he can get fools to take.” In Wales Mr Carnegie's musical tastes havo won better appreciation, and he has been invited to act as president of tho Welsh National Eisteddfod, or bardie musical festival, in September.

. Copenhagen, May 2. Commander Faussett, a member of the suite of the Prince of Wales, who is now here to participate in the birthday celebration of King Christian, said in response to an inquiry he had not heard of any proposal to invite the Prinoe to assist in the dedication of the new home of the Now York Chamber of Commerce, and that ho believed any report that an invitation had been sent was absolutely incorrect. London, May 5. High diplomatic circles here are discussing plans, believed to be far advanced, for a visit by the Prince of Wales to the United States. The Administration at Washington is said to be forwarding the proposal for the visit, which, it is understood, receives the personal sanction of King Edward, some of whose counsellors urge the acceptance of the Invitation as a matter of astute State policy. The splendid welcome accorded to the brother of the German Emperor is believed to bo a forceful influence in this connection. While actual decisive acceptance has not yet been-promised, it is the understanding in the diplomatic world that such an acceptance wili soon be announced officially. It is said that the Prince will be the guest of honor at the opening of the new Chamber of Commerce in New York.

London, May 2. The British Consul-General at Harve reports that, although ocean freights are now 120 per cent less than in 1900, when ( American coal was being imported into Northern France, importation has oeased, t and British coal is again in undisputed possession of that market. The failure of the American coal he attributes to its being moro friable, in consequence becoming largely reduced to dust ou a long ocean journey, and also to the British coal-owners giving longer credit than the Amerioans. Seventy-six hundred tons of American anthracite was imported into Bouon last year, but it failed to give satisfaction, although sold a dollar a ton cheaper than tho English anthraoite, but ho thinks that class of American coal must prove a formidable competitor to the English product. London, May 5. King Edward has becomo interested in Mrs Maybrick’s caso, it is reported. Ho is even said to have conferred with Homo Secretary Bitchie about the advisability of releasing her. The Homo Secretary, it* is asserted, opposed making an exception in kor case, as ho and all bis predecessors have affirmed their belief that hor sentence was just. Ho is represented to havo been very averse to oxercising royal clemency in her solo behalf in coronation year, when public opinion would not tolerate any general act of amnesty toward any class of criminals. Sir Thomas Lipton is believed to be at the bottom of the King’s reported recent action. Lipton was a close friend of the lato Lord Chief Justice Bussoll, who used every lever at his command to obtain Mrs Maybrick’s release. Lipton, it is understood, was primarily actuated ! by influential American friends.