declared that in choosing for her last public function the laying of the foundation stone of the building which will complete a work which will ever be a monument to the memory of her husband, she once more demonstrated to her people that, though a queen, and one of the greatest queens in the history of the world, she is still a woman, with a woman's heart and feelings.

On her arrival in London Her Majesty was driven to Kensington Palace, in which she was born, and where she lived until she became Queen. She is now too feeble to walk, and is carried everywhere in a chair, which is wheeled from room to room.

The Queen, surrounded by her maids of honor, and accompanied by Princess Beatrice, visited the rooms which she had occupied as a child, and lingered long in the bedroom in which she was sleeping when roused from her dreams with the intelligence that she was Queen of England.

In her passage throughout the city crowds lined the way and cheered her, showing her once more the warm place she held in the hearts of her subjects.

(May 27, 1899)

Laying the Corner Stone of Victoria and Albert Museum.-The ceremony of laying the foundation stone was one of the most brilliant of the many which London has witnessed. A vast pavilion had been raised to cover the site of the future building, and seats were provided in it for two thousand perThe scene presented is said to have been strikingly beautiful; the guests invited were all members of the Queen's household, the diplomatic corps, and

sons.

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members of the Cabinet. All the men present wore uniforms or court dress, which latter consists of knee breeches, silk stockings, and a long swallowtail coat beautifully embroidered in gold braid. The only man who wore no uniform of any kind was our Ambassador, Mr. Joseph H. Choate, who wore evening dress, which is the American diplomatic costume.

The Queen's carriage was driven into the center of the enclosure, and matters had been so arranged that Her Majesty could lay the stone without descending from the vehicle.

The enclosure into which the royal carriage was driven was guarded by a company of "Beefeaters," the guardians of the Tower of London, who still wear the quaint uniform of centuries ago.

The work which the Queen had to do in laying the stone was to place a silver casket, containing coins of the current year and records concerning the Museum, in a cavity in the lower stone, and to touch the mortar which was already placed on it. When this was done workmen from above lowered another stone upon the one containing the casket, the Queen declared that the stone had been "well and truly laid," and the cercmony was concluded.

There is yet another reason why the laying of this foundation stone was well chosen by the Queen as the final public act of her career. The building of the South Kensington Museum was commenced in the year 1837, the year of Her Majesty's accession to the throne, and it seems but fitting that hers should be the hand to complete the work.

The Birthday Celebration at Windsor.-On May 24 four generations of the British Royal Family assembled at Windsor Castle to celebrate the eightieth birthday of Queen Victoria, and elaborate preparations were made for the occasion. The royal lady was on this occasion surrounded by her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

A form of celebration was also arranged for the schools. The children were assembled, and first sang the national anthem, "God Save the Queen," the melody of which anthem has been used for our hymn, "My Country, "Tis of Thee." After this was over the children were told of the great and glorious deeds during the Queen's reign, the progress made in the sciences and arts, an' the development and expansion of the British Empire under her great rule. These exercises are to be repeated on every anniversary of Victoria's birthday, and in this way it is hoped to keep the young folks thoroughly well acquainted with their national history.

It would not be a bad example for us to follow on Independence Day, though it is true that little American folks are generally very well posted on the history of their own land.

(May 29, 1899)

The Return of Major Marchand to France.— Paris is preparing for a little hero worship on her own account. Major Marchand, of Fashoda fame, is on his way home, and it is expected will arrive about the second week in June. France is preparing to give him a reception worthy of the work he did.

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The party which he commands has traveled across Africa from the Atlantic Ocean to the Red Sea, and though the Major apparently accomplished but little in his occupation of Fashoda, being compelled to retire from it by the British who claimed it as part of the Egyptian Sudan, he did in point of fact accomplish wonders. The object of the French Government in sending him out was to seek an outlet to the Nile for the products of the Congo Basin. The occupation of Fashoda forced the English to come to an understanding with France on the subject of the ownership of the Nile and the Nile Valley, and through this understanding the desired outlet was obtained; the British agreed to allow the French to send their produce across the territory that intervenes between the French boundary and the Nile, and to allow the goods to be carried down that great waterway.

It is therefore not to be wondered at that Major Marchand is to be given an enthusiastic reception.

Fêtes of all kinds have been arranged in his honor; a medal is to be struck off to commemorate the achievement of his task, and all France will rejoice.

The explorer reported that his passage across Abyssinia to the Red Sea was like a triumphal procession. The Negus of Abyssinia greatly admired the pluck and energy which had characterized Marchand and his work, and treated him with the greatest hospitality. Provisions and newly built quarters awaited the travelers at the end of every day's journey, and finally, on May 16, the party reached the East Coast of Africa, at Jibutil, from which point the expedition takes ship for France.

When Major Marchand reached the coast he found the French cruiser D'Assis waiting for him, the captain of which vessel had been intrusted with the pleasant task of handing the Major the insignia of Commander of the Legion of Honor.

The French are hoping that in the enthusiasm over the arrival of Major Marchand some of the bitterness of the Dreyfus matter may be forgotten, and that the honor of the army, which has been so deeply smirched, may in some measure be restored.

The Dreyfus decision is expected very shortly, and so much evidence has been brought forward to show that forgery was committed to fasten the guilt upon the unfortunate man, that it seems impossible to deny him a new trial.

(May 29, 1899)

The Governor and the Franchise Tax Bill.Toward the end of the last session in Albany the State Legislature passed a bill, introduced by Senator Ford, which provided for taxing the franchises held by the various corporations throughout the State. The bill stipulated that franchises should be regarded as real estate, and should be taxed in the same manner.

Franchises are rights or privileges granted to companies or individuals to operate lines of street cars, or run gas or electric light wires, or water, or heating pipes, etc., through property that belongs to the town or State. The streets are the property of the town, and no company has a right to use them for its own benefit without having first obtained permission to do so.