The Sun.
London, England, 1868-11-28 00:00:00

RAILTV AY SIGNALS,

An important series of experiments were made on
Thursday on the North-Eastern Railway system, with
a view of testing various methods of communication
between passengeri, guards, and drivers, which
have been devised in view of the adoption of one
general system in April next, when a provision
of the kind becomes compulsory on railway companies.
Four experimental trains were run, and the general
managers and other officials of the Great Northern,
South-Eastern, Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire,
Midland, London and North-Western, North-Western,
and other companies were present, and travelled
in the trains. At eleven a.m. a London and
North-Western train of twenty-five carriages, trucks,
&c., was fitted at Malton with a cord apparatus
attached to a whistle on the engine. This line was slender,
and required to be cut or broken at the point of danger,
the severance of the string liberating a spring lever
which blew the whistle. This train ran from Malton
to Scarborough. At Scarborough a South-Eastern train
was entered, and a return journey was made to Malton.
The train was a mixed one, and of the same length,
and was fitted with Preece's electric couplings, as
in use on the South-Eastern. At Malton a North-
Eastern train was taken, fitted with Brown's semaphore
invention, moved by a cord over the window, and signal-
ling the driver and guard, as well as marking the part of
the train whence the alarm is given. This system has
been in use on certain North-Eastern trains for ten
months, and has done good service. At York a short
London and North-Western train was waiting, fitted
with a different electrical communication, which it was
proposed to take to llarrogate. The results of the
observations will lead to a conference with the different
managers, and form the basis of a suggestion to the
Board of Trade for a uniform system of signalling pas-
senger trains.

THE ABERGELE CORONER.—TIIO Lancet con-
gratulates Dr. Evan Pierce on the high estimation in
which he is evidently held at Denbigh, where he has now
been elected mayor for the third year in succession. Re-
membering the adverse criticism of which, as coroner in
the melancholy catastrophe at Abergele, Dr. Pierce was
the subject, it must be peculiarly gratifying to him to
receive so complete a proof from his fellow townsmen of
their satisfaction with his conduct of that most difficult
and painful inquiry—a satisfaction that is now universally
entertained.

REPORTING EXTRAORDINARY.—Before a member
has finished his speech in the House, the greater part of
it is not only written out, but actually in type in more
than one newspaper office. Without the system of "short
turns " in reporting, this would, of course, be impossible.
One peculiarity of the "turn" system is, that great pains
need be taken to avoid mistakes arising from the
" turns" of different men being accidentally transposed.
To prevent this, each man, ere he begins his report,
heads his first slip of transcript with his own name and
that of the reporter-who has preceded him, thus : " Jones
follows Brown ;" and he adds similar words to the last
slip, thus : " Smith follows Jones." These words are of
course set up in type for the guidance of the printer ; and
it sometimes happens that they find their way in con-
sequence into the newspaper itself. On one celebrated
occasion, Mr. Disraeli, who was depicting in glowing
words the dangers to society arising from some act of
the Liberal Government, exclaimed, in the midst of his
peroration : " Then, sir, what follows?" This question
was unexpectedly, answered in one morning paper by the
remarkable words, " Green follows Robson." . . . There
are many goad stories' told respecting the Gal-
lery. Many have doubtless heard of the old
reporter who in the midst of a dull debate, suddenly
called out for the Speaker to favour the House with
a song. Another gentleman, engaged in the House
of Lords, having heard one statesman of repute
state that another bad introduced a bill "with indecent
haste,"-headed his report with the words; "Charge of
Indecency against Lord So-and-so ;" whilst a third, who
had been told that profane language was on no account to
be admitted into his reports, once destroyed the effect of
one of O'Connell's finest pieces of oratory by printing the
word " damned," when used in its most legitimate sense,
in the form in which it usually appears in our police
reports.—Chambers'B Journal,

The Norwich Liberals have decided on petitioning
against the return of Sir Henry Stracey. Mr. Sergeant
Ballantine has been retained for the prosecution.

The Archbishop designate of Canterbury has in-
vited the Very Rev. Harvey Goodwin, D.D., Dean of Ely,
to preach the Latin sormon at the opening of Convocation.

Mr. Georgo Lyall, formerly M.P. for Whitehaven,
will be the now Governor of the Bank of England, in the
room of Mr. Sheffield Neavo, deceased. A Court for his
formal election will be held on 'Wednesday next.

A Dublin jury has awarded £2OO damages to a
man-plaintiff in the case of breech of promise. This is a
most unusual case, a man being generally solaced by a

By an action in the Court of Common Pleas, the
astounding fact is recorded that, at a banquet at the NOV
Meat Market, King's-cross, 180 gentlemen, to use an Ame-
rican phrase, "got outside of" 521 bottles of wine,
Thelibrary of De. Longley, the late Archbishop of
Canterbury, is to come under the auctioueer's hammer next
month. Ile had :..n burn !use cJllection of valuable theolo-
gical work 4, as w,-11 as works of g_!neral literature, the
former of which are of little use to his family, as none of his
sous took holy orders.

"A Grateful Curate," writing to the Leicester
Journal says that among the good traits of the late Bishop
of Peterborough's character was the following :—lt cfas his
custom oyery Christmas-day to send to those curates iu his
diocese who were burdened with largo families and slender
means a cheque for five or ten pounds, This Ma enclosed
in a letter expressed in the most courteous and delicate
terms,

In the course of a few days the long lino of houses
opposite to the General Post-office in St. Martin's-le,
Grand will be removed, the whole of the property having
been purchased for the Governiumt, On the site now
occupied by the houses buildings W4l be prected for
Pcst-oillee purposest trls yet Inerep,se of liminess hav-
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HER MAJESTY.

WINDSOR CASTLE, Nov. 26.
Her Majesty, accompanied by Princess Beatrice,
drove out yesterday afternoon.

The Queen was prevented by indisposition from
going to London this morning, and only walked in
the grounds.

7HEATRICAL AND MUSICAL ITEMS.

(Prom the Era.)
The successful autumnal season at the Italian
Opera closes on Monday next.
Miss Neilson commences an engagement at the
Prince of `Wales's Theatre, Liverpool, on AionclaP
She opens in "Rosalind."

Miss Amy Sedgwick has recovered from her in'
disposition ; she, however, has received another
shock by the death of her mother.

Mr. Bamire, the unrivalled property master at
Drury Lane Theatre during the reign of Manage
Bunn, died on Monday last at Hastings.
Miss Kate Robertson, lessee of the Brea'
Theatre, died on the 25th.

Mr. Howard Paul has offered Offenbach ILO
to write him a sequel to the " Grand Ducbesse.'.
Mr. Paul Herring, the veteran pantomimist, &ea
a few days ago.

Mrs. Hertnann Vezin's illness precludes the fur"
ther representation of the ,4 Rightful Heir" at the
Lyceum for the present. On Monday next DV'
Bandmann appears as Othello for the first time.
Miss Hazlewobd announces her benefit at Sadleill
Wells on the 7th of December, after which evening
the theatre will close until Boxing-night.
Mr. Toole and Mr. and Mrs. Billington are act-
ing to crowded audiences at Liverpool.
Mr. H. J. Byron has written a new drama en-
titled, " Not Such a Fool as he Looks." It is to
be produced at Manchester, the author sustaining
the principal part.
(Frain the Sunday Times.)
It is currently reported that Mr. Bandmann will
shortly marry Miss Milly Palmer.
Mdlle. Carlotta Patti gave her first concert al°
days ago at Versailles.

Miss Glyn is now giving a series of readings 14
the Westbourne Hall with great success.
Miss Emily Pitt, late of the Adelphi, sailed 00
Wednesday last for America. •

Mdlle. de la Ferte opens the St. James's Theatre
on Boxing-night with a new drama and extriv
vaganza.

A new burlesque is about to be performed by the
Christy's Minstrels, entitled " The Itevi4
Barrister."

(From the Musical Standard.)
" Dinorah" has been well received at Rome.

Auber's " Le Premier Jour de bonheur" has
given with success at Leipsic.
Ambrosd Thomas's opera of " Mignon" has been
warmly received at Hamburgh.
Mercadante and Verdi have been elected ass°'
ciates of the Institute of Fine Arts, Paris.
is
The last piece said to be written by Rossini (4
fantasia for a military band, entitled t‘ La coon
d'ltalia :" it has been already played at Florence.