Nelson Chronicle, Colne Observer, and Clitheroe Division News. — 1897-01-08 (Nelson, Lancashire, England)

NOIES UN NEWS.  Ws see that the 1.311,1.:-,roliii i Yerkshirellailway Gunpany are nt iI to M•t Mi Parliamentary powers for forming a veasion and benefit society for their workpeople. It iA propo,..a th3t the chairuuttl, the general manager, the secretary, the chief engineer, and the chief illeChUllit,lL engineer shall draw up the scheme and decide how much is to be kept back weekly out of the nim's wmxes—of course with the men's full cencurreme. On the other bawl, the shareholdcrs are to decide how much the company io to contribute.  Fon fifty years a solitary man lived on one of the rook-islets off Jct.Aev, and he died a few days ago at the ago of 76. He Wti. the modern edition of , Robinson Crusoe. Diann, Pinel was "King of the Ecrehons,•' his palace being a small cabin, in , which he baked his own bread and lived in a lonely grandeur. His one recreation was rabbit-shooting, but he seldom tasted meat or wine, unless these luxuries were brought to him by visitors. The hermit was a strongly religious man, and his Bible might have been said to be his only companion on the dessert island. His one wish was to see Paris, but he died without realising it.  IN reply to the complimentary telegram addressed to him by the Tsar at the New Year, the President of the French Republic has sent a message to tlu Emperor Nicholas 11. saying that he has been mod touched by the language in which these congratulations are couched, and adding, "They also evoke with deep emotion the precious memory of your presence among us." The despatch concludes with the expression of good wishes for the happiness of their Majesties and the little Grand DUCIIPSF, as well as for the greatness of Russia. The exchange of the compliments of the SPILton has, by the way, elicited hardly any comment here, it being taken as a matter of course.  DR. EonEgr Parxotu thiliks that there is a gang of professional poisoners at work in London. He knows of a trooper of Hussars whom Ilf• rescued from his possible murderers at Charing Cross railway station, and of a young man, whom he saw turned out of a clothier's shop in the Strand. These two cases prove nothing in themselves, and are certainly no confirmation of any widespread and organised conspiracy. Yet it is just possible that in a city like London there may be some foul Thoggee business in operation. People disappear, and toeir fate remains a mystery : are any or all of their victims? In the East the art of the poisoner is well known, but we dread to think that Eastern methods 4..! this sort have been transplanted in the West.  Smut rather sharp things are being an I in Part, as is only natural under the eiremustanem, about the expulsion of the three brothers de Wit great grandsons of Gnizot, from Alsace. whither they proceeded on a periodical visit to M. Schlumberger, their mother's father. Their papers were thoroughly "en regle,"the German officials had been duly informed of their journey, and every possible precaution had been taken to avoidany pretext for a harsh measure, but a notiee for their departure was suddenly forwarded from Stradsburg without any warning. M. Conrad de Witt, Deputy for Calvados, attributes his interference to the fact that the youngest of these gentlemen, who are his grand sons, following the examples of his brothers, recently, on attaining the age of sixteen, proclaimed his preference to the French nationality.  Tax ardent politician earnestly desires all the members of his own party to vote at an election, though he is perhaps more willing to excuse reluctance to come up to the polling booth on the part of his opponents. So impressed were the citizens of Kansas City with the idea that the franchise was not so much a privilege ss a duty that in their municipal charter they took power to inflict a tine of 2.50 dols. on any voter who faiki to cast his ballot. But even the fear of this penalty did not force all men to exercise the franchise. Many, we are sorry to record, failed to vote, and the test case of Kansas City versus B. T. Whipple, was brought before the legal authorities. The Supreme Court of Missouri has now decided that this provision of the charter is unconstitutional. Some other remedy must be sought for political apathy, for even in a free country a man cannot be compelled to vote.