Weekly News. — 1890-12-18 (Blandford, Dorset, England)

WOMEN'S GAMBLING CLUB.  The adjourned case in which Sarah Billinzton charged Joseph Barker with assault again caine up at Chester on Saturday. There was originally a cross-summons, and,while Mrs. Billington was being cross-examined, she gave some details of a club which working women had founded. She was further cross-examined about it on Saturday.—The magistrate's clerk: What sort of a club is this? it a ladies' club 7 Where is it held F—Witness: At Mrs. Roberts's and Mrs. Smith's.—How long were you a member 7—Only four weeks. How much mimey did you pay 7—Your shillings. How in my members are there 7—Thirty-tour, and we pay Is. ?si. when we enter. All ladies 7—Yes, and we pive 3d. to the woman, and 3d. when we win, for keeping the rooms.—Mr. Dutton (magistrate): Wila: goes on at this club 7—They have several little hit: of caper on a plate, and not dice now, and ever) woman draws a paper which has a number on it, and they take high and low numbers. The magistrate's clerk : What do you mean by high and kw —The chief constable: The extreme numbers divide th- pool. The pool is 345. The person who draws No. 1 gets half, and the other half goes to the woman who draws 34, and these two numbers drop out.—Mr. Edwards (magistrate): Who started these clubs 7—Witness: Mrs. Roberts.—The Mayor: Are you married F—Witness: Yes, and have nine children.—And does your husband know of these transactions 7—Witness: Yes, and lie has threatened me very much if I go there again—The case was further adjourned.  A great Are broke out on Sunday night at tit Great Chart Count Lodge near Ashford (Kent). It b; supposed to have been caused by some vagrant who went into the premises to sleep, and probably wa, smoking. The barn was the ancient tithe barn .1the district, and was the largest in Kent, belt about 1,500 ft. long, 80ft. to 801 t. wide, and about 1301t.high. It contained five large silos, four of whirl, were full of ensilage, large steam engine, agricultural implements, between 400 and 500 cows, eight or 10 calves, and other property. The tire raged all night. The frost was so intense that it stiffened the hose and froze the firemen's hands. From the French. Business conversation:—  —"I have perfect confidence in you. But how about your partner? It Ive a prudent man?" —"Ah! Monsieur, a man who won't set fire to an omelette as diem if he hasn't insured it!"—The Globe.  The Bon Marche in Paris possesses probably the largest kitchen in the world. It provides food fiir all the employes of the house, 4,000 in number. The smallest kettle holds 75 quarts, the largest 375 quarts. There are 50 trying pans, each of which in capable of cooking 300 cutlets at a time, or of frying 2001 h. of potatoes. When there :ire omelettes for breakfast 7,800 eggs are used. The eft. machine makes 750 quarts of coffee daily. There are 80 cooks and 100 kitchen boys employed. An east-bound passenger express train on the Atlantic and Pacific ltailwaylcame into collision with a freight train near Los Angelo. (Cal.). A wealthy cattle dealer named Thompson was killed, as also was a fireman. Five others were fatally injured, but details are lacking. A man n amed Ardiloute, living at Agen (France), refused to allow his daughter, 17 years of age, to marry her lover. In revenge the girl, assisted by her lover, murdered her father by suffocating him. The man was on Saturday sentenced to penal servitude for life, and Om girl was sent to a house n ' enrroetinn