Weekly News. — 1891-06-11 (Blandford, Dorset, England)

CAMBLINGI IN RUSSIA.  Our baccarat case has not escaped our critics in France and Germany. The Cologne Gazette makes it an opportunity for commenting upon a Russian rage for gambling. Their light Slavic blood, it says, draws Russians on to games of hazard, and makes them develop a perseverance at the card tables which is seldom seen on more serious occasions. Peter the Great knew this, and, personally averse to card-playing, he forbade altogether games of hazard. Common games were allowed to be played by officers, but the highest stake might oily be one rouble. Whether this order of the Czar was strictly kept during his lifetime is not known; but, in any case, soon after his death high games of hazard were much played among the Russian notabilities, and so it has continued until to-day. Public gaming-houses are no longer allowed, at least not under this name; but in reality they exist in all clubs, where the playing is very high. According to th, Cologne Ga:ette, a million roubles were a short time ago won by a player from his partner, an Odessa Greek, within the space of an hour. Of the winner an anecdote is told. For some time he had a steward who was just such a passionate player as his employer. One day the steward received orders to have the sheep shorn, to sell the wool, and to forward the money immediately. But the steward neither sent the money nor allowed himself to be seen. On receiving fresh orders, he declared that the sheep-shearing could not take place, as he ithe stenard) had already lost them at cards! An urgent telegram was sent him, with the laconic question. "To whom?" This time the wished-for information and address was sent. Scarcely an hour later the master was on his way to the winner, from whom 24 hours later he had not only won back the sheep, but a nice little sum besides. The dishonest steward got off scot free. Alexander 11. played every evening his rubber of Tarolaich (a complicated whist). As the points at the Imperial card-tables were reckoned with 10 copecks, there were often winnings or losses of a hundred and more roubh•s. Mostly the Emperor looked after the settling himself. and, if necessary,gave change and had some given him. The pre: 'lt Czar used to like playing a rubber of whist, but iately he has denied himself even this little diversion, and works every evening far into the night.  In Lower Burma!' the Police have had unsuccessful encounters with a large gang of dacoits at Taikkyi, a village on the Prome Railway line. One policeman was killed, one was taken prisoner, and some were carried off. A strong body of military police has been sent in pursuit of the dacoits. In consequence of heavy rains, the river Idle has overflowed in several parts of North Notts, and caused serious floods. One portion of the borough of Retford is completely under water. Some of the inhabitants are compeiled to live upstairs, while many have had to remove from their houses. Several roads are impassable, and damage is being done to garden crops.  The Cardinal's hat has been taken from Rome to Dr Gruscha, Archbishop of Vienna.  Jacob von Brenan, a farmer, living near Waterville, Washington State, shot and killed his brothers John and Henry owing to a dispute in reference to a division of the stock. The murderer escaped on horseback, but as the her: r t ;lined riderless it is supposed that its master had cominited suicide or been killed.  A shooting affray has occurred in New Orleans between Dr.Oliphant,the president of the Louisiana Board of Health, and Mr. Dupree, the editor of the daily newspaper States. The latter tired five shots, but Dr. Oliphant only one. Mr. Dupree was wounded fa the face, while his adversary was unhurt.  She hadn't time.—" And you were at V. exclaimed Mrs. Atherton to her caller. -iiow interesting. Of course you saw the lions of St. Mark's ?" "Well, no," replied Mrs. Trotter. The fact is, we didn't go to the Zoological Gardens at all."  Valuable information.—"o, dear," sighed Mrs. Cumson, "I've got paresis and any quantity of dreadful diseases." "I didn't know you had anything of the kind," replied Cumson. "I didn7t, either, until I read this patent medicine advertisement." unrrer uy a lace railway accinent„ rustling wildly about, was asked if he was hurt. "No," he said, "but I can't find my umbrella." _  "Here, let that dog be! I'll teach you to be kind to animals!" said the kind-hearted father, as he knocked his ten-year-old boy down.  It is a mere impudent vagary to talk of "taking time by the forelock." In reality, we are lucky if we can clutch him by the back hair.  "Figures can't lie," says prominent politician, "but give the figures to one -ho knows how to use them and he'll do the rest."  3fEDICIAL OFFICERS AND ARMY Mr. Edward Stanhope, M.P., Secretary of War, has written to Sir Andrew Clark stating Royal Warrant is in preparation under medical officers of the army are in future to precedence and other advantages (except iv command) attaching to the rank indicated military portion of the title, as follow: Major-General, Surgeon .Colonel, Brigade Lieutenant-Colonel, Surgeon peutenant-1/4 Surgeon-Major, Surgeon - Captain, Surgeon. tenant. Medical officers will also be granted leave on the same conditions as combatant offte Mr. Stanhope trusts this will bring to an end •ontroversies that have recently prevailed.