Weekly News. — 1891-10-08 (Blandford, Dorset, England)

LEGEND OF LOCH MAREE.  A writer in the Queen on "Fishing in Loch Muse" says: The most interesting of the islands in the loch is by no means the biggest, but it differs entirely from the others in its varied vegetation. There is a romantic legend in connection with this island. In olden times a Norwegian prince and princess lived there happily. In time of trouble the prince went forth to war, leaving his island to be guarded by his wife. It was agreed that when he was in sight of home on his return a white flag should be hoisted if all was well; if not, a black one. Time passed, and the princess became jealous of his long absence. When his boat at length appeared in the loch, a black flag was hoisted, and when be landed he found his wife lying, as if dead, on a bier; she having feigned death to prove his love. Heart-broken at the sight, the prince unsheathed his dagger and plunged it into his breast. A thud, and he lay dead at her feet. Horrified at the sight, she grasped the from his breast and took her own life. dagger were buried in this romantic spot, foot to foot, with the hilt of a dagger engraved on their tombstone. Since then the land owners of the neighbourhood have had the right to bury on the island, and some of the graves are of curious unhewn stones. This island burial is quite common in Scotland. It is a delightful idea that the dead should rest in peace, surrounded by beautiful scenery, and far enough from human habitation to do no harm to the living. On the same island is a wishing tree. It has been nearly killed by kindness, poor thing. To accomplish the wish it is necessary to knock into the bark of it some kind of coin. The result is that pence and small silver coins can be seen sticking in the bark like pins in a cushon. Thr very poor put in nails and pins. There is a saying that fools put in the coins for wise men to take them out. Certainly no gold was visible, although the Queen set the gold fashion by herself depositing a sovereign in the gnarled old tree when she stayed at Loch Mares a few years ago.  The fishing boat St. Jean Baptiste, of Boulogne, has brought into port a shark which the crew had captured and, with difficulty, killed about 25 miles east of Ramsgate, after it had greatly damaged their nets. The monster measured 13 feet, and weighed about four and a half hundredweight. An attempt at suicide under peculiar circumstances has been made in Paris by M. Lucien Creesonnois, a young playwright. He had invited 10 of his friends to dine with him at a café at the corner of the Rue de Ponthieu. About 8 o'clock, In the presence of his guests, he drew a revolver from his Pocket, and shot himself in the side. Hie distressed friends conveyed him to his residence, Ond a surgeon was at once summoned. • rue zurrisn orovernment nas 3ust introduced tee "zone time" on all the Turkish railways in Europe. Mr. Spurgeon is better, and has gone to Eastbourne. On Sunday he did not leave his hotel, but enjoyed a sunshine from the balcony overlooking the sea.  Preparations are being made at the Villa Palmieri, Florence,for the reception of Queen Victoria, who is expected next March. The Duke and Duchess of Fife will precede her. After gun practice at Fort Canaley, near Auckland, it was found that one of the 13-ton disappearing guns was fractured. The gun was to be dismantled. and sent to England.