Nelson Chronicle, Colne Observer, and Clitheroe Division News. — 1897-03-19 (Nelson, Lancashire, England)

JAXA3 D. Lino:4, the president of the Royai Institute of Painters in Water Colours, and his successors, will henceforth share the distinction recently conferred upon Sir John Gilbert, of being able to wear a distinctive collar and badge when attending her Majesty's levees, and on such °that omasions as may be considered fitting. The collet consisna of ribbon and chain, and the badge, which was designed and executed by Mr. Alfred Gilbert, R.A., and exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1894, is of gold, jewelled and enamelled. In the centre is a female figure, representing water-colour art, standing on a nautilus shell, and the background consista of emblematical work with a monogram of her Majesty surmounted by a royal crown.  On the occasion of each of her journeys to the South during the past tea years, the Queen's safety upon the French railway has been entrusted mainly to M. Chardon, the chief traffic manager of the Chemin de For do l'Ouest. He takes charge of the royal train at Cherbourg, and remains at his post until Nice is reached. Id. Chardon in appearance rather suggests the earthy officer, than the railway official, and like most man who have risen from the ranks he is a severs disciplinarian. Fasting through a little station in Britanny some time ago by a night train, he blew up the porter in charge for not calling oat the name of the place distinctly. The man, not knowing by whom he was addreined, replied, "You can't expect to get tenors for twenty franca a week," and the retort—to M. Chardon's credit, be it said—was accepted in good part  Tits poor shop girl, whose death by her own act was the subject of • coroner's inquest in London the other day, was, to some extent, the "new woman" in suicide. In her letters a sort of artificial levity of nature seems to struggle for expression with profound despair. She is drowning herself because she is "too lonely and sick." The nature of the loneliness can only be surmised, but it is probable that the sickness was a sickness of the heart. II the letters had stopped there, they would have been less painful to read. But one of them is as flippant as anything in third-rate fiction—" I hope you will not be very much shocked when you receive this, but I will leave a space fox you to recover yourself "—space marked by dots— "lf you like to call at my diggings and take my things, you will find them handy. Just shove them into a box, and hook off with them. . . . Now you will have a niue days' talk." It is as newfashioned as "the Yellow Book," bat we most confess to a preference for the old style.  Tux Daily Telegraph "is about to lose by resig' nation one of the most distinguished members of its ' staff, the Hon. Francis Lawley. During the last thirty years this eminent journalist has treated in the columns of that journal with the old-world grace and felicity of diction which belong to him of many interesting events and personages. Son of the first Lord Weulock, and uncle of the present peer, Mr. Lawley 118.14 always held a position in society which hasenabled him to depict with intimate knowledge the naen whose names represent the various phases of the national life during the last half century. Few living men, if any, can rival Mr. Lawley's thrilling adventures as war correspondent first of "'flue 'rime." during the American War of Secistaion, and, secondly, of the "Daily Telegraph" during the siege of Paris, in which he was imprisoned by the German army of is vestment.  Mr. Hermann Vezin recently met with • serious bicycle accident. Ihe National Gallery will be opened again on Sundays from April 4 to September 24, between the hours of 2 and 3 or 6 p.m., according to the season. The London aid Suburban Licensed Victualler.' billiard championmhip has been won by Mr. Large, who 'coned 1,000, as against 924 made by the holder, Mr. Dyke. Mr. Tree's new theatre is approaching completion, and the "first night" will he Aecii '7  •