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at Paris and San Remo, excluding all contact with the Soviets. According to the ‘'Matin’’, France will nevertheless be represented in the economic negotia- tions. Itis asserted that Italy has adopt- ed the same attention. Paris .lTune lst.—The Persiar Minister for Foreign Affairs has addressed a letter to the Secretary of the League of Nations, asking for its intervention with a view to preventing the extension of the Bolshevik movement in Persia. Paris June 2nd. —The '‘Temps’, learns from an authoritative source in London that the nevotiaticns for the recstablish- ment of commercial relations with Russia will extend over a considerable time, M. Krassin not having plenipotentiary powers, that requiriig to consult with Moscow. According to the correspon- dent of ''Excelsior’” in London, M. Krassin, in the course of the conferenc with Mr. Lloyd George, declared that the raising of the blockade and the con- ciusion of peace were indispensable con- ditions for the reestablishment of com- mevcial relations. Paris, June 2nd.--The newspapers an- nounce that in consequence of the im- provement in the President’s condition, the projeet for the convocati'n of a congress at Versailles with the view to the creation of a Vice-Presidency for the Beoublie, has been postponed. The “‘Petit Journ: 1’ says that although the Oresiderit showed at the Council of Ministers yesterday that he recognized the general utility of the Project, he considered that, in the actual circum- stances, the measure might appear unfavourablz to him. A SURPRISING DISCOVERY. A rumour is current to the effect that a Demerara gentleman recently deceas- ed had been in Barbados where he cccu- pied a house on the sea coast at the stream, and that while there he indulg- ed in the fancy of spreading bank notes between the bed on which he slept. He left the house forgetting the money there, and only remembered it in time \_ to apprise his relatives just before his “death! He died, and an inquiry a few days after, revealed the existence un- der the bed of a layer of notes aggre- gating a few hundred dollars. A ser- vant admits putting the bed, but not sufficiently thorough as (o turn the mattress. What a loss? —Barbados Globe, May 26th. A MAN’S PRAYER. “Teach me that sixty minutes make an hour, sixteen ounces one pound, and one hundred cents one dollar. Help me so to live that I can lie down at nights with a clear conscience, without a gun under my pillow, and unhaunted by the faces of those to whom I have brought pain. 2 LR oAy 1B Grant that I may earn my meal icket on the square, and that in earning it I may do unto others as I would hate them do unto me. Blind me to the faults of the other fellow, but reveal to me my own. Guide me so that each night when I look across the dinner table at my wife, who has been a blessing to me, that 1 will have nßthing to conceal. Keep®ne young enough to laugh with litile children, and sympathetic enough to be considerate of old :ge A%d when cothes the day of darkened shades and rhe smell of flowers, the tread of soft footsteps and the crunch- ing ot wheels in the yard—make the ceremony short and the epitaph sim- ple.””’—lbd. SUGAR PRODUCTION IN FILORIDA. It has frequently been stated that Louisiana 1s the only one of the United States in which tne sugar-cane can be profitably grown, and that Louisiana has already reached the limit of its possible production. F'rom recent articies howeverin Ameri- ca sugar jJournals, it seems likely that a large development of sugar production will shortly take place in Florida. Historically. it appears that sugar cane was first cultivated in the United States in Florida, where a plantation was estab- lished as far back as 1707 fur ihe purpose of growing sugar-cane and indigo. The enterprise, however, dogs not seem to have been successful, and it was only shortly before the American Civil War that an attempt was made to revive the industry. _ In 1860 Florida was credited with the production of a little more than 2,000,000 1. of sugar. The Civil War seems to have practically ex:nguished the industry in the State. Nevertheless, the production of syrup has been carried on extensively in Wlorida for many years, and during the past three years attention has been given to the possibility of developing the sugar industry on a large scale. In the Everglades district hundreds of thousands of acres of land are being re- claimed by drainage cperations. This island is thoroughly well adaptea to cane growing. It is said that it has been ful- ly demonstrated that this new land can grow crops of cane of more than average quantity and quality, and only the appli- cation of eapital in the erection of modern sugar mills is needed to give Florida a position as an important source of sugar supply. In Facts About Sugar, March 16, 1920, the fomation of at least three large com- paniea for the purpose of growing cane and m' nufacturing sugar in the above mentioned district of Florida is noted. 1t is stated also, that the area under cane in Florida at present is 16,318 acres, from which syrup and sugar are produc- ed to the value of $2,686.129. With the interest now being- attracted ;to the in- dustry. it is regarded as certain that a rapid expansion in production will take place in the next few years. - Agricultu- ral News, 17th April. A MALAY VARRIAGE. Among the Malays the choice of pick ing his wife does n-t belong 10 the youth but to his parents. When the parents deem it high time that their son should have a wife they call together some of their relatives, generally women. At this meeting parvents with marriageable daughters are named and their character discussed. Having decided as to the par- ents to be approached first, they appoint an old lady to make the necessary ar- rangements, . She then starts on her “*hunting’’ for a wife expedition. When visiting the said parents she informs them that a certain person wishes to build a church. If the proposal is refus- ed. the hunter proceeds to others. On the contrary, if the parents wish (s ac- cept the proposal they would ask the emis sary to call again after a few days. During these days the parents of the malden call in a meeting of their relatives and inquire into the character and stand- ing of the suitor and his parents. Hav- ing thus satisfied themselves that the youth is a suitable mateh for thei- daughter, tey await the revisit of the hunter. At this visit their re- ply is given, and the amount to be spent by the would-be bridegroom for the mar- riage is named. When these primary points are settled the father of the youth fixes a day to call upon the parents of the other party, when the amount for ex penses is handed over, together with u few clothings and jewelry (the quality of these depends on the bridegroom’s stand ing), as a sign of their ‘‘betrothal’’. At this meeting is also fixed the wedding day. Onthe appointed day dirner is giv- en in both houses, and at the hour of midnight the bridegroom is taken to his “plamin’’ [a chair in the shape of a throne] in a procession to the house of the bride, where both the'‘plamins’’ are placed side by side with the bride and bridegroom in them. Thissitting togeth- er is termed ‘‘berstanding’’. From that time they are husband an: wife. A divorce is very -casily effected. A “‘haji’’[priest] is called, who separates them, thus breaking the bond of mar. riage. Divorce does no forbid them to marry each other again, or to any per.;on. When marrying each other again the wo man must undergo a marriage ceremony with another person before remarrying her divorced husband. Awtumns of youth. There is a species of beetles, called the mordella, which are provided with 25,000 eyes each. The dragon fly is said to have no less than 20,000 eyes, and can observe anything in any direction with- out moving its head.--Signs of thke Times. 11th May.