Mlle. Rocoska, who was one of the principals at the Royal Opera, Warsaw, was well known in theatrical and artistic circles throughout Poland. News has at last reached her friends that Mlle. Rocoska has gone to Galicia, in Austria, where she has exchanged the pleasures of her art for the austerities of a convent, having renounced her former life and taken the veil. Mlle. Rocoska has given no motive for this sudden step. Sir John French South Africa was termed the graveyard of reputations. For some of our Generals it was such, but not for Sir John French, who came back with the reputation of being one of the first cavalry leaders of the From Stage to Convent Mlle. Marie Siera Rocoska, who is said to be one of the Madame Rocoska recently left the operatic stage, and has taken the the day. At the time of writing, General French is busy defending England against an enormous invading force of 270,000 men. The "idea" of manoeuvres, which are the sequel to the recent staff ride, is that the invasion has actually taken place, and the strength of the invaders is such that the British Forces have been driven back from the east and west coasts, and the great manufacturing centres of the country. A detached portion of the invading force, about 5,000 strong, is attempting to force the passage of the Thames. It may be unpatriotic, but the idea occurs that it would he rather fun if the invaders carried all before them and marched into London. They would give a fillip to the general gloom of the Metropolis these days. Moreover, to bring the manœuvres still more home to the populace, the Volunteers might be called out to offer stout resistance from behind the natural earthworks which the London County Council and other authorities have thrown up all over the town. "The Bystander " in Africa The ubiquity of THE BYSTANDER is wonderful, even to us who follow its travels from the standpoint of interested workers. Several times a week we are reminded by letter of some new and almost unknown In this lake, the Incas of Peru, who, it will be remembered, were conquered in the sixteenth century by the Spanish adventurer, Pizarro, are said to have buried huge quamities rather than let it fall into the hands of their Spanish conquerors. The lake has now been drained by a company, and in a short time the expectant shareholders will know whether their ten pound shares (fully paid up) will realise to the extent of their anticipations A Born Leader of spot into which our paper has penetrated. From the steaming flats of the Nile, and from the orange groves of California, from New Zealand gum diggings, and from Indian plantations-in short, from all those faraway places where Britishers seem to take a delight in working away their lives, we have received tribute as spontaneous as it is gratifying. Our latest correspondent (a lady) writes from Paarl, Cape Colony. For the benefit of those readers who may perchance be going Paarl way we quote the following from our correspondent's warmly appreciative letter: "I am proud to be able to say I have introduced THE BYSTANDER to this community, and it can now be had at (don't smile!) the one and only bookseller's here, and- our modesty forbids us to print the remainder of the sentence. Our photograph shows our lady correspondent (on the right) and her friend "with their children. All the little ones were born in Africa, and bear testimony in their healthy looking figures to the salubrity of the climate there. Such letters as this do much towards sweetening the life of the hard-worked journalist, and we herewith send our friends at Paarl our heartiest thanks. A Baron Emperor? Quite a sensation has been created in Paris by the news that Baron de Forest, Lord Gerard's brother-in-law, the well-known millionaire sports man, intends, like M. Jacques Lebaudy, to found an Empire in the Sahara desert! It seems to be a fact that the Baron and his pretty wife ho was Miss Ethel Gerard, one of the most popular new century débutantes have sailed in their splendid new yacht, The Honor, for the Near East. Baron de Forest is one of two brothers, both adopted sons of the late Baron Hirsch. It was from the latter financier that he inherited one of the most famous sporting estates in the world, Eichhorn, in Austria. Since his marriage, he has lived with his young wife almost entirely in England. They are both devoted to hunting and to yachting, and The Honorwhich was only launched last April is one of the finest yachts afloat; indeed, in size and comfort, it recalls a liner rather than a pleasure steamer. The Baroness, who is very clever, designed many of the fittings of The Honor herself. The River Garry, at Killiecrankie, Pitlochry Killiecrankie Cottage, illustrated above, is situated at the northern end of the famous Pass, among some of the most beautiful scenery in the Highlands. The salmon fishing connected with the estate comprises 1 miles of the River Garry, the water yielding excellent sport |