y that the real gem had been
stolen, and a paste imitation put in its place.

The Nizam, therefore, loses his million and a half, and the Queen of
England her costly present.

* * * * *

There is an amusing story about King Leopold of Belgium in connection
with the Jubilee.

It would appear that King Leopold is a very eccentric monarch, and that
it is his habit to disappear from his kingdom every now and then, and
wander about the world like an ordinary gentleman.

His little ways are well known by this time, so no anxiety is felt about
him, and the Court newspapers put in the usual accounts that His Majesty
breakfasted here, and lunched or dined there, just the same, whether His
Majesty is in the kingdom or not. Last week affairs of state got to be a
little tiresome to him, so, without a word of warning to any one, he
packed his grip, went aboard his yacht, and steamed over to England.

He was seen in London eating in cafes, strolling in the Park, and
enjoying himself in a quiet, harmless way, watching the preparations for
the Jubilee.

None of his royal relatives knew that he was in the country, until
Victoria, paying a state visit to the little town of Sheffield, was
surprised to see His Majesty the King of the Belgians standing in the
front row of the crowd that lined the sidewalks to see her pass.

Finding himself recognized, Leopold followed Her Majesty to Scotland,
and paid her a short visit. Immediately his duty was done, he started
off again on his yacht, and he has not since been heard from.

If he does not appear in state at her Jubilee celebrations, it will
probably be because he has decided to see the sights from the crowd
instead of a state carriage.

* * * * *

It will interest you to know that the police have traced the cannon
stolen from West Point.

Colonel Ernst's idea, that they were taken from the fort one by one, and
carted away in a wagon, proved to be the correct one.

They were sold to a dealer for a few cents a pound as old metal, and
apparently two of them have already been shipped to Germany to be
melted. The same dealer also bought a couple of boxes of old pieces of
brass, and it is therefore feared that the famous Monterey cannon has
been destroyed, but the authorities are not quite sure about that point
as yet.

It appears that the cannon were stolen by a plumber in Highland Falls, a
little village near West Point.