25 YEARS AGO

THE 5.18 Paddington express plunged off the rails at Ealing, West London, last night, killing 10 men and injuring about 50.

SINGER Bobby Darin, aged 37, died today in Los Angeles after undergoing a second open-heart operation.

NOT all these so-called carol singers have developed the technique to which a correspondent calls attention. A householder was summoned to his door the other night by loud and rather peremptory knocking. 'Good evening,' said a girl when he opened the door. 'Would you like to give us something for carols singing?'

'But you've not sung yet, or, at least, I haven't heard you,' objected the householder.

'Oh,' explained the girl, indicating the rest of the carollers standing at the garden gate, 'we don't sing at all unless you pay first.'

125 YEARS AGO

OUR cricketing readers will be glad to know that the English Twelve team, which left Southampton in the steamship Singapore, under the captaincy of Mr W. Gaolbird, on the 23rd of October, have reached their destination safely. According to a telegram received, they arrived at Melbourne on the 15th inst., are reported as 'all well', and to have already had some 'practice'. During the next few days they will regain their 'land legs' and will play their first match at the Melbourne club on Boxing Day.

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