Evening Express

BIETH8. MARRIAGES. DEATJlS. Notice* of Births, Marriage*, and Deaths are cbarge-l la each if not exceeding 30 words, and for each additional word. In all cooei the Notion Mtuit be au*aktinai«4 by the sisuaturc aad address of ,'I, aeivv Televkone, Xatlonai. 502: foot-office. >5. Teleeram*. "Exproso," Cardiff.

Bill Banter's Budget Oh Pity the poor workhus bloke I We as is fortunate folk I Looks to the East, Sayin' "Kill the old beast!" (Which of the Turk it is sroke). Choreuse: — Oh, the poor workhus bloke! The poor workhus bloke! Oh, pity the poor workhus 'oloke. Yes, pity the poor workhus bloke; Leave the old Sultan to soak Right 'ere at 'ome We has Turks of our own Who might conveniently croak. There's a bust in my 'eart: I could choke; Seein' poor divils that's broke, Treated so low By Spurgeon and Co., Wuss than a dog or a moke! Are it an 'orrible joke Bouncin' out ov their Making accurst The moment they first Come under the guardians' yoke ? Br-EOiis, it's time *e awoke To pity the poor workhus bloke; Or we'll soon have the new a, After baccy and booze, They've bin doin' away with his toke. BILL HIGGINS. Right pleaded I am to notice this develop- mfnt of the balloon faculty in Mr. William Higgins. But it was ever thus. The theory is quite a possible one that any and every mail, I if only touch-id rightly upon an appropriately ■tendec part, soars off spontaneously into the any realms of poesy. Of course, results are varying in different cases. More often than not he drops again with one of those dull thuds that echo boo ning out of chaos. Yours unfortunately has heard many such a tl.i. j He knew :t man who wrole Little drops of water, Stirring up the mud The Waterworks Committee Go home very glad. This pott was a dairyman, and he became poetically touched wbc-n he rend that by next MondfR- Mr- Priestley calculates upon 200 million gallons of it in LlanUhen reservoir. His thud ;8 echoing still. But the pc ct Higgins has been touched upon an even tenderer area. "The Poor Workhus Boy," in three (lats and a sharp, is the aure sign of the approaching closing hour at the Loving Ghost. An uncle of his, who was attached to the South Wales Circuit (on bail until he became too prominent a member) was in the habit of spending the long vacation at the w orkhouse whenever his sentence would permit. It was the influence of this relative that gave Mr. Higgins, during his younger days, an insight into the bitterness of a life which r.t this morning's meeting of the guardians some sought to make tobaccoles-sly bitter. But She poet Higgins, like most poets, right along from William the Conqueror to Mr. Austin, is hopelessly unpractical in his senti- ment. Rather* let us hug. the essayist signing himself "Mic-Mac," who will receive the Ca.la- thumpian Biscuit-medal now being struck by Messrs. filler at the Exhibition. "Hear both aides, as the chambermaid with her oral cavity to the keyhole said. listening with the other for a proprietary football. "Mic- Mac" and the -postman have conveyed the following to yours faithfully:— "William Ba-nter, Esq., Express' Office. "Dear Sir,—Riding in yoyr paper of die great effort* made at tihe guardians' committee meeting, and the probable. efforts on Saturday by several broad-minded charitable gentlemen to curtail unnecessary articles now used by the in mates of the union. Consider for a moment, Mr. Banter ,the immense amount that could be saved. An ounce of tobacco per man per week one pint of beer yearly other poisons, as tea and coffee; unneces>ary luxuries of meat, sugar, and milk. You are aware that a vegetable met of beans, etcetra, combined with tree draughts of pure Ely, is S'liHioienl to maintain existence. By adopting the methods of the Spurgeon school the amount saved could ue diverted to the purchase of woollen clothes, and sent to the poor, naked, innocent heathens in Burrambola, under the .shade of the Jarrahdale Jarrah trea It is to be regretted. m> dear sir, that you, in your views, look too much at home. Your selfishness would cheer the hearts of our poor, and make their few re- manning yesvr* happy and comfortable. Yes, sir, I firmly beliove you would give a coat to a poor, shivering old man in CardJii before you would in the spirit of charity send H to torrid Africa to protect at naked. heathen from the sun." "Mr. Banter," continues M.ie-Ma>c, "a few j words of advice before closing this. Those liberail, noble-minded guardians of our poor stand too highly in toi exalted a position to be effected by any narrow-minded Dissent of yours. Are they not professors of virtues? Exponents of the lowly Christ ? Do they not look over the world agroad, and when they find a spot where the ss.vago still gambols in his plavfuil untutored innocence. Ask the public "to subgcribe for a mi,?ion? Are they not even as a lighthouse in. which the rays of 9 light ,'i» all caught and concentrated to show abroad at sea hi great >"illianov. not a geam nor a ray is wasted upon tne land around. them. Trusting, Mr. Banter, you will fairly accept this in a charitable spirit, I remain, with regards, "MIC-MAC." j

Aztec Football, ? PLAYED WITH BARE FEET BY SIX MEX. A Combination of the Rugby Game and the La. Crosse of tbo Canadians?. Football as they rhy it, down in tLe :L0.o:iC2.'1 communities of Southern California ia of the primitive order-a combination ot the Rugby game and the la crosse of the Canadians, ;ys the "San Francisco Examiner." Locally th9 name is the "gomae race," the ball rend. '10 game bearing the same name. The game i;, source of as much interest to the half-breed Indians and Mexicans inhabiting the villages and missions round about Los Angeles- ar the college gains is to the lover of athletic sport*. A condition which adds to the intercut in the college game is the fact that the playrs have a high board fenco all around them, and a 10,000dol. audience to do the yelling, while the Mexican has only the open roadway befcre bun and a dead-head audience. The only 111- spiration lies in a nn?ll purse and a little free whisky. There arc only six players—three on a side. A long racecoursa is agreed upon as the track, and the distance to run depends upon the heat of the day, how experienced a:;d hardened the players are, and how ninth ot M. purse is offered. Sometimes the length is from four to fixe miles and return, but gene- rally it is only three. The garner are always played in the summer time on some feast day, when the dust is about Sin. deep and the tem- perature One Hundred and Ten Degrees In the Sun. The object of the sport is to kick tihe fcnl; to the end of the course and return in the f'horte-it possible time. The players, instead of being confined within goal pasts -i,nd toaic^i. lines, have the free open roadway before them. Fifing wedges and mass plays are out of the question, as the whole secret of successful play- ing lies in the ability of the man with the bad to kick it straight ahead, and to so regulate hin speed as not to become fatigued too soon. The six players line up with tihe left fool on Uip rope stretched across the road, the two teams facing in the same direction. One of the three men on eaoh sido is captain, and his duty is to do all the work with the ball, the other Wo men acting as aids in placing the 1xll'; in the roadway sftiould it, perchance, fall into the neighbouring pepper patch or field. Each side has a ball of it.s own, which i- in charge of the captain. At the kick-off one of the assistants on each s'de is stationed about fifteen yards aihead of bis captain, carrying in his hand a foiked stick, which i.-i used in re-placing the ball in the roadway after it lias faMen over the ience or rolled into a hole. No one iij allowed to touch the ball with his hands, and if a careless player makes that mistake :1. foul is called hv tihe man with the forked "tick. This man serves in the double capacity of umpire in his team and participant in the contest. The other aid runs alongside the captain most of the time and acts the part of a trainer, at the same time keeping his Eye on the ball where it falls. One may wonder why it is necessary to keep such a vigilant watch of the ball, but that if. made clear when it is considered that thc, dust becomes so thick at times that it ia impossible to see more than twenty yards ahead. How Time is Lost. Occasionally when the captain grows excited and loses his precision in sending tho ball straight ahead it fallls among the grass and weeds along the roadside. Time is lest 7n putting the b/ill in play ag.iiin, and in the meanwhile the opposite side is making a gain of several hundred yards. The balls u are usually round and about five linohes i>3 dia- meter, and, instead of being composed of pig- skin and rubber, are made of wood, well sea- soned and perfectly sound, mulberry and locuat being most commonly used. The wives of the players make most o' Cle ball; for them, and it is not an nncomrmm occurrence to pass a Mexican "hacquel" and .see the assembled crowd of neighbour women sitting in 3, circle, smoking cigarettes and mak- ing "gomaes." The weight of the "gomae" "s from two to five pounds, and in kicking it ("Fe must be taken not to injure the foot, a:4 no shoes are worn by the players. The bslll it? raised by. placing the foot up close to it and giv3 it a shove rather than a kick. The kicking is the most .important and most, difficult part of the game, as there Ù¡ «Teat danger of sending the ball out of its course and also of injuring the foot. Considerable skill and dexterity are required to run swiftiy and to keep the ball going straight ahead. Two referees, one for each side, accompany the payers, coming un in the rear on horseback 1 ho referees take the part of physicians and ad- minister restoratives should any of the players become exhausted. It is sometimes necessary to Tie Up a Broken Toe. or two or bind a lacerated foot, as the players occasionally become so careless that they kick the ball in the same manner that "Kennedy kicked the gual." instead of placing their feet up close to it and lifting it alon". The time it takes to run the entire three miles and return with the ball varies according to the heat of the day and the training of the men. Ordinarily it is about an hour. Some players have done it in much less time, but such instances are not very frequent. Peter Gonzales wa.s in his prime the great gomae racer of the South, and still plays the best fame in his section. Great excitement is aroused among the spectators as the players j approach the finish. The greater part of the game in his section. Great excitement is they are interested to know which side is ahead. As the men comt^nearer bandanas are waved, sombreros thrown in the air, yells of the most thrilling kind split the atmosphere, and everything that can be secured for making a noise is put into action. Sometimes the contests are so close that it is a difficult matter to determine which side will cross the line first. A slight misstep or inaccurate kick will often entirely change the game. Often when they are within a hundred yards of the line a bad p'.av will turn the game into the hands of one on whom the least was staked.

A LIYOG CLOUD. THOUSANDS OF SWALLOWS 3L0n? OUT THE SKY. Mr. C. J. Cornish sends to the "Times" the following very interesting description of ■; migrating host of swallows which lie observed I on Tuesday last. He says:—Tt was a rfurl. dripping evening, and the thick osier bed on Chiswick Eyot was covered with we* leaf. Between five and six o'clock immense flights of swallows and martins 'suddenly appeared abova the evot, arriving, not in hundreds, but in thousands and tens of thousands. The air wm thick with them, and their numbers increased from minute to minute. Part drifted above, in clouds, twisting round like soot in a smoke- wreath. Thousands kept sweeping jinf over tho tops of the willows, skimming so thickly that the sky-line was almost blotted out fnr ino height of from 3ft. to 4rt. The quarter from which these armies of swallows came was at first und'seoverable. They, might have been hatched, like gnats, from the river. In time I discovered whence they came. They were literally "dropping from the sky." Tlir flocks were travelling at a height at which fchey were finite invisible in the oloudy air, and from miiMite to minute they kept dropping down into sight, and so perpendicularly to the very surfaca of the river or of the eyot. One of these flocks dropped from the invisible regions to the lawn on the river bank on which I stood. Without exaggeration I may sav that I saw them fall from the sky. for I was looking upwards, and saw them when first visible as descending Rpw.ks. The plunge was perpendicular, ;ill within ten yards of the ground. Soon the high- flying crowds of birds drew down, and swept for p, few minutes low over the willows, from eud j to end of the eyot, with a sound like the M11< of water ;n a hydraulic pipe. Then by common impulse the whole mass settled down from end to end of the island, unon the osiers. Those in the centre of the evot were black with swallows —like the black blight, on beans. Next morning, at 6.30 a.m., every swallow was gone. In half an hour's watching not a bird was M-en. Whether they went on during rhe nigiit or started at dawn I know not. Probably the latter, for Gilbert White once found a" heath covered with such a fiook of migrating swallows, which did not Leave till the sun dispelled the mists. The whole army Eire now, I hope, catching gnats in the Nile Valley or beyond the Atlas Mouut-ar<JW>

NATIONAL EfSDEDDJFOD. MADAME PATTI WILL NOT SING AT NEWPORT'. The musical committee of the Newport National Eisteddfod of 1897 report that Madame Patti-Nicolini has declined to accept an engagement for a concert. It was decided that Mr. T. E. Ayiwaid. of Cardiff, should be appointed to test the voices of all applicants for places in the Eisteddfod choir. The committee decided to give Sir A. C. Mackenzie's "Dream of Jubal," the other part to be devoted to orchestral music, including an overture by a I Welsh composer. Sir A. C. Mackenzie has consented to conduct his own war1:. Mr. John Thoma-s ("Pcnotrdd Gwalia"), too, has con- j sented to assist at the concerts, and it is hoped aleo to organise a band of harps. Disposal of the Llanelly Profits. The last meeting of the committee of the Llaneilly National Eisteddfod was hdd on Friday night, when the accounts were wound up and the balance-sheet received and adopted. It was decided to give JB115 to the hospital and £ 15 to the district nursing fund. A large eisteddfod will be held at Llanelly in May or June of next year for the benefit of the hos- pital, which it is hoped will result in substan- tial benefits.

LORD WINDSOR'S MAYORALTY. CORPORATION DINNER TO HIS LORDSHIP. A meeting of members of the Cardiff Cor- poration a.nd officials was held on Friday night at the Town-hall to discuss the proposed banquet to Lord Windsor on the expiration of his term of office, as a mark of appreciation of the highly efficient and hospitable manner in which lie has occupied the civic chair. In addition, it is contemplated to present to his lordship a souvenir in the shape of an album. containing an illuminated address, with the photographs and autographs of members of the corporation and of the head otlicials associated with the movement. Alderman David Jones (deputy-mayor) presided, and there were present Alderman P. W. Carey (ex-mayor), Alderman T. Rees, Alderman Trounce, and Councillors Dr. Buist, Mildon, Morgan Morgan, W. II. Allen, Jos. P^amsdaie, T. Andrews, and Henry White (lion. secretary), with the town-clerk (Mr. J. L. Wheatley), the borough engineer (Mr. Harpur), and Mr. C. If. Priestley (water- works engineer) as representative officials. The proposal was warmly taken up, several of the members stating that outside the corporation the idea had also been enthusiastically approved. The meeting unanimously confirmed the proposal in the form stated, a.nd instructed Mr. White to complete his subscription list and report, with a view of carrying the resolution into effect as soon as possible. 8<IfILJ. r

INTERESTING TO SKATING. PROPOSED ARTIFICIAL ICE RINK CARDIFF. If the ensuing winter be mild and iceleis Cardiff skaters will ha.ve no cause to repine, for a club is in course of formation which will result in a sheet of artificial ice being always avail- able for lovers of the winter pastime to disport themselves upon. Last year it will be remem- bered that the Cardiff Ice Company, whose premises are situated in Dumbaiils-road, as an experiment manufactured ice cne cf the largest of the roams at their disposal, and in- vited a few local skaters to test the ice fon skating purposes. Those who tock advantage of the invitation enjoyed some excellent sport, although in a limited space, and it was decided that a club be fanned to take advantage of the offer of the. company. That club was limited to about 30 members, who, however, were so satisfied with the quality of the ice afforded them that they agreed that before the next winter months oaime round they would take steps to enlarge the chib and also the sheet of artificial ice. The ice company very generously agreed to do all in their power to bring about the success of the project, a.nd this se;>.ison it is pi-olable tliat Cardiff will have a skating club whidh, will possess an extensive sheet of artificial- ice. The new club is iv the 'hands of Mr. F. C. Webber, jun., 23, Words- V'Grth-avenue, who has already obtained the promised assistance of abr.ost all the prominent skaters in Cardiff. The ice company have agietd, if only they obtain sufficient encourage- ment to warrant them doing so, to build a room of large (iiiiienfions slid keep upon the floor during the winter months a sheet of artificial ice. Mr. Webber recently lias been busy in canvassing for members, and he has already (bta.ined a sufficient number to render the suc- cess of tihe project assured. A provisional committee has been formed, the members of which met last evening, when it was* decided to call a publio. meeting at the Park Hotel Ibis (Saturday) evening at 7.30. At to-night's B eetling it is hoped there wi'll be euch an attendance as to encourage the originators of tha movement applying to the ioe company for tlie use of the room vAich it is intcneict. shall be built if it is assured that the club will neeb with the support of local skaters. All irtending members are requested to attend to- night's meeting.

INTERESTING PRESENTA- TION AT NEWPOliT. THE ACCIDENT TO MISS RAY MASKELL. An interesting ceremony took place at the Hare and Greyhound Hotel, Newport, when Mr. J. Pople, stage manager at the Newport Empire, and Air. C. aihugton, iiis assistant, were presented with a medai each for bravery, ic 'i it will be remembered that early in the month of August, Miss Ray Masked, the well-known, comedienne and dancer, was engaged at the (popular hall in Charles-street. At the second performance on the Tuesday evening, wndst giving her entertainment she trespassed too near the footlight., with the result that her thin, gossamer-like costume caught fire, and the flames spread with ourpiismg rapidity. Without a moment's hesitation, Messrs. Pople and Waiiington rushed to the burning girl, threw their arms about her, and in the course of a very short time succeeded in extinguishing the flames. In doing bO they sustained some nasty burns about their arms. The incident caused much excitement amongst the crowded audience, and the conduct of the two young men was heartily applauded. Miss Ray Maskeli, in order to show her gratitude, at once ordered two gold, handsome medals, both of which were engraved, "For Bravery. 1896. From Ray Maskeli." Owing to the illness of Mr. James Wynes, the courteous manager of the Empire, the presentation was delayed until Fri- day afternoon, when a large company of towns- men and artistes assembled at the hotel men- tioned. Mr. G. W. Freshiield, secretary to the Licensed Victuallers' Association, pre- sided, and the presentation was made by Mr. L. S. Abrahamson, who supplied the medals. A number of speeches were delivered, and upon rising to return thanks Messrs. Pople and Waiiington were received with much I enthusiasm. During the afternoon it was men- tioned that Mr. James Wvnes had been appointed manager of Mr. Stoll's house at Nottingham, and general regret was expressed at his approaching removal from Newport. It was decided to present him with a testi- monial, and a subscription was opened in the room, with the result that a goodly sum of money was immediately collected. During his stay at Newport Mr. Wynes has made himself I exceedingly popular.-and his unfailing courtesy has gained for him the respect of all classes.

IRISH EISTEDDFOD. Our Cork correspondent writes:—The pro. ject of establishing an Irish Eisteddfod, on somewhat similar lines to those of the Welsh national festival, is maturing slowly, but surely, thanks to the energetic and patriotic committee in charge of the organisation of the fete. Nothing is being left undone to forward the scheme and bring the Eisteddfod, or Feis. to a successful issue. Although it is intended to copy the Welsh Eisteddfod as far a.s practical—that is, as far as money and talent permit—the name of the proposed festi- val has been altered from "eisteddfod" to "feis." so as not to encroach too much on the example of Wales. Borrowing the ideas from Wales is one thing, but assuming the same title as the national festival of the PI incipality has been felt to be going too far. and hence the "Irish Feis" is the designation of the j contemplated festival. The Feis will last I four days—from Tuesday to Friday inclusive the morning gatherings will be principally devoted to the preliminary competitions of I all classes, while the evenings will be given up to concerts. The amount to be distributed in prizes is nearly JB400. ".?--

At the monthly meeting of the Sheffield I School Board the members had before them an offer from Sir Frederick Mappin. M.P.. to give twenty guineas per year for the purpose of providing scholarships, tenable at the technical school, to be competed for by students attend- ing the evening schools of the board. Mr. Curtis Bennett at' Mnrylebone, follow- ing the example of his colleague a,t that court, Mr. Newton, refused to sign temporary trans- ifers of public-house licences, on the ground that the proposed incoming tenants had no interest in t!he houses. He paid he would be no party to farming out. public-houses. Tr NPteKSTMN —The MKDHIJAf, KKFCMiM SO JL CIETT will aend FREE te all applicant* r-r excellent BOTANIC CURE for Indirection, Biliou*- Liver Complaint*, Pile>, RhaumatiMM, Bout, and Bronchi ti* —Addre** The S»er«tarv, BOTANIC INSTITUTE, NOTTINGHAM. tSttt |

Frank Mills & Swan sea I I OBJECTIONS BY THE ALL- WHITES FORWARDS. A Suggestion that Tom Powell Resign the Captaincy of the Neatli Club. Saunders, the full back of the Mo-rristo;i team, is now in Llanelly, where he has secured employment. It is understood that he will be available for the Llanelly team this season, and Morris ton are not likely to oppose Irs transfer. The matches in connection with the O.r- nicii'tiienshtre Cricket League, with head- quarters a.t Llanelly, have now concluded, with the result that Felinfoel are at the tcp with twenty points. The figures are: Felinfoel, 20 points; Pontybereni and Am- manford, 16 each; Burry Port, 15; Llanelly Seconds, 8; L Ian genu ech, 7; Ferry side, 2. Matters in connection with the "sockev' club of Aberdare are bearing unmistakable evidences that this season will be a record one in the history of the club, and there is just a remote chance that the team will holt a very important position in the South Wale-i Cup competition. The players who are available for Captain Abraham Jones are ex- perienced men, and can play a game which would do credit to the professional clubs. Secretary E. J. Newton lias secured a list of fixtures with very important clubs, and the first match takes place on October 3. Mean- while, tho men go in for practice, and on Saturday the following are expected to put in an appearance on Oae Smith at four p.m. — Possibles Goal, Ben Morris full backs, W. Jones and T. Griffiths half-backs, F. Deacon. H. Cheshire, and F. J. Caldicot; forwards, W. E. Jones, —. Richards, W. Phillips, —. Williams, and L. T. Jones. Probables: Goal, Den Davies; full backs, A. Davies and D. Evans; half-backs, J. E. Thomas. H. Jones. aad J. Wilkins; forward's, D. Rees, A. Jones (captain), J-. Thomas, J. Longdon, and J. H. Thomas. Referee: S. Deacon. The club has entered for the Senior and Junior Cup competitions of South Wales and Monmouthshire, and they have also entered for the Welsh Senior Cup. They played in the third round of the latter last year, when they faced Hereford. I have no doubt that, with a. little more encouragement, the Aberdare "socker" team will become a dangerous lot, as they have the necessary quality and quan- tity of players, and I should not be surprised to find the Rangers' team throw in their lot with the second string of the town club before the season is over. The Swansea team to play the .local leagu? to-day consists of the same men as played last Saturday, with the exception that Mainwaring is included in the forwards. It was expected that Mills, the old International, would be also put in, as he has got h's trans. fer to p'lay, and it is thought since the list was out that the Swansea Club are not very sweet on him. This cannot possibly be true, however, and we learn, in fact, from ube sacretary that Frank cannot get away from his home at Mountain Ash for this particular match. We hope to sec him, therefore, in the team later on, in spite of the protestation:, •of one or two of the forwards who do not 'like his style, and possibly remember tha remarkable "emphasis," to speak mildly, he threw into last season's contests against Swansea. The western tour of the Swansea, team Is, of course, the first thing looked to to put the team on a solid foundation for criti- cism. Mr. Brya.nt, the ex-secretary of th<5 club, who is now resident in Cornwall, has, L hear, arranged a. match for the Monday fol- lowing the Albion match with the county of Cornwall. This ought to be a welcome addition to the lifit. It will be played at Falmouth. The league team to play Swansea to-day was selected, I learn, at a very unrepresenta- tive meeting, the attendance doing Vttle credit to, and not promising any great thngs for, junior football this season. To show, however, who the junior district men just now are. I give the names of the selected fifteen: — Back, C. Cootie (Mumbles); three- quarters, Robert Cude and E. Way (Castle), J. Morgan and H. Emmanuel (Hafod) half- backs. Tom Thomas (Hafod). and T. Beynon (Mumbles); forwards. C. Barry. G. Mitchell, and W. Davies (Hafod), Gibbon (Castle), Kidwell (Castle), Bragg and Webborn (Mum- bles), and D. J. Harris (Bryntawe). The White Stars and the St. Peter Stp.r*. two of the best known junior organisations in Llanelly. have decide to amalgamate, snd ft meeting will be held to-night to decide on the new name. It m likely that about half the White Stars will be found in the "A" team, while several of the "St. Peter's" nave left the town. There is left. however, plenty of talent to make a formidable t8:tm. The Llanelly Tuesday team ar" ^t^rtjng strongly, and are likely to give a good account of themselves. A match was played on Tues- day between sides chosen by the captain (Mr. George Au^kla^d) and the vice-captain 'Mr. Ivor Lloyd). The latter won by three tries to nil. There will be "n excellent st ^'truW this afternoon between the "first" and th>- next eighteen. A strong muster 1" f-xpected on both sides, and the eighteen are likelv to give the other side a warm time of it. The annual dinner of the Llanelly Cricket Club will be held to-night at the Stepney Hotel, Joe Davids, Bill Jones, JTarrv -Tones, and C. Steer, are announced to play for Kkewen to-da.v against Briton Ferry. All are last .season's firsts. A suggestion has been made at Neath thit. Tom Powell should resign the canhincy of the local club. Since the old bands will nol continue to play under his captaincy, he would be well advised in adopting the suggestion If Powpll resicrns and Alec Cross be elected I captain. th°n the dissensions at Neath will be at an end. If things go on at Neath as thev have be^n lately there'll soon be plenty 'of work for Captain Dowey's wooden men. It is stated that tha latest secessionist from the NeHh Club is Jim Thomas, a man who has proved himself a sterling forward. A Neathite writes :—" re the Neath Com- mittee aware that G. D. Trick, the old cap- tain of the Firsts, still resides ir- the town? Do they know hectn play football?" It is seated that Bamford will tal-a the place of Joe Davies. and Ynuath and Walters thoso of Bill and Harry .Tones, neither of whom has consented to play against Morris- ton to day. West of England football] makes a start- to-day (Saturday), but nothing of a big order is undertaken by any of the clubs. General practices have been the rule during the past week, but little excitement was manifest, and I nothing sensational was seen. Devonport Albion Jiave put ia plenty of work, but although .?-?-?- they have captured a number of new men, only Sealey, late of Llandaff, who is an artificer in the Navy, and Woodliouse, of Barrow, have shown form good enough to fill positions in Albion's chief team. The former, on the wing, has evinced very fine form, and has pleased the critics immensely. Wood- house's reputation had preceded him, and he has shown very good play. Unfortunately, Albion's new ground at the Rectory Fields, Devonport, is not yet finished, and in consequence the opening match to-day, against Redruth, will be played at Bea-dderby, their old ground. The Plymouth Rugby Club open an ambitious programme to-day with a scratch I game, but next week they commence their more serious engagements, by meeting Exeter at Home Park. The Plymouth Club, which were formed only last season, held their sports last week, but owing to the Albion having a pracLce match at the time the attendance was not satisfactory. WELSH ATHLETE.

RETIREMENT OF ARTHUR GOULD. Big Loss to the Newport Team.Why the Welsh Skippar is Aban- doning tho Game. All footballers and football devotees, not only in South Wales but throughout our isles, will regret to learn that Arthur Guuld has closed his football career. We are informed by Mr. A. W. Boucher, the captain of the Ne\vpi>ri Club, that, as the result of a long cut with tha veteran on Fridjay evening-, the Usksid-exs will have to start the season without him. It is a b::i blow to Newport arid also to Wales. And yet, as Mr. Bouoher says, the loss would have to come at some time in at least the near future, and it may just as well come now as later. Ha sympathises—a* everyone must do- with the oopuW Welsh skipper in the reasons which make for resignation. Be it said at once that they have nothing to do with tlw testimonial. Arthur Gould £ us we are informed, has adopted an independent attitude towards the inter- rational board from the first moment when they bsgan to apply the sponge. His reasons for retiiememt are domestic, personal, and business in their character. Increasing anxieties in domestic affairs, his agt-he will be 32 next month—and the more optn liability to injury, which might leave permanent results with increasing- age, are chiefly ilie factors which have operated. He cannot afford now to meet with a bad knock out. Everybody must admit that. As to the testimonial, thd international board must be allowed for thv present to go its own way. It is not appa, reriily averse to the gift in kind of something to the value of a hundreel or a couple ot hun- dred sovereigns, but for the rest—well, tha* can be left to future consideration. "Do you regard the veteran's intimation to you as decisive and final?" atiked- our repre- sentative of Mr. Boucher. "Well, yee, I must," he replied. "He tells me tha.t he has thought the matter over a good deal, and the decision he has come to is that we must start without him. I don't know that he will not play a, game with the second., just to keep up old associations, or he even might help us in the first team if we found ourselves very hard up, but from what he told me this evening we must now count him aa retired." Whitt Newport footballers will do without Gould, of course, only the future can reveal, and the same remark applies to Welsh play. Boucher's friends are already uro-ing him to go to centre three-quarter himself,"be- cause forwards are more easily obtained than good three-oua-rters. With that proposition few eail quarrel, but the forwards must be good ones, and tiiey mus the trained, a.nd training take? a long time. There are the usual rumours oj Illen WHO nave "finished'' a.t Newport this sea- son as there have been before, but it is gratify-; ing, at all events, to know that the Lack divi- sion, with the exception of Gould, will be intact. James has signified his willingness to play all through the s^son, go that "vith him, Dauncey, Pearson, and a good centre, the team, though robbed of its most illustrious player, has still a fine rear. Arthur Gould, as we have .-aid, is close upon 32. He first began to pla.y for the Newport first team six- teen seasons ago. There was a difficulty in making up the full complement of Usksidert to do battle against Weston one Saturday after- noon. when the Somerset team was captainec by big Mas.soy. The Newport capfain (W. Phillips) did not know what t< do to get men. At length fourteei were urot. who would play, but there was forward short, Arthur Gov Id, then a lad in h.s mid-teeiis, who had not even passed through the graduation of the second fifteen, was seen in the street twenty minutes before the kick-off and consented to play. A re-arrangement of the men was made, and he was put nut as full back, and towards the Newport victory that day young Gouid contributed two goal* and a tiy. His plafCt in the team from thai moment- iv-aq sure. He played for some time for Newport a.=v custodian, and took up the same position for Wales a year or two later, but position for Wales a year or two later, but eventually went to three-quarter, where he has played continuously ever since, except when he was away in the West Indies for a few seasons. His numerical record in international games is higher than that of any obiter man, whi'st iiin skill it', so well known as hardly to need recounting. REMINISCENCES OF GOULD. [BY "WELSH ATHLETE."] Of course, we all knew it must come some time or other. Gould has been a wonderful player—is so at the present day, in fact—but he oannot lust for ever, and probably when we have got over the sting that his retirement naturally brings we shall say to ourselves, "Weil. Arthur was getting on in years, and hia retirement was possibly well advised." For my own part. I know I would rather see him go out of football with his blushing honours thick upon him, and the knowledge in my mind that even now in his old days, in comparison with our i»;esenit--dav players, Arthur Gould, as a captain and a three-quarter, can justly hold up his hand and cry "Excelsior"—T would rather him retire thus, I repeat, than see him, as another famous English three-quarter I wot of, gradually losing his form, and playing with a second-rate team. in a vain struggle t" maintain some of his o!d prestige. If Arthur Gould has definitely decided to retire he can content himself with thh knowledge that un- surpassed as a centre three-quarter during the whole cor.ise of hi" lengthy career, he still enjoys the honour of having no superior. With all his years, which from a football point, are many. when Gould handles the ball there may no other "Richmond" enter the field. Still, the sting of his retirement is undoubted, and, when we comedo select an international fifteen we shall begin to wonder who is to take Could s place as captain. His career in the football world cannot be dealt with at "neh short notice. From a club point of view his con- nc-etion has been almost wholly with Newport. Richmond had his c-ervices for a. season or so, wh;l.t Middlesex County, even up to the present dav, consider they have t claim upon him. Of all the company in which Go ild b" played, by the way, a recent match with Middlesex would probably be the most note- worthv. It is a couple of seasons ago now, T think anyhow, I remember Yorkshire were the opponents, and they gave the Middle- sex men an awful hiding. The Yorkshire forwards were at their zenith just then, ond they simply carted the Londoners an over the shop, with the result that the Middlesex backs were little other than spectators. It is those backs, by the way, that I would speak of in connection with Gould, for they were the finest quartette, individually. T have ever seen in my life. Gould and Stoddart were the centres, ( ampbell and Grcgor M'Gregor were the wing. and if any man has seen four better m4 plaving- together I wish he would write and tell me of it. So far as I can remember, they handled twice. The first time thev scored: tlie spcond time they were with m an inch or two of it. So far as Gould is concerned, one could, did time i nd space permit, rc-call hundreds of exciting incidc»nti* in his club and international career. The other day a London writer credited Gould with being a lienefactor to the four three-quarter system. Of course, that is not so, for Gould was essentially, by ^ery reason of his individual brilliance, a three b.r, a three tbree-noarter man. Had he played with a three three-quarter club his fame would prob- ably have been even crcater than it is now. A- an international player he holds the record of bavincr plaved in more matches than anv other Rugby footlaller, whilst as an all-round athlete he is r. credit to any country. The re-speot held for him *hroughout the football world is undoubted, and a farewell testimonial will. undoubtedly, meet with the hearties# a pprobation and support.

The revising barrister at Harrow has given a decision with reference to the claims of about 70 shareholders in the New Iliver Company, who were objected to by the Radicals on the ground that the interest was not a freehold, but was in the nature of an easement. He said these snares had been held to be real property and their owners were entitled to votes in res- pect of them Tho Dover Cricket Ground has been ptjp. chased for the purpose of a building estate, aTtd the plans for the first streets upon it were sub- mitted to the council on Frida.y. A new recrea- tion-rrround is being prepared at Crabble, A parish just brought into the borough by Ifte Boundary Extension Aot, where £ 7.000 is bo^l spent in levelling and preparing some fields í'I tlie nlu'not;