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LOCAL GOVERNMENT. ---------
LOCAL GOVERNMENT. BY W. ABRAIMM, M.P. (MABON). THE WORKING CLASSES AND THE COUNTY COUNCILS. As already stated, "the new Local Government Act is full ot new hope to Liberals and the poor." It creates a very wide interest among the rate- payers, and gives a wide scope in the selection of 'Candidates. Up to the present it has gone far, and will, I believe, by-and-by go still further to •stir the dull,level uniformity of our rural districts, Where there is not quite the same amount of intellectual lite as m the towns and other large Centres of population; and that which gets the people to take a vivid interest in their own affairs jives them also political education, and braces them for political action on a larger scale. This to a great extent has been done already, for by tneans of such a popular elected council new opportunities for the exercise of public rights, and for the fulfilment of public duties, have been thrown open, by means of which the i people are more fitted to take part In the working of our institutions, and make them value more highly the system of Government under which we live. I cannot but think that a great opportunity has offered itself ito the Liberals of the country which ought not to rbe allowed to pass by. Probabiy the Liberal .party is stronger in the counties now than ever. Still its strength among our rural population can Le considerably and permanently increased by encouraging political thought: among them, i.e., thought about pubiic affairs, and affording them lasy and frequent opportunities of taking a part in the public government of themselves and their Neighbours. Besides this result, it seems as though an im- portant step, calculated to have durable good tffects might, and I hope now will be taken towarde the re-arrangement, on a more equitable basis, of our local taxation, which is from day to day increasing in importance. Hence it is of the greatest importance also that the real ratepayer— She workman—should be duly represented on the (Council where such important reform must be inaugurated, Mr Mill once remarked that it should not be forgotten that of all classes in the Community the working classes are the most directly interested in local government, and above >11 in sanitary regulation, upon which their health and domestic comfort so vitally depend. THE MAINTENANCE OF ROADS. It is not my inteution to diseusathe Merits or demerits of the whole of the Local Government Act, but only just to glance at a few things therein that may well be taken hold of by Liberals, especially Welsh Liberals, in the interest k Of the working classes. True, the actual powers tat under the act are not great, but its possible JPowers are almost unlimited; and by observation We may possibly judge the extent and importance Of one by the other. Y nder the actual powers clause 11 transfer to the county council the entire Maintenance of main roads, gives power to assert 'he rights of the public to the use and enjoyment 4 the roadside wastes,and to maintain, repair, or talarge public footpaths. Hitherto, the Dnly share the morking classes have had in the Maintenance of main roads has been *he share they hava had in the payment towards 1he costs of making and keeping them in repair. And while doing this, times without number they Witnessed the making and reparing of large and Citable roads leadiug to large and comfortable fusions, while the ones leading to their own bOlnes were oftentimes left knee-deep with mud I!tld water. Now that these people have a voice In the selection of the councillors that will have Ithe management of these main roads, we may J^Monably expect to see them better treated. Wot only this. but the powers of the council btabie it to allow the public to use the waste pieces of land along the sides offchese roads either aiiotteettv. *oFg»TnertTt^■purposes or as places enjoyment. And,, further, the powers of the County council will before long be expended to attesting the right of the public to all common «nds, Crown lands, foreshores, and mountains, All of which may at some future day become Valuable and remunerative public property. ASSISTED EMIGRATION. Clauses 65 and 69 give compulsory powers to Acquire land for halls, biddings, and offices, and Power for borrowing money for these purposes, as *1 as for aiding emigration and colonisation. +he compulsory powers to provide money to aid In emigration may at time5; become most valuable Requisitions, especially when it would be to the benefit of the community at large that the surplus of labour should be removed from one field of labour to another. To an overstocked labour Market emigration oftentimes is a very necessary Revision, for as the safety-valve on a boiler allows the surplus steam to escape, and, by so doing, regulates the power, and thus saves the toiler from destruction at the same time, so can -ell.aided emigration be to an oveistocked labour ^arket. Emigration, when carefully managed, is mercy, twice blessed; it blesses him ^t goeth away and also him that stayeth And yet, in many cases, neither of khese blessing.; is attainable because the cern- munity has no means of going away, an evil that some extent the county council will have fc°Wer to remedy. This being the case, it is indeed possible, and quite probable, that ere long the people will insist that; these powers shall be --ed for effecting social reforms. ALLOTMENTS AND WOl.KMEN S DWELLINGS. Providing allotments whereby workmen may ^Te sufficient land to cultivate and provide all vegetables for themselves aud families, J*11 a fair marketable value, will be to them an tbcalcuhble boon. So would be a provision to bllild for workmen houses at reasonable rents and sach conditions, should they like to avail tbemsel ves of such an opportunity, as would Stable them to become owners of their dwellings, r^is would ultimately put an ene to company and their accompanying rampant evils oftentimes compel working men to accept ^numerable disadvantages. THE QUESTION OF EDUCATION. And in addition to all these stands clause 7, Taction 38, which entrusts to the council "the Jjtabiisbtrient and maintenance of, and the con- Jfibution to, reformatory and industrial schools." j*'1'8 also, if properly carried out, will bestow ■pun the children of the working classes au Immense benefit. Industrial schools are essentially schools of our working classes—the schools ^nera the children of our artiz«ns and other jjtembers of the labouring population, or even in T^Damerce or trade, receive their first and in most ^sses their only training for daily toil. Should fariiament, sooner or later, find itself compelled Substitute for "reformatory and industrial (good as these may he) "intermediate 7*Jd technical schools,"then the 13 county councils JJd the two county boroughs of Wales, including V(Onm()utbribire, have within their giasp an Importunity for establishing a great national ^stem of secondary education. Such a system not only prepare our boys for intellectua I J^fsuits, but would instruct them also in the use J tools generally found in the commtn workshop heje such handicraft work is taught as the U^jority of them shall be engaged in for thegreater SjJ't, if not the whole of their lives. Therefore How me again to say that Wales should be careful in sending to the county councils r?eQ who from experience know the needs and POis of the Welsh people, and mea who are also ^perfect sympathy wita her industrial classes.
NOT FAR OUT OF THE WAY.
NOT FAR OUT OF THE WAY. E^ew Battend«t (lately employed as a drug S5C) to customer who has called for whiskey): i^Have you a physician's prescription, sir ? We vT*e to De verv careful, you know, in selling
I IFACTS FOR FARMERS. .
FACTS FOR FARMERS. Current Notes on Agricultural Topics. BY A PRACTICAL WELSH FARMER. THE SEASON'S SEEDS. Now that the excitement of the county council election has somewhat abated, the results of which, by the way, have been so favourable here in South Wales, farmers are settling down to their usual routine of farm work. The absence of frosty weather has much retarded the haulage work on the farm; a couple of weeks of frost would be very welcome, and would enable us to proceed with that important work. But if the unusual mildness cf the season has been unfavourable in one respect, it has provided some compensation, for farmers are, although rather earlier than usual, taking advantage of this spell of fine, mild weather in ploughing, and otherwise preparing the land for oats, seeds, potatoes, &c. Every sort of seeds promise this year to Ire dear. OATS.—In oats there will be an advance of some 33 or more per quarter from last year's prices, the general comphint with farmers being that theii oats are unfit for sowing owing to Unfavourable harvesting and heating in the stacks. BARLEY.—As regards barley again, the report of this cereal from many districts is unfavourable owing to the same cause as affects the oats. POTATOES this year command a good price, while last year they would hardly pay for cartage to the market. I think that potatoes, of all produce, are the most fluctuating in prices-one year up and another down. CLOVER,—Red cioverseed promises to be dear, and, not only that, but from samples I have seen they are below the average in quality. This crop has been a failure in other countries besides our own, Germany and Austria having, by reports, a poor one, while America has a good crop but these are weakly seeds. White clover being reported to be a failure in all countries, the same might be said of alsike and trefoil, aQd, of course, good yearling seeds of these will command no little advance in price from last year's. Other grassseedsaredearer. ROOTS. Mangold and turnip seeds will be something like last year's prices. We therefore see that not only will we have to pay more this year for nearly all sorts of seeds, but we will have to sow thicker because of the inferiority of the sowing as compared with last year, which were well harvested and strong seeds. There is also a rumour of an advance in price of artificial manures. As the time is n gh when we buy our artificial manures for the coming crops, L shall next week say a few words in con- nection with the manner we have of using it, and upon the question of those so-called cheap manures which are so largely advertised and sold as equal to the best fertilisers. Those who last autumn prophesied as to the germinating powers of the season's seed wheat have, I am glad to say, turned oat to be, as is often the case, false prophets, as I have never seen the wheat crons more promising at this time of the year, and most farmers would like to see a bit of frost to give it a check. The fault with many is that it is too thickiy sown, the result uf, the alarmists' prophesies. Salt for Land. Some three years ago I was advised by a friend to try salt for some pasture land. This land was productive of a coarse sort of grass, which was not in any way appreciated by any of the stock, and it was only in winter timo I could manage to get the cattie to settle upon and graze off it, and the result of my complaints about it was the advice to try salt. So the following March I ordered a ton of it, and this ton I applied to a part of a field which had very coarse herbage. The field measured about seven acres, and the application was to about half of it. The reaalt exceeded iny p»»fc-whati» the salt was applied were always to be seen the cattle grazing when in the field, and that they relished it was proved by the fact that that part was always bare. while the other part had an abundance of the usual crop until I gave that also a dressing- A MAN CONVINCED AGAINST HIS WILL. This bare part very often reminded me of an old farmer of my acquaintance some forty years ago. This old fellow was then considered old-fashioned, and prejudiced against applying anything to the land except the farmyard manure, while most ot his neighbours were in the habit of liming their land. He stoutly maintained that they injmed the land instead of improving it, and at least, partly to convince bis neighbours, and partly to strengthen his own coiiv.rctious, which had begun to show some signs of wavering by hearing so much in favour of lime, he sent to the nearest limekilns for a wnggon load. This waggon-load was applied to the middle part of one of his pasture fields, and through its acticn on the pasture in sweetening the herbage, this part 'was always kept bare by the zeal with which the catde cropped it. The old man might be seen every day going to the field to see the effect of the lime, and seeiug this bare spot with- out duly considering what its bareness really implied, he sent for those who had always been advising him to lime his farm, and took them to view for themselves the injury done. See, neighbours, for yourselves said he; this is the result of taking fools' advice, and I am a bigger | fool myseif for taking It, for by doing so I have spoilt a large portion of a good field for pas- turing. See the difference. The part I have been to the expense of liming is quite bare, while on the other there is abundant kaep. His friends laughed at his blindness and explained the reason. This was a revelation for him, and after watching himself, he became convinced of the good effect ofiiming. Something similar in one sense was my experi- ence about using salt for pasture lands. It has destroyed the coarse and diseased grasses, and in their stead has sprung up fine succulent herbage which the animals eat with relish now, and they also thrive well. The action of salt improves the quality, I have had nothing to pay me i etter than the dressing of salt that I have given to these fields. Before doing so the cattle were doing so badly on them that it Was a loss to place stock to graze on them 1 even if the land were given rent free, whereas now I have sold some to the butcher which had only been grazing on these fields. I strongly recom- ¡ mend my brother farmers to try it in the case of coarse herbage fields. It should be applied about the latter part of March, and the quantity I have used myself is about 6cwi. per aerc. The Weather and the Crops. The Mark lane Sxpress of Monday kays I A week or singularly fine and pleasant weather for January has enabled farmers to get on well j with wheat-sowing, ploughing, and threshing, and the acreage now under wiieat is generally regarded as about tbe same as last year. With regard to autumn-sown wheat fields, the reports received are at one in speaking of their favourable ¡ aspect. The price of really good milling qualities of I Jinglish wheat has not been affected by the events of the past week. Damp samples have been a trifle improved by the drier state of the atmos- phere. The flour market has been dull. The jpen weather f»nd high temperature for mid-winter materially limited thg retail demand. A fall of a franc per sack in French flour prices has con- tributed to the depression of the larger British markets. Foreign wheat has been a weak trade. The downward tendency of the week's markets has had a tomewhat noticeable exception in the case ot barley. The maize trade has also improved in tone. Snies of oats have not been so easy to effect as holders had hoped, and beans and peas' are substantially unaltered for home produce, but Egyptian beans are Is per quarter lower. u.
[No title]
GREAT AND Lettm THINGS,—A French scientist has made some curious discoveries which tbow the connection between little and great things. To ascertain the qualities of an applicant Cook, he says it is sufficient to give her a plate to clean, a sauce to make, and watch how she moves her hand in either act. If she moves it from left to right, or in the direction of the hands of a Watch, you may trust her, if the other way, is certain to be stupid and incap- able. The intelligence of people may also be Sfauged, the doctor further says, by asking them to make a c'rcle on paper With a pencil and noting in which direction the hand is moved. The /?ood students in a mathematical class draw circles from left to right. The inferiority of the softer well as of the male dunces, is shown by their drawing from right to left. Asylum patients do the same. In a word, says the doctor, centri- are characteristic of intelligence and higher develapment; centripetal are ar mark of incomplete evolution. A person, as his facut- ties are developed, may even come to draw circles in a different way from what he did in bis youth.
ItBe WELSH GLEANINGS. I
It Be WELSH GLEANINGS. I By Lloffwr. I learn that there will shortly appear a new work which will create a. profound sensation in a to Welsh circles. We have been charged as a nation with not giving the English reading public, in the attractive guise of fiction, that description of Welsh life, customs, and habits of thought which would enable our friends over the borders to see us as-we are, and thus to under- stand us better, and sympathise more deeply with our oftentimes unhappy lot. a- This charge will no longer be deserved. Messrs Longmans are about to publish a work which will go a long way towards supplying this admitted want. Briefly described, the work, which is entitled The Land of My Fathers," is a novel treating of the present social, religious, and political condition of the Principality. Among the prominent characters of the story are several well-known Welshmen of the day, men who figure in the pulpit, in the House of Commons, and at the bar. Some of. these portraits are literary caricatures worthy of being delineated by pencil as Punch's cartoons, and the almost unmeasured ridicule and contempt which the author heaps upon them will form in itselt quite a novelty in the Welsh literary world. As might have been expected, some prominent Welsh members of Parliament come in for a goodly share of this treatment, and it will afford no little amusement, as well as interest, to readers to endeavour to unmask these under the fictitious names the author has dubbed them with. The same courage and bolduess which has led the author to picture these mentis they appear to those who know them best has induced him also to deal unsparingly with the sectarianism and intolerance which have been the bane of the country in the past, and which yet prevail to a modified extent. Sectarian bitterness and jealousy are boldly assailed, and if the evil can be remedied by a courageous use of the lancet, the author of the new work can certainly lay claim to the credit of having cut deep enough at the root of the evil. The state of public education in Wales naturally enough comes in for a share of attention, and elementary teachers throughout the country will be gratified to learn that the system of so-called "payment by results is scathingly exposed. The "Young Wales" party have found in the author of the new novel au able exponent of their views, and while the work, which is throughout a bold expose of all shams prevalent in our midst, will attract, all readers by its novelty and interest, it will prove especially acceptable to the modern knight errantry of" Young- Wales." When I add that the author is Mr Marchant Williams, enough will have been said to prove that if he has made any mistake in the work, the error not be dpe to want of a thorough and complete know- ledge of the question and .persons he deals with. I utJderstcDd that the work is to ^PP«rtr ou St David's JDay—a most suitable and auspicious natal day for such a work. it The death of Dr Hughes, Bishop of St Asaph, will remind many readers of the fact that he was the first native Welshman who received the honour of such preferment in his own country since the year 1727. The appointment was exceedingly popular, and it was generally acknow- ledged that in this instance Mr Giadstone bad taken into consideration the needs of the Welsh Church. The success of the Church in the diocese of St Asaph under the guidance of the late prelate has justified the appointment, and has likewise afforded full demonstration that no preferment to a Welsh see ought to be made without a thorough knowledge of Welsh requirements ou the part of tha nominee. • Since his appointment to the bishopric, Dr Hughes stood foremost as an eloquent and instructive Welsh preacher. He had not distinguished himself as an author, but published stray sermons and charges which have carried weight on account of their practical teachings and common-sense dealings. As in his earlier ministrations, Bishop Hughes continued to interest himself greatly in the Welsh-speaking community throughout the Principality and in the large English towns. He frequently preached at Sc. David's Welsh Church in Liverpool on anniversary occasions before large and interested congregations. His last visit to Liverpool was in June, 1878, on the occasion of the opening of St. Nathaniel's Welsh Jubilee Hall. Dr Hughes was strictly evangelical in his views, bus was wise in his administration. He leaves a widow, two sons, and two daughters. His eldest son, Mr M'Kenna Hughes, is Professor of Geology at Cambridge, and the second son, the Rev Joshua Prichard Hughes, is now vicar of Hantrisaant. --4r' Among the lessons of the County' Council elections, nonfl are more instructive than that afforded by the return of the veteran reformer the Rev Principal Michael D. Jones, of Bala. Mr Jones, who is a bold and uncompromising advocate of a thorough reform in the land laws, had as his opponent the embodiment of the power of landlordism in the person of the steward of Sir Watkin Williams Wynn's estate. That a Non. conformist minister should on the simple platform of land reform have defeated the representative of the richest and most powerful landlord in the county is a le°S()ll which other landlords-aud teuants—should earnes'Jy take to heart.
MORE, CULTURE.
MORE, CULTURE. Mrs G. Panhattdel Lightweight i Ah Awfully glad to see you, Mr Kr^ox—so very kind and considerate of you to bring your Dlusic and. hard gloves.
[No title]
A NEW HAT.-Parisiau sharpers, and men known in our own borough, are practising a now method of getting their hata without visiting a hatter. Going into an establishment, the sharper picks out the best looking hat on the table, and qmetly slips a copy of the CMwefe into it. Then he takes a glass of wine, payt for it, and says, Waiter, bring me my hat—the o°e with the copy of the Univers in it." Nobody has deposited a Univers in his hat, 80, of course, the owner of the hat never looks up. Goitfc tor two months more," says the sharper when be gets out.
Musical and Eisteddvod ,Notes.
Musical and Eisteddvod Notes. By Maelgwyn. WHAT ARE THEY DOING P I continue to receive complaints from corres- pondents about the way in which the public are treated by the committee of the Brecon National Eisteddvod. It is said that a list of subjects for competition has been issued since last September, but nobody seems to know anything at all about them. 1 suppose the lists were sent out to well known conductors of competitive choirs, but nobody else seems to have seen them. Week after week I get letters asking me to name the subject for this or that competition but I can give no assistance, for the simple reason that I am as much in the dark as the querists themselves. Some time ago I drew attention to a couple of subjects for competition in tbe musical department —prizes are offered for answers to. questions in theory, and that, it appears, is the only statement made regarding them. During the last few days I have again been asked about these competitions— how much are competitors in tbe junior division supposed to know ? will the senior contest include harmony, &c., counterpoint, and so on? Whether the examiners have written to the Brecon com- mittee or not does not appear. In any case I am not in a position to answer the questions. But why does not the eisteddvod committee answer them ? This ignoring of the press and competitors has gone far enough. If the committee consider the business of the eisteddvod can best be managed in secret—?well, let them enjoy their delusion. The patronage of the Queen and the Prince of Wales may be "great things in their way, but it is questionable whether they will atone for the deliberate boycotting of the press. Months ago I drew attention to those theory competitions, and invited the committee to explain them, but they never did so. Mr W. M. Roberts did not treat the press in this way, but evidently the novices are wiser than he. PREPARATIONS.—ABERSAVENNT, WAKE CP Considerable animation is just now being exhibited by nearly all the best known competitive choirs in South Wales.| There are to be a number of important eisteddvodau held in the spring and the summer, including one at Bridgend and one at Porthcawl. Particulars of eisteddvodau in the Rhondda Valley have not yet come to hand, but it may be taken for granted that several will be held on Easter and Whit Mondays. At least half-a-dozen choirs are holding themselves in expectation of the announcement of a great eisteddvod at Abergavenny. Last year our friends in that town lagged until the last moment, with the inevitable result that the eisteddvod was not such a conspicuous success as it usually is. This year there should be prompt action, and the financial and artistic success of the gathering will not be for a moment in doubt. I am informed on the best possible authority that there are now two choirs at Dow. lais-one headed by Mr William Hnghes, A.C., and the other under Mr Dan or Mr John Davies, A.C. Those two choirs alone would bring to the eisteddvod such an enormous crowd of listeners as would put the question of money at rest at once. Let, therefore, Mr Edwin Martin and his friends get out their programme without delay, or the Neath Eisteddvod people will secure the choirs as they did last year. It is very widely reported that after all the intrepid Captain Bevan, of Pontypool, has changed bis mind, and has resolved totwrfd a monster eisteddvod on Easter Monday, but I am afraid there is no truth in the rumour. In any case, the next week or two will probably decide the piaces at which eisteddvodau will ba held on Easter Monday. RATHER TOO MUCH OF IT. We are having rather too much of the silly practice of tacking on letters to the names of our singers—rum&tfeur aa well as professional, I onse read of a man who was L.L.D F. R.G.S., and who was entitled to tack on at least a dozen other letters to his name by reason of bis having passed various examinations, &o. A friend of his had occasion to write to him one day, but for the ,life of him he could not remember oue-balf of the learned man's degrees, so he addressed tbe letter to John Brown, Esq D C L B.Sc., L.L.D., F.R.G.S., T.U.V, W.X Y.Z." History is silent on the future- relations' of the two men. Our singers at the present day have almost as many handles as Mr John Brown. If any of them have studied at the Royal Academy for a fortnight or so he or she blossoms into an R.A.M, In many cases this title does not fairly belong to the singer, but it looks big,and is calculated to secure engage- ment for the one who uses it. The moment a real R.A.M.—that is, one who has successfully passed the exn:ninationsand has become an associate— finishes his studies he finds himself compelled to devise some plan whereby the public may know that he is a full blown RAM. It would never do, therefore, to have his name printed on the concert programme as Evan Jones, R.A.M, for the public would at once set him down as being no better than the tenor in the next street who has studied for one quarter at the Royal Academy. Sc the name appears as "Evan Jones, A.R.A.M." If the mischief ended here one might be inclined to pass it over, but unfortunately such is not the case, and we have such absnrditiss as the following :— Miss Susie Smith, B. Med., R.A.M., meaning chat Moss Smith Im". gained a bronze medal at the Academy, Mr Simon Lownote, Sil. Med., R.A.M., and Miss Gerty Screamer, G. Med., R.A.M. The medals being exhausted, we fall back upon the certificates, and here iheabsurdity is more marked than ever. Just fancy Madame Screechini. C.R.A.M., and Signor Fiddleinski, S.C.R.A.M. But to tsck on the significant C.R.A.M. and S.C.R.A.M. was too much even for the holders of the coveted certifioates, and so they have slightly expanded, and now appear as Cert. R.A.M. and Sen. Cert. R.A.M. respectively. ANOTHER PROMISING WELSH SINGEFI. It is said that a younger sister of Miss Mary Davies possesses a voice of such remarkable qualities as to justify her friends in believing that ere long she will become as noted as her gifted sister. This young lady bears the picturesque and truly Kymric name of Gwen. NEW MUSIC. From Forsyth Brothers, Regent Circus, Oxford-street, W., comes a very large and varied collection of aew music. An excellent work for school use is Musical Bonbons," consisting of six short and progressive pieces for one, two, or three performers on the pianoforte teachers who use the book will find it extremely useful, especially as instructions are given and a separate stave provided whereby the teacher can, as it were accompany the pupil or pupils (2s). "Tech- nical Stndies" for the violin, containing scales, chord passages, finger exercises, &c., car; be recommended with confidence (10,; 6d). The Edinburgh March," for the organ, is tuneful and majestic; instructions are given as to the use of stops, jcc. (2s). "Knoapen (Nos. 1 and 2) and Klange aus Norden (salon walzer) are three pretty pianoforte pieces by C. Gurlitt, and a series of five pieces with German names (by Henricli Kichner) will doubtless be welcomed in the school- room, as they form very good studies (Is 6J each). There is delightfully pretty music, good haimony, and little or no difficulty in the 51 Bells of Elainore" and" Fairy Music," two cantatas for ladies'voices. Only two or three soloists are required to aid the chorus in each work—a most decided advantage in schools, colleges, and small choirs, where principals" are not numerous (Is 6d each.) Canzonetta, for violin and piano, is very pretty, and the theme is well carried out, but it will require some attention at the bands of the student (18 6d). "Li Rose Celeste Gavotte" and Gavotte in G are two fairly good examples of their kind (Is 6d each). In Legende" and Moto Perpetuo "Mis8 Ethel Harraden shows considerable genios a writer of violin music— fairly advanced students will be charmed with both pieces (Is 6d each). The Ensign of our Home "is a fine ringing national song, which requires only to be beard to become a favourite (2s). Sunny Days is a sweet and pathetic little song, very easy and with beautiful words (2s). Another beautiful song fot 'bass or alto is If at your window, love (2ø). Two charming sets of waltzes Me "Minerva" and "Jaanita." For children this firm provides a great selection of good things, amongst which may be mentioned "School Songs," for equal voices in unison (4d each); "Album of 40PianoPiecas for the Young" (two books at Is eacb i Songs of the Seasons, for •Liiuuo OOUg J? a Clem VB;l' dren (Is), all capital things in their way. ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. Pizzicttfo.—Have nothing to do with it; it is a swindle pure and simple. Apply to any good instrumentalist in Cardiff. Inquirer.—Yon certainly are not so foolish as to believe any publishing house would accept your part song, when you admit youkuow nothing about harmony. There is no royal road to getting your name up." Certainly Handel broke through the rules of harmony, but there is, you will admit, just a leetle difference between Handel and Inquirer." Study, sir, study. Import. -Eisteddvod choirs would be only too glad to enrol good singers—whether English or not—as members. By all means join the choir, and let me know how you like the excitement of the Easter competition. A choir from your neighbourhood will certainly compete. Llewfab {what a name !)—Most decidedly too long-continued rehearsals have a tendency to make the choir sing flat. Undue forcing in attempting to reach high notes is another cause. If you find that this or that member cannot reach a certain note without screaming, stop him or her when the passages in question are reached. But remember, good singers must not be despised if they do not possess a very extended register. A Singer (Neath).—They only give the world one side of the question, but there is a good deal to be said on the other side. Some day I may deal with the matter, when you will find that the choirs are not wholly to blame.
CYMRU VU. , Or Seventy Years'…
CYMRU VU. Or Seventy Years' Personal Reminiscences of Welsh Customs. BY NATHAN DYVED. No, 9.-More of Old Llanelly. A CONFESSION. I have mentioned the Misses tuckley and their kind interest in my welfare. An incident occurred shortly after my return from my hasty visit to my ill-starred brother, which I have long regretted. It illustrates how much^nore readily human nature lends itself to deceit ^han to truth where self-interest is concerned. I was, as I have already said, frequently en- gaged at the Furnace House in doing odd carpentery jobs. At the house was a large and favourite Newfoundland dog, between which and myself a close friendship had sprung up, and I never worked at the Furnace House without the dog would be certain to be my constant companion during my stay. I was one day doing certain jobs in the parlour, and bad just taken down from the mantel a large mirror, and had placed it to lean against the wafi. By some carelessness or accident I struck! the glass with my hammer, and broke id in pieces The dog, Hero, was the- oi|iy witness of my misdeed, and I was almost beside myself with vain regrets. Jl knew not how to face my kind employers Itter having destroyed so valuable an article, JAs the dog came fawning upon me, a sudden i(l" struck me. Here was a scapegoat on whom the blame could be laid As it was the dinner hour, acting on a sudden and ill-considered impulse, I placed the glass flat on the floor, and fastened the big dog in the room, while I went to my dinner. When I returned, and the door of tlli apartment was opened, a sad spectacle presented itself. The large mirror lay prone on the floor broken, while the dog came bounding and barking joyfully to welcome my return. Wïthout trial be was forthwith adjudged guilty of the-crime I had committed, and I, weak that I was, screened myself behind ;>n innocent culprit. 1 1 tried in vain to quiet my conscience by reminding myself that the Buckleys were rich enough to purchase a new glass, and that the dog would not be punished, whereas I, even if not called to make good thY;ToVs"from u»y scanty earnii gs, would lose favour in the sight of those who had done me many a kindness. I make what reparation now lies in my power by clearing poor Hero's memory of that undeserved stain. THE ORIGIN OF THE PILGRIM BUILDINGS. The title "Piigrim Buildings," which still adheres to a portion of the town, has probabiy puzzied many a one. I think I must acknowledge to having stood sponsor. At that time the houses lining the road from the town to the Furnace" were all new, and a Mr Henry Jones, carpenter, had built a house at the Bigws, between Heol y Fwrnes and Heol Penhre. At the time to which I refer, though the house was not quite completed, Mr Jones kept a small shop in a portion of the building, such a general shop as may still be found in rural districts where all kinds of small articles are retailed. Among Henry Jones's wares was a noted brand of tobacco, to which my mate and myself were very much addicted, and if we could between us manage to scrape together a few coppers, they would almost invariably find their way into Hetn-y Jones'* till in exchange for the tobacco. We frequently turned in to enjoy a smoke of an evening on onr way home after the day's work was complete; and I jocularly dubbed the shop The Pilgrim's Shop." After a while the place came to be generaHy known as "The Pilgrim," and the buddings adjoining gradually assumed the title of the Pilgrim Build- ings. Years after, when I met. Henry Jones in Dowlais, he reminded ma of the incident. fA strange form of greeting.) In my time the provincial form of greeting which prevailed around Llanelly struck me as peculiar. I d.) not know whether it is still used. When one neighbour or a friend met another the greetings exchanged would take this form :— Shwt mans heddy ?" Oh shwt mans ? shwt maus ?" "Maus yn iawnda. Myddot shwt mae hwn a hwn ?" No, wn i." Mae e'n veddw t41 The Welsh Utilisation Society evidently did not then exist! MY BROTHER FINDS ME. One foggy afternoon, whan the r?:n was falling in a persistent drizzle, a lad cam-, to me when engaged at my work on a louse top, informing that a strange boy beiow wanted to see me, When ^descended, I was astonished to find there my one-eyed brother, dressed in a thin old frock, wet to the skiD, chilled to the marrow, and weary and footsore after his 33i miles walk I Things had not gone well at home. The pressure of poverty had begun to be felt, and our step-mother one morning had addressed my brother, telling him to come to me at Llanelly, giving him a slice of bread and a bit of cheese to help him on his way. Poor little fellow My heart bled for him as I took him to my lodging that night. Strangers proved kinder to him than his relative had been, for the charitable next door neighbour, Mrs Hughes, whose kindness I shall never forget, no sooner heard the st.ry than she took him in and gave him a free lodging while we remained at Llanelly 1 my next I shall give some Merthyr remini- scences, and particularly of the old Cymmro- dorion.
HER HEART WAS TENDER STILL.
HER HEART WAS TENDER STILL. Mr Peterby: Why don't YOFFE dancflt =MISA Longcoftin 1 Miss Longcoffin (who WAS IN THFE sere and yellow leaf befoie the war) I LF, Mr Peterby, you see there are few male dancers THIS evening, and I haven't the heart to take them away from the young girls.
THE WELSH BIBLE. -..--------
THE WELSH BIBLE. A DISCOVERY IN EARL SPENCER'S LIBRARY. By Mr Ivor James. SIR,-Lord Aberdare has kinjiy sent me an interesting letter from Earl Spencer. The following is a copy:— Althorp, Northampton, Jan. 16th, J889. My dear Aberdare,—My brother-in-law (Lord) C. Bruce, has found in the library here, among our numerous Bibles, a Welsh Bible, with an inscription, which may interest some of those learned in Welsh literature and curiosities. The book itself is a very beautiful specimen of printing (1677). Toe inscription, in writing, is to the effect that it was presented to Sir Robert Clayton, Lord Mayor, 1677, in token of the exertions which he made in getting the Bible printed, whereby many hundreds of people in Wales were taught to read and received instruction It is signed by Tillotson and others. I send the actual memorandum, as copied with the names. Tillotson was then Canon of St. Paul's, after- wards Arcubishop cf Canterbury. I think this may interest some ot my friends at the Colleges at Cariutf and Aboryst,vith, but I send you the information,as you will know best who will care to hear of this accidemal finu in this library. Hoping you and yours are wed and flourishing, believe me, truly yours, SPENCER, [COPY OF INSCRIPTION.] For Sir Robert Clayton, lint, and Alderman of the City of London, m thankful acknowledgment of his former bounty to Wales in contributing towards the printing of this Bible and te-iehiiii; many hundreds of poor children to read and some to write. Signed JO. TILLOTSON. JOHN M > RITON, F-,D. G FLEET, WILLIAM OUTRAM, I WHJCHCOT. i EDW, lOWLKIL There i. or was, a copy of the 1677 Bible in the library of tbe Duke of Bedford. It contains the following inscription:— To the Rieht Hon. the Earl of Bedford, Knt. of the Most Noble Order of the Garter. "In thankful acknowledgement of his bounty to Wales in contributing towards the charge of printin? the household Bibles in the British tongue, wijich were to be freely given to poor families, a.nd of teaching many hundreds ot poor children to read and write. Sia-nei. Jo. TILLOTSON. THOMAS GOUGE. ED. STILLINGFI.EET. BENJ. CALAMY. BENJ. WHI HCDT. THOMAS FIRMIN. I JOHN MERITON. THOMAS GOUGE. JOHN MERITON. JOHN Du BOIS." These BIbLes are relics of a great educational movement which occurred in Wales atter the devastations of the Civil Wars. As early as 1646 Richard Baxter proposed to iNT,-)ekwortb fli,, foundation of a college at Shrewsbury. In 1656, Major Genera! Berry, the Parliamentary com- mander in Wales, promised his assistance. The proposition was revived by John -Lewis, of Glasgrtig, Cardiganshire, and Dr John Ellis, Rector of Doigelly, and they communicated with B.txter. Lewis and Ellis hoped to be able to influence Vaughan, ot Llwydiarth, who was t-upposed to be without heirs to his ;M,OM a year. Baxter knew in London a childless Shrewsbury man, worth £ 40,000. Lewis turned his eye, oil the tithes and tÜ3 ecclesiastical estates, which, he says, are slipped into several private hands upon easy bargains, anu I would Christiaaly entreat" the holders, "and all others that have advanced their stores and fortunes by the late times, out of their abundance to parr with some mites towards so pious and honourable a work." Eiiis ri-flected— "we might have a castle for beginning of our edifice, and, for permanent endowment, the tenths of the benefices in Wales." Baxter did not doubt of obtaining" authority from the Protector. The proposition, which fell through in 1656, was brought forward again by Charles Kdwarde in "Hanes y Ffydd Dduffnant," 1671, but Edwards's suggestion received no greater favour than the propositions of Baxter, Ellis, and Lewis, from 15 to 25 years previously. The attention of ttie charitahl", however, was directed to the condition of the very poor. In the first instance, »-ff rts were made for a provision of religious books. Stephen Hughes pleaded earnestly with the gentry. In his letter prefixed to the 1672, or first complete edition of Vicar Prichard's works^ he gives us the grounds or his hopes of success in the case. The was pre- pared by degrees for a regular and systematic organization for the establishment of schools, as weii as the publication of books. Assistance was nought from we d £ hr men in London and eise- «u.>re. 5CV.-ji, Gousfe r»«-uiea uis society. What imiy be regarded a» an informal Deed of Settlement is given in tne life of the Rev James Owen. The paper concludes thus :—" We, there- fore, whose nam"s are underwritten, do promise to contribute, during our pleasure, towards the printing and buying the fcrementioued treatises (' The Practice of Piety,' some thousands of other licensed works, the Church 'J&tecuisin, and a Practical Expositor of the same, now printing), as also towards the teaching of poorWelshchildren to read English, write and cast accounts, in such towns where schools are not already created by the charity of others provided that this charitable and pious work be ordered and managed by Dr Tillotson, Denn of Canterbury, "nd the rest whose names are underwritten: — Jo TtUotsun, Bertj.nntU Whicbcote, Simon Ford, Wra. Bates, Wm. Outram, Simon Patrick, Wm. Durham, Edward Stillingflset, -John Meriton, Hezekiah Burton, Richard Baxter, Thooia G.-nge, Mathew Pooie, Edward Fowler, Wm. Turner, Richard Newman, James Reading, Thomas Giirfith, J oim Short, Wm. Gape, Thomas Firmin." In the society's report for the period extending from Midsummer, 1674-, to Lady Day, 1675, it is sald:In 51 of tae chief towns of Wales 812poor children have been and are put to school to learn English over and above the 500 put to school the previous year by f he charity of others before this trust began; There \iave been bought and distributed in several families 50 Welsh Bibles, which were all that couid be had in Wales or Lr-ndou. Two hundred and forty Testaments in Welsh to be gi FU away to poor people that ¡ can read Welsh, five hundred Wno)e Dnties of Man in Welsh to be distributed. in like manner, which pious and charitable undertaking has already provoked divers of the better sort of the Welsh to put above 500 of the poorest Welsh children to school upon their own account, so that about 1,850 in all are already put to school to learn to read English." The practical oversight of the schools was undertaken by Gouge, who devoted two-thirds of his private income to the work. The literary side was managed by Stephen Hughes and Cuarles Edwards. The Bible of 1677, a marvel of typographical accuracy, was edited by Charies Edwards. It may be observed that tl:a edition of 1\ 1689 was undertaken by Stephen Hughes, and after his death completed—but not in a very satisfactory way—by D.Jones. The 1677 J3ib!e j cost, we are told, nearly £ 2.000. The total sum j raised in the ten years of the trust's existence must have been very large, and covered a great deal of the expeose of printing Welsh books in the peri«I. Our historians have fallen into some mistakes. Dr Rees, for instance, under 1671, gives an account of an edition of 6,000 of n small octavo Bible; and, under 1672, of editions of the New Testament and < f the Psalms published at the expense of Mr Gouge and Mr S. Hughes." There was, no edition of the Bible published in 1671 but in that yeaJ Stephen Hughes was hard at work on the firQt complete edition of Vicar Prichard's Canwyil y Oymru." In the preface Hughes appeals lor assistance to bring out the whole Bible once more to Dr William Thomas, at that time Dean of Worcester, afterwards Bishop of St. David's and Bishop of Worcester to the Rev Hugh .Edwards, of Liangattock, Carmarthenshire the Rev David Thomas, of Margam Rev Samuel Jones, of Llangynwyd and the Rev William Lloyd, of St. Petrox, Pembroke. The country, rev. sirs," Hughes say?, i3 bound to you for the help you have given (among other influential gentlemen and clergymen) to me in the work of printing the New Testament, the Psalms, and Mr Perkins' Catechism, which are about to be issued." Mr Gonge. died in 1681. His funeral sermon was preached by Tillotson, who, I take it, in the course of the sermon made reference to Sir Robert Clayton, though not by name. Gouge's death proved fatal to the good work in Wales. But the educational wave, as it receded from Wales, acquired ever increasing force and flowed over the whole kingdom. The record is to be found in Stow's London, by Strype, ed. 1720, volume 2, page 43 and in A Letter of a Residing Minister of the S.P.C.K., to a Corresponding Member in the Connt,ry;' London, 1714. This charity," says Strype, however it ies-ened in Wales, afterwards began nearer home" -and then follows an account of the old charity schools in connection with the S.P.C.K. In 1715 there were 1*281 of these schools in England, Ireland, and Wales, with 29,722 scholars. The Society for the Propogation of the Gospel inForoign Parts extended the work to the colonies. It is, I may add, to this general movement we owe the school of the Hon. Society of Ancient Britonr. Tbe charity schools paved the way [or th Nat' oifd » .f- ■ \A t-j'- und the British and Foreign School Societies and the existing elementary system. Sir Robert Clayton, a famous merchant and politician, born 1629, died 1707, the son of a small farmer, was Lord Mayor of London in 1679 80, and M.P. for the City,who played a very prominent part in politics on the Protestant side 111 tbe reigns of Charles II. and William and Mary. His wealth was enormous. It was at his suggestion that Charles II. established the mathematical school at Christ's Hospital. Sir Robert; spent about JB10,000 on rebuilding the hospital after the great fire. A full length marble statute of him was erected in 1701 in the third court of St Thomas's Hospital, the third court having been built through his munificence. There is a portrait of him by J. Richardson in the counting-house of St Thomas's Hospital, and a fulllengtb portrait by Kneller in the livery-room of tbe Diapers' Company. I have seen somewhere an early reference to the Clayton Presentation Bible, and it is men- tioned in Mr J. R. Dore's account of OM Bibles," second edition, 1eSB.-I :m, &e„, IVOR JAMES. University College, Cardiff, Jan. 21sr, 1889.
COUNTY COUNCIL NOTES.
COUNTY COUNCIL NOTES. WELSH COUNTY AND BOROUGH ELECTORS. The return of county Voters on the register for Wales has been issued. In Angiesea there are 9,677 Brecknock, 9,338 Cardigan, 12,319 Car- insrtheB, 18.436: Carnarvon, 17,893; Ik-nbigb, 17,285 Flint, 10,315; Glair >r u, 47,323; Merioneth,9,211; Montgomery, 8,443; Pembroke, 10,945; Radnor, 4,655, being a total of 175,838. Of this thyre are 7,078 non-resident owners, while throughout tbe entire principality there are only 396 county lodgers tabulated. Among the boroughs Carmarthen is credited with 4,812 voters on the register; Carnarvon, 4,590; Denbigh, 3,425; Flint, 3,870 Cardiff, 13,471; Merthvr, 15,414; Swansea (town and district), 17,209; Montgomery, 3,049; Pembroke and Haverford- west, 5,810, being a total of 71,920. Lodgers num- ber 1,275, and that there are only six in Merthyr seems to indicate that the franchise is not looked upon with favour by this class, or it shows negligence on the part of the authorities who look to these matters. THE MONMOUTHSHIRE COUJJTT COUNCIL. Well done, Moiimouth.-hire Your behaviour at the polls was splendid. In the mining districts it was to be expected that Liberals wonid win, though not by such heavy majorities as have been given but in the agricultural district there were fears and misgivings, for it was here that tfep Tory Court of Quarter Sessions, m its moribund days, eought to create an artificial preserve for their friends and adherents, Even here, however, the squirearchy have fallen before the tenant farmer candidates, and the route all along the line has been all but com- plete. The 48 councillors are now elected. The most discriminating return gives 28 Liberals, IS Tories, and five independents. Another return groups two of the most advanced independents with tbe Liberals, and thys swells tbe total to 30, and places tbe other three independents to tiJe credit of the 15 Tories, making 18 as against 30. Whichever way the returns are regarded, the result is gratifying for the future of the council. Its Liberal and progressive pre- dominance is ensured for an apprenticeship of years. Already the Tories have begun to show the white feather. Mr A. D. Barrmgr.on, chairman of quarter sessions, who was returned unopposed, has at length discovered that be is disqualified from serving by virtue cf holding the inspector¡;hip,of fisheries. Remarkable tbat Mr Berrington did not make the discovery earlier He is credited with voting Conservative, and facing described as Independent. Thus the first vacancy occurs in tne new council who will be the next to discover he cannot possibly act ? Not all the rest of the Tories, headed by the Duke of Beaufort and Lord Tredegar. THE HXACTION IN THE RHONDDA, Rhondda colliers have unquestionably never taken greater interest in any contest than those which were fought on Thursday in connection with the county council. For the past week I am told that the combat of the various candidates was the principal topic of conversation wbeneve a group of workmen congregated underground to pass away a leisure hour. And at tbe crowded public meetings in support of tbe different candidates, tbe audiences, which were almost entirely constituted of colliery employes, were chiefly addressed by speakers whose hands had grown horny by arduous toil. It was obvicus from the zeal and the enthusiasm manifested by them during the occasional proceedings that they fancied tney could perceive looming on the political horizon Of the n"ar future the motto, Government of the people by tbe people, for tbe people." They believe most earnestly that their rulers Trust be repre- sentatives from amongst their own particular class. The result of the poll iu tbe various wards in the valley indicates unmistakably that tbey have every confidence in tbe absolute eecresy of the ballot, and that those t ■ i-sons who recognise themselves as their associates ;n the struggle for existence should be their protectors and their leaders in the political progress of the future. SPOILED VOTES AT MERTHTE. It leaked out on Saturday that some 30 votes bad been validated in the Penyu^rieu Divloljn in consequence of the official stamp not having been attached to both sides of tue papers. Such information is very disheartening. At the least it shews great carelessness on the part of some- body, and it is all the more noticeable in a division L'.e tbat, where tbe feeling ran so high. The only satisfaction about it is that tbe mistake did not affect tbe remit it only reduced Mr Williams' majority. There was, I believe, a blunder made in con- nection with voting papers somewhere in tbe Aberdare Valley on the occasion cf the last parliamentary election, and then, as now, the result was not affected. The person or persons who blundered have tbe satisfaction, therefore, of knowing that their mistakes, after all, were omparatively harmless. However, the quescion cannot be permitted to rest bere, We must know tho names of tbe persons who are responsible for these errors. Some blunders are worse than ^rjices, and this is one of them. It is evident that someone is in authority who is either grossly careless or grossly incapable, without putting any worse construction on his motives. He must be called to account, and told that lie has been weighed in the balance and found wanting. Be ho Radical or Tory, it is all tbe same be deserves his dismissal, and should get it. Upon the purity of elections hangs the credit of the country, and anything which would tend to cast doubt upon their infallibility should promptly be exterminated. THE REOENT ELECTIONS. Generally speaking, satisfaction is expressed here at ,the result of the county council elections, and there is a consensus of opinion tbat tbe Dody as a whole is a very strong and capable one. I mppose the great sarprise in the Swansea district is the victory of Mr Penrice at Oystcrmonth. I am not sorry at tue result, for though we Liberals would have much preferred the return of Mr Taylor, it was known all along that the fight was really between Mr Morgan and Mr Penrice, two Conservatives. Mr Morgan's defeat may be attributed to two causes, in addition to the fact that during his presidency of tbe local beard tbe ratine has considerably -increased. First, though a Tory and Mr Llewelyn's political agent, be adopted quite a Radical programme, and the Tory voters, naturally perplexed, decided that of tbe two it was better to be represented by an out-and-out Tory like Mr Penrice than by a gentleman whose T>ryism they could not under- stand. But a stronger reason for his defeat is probably the blame his supporters rightly or wrongiy got for the disturbances at the meetings of tbe other candidates, and though no one for a moment believed Mr Morgan countenanced them, tbe effect was certainly prejudicial to his candidature. If what is said of the behaviour of certain young sparks at Mr Taylor's last meeting be true, the sooner a few books on etiquette are distributed at the Mumbles the better. I hear that in a division I will not mentioa great preparations were made to celebrate the victory of a candidate. A band was readj% a gun loaded, and the wherewithal for a dinner ready. Bnt it was all of ao avail. The victory did not come off.
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An Irish magistrate aaked a prisoner if bt WAS married. No," replied the man. Tien, said his worship, amid Deals of laughter, it is a po-id f'lirg ror y^ur wd'e r ■ W i
1% Samuel's Sentiments. "-…
1% Samuel's Sentiments. Samuel on Some "Superior" t Persons of His Acquaintance. blood people, with human impulses ana human passions at all. Your average superior person of the male sexis a man who smiles pityingly whiiat you are enunciating any given opinion, but who yet wraps himself up in the mantle of bis own superior wisdom, and never ventures to adduce any argument to controvert what you have said he is the sort of man who strongly condemns smoking in the streets lest some cf his buperior friends m;gbt see him he would never think of having his boots blacked in the streets he would shun anything like the exchange of civility with a stranger in an omnibus tie would never think of speaking even to his most intimate friend of his wife as anything but "Mrs So-and-so;" he would never think of shaking tnds in a public place with any man who had happened recently ti "come a cropper of some kind be irotild never think, even though he only went to the theatre once a year (and then with an order ") ot £ oing in anything but a dress suit be only attends such hotels, when he wishes to unbend just a little, as are likely to bring him into contact with persons as are hereafter likely to be socially or commercially valuabie to him. If he do but dine off a bloater he has it served up in an eminently stylish manner, and he always knows bow to make servants "ketp their place." He has a tanta- hsingiy cool, not to say fiebiike, aspect in summer, and he generally reminds one of a sleek tom-cat in the winter. HA would never think of choosing a jolly companion a* a jolly companion in fact, he rather mistrusts all iovial and I SUPERIOR" PATMt-FAMrmS t~TiRAT TOUR PARTIES. LOOKING i IKE A SWELL COSTS A BIT TOO StCCH FOR ME," XAcetions men, they are too apt to see through his little meanness and his shallow pretensions. Of course dress is every«.h:ng with the superior person, but anything like unnonventionality in the way of garments JMV regards vrith pious horror. He must have the same sort of frock coat, tall hat, gloves, and umbrella as are sported by those ctL sr superior being's of his acquaintance, Jinks, Binks, Minx. and Picks. Ana he would n^ver dream ot walking ('own the at-m-t iexioept it were a very obscure street indeed) with a shabby or seedy in^n—unless t~> ke>w full well thK" tug seed y man b'Cu., a 'goouiy i:ankfcg account and he would condone anything on the score of his "friends" "eccentricity." The superior man never unben., or comes down from his lofty altitude except you happen to know from what an cbscurc lot he comes, and then, perchance, he A HIGHLY SUPERIOR GIRL, 1 condescends to be affable and familiar with you even though you do happen to be something of a Bohemian, and to smoke a briar-root pipe in the streets, and to be amiable, free, and tiapyr. And he may eveu, wb*a tsc dijes Dvt expect any of his supe;. jr frieuds, invite you to Lis hou-' and, if he should happ^ii to b° a little I bit -substa ntial, he wi!! show v.3 71- what tstyie he dr»o> the taing by t';e display of his plate ar d his wine. In bis bouse you will find that everything- is done in quite a superior manner. Ail the furniture will be as superior ilnd as stiff (lirough perhaps a little more polished) as the t! proprietor thereof, ana you wili find tbat he has christened ail hie children bv superior L iilles, though be does not, as you possibly know, happen to belong by right of birth to any of the great families whose names SEe scattei?d about amongst his offspring. His own uame possfbly is Peter, and that of bis superior wife Jane Ann, but you will soon learn that in his I tmity be has an Edgar. Fiizwiiliam, Geoga Grosveaoi, Carnegie Vilders John • Besurogard, a Florence Eva Edgithaa Cecil ;n, Somers Cec fttoc'l that possibly, his eldest boy (a most superiQr boy who calls a club a "cl&b," and a basket a bars- ket"), is kuown as Augustus Vyner- Vjner (Smith). All his nice little daughters chop up their words in sveh a superior fashion, and the young gentlemen (Mas- ter Vyner-Vyner," "Master" the servants nre specially instructed about tb i ?—Master Carnegie Villiers, etc.), are such mincing, self- repressed, odious lit le prig's. And the female superior person (who probably bas NICE STTIKTOR TOFSG KAK FOE A TRA ?ARTT. been the mistress of a small school, or a ladies' maid in her time), speaks so precisely, and she talks so loftily about "otr set," and also does so impress the tradespeople, and she receives the parson and tbe other visitors in such a graciously dignified way, and she wouldn't think of having anybody &r her table who didn't barmen to THEYERT SUPERIOR CHILD— WANTS SMACKING. I SMACKING. be as egregious a human doll and as snobbess as herself. If you venture a small witticism upon any matter of passing interest (about which you really don't care two straws) when you are at her table, she looks rather sad than otherwise; says gravely, "do you think so," and then tor a moment relapses icto a sort of dreamy state, as though she were pondering on the depth of your folly. And she never even affects to be sentimental, or given to the promptings of human sympathy, except when she happens to have a tenth-rate noveiist or a teacup and saucer actor (who is losing his smail patrimony by appearing as the star of his own touring company) at her table. And then how sublimely meaning are her adjectives of praise bestowed upon the beautiful aad the true. It may be said that the unnatural self-restraint which the superior person may be supposed to place upon himself renders his life somewhat of a burden to him-but this is not so. It is not self- restraint at all which he exercises. He is by nature quite bereft of the faculty of enjoyment. His characteristics are more thosi, of the fish than of warmer-blooded creatures. The only gratifica- tion of his life is to say, like the Pharisee, I am not as bther men are.' SAMUEL: His SKNTMENTS. i 1
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Ease must be impracticable to the envious; they lie under a double misfortune; common 1 --AL-mities and common blessings fall heavily upon them. I Mrs Langtry refuses to be interviewed by the | reporters, and sweetly recites WHEN tbey approach < bee that good old poem, Give as a rait. So, too, of Mr Langtry AND they two shall have our affection through all the holidays.—The Judjje. Style is only the frame to hold our thoughts, i It is like the sash of a window—if heavy, it will secure the light. The object is to have as littij sash as will hold the light, that we may not tbJDk »F THE -IOUWIR. HUT have latter. i .w».'v
1WELSH NOTES.
1 WELSH NOTES. NORTH AND SOUTH WALES. j' A correspondent writes :—Being a North "WaJhfift resident in South Wales, I often fed sorry tbat so much distinction is made between North and South Wales. Moreover,it often surprises me that I so very little is really'koown in South Wales of the resources and trade of North Wales, I Now it occurred to me that a few I articles dealing with the above ,81lbj, would be very interestinc, and it is with tbe view of inducing someone to contribute such r*tpec that I now write, hoping that top more we (N. and-S.) know of epch other, the more imaginary will tbe line become which separates North from South Wales. In North Wales there are i*rge agricultural districts, immense slate (largest in" the world) quarries, ironworks, noted brick, tile, and terra cotta wOlks. ami shipping to a very large extent. Most especially are we rich in shipowners, but, unfortunately, the bulk of tbeir vessels hail from Liverpool, London, etc., although they are owned, ofticei-ed." and manned by natives of North Wales. One j gentleman (Mr Davies, Menai Bridge) owns flnet ot about one hundred vessels, every one ot which bail from Liverpool.—I Qcm, Ac., .L WELSHMAN. THE REASON FOR THE SEPARATION. Other people besio. Welshman would wish for a better intercourse between North and South Wales. But better intercourse consists in railway facilities. For instance, from want of trains tbe Sojtth Wales Daily Newt is unable to ¡ penetrate into North Wales. By the time 1 it reaches there all the news of tbe day 1 have been discounted by the Liverpool papers. Moreover, as "Welshman" points out, North I Wales inclines towards Liverpool. This is but natural, for the great port is a mighty magnet, However, this inclination is away from us. Nevertheless, if the means of transport were improved, North Wales would assuredly lean somewhat more towards South Wales. But Liver- | pool is always bound to exert its iniueoce upoa Ivoctii Wales. It is its outlet and its I mart. The two opposite euds of Wales are the Bristol Channel and the Mersey. E ic'h attracts, and the consequence is that there is a plain line of demarcation, and this is heightened by want of intercommunication between the two. Give as i fast trains between Cardiff and Liverpool through Wales, and tbe result will be that the north MM) south will be welded, not divided. THE MOLOCH OF PARAFFIN. The Moloch of paraffin still claims :ctims. MrI. Muir, of Cardiff, is the latest. She was carrying a child and also a small lamp. Going upstairs she stumbles the lamp, falling, breaks, and bet clothing is set on fire. Probably had this lamp been composed oi unbreakable material she would have escaped the dreadful fate which she encountered. In your leading columns some months since you bad au article upon the subject, and this led to a correspondence in which it wac stated that tbe conditions you laid down as necessary to prevent thefrequeac occurrence of these lamentable accidents had been fulfilled in one instance. I remember that I aliuded to the lamp which was mentioned, and which at that t time was being exhibited in the Glasgow Exhibition. Nevertheless, the facts of the case in connection with Mrs Muir furnish another illustration of the carelessness with which people treat paraffin. The p-or w jman in question was not oniy bearing- in her arms a chiid, but adds to th^sburden a highly inflammable lamp. Amddel1 draught of air down the «tairway might have had the effect or driving the fl<;rnes into the resforvcoir. ana thus exploding the oil. But obviously the principal danger wag the one from which she suffered. A sudden struggle upon tbe part of the infant would easily knock the lamp out of bar I hands, but as it happened a stumble was the cause of the catastrophe. Yet I have no doubt t iat these c JZlstant calamities will not deter tny I one to-night fxam. these l- rnps as if were as harmless as candies. -4- STEEL AND COAL AND FRETCHTS. Judging from thf statements contained in tSw1 I current report of the directors of tb" Ebymney Iron Company, the raii trace has not been very profitable of late. Whilst price? have remained practically stationary, at about £4 the ton, "the cost of manufacture has, on the other h*ad, considerably increased, owing mainly to the higher pnce of iron ore, and especially of freights.* Accordingly, the make of free!, tin bars,and slab*2 was increased, and the directors think that^* judging from past experience, it seems impossible4" to obtain a reasonable price lor, or profit u-<on/ etffd rai!s outii some mode of combination has br-u adopthy tk- trade, Thh son:btation, it;" appears, the direc ors are seeking to promote. I Coal stands in a different category, as the advance ttupfireof Phis commoair7 has not only been j maintained, but has progressed beyond the figures I obtainable when the previous report was issued. I Tue scarcity "r colliers and their demands for I extra holidays account, it is said, for the com- 1 pany's output not having been larpsr in the six months ending September 30th. Further colliery opers.ii^ns have been rescivcd upen. A GOOD ISRADE BEPOBT. /rofc gives an encouraging prospect of traf.. It says:—"The tinplat6 trade of South Walos is steady, but. owing to the firm attitude of makers, ¡ buyers a.re doing oniy a haod-to-moo«b business. l' Tin plates ate quiet at Liverpool, and pnces are materially Changed. In the steel trade of tbt north-west there is a better business doing, and prospects are more hopeful ail round. In all departments considerable activity is maintained, and a large number of orders are offering for plates, angles, and the other heavy classes of goods, as well as for rails. Rails are very firm at iS, and the foreign inquiries for forward deliveries are very strong for heavy sections. Light sections do not represent as big a trade, but the mil's are kept going w-^h orders which are held mostly op home account. Quotations for light rails range from £4- 2s 61 to £4 12s 6d. In colliery raik there is not a'»arge trade, and prices are steady at the late rate of £6 5s, In steel shipbuilding materia! tb; re i? good business, but there is no disturbance to aote' in tue price of plates at" angles, tli- fornaer remaining at £7 2s 6d and the latter at £678 6d. Ordinary sorts of blooms are at £3 13? 6d, but hammered descriptions are at £4 lOs, and a fair trade is ¡ doing- in the latter. Billets are in steady demand at £ 4 5-3. Steel slabs are still a quiet trade at £ 2 18s 6d. Wire rods also occupy an unimportant position in the market, No. 5 standards being ready at £5 15s, and No. 6 at £5 17s 6d. The steel manufacturers of the north of England have been doing a good business, and the reports of the revival of a steel rail syndicate are not much relied upon by local rail makers. Double-headed I rails are £3 17s M t JB4; steel angles, JB658 to £6108; plates, je6 15s. The demand for steel for shipbuilding purposes on the Tyne and Wear I is again increasing, and prices are advancing slowly but surely," I "MMKMBER THE OOFFJCF TAVERN." The phrase "Remember the Coffee Tavem- has bean taken up and adopted ao an election cry for the coming county council election f>.t Carmarthen. I hear that an indignation meeting is projected to protest against the mal- versation of foods for denominational par- poses in connection with the coffee tavern. Recent events have proved a very effective eye- opener to many who may have been hoodwinked by the home reunion will o' the wisp; bat it ft vosirable that every possible iigbt should brtb-Tn upon the ways of men with whem your errry conversation may b* a pitfall, and your every concession a snare. Take, for instance, the hurt circular issued in the name of the Church candidates, which was got out late last Saturday night and distributed about town—put nnder people's door»4-between that time and daybreak on -Sunday; a ciroolar of which at least one of the Church candidates was ignorant, in which the policy of the old board was described as a disgrace, and dangerous to a Christian com- nanuity, and the Nonconformist candidates wera stigmatized as anti-Bible." Now. if ever there was a falsehood, this description of the Noaco. toronst candidates was a falsehood—d-li,.erate and intended—and circulated at a time which made public contradiction almost impossible. It was known to the leaders of the Ghumh part* that at least two of tbe IS oncqoforaiet candi- dates were pronounced in iVvour of Bible-read^ ID the schools; and one (chairman of the lat- board) onTy cottaenied to come out on the extra* condItIon that be WM in favour of Bibte-readin* Atus fact was also known to the Church leadera. Yet in the lAcft-of that, the circular aforecai\1 WM issued and circulated by B bie-meu aboveaii days, St) o day iBOtUQj^ I" č-r