The Cardiff Times

AFTERNOON PROOEEDINGS. Speech by Lord Mostyn. In taking tbe chair at tbe afternoon proceed- ings. Lord Mostyn spoke of the interest he a.nd his ancestors bad always taken in the National Bisteddfod of Wales. The foundation of the Welsh Order of Bardiam waa the doctrine of peace and goodwill, and they had met that day, Englishmen and Welshmen alike, with that one common object in view. The quelJtion bad ofteu iwea asked, What was the use of the modern Eisteddfod ? In a general point of view it was questionable whether any advantage would be gained by the establishment of a similar institu- tion in other countries. In England and France, for instance, there existed no necessity for such an institution, owing to the encouragement given to literature and music from other sources, and in neither of those countries did there exist a, style of musis which might be called essentially national. The case of Wales was different. Poetry and music had from time imme- morial been cultivated, not only for their own charms, but as connected with th3 but interests of the country. During the last 30 •*j*ars the Eisteddfod had gained in popularity by leaps and bounds, and was now firmly established m an annoal national festival- Waa it too moch to hope that we might yet see the Eisteddfod conducted again under a Boyai Commission ? (Load cheers.) — THE ARCHDRUID HONOURED. NATIONAL TESTIMONIAL PRESENTED. At this juncture tbe formal presentation was J8e cf national testimonial to tbe venerable Areb'.lrnid, Uwfa. Mon. This consisted of ;¡"n iltaminated address and s. parae-contaimng 400 fnfnrM. Ttm presentation Wh Lord Mostyn, who spoke of the delight it had I given him to be chairman of the Testimonial Committee. Hwfa Mon's name wis* a household word in tha Principality— (cheers)—and contributions towards the testi- monial bad been received from all parts of Wales, Loodon, Liverpool, and other English towns, and £100 had been given by tbe Govern- ment through Mr Balfour. (Chsers.) Hwia Mon had been connected with the Eisteddfod for over haviag first entered the mystic circle in 1849. He had won upwards of six bardic chairs, and in 1867 he was the winner of the crown. In connection with the late Arcbdruid Clwydfardd, H wfa Mon had done more than any man living to promote the interests of the Bards of the Islf of Britain. (Cheers.) In making the presentation his Lord- ship wished the Archdruid a long and happy life and many mora opportuniti 3s of presiding over th Gorsedd. The Rev. Peris Williams, one of the hon. secretaries of the movement, then read the address in Welsh, the rendering being as follows Venerable Sir,—On behalf of your friends and admirers, we beg your acceptance of this address, together with the sum of 400 guineas, which includes a donation from the Government, as a small token of oar esteem, and of oar best wishes to you. The valuable services which yoa have rendered in connection with the Eisteddfod and Welsh literature for over half a century are well known. As a poet yon have won a fame which is ac- knowledged throughout the Celtic world, and the bardic brotherhood have shown their admiration of you as a chief bard by electing yoa to fill the I important office of Archdruid. As a literateur you have won for yonrself an honourable position. As a preacher, you are one of the masters of j the assemblies and a favourite as a messenger of ¡ peace on both sides of the Atlantic. As a lecturer you are placed in the front rank, We wish you a peaceful eventide, and hope that your bow may abide in stength for many year3 yet to aome, in your religious, eistddfodic, and natural circles. The Archdruid, divested of his bardic robes, stepped forward to receive the presentation, and was raceived with loud cheers. In a brief address of acknowledgment Hwfa Mon declared that his heart was too full to say ) much. He had certainly served his nation in the past to the best of his ability: often in the face of many difficulties, His frisnds often charged him with dreaming. True, he did dream good deal, but he had never anticipated such kindness from bis fellow-countrymen as had been shown to-day. Sir John Puleston, the treasnrer of the move- ment, wrote expressing his inability co attend, and this was followed by an announcement that the testimonial fund would not be finally closod before Friday next. The recital of a congratula- tory englyn by Cadvan brought the incident to a close. Competitions in drawing.—A prize of JE5 for the best drawing (monochrome) in sepia or black and white was won out of 11 entries by Mr Bush, of Bristol, son of Mr James Bush, B.Sc., Tech- nical Schools, Cardiff. Mr Ernest H. Thomas, London, sent in the only series received of illustrations in black and white depicting incidents in the Welsh novel" Rhys Lewis," and h" was awarded the premium of six nlne'1s. A more important competition was that for the £20 offered by the National Eisteddfod Association for a sanes of twelve illustrations in black and white. There were two competitors, and the award was in favour of Bryntystion," who appeared in the person of Mr John Edwards, Blaenau Festiniog, wbo ie now enjoying an e1ght years' fellowship won by him at the Beaax Arts, P.iris. Mr W. Stevenson, Conway, sent in the best set of three small dra wings in any medium of a. river or estuary, and for a similar drawing of mountain scenery the honours went to Mr Tim Evans, Llanbedr Talycefn. In tbe classes for botany and geology Miss Mary A. Jones, Bara, seut in the best collection of ferns from Wales and Mr D. Roberts, Llan. gollen, won the two guineas premium offered for a collection of geological specimens. Musical compositions were a disappointing class, and the £20 and gold mtidal offered by the National Eisteddfod Association for a sacred cantata failed to attract a single entry. There was oniy one competitor for a prize of 12 guineas for an organ sonata in four movements, bat this was not very highly thought of. Though it had a certai* amount of merit, it was not worthy of the whole prize. The adjudicators recommended that £10 be awarded- The successful composi- tion, it transp'red, was the work of Mr Sidney H. Rees, of Richmond-road, Cardiff. CHIEF CHORAL CONTEST. It was nearly 3 o'clock when the chief choral contest, the ereat event of the day, was reached, aod at this time the pavilion wae packed in every corner, and the enthusiasm was at its highest. The attendance was now estimated at about 8,000. The competition was open to all choirs of between 150 and 180 voices. The prize WM 200 guineas and a goli medaJ. The follow- ing were the test pieces —(a) gwynt- oedd vn ymosod (Stephens's Storm of Tiberias ") (b) Why my Soul" (Mendelssohn); and (c) The Vale of Reltt" (Mendelssohn), the last-named being an unaccompanied piece. There were five entries, but to the disappoint- ment of the audience the Pontypridd United Choir (Mr Wm. Thompson) did not put ia an appearance. The four remaining choirs sang in the following order:—1, Shrewsbury Choral Society (173 voices), Mr W. D. Phillips conductor 2. Carmarthen Choral Society (160 voices), Mr A. J. Silver, P.R.C.O.; 3, the Potteriea and District Choral Society, Mr James Gardner 4, Carnarvon Choral Society, Mr John Williams. The adjudicators were Signor Randegger, Variey RoDerts, Dr. Joseph Parry, Mr Francis Lloyd, Mas, Bac., Mr Dan Prothero, Mua. Bac., Mr Tom Price, and Mr John Thomas (the Queen's harpist). The com petition lasted two and a half hoars, and at its close the adjudicators were occupied for half an hour in private conversation. Signor Randegger delivered the adjudication. Dealing with the choirs in tbe order in which they sang, be said that the first choir (Shrews- bury) sang the part song, The Vale of Rest," in rather a tame manner. In the second verse the aapranos led the tenth bar too sharp and marred the whole effect, and then towards the end of the second verse they dropped considerably in the pitch. They sang the second piece, Stephens's Storm," correctly enough, but tamely, and the rendering was wanting in crinpness. The third piece, Why my Soul," was certainly their best performance. The sopranos woe rather feeble and the altos occasionally weak, and at times inaudible when tbev should have led. The second choir (Carmarthen) had better voices, but the altos again were weak. They sang the Storm chorus with more point than the pre- vious choir.'In The VII-Ie of Rest" they took the time much too fast, and this remark in fact ap- plied to every one of the choirs. Perhaps this was not altogether the fault of the conductors, inasmuch as they merely followed the metronome marks on tbe printed copies, but it was very ques- tionable indeed whether Mendelssohn ever wrote those marks, for that great master had no faith whatever in the metronome, believing that musicians mast have the metronome in their own hearts. The performance of The Vale of Rest was consequently mechanical by each of the choirs, without any poetry or refinement The second choir kept the pitch, which the first choir did not, but at the rate they took the piece there was no merit in keeping the pitch, for they sang so fast thtt they had no chance of failing. The last piece they sang, Why my Soul," was indeed a very good performance, for which they deserved every compliment and every praise. In the Potteries Choir the voices were better balanced than in any of the others, and their first chorus, the Storm piece, was by far the best perform. ance of this piece that was heard. They also took Tha Vale of Rest too fast and sang it too mechanically, but otherwise they sang the piece beautifully. Their rendering of Why my Soul was a good performance, although to bis mind they had not sufficient firmness in the accent. This choir, therefore, sang two pieces very much better than the othe: choirs. Coming to tbe fourth choir (Carnarvon), ou the whole its render ing of the first chorus was very good. In the Vale of Rest the choir sang too fast, and the sopranos made tbe same mistake as the first choirs. They led too sharp, being really half a tone too high in Why my Soul." They began very well, but lost in point and accent. The first prize would be awarded to the Potteries Choir. The announcement was received with load cheers, and the conductor (Mr James Gardner) was invested by the Lord Mayor and heartily congratulated. The meeting concluded with the singing of the Welsh National Anthem, the solo being rendered by Mr Ben Davies.

EVENING CONCERT. In the evening a "miscellaneous concert) was held under the presidency of Mr Herbert Roberts, M.P. The artists were Miss Evangeline Florence, Miss Ada Croeslev, Mr David Ffrangcon Davies, Mr Frederic Griffith (solo flute), Mr Jobn Thomas (solo harp), and the Royal National Eisteddfod Choir of 400 voices, led by Mr D. O. Parry. The successful choir also appeared in the programme. The accompanists were Miss Maggie EvlW. and Mr J. E. Deacon, Cardiff.

SECOND DAY. CYMMRODORION- SECTION. Technical Education, On Wednesday morning a second meeting of the Cymmrodorion Society was held at tiie Council Chamber, Town Hall, under the presi- dency of the Hon. G. T. Kenyon. There was a good attendance, In opening the proceedings, Mr Kenyon eaid that, though he was regretfully unable to attend the first meeting on Monday, be bad read the papers, and was struck with the prac- tical character of the observations of the speakers. With regard to technical education, he ventured to suggest that it would be well if a. little preliminary training were undergone by pupils in too higher standards of the ebmieatary schools. Wales led the van in educational matters in this country, and, without undue boosting, he thought they might claim that this was largely due to the great interest taken by all classes in the Principality in the great sabject of education. Mr L..1. Roberts, M.A., H.M. inspector of schools, Rbyl, said that, while tbey were all in Wales prood of their magnificent edticational edifice, caref al scrutiny won Id show that at least one great wing was unfinished. Fuel mutely there was no necessary jwbfotl had been accomplished and what remained-to be done. It was to be hoped that the'first. decade of the new csntury would see an advance in tech- nical and industrial education no less than that in purely secondary education in the closing years of the nineteenth century. In Wales they mast rely very largely for technical instruction on the county schools. In many districts the populatjonvwaa toox sparse to ^os^ifynheTnrnvirion. of more schools of a secondary or technical character, and herein was the problem. It was j argued that Wales was wisely in not btdng I tempted into the fallacy of premature specialisa- tion. It might thus be regarded as necessary with certain exceptions that scholars in the county sshools sboedd proceed on olle tmibrll1 fixed line of march till they hud attained tbia necessary foundation of a. sound general education—until they were 15 or 16 years of age-bat after this should not the courses diverge ? Should there not be a distinct side for those whoae aim was academic, and another course sach as would best fit boys of ability who wete mechanically or seieu- tifically inclined, and who might have neithsr the time nor the meaus to continlle long in school for positions of usefulness ia the various productive and constructive pursuits ? Until some such provision was made our educational development would remain one-sided and partial, and iu our technical education "Va should continna to lag be- hind other nations. The colleges were lengthening their cords and strengthening their stakes in this direction, and now furnished excellent scientific training in more than one branch of the mechanic arts. From these great centres would radiate the kncwledga necessary to instruct Welsh youths in scientific industry, and it would be to these de- partments of technology that Wales would look for foremen and managers, chemists and engineers. A discussion followed, in which Mr J. H. Roberts. M.P., Professor J. E. Lloyd (University College, Bangor). Mr J. II. Hewitt (director of technical education in Liverpool, and others took part. The Rev. Griffith Ellis, Bootle, in moving a vote of thanks to the speakers aud chairman, said the idea ought to be got rid cf tbat education would do away with the necessity for manual labour.

EISTEDDFOD MEETING. The Competitions, At the opening of the proceedings in tho pavilion at 11 o'clock ths audience wa3 a meagre though a constantly-growing one, and more or les3 eagerness was manifested in the chief event3 of tbe day, namely, the crowning of the bard and the juvenile choirs competition. The band of the Indefatigable having played the customary opening selection, Mr J. Herbert Lewis, M.P., took the chair as president of the morning proceedings. The contralto solo prize, for which there were 76 competitors, many of them from South I Wale3, was won by lis Carrie James, of Bir- mingham. Mr Arthur E. Simp, of Newport I Moo., took the prize of five guineas and the adjudicator' highest praise for a I' rendering of n oran solo. The composer of the anr.ii-.ini -;<tai,! Mr John Koberts, Llan- dwrog. The nt-c ssful essay on Wales in tbe Nineteenth was the production of two minds, viz., those of Mr D. H. Treharna, London, and Mr E. P. Roberts, Court-road, Barry, and they divided between them the premium of J330. Another South Wales winDer was the Rev. R. W. Davies, Baptist minister, Toil, Rhondda, who wag awarded £ 20 for an essay on Welsh indus- tries. Metal Work.—Ornamental copper door handle, with plate (prize JE1 la, givan by Dr. W. A. Pierce), Albert Lloyd, Caerwys, Flintshire. Translation into Welsh of Faith of tho Future (prize £5), T. Gwynn Jones, Herald Office, Carn"rvon. Penillion Singing, North Whiles style (prize £2 2s)—divided betwee:; Richard Roberts, Liver- pool, and David Roberts. Dinas Mnwddwy. Children's choirs competition for choirs of 40 to 50 voices. Test pieces, Don't forget the old folks," and Selene." First prize, £12 123 and gold medal second £6 6. Hiuo choirs sang out of 11 eneries. Signor Randegger, in delivering the adjudica- tion on the children's choral contest, sa.id the singing had been delightful to listen to, and he congratulated the committee upon having organised the contest. Music as a refining influence in the education of children was most valuable. This had been an uuusually close competition. A mistake occurred in the printed copies of Don't Forget the Old Folks in the marking of A natural." Three of the nine choirs deliberately sang the note a.s printed, and the remainder sang it as it ought to be sung, which showed the judgment of the conductors, who realised that the composition would not allow the mistake to pas3. One choir—Mountain Ash—had the misfortune to ha.ve the sopranos divided on the question of that note, some of them singing the right and some the wrong note —(laughter)—and naturally the culprits inflicted damage on the ionocl3nt Otle8. (Renewed laughter.) This was a great pity, because they all had very good voices and sang admirably. Treorky sang the wrong note, but they began very well. In the first piece the sopranos got out of tane, which was caused by a.n imperfect production in the high register, which would have to be guarded against if the voices weite not to be spoilt. The only lady conductor in the computation was Miss Kate Towena Thomas, of the Widnes Choir, and the adjudicators thought she was deserving of great credit. The two best choirs were Brymbo a.nd Blaenau Feetiniog. Both of them sang the wrong note, but this must not be counted against them, for the note was so priuted. As the degrees of merit were so vaty close the two prizes would be divided into three. The fi!3t prize of nine guineas and tbe gold med:1 would be awarded to Brymbo—(cheers'—six guineas would be given to the second in merit, Bleanan Fes- tiniog, while Mountain Ash would be awarded three guineas. The result of the adjudication appeared to give general satisfaction. Mias Cicely Tilney, of Abertillery, Mon., was the successful competitor in the violin solo con- test (seniors), Romance and Bolero (Dancla), £3.39. Mr C. Francis Lloyd, Mns.Bac., in de- livering the award, said that Welsh people bad reason to be proai of their vocal music, but he did not think that in times past they had had reason to be proud of their instrumental music. But things were gre.itly improving, a.nd he could honestly say that he hwd never heard a. better in- strumental competition at an Eisteddfod.

CROWNING THE BARD. Whether the crown be or be not equal in dignity and value to the chair prize at an Eistedd- fod may be left to the bards to en- deavour once more to decide, but there is no denying the fact that as a spectacle the ceremony of crowning appeals more forcibly to the imagination, and never fails to fill the house. When the crowning ceremonial was reached at 3,30 p-m. there was not, so far as conld be seen, a. vacant seat in the whole bnilditig. Tbe bards, in their robea of white, blue, and green, made an attractive picture as tbey formed in half-circle on the platform, with the Gorsedd banner in the centre and Hwfo. Mon in his Archdrmdical regalia in front. This year the crown, which is of gold, together with a prize of £25, was offered for the best poem on Williams of Paniycelyn," the famous Welsh hymnologist of the last century. The adjudi- cators were Iolo Carnarfon (the Rev. J. Roberts, Portmadoc), Glanystwyth (the Rev. John Hughes), and Mr Ben Da.vies. Eleven poems had been received, and Iolo proceeded to review each composition at length. In the lower class he placed the poems sent in by Beth," a Gimel," Corfel," and Bardd-fywgraphydd," The three poems sent in by Alwyn, Llygad y Dydd," and Telyn Dafydd were placed in the second class, and those of Abt Volgen," Ad- said y Mynydd," "Profedigdoeth," and" Or- phens were placed in the highest clasB. Iolo's long and exhaustive speech screly tried the patience of the audience, and at times there were pretty loud mnrmnrings. If the poems in the highest class," said 1010," were intelli- gently translated, they would be greeted with a eneral charas of approval and praise in Eng- land, France, and Germany." At last the speaker declared tha.t the best poem the one aentin by Orpheus." Tbe aucceful candidate, responding to Hwú's stentorian call, stood up in the body of the hall, and revealed hilu 3df in the person of the Rev. John T. Job, Caivinktic Methodist minister, Carneddi, Bethesda., Car. narvonshire, but formerly of Aberdare. Mr Job, though young in years, ^s an old e;steddfodwr, a.nd he was the chaired bard of the Newport National Eisteddfod of 1897. The successful bard was escorted on to the pla:form, where be was crowned by the Arcnctrnid iu accordance witb the picturssque rites of the bards. He was invested by Mrs John Davies, a daughter of tho cele- brated John Jones of Talyaarn. Mr D. Pfrangcon Davies, who was in fine form, rendered as the crowning aongthe.recita-tive and aria of" Calchas" fiom Iphigenia in Tanrlia (Glnck) to a set of Welsh words written and adapted by Mr Pfrang- con Davie-i for the occasion. It was announced that" Andreas," the author of the successful monologue on the previous day, John the Baptist in Prison," was Mr Jonathan Rees, of Ystrad Rhondda. A prize of four guineas for the best set of lyrics was awarded to "Caion Wrth Galon," whose identity, however, was not revealed. Thj said the adjudicator, tbe Rev. Ben Davies, had been a very close competition, and it had been fonnd difficult to decide between the merits of the lyrics now awarded and the lyrics sent in by Gweddu." The last-named competitor, we understand, was Brvfdir, of Festiniog. Duet (tenor and bass), ".Hidden Gold (" Dinorah," Meyerbeer), prize £3 38_-27 patties competed. Two parties were allowed on the plat- form, and these, declared Signor Randegger, were so equal in merit that the adjudicators had no alternative but to divide the honours. The successful duettists were Messrs W. D. Richards aDd Tom Stephens, of Abertillery, Monmouth- shire, and Messrs Gatyn Eifiou and Richard Jones, of Carnarvon Trio, Qoeen of the Night (Smart), for contralto, soprano, and bass. Out of 27 competing parties, tbe two selected to appear on the plat- form were pupils of Madame Clara Novello Davies, Cardiff. The first prize was awarded to the party consisting of Miss Janet Garnett, Cilfynydd Miss Anna Lewis" Rhymuey and Mr Idris Perkins, Senghenydd, while Miss Gertie Wedlake and party, Cardiff, were very highly commended. Second chief choral contest, for choirs of from 60 to 75 voices. Prize, 60 guineas and a gold medal.—There were 10 entries, but three of these did not appear, viz., Cardiff Blue Ribbon Choir, j Pontypridd Choral Society, and Orpheus Choral I Society, Festiniog. Owing to iho advanced hour it was decided to take one instead of two test I pieces, and Mr J. H. Roberts's unaccompanied j [ part-song, Sleep, my Beloved," was chosen, j Seven choirs sang in the order following :— HolyweU IUnited Choir, Mr John E. Pierce; 'I Blackpool Glee and Madrigal Society, Mr Herbert Wlrrtaker Cefn Mawr Choral Society, Mr G. W. Hughes; Graig Choral Society, Machyn- lleth Talke and District Prize Choir, Mr J. Whewall St. Helens Prize Choir, Mr H. Berry and Pendrsf Choir, Bangor. At tbe con- cluwon-of tbe-contest the choirsjfrom Blackpool and Talke were recalled by tbe adjudicators,, .and.asked to sing the teat piece over again. Tbe j members of ths choirs, however, had by this time dispersed, and it was found impos?ifc?e to get ) them together. |Dr. Varley Roberta, in giving J the award, said the adjudicators were agreed that whoever selected, tbe test piece far this contest ] had*nuKlerthe best tpossiW^ selection. Itrwaa a j most trying piece musically, and reflected the greatest possible credit on the composer. fApplause.) Proceeding to criticise the per- formance of each choir, he said that the performances were excellent throughout, and the judges were compelled to br very critical. Two choir3 were singled out for honourable mention, namely, Blackpool and Talke, Staffordshire. The former said the Doctor, was simply excellent. The parts were beauti- fully balanced they sang ia excellent tune and I in good style, but at tile finish they did not exactly keep the pitch they were just a shade sharp. The Talke Choir gave a splendid per- formance. The voices blended mainificently, and the singing was real part singing from begin- ning to end. They surpassed iilackpool in the fact that they maintained their pitch, It was the unanimous opinion of the adjudicators that the money prize mnst be divided between Blackpool and Talke, jeolving the disposal of the gold medal to be decided upon by the committee and the two conductors. (Cheers.)

THE EVENING CONCERT. The Right Rev. the Lord Bishop of Liverpool presided over the evening concert, when the Eis- teddfod Choir of 400 voices, conducted by Mr D. O. Pajrry, gave a. magnific-nt performance of Haydn's oratorio, "The Creation," ssisted by Mr Thomas Shaw's orchestra of 70 performevs. The artistes were Miss Evangeline Florence, Mr Ben Davies, and Mr David Hughes. There was a crowded house.

THE CROWNED BARD. A Previous Winner of the Chair. The 3ev. J. T. Job may be regarded as one of the most conspicuous representatives of the new aciiool of Welsh batdism. The model of y bardd newydd is Islwyu, who perhaps nioie nearly aplproximate4 Wordsworth than any other Welsh writer, and one of their favourite definitions of poetry is the short cot to pbilo- sophy." Mr Job was born in 1867 in Llandebie, Carmarthenshire, the county of Welsh broad- sicres, and received his early training ander the genial seer of Gwynfryn- Warcyn Wyn. In 1889 Lie proceeded to Trevecca College to prepare for the Calvinistic Methodist minisLry, and bare 12ocamaunder the infiuence of ths t subtle theo- logician and master cf analysis, the late I Principal David Charles Davies, M.A. In com- mon with scores of hi3 fellow-students, he reveres the memory of his old principal, and he has written an elegy to him which ranks amongst the beat of bis compositions. Mr Job's eisfceddfodic successes are numerous. In 1893 he sat in the Powis provincial chair, and in the following years be won Cadair Brycbeiniog, Cadair Ceredigion, and Aberteifi. His most notable success, however, was scored at Newport in 1897, when out of eight candidates h" won the National Eisteddfod chair prize for an ode on Comocon Brotherhood (Brawdoliaeth Gyffredinol). He was then only in his 30th year, and his performance in this respect stands un- paralleled in eisteddfodic annalri. Mr Job, although a keen admirer of the old bardic institution, has never been "filided with the cacoethes competendi. Indeed, his non participation of recent yefir, in the national bardic contests led many to sup- pose that poesy had ceased to delight him. but his fngitive pieces have over and over again proved tbis to be erroneous. On the completion of his collegiate course he settled down to the pastorate of the Nazareth Calvinistic Methodist Church. Aberdare, where he laboured for many years with conspicuous success. Thence be migrated to Carneddi, in the Bethesda district. Like hundreds of ether literary Welshmen Mr Job derived his first incentive to literary effort from h Trysorfa'i Plant." As evidence of the esteem in which he is held in his native parish, it may be mentioned that on the occasion of his triumph at Newport the bells of the little Parish Church of Llandebie were kept ringing all night. The news that the crown for the best poem on Williams Pantycelyn" had been won by the Rev. J. T. Job. Carneddi, Bethesda, Car- narvon, was received with great satisfaction at Aberdare, where Mr Job was formerly stationed.

PRINCE LLEWELYN MEMORIAL. A general meeting of the Llewelyn Memorial Committee was held at the Adelphi Hotel, Liver- pool, on Wednesday afternoon, tbe Hon. G. T. Kenyon in the chair. The Rev. Gwynoro Davies, Barmouth, the bon. secretary of the movement, presented a report as to the progress made in various districts. London takes the lead, having collected close upon JE80. The Hon. Mrs Backlev Owen submitted a resolution passed by a com- mittee consisting of Principal Rhys (Oxford), Dr. Isambard Owen (London), Principal Roberts tAbervstwyth), Principal Reiobel (Bangor), and Rev. Hartwell Jones (Surrey), viz., That a cer- tain sum be set apart for a; gold medal to be called the Uewelyn Medal, and to te competsd for annually, under tho control of the Welsh University Court." It was decided that the secre- tary should communicate the suggestion to the several subscribers for their opinion on the same. The next meeting will be held at Cardiff ia Octo- ber, and it was finally agreed apon that the fund be closed on the 31st of December next year.

THE CHIEF BARD POSITIVE. Declares the Eisteddfod Illegal t APPEAL to THE LORD MAYOR OF LIVERPOOL. Gwilym Cowlyd, Chief Bard Positive of the Institutional Order of Welsh Bards, has issued the following proclamation to all the loyal bards of Wales and others ccneerned » THE TRUTH AGAINST THE WORLD O 1 Jesas, Eapress Injustice Procia.ma.ion.-Be it known to all the loyal bards of Wales, and all whom it may con- cern, tfiat no lawful chair or Gorsedd of Welsh bards will be held at Liverpool in connection with the Eisteddfod this yearvand that any person or persons joining n. counter- feit fabrication or fraudulent imposition aping such functions will divest themselves of every bardic privilege and shall not come to the congregation of loyal ba.rds for ever. God and all Goodness." This may appear to the nninitiated to be the harmless fulmination of a fanatic, but it is the outcome of Cowlyd's logical interpretation of the action of the assembled bards of Wales in conferring upon him, at an Eisteddfod duly called for the purpose, the title of chief bard of his conntrv-a. title won in open competition with the bards of the Principality. By that election Cowlyd holds that the chief authority in these matters was inalienably conferred upon him during his life- time. As a matter of fuct, up to the Wrexham Eisteddfod or so, Cowlyd's position in this matter waa recognised by the National Eisteddfod of Wales. Cowlyd is fully a.ware that not the slightest notice will be taken of his proclama- tion, but holds, nevertheless, that so long as he holds his position as Chief Bard Positive of the Institutional Order of Welsh Bards, it is his bounden and sacred doty to denounce what he considers to be any departure from the true and original rules and rites of the W elsh bards, and having done that he is content. Bat the mere issuing of the above proclamation is not the only step which Cowlyd has taken in this particular instance., for he has, after deep consideration, thought fit to write to the Lord Mavor of Liver- pool instructing him that such a meeting will be 11 an aggravated rebellious assembly," and that all those taking part in it are to be dealt with as rogues and vagabonds." How the Lord Mayor will act in face of this disquieting crisis is not yet known. WJMH.HH.il ■■■

ALLEGED FATAL FIGHT. Inquiry at Swansea. An inquest was openej on Tuesday afternoon by Mr J.Viner Leeder at the Angel Inn, Swansea, on the body of Thomas Burke, a labourer, who is allegedto have met with his death from vtolence at the hands of a man named Sbeehan during a fight on the 28th nit. Only formal evidence sufficing for the burial was taken. Catherine Burke, daughter of the deceased man, said he wa.s59 years of age. On the night of the 28th ult., whilst she, her father, and others were sitting in a house, No. 9, Lls-ngyfelach-street, the door was saddenly kicked open. Her father went out, and witness followed, and they quickly overtook a cripple named William Sheehan, who tamed round and struck her father severely with his crutch, saying, I'll kill you, yon He after- wards I put his hand in his pocket, drew out a stone, and threw it at the deceased, whom it struck on the chest. There were a lot of other young men with the prisoner at the time. The inquest at this stage w as adjourned for the attendance of the magiestrmteal clerk, who had tttken the dying depositions of the deceased.

Apiol AND SrEEL Pills, superior to Penny royal and all other remedies. Price 4s 6d, post free -Martin, Pharmaceutical Chemist. Southampton. THEBE is Nothing NEW UNDER THE SUN" is a saying credited to a variety of illustrious authors, from the time of Solomon to the present day. It is-a fact that many inventions looked upon as modern are of ancient origin. The telephone, which re- cently caused such a furore of excitement, was in ancient days a means by which the high priests worked unon the credulity of their disciples. The Pyramids of Egypt and other wonders prove that this gercration has a great deal to kln-n, Hot- ioway's Pills and Ointment, however, were not anti- cipated by our forefathers, and to-day they stand alone as the best cure the worltposeemi3 far all the ills titpa bmawo,is beir-w

THE GORDON CASTLE AND CREW. The Gordon Ca.-tle was owaed by McLay and Mclntyre, Glasgow. According to a brief tele- gram received by the firm, Captain Casey and 10 of the crew were drowned. The following it a li t of the crew :—William Casey, master, married, of Mary hill; Jobn Robb, first officer, married, SapdyforS Dugdala Mc- Alister, second officer, unmarried, Roth- say C. Venberg, carpenter; P. Hot- berg, steward W. Gibson, cook; M. Manson, boatswain J. Easdale, seaman, Glasgow H. Mansou. set mi n W. Spence, ceam-in, Glasgow R. Campbell, seaman Jobn Campbell, seaman B. C. Tichborne, seaman J. T. Cbapman, first engineer, Glasgow Mr James, second engineer, Ayr; Matthew Lisle, third engineer, Renfrew; E. Donnelly, J. Voorwinde, A. Maclntyre, H. Lindsin, A. O. Hare, fireman, and J. Blake, assistant steward. The names of the 10 drowned are not yet known. The Gordon Castle was built in Glasgow in 1871. She was an iroa screw vessel of 2,045 gross ton- nage. She was 307 feet 7 inches in length and 34 feet 3 iaches io breadth, with over 25 feet depth of hold. She was a powerxul boat for her sizn, the horse power of her engines indicating 255. Although built in 1871, Bile waa not regis- tered at that port until 1897.

INTERVIEW WITH THE GERMAN CAPTAIN. A representative of this journal had an inter- view on Wednesday with Captain Leisenen, of the German Storman. at the Docks, Cardiff. He was comfortable and composed. looking little if anything the woiae for his trying experiences of the last two or three davs. He said The collision occurred in Cardigan Bay about II on Sunday night. The GOldonCastle went down immediately. She was almost cut in two by the force of the collision, and her cargo of iren ore camed her to settle down at once. Directly the water raahed in there was an expl3^011 m toe boiler-room. There was a dense fog at the tima., but we heard the report. We bad no knowledge of the presence of the Gordon Castle nntil the collision occurred. The Storman was badly damaged at the bows, and the water rushed in at. great rate. I saw that she must go down shortly, and so ordered the boats to be lowered art once. All the crew got into the boats without attempting to save any- thing. Onr boats pnlled to the spot where the collision took place to saajreb for tbe crew of the other steamer. They found Mrs Casey, the cap- tain's wife, and four of the crew, bat no more. The boats pulled around for over an honr, but no trace of any more of bOO crew or their bodies could be fonnd. In less than an hour our ship went down, leaving no trace behind. We cruised about in the boats till 2 o'clock on Monday morn- ing, when we were all picked up by the little schooner Excelsior, from London. At 6 o'clock in the morning the Bchooaerhailed the Norwegian steamer Borresaard, and Captain Jacobsen took noon board and did all he potild for our comfort, especially tbat of Mrs CRY, anil landed us yesterday morning at Burry Port. Tho posi- tion of Mrs Casey is vary sad: for she haB lost her husband* little baby. and all her possessions. Mrs Casey went to Ww»U$* ftn$;tbe four survivors of the Gordim Castle went on to the Sailors' Home at Newport. They tud shipped there, and wanted to go back. I brought our crew of 13 up to Cardiff, where Mr Krieger, the Ger- man Consul, did ,.11 he could for us. The crew were well cared for at tbe Sailors' Home, aud the mate and mvself stayed at the Imperial Hotel. The German Consul is making arrangements to send U8 on to London to-day. MRS CASEY'S CONDITION. Mrs Casey, whose husband, Captain Casey, and infant son were the 20 vistims of the disastrous collision, passed a fair night on Tues- day. She iij in Llanelly Hospital suffering from tho effects of the terrible experience through which she passed, and is very depressed. SURVIVORS AT NEWPORT. Four of tbe crew of the ill-fated Gordon Castle reached Newport on Tuesday, and two of them, R. C. Ticbborne, seaman, who was on look-out at the time, and J. Blke. assistant steward, were seen on Wednesday by one of our representatives. STATEMENT OF THE LOOK-OUT MAN. Tichborne, who happens to have the same Christian names as the redonbtable Claimant, from the fact, he said, that he was born in the year of the famous trial, said :—" I was on the look-out at the time the German stsamer came through the fog at us. I had been on the look- out, Htationed on the look-out bridge, which was I built forward, for an hour and a half, from nine o'clock, the collision happening at 10.30 p.m. We were going ;-low, and the foghorn was being con- tinually sounded. The fog was very thick, The first I saw of the German steamer was that she suddenly appeared out of the fog at close quarters in front almost dead ahead. She came so quickly that there was no time to do anything. She must have been going at great speed. She struck us on the starboard bow, by the anchor. nearly stem on, cutting into us with a terrible crunching sound. I was knocked backwards by the force of the blow, but the rails behind me saved me from being pilched off the bridge altogether. When I regained my feet the first thing I did was to run for the boats. I went to the starboard boat (the jolly boat), but when I got to the spot where it ought to have been I found that it had been smashed or knocked away by the collision, and that I was 111 the water, which rose as I looked round. In fact the steamer's deck was going rapidly away from under my feet. I can- not swim, so I got hold of a piece of woodwork which I saw drifting by, and hung on to it until the German steamsr'a boats came and picked me up. 1 was a quarter of an hour in the water be- fore I was rescued. I did not see anyone else in the water. The lifeboat picked me up and I be- came unconscious." THE ARETHUSA BOY'S STORY. Joseph Blake, of London, was assistant steward on board. It was his first voyage. He is 15 years of age. and had been trained on board he famous old ship, the Arethusa. He was in his bunk at the time, and was awoke by the noiee. The bo sen fMan8on)called out, She's aground," md ran up the ladder, When he got to tbe of the ladder," says Blake, I heard him tell- ng the others to lower the boahl. The carpenter Venburg), who was also below, followed quickly liter the bo'sen, and I followed him. When the )rder was. given to lower the boats the bo'sen iumned into the lifeboat, but the tackle did not work, and she hung over the side by one end, and bo'sen was thrown into the sea and drowned. rhe carpenter also, who got into the boat, was ;hrown out into the water. I saw there wae IJO shance of the boat being of use, so I dived the side and about. I was in the water ibont 20 minutes, and I was picked up by the jther boat from the German steamer. After I was go: in the boat we rowed about looking for the others. I heard a faint cry come over the water, 1 I'm Mrs Casey, the captain's wife,' and [ recognised the voice, and the boat's crew bore down to some wreckage, to which the captain's svile was clinging, and she was pulled into the boat. She was unconscious, and was placed in the bottom of the boat. We were afterwards pat ox board the schooner. I learnt to swim and dive whilst I was on the Arethusa, and did not feel frihtened)but I was glad when the Germans palled me into their boat." A LIFEBOAT PICKED UP, The Liverpool fishing trawler Goeland picked ap on Tuesday afternoon off Holyhead a lifeboat belonging to the steamship Gordon Castle, one of the vessels sunk by collision in Cardigan Bay. The boat's davits bad been severed from the swivel, the presumption being that the Gordon Castle was struck close to the boat. When picked ap the boat was overturned, but in tbe bunkers were a quantity of provisions and a compass. Other wreckage was found in the vicinity. W

SMITHS' HAMMERMEN. Strikers Resolute. A meeting of the hammermen now oir strike in the Bristol Channel ports for an advance of 3s per week was held at the Hope and Anchor Hotel, Bridge-street, Cardiff, on Wdnesday night, Mr W. Rawlings in the chair. There was a large attendance of Cardiff hammermen, re- cruited by delegates from Barry and Newport. The organising secretary, Mr Cook, briefly ot11; lined the situation. He said there was no real change. Acting oo the instructions of the com- mittee he had opened communications with tbe secretary of the Federation. An interview bad taken piace, bnt it closed leBoving tbe pOlition nn. changed. The employers were asked for a promise to reconsider the men's demand in a month's time, In which event the men would probably return to work. This promise was not, howeveir, forshcoming, and the men were still on strike. A statement bad appeared in the news- papers to the effect that the Amalgamated Society of Engineers were gaing to do all they could against them. Be gave no credence to the statement in view of the support given to the society by tbe hammermen during tbe strike of 1897. As a body the hammermen gladly bor6 a levy in aid of tbe men in the struggle, and if needed they would have borne more. To their disappointment, however, they found that the paragraph in ques- tion was substantially true, for tbe assistance given to the hammermen by the Amalgamated Society was permission for one striker to work for another. Tbe hammermen, it was known, came out to a man, and they were still all out. Their funds were not nearly exhausted, aud the men were not likely to abandon their position. (Ap- plause.) Mr Hart (chairman of the Trades and Labour Council) delivered a stirring address and counselled the men to stand together. He l e- lieved their cause was just, and be wished it success. A Newport Delegate said the men in that town were determined, and they would cer- tainly not return to work without some conces- sions. (Applause.) At Newport they had the sympathy of all trades which were in any way organised—(applause)—and the hammermen were solid to a man. A Barry Delegate sail that in his district the men were fully determined to stand out until the fall concession asked was granted. (Applause.) Unfortunately, however, the smiths were striking for one another. (Shame.) He believed more of that was done in Barry than anywhere else. The Chairman also complained of the same fact, and suggested they should write to the officials of the Society of En- gineers-and ask them if this was not contrary to the resolution passed at their recent meeting at the Colonial Hall, which was to the effect that smiths should not strike for one another. This, however, was what tbey had been doing. The meeting closed with a vote of thanks to Mr Hart.

SOUTH WALES COAL TRADE. Monmouthshire Colliery Officials. Mr J. S. Martin, H.M. Inspector of Mines,at the meeting of the Monmouthshire Colliery Officials' Association, held at Newport on Saturday, said that tome time ago the Secretary of State, with a desire to reduce accidents from falls of roof and side, addressed to colliery proprietors the question of taking further precautionary mea- sures. Tbe matter had not progressed verylfar in this district; indeed, tbis year promised to be one of the worst he had experienced for a long time from this source of accident. That morning he had recived a Blue Book, edited by one of bis colleagues, Dr, Le Neve Foster, in which refer- ence was made to the subject. That gentleman bad recently been representing the Government at tbe Paris Exbibitjon at a conress on t be!ubj ect of accidents, and be seemed to have been very much struck by the method adopted by a com- pany, which employed between 5,000 add 6,000 persons underground and raised about two million tons per annum, in the Pas-de-Calais coalfield. Comparing the number of fatal accidents and deaths from falls with the total uumbei of fatal accidents and deaths at mines. Mr Foster remarked that it will be seen that falls were responsible for 48*4 per cent. of the total number of accidents, and 46'9 per cent. of the total number of deaths. If compared only with fatal ac- cidents and deaths underground, the percentages were 55'8 of the accidents and 53 6 of the deaths." These were figures for contemplation, inasmuch as they represented about 400 lives lost annually from this one cause. The report stated that the Compagnie des Mines de Houille Courrieres claimed to have reduced these accidents from an average for 1870-79 of nearly 3 2—something after our own returns—per 1,000 Jives lost to about one-third that number for 1830-9 by a system of timbering and supervision introduced in 1880, and by further measures the death rate had been brought down for 1890-98 to one-fifth what it was for 1870-79. Mr Foster concluded bis review with the remarks that objectors might rise and say that Courrieres was a. safe mine, and that it was aboard to dream of reducing our heavy death-rate by falls to that of the favourable example in France. His (Mr Foster's) answer would be that the tables were quite sufficient to refute this contention. Tbey showed that 20 years^ago falls were fost as fatal per 1,000 persons at Courrieres as with ns now, and that reckoniug Hw*tbe tons raised there was very little difference between us. These facts clearly upset ttlppotrinOll tbatCourrieres could becaUed spe- CI Y SKofe from natural causes." To say the very least, the Courrieres method (or any other having this object in view) deserved the earnest consider- ation of mining men. On the motion of Mr W. Stewart (aeeretary), seconded by Mr J. Fox predent, Vote of thanks was accorded Mr Martin for his remarks. Mr H. K. Jordan, president of the Sooth Wales Kngmeers' Institute, present Papers on Ball BeanDS, and The Barry System were-dis- eussed.

According to a, Dail, Express telegram, the MIllion police believe they have secured the kflv to the secret cipher alphabet usecr by Eoropean •Anarchists for matnal intercommunication both in writing and speaking. With this key the police have tested all the telegrams passing through Milan between suspected -persons for gpme time uasW

British Coal Mines. STORY OF 1899 Told by Dr. Neve Foster. INTERESTING LOCAL FACTS. No fewer than 764,166 persons were employed in and about mines in the United Kingdom during last year, and 97,995 more in and about the quarries of the country. This total figure, 862,161, is the largest ever recorded, says Mr C. Le Neve Foster, D.Sc., F.R.S., editor of the Government report and statistics relating to mines and quarries, part IL, of which has just been issued. The total cf 862,161 persons in and about mines and quarries daring 1899, large as it is, mnst have been considerably larger if there bad not been the serious abstraction of labour in the autumn and winter caused by the mobilisation of all classes of the Reserves. Dr. Neve Foster states an interesting fact when he says that while the number of mines at work was smaller last year, there was a net increase of 21,544 persons employed at the coal mines. The in- crease was the greatest in the Northern and the Yorkshire coalfields, with 5,370 and 5,587 respec- tively, the South Wales coalfield coming next with an increase of 3,869. The increase in the North Wales coalfield was 475 persons. Of tbe total number of persons employed in the coal- fields in the United Kingdom, the percentage proportion or South Wales is 18 6, compared with 23*0 of the Yorkshire coalfield (which includes the West Riding of Yorkshire and the counties of Derby and Nottingham) 20-3 of the Northern coalfield 12"6 of the Scotch coklfield and 11*7 of the Lancashire and Cheshire coalfield. The percentage proportion of the South Wales 'coal- field has remained the name for three successive years, the figuie for 1896 being 18-4 and for 1895, 18-3-a uq slight variation in five years. Welsh Mines and Miners. The following table shows the number of person employed in and about coal mines, and the number of coal mines in the whola of Wales during 1899 No. Total Comp'd of em with mines, ployed. 1898. Brecon 18 1,444 Inc. 128 Carmarthen 48 4,884 „ 256 I)ep-bigh 35 9,516 „ 438 Flint 26 2,492 „ 37 Glamorgan 324 94,108 „ 2,162 Pembroke 12 402 Dec. 156 Monmouth 134 3W44 Inc. 1,479 Total for Wales and Mon,. 597 144,690 Inc. 4,344 Accidents in Mines. Compared with the previous year there is an increase of 56 in the number of fatal aocideota, and an increase of 31 in the number of ^.deaths. The worst accident during the yar was an explo- sion of fire-damp and coal dust at Liest Colliery, in Glamorganshire, which caused the loss of 19 lives. With the exception of this disaster and the loss of six lives by an explosion of fire-damp at Brandon Colliery, Durham, no fatality claimed more than fonr victims. Looking only at the actual number of deaths caused by accidents at mines the figure for 1899-972-is, with the ex- ception of that of the previous year, the lowest number of death-i recorded since 1872, the year in which two important Mines Regulation Acts were passed. The actual number of deaths, how- ever, does not by itself afford a complete test of the comparative safety or danger of the mining industry in 1899. Trne comparisons, Dr. Neve Foster points out, can only be made by takiug into account the number of persons employed and the quantity of mineral obtained. The death-rate.in 1899 per 1,000 persons employed was 1*26, the lowest hitherto recorded, as compared with 1'81, the average of the ten years 1883 92. The improvement which commenced in 1895,after a rise in 1893 and 1894, ha.s contiuned steadily down to the present time. In 1873 there were seven persons killed per 1,000,000 tons of mineral (mainly coal) raised from the mines in 1899 only four lives were lost for a like quantity. DEATH-RATE PER 1,000 PERSONS EMPLOYED UNDERGROUND. Explo- Shaft Year. sions. Palls. Accidents. 1895 "094 -765 -188 1896 '300 '762 -137 1897 -033 -847 "102 1898 "046 768 -112 1899 -089 .„ 755 '138 Referring to an accompanying diagram Dr. Neve Foster says: Even the casual ob- server will be struck by the fact that the risk of explosions of firedamp or coal dust is diminishing rapidly." Falls of ground con- tinue to demand an awful death tribute. The number of separate accidents caused by falls in 1899 was 443, producing 456 deaths, or repre- senting nearly 50 per cent. of the total deaths from all accidents in mines while the per- centage of accidents arising from explosions of fire-damp or coat dust in relation to the total number of accidents was but 2'5. Seventy per cent. of the accidents from falls happen at the working face, so it is easy to point out where the remedy is most needed but (remarks Dr. Neve Foster) it is another matter to say what the emedy should be. Miners' Deadliest Enemy. On this subject of falls of roof Dr. Foster calls attention to the methods now being displayed by the Compagnie des Mines de Honille de Courrieres at the Paris Exhibition. "From the point of view of an inspector if mines, whose business it is to prevent mine accidents, and who knows that the fall of ground iB by far the deadliest enemy of the miner, I have no hesitation in designating the Courrieres exhibit 85 tha most important thing which I saw at Paris." The Compagnie des Mines de Honills de Courrieres is a company working collieries near the town of Lens, with an annual output of about 2,000,000 tons. The precautionary measures adopted at Courrieres consist (1) in systematic timbering, and (2) in supplying each worker at the face with three iron tbark;, li inches square and 4 feet 3 inches long, and compelling him to make use of these bars to form a sort of temporary shield in advance of the last row of timber props. When another row of props has been put in the bus are withdrawn and then driven on in advance beyond tho new set of supports. They are placed about 15 to 20 inches apart, and fixed securely by wedges. As the work proceeds the temporary protecting shield must be pushed on the men are now so practised that it takes them very few minuses to knock out the wi-dges, drive the bars forward, and wedge them up again. Abou' 6.000 bars are in daily use at the Courrieres Collieries. If they get bent, which not infrequently happens, they can easily be straightened by thu smith on the other hand they rarely break. because if a great amount of bending indicates an unusual pressure of the roof additional timber props are put in. Consequently the consumption of iron bars is trifling. The foregoing facts are deserving of ths sympathetic and early attention of colliery owners and managers in South Wales. Dr. Neva Foster ibows by statistics that the employment of temporary iron supports as described would mean a diminution in our death-roll. by falls of ground from 450 to 90, or saving of 360 lives annually, to say nothing of the prevention of many hundreds of non-fatal accidents. Twenty years ago falls of ground were just as fatal per 1,000 persons at Courrieres as they are with us just now, which upsets the supposition that Courrieres can be coiled specially safe from natural causes. The operation of the Compensation Act ought to expedite the adoption of the Courrieres method in working the brittle coal seams of South Wales.

A FRACTURED SKULL. Precarious Condition of a WeJsh Footballer, Whilst Signalman Bowen was walking along the Rhondda and Swansea Bay Railway about 9 o'clock on Sunday evening he found the body of a man lying near the Briton Ferry Station. It turned out to be Rees Lewis, tinworker, residing at 24, Richard-street, Aberavon. Lewis will perhaps be better known as the late fnll back of the Aberavon team. The police were com- municated with, and, together with Dr. Pegge, were in prompt attendance. It was found that Lewis's skull was fractured) and though still alive he was unconscious. He was conveyed to bis home bv the police, and when they left him at 1 o'clock be was still unconscious. It is not known how Lewis got on the line, but it is con- jectured that b., must have fallen from the last train which passes towards Swansea about 8 o'clock. Lewis was conveyed to Swansea Hospital at 4 o'clock on Monday morning.

LLANELLY SOLICITOR'SAFFAIRS The public examination of Holmes Stead, solicitor, of Llanelly and Kidwelly, should have been held in London on Tuesday, but it waa re- ported that be was In Holloway Prison under writ of attachment issued by Messrs Buckley. He had filed accounts from memory showing a surplus of X783. The examination was adjourn till November 27th, so that debtor might see his books. The failure was attributed to extravagance in living, losses by betting, and spending large sums upon a lady with whom debtor had lived for tbe past 11 years.

A DRUNKEN FATHER'S CRIME. Paris, Tuesday Moraing.-A hotriblo tragedy has taken place in the Rue Broca. A man named Grand jean, while in a state of drunkenness, pressed bis infant daughter in his arms, meaning to embrace ber, but instead bit her severely. Pro- foundly agitated by the child's cries he pressed the infant still more strongly and choked her to death. The drunkard was found crouched by the side-of the corpse. The grief of the mother is so great that it ia feared her reason will be affected. --Centzal News.

The transfer of the Marquis of Londonderry's Seaham and Sunderland passenger and mineral line to the North-Eastern Railway Company will take place on October 6. Lord Londonderry re- cently sold the property for £ 400,000. There are six milM ot double railway, with sidings, sheds, coal depots, passenger and goods stations, signal cabins and boxes, offices, 13 locomotives, and a quantity of rolling stock. Cadwctby's Cocoa is entirely free from all foreign substances, such as kola, malt, hops, Ac., nor is alkali used to darken the colour (and so deceive the eye). Dr. Andrew Wilson says Cocoa is in itself a perfecti food, and requires no addition of drngH wna'oeve?." Cadbury's is absolutely puro should be taken by old and young, at ftll times and in all seasons for Children it is an ideal beverage, Tnairfi ou having Cadbury's, as' other Cocoas are often sabstitatedicr the -sake of extra profit. SoW only in Packets and This, 14140 1113« all seasons for Children it is an ideal beverage, Tnairfi ou having Cadbury's, as' other Cocoas are often sabstitatedicr the -sake of extra profit. SoW only in Packets and This, 14140 1113c IBitsiiusa JliiDnssts. "An Attack of Measles I Usually leaves something behind, and in this case the weak point was the throat." —=-====== \FRANK SMITH.; 1 (From a pUotograpn.l f 1 In this case it was an attack of measles, which I left weakness behind it. Sometimes it is measles, and again it is an ordinary cough or cold, but whatever the ailment is weakness is almost sure to follow. It is tbis point which we repeatedly em- phasise, viz., that the weak condition of the system is often to be much more feared th,tn any- thing else. In fact this point is empba,sised in the following letter- j 53, King John-street, Heaton, Newcastle-on-Tyne, March 6tb, 1899. Gentlemen,—Io view of the benefit my son bas derived from the use of Scott's Emulsion, 1 desire to give you an acconnt of his trouble, in the hope that the perusal of the same may draw the attention of others similarly situated to the beneficial effects aacruing from its use. An attack of measles usually leaves something behind, and in this case the weak point was the throat. The slightest cold-to which he was very susceptible J -pradnood sore threat and swelling just below the ear. Generally, it passed away shortly, but a more severe cold than usual resulted in a swell- ing which conld not be beaten back, and finally had to be lanced. The matter continued running for some time. He loft his appetite, continually complained of being tired, and had a white, pasty look. The doctor attributed his trouble to weak- ness and recommended cod liver oil. Plain oil was an impossibility with him. and some emul- sions I tried were nearly as bad. A pamphlet coming into my bands prompted me to write for a sample of your Scott's Emalsion, and the avidity with which it was taken decided me to continue it. The result was a revelation. Most quickly noticeable was its effect on the appetite. By the time the first bottle was consumed it had improved conspicuously, and be took his food with evident relish. Continuing the treatment, lil* listless air vanished, and he ceased to cOtWo of being tired. The pasty look disappeared* a ruddy appearance took its place. lIe i8 enjoys excellent health. A resulting festd" his remarkable immunity trom colds. PreviO-.it he was scarcely ever free, but since taking Emulsion trouble from tbis source is practl0^ nil. When nourishing diet bas to be g'veB,j| child, it counts for something that it shoal". palatable, aud I found the difficulty was> a°o0 get bim to take it, but to be content with .p regulation dos". You are at liberty to ns* letter as yoa think fit, and anyone who M 0 perusal is induced to give Scott's Ema1.JO trial will, I am stre, be glad it came under observation.—I am, Gentlemen, yours faithfo'y' (Signed) R. SM £ T»- # So you see that tbe doctor attributed trouble to weakness, and recommended c0^ Lt'I oil. If everybody knew the advantages of Emulsion over plain cod-liver oil, there hardly be enough Scott's Emulsion to fro ro It is a scientific and well-established fact C more actual benefit is derived from Scott's sion than any otbar form in which can be taken. Tbis preparation comprise* the hypopbosphites of lime and soda and rinc. It really takes a physician to underst* the advantages of this :ombination, altbo0^ anybody can quickly see practical results^ taking Scott's Emulsion. The very popnl^J and success of tbis standard remedy is con*1 You can obtain a sample of Scott's by sending threepence to cover postage to and Bowne, Limited, Manufacturing Chefl"^ 95, Great Saffron Hill, London, E.C., and *5^ ti'oning this paper. All chemists sell Emulsion. 19?'

CARDIFF. Aasaniting a Wife.—At the Cardiff Police Court on Monday (before Councillor J. Jenkins and Mr Robert Hooper) Jobu William Madden (42), labourer, was charged with assaulting and wounding his wife, Margaret Madden, at No. 2, Bazzard-street, on the 16th I September. Th* prosecutrix stated that prisoner struck her on the head with a poker and Dr. Wallace, who subsequently attended her, said she must have received three severe blows. She had I several bruises on her left arm. Prisoner, who was arrested by P.C. Higgeson, was sent to gaol for two months with hard labour. Mary Coase Again.—On Monday Mary Coaee again appeared on a. charge of drunkenness in Castle-street on 15th September. Defendant, whose demeanour was exceedingly subdued as compared with previous occasions, admitted the offence, and expressed her sorrow. Councillor Jenkins said it was only a short time since the defendant was before them, when she promised not to touch the drink again. Defendant said she would go to a home.—Mr Hooper Ton have made so muiy promises before that I cannot listen to anything you say.—Defendant was fitted 5* and costs, or seven dayc. A Bad Boy in an Infants' SchooL A lad named Joseph Germain, living in Habershon- street, was summoned for assaulting Miss Matilda Warmsu, headmistress of the infants' school at Moorland-road. Mr George David appeared for the complainant under, instructions from the National Union of Teachers. It appeared that the defendant went to the school for a younger lad named Gronow, for whom he said he had been sent. As he came on a similar errand on a second occasion the complainant's suspicions wlare aroused, and she refused to allow Gronow to go. Defendant then made his way into the school, created a disturbance, and refused to leave Miss Warman managed to get him outside the door and be then spat at her. There had been an attempt on the part of older boys to get inside this school aud make a disturbance. Defendant was fined 5s and costs.

NEWPORT. I The Artilleryman's Other Story.—William Welsh, a stalwart young fellow, pleaded guilty to being a deserter from the 134th Battery of Royal Artillery, stationed at Brighton. He deserted, he said, because he was not given his rights, which Alderman Moses interpreted to Ise mean that he could not stand the discipline. No," said Walsh, I was late at stable duty one I morning, and they gave me guard-room, whereas 20 who came after (being late, too), got off, so I came away." P.C? Walter Hilnn said he looked ap the Gazette," and picked Welsh out of 70 men I gathered by Messrs Krauss for the tramway con- tract at the Corporation-road: Prisoner gave his right name to the officer, and told him it was all through a girl. H'm," said the Magistrate*' Clerk, who bad taken a hand at the earlier inter- rogation, that's another tale." Much more likely one," hazarded the magistrates, as they re- manded prisoner to await au escort. Young Newport at Play.—The historic heaving of a brick end at a stranger in the Staffordshire mining and nail- making village simply because he was a stranger has been equalled, at least in intention, by a group of young Ulsksiders, who on Thursday evening last varied their play about the limekilns in the Malpas-road by shying coad stones at passing vehicles and cycles. A brake, which contitined a dozen people, who had been out for the half holiday, got a shower of stones, and Mr John Cock, who was driving or seated in the vehicle, received one stone on his cheek and a second on the front of the rim of his bat. A lady had the comb in her back bair smashed, and a I third occupant was also hit. A cvclist was like- wise stoned. The lads mutually accused each other. One was a big lad named Charles Sayce, 16 years of age, and the magistrates reprimanded him as being probably the leader in the shameful conduct, which tuey said they could not for a moment tolerate. The father of one of the other lads said they did it thoughtlessly, and more from lalay than anything else. The magistrates fined Sityce 5s or seven days' imprisonment, and four other boys, also summoned for participation, 2s 6d each,

BARRY. Yielded to Temptation.—Joseph Wckey, a sailor, was detected by Inspector W. J. Diamond, a local Board of Trade omeer, carrying something in a sus- picious manner beneath his coat on Saturday last. When Hickey discovered that he was being fol. lowed he turned round and admitted stealing two blankets, value 5s, which be had concealed beneath hia coat. from outside the shop of Mr George ftidler, outfitter. Dock-view-road. Hickey declared to the magistrates that he yielded to the temptation of the devil. He was sentenced to seven days' imprisonment, in default of a pay- ment of a fine of lOs. A Widow's Illicit TrmdinF.-Bessia Brown, a widow with eight children dependent upon her, was charged with selling beer without a licenes on her premises at 60, Gaen street, Barry. A girl was detected by P.C. Rees Evans and P.C. Sayage coming from the house carrying a bottle contain- ing a pint of beer, which she declared she had purchased for 3d at Mn Brown's house. The I magistrates imposed a fine of 10s, Including coate A Jumper from Cardiff Horse Show.— Albert Bowles; a Wenvoe farmer's servant, was summoned for being drunk and incapable whilst iu charge of a horse and trap and also assaulting P.C. Llewellyn,stationed at St. Nicholas. The con- stable was on the 13th iust. riding his bicycle, when defendant came rushing behind driving a horse and trap at a galloping pace, causing the cyclist to run into the hedge for safety. Llewellyn J 'oliowed until Bowies arriyed at afcbl«» ftQd < followed until Bowies arriyed at afcbl«» ftQd there when accosted Bowles became abusivdt when the constable left Bowles assaulted bio, Bowles declared tbat he was coming from C Horse Show with Mr Treucbard's jumping which was very spirited. All the drink he h*d?0 was at tbe show, whan owing to falling horse he was given some brandy. For tbe kennees Bowles was fined 108 including cost* the caae of assault was diBR8

MERTHYR.. Public Gambling.-Rearv Osborne, an bail, *5 charged (befora Alderman T. Williams and Mr E. MoBgan) with playing a game of ebance. Gellifaelog tip on Saturday. Defendant fined 158 and costs, and upon the application^ Superintendent Townsend the goods seized declared forfeited. Dennis Hayes wa3 larly charged, P.C. John Jones in JLg case found defendant with a revol board. Defendant denied that be *jj* engaged in gambling, a.nd said he was only*, ing studs. Alderman Williams said there 0 bad record against defendant, and the '5 wonld be fined 20s and coats,or in default 21 "*5, imprisoument. The goods seized were forfelierL Cowardly Assault on a Bailiff.—Evan county court bailiff, v. W. Hughes. with other bailiffs had been levying on 114 goods in Bank-street, Caepaatwyll, and aftar_:I. left the house defendant, who was not c.oncerp at all by the levy, followed bim and dealt blow on tbe head with a poker, and tbes^ appeared in a crowd. A fine of 20s and was imposed, the alternative being 21 day*' ™ prisonment.

RHONDDA. Brutality to a ElouncL-At Pentre PoEce 00; W alter Thomas, alias Watt,ITbe Farm, Gellit charged on remand with unlawfully and ously killing a hound, valued at £ 5, the of Mr J. D. Williams, J.P., Treaiaw, on last. It appeared that the dog was saffering an injured leg and kept temporarily by Thomas Davies, landlord of tbe Windsor Ton, in the stables at the rear of his prea>J*~ £ About midnight tbe dog howled for some time«*^ according to the evidence of the defendant, was residing in the immediatevicinity.it disturPv bim. He therefore went to the stable, seized *2 animal, and having dashed its head agft'nSt.|< stone floor, beat its brains out with a mand^. The case was adjourned a week ago because defendant alleged he had been instructed the dog by Mr Davies, the landlord. Mr now denied the allegation, and the defend*^ was sentenced to two months' imprisonment hard labour without the option of a fine;

SOUTH WALES NEWS, CARDIFF. ,< Eight Hundred Thousand Paupers.-In course of an address given at the C.ru1, Y.M.C.A. on Sunday afternoon by M? Bowden Green, secretary of the National Th^ Society, it was stated tbat the paupers in '± United Kingdom at the present time numbe*Tj 800,000, and these, placed four abreast, form au army 100 ir>«les in length. The soln*»J| for gradually dissolving sucb an army was III 1 exorcise of thrift, temperance, and indastry the up-growing generations. I BARRY. øø Machinist Injured.—On Monday morning Smith, machinist in the employ of the id Railway Company, was planing a slide valvej the fitting shop when his right band waa i in tbe planing macbine. One knuckle was 00 0 pletely smashed. The injured man was tdOØp. [ the Accident Hospital and attended by j Powell. J I CLYDACH. ) Conceit.—Ou Saturday evening a very 1U1 ) fal concert was given at the Public Hall, Oly by the Port Talbot Male Voice Party in af the Carmel New Chapel, Clydach. I DIN AS POWIS. A A Parish Hall.—At the monthly meetisS^ the Parish Council, Mr J. Isaac presidiogi necessity of a pariah hall was discussed, tb" posal being to erect a ball on a s u given General Lee at a cost of about £ 800. A tion to call a pnblic meeting to 001uidO* J qneetion was adapted. DO WLAlS. Retirement of a Police-Sergeant. — sergeant Phillips, a well-known officer, courteous and capable conduct at Merthy* Dowlaia are held in great appreciation, is to retire after 27 years' service. MERTHYR. Fatalities.—The Coroner on Monday t inquest upon the body of David l who diyd suddenly, und--r circumstance* parted, at the Anchor Inn, Men* Th* found a verdict of Death from An inquest was held also upon the body 01 r9g child D. W. Thomas, who wae accidentally over and fatally injnred by a horse and 000- verdict was Accidental death."

On Monday at Bury County Couri I importance to shareholders and decided. Two prelerence shareholders Yew Mill Company, Heywood, claimed sums on aocount of the excessive dedae*1" income tax by the company, raising the 5 whether the company were entitled to eh**R rQt* i full shilling for tbe whole half-year to **?. | June, or only eightpence down to 5th AP* r one shilling from April to June. A verdi given for the airionut claimed. ick. lfs 1 Santas Midy.—Harmless, sure and 1UI tiny capsules. Instant relief. Invaloable m' j and Madder troubles; 3s 6d.—Of all cjffliaa WilCQX A 0°-, 19. BwOMttke*. ■Uondo*'

Wehb race, bards whose poetry has often Stirred your souls with deep emotion, a.nd made JOIl feel prond of year lineage, men and women jrfao have done great things for Wales, and gathered in Liverpool this week are thousands !pon thousands of the descendants of the original Tritons, who have come from lovely valleys and ttom mOQDtains to participate once more in their jrand national festival. There are also present many inhabitants of Liverpool, among whom are t a few of Welsh origin, and it affords me sin- re pleasure, coupled with what is, I hope, a. treasonable pride, to any on their behalf and on lay own, as well as on behalf of the other inhabi- tants of the city, that I cordially welcome all to midst. After all, you do not come as strangers. Hear, bear.) We are more than neighbours, we ire friends. Yoa have visited us before. t'bis is the fifth occasion on which ■■he National Eisteddfod has visited iAverpool. Some of yotrr countrymen in Liver- pool are very distinguished citizens, of whom we ire prond. This town has always been a favourite :6sort of your race. Even so long ago as the beginning of the sixteenth century Liverpool bad A Welshman as Mayor, David ap Griffiths. By rough computation I estimate that there are 100,000 Welsh people and their children in Liver- pool aJ1 the year round. (Loud applause.) Is ihis why Liverpool is so prosperous to-day ? Cardiff, the largest town in the PnncipaJity, has population of about 190,000. If we take away ihe foreign—I mean the English, Scotch, Irish, ike.—element from that total it leaves fewer Wehb people in Cardiff than in Liverpool; so that Liverpool may justly be called the capital of Wales, although not the capital in Wales. (Laugh- ter and applause.) It is probably the first time in your history that yon have bad a Jew as president. We represent very ancient races, but we can say in spite of centuries of persecution and op- pression eaoh retains its national characteristics, We have preserved our customs and we have re- I tained our language. (Applause.) We are each, too, a bi-lingual race. You, like ue, have realised that for commercial business success it is neces- sary to learn and use the great English tongue, but in our most serious moods, in our religious exercises, we like best and feel most at home in oar own Welsh and Hebrew. To be bi-lingual is not a drawback or a, weakness, It has, as Pro- fessor Powel, of Cardiff, said in 1884. undoubtedly contributed to intellectual activity as well as giving a sense of independence and self-reliance. And as we have our distinctive languages, so we have our own literature carefully preserved. (Applause.) I do not think I am at all claiming too mach either for the Welshman or the Jew when I say that they are both not only diligent In business, but they are alao thrifty without being penurioos. (Hear, hear.) And when we come to music have we not moch in common ? Jnbal is said by Moses to have buen the father of all who handle the harp and the organ." Well, to the Jew and the Welshman there is no instrument: so dear as the harp. To its accom- paniment David sang his Psalm3, and among OUt greatest harpers of to day are Welshmen. The similarity does not end here. The Psalms of the Hebrews were irregular in their metre, and if I understand aright the most characteristic of Welsh music is "penillion" ringing, which is the ringing of irregular metre to the accompaniment of ihe harp. We both, too, like in our musical services the solemnly slow, sonorous ityle, grave, pathetic, devotional. (Ap pinnae.) With so much in common in history, characteristics, temperament, attainments, sarely t. a Jew, can eater most heartily into this great gathering of Wthmen and women and yon of the Welsh race can surety have mueh sympathy with the ancient natron of whom I am a member. (Hear, hear.) THE COMPETITIONS were then proceeded with. The adjudication of Miss Evan3 (Brodes Dar), Cardiff, in the department for domestic arts was read by Cadvan. A prize of JE5 5a was awarded to Miss Johnson Jones, of HolywalJ, for a portiere, or 8creeo, embroidered in lk; and tbe same lady also won a prize of £110s for a cushion embroidered in crewel wools. Mrs Robert Hand, Liverpool, was awarded premier honours for a dining-table centre with six d'oy leys, embroidered (natural flowers). For a linen bedspread, embroidered with threads, the winner was Pene lope's Web, whose proper name did not transpire, and a consolation prize waJ given to Miss Lewis- lones, of Liverpool. The Rev. John Hughes, Gianyslwyn, sub- mitted the adjudication of Iolo Carnarvon, Ben Davies, and himself, on the fine descriptive songs received on the subject, Liverpool Landing Stage." The winner was Mr Jonathan Rees, of Ifstrad Rhondda (Nathan Wyn—a brother of Dyfed) and, singularly enough, he also was the successful competitor in the next event, viz., a. satirical poem, The Grumbler," in which there were 19 competitors. By this double victory Mr Rees became the richer by six guineas. The violin solo for juniors (under 16), Second Romance (Tours), led to an interesting con- test, two cut of the eight candidates being per- mitted to play on the platform, bat according; to .be adjudication of Mr "John Thomas. Mr C. JFrancis Llcyd, Mas.Bac., and Mr Dan Prothero, Mus.Bac., although the performers showed considerable promise. Neither of them played sufficiently well to be acknowledged '\8 National Eisteddfod winners. The adjudicators, however, awarded one gninea, being half the prize, as an encouragement to Miss Constance Elvira Row- hmd Jones, of Craten Arms. The Influence of Democratic Institutions :tpon Morals and Manners was the subject for 4n essay in Welsh or English, for which Mr Alfred T. Davies offered a prize of JE5 5a. There were seven candidates, but while two were superior to the others the adjudicators failed to agree as to which should receive the award. The difficulty was -olved by the generosity of the donor, who doubled the prize, and thus the two competitors were awarded five guineas each. One of the two was Mrs E. T. Lloyd, of Liverpool. The name of the other winner was not nounced. The cardinal virtues of a good citizen, what they are, and by what means can their formation I De best promoted." For the best RaY on this subject, in Welsh or English, a prize of £10, given by Mr J. Herbert Roberts, M .P., was offered. Eighteen papers were sent i and the prize was secared bv" Caen," whoae paper wa described 8S a monumental production." The candidate's proper name was not announced. Vocal quartette, part song, Moonlight and Music (Pinsuti) prize 4s. There were 36 parties. The whole quartette, aaid Dr. Varley Roberts—who adjudicated with Mr John Thomas and Mr Tom Price-was marred by the abomin- able vibrato, which seamed to him to be an almost universal fault. He laid emphasis on this, because in all the singing he had beard that morning it was present, and to his mind tremolo ingin was an abomination whicb should noti be tolerated. (Lond cheers.) The successful quartette hailed from Liverpool, and was conducted by Miss Cissy Davies, who was invested by the Lord Major. Mr John Jones, Brynkin, was awarded .£3 3"1 and a silver medal for the best specimen of Welsh-made tweed or cloth made entirely of Welsh wool, and a similar premium mat to Mr John Humphreys, of Newtown, Mont., for the best specimen of Welsh flannel. Soprano solo competition, With Verdure Clad (Haydn). There were 75 entries in this I class, and 40 of these ^appeared at the pre- liminary. Almost all the voices were of splendid quality, but according to Mr Dan Prothero, who adjudicated with Sigoor Randegger and Dr. Varley Roberts, the principal fanlt was intona- tion, many of the candidates singing out of tune. Three of the candidates were selected to SiDg on the platform. The winner was Miss Janet Garnet, of Cilfvnydd, Pontypridd, a pupil of Madame Clara Novello Davies, Cardiff. Miss Garnet, said the adjudicator. gave a most delightful performance, and far superior to the Others in points of style and expression." Although there were 40 entries for the senior pianoforte competition, tbe result was dis- appointing. Twenty candidates appeared at the preliminary contest before Dr. Parry and Mr C. Francis Lloyd, the test pieee being Ruben stein's Valse Caprice," but the performances were so mediocre that tbe adjudicators virtually decided to withhold the prize. After consultation, however, with the committee and with Signor Randegger, the best two were allowed to plav before tbe audience. Signor Randegger having listened to them, said he had ofteu heard tbe piece, a very difficult one, played by Rubenstein himself, but neither of the two ladies that bad played on the platform showed in their performance that they had the slightest idea. of the intention of the com- poser. One of the two competitors was Myrta Vivienne Stubbs, of Liverpool, a little dot of nine years of age, and the committee very generously presented her with £2 2s out of the JE3 3s prize. Mr Issac Benjamin Williams, of Nantlle Vale, Carnarvonshire, was the best out of 42 candidates for reciting Glan Alaw's Cwymp Pompeii." Baritone Sole-—The test piece for baritones was Hatton's line solo, Wreck of the Hesperus." There were 95 entries. Mr W. D. Richards, Abertillery, Mon., was the winner, a, pupil of Mr Tom Stephens, of that town. In the art subjects, on which Mr David Marray, A.R.A., Mr Arthur Hacker, A.R.A., and Mr Robert Fowler, R-A., were the adjudicators, three out of the four prizes offered wore withheld, and the only award mada was a prize of £10 ts Mr W. Stephenson, of Conway, for a water-colon r painting of a Welsh landscape.