The Cardiff Times

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MUSIC IN WALES. bY D. EMLYN EVAN:. jajUr Collections of National Airs. Brl ^rom what bas appeared in the Press, 'QCIbaH f Uy rroai personal experience also, not It so SttaDp*r within—or without—oar gates, Bf D °f 08 ourselves, have but a hazy idea of ieit°SSeSS'on3 'n nBt,ona' folk-song, both 93 to and the number of the books in fejt are containedj as well as the time of j^are^ .'cat'0D> and the men to whose efforts m^dn ebted for their being put ar gof a fcitJct.^onrecord—and possibly preserved from Inction 4 in ^^0fr°m the fact that national melodies are fQWever ?ant musical assot in themselves— Bay Qj8 ronSt!.y the neglect of the Wales of to- Bay of to- f Mon ay indicate onr Ja.ck of apprecia- bly a °ur own me iodic treasures— ° caPable of rendering: no mean ^afceo,jjt0 t'le higher artistic development toj(j ^"° well-informed musician need to ^R,v* use which the great tonal masters till tIlel e of he ^°^"aonS. and many a beauti- autbolo OIl) hes a-slumbering in our musical -it] bri citing for a touch of the hand that I nf c°5r»e It Jnto new life. melodies have, ^°1>e b«en atilised by our composers in ,f'r works, such as Megan a gollodd '< & ^y Stephens in Ystorm Tiberias," I rlecb by Dr. Joseph Parry in t'b»tnh> "B,&dw«n" *od We ^fcve ,n v'ew now 's sym^jtonic »L6 k* a'r ^Q9t fi'st-namad would make 7* hanj ^?ct for the graceful minuet in ^tire" °f the ^elah Havdn or Beethoven of a When he appears. lltllbber of w frODl memory, we believe the total now in priDt-includin -st-i Jchofa. Bennett's collection, and onr tu°in8t',in8 1,200. How old or how fe^otieaif86 lnay be; or how far they are all we do not know. Mr in a recent lectnre on British 18 reported to say that the Welsh qojt/8 t6ady to claim tunes wbioh in reality ^siongj ^.°c'8ra as of enormons antiquity," however, that in a few in- fijr Q. 0 c'a:m was undoubtedly genuine." il011 to 4 | *PP0H challenged our right ot poases- J.*8* tH>0ljarRe Darnber of melodies, basing his •xCe^.Cerl:a'n amoant °f similarity—some c^'cai]. 'n^'y small, aud in other instances tunes excant In j of PuW'cation, however, does k?* Wutjn 6 1aestion necessarily and facilities in were far greater in England n a es" ^Qt between two corntries so ietCllnonnected it is exceedingly difficult to bacfc exact nationality of folk-song, K^c°int &n^ fore as the were by difficult 8 tlarpers' fiddlers, and rhymers. 'n this connection is well-known I<s^ola8 g avinK experience in the matter. Mr during his long search after 1 tOetbed WeJsh airs, bad succeeded in bring- examples but a be diacarntal1:e of the number collected had to of the present writer, to whom the becT *ct'nK and editing was entrusted, "N*«neaa8ethey were duplications, in a more ^po^8*. of what we already had, or "A v»6 jj nat'°ns from English or other sources, ajVft n° donbt that the latter condition Scot. 80 fIlore or less in England, Ireland, to nc1, Kr"1 that* antiquity claim, let douh,. U without sin throw the first stone. "<>«>, is J°hn Jones, with his poetic imagina- ^a«tic, given to this sort of magnilo- j lili»es, but we have met similar in- J ,s Hot aj* th* c»se of his friend John Bull, who rQl* thought to be poetic or possessed "^K'^tion. The editors of oat first reQ^4eJi?_ °[ Qntional airs have unwittingly ct tatty -a, dfs-service by laying, it charge of exaggeration, as 8m, be on. Tbe unwiÍle words we apeakli.e 3* and although those editors wrote-a « or more aK0 their teachings still survive. o[ Qd it stated in the account of the revival 'national drama in vVales," which recently aC{ in a London paper, that the chant at the burial of one of our native I jjotj Princes is reproduced in the play under We do not father the statement on the It of the play, bat we naturally assume that it ae. not made in the paper unauthoriged; and ;b:rnPI1 cited here as an instance in print. J First CÐIIMtion of Welsh Airs Df ÐlJb]j8hd by John Parry, the blind harpist J3r¡tbon. In 1742, aDd was entitled, Antient ^eJore pi^af,c, or a Collection of Tunes Never 'hit jt °b'ished." The title page informs ns the c0 Waf Pr'nted in London for, and sold by ,}ertny^Qp'ler!i> John Parry, at his house in ^°°d-atStrCet' <^c*' anc' ^van Williams, in New <fec." But although Evan Wil- Pilejg ae appears thus as one of the com- 1t Iii We nnderstood that the musica in etnent were by Parry. He was the lead- o<:cQr> elsh harper of bis day, was the first to 6081 of harper to Sir Watkin Williams the e (tbe second), and is stated to have been His rst. to plav a concerto on a Welsh harp. tOIJ.Q PlaYIng obtained considerable success in great a a.ttractinJ,{ the approval of even the Bar^ and his connection with Gray's little 18 authenticated and well-known. Vary !i) IS known of Evan Williams (or Han Wil. 4&Dear r"0' ^'s congregational tunes ''8hed f 'n ^'vfr Gweddi Gyfiredin," pob- Dr in <4pparent,y »n 1752, 1755, and 1770 (wholly ^'chawj30'1^ Kisiart Rlorys—or Anglicised ^r°thei- » rris< one of the three celebrated rorri Anglesey, the chief of whom was ''n»ai J>tX,a Llewelyn Ddn 0 Fon), and whose l\rortj descendant is his namesake, Sir Lewis *botlle emiaent P01' oar own day. Six of i* tones weie republished in Ambrose Illter B last collection, but they are not of much eat except to the Welsh musical historian. fom. actical purposes, Handel's verdict on a bv Dr. Greene, recently quoted in Siojg „° would apply—they require a little e a.lr:' 8^ Antient British Music rt ancti8ta 24 melodies only, and a long intro* ^hich purports to be an historical tiiQ 4 the rise and progress of music among Tritons wherein the errors of Dr. In th6-aaf ^'s Mr Wynne, on the subject fcoof,j History of Wale3,' are pointed out and $>t0pe and the whole art set in its true and hareb*- Dirmygir ni welir.'—'Hen ddi- music is printed in clear, thick I bein • °r. tbe air and bass only, the harmony Dapgj by figures—thorough bass. The ia Hja*. °Ws'er, would only bear one impression, Pric^ 0ja°k oach leaf is blank. The original *ud t{le work was 4s, bnt it in now very rare, a"1 Quotation we have seen was five rp, <> j,' -^he best known airs in the colleotion Lais," •« Twll yn ei boch," "Sweet I, rrtf)rd", II Hoffder Arglwyides Owain." and "ith RbtJddhn," some beJD with and others Ont Y t Variations. oatBet the editor states that the 6o i^ic of the people of Britain hath been fr(jfllliXef* w'tfa that of other nations, who *iaa jau to time made conquests or other- oth 'n t'1's '9^aD('1 that as well in that at thj, wts and sciences among them, ft is lbe IS. day a very difficult matter to trace ont Catling* Ulusic and its revolutions. That is ^Pon a st°n ^rm ^round hut he adds that yet ,a8,QUscri Ct.'n^niry into our history and antient tf'e cOrioPtS in ttlat still extant among j^se aoc| 8' W3 may make a tolerable guess at its #l»soo among the British nation." ° J°"ows the statement that the most the *tC.C0Qnt we find of our British music is 6 of the Druids, it being a very con- of the Papan religion," and that the Worlrt°atne^ that Pro^0S9'on 'n this part of rj ^as Julius OsBsar Bays) wore iu the Mr Rowlands"—'(Mona IiÐ to be rtaQrata ) ■ pointing ont the very II B £ lesey, where tbair chief schools tjtJ of tbi3, the process of assigning the .q 'nd ttlllh music to a Riven date after the A bar is—" which onr 01'° ^,aRyrw^DCe A° Rhys'" 30 are >n<oH"t»d so^tet of i' a kiDR ot Br>tain, a great si of ha* music, and called the J¡n})le and so and so on, is but \\> must, however, defer I ,a 5 aQj j further until another ocea- discussing the worthy old harper's be remembeied that tbeywtre r ceatucy and a wall agu.

Illustrated Fashions. Materials for evening dresse3 are very lovely, and indeed the texture in many instaac a is so exquisite that beyond numerous tuckings and g*ugings little or no additional trimming is necessary except the touch of lace which always softens a toilette, whether it be simply or ela- borately made, and renders it altogether becprn- mg. For the dresses of young girls ijuite the lightest and. softest materials are used, and among the prettiest and newest of this season's novelties crepon de soie deserves mention a4 it altogether outshines its forerunners, viz., crepon and crepe de chine, being not only softer and more becoming but more durable. The prettiest style of making a simple evening dress of soft material is to have the skirt either ganged or pleated from the waist, with one or two series of gaugings towards or round the hem, the bodice being likewise elaborated, while it is so cut as to show off the entire line of the shoulders, being A Dainty Blouse. I apparently held up by ropes of chenille, which pass over the shoulders, the sleeves also drop- piag down the arm and clinging closely to just above the elbow, where they develop into full frills or Doufs. The decolletage is finished either by a band of embroidery or by a lace berthe, while a deep, close-fitting waistband farms one of the chief feature of the dress, and must fit accurately to ensure success. The dainty blouse depicted is suited for home dinner wear. It is made of accordion-pleated thin pink silk over a, slip of a slighter deeper shade, and is trimmed with bands of ecru lace arranged in an original fashion across the bodice and sleevea. It is simple yet very smart, and would look very nice copied in pleated nun's veiling for afternoon wear, or the more costly crepe de chine for the evening. A material which comes as a boon to those of as who, while adoring that fragile becoming material chiffon, have had to deny ourselves the joy of its posses- sion owing to the fact that when soiled its career it over, is chiffon-voile, which although heavier is likewise more durable than ehiffo* it-a original farm. It also drapes into lov c't folds, and last. but not least, is washable » of us who have ruefully gazed npoit the J: an afternoon spent in waehing chiffon ac A Neat Hat. to the latest methods divulged in the i .>: column of oar favourite periodical, wili » it this dolightfal material which can successfully from sach a trying ordeal. velours is a more expensive and, ofcoa: waabab)o material, combining as it does softness of velvet with the beauty of chifi thr. evening it evinces a mirrored effect plays different colours in a wonderful) v fascinat- ing manner. The neitt hat sketched id suited for wear during this intermadiitt-o period between the late winter and the early spring fashions. It is made of straw, with the sides of the brim curving closely upwards, while a couple of wings at either side are arranged flatly with the point? resting on the coiffure at the back. The edge of the brim is bonnd with ribbed velvet. This ia one of the styles which depends for itH success more on the smartness of the shape than on the way it is trimmed. Its smartness of effect also depends greatly on the way it is put on the head, an art which most Frenchwomen possess naturally and a few Englishwomen have acquired. The aim. A Smart Costume. I pleat bat arranged at just the corner angle will outshine in elegance a more elaborate and costly model of a more recent date and style carolassly pnt on anyhow. It ia astonishing how ro;,my women overlook this, and rest con- tent with the fact that their headgear is quite the latest thing from Paris, and cost a ridicu- lous sum, and so mast, they confidently assure themselves, look all right. No hat, however irreproachable in style, will do credit to itself or its wearer unless carefully adjusted on the hair. It is a mistake to pull the hat too low down on the forehead, as that style is not suited to an English style of face, while it is absurd and oat of date to wear it in a fly-away manner. The costume depicted in my last sketch is very smart, and is cut on quite the latest lines. A couple of smart little capea lie smoothly over the upper part of the arm, while bands of stitch- ing and embroidery form a pretty trimming. The material used is navy blue cloth, and the embroidery consists of red and gold spots on a cream ground. The stitching is all done in red silk, and a red waistband surround", the waist. The skirt is pleated round the waist, and is made over a red silk lining. The hat is of navy blue felt, trimmed with long ostrich feathers and a gold brckle. Indian embroideries are much used and a.re very effective, the rich colours being picked out with gold. These richly- coloured embroideries were first brought into use a year ago by many of the fair visitors to the Durbar, who brought home with them fasci- nating specimens of the native handiwork. COQUETTE. « M_———-

A gentleman who bad grave doubts as to the sobriety ofehis servant, called him up from the cellar one day, and accused him of intemperance. 41 I will test you now, John," said the master, and, chalking a straight line across the floor, he told the man to walk along it. John looked at the floor, and'then at his master, and said, No jokes now, air I Which .line do yon want me to Wftlkon?"

Welsh Tit-Bits. Neu Wreichion Oddiar yr Eingron. BY CADRAWD. The Fertility of Tir laril. Tbe ancicni manor of Tir Lirll has been regarded from time immemorial to be among the most productive in the vrhole of the Princi- pality of W.188. The centre of this division of Glamorgan htrs selected by St. Cynyd y Cynwydion, a Welsh saint of the sixth centnry, who bad been educated at tc CoB^re^ition of St. Catwg, of Llancarfan, to foand a British Church, his mission being 80 successful that his name is still retained as that of the Old Parish, and its magnificent church, notwith- standing the persistent attempts which have bean made through the apes to obliterate it out of existence; even his sons names are eagrved on its surface—on Bryn Cynan and Maes- cadrod. We are informed by Welsh historians that the name given to this district previous to tha fonn. dation of the church was ''YMaesmawr" (The Great Plain), snd very properly the namell of Maesteg Upper, Middle, and Lower should be given to three of the best farms on the banks of the Llvnfi, but *t present are almost covered by railways, collieries, and dwelling houses, and instead of the surface being made to produce food for a score of families as in past ages, the Black Diamond underneath has fceen brought to bank, the value of which has been the means in later years of feeding so many thousands of families in greater comfort. The Maesmawr included the parishes of bar- gain, Kettws, Llanpeinor, together with Lhm- gynwyd; and from the foundation of the Church of Saint Cynwvd to the Normn Conquest these parishes formed one ecclesiastical district, which accounts for the church being so large and the burials so many. The older inscribed stones in the old churchyard still show that some of the inhabitants of the above parishes had their fanily graves at Llangynwyd as late as the seventeenth centnry. At the Conquest, we are informed by the county historian, Sir Ed. Mansell, of Margam, that Fitzhamon retained this lordship for him- self, which in his time held second place in the division? of the county for royalty, vhich lord- ship he kept. The lordship ia described by Sir Edward Man- sell of a middling ground that give good increase of corn and cattle in it is Margam and Kenfi. some of it is middling plain country, and some mounlainy, having much wood and coal, with some lime, and many rivers of clear water that yields much good fish, being most pleasant also for sports of hunting and such divertisements, having deers, and bares, and partridges, and pheasants, the most of any part." The Castle of Llangynwyd deserves better recognition at the handsof our modern historians, some of whom go so far as to doubt its very ex- istence, but the following quotations from an old Monastieon should dispel for ever from their minds such illusions, bnt if further evidence is required, Jet them come-and examine its ruins and snrvey the extensive old grounds, so interest- ing :— "Mortimer Edmnnd (n.) de third Earl of larch, was the son of Roger de Mortimer (V.), ad second Earl of March,and bis wife. Phillippa, Ioughter of William Mantacule, first Earl of alisbury, and was born at Llangonith jlangynwyd), on February, 1351." The above Edmund Mortimer was grandson of wladns Dhu.daughterof Llewellyn aplorwerth. te was an associate of the Black Prince. He tacriej Phillippa, daughter ot Lionel Uuke of larence, the second surviving son of Edward U. by his wife Elizabeth De Burgh, the heiress f Ulster. 1307. The Castle of Llangynwyd was seized by de Spencer the youDger during a quarrie^ ith ReRer de Mortimer. Hugh da Spencer helif ia adjoining lordship of Miscin, and it was robably to Llangynwyd Castle that King dward II. intended to make bis way for pro- iction on leaving Caerffili 29 years later. The istle, however, was then in the hands of the lortimfers, favourites of Qceen Isabella, and on tiding this it is probable that the unfortunate onarch was compelled to hire himself as a rvingman for some days at the farm Gelly. nor, near by, in 1336.-¡Wigmore, analyst, ilonasticon 354.) Ieuan Fawr ap y Diwlith, who is supposed to )8 a base Bon of Rhys ap Ricard ap Einion ap Collwyn, was brought up in the learned profes- sions, and wrote many books, among which was one on the art of song,and all that appertained thereto, according to the rights and usages of the Welsh nation." This eminent writer flourished awards the middle of the twelfth century, and his grave is pointed out to U3 to this day atLlan- pynwyd Churchyard, to the west of the church porch. Tir yr Iarll, or tbe lordship of Llangynwyd, as we have already said, was one of noble pro- portions, but Robert le Fitz Ie Roy, Earl of Gloucester, curtailed it considerably by the extensive gifts grants which he made to the Abbey of Margam, which had been founded the remaining portion eventually came to be called after the Earl's name, i.e., The Earl's Land, hence Tir la.rll." iJis successors, in order to consolidate the Welsh people in this part of Glamorgan, made considerable concessions of a popular character, such as endowing the Bardic Chair of Tir Iarll (which, previous to this, was known as the Cadair Einion ") and encourag- ing the taste for poetry, and music, with sundry privileges and preservations of the Welsh language, and the rules of poetry, which are em- bodied in that unique collection of ancient Welsh system called Cyfrinach y Beird," transcribed from ancient MSS., edited by the late IoloMorganwg.and published under the direction of his talented son, Taliesin, in 182y. In this work is given a list of Bardie successions from the time of Trahaiarn Brydydd Mawr down to Will Hopkin, of Llangynwyd, John Bradford, of Bettws, Edward Dafydd o Fargam, and Edward Williams (Iolo Morganwg). Time will not permit for me to give a complete list of thedistinUJsbed Welshmen who have flourished, and have left their mark on the literature of Wales in this lordship, from the time of Rhys Goch o Dir Iarll (circa 1140), the finest writer of love songs Wales ha.1 yet produced—up to the end of the nineteenth century. This we may do at a future time. The Violin. A work has been issued by Chatto and Windus within the last few days, but written within the boundary of Tir Iarll. The title of the is as follows:—"British Violin Makers, Classical and Modern, Being a Biographical Critical Dictionary of British Makers of the Violin from the founda- tion of the Classical School to the end of the Nineteenth Century. With introductory chapters and numerous portraits and illustrations by the Rev. Wm. Meredith Morris, B.A." The author is a native of Ponthaen,North Pem- brokeshire, and a graduate of the London Uni- versity, who has served the curacy of Abergwynfi for several years, in the upper part of Llan- gynwyd. He is now in charge of the church at Garth, a new church recently built in the populous and flourishing district of YMaasteg," and it is at these places within this classical territory the above work was written and issued from the press, almost without his most intimate friends being aware that he was em. ployed upon such an undertaking. The author of this work upon the violin was from his child- hood passionately fond of music, and particularly of the violin, which has been termed, the king of instruments," a title conferred upon it by election, and this exalted position is claimed by the fact that it is the instrument which most nearly approaches the human voiec. and in some respects, we are told by the most eminent critics, it even sumasses that wonderful mechanism—the larynx. Haweis says, no instrument—the human voice hardly excepted-provides such a rare vehicle for the emotions, is in such close touch with the molecular vibrations of thought and with the psychic waves of feeling. But whilst the violin equals the voice in sensibility and expression, it far transcends it in compass, variety, and durability." Respecting the violin, Mr Gladstone said M To perfect that wonder of travel—the loco- motive—has perhaps not required the expenditure of more mental strength and application than to perfect that wonder of music—the violin."

An old Scotchwoman, when advised by her minister to take snuff to keep hetself awake dur- ing the beruion, replied, Why diuna ye put the | snuff in the sermon, mon ?"

THE HOUSEHOLD., 4 Ibe hairpin cushion I am sketching to-day is one of the prettiest I haveseen. It is made from Berlin wool and thick wire. and is extremely effective if carefully canied out, You require half-ounce oi white wool and the same quantity of some pretty colour, one yard of thick covered wire, two tan boot buttons for eyes, a small piece of vellow silk for the beak, and a yard of ribbon for the bow. Commence by making the wire into a ring measuring 20 inches in circumference. Make a chain of 90 stitches in the coloured wool, into this crochet 90 treble stitches, and sew the strip of crochet all round the ring of wire by the two edges. Now make the bird this is done by winding the wool through two rounds of card in the same way as wool balls are made. Cut into shape. The buttons are sewn in to form the eyes, and the yellow silk is pointed and stuffed to form A Novel Haiipio Cushion. I the beak. The bird is sewn to the ring and a few threads of wool are drawn through for the tail. Tie the yard of ribbon into a double bow at the top of the ring. A very effective way of decorating wooden photo frames is to enamel and bespangle tu"}. Any ordinary light wood frame may be employed, and the first thing to do is to prepare the wood to receive the colour by rubbing it down thoroughly with glass paper. The operation must bo re- peated till the wood feels soft and satiny to the touch all over. It must next be dnated with a soft brush to free it from grit, and care must be taken not to handle it without a piece of tissue Paper under the fingers for fear of spoiling the surface again by making it greasy, he colour chosen must now be applied. A good-sized brash I should be used, as it is all advantage when painting a narrow article, such as a frame, to lay the enamel on the full width at once if possible. In any case all streaks must be avoided, and the temptation of spreading the paint thickly must be firmly resisted, The frame should iiov be set aside'td dry somewhere out of the dost. When dry, the next operation should tie performed at a A Pretty Photo Frame. I time when there is little chance of interruption, for it is much more convenient to put on all the spangles at a sitting tban to have to leave them in the middle. The fraaie must be again coated with paint, and before this has had time to dry the spangles must be set upon it to form any pattern desired. They Y;ay be pressed down into their places with the end of a bone penholder. The main difficultv lies in the fact of there being no way in which the pattern can be traced on the frame. I am sure my last drawing this week will be appreciated by those who have suffered from cut towels by the male members wiping their razop. This is a shaving papercase of linen with a Diain back on which to wipe the blades. It can be made in a varietyjof pretty colours, which will keep fresh-looking much longer than white. A i yard of linen will make two cases measuring 6 inches square when hemmed. Cut two squares of the hnen and hem them round to the desired size. W. one square for the front of the case the other for the back is, of course, left plain. Cut some pieces of tissue paper a little smaller than the linen and place them between the squares they are kept in position with a thread of cotton through them and can be replaced when used. A losp of cord is sewn to the top point of the squares A Shaving Tidy. I to bang it no by, and a pretty LOW of ribbon should be sewn at the top corner of the case. Violet asks for a recipe for brown bread, but there are so many different kinds. Years ago when at school brown bread was made with so much white flour and bran mixed equally, made in the usual way. bnt now di terent millers make special kinds. Your baker may sell you someof his special flour, but I doubt if you will be able to successfully make it, as each customer has to make these noted varieties of bread from the miller's instructions where he gets the flour. If you succeed in getting the flour you must also have the recipe for making. 1 would advise you to buy yonr brown bread from a good baker. Young Housewife informs me that she has been very unsuccessful in trying to make bread, and asks me for a moie that is not likely to result in failure in her inexperienced hands. Pnt your flour into the kneading tub or pan, make a well in the flour and sprinkle over a little salt. Have ready some sweet warm barm, stir it into some warm waterland pass it through a hair sieve into the hole you have made in the flour. Give it a good stir round with a wooden spoon touching the flour lightly, then waft the flour over the top lightly. Cover with a warm woollen cloth and set near the fire to rise. When it has risen, which you will know by the surface being cracked all over, with your fingers lift the mixture uo and down, and when well mixed knead well. Cover it again and put into a warm place tOTise. To half a bushel of good flour put a pint and a half of good sweet yeast, four quarts of warm water, and nearly half a pound of salt. Mix and put to rise, but before kneading yon will have to add some warm water. ETHEL. _>t. 4"

The Middy's Lark. A stout, bearty-looking gentleman one day made his way from the dock-side at Plymouth to the deck of a man-of-war newlv arrived from abroad, and desired to be sbo^n over the ship. Most of the officers were on shore, and the duty devolved upon i, young midshipman. He made the most of it, and to have a lark at the expense of the elderly gentleman as he showed him round. he told him that the capstan was used to grind the ship's coffee, the 18-ton guns for cooling the officers' champagne, and the mainyards for dry- ing the Admiral's Surday shirts, and many other things not generally known. When the gentleman had seen all he wanted to see, he handed a card to his kind instructor, saying, Young gentleman, you are a very smart youth indeed, and full of information, and I trust you will see there is no mistake in this card of "mine finding its way to your captain." The middy glanced at the bit of pasteboard but before he could tboroughly realise the situa- tion, the Naval Lord of the Admiralty, with a .parting nod and a pleasant a mile, was gone.

Illustrated Humour. Who can tell me the meaning of leisure ?" asked the teacher. Please, miss, it's a place where married paople repent replied an infant novel reader. She He left me a beautiful bracelet as a legacy. He It ought to havs been «—er—garter for a legacy. Wife Drunk .a.in, It night ? Husband (sulkily): That's my businr-is. Wife So it seems. Sarcastic. The Fat One: What did the admiral say about my application for command of a sub- marine? The Other He said Wait tiH England is a bit more in credit." Boautifal American (proudly) Have yon no- ticed the large number of English noblemen who have married American airls? Enpliih Woman (quietly) I have notiecd that they never marry poor ones. She (bored) No, Mr Lytely, I can never love I you. I honour and respect you. I am sure you would make some other woman a good hns- baud. I I tie Well-er-could you-er-give me a letter of recommendation to my next place? What Nonsense. I Elsie: Miss Timmins told me to-day in the geography lesson that Stonehenge was over two thousand years old. Jack: Wbat nonsense I Why, it's only 1903 now Mrs Gossippe How does it come that Mra Swagger invited yon to her party ? I thought you were enemies. Mrs Snappen We are; but she thought I had nothing fit to wear, and wanted to make me iiel bad. I didn't hear your sister sing at the party, Madeline." Her doctor has strictly forbidden hei to practise." Does he live in her neihbourhood 1" Two Hazardous Callings. Aunt Grace I suppose, Jimmy, you've made up your mind what yon are going to be when you are a man ? Jimmy Yes, Auntie Grace. When I'm a man, I'll be either," with great determination, a lion tamer or a tram conductor I" Daughter (pleading for her lover): But, father, I am positive that it is not my money he is after. Lie says he would marry me if I were ever so poor. Stern Prosaic Father: Yes, he looks as if he had no better sense. Why don't you marry that girl ? She is a real pearL" Ah, yes; but I don't like mother-of pearl." Why She Laughed. Rising Yonng Dramatist Saw your wife in front last night. What did she think of my new comedy ? Brother ^Playwright: Oh, I think she liked it. She to d me she bad a good langb. R. Y. D. Ah—er—when was that? B. P. During the entr'acte. One of the attendants dropped an ice down her neighbonr's neck. Muggins Yes. Scorcher's going the pace that kills. Buggins: Drink? Muggins No motof-car. Mrm Casey: Yustiddy Mrs Maloney's onld man prasinted her widl a silver taypot. Mrs Murphy Solid ? Mrs Casey Sure yez be jokin'. How could she pnt tay in it if it was tiolid? Bessie Let's play we are married. Johnny: No, I shan't; you're bigger'n me. And besides, mamma told me I mustn't fibt.

A lady, well known for her works of charity, which often take her from Belgravia to thesJums of East London, had occasion to change her coachman. One day the lady received an appeal for contributions in kind to a charity which was being carried on temporarily in a building that had formerly been used as a police station. She was quick to respond, and, having called at several shops in her own neighbourhood and almost filled her carriage with articles of food and clothing, she gave the coachman the address to which she desired them to be conveyed, at the same time expressing her intention to be present at their delivery so that she might invesetigate any special cases of need. After a good deal of aimless driring. and the loss of much valuable ar time, the new coachman had to confess that he could not find the place. But you told me when I employed yon that yon were thoroughly acquainted with the City," the lady protested with some severity. Coachy looked his humble regrets. And so I do know the proper parts of it, ma'am," he apologised, but I've never driven for a lady before what bad to go to the police station I"

WELSH GLEANINGS. Spite of the efforts of the Free Churches and Watch Committee there are stilt more than 200 shops open every Sunday at Newport. Lord Llangattock has now reached the first week of his 68ch year, and his friends every- where hope be will see many more. During the past year the increase of Sunday School scholars at Newport was 97 on a total membership of 9,288. The local Sunday School Onion think this capable of further improve- ment and are taking the matter in hand. Of the 6,000 farmers who are members of the societies affiliated to the Agricultural Organisa- tion Society, nearly 3.000 hail from Wales. The Principality bas from the first cordially wel- comed the movement for agricultural «o-opera- tion. The Rev. H. Elvet Lewis will begin work at the Welsh Tabernacle, London, early in April. In order to be able to follow her husband's sermons in his native tongue. Mrs Lewis, who is a native of Islay, is just now hard at work learn- in Welsh. Strange reasons are often given for attendance and uon-attendance at religious services, but it would be difficult to cap that given by a young girl at Abercynon. She desired to attend Com- munion Service because (as she explained to a girl friend) I am so fond of port wine, and we use it at Communion and 1 always take a good drop," The last Sooth American mail has brought favourable letters regarding the position of the Welsh settlers in Patagonia. The harvest, it is stated, has been a prosperous one, and the prospects are good. Ap Iwan has returned from Africa, and has gone in the direction of the Andes. It is stated that he is not in favour of emigrating to Africa. One of the most popular of Welsh clergymen has been selected for a mark of hono by the Bishop of Bangor. We refer to the »»~t of Penmaenmawr (Rev. D. Jones), who has been appointed rural dean of Arllechevedd. The vicar is the editor of Cyfaill Eglwysig," and the author of the able volume on the Life and Works of Griffith Jones, Llanddowror." Apropos of the death of the vicar of St. Paul's. Newport, one is reminded of the fact that tbe late Mr Wrenford was a personal friend of Frances Ridley Havergal. It was to him that she first gave the beautiful hymn, Take my life and let it be consecrated, Lord. to Thee," im- mediately after it was written and read at mission services in Ireland. He subsequently published it to the world. In ten years the annual nnmber of plaints entered of all kinds in Judge Gwilym Williams' County Court has varied from 19,0fX) to 38,690, the latter being the figures for 1902 and tbe highest on record. Circuit No. 24, which includes Cardiff. Barry, Newport, and parts of II Alonmouthshiie, has generally been thousands behind the sister circuit, and last year it had over 18,000 fewer plaints. What is the moral ? A Cefncoed correspondent, having seen our reference to tbe centenary of the first locomotive engine in Merthyr, writes It is worthy of notethat no improvement has since been made in generating steam until our esteemed townsman, MrJohn Jones, Upper Lodge, Cvfarthfa, brought out his Blast pipe patent, designed for the equalisation of draught throughout the boiler tubes of a locomotive or engine of similar type." At the request of the Royal Commission, Mr Jones bas just sent a blast pipe to be exhibited at the World's Exhibition, St. Louis, America. Mr H. L. Coath, elder son of Captain J. C. Coatb, Bridgend, who has for some time past been assistant solicitor at the town clerk's office, •luddarafield. has been appointed assistant solicitor to the Sheffield Corporation out of 70 applicants. Mr Coath served his articles of clerkship at Huddersfield with his uncle, Mr F. C. LJoyd, now town clerk and clerk of the peace at Croydon, and who was formerly town clerk of Huddersfield, and prior to that deputy town clerk of Cardiff. Wales resembles the Transvaal in possessing a great deal of very low grade ore that cannot be worked nnless expenses are reduced to the extreme limit. The importation of 20,000 indentured Chinese labourers is therefore obviously right and necessary to enable the shareholders in various unsuccessful Welsh old mines to obtain dividenas. Having sanctioned virtual slavery in a British Colony, the Govern- ment will surely not shirk this act of justice to Wales. But (writes Utterly Disgusted ") very few hold Welsh mining shares, and as the Welsh mining magnates do not dwell in Park-lane, and give sumptuous receptions, poor Wales may nave to wait a long time. What is an Englyn P The Welsh englvn, according to Mr Ernest Rhys, ia "a mixtureof proverb and lyric epigram, an incomparable medium for mother wit, didactic instance, rapid imagination, or sheer thrice- concocted commonplace. Principal Rhys's account of its archaeology puts it into a new light, gives it an academic 3tatus, and may even tempt Euglish poets to try it, to their confusion." Aftertbis the Welsh bards will realise more than ever what very clever fellows they are. Patti at 61. Madame Patti, otherwise the Baroness Rolf Cederstrcm, of Craig-v-nos Castle, Wales, cele- brated her 61st birthday on Friday, having been born at Madrid on February 19, 1843. She is as famous for her perennial youth as for her match- less singing, and it is recorded of her that as a child she once said, 1 shall be young as long as I live," a determination which she has adhered to with unique success. She attributes it in part to ber determination to see only the brightest side of things, and in part to a continual wooing of fresh air and sunshine, a recipe which we might all do well to imitate. Madame Patti bas carried the freshness and bloom of 16 into the sixties. Walss and Locrl Bills. Mr Herbert Lewis, M.P., has initiated a move ment for extending to Wales the Scotch system of dealing with local Parliamentary Bills. All public authorities ani others seeking Parliamen- tary powers in England, Wales, and Ireland have to resort to the Houses of Parliamenta in London for the purpose, but the neople of Scotland are provided with the services of a roving Commission, somewhat on tbe lines of the Light Railway Commission. This has the effect of considerably reducing the cost of pro- moting Bills, and the expense of taking a large number of witnesses and others to tbe Metropolis is saved. The experiment has worked well in Scotland, and there is no reason why the benefits of tbe system should not now be extended. Money Made Easy. That Cardiff's ne'er do wells are as keen on the bawbee as their Scottish brethren was demonstrated in a number of Cardiff hotels one day this week. It seems that a well-known firm of brewers, with the view of advertising their ales, offer to all and snndry free gifts of anum. ber of cases of beer. All that the would-be drinker need do is to send a postcard to the firm in question. Armed w;th the neeessary circular of particulars and innumerable stamped post- cards a couple of Cardiffians conceived the idea of visiting the leading hotels and, after pointing out the advantages of tbe scheme to those present, proffer to send ofl the necessary cards for anyone at a fee. including sta.mp, of 2d So successful were they in their efforts that by the dinner hour they estimated thay had cleared just over a couple of sovereigns, and as they seemed of a sober temperament they were ex- tremely hopeful of netting at least a, fiver apiece before the day was out. Not a bad day's work for a cleverly-conceived idea. Now. of course, they will and hnndreds of imitators and the idea is exploded. Wales and the Congo. A notable example was afforded at Ynysybwl on Sunday evening of what education may do for those whom the white man is too prone to style the inferior races. A gathering was held at Noddfa in connection with tbe Colwyn Bay Institute, which is doing valuable work on behall of the tribes of the Congo. Several of the native converts educated at Colwyn Bay have qualified for various professions. One of the Btudente, Ishmaet Pratt, a native of the West Coast of Africa, is now studying for the medical profes- sion at Edinburgh University, and he appeared with the Rev. J. Roberta, of Abergele, at Noddfa. Fluency in languages, including English and Welsh, \V!19 evidently one of his strong points and in the evening he preached a capital sermon A witness named Jones at Swansea County Court made a very unsuccessful attempt at the pronunciation of Waunarlwydd." "What?" sharpiy queried Judge Williams. The witness made no better show at his second attempt, where- upon his Honour sorrowfully exclaimed—" Here's a man named Jone3, of Wales, who can't nounce the name of a Welsh place." 0 8 0 Medical practitioners will be interested to learnt that the Commissioners in Lunacy have removed it the restrictions imposed on medical snperinten- n dents of asylums as to consultations iu private cases. The Glamorgan Asylums Committee have given permission to Dr. R. P. Stewart, the new medical superintendent at the Bridgend Asylums, to give advice in private cases. This will be a great convenience to medical practi- tioners in the county. Sir John Gorst's visit to the Rhondda, which lasted just two hours, was made under very de- pressing circumstances, the climatic conditions being at their worst. Sir John, however left the Tonypandy Theatre with the strair .f that glorious hymn, 0 fryniau Caerscjem ceir gweled" ringing in his ears, and with a vivid recollectioh of the effect which Welsh speakers when in the" hwyl" had upon an audience. Mr Samuel rtToss, M.P., has now recovered from his recent indisposition, and will soon be at work again, unless the tremendous letter which Mr Hugh Edwards has addressed to Sir Alfred Thomas on the relations between Liberal barris- ters and the trade bowls bim over again. Mr Edwards has had the luck to get his Jetter inserted in extenso in the Times," which evidently regards the question as one of first rate importance. The Westminster Gazette," on the other hand. iumps on Mr Edwards s pro- posals, and calls them in effect rubbieb." Mr Willie Arnold, of th- "ardiff Higher Grade School, who conducted the successful operetta at Cardiff last week, comes of an old Welsh musical stock. He is brother to Mr Sam Arnold, of Neath, successful conductor of jnvenile choirs, and half-brother to the late Mr John Arnold, a former Mayor of Neath, who led the old Neath Harmonic Society to many a victory. The father Matthew Arnold-was also closely identified with the once well-known Congregational choir at Maesyrhaf Chapel, which was led by the late Mr James Davies, Commercial-street, a. had among its members Miss Eleanor Rees, the successful contralto. An Unkind Query. The meeting of the Cymru Fydd Society at the National Liberal Club, at which Elphin de- livered his trenchant attack on the "Idols of Wales was remarkable, not only for the keenness of Elphin's criticism and the diversity of opinion evoked, but also for the fact that every speaker who took part in the debate, and they were a large number, addressed the meeting in Welsh. This, it is said, is the verj first occasion on which a. meeting or the London Cymru Fydd Society has beet conducted entirely in the language of Cymrr Sydd. None of the Welsh members of Parlia^ ment were present at the meeting, and a corree pondent is unkind enough to inquire whether this fact bad anything to do with the intense Welshiness of the gathering,? } A Distinction-and a Difference. Who is Hugh Edwards ? For some weekf past he ha.s been prominent as leader of th* agitation against those Welsh Liberal M.P..8Wh as barristers accept briefs from pnblicans. Now his name figures as the writer of a strong letter on the subject to Sir Alfred Thomas, the official head of the Welsh Parliamentary party. Apart from this, Mr Hugh Edwards is comparativel. unknown outside the Liverpool district, where for many years he bas been a prominent temper- ance worker. In some quarters be has been con. fused with Mr J. Huch Edwards, the editor of Young Wales," who were he aware of the fact would no doubt disclaim the honour with some vigour. The tr Young Wales" Hugh Edwards" is a Congregational minister of Newtown Hugh Edwards of anti-Weish-Liberal-barristei fame ia of Liverpool." LI. 6; as a Letter Writer. The truth is out at last. Mr Lloyd George now admits that he has a perfect horror of letter writing, and that the delivery of a dozen brilliant speeches costs hi m as a rule less worry than tbe writing of one decently long epistle. His case goes to prove the truth of Lord Beaconsfield'cr dictum that facility in writing and facility in speaking do not usually go together. But My Lloyd George must be making a martyr of him- self just now, as our readers must have observed, for not a conference is held but the chairmar opens it with a neat little message from the Pro- gressive leader—short, stimulating, barbed witfc some appropriate local allusion, and charged Witt infectious spirit and fervour. Japs in Cardiff. A very pretty unrehearsed incident was wit- nessed in the train between Newport and Cardiff on Saturday afternoon. A number of Cardiff spectators of the match at Newport ou getting into the homeward train found themselves in the, company of three Japs, who had travelled from London for the purpose of joining a ship a' Barry, bound for the East. The company to i. ma.n had strong pro-Jap sympathies, ant naturally cheered the trio, who were going hom' to fight for the Fatherland. As the footballerr left the train at Cardiff hearty hand-sbaking wtu indulged in. Even Old Stagei succumbed to the prevailing enthusiasm, and doubtless thinking of the methods of the Welsh thrae- quarter line he gave it as his opinion, as h. gripped the Japs by the band, that it is dash, combination, and opportunism as does it." The scene was a pretty one, and one can imaginr the feelings it roused in the hearts of the strangers, so many thousands of miles fron- home.

Andrew Fletcfc-r ti Salt~> ill 0 letter to tit. Marqnis ot truse, I • very wtaf «u that ► elieveJ ÛtllTi it a KU were terfelttei 1' nake all tho fc&Jla<2s he netii aet cart whe ■;afea th: iawfi of tico B&ti#a.'r

WAITING. Serene I fold my hands and wait, Nor care for wind, nor tide. nor Bes; I rave no more gainst time and fate. For. lo! my own shall come to me. I stay my haste. I make delays, For what avails this eager pace? I stand amid the eternal ways, For what is mine shall know my fast. Asleep, awake, by night or day, The friends I seek are seeking me; No wind can drive my bark astray, Nor change the tide of destiny. What matter if 1 stand alone? I wait with joy the coming years; My heart shall reap where it has sown, And garner up its fruit of tears. The waters know their own, and dftftr The brook that springs in yonder htifkttf So flows tbe good with eqnal law Unto the soul of pure delights. The stars come nightly to the sky, The tidal wave unto the sea; Nor time, nor space, nor deep, nor high, Can keep my own away from me. John Barrought.

A MISSED DESTINY. Weary of life, but yet afraid to die, Sated and soured, too, he slowly sinks. With genius, knowledge, eloquence, and wit. And all the gifts of Fortune vainly given Some morbid ply tbat flaws the heart or brain. Some strange infirmity of thought or will, Has marred them all; nothing remains behind But fragmentary thoughts and broken schemes, Some brilliant sayings and a social fame, Already fading: but his mind is yet Keen, clear, and vivid, though his nervel.It Can never rise to action. So be ends— Tbe eagle's eye without the eagle's wing. Leefey.

Why is a prisoner's time like au abomipabfcT joke?—Becaussit's pastiodoness.