The Cardiff Times

P. E. GANE, 38-41, QUEEN.STREET, CARDIFF. 161 & 162, COMMERCIAL STJUSBS, NEWPORT, INVITES YOU TO TEST THE GREAT SAVING ATTENDING THE PURCHASE OF FURNITURE FROM LOCAL MANUFACTURERS. GUIDE TO FURNISHING FREE ON APPLICATION ————————-

Music IN WALES. BY O. EMLYN EVANS. THE OLD ANO THE NEW. ^ontemoorary, in dealing vf;th the C C?rfM nance of Dr. Edward Elgai's 5^ Ot,o, The .fpoatles," at Birmingham—its lb '6Cet'ti°n in Ens-land since its production at *»l f'enn'a' festival held there last year-quotes ^•'ement from Mr A. J- Balfour s Founda- Belief^- to the effect that entirely novel Inevltably meets with violent opposition ^bs ^Hr°^a')^v the writer was not far wrong in C2v*« that was an elementary fact in ^l4toty- Another, though not a con- sojjjIC'°*y v'ew of the question—the unending iR thai which is new and that which ~a expressed in a letter written more than y Vears ago by Goetho to Mendelssohn in 'V°eCt'on w''h the former's poem on the Night," and which forma tbe libretto jj(j. Well-known cantata by the composer of tffle •• poem," he says, is in its i^Or Bens8' intended to be highly symbolic. 1,1 the tmiory of tbe world it nmst con- tePeat itself that that wbich is old and ,*|th 'an,i fundamental, and comforting, shall—. L„0"Kl) not annihilated — be pushed, and moved inlt, the smallest nosslble space by J itij, innovations." And Schumann, writ- hol\{ "later period, says lieverence what hit a'so have a warm heart for all that is not jnd«?e a composition from tbe first at n* what pieases ne at the Crst moment ia N>ayS the best. Masters require to be Qtt Mnch will become eieartoyonatan Oceti age only." *»j e. tIlajority of people, however, even tbe °*y of critics so-called, are not imbued with j reasonable;? of Schumann, nor capable Iq ^'acarnmeTit of the Prime Minister, and EPhilosophical judgment of this great German While the iconoclast on the one band, and 'conservative on the other, are always :„ai °u- \t present the feeling of the times in t.ffiatteri is, if not revolutionary, largely direction of change or unsettlement. It is jq. Collnectioii with other art subjects, and it somewhat singular if it were other- j Jig 111 ^at of music, the most susceptible of all /p^'ta. Whether this may be tine, as some o entnely to the Wagnerian impulse, or pj e <1 spirit of tbe age,'1 we will not undertake kil8Cl^e- <jQa thing may be asserted with pretty fJEr confidence, viz., tbat the pre Wagnerian g[^' the opera or musical drama, as iv existed VlQe 'he Bayreuth master came to be a 8 influence, is henceforth impossible for sflu DracticaI purpose and no doubt that ^us Rn^ probably will con- tat l° perm6al-e, other walks of the art than a °* the opera ouly. .¡tb ol1¡::h Wales may be called a nation of to-we are. nevertheless. strongly con- *t]V* on some questions more prone to e j • to that which is old and tried," than to jk, eel by upstarting innovations." The 6^. I*5 far has never greatly commanded no as P* some assert that the feeling for tbe u.dthe plfty ie somewhere there—deep l1ata':t hitherto, at any rate, it has not come '^e surface. But its slater form, tbe ^has forcibly appealed to musical Welsh- j Joeij.^eraUy, ever since the nation was In ft 0 40 become acquainted with its treasures f«el our lovers of oratorio cannot but' amount of bewilderment and nn- I W in view of the almost entire departare 'he cu*1? °tatorio writei-a from tbe old lihes of th% masteie of the past. Undoubtedly Mi J**8 of the great writers of oratorio met beajjj the national taete for melodic boldness of harmony, clearness, ana treatment precisely tbs characteristics 4? ^n-^Hiost prominent in our secular folk- *toJr and chorales. While tire method of 'j S seema to aapire to whai ia tlirectly con- y melody as such is eschewed, hacpaony is Qa^8 as involved and obtuse as possible, tonality a fairly reasonable relation of keys does not j ^n< and as to flats and sharps, single and double, ^th their counter-signs, they are to be counted dozens in eveiy page. Snch are the com- pinta that one bears. The n«w cult speaks with 0f Sebastian Bach-master of fngne tthQRh he was' and thoQ8:h B fo?ne is nowadays to be tbonght of—it allows some merit bn Mozart wrote some tuneful operas- fclsl'16 Wa3 noi a ^a"a8r' coarse Beechoven did creditably in hia later works, but was jjQ a Tschaikowsky, or a Strauss; and r0. 01 Mendelssohn—well, tbev do not make Qtj^lc with kid gloves on although somewhat a I l\> Mendelssohn, in bis oratorio, is distinctly I development of Bach and Handel, 'ii ^as ^een repeateily charged against oor li 0la,lists, and not without cause, that they con- e thctngeivea too exclusively to Handel and Of e ^andelian school of oratorio writers. Some ^ave been advocating reform in this con- for many years past, considering that as Detf8 c°S[nOE>o)itan and broad, our studies and should embrace whatever, that is th It) al1 styles. We are also firmly of opinion js j' l^ich o! our choral ill-soccesa of late years s'h 6 to the too close adherence to one class of work grand work undoubtedly, and which jj lot be neglected but not at tbe expense of tin £ other work as meritorious and 0f8e^tiai to tha full development and cultivation to; ral munic atAongst ns. Handel's master- and others of the great men who followed *vilj Temain, but Mendelssohn himself in liel IJah" made an oratorio on tb" strict Han- tjj 'aa principles au impossibility, too, for ^e believe that much of what is 0^° in the present day, both in England and "s Continent, is tentative and experimental, e^iposers having gone out into the wilderness gQt^ll38 for seme new wells of inspiration. Bat °f this ork, some results of this effort will a^d rerr>a'D» ane' aDl^ something coherent jjf aaitisfactory in a permanent form will be ,0° ^Ced In the meantime Wales, whether in c P°sition or in performance, should not be *0 with a rest and be thankful policy. credit it should be stated that both in ^th and South Wales works of a modern date «• as Gounod's "Redemption," Sullivan's *4th,tleQ Leffend," Coleridge-Taylor's Hit- 8o«i a' Ac. —have been performed by local tb ties, irrespective of what has been rendered Cardiff Festival and by one or two large and it is to be hoped that snch fthced works as Elgar's Gerontius and Jostles may be ere lone a.dded to the list, tu ?r°P°s the latter work and its performance by it ia ChoraVSociety at Birmingham onFeb.19, to note that it was also given in tijre York by the Oratorio Society under the btetC''°n of Mr Frank Damrosch some ten days 'r6 Whilst the Birmingham criticisms tretne Jghlv laudatory-perbaps to an ex. YOtk extent—the report of the New IN\! a. I'itnes is more critical, and bound to think more inBtroctive, In ifa!er the final verdict of posterity might be. tj,ft tho New York Times" states On it tork was coolly received," although later 0rato'j- Enounced that the authorities of the of ttle 10 Sosiety have considered the importance t° t0 be such that tbey have determined p0at U at the last of its regular concerts," aijfl B 'or t^lat purpose a work each by Baeh ^ralear^ns' What is of interest also to ns in seated18 fact that Welsh vocal art was repre- Yltn°nsat the performing soloists both at lheDon an^ Birmingham; in the former by ilile8 Sr Welsh- American baritone, Mr Gwilym jy'l"r' in the latter by Mr Ffrangcon Daviea ^vies anJel Price, also baritones. Both Mr Mr Price receive high praise in tbe j *f'lste al' 'a8t"naBne^ being termed a thorough with thQ *?*' a,3ding that be enacted Judas elpeet." 1111)by he has taught his hearers to

H)! AR«tni Directions. :^Pacu? eugaf[«d a man to act ia the !llfL^°uRht a hnfn°rian aQd daJ dir. to »6nir°! of hoise liniment and told tbq 0n J? 'o a horae according to the nrU* Wnnf^8 About an hour after- •n-l^^rio"«lv the eteWe and fonnd thsman \lv^en tahhi PPDR a spike into the liniment T^tii Jt against the horse's leg. an* It dom« tbat for ?" he asked. The tion«' #aid a of Bwnrance. Be- aost kQ boJ,i 'twas what it said tn tbe tfirac- I v>« tn=iril but it's slow work." "yon tone 8ftid the S6ntle.Tian; a i. It «»CrT*'erod 'ne man, man aggrieved tootfT^ R* '-t?^veK0n the bo«le, Apply with "Wkfrwrt,. j^h tarnBh/ as I bad no Wmght I'd bptter use tbis spjke,

Illustrated Fashions. We may rest assured that the rulers of the world of dress are now busy evolving novelties with which to relieve the recent monotony of the modes, and that in a few weeks our eyes will be gladdened by the debut of the eaily spring fashions. In the meantime, however, we must rest content with things as they are; and, indeed, we have little caussfor complaint when we review the present style of dress whicb, although rather elaborate, is exceedingly becoming and artistic. The prodent minded of us will seize the oppor- tunity offered by the best firm of reduced terms during the silly season a.nd. trusting that Madame La Mode will not indulge in anything very startling in the next few months, will order a tweed 01 serge gown which, if simply made but perfect as to cut and fit, will be found in?a!uable throughout the ensuing months. I always counsel my fnends, and especially those whose dress allowance is limited, to deny themselves the many tempting offers of soiled model gowns greatly reduced in price that are OD view.t A Neat Coat. I the recant sales, advising instead a ne%t cloth serge or tweed costume made by a. really good firm, such as can be obtained during this month at the reasonable price of two guineas and up- wards. A well fitted navy blue serge or black cloth coatumef of not too heavy a. make ought with a little renovating and pressing to stand wear for a whole year. The neat coat sketched is suited also for wear off and on for the next season. It is made of smooth-surfaced but non spotting and un- shrinkable navy blue cloth, with the caoos and stole ends piped with scarlet silk. Many of the aeams are also treated in the same manner, and a further finish is given by the ornamental buttons. This style is smart and simple and sotted for a girl of six upwards. The hat which completes the costume is of navy blue felt with a red velvet bow under the brim and a long ostrich feather curling round the crown and over tha brim at the back. There are many very A Dinner Blouae. I pretty tones of brawn in which the coat would look very well, for, at present, brown is perhaps tbe moBt fashionable colour. Some of the most fashionable shades might almost be termed bronze, and some of tbem merge into curious greens, which are certainly novel if not par- ticularly pretty. A contrasting note of bright colour is generally introduced on these dull- toned toilettes and the moat popular as well as the most becoming is cherry, which, so it is whispered, will increase in favour as the spring advances. It is certainly a most pleasing colour, and i* equally becoming to the fair and the dark complexioned. On the Continent those who dine ont do not affect the decollate toilettes worn in this coontry, but prefer a style of dress which though equally smart exposes the wearer less to the disastrous consequences of a chill. A pretty blouse worn at a dinner in one of the best restaurants by an equally charming Parisienne was made in tho style sbown in my second sketch. The material employed was cerise pleated crepe de chine over silk, trimmed with bands of handsome silk embroidery. The neck: is cat slightly square to show the dainty throat, while the long semi-transparent sleeves A Useful Hat. I ate caught at the wrists into a band of the sin- broidery. The full frill in front i» edged with a narrow ruching of chiffon to match, and the full bodice is drawn in at the wrist by a folded band of velvet, The result is exceedingly chic, and the blouse has the advantage of looking smart with any skirt, although for preference I should advise, if possible, a skirt to match the colour of the blouse as faithfully as possible. If not, then black should be worn, but at present the correct thing, especially for restaurant or theatre wear, is to have the costume of one scheme of colonr, bodice and skirt harmonising. The useful bat sketched is of a style which is particularly becoming to a ronnd plump face It is made of white furry-surfaced felt with a large feather pom-pom to match. The brim, however, does not lend itself easily to the wear- ing of a veil, and therefore the complexion of the wearer must be able to withstand criticism, and be sufficiently flawless to obviate the necessity of a transparent veil. The weather of late has been so exceedingly unpleasant that it is a bold woman wbo ventures out of doors without a veil of some sort as one's hair gets so quickly damp and out of end, and, therefore, dishevelled. The new fashion of wearing the veil pulled round the brim of the bat and hanging ont from the face in certainly advancing in popularity, and oneaees some of the smartest women favouring this method. Very terrible, however, are the results when tumotl oat by a prentice hand. COQUETTE.

The Duke of Devonshire is the centml figure of a little story which Toby, believes he invented himselu The story rune that his Grace was so insufferably bared by one of hit own speeches in the House of Lords that he pansed to yawn for very weariness. The d'esprit was really Lord Ellenborough's. A very prosy speaker had the floor in the House, of Lorda. and paused to yawn. Come, come," aaid KUfinboro&h, the fellow does show some eymptomsof tqgte, -Ijut Ibis '1iI OR Ot»rpWTi»«»i £

Welsh Tit-Bits. Neu YVreichion Oddiar yr Eingion. BY CADRAWD. The Violin and the Crwth. We should at once inform our readers that the work just issued by aresident of "Tir Iarll," entitled British Violin Makers," does not in tbe least deal with the Welsh crwtb, but only with that well known foar-atringed instrument of brilliant tone and active execution, the violin, a word which stands alone for the treble violin. The Welsh crwth ia altogether of a different construction lind purpose and we are infomled by good authorities that the antiquity ot the Welsh crwth is such that it is believed to be a prototype of the violin. It has been disputed among the learned whether the viohn as now played with a bow, was known to the ancients. We have a distinct reference to the Welsh crwth in the Leges Wallicae." or the Laws of Howel tbe Good, tbe celebrated legislator of Wales, who became Prince of Deheubarth ou ths death of his father, Cadell ab Rhodri Mawr, in A.D. 907. and it is mentioned there as the second in rack of the \Velsh musical instru- ments. A bard of the fifteenth century gives an interesting description of it in tbp following lilies — Prend teg bwa a gwregis, Pont a brau, punt yw ei pris; A thalaith ar waith olwyn, A bwa. ar draws byr ei drwyn; Ac oi ganol mae dolen, A gwar hwn megis gwr hen Ac ar ei frest cvvvair frig, O'r masarn fa geir miwsic. Chwe yspigod o's codwn. > A dyna holl danau hwn; Chwe' tbant a gaed o fantais, AcynyHawynganlMs; Tant i bob bys ysbys oedd, A dau-dant i'r fawd ydoedd. We learn from its description by our highest, authority, Mr Edward Jcnas, Bardd y Brenin that the sound of the crwth was very melodious, and in his time it was frequently used as a tenor accompaniment to the triple harp. It is also said to be much more extensive in its compass than the violin, and capable of great perfection. The minstrels who played upon the violin, or crwth tri-tbant amonp the ancient Welsh, were not held in the same estimation and reepect as the bards of tbe harp and the crwth, because the three-stringed crwth did not admit of so much skill and harmony. It was played as the tenor or ba-as viol, and the two lower strings were struck with the thumb of the left hand, and served as a kind of bass accompa.niment to the notes played on the four strings with the bow. Very few specimens indeed are to be found at present of tbe Welsh crwtb, Sir John Williams, ot Llanstephan, has one, and another was exbi- bited at the South Kensington Museum, 'in 1872. It appears that the idea. of writing a book on British violins oceurred to the Rev. Meredyth Morris more than seven years ago, or, as ha expresses the subject, "British Violin Making: Classical and Modern;" and for that period he has studied the subject, and diapVayed much industry in collecting the necessary material for this important work. There are several books published on this same subject, such aa— "Violin Making, as it was and is," by Ed. Heron AHen; "Old Violins," by Fleming; Its famous makers and their imitators," by George Hart, &c., which did scant justica to oar English Classical School and they completely ignored the existence of a modern School; and the present effort is a successful Attempt to fill a distinct gap, for the English violin makers have been almost entirely forgotten by all previous authors who have written upon the violin. The first part of the book is devoted to a most interesting and instructive discussion of nearly every subject connected with the general craft of violin making, such as the model, the material, tbe varnish, the workmanship, and the tone," during the classical period of British violin making, which is almost conterminous witbtbe. eighteenth century, tbe prJDcipe.1 makers within this period being Parker, whose instruments are considered typical examples of British work of the classical period Dnke, a London maker of great fame, whoje violas are valued more on account of tbe excellent work- manship they exhibit than the quality of their tone Banks, who has deservedly been styled the English Amati whose "cremonas" seem to have been his ideal; and Forster, of Brampton and London, whose violins are considered the best type of British makers. It is with curiosity we note even with the best which are styled tbe British classical school of violin makers that so little originality is displayed and characterised the work of these old British makers, since we are to believe that they excelled as makers of the late and viol among all nations. Mr Morris is very enthusiastic about the British school, and believes that the best instru- ments made in the classical period are con- stantly improving in the quality of their tone, and tbat they IDcrease in value accordingly when properly handled, constantly used, and carefully looked after. He also believes that the high and exorbitani prices paid for old Italian instru- ments are due more to their age and preserva- tion than to any secrets which their renowned makers were possessed of and attributed to them. The modern British school of violin makers, we are informed by the author, is for the first time treated with the amplitude and respect which its importance demands, and the glorious art was never more alive in this country than it is to-day. The works of snch makers as Mayson, Whittiers, Gilbert. Atkinson, nesketh, Owen, Hurdi etc., witi be considered classics 150 years hence. He also maintains that the British school of to-day shows unmistakable signs of originality, which place them in line with the best Italian, French, and German makers. About a hundred and fifty high-class instruments were made in this country last year, which he attributes to the marvellous activity displayed in the world of art, and in nowhere in the kingdom this activity is so apparent as in the land of banks and braes." There are about sixty Scotch violin makers, professionals and amateurs, at present in these isles. Chapters of uncommon interest precede a most valuable biographical sketch of violin and bow makers, on the characteristics of the workmanship, wood, otc., of the violin bridges, classical and modern theories about Stradivari's tone, etc., etc, In the biographies we can only find two Welsh violin makers—Benjamin Williams, of Aber- avon, 1768-1833. A joiner by trade, and was buried in Michael-super-Avon Churchyard, but there is no stone io mark his grave. The few specimens existing of Williams's make show that ha was a man who could handle his tools well. One of these is in the possession of Mr Morris, whose collection of violins of different types and schools numbers abont two score. We are told by his biociapher that Williams obtained his wood for making violins—the pine from abroad, and tbe sycamore from the Margam Woods. The following Welsh-known fiddlers are said to have played upon violins made at Aberavon Ianto or Garth, Deio Llantrissant, and Levi Gibbon, of Fishguard. Williams him- self was an excellent fiddler, bnt not a rambler. Henry Whitesidt, a native of Liverpool, who appears to have occupied his time when quite yonntrinnddle-making, though an engineer by profession, came to Solfain West Pembrokeshire when about 26 years of age, and was the famous builder of the Smalls Lighthouse," and a cen- tury ago he figured as the maker of musical in- struments. He spent bis life at Solfa from the time be came there, and married one of the daughters of Wilham Bevan, who kept the Old Ship in that village, both of whom he buried in Whitchurch. Tradition tells us that he was a man of commanding personality, and that at tbe landing of tbe French in Pembrokeshire he led a party of volunteers to oppose them. It is also said that be often went out to the cliffs during a storm and tuned his fiddle to the wail of the wind. At one time nearly every farm-house in tbe neighbourhood of Sotfa. and St. David's pos- sessed a violin, or harpsichord, made by White- side. Mr Morris has inherited a violin by Henry Whiteside, the only specimen of this maker's art known to exist at present. Both this and the one made by Benjamin Williams, of Aver- afan, he is prepared to hand over to the National Maaeutn of Wales if we are ever fortunate enough in securing snch an institution, I trust that we ehalloot have long to wait before we agree in bringing this vexed question to an in- telligent issue. I am very confident that we lose J thaa mon fiiw v hope to gain. These patriotic offers do not last long, and our national institution must suffer in consequence of our petty jealousy. The book as a whole is of the deepest interest to all lovers of the violin, and especially to those who take an interest in the history and construc- tion of the king of instruments. We are forciblv struck with the originality of the volume, and the lucid style in which the author treats the whole subject. The illustrations are an impor- tant feature, and no trouble seems to have been spared ir obtaining photographs of the best specimens of e..ch maker's violins, and the fac- similes of labels are most valuable and instruc- tive. There are some 70 of these given in the book, and a great number of portraits of various makers.

Illustrated Humour. I can't bear that Mn Torker. She knows too much. It is not what she knows bat what she wants to know and is trying to learn that annoys me. Parker: WhatawronK? You seem worried. Streeter: I am. I wrote two notes-one to my broker asking him.. it he took me for an idiot, and the other to Miss Golding asking her if she would be mine. While, I was out somebody telephoned Yes," and J don't know which of 'em it was. Paid For. Dyspepsia Specialist (irritably): But, nfftdam, I yon must chew your food. What wazecyour teeth given you for? Female Patient (calmly); They weren't given to me. I bonght 'em. Mr Richman You have a handsome young man named De Ribbon in your employ I nnder- stand. He is engaged to my daughter, and I'd like you to do me a favoar. Merchant: Certainly, my old friend. Want him advanced, eh ? No, I want him kept just where be ia until my daughter gets tired of waiting for him to be able to marry." Dm- how long will that be?" About six weeks," Great reforms are seldom accomplished without bloodshed," was the consoling thought of the young who began to shave himself. Intimate. Golding (who has Riven his consent) I hope, young man, that you know the value of the prize yon will get in my daughter? Young Man Well er-no, sir; 1 don't know the exact value, but as near as I can find out it's in the neighbourhood of £ 5,000. Slimpurse (airily): Aw, tae good man, is it customary to tip waitahs beab ? Head Waiter (condescendingly) Not unless you are richer than the waiter, air. Doctor," she said, archly, "some physicians say kissing isn't healthy. What do you think of it ?" Well, really," replied the handsome young doctor, I don't think you or I should attempt to decide that offhand". Let's put our heads together and consider." All Square. I She (sweetly): What bsaufcuui roEss-:o fresh. Is that dew on them? He (haughtily) There is nothing tiue on them. Salesman (recommeiadinM blue necktie with large pink spots) But wouldn't you like one likethat9 J'm selling a lot of them this year. Sarcastic Customer; Indeed! Very clever of you, I'm sure. Undertaker (to gentleman) Are you one of the mourners? Gentleman (sadly): Yes, he owed me one hun- dred pounds. And them's what folks call handsome are they," said a farmer as ne watched a couple of hansom cabs rolling down the street. Well, I wonder wbat they'd think if they could see my new waggou with red wheels." Called and Left his Mark, Jadge Have you no regular calling ? Prisoner Why, sure, Judge; I m a regnlar caller at several houses lound YOnr way. The chalk-mark e on yoar front gate, too, if you evor noticed. Father It's singular that whenever I want you to marry a man yon object, and whenever I don't want yoa to marry one you istraightway insist on it. Daughter; Yes, dad; and whenever we're agreed the man objects. I bear there is another rapture of Mount Vociferous," said Mre Partington, as she put on her specs. The paper tells us about the burn- ing lather running down the mountain, but it don't tell bow it got afire." "Pal" Now what do you want?" Will my bair fall off when it's ripe-jike yours ?'' An old lady who bore bet; years remarkably well was asked by a. child if she was young or old. My dear, I lm« feSOff TWVg ;Ytfjy>9Pg -.tUMl'StlMWiift).

SCIENCE AND HEALTH By Dr. ANDREW WILSON, F.R.S.E., So. Some Curious Brain Phases. A reader of this column recently referred in a letter to me to Cttrtain curious phases of the brain in which be was extremely interested. These phases he styled as being of a mystical character, a phase to which I have a very strong objection when it is applied in cases relating to a plain study of physiological science. If a person who does not understaod the reason or cause of any serious phenomena admits bis ignorance of the same, such a proceeding is very different from that of the man who terms anything mysterious or mystica', seeing that the latter expression conveys the notion that its solution may be beyond the powers of humpn intelligence. The phases to which my reader refers are those repre- sented by that state or condition of brain in which a person brought face to face with certain circumstances anpears instinctively to recall the memory of like circumstances having teen pre- viously represented in his existence. To take a concrete example, a person visits a place in the neighbourhood of which he has never been. It may be the case of a person visiting a foreign country for tbe first time, nor is it an instance of a person visiting some place or other of which he may have previously beheld photographs. The person visiting a strange place under such cir- cnmstEinces is haunted by what we may term a strange sense of familiarity. To put it plainly, in the language of a certain person whom I once heard describe his symptoms, it seems as if I had been there before." The reviving of a Riemory which could have no possible foundation in fact thus appears strange enough, I admit, That it is mysterious or inexplicable is, however, quite another thing. The Literature of the Subject. The literature of this subject is extremely wide and varied. Poets, novelists, and scientists alike have referred to the mental state in question. A few quotations mav interest my readers in this respect. Charles Dickens, in David Copper- field." speaks of a feeling which comes over us occasionally .of what we are seaing or doing hav ing been done in a remote time, of our having been surrounded dim ages ago by the same visit, objects, and circumstances—of our knowing per- fectly well what will be said next as if we sud- denly remembered it. A modern novelist, Thomas Hardy, in hia book entitled A Pair of Blue Eyes, remarks that "everybody is familiar with those strange sensations we sometimes have that our life for the moment exists in duplicate, that we lived through that immediate before or shall agai!1." Sir Walter Scott, in "Gay Mannering," says, "bow often do we find ourselves in society which we have never before met, and yet feel impressed with the mys- terious, ill-defined consciousness that neither the scene nor the object is entirely new nay, we feel as if we could anticipate tb.t part of the conversation which has not yet taken place." The poets in their turn as might be expected, have likewise dealt with this curious mental state. Tennyson's lines in his Two Phases may be quoted as an intance or example of tbe poetic expression: Moreover, something is or seems That touches me with mystic gleams, Like glimpses of forgotten dreams A something felt, like something here Of something done I know not where Such as no lauguage may declare." Russell Lowell also in his turn remarks— And now sometimes we sesm to end, In a dark crevice of the mind, Some relic which long pondered o et, Hence faintly bad a life before." An Explanation. Lowell's opinion would eeem here to take the direction of explaining the mental state as being explained by tbe appearance or reviving of a memory of some past state of existence. It is the same with Wordsworth, who speaks of a strange fancy which Seems a mere semblance of some unknown past," Mixed with such faiths as perplex the soul Half questioned in its sleep And some have said We lived ere yet this robe of flesh we wore." This opinion would practically amount to a re- viving of the old doctrine of the transmigration of souls an idea we know still represented in cer- tain Eastern religions. The idea that the soul of each oi us may have inhabited anosher body in a previous state of existence, and that even memories of that previous state are projected, so to speak, into our present existence is a view of matters wbich may commend itself certainly to the mystic but wbich can receive no support or maintenance from science. The fact of the matter is that the mental states in question are very common to certain types of mind They are frequently found in persons of highly imaginative temperament. It is also known tbat they may be associated with manifestations of that nervous disease which is known under the name of epi- lepsy. In this case. of coarse, the disease is of a very minor character, and 088 might perhaps be more correct in referring the phenomena in question to a brain which, whilst not actually affected with the disease, nevertheless may be said to have what I may call an epileptic bias. Certain physiologists have termed the phenomena we are discussing tbat of dreamy mental states, and there can be no doubt thit such a phrase fairly describes the particular type of brain in the working of which tbe phenomena in question are typically exhibited. I think, however, wf may nnd an explanation that ia consistent with what is at present known to the physiologist of the organ of mind. To my way of thinking, this explanation is one of a highly interesting character. Most of my readers know that the chief part of the brain, or cerebrum, presents us with two lobes or hemispheres. These are separated one from the other down to a certain level, where we find them to be con nected by a cross band or bridge of fibres from the one side passing into the other, and vice versa. It is also a common fact of elementary physiology that each half of the body is governed by the opposite side of the brain, so that as we are right-handed we are practically left brained. The left half of the brain governing the compli- cated movements of the right hand, and what is more to the point being associated with the power of speech (for we exercise the power of speech by the left half of the brain alone) stands out as the superior of the two lobes. We may consider tbat in ordinary mental acts both halves of the brain are concerned because each exhibits in its frontal region the seat of highest brain work, at in other words of that conscious- ness which forms the characteristic feature of human life. If, however, we suppose it to be possible that some difference in the time of ac- tion of the two halves of the hrain takes place, we may then be prepared to account for certain phases of our mental life. If we suppose that one half of the brain acts out of time with the other we can readily see that a certain disturbance of our ment&.1 life, ot no great account it is true, but still real enough, may take place I think the peculiar mental action whereby we occasion- ally fancy that an entirely new set of circum- stances is invested with a strange sense of farniliaritv-" as if we had been there before in fact—may be explained on the ground of this want of harmony in point of time between the two halves of the brain. An Example. Suppose, for example, I enter a place abso- lutely unfamiliar to me, a place I bad never visited before. Furthermore, let me suppose, to make the matter thoroughly exact, a locality of whicb I have never even seen a photograph, and one in which I have bad no special interest. If 1 am struck on entering this place with a strange sense of familiarity with the surroundings, what I conceive happens in the couree of my brain action is that one half of my brain acts out of time with the other. That half with ordinary rapidity takes in, so to speak, the whole details. I have, therefore, practically registered a con- sciousness of my surroundings. If, now, we suppose the other half of the brain comes into action, it may be a mere fraction of a second behind the other it, passing through the same order of events, develops a eecond consciousness. It is thesecolld consciousness which, appreciated by the first, appears to me as a memory of some thing I have seen before. In reality I have seen that something before, bat only by a there frac- tion of a second. It is in this way we may satis- factorily account for the peenliar phenomena, to which, as I have already said. not merely scien- tific, but lay writers have frequently referred. If we can suppose that many such memories are cherished, we may understand how the life of a single individual may come to present a whole series of what we may term these false memories. With regard to anticipating conversation, one must necessarily place less relianceupon this de- tail than upon the others' mentioned, and this for the plain reasop that it is perfectly possible in many cases to forecast the tenor and gist of, say, a person's reply to a question, or his par- ticular attitude regarding any subject which is in process of dissuasion. The typical cases of the brain phenomena I have been discussing are really those in wbich we appear to acquire curious memories of events, places, and the like, con- sidering these to be, what, of course,they are not, repetitions of similar events or memories of similar places visited in what the poet might be tempted to sail a previous state of existence. Epilepsy and Genius. Speaking of the epileptic type of twain, it ts.\y be interesting to add that whiht insane persons may be epileptic it would be very far from cor- rect to assert that all epileptics are necessarily insane. On the contrary I should remind my readers that the epileptic type of brain ia one fre- quently associated with very high and cultured mental powers Some of the greatest leaders the world has ever known have been epileptics. There is no doubt that Julius 01llBar was an epileptic. Napoleon L is well known to have suffered from epileptic seizures. I believe there is a fair amount of evidence to show that Cromwell exhibited occasional symptoms of this trouble, whilst in the case of certain of the poets, < statesmanship and war, the epileptic tendency has been exhibited There is nothing neces- sarily foreign to physiological fact in the idea that an epileptic type of brain may be associated with the want of unison in the working cf the two hemispheres of the brain on which I have founded my views regarding the phenomena we have been discussing.

THE HOUSEHOLD. The pretty pipe rack sketched here is made from cardboard and covered with white velvet, trimmed with scarlet and green. To make it procure two pieces of cardboard, half a yard of white velvet, one eighth of scarlet, a small piece of green, some white sateen, twelve gold and six silver eequins, and one yard of ribbon. Com- mence by cutting two pieces of card the shape shown in the sketch and measuring Ili inches by nine inches. Cover one of them with the white velvet and the other with sateen. Take the scarlet velvet and make a band two and a half inches wide sew this across the palette. Take the green velvet, ana make three small gathered loops sew these across the scarlet velvet band, with two gold and one silver sequins at each side of the gathered loops. Now sew on the other card, previously covered with sateen, take the ribbon and make a bow at each end, and sew to the palette. Those who appreciate the pleasant odour of lavender—and who does not like the good old A ^iovel Pips Rack. j English perfnme ?—will be glad to have my I second sketch this week, which shows a muslin bag to hold the dried blossom. Such little bags are more easily made than almost any other kind of sachet, and they are as welcome at bazaars as they are when used for small gifts. The simplest way of making lavender bags is to buy a plain sack of book muslin, which is sold ready traced for working. There is a deep heading, as in any other bag, and a white cord drawstring, finished at the ends with tassels serves to apparently close the top. In reality, there should be a servicable length of cord which can be drawn up tightly, then twisted two or three times rornd and tied firmly. Unless the opening is ',veIl closed the lavender will soon find its way ont and will crumblo to dust in a very short time. A good plan is to tie a piece of narrow tF. pe. or fine white twine 01 cord, tightly round the neck of the bag, to close it and to do the real work of securing the contents. Then, over this, shonld be placed a. piece of ornamental ribbon which can be tied in a smart bow in the front of the bap and secured with a few stitches. A spray or two of lavender may be traced for embroidery on the muslin, and by using ribbon of the correct colour a wonderfully life-lifie copy may be made of the actual blossoms. The bow, which forms a very important part of the design, may be arranged by laying down real ribbon on the tracing, and catching in to the muslin with tiny stitches, matching it exactly in colonr. Pale Pink would A LavAitdar Rag in Muslin. I look exceedingly pretty near the heliotrope flowers. The stems, and such leaves as aie shown, should be followed with a few stitches of bluish-green silk. To make the handy string box depicted yon require a piece of cardboard, a small piece of plush, and a piece of silk of the same colour, or of some shade that contrasts well with it. Cover the cardboard with the plush on one side, and line the other with the silk rather tightly, so that it may not wrinkle when the points are caught up. Finish it off all round with silk cord of the same colour as the plush, leaving a. loop at one point. Work a buttonhole loop at each of the three remaining points. Place the ball of string in the holder and put the cor<? loop through the other three, if it is meant to hang up. If the string holder is intended to stand on a table, only the cord loop should be made, and the corners should be caught together with a few stitches. In that case it will have to be ripped open every time a new ball ia required. A friend of mine jnst returned from Rome has given me some very good Italian recipes for the cooking of inarcaroni. One of these describes bow to serve it with sauce. Put in a saucepan three ounces of I&rd, one onion cut very bne, and one pound of tomatoes, tinned or fresh season with salt and pepper cook on a hot fire for half an hour, stirring constantly. When done pour halt a tumbler of water in the tomato sauce. In another vessel put three quarts of water when boiling, take one pound of macaroni and boil for fifteen or twenty minutes. Drain off the water, and pat in a large dish, scatter over A Useful String Box. j the macaroni one tablespoonful of grated I Parmesan cheese, and pour over the tomato sauce. Serve hot. Then there is macaroni a la gratin. Boil one pound of macaroni r then put in a large hot bowl take two tablespoonfuls of butter and put it in a small pan on the stove take two slices of toast, mash very fine pat the crumbs of toast in the pan with the butter turn for a few minates put the macaroni in. Stir all together for a few minutes more season it with salt and pepper, and serve hot I can recommend macaroni with eggs. Boil one pound of macaroni, and put in a pan take one egg, beat well, one cupful of milk, and mix together: pour it over the macaroni, season with salt and pepper turn it all together and put it in a hot oven when brown out it on a hot plate and serve. Macaroni with butter, too, is very palatable. As much macaroni as you wish should be boiled then put on t hot plate. Take one tablespoonful of butter and beat in a cup on tbe stove pour it over the macaroni, with a little grated Permesan cheese, salt and pepper, and serve hot, I think the following simple instructions for the successful frying of fish'will be of use to many housewives Having well cleaned and nicely washed the fish dry it completely. It is best to wrap it in a clean cloth. Dip the fish into beaten egg, then screen with fine breadcrumbs. Broad that has been dried in the oven should be pounded and then passed through a fine sieve over the fish. See that there is enough boiling fat in the pan, so that the fish may be well covered. The pan should be a thick-bottomed one, and the fat must be fresh and sweet. It may be used twice, bat must have some fresh added each time. The liquor, when used, should be poured whilst hot into a basin of cold water. then all sediments pass to the bottom, and can be easily removed when the fat is again required, ETHEL. j

Be: There goes a couple who would be only too glad to have a skeleton in their cnpboMd.— She: Why, how is that?-He: WeU. yon see, tbey bad one there and it got ont I He Liked Exercise.—Two yokels carrying guns, one with a licence, tbe other witbont, were suddenly confronted by a suspicious policeman. The first man immediately bolted closely fol- lowed by Robert An exciting cba&e for nearly two miles over wet, heavy, recently-ploughed fields, ended in the runaway being overtaken. Now, my man, where is your licence ?" It was promptly produced. Then why on earth did you run away "Becaaae I like exercise. liat [teJmoin r.I

WELSH GLEANINGS. The Dean of Hereford will address a meeüAI of the Abercam Temperance Union on sa. David's Day. At a Conservative meeting at Barry tbe other evening a local Tory, in seconding the resolution confirming the action of tbe Government in connection wIth Chinese labonr, gave bie experience of Chinamen in the West Indies, and declared that they were worthless as labourers, and bad to be sent home again. The opposition element thereupon cheered, and the surprised speaker was told sotto voce that the resolution was to favour Chines* labour. Then I can't do that," he repliad, whereat the opposition roared with glee. Mr A. Henderson, M.P., who sooke at Cardiff on Sunday, is a type of Labour member that would satisfy the most fastidious. His aspirates are as sound ss his fiscal opinions, and hie grammar is beyond reproach. Unlike not a few Labonr members; be does not play to the gallery, while he can grasp the 2"Leot poiots of a ques- tion and knows how to present them forcibly to bis audience. He told his Cardiff andience, for instance, that the Government were making white slaves at home ana yellow ones abroad— an oratorical stroke worthy of John Bright him- self. Celtia announces that Professor Zimmer, the great Berlin Celtologiat, who has been ill of late, bas now completely recovered. He is staying a.t Halensee, near Berlin, and is lecturing as usual at the university. He is making an effort to replace his library, which was destroyed by fire last year. The Royal Irish Academy and other bodies have placed their publications at hia disposal. The Celtic Association offered him half its own library, and he replied choosing 25 volumes. He was written to in Irish and be replied in perfect Welsh, promising at the time to attend the Carnarvon Pan-Celtic Congress. The rebuilding of the Mountain Ash Town Hall is fraught with inconveniences. Recently the councillors met in a vestry chapel, and now we learn from the Merthyr Express that they have skipped from the vestry to the public- house. I say that without prejudice, as the lawyers call it, Overwhelmed with the incon- veniences of their last mseting-place, they held tbeir last meeting as the education authority in the spacious coffee-room of the Duffryo Hotel, and even the most violent temperance man (again said without prejudice) could not fail to agree that tbe accommodation here was a vast improve- ment on that of the veatry. Even the reporters had a table, hung with nice drapery, and a lady', boudoir could not have been more comfortable. Honour te a Welshman. Stockton Town Council has decided to confer the freedom of the borough upon Alderman Jonathan Snmusl for his services to the com- munity during the past quarter of a century. Mr Samuel is a native of Victoria. Ebbw Vale, and began life at tbe Ebbw Vale Iron Works at the age of 10. Between 1895 and 1900 he repre. sented Stockton in Parliament, and was Mayor of the borough in 1894. Rus in Urbe. Professor Sadler during bis recent tour through Wales, stated that if the life of the great towas is to be kept vigorous it can only be by recruit- ing from the country—bringing into the ex. hausted Hfe of cities the fresh blood and untapperf brain force wbich are produced among the hilh in the oountry. What a splendid intellectual feeding ground Wales reptesents. Its virgiB mind and coaracter couut as one of the greatest national assets, and now that the Welsh Colleger are in need of grants, a Government whict understands its highest duties will see that sacfc an asset is not lost owing to a sense of short- sighted petty economy. Brynmawr Nonagenarians. Four deaths have occurred during the present month in Brynmawr district of persons ocerSC years of age, the aggregate of their ages being 354 years, an opportune reassurance to those who were staggered by the high death-rate- 56 per 1.000 pet annum—at this exposed altitude for the past month. On February 8th Martha Stokes, King- street, died at the age of 91 February 17th, William Bush, King-street, aged 93 February 24th, Ann James, Worceetei-street, agad90; and on February 24th the remains of Ann Phillips, Wincbestown, near Brynmawr, were interred at Brynmawr, deceased having attained the age 01 90 years. The Leek in Wales. It is rather a surprise to find in the High Church magazine, The Trea.aury," so pleasant an article on The Leek in Wales" as thaf which Mrs Agnes A. Hilton has written. Sbt; goes back to the days when Welsh and Saxonf were at war, and when St. David, bidding hir followers wear the leek to distinguish them from the enemy, prayed to God that tbey might con- quer. Tis for this reason, she says, that thf leek is the chosen flower of Wales—is it really t flower or a vegetable ?—and she quotes some quaint old lines :— 1 like the Leeke above all herbes and ftowers- When first we wore the same the field war. oars The Leeke is white and greene, whereby il ment Thar Britons are both stout and eminent. Next to the lion and tbe unicorne The Leeke's the fairest emblym that is WOln.

Songs for the People. T Andrew Fletcher fit Saltoua, in a letter to tvj Ifaranis of Montrose, wrote :—" I know < very wisf tnamthae believed that It a man were .er¡;¡¡itk¡ It make all the ballads he need art eare wae SBMUt make the taws ef the aatisn." THE OLD YEAR'S GIFTS. Rich gift of God! A year of time! What pomp of rise and shut of day What hues wherewith our Northern clime Makes autumn's dropping woodlands gay: What airs outloom from ferny dells, And clover blooms and sweetbrier soieUs What songs of trooks and birds, what fruits an4 flowers, Green woods and moonlit enow, have in its rotnw been oan John G. Whittitt.

A KNOT OF RIBBON. A boot of dainty ribbon, That decked a tnowy gown. And hid in the soft thick ringlets Of sunny golden-brown. Oh, little face with the glimmer :1f love in your sweet blue eyes, That were deep as tbe waves of oeeaa. And bright as the summer skim. To think you are gone for ever. Resting alone in your grave; While over you mossy piIJew The wild rose garlands wave. Did tbe roses spring from yonr lips, dMift Those lips so sweet and red? Are you ever lonely now. love, Down in your quiet bed ? I have nothing left but the ribbon, And a tress of the soft brown httf| To tell of the gentle maiden Who "as once so sweet and fait, A knot of half-worn ribboo, So dim and faded now < Ah, me the sod is lying Above the wearer's brow.

THE BACHELOR'S WISH, (" The Bachelor's Wish was written bv Alfret Wheeler when be was twenty-two jears oM and published in a volume of verse in Net York. Mr Wheeler is still living.) Wanted a wife, To sweeten lite. By a bachelor young and healthy | I do not care, So the lady be fair, How poor she may be or wealthy. She must not be tall, Nor yet very small, But beantifal, gentle, and yooQg; With eye* that are bright And a heart that is light. And one who can bridle her tongue. With a soul full of love, And as pare as r deve, And a form that is slender anA-ahy With a voice like a bird's, Though of not many words, And as light on her foot as a fairJ. And when I can find One just to my mind, was Who !t love me sincerely and IW, teanrar I vow not to leave her, Nor harm her nor grieve 1Ier"