The Cardiff Times

EXTENSION OF PREMISES. GREAT CLEARANCE SALE NOW PROCEEDING. OETZMAOT&Co. 67, 69, 71, 73, 75, 77, AND 79, HAMPSTEAD-ROAD, LONDON (Near Tottenham Court-road and Gower-street Station). SHILLING CAB FARES from Charir.g-cross, lp -cr" S Euston, Kiries-cross, St. Pancras, and Waterloo Stations, Regent-street, and Piccadilly-circus. SPECIAL SALE CATALOGUE POST FREE 4100

WORKMEN'S TOPICS. BY MABON, M.P. The Associated Chambers of Commerce. hae Associated Chambers of Commerce (jo r somewhat the same relation to the n ^ercial classes as the Trades Union Egress bears to the working classes. The is composed of representative com- men and the other of representative men- Each body exists to protect Promote the interests of the classes ji ePresente, for the interests of the two 4jj 8es are intimately connected, if not in ,respec(s identical; the proceedings and the bodies have a special interest for bee members of the other besides and j°nd what they have for the whole com- The Associated Chambers of ^^lercehas just held their annual congress »s th* n" Their programme was not so big j^t* Trades Congress; and its ,*6. were not so numerous and pro- They seem to have got through all L ,lr ,business in, about two days, not ti CIUClng, of course, the receptions, festivi- and entertainments with which such rt!8 a^e now honoured by the people belH 6 c^es which the meetings are I have observed that in some quar- fjfrs the inference drawn from the number subjects to be dealt with is a sign that b c°mmercial classes of this country have l few grievances— few, at least, which jafcey feel justified in calling upon the Legis- to remove. Were it really so, it ha we^- But we reasonably may tim6 SOme doubts about this, and had the es been little less prosperous than he»^ are Present» we would undoubtedly v: f others that have been heard of pre- tec° hut were not touched upon at the SQJt1* Congress. From what is known of th -e the principal representatives thereat, re lr &ction in the matter, like others which Wa.i'eSent 'he staple trades, even in South dee eS' Was o0vernec^ more by what they *the inopportunity of the times to dis- heirgrievances than any pretence athav- tO grievances to discuss. The truthfulness will fee made evident when the next ^essi°n in trade arrives. However, those pte^eC^S ^hat were actually dealt with were ijj ^euiinently practical, and were dealt with a Pre-eminently practical manner. IJN FUTURE PROSPECTS or TRADE, JUJ.; Conference was presided over by our del! friend, Colonel Hill, M.P., who Jlnaugura^ address. The first to which the president addressed da "Was one in which we are all, working as well as the commercial classes— of s*y interested. The question was that fUtu Prospect trade in the immediate t}^8re' and it is encouraging to find that W c.0natnercial expert was able to speak in °PirT terms on this subject. In his tion • there is no indication of any cessa- fl0 .ll1 the tide of prosperity which has been f°r some time. During the six had • ending in June last the imports ^creased £ 5,364,782, and the exports to £ 4,626,766. Taking the two WT this leaves in round numbers, an te^se of £ 750,000, which Colonel Hill 48 not; unsatisfactory. He regarded teturns of the tonnage of the vessels tyjT^d and cleared for the ports of the Kingdom up to the same date as « Pporting the same conclusion. Although had been some falling off, ^ere was yet an enormous amount the good. While they were almost b2^>000 tons less than 1890, they were l^'OOo tons more than in 1889. The foreign li*1 bating trade in the six months O\1nted to 56,700,000 tons. No less than cent, of this tonnage had been in British and only 23 per cent, in vesse's* These figures the Colonel Stained, showed no occasion for fcjJ?11, He, like others, was afraid Uj. our trade was likely to suffer l)fore or less .from the great wave a P'otection which was at present passing the nations, European as well as jj^rican. This difficulty, however, they th *° f&ce' and he did not doubt but that J* Would do so manfully, and with ulti- tje 16 success. This, however, would largely tyi^Qd upon the attitude of Labour mean- capital and Labour go hand in fcoSether, uncontrolled and unrestricted, their commerce would still flourish th^Pite of all difficulties. They all sympa- with the desire of Labour to obtain xtself the easiest terms, but if the cost of L ^ction was increased they would not aMe to sell. RP, THE ATTITJDE OF LABOUR. Hnd e colonel's structure is all very well, the ^mosfc perfectly correct. As said, even Trades Union Congress could not find with it. But unfortunately it punted to so very little. It was un- "etiona le because so vague and general, 0o, *?r the same reason it settles nothing. t}j '.Hill, however, expressed the hope that r°yal Commission on Labour would do "eh good Hill evidently sees that success in llig with future commercial difficulties very much on the attitude of ^he Supposing the Colonel was asked b question, "Why on the attitude of UoUr more than that of Capital ?" the j^^er would be, Because Labour of late it become much more exacting than to be in "the good old times "— 4jes> Unawares to himself, giving working tjJ? a stalwart lesson upon the value of tn e organisation. Let capital and Labour 'hi in hand. Quite so; and the way for (J Mutual excursion will be made clear when tjJ^tal is prepared to act upon the principle 1 Labour is a partner with itself the joint production of the world's t}J~th, and that it has an inherent w « an e<luitable share in the joint to 8 the partnership. Then if Capital tj not see its way clear to admit the jus- HtK ^his proposition, it cannot expect not to meet with obstacles that will L the progress of the proposed hand-in- Ijlp march that is to overcome the ^?cUlties of successful and flourishing fyjj^erce. That being so, it is f^e that future successful com- depends not only upon the attitude iu our, but that of capital also. With all tesP0cb t° the sympathy, with the de- l6 °f Labour to obtain for itself the easiest r48, the Colonel should know that it is understood that the sale of an article ijP^ds no more on the cost of the produc- tif thereof than on the minimum amount the Capitalist is willing to accept i^on. If the Colonel and other Capital- ^ill continue in the belief that profits any given time are a definite on which wages cannot encroach, tltt; (in. he can be prepared to expect that, in (Q 11.1'e, Labour will not be so complaisant as ^jpye up portions of its wages so that the -Vaoy of an average rate of profits may be 111 tamed. Evidently capitalists' profits, lit; the future, will have to depend for IlIf amount more on the varying degrees business skill and efficiency of er7' than on the varying degrees of paid to Labour. Moreover, the days O^controlled, unrestricted Labour are fast lfig to an end. A HOST OF RESOLUTIONS. ^fter the President's address the Confer- proceeded to business, and at the same Ing passed one resolution asserting the t?8ifcy a1ueuding the law with regard Va? rating of hereditaments containing Winery another deploring that the Acts Prising the relating to companies are so intricate, and instructing the u cutive council to urg0 Up0n the kt rivernment the necessity of passing, tl1 an early date, an Act certifying law upon the subject; another Vr]f8ting the Execatiye Council to take the j 'stePs to have t'ie companies Acts so lidded that the onus of prosecuting limited companies failing to make' annual I as required bylaw, should be placed u the Government, and not oil the public as now; another urging the necessity of the codification of the law of the United Kingdom; affirming the desirability of extending the jurisdiction of County Courts in large centres of population another advocating a reform in the present system of private bill legislation, and a series of resolutions sug- gesting various reforms in Post-office rates and arrangements. This is quite a host of important resolutions, and we can fairly infer from the fact that so many were passed at one sitting that there was very little difference of opinion respecting them. COMMERCIAL UNION. However, a subject of a more critical and contentious character was before the Conference on the second day. This was the subject of commercial union between this country and our colonies. This resolution was introduced by Sir Albert Rollit, M.P., who moved "That it is ex pedient that practical arrangements should, if possible, be devised to secure better com- mercial union between the mother country and her dependencies, and that the members heartily approve of the forthcom- ing Congress towards this important end." Sir Albert, in moving this resolution, declared that he was a Free Trader, and that the resolution should not be regarded as Protection in disguise. He felt that unless the Colonies could be bound to the mother country by a bond of common interest, mere sentiment would be ineffective to procure the perpetuation of their ends. He had to confess that to carry out the purport of the resolution would involve the foregoing of our Free Trade policy to a certain degree. If this led to an infinitesimal rise in the price of certain commodities, the sacrifice would be repaid by cheaper Colonial produce. The question, he believed, had come within the range of practical politics, and he regarded it as the question of the day. After considerable discussion the resolution was unanimously adopted, with a rider pledging the Associa- tion to collect the commercial and statistical information necessary to the determination of the question involved. The adoption of this resolution might be, and probably will be, construed as indicat- ing a tendency towards Fair Trade and reciprocity on the part of our commercial classes. Free Traders, however, need not be alarmed. For probably there was not a member of that Congress who would not be an immediate loser if this country were to depart from the Free Trade policy upon which its commerce is based. Hence the first law of nature (self) will preserve us from any Fair Trade evil doings on the part of our commercial classes.

THE BOOZING BRIGADE. THE figures which are given in a return just issued relating to convictions for drunkenness during 1890 are decidedly interesting when tested by comparison. There are three columns in the return. The first gives the population, the second the convictions on Sundays between 12.30 and midnight, and the third at any other time." The county of Glamorganshire is estimated at 456,718, the Sunday drunken- ness was 843, and "at any other time," 3,982, giving a total of 4,825. Compare this with the three following counties :— L9 Population. Sundays. Week days. Total. Warwick!! 290,691 162 1,071 1,233 Stafford 867,262 631 6,516 7,147 Durham 685,307 998 9,775 ..10,773 I have chosen these 4bree counties because they are similar in characteristics to Glamorganshire. It will be observed that, taking into account the population, drunken- ness is more prevalent both on Sundays and week days in Glamorganshire than in Warwickshire or Staffordshire. While in Durham on Sundays it is slightly less, it is considerably more on week days. Now let us compare Cardiff with other similar towns. PoDuIat'n. Sundays. Week-days. Tl. Cardiff 128,849 27 751 778 Newcastle 186,315 210 3,388 3,598 Portsmouth 159,255 9 266 275 Sunderland 130,921 52 1,107 1,159 I have not space for other sea ports, but 1 may say from a casual glance that no port, big or small, compares favourably with Cardiff except Portsmouth. The state of the north-eastern ports may be gauged by Newcastle and Sunderland they are fair examples. The total population of Wales is estimated at 1,513,193. the Sunday convic- tions at 1,269, and the week-day at 8,981. The county of Lancaster is almost exactly the same population, but not so rural, as the whole of Wales. Its figures are-Sundays, 1,888; week-days, 11,266.

THE WELSH LANGUAGE AND MEDICAL DEGREES. TO THE EDITOR. SIR,—The Welsh language has of late been coming into more prominence, and I am very glad to find that the Royal Colleges of Physicians and Surgeons in Ireland have now adopted the Welsb language as one of the optional subjects for the medical preliminary examinations in general education. This is the first time, in the history cf the profession that the Welsh language has been recognised and placed on a par with the French, German, and other languages. When over in Dublin for my diploma in State Medicme and Public Health I was asked by eome of the professors why the Welsh did not patronise the Irish colleges and hospitals more generally. The only reply I could give was that the Welsh students, owing to their nationality, were under the impression that they would not be so well treated in Ireland as they are by the English and Scotch Colleges. As the tendency of examinations is to become more difficult, the recognition of our language by the colleges in Ireland will be hailed with delight by many a Welsh lad, as it will enable him to de- vote more time to the other subjects which are required to be passed. It may be interesting to future candidates to know that at the last ex- amination a portion of the Welsh Bible was given, with grammar questions thereon.—I am, &c., ROLAND WILLIAMS, Surgeon. Holyhead, Oct. 3, 1891.

WELSH LORD MAJORS. Under the title of "Justice to Wales," Mr John J. Stocken writes, pointing out that Mr Alderman Evans, the Lord Mayor-Elect, is not by any means the first Welshman who has been chosen as Chief Magistrate of the City of London. So far from this being the case, the Principality has, as far as concerns tho Mayoralty of London, turned its hand upon its Saxon conquerors, and succeeded in securing rather more than its fair share of metropolitan honours. Mr Stocken sends us a list of eight Welsh Lord Mayors, commencing with Sir James Yerford (or Yarford), son of William Yerford, cf Kidwellj', Carmarthen (1519), and ending with Robert Waithman, of Wrexham (1823). To this respectable list thore might be added the two Glyns, father and son—namely, Sir Richard Glyn (1758) and Sir Richard Carr Glyn (1798). Dorsetshire claims the former by settlement only. Nor under this head must John Glynno, tho notorious Commonwealth Chief Justice, be forgotten, as his introduction to official life was by moans of the Recordership, and he was an undoubted Welshman.

1 THE GAMBLING HELL OF MONACO. Its Enormous Profits. The Prince of Monaco, a Paris correspondent learns, is showing great unwillingness to renew the concession about to lapse of the Societe Fernuere de Monaco, a limited company which farms the gambling tables. The Prince spoke very strongly the other day on the subject) to the manager of the company, intimating that it ill became the dignity of a sovereign Prince to be paid his Civil List out of the proceeds of a gambling saloon, though it were the first and foremost in the world. Whatever his ultmate resolve might be, the Prince made it clear that the privilege of the gaming tables if it were not abolished altogether would only be renewed on a large increase of its burdens. The company, as it is, has a very heavy burden to bear. It has to keep in repair all the public buildings and roads of the Prin- cipality, to plant with trees, and light the leading thoroughfares. The Monegasques pay no taxes, the gaming tables defraying the cost of govern- ment. The company also allows the Prince a civil list, which some years ago amounted to jM20,000 a year, but which is now a good deal larger than that of the Queen. The margin of protit is still enormous, and shareholders must be prepared to see it reduced if the charter us to be renewed. .4

A NUMBER OF SMILES. YOUNG TED CASTLE: "Quite a lot of girls smiled at me on my way down just now, Jack; ohawming girls they were, too." JACK: "I don't wonder they smiled, Teddy. Your necktie is under your loft ear as if you were going to be hanged."

Even in our days there are persons who can sympathise with the aspiration of Dr Johnson in sympathise with the aspiration of Dr Johnson in connection with the execution of a piece of music which he was informed was so very difficult; I would, madam, that it were impossible."

ROYAL RESIDENCES. l ST. JAMES'S PALACE.—THE DUKE OF CLARENCE AND AVONDALE'S APARTMENTS. RESIDENCE OF THE DUKE OF CLARENCE IN ST. JAMES'S PALACE. Except that it still proudly supplies the diplomatic title by which the British Court is designated the world over, and that it occasion- ally supplies in its State Apartments the venue for a levee held by the Prince of Wales on behalf of her Majesty the Queen, the dingy Palace of St. James has fallen from the eminence it had in earlier days. The Court officials occupy now the chief residential parts of the Palace in which George the Fourth first saw the light, and in which many of his foregoers dwelt in regal state. A spacious suite of apartments, overlooking Ambassador s Court, and occupying the block which stands between that and Cleveland-row, was granted, however, a short time ago to H.R.H. the Duke of Clarence and Avondale for use as his town residence; and though these cannot be said to be adequate in fitment or magnificence for a Royal prince who stands in direct succession to the throne, they represent all the provision which, up to the present time has been made for the London accommodation of the eldest-born of the Heir Apparent. When the Duke of Clarence's ternl of service with his regiment ex- I pires, some abiding place more suitable will probably be found for him. For his bachelor wanto when not under the parental roof, nor en- gaged in military or other duties, the apartments -= apportioned to the duke will temporarily, at any rate, suffice. The Ambassador's Court, which contains, in another portion of the block, the offices of various State functionaries, stands west- ward of the Colour Court, where the colours of the palace guard of honour are placed. The baud of the Guards plays for a quarter of an hour every morning when guard is mounted. The apartments apportioned to the Prince have been inhabited during the present reign by various connections of her Majesty, in- eluding the ex-King of Hanover. Ambassador's Court gives access to Stafford House, the town mansion of the Duke of Sutherland, and to Clar- ence House, where the Duchess of Kent lived for many years, but which was granted to the Duke of Edinburgh in 1874. many years, but which was granted to the Duke of Edinburgh in 1874. About the Duke of. Clarence's apartments there is little to be said that does not belong to the history of the palace proper, which is interesting enough, architecturally mean though the building be. Bloody Mary and Queen Caroline both died within its dingy walls, and our present gracious Sovereign was wedded in the little Chapel Royal of the palace, which is open to visitors at the Sunday noon service by permit of the Lord Chamberlain. NEXT WEEK Balmoral Castle.

MUSIC IN WALES. DR. PARRY'S NEW WORK. Dr Joseph Parry, as is weU known, has been for years engaged upon a great oratorio, which will be performed for the first time at the Rhyl National Eisteddvod next year. The new work, which is entitled Saul of Tardus, or scenes from the life of St Paul, is divided into "r. ^,e".titled and descriptive of (1) Damas- •p ^'hppi; (3) Jerusalem and (4) home, or its performance the composition will require three principal soloists; the soprano, who takes the part of the Narrator, and a member of the company of early female Christians; a tenor, who represents all the male characters in the work except Paul, who is represented throughout by the bass soloist. The other numerous diai)wtis persons are all included in the chorus the chorus representing angels in part 1, Romans and Jewish women in l hilippi, Jews and Christian, in Jer- usalem, md both Christians and Romans at Rome. ( SCIINF I. opens with an introduction suggestive of baul persecuting the Christians, and here we have the first al)J)earance of the persecution motif. The Narrator tells us that Saul is breathing threatenings and slaughter against the disciples o ( rcf', and then goes on to describe the awtul event by which he is stricken with blind- ness, and the voice from heaven," I Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?" is given with the who e force of the male voices and brass instru- t a u n(nvr comes in with the question, t °,art thouand at his appearance here and elsewhere all through the work we hear what may be called distinctively the Angels' motif ot tne work. iheNarratorcarrieson thestoryuntil tlj o Angels calt upon Ananias to go to the street called Straight, where Saul is to be found. Here Saul's sight is restored to him, and the miracle is musically described. When Saul returns to con- sciousness, the composer sets him forth as a man of wonderful force and impulse, moved to the deepest depths of his nature by the tremendous experiences he has just gone through, and the prater which here conies in, "Bow down Thine ear, forms one of the most important and effec- tive numbers m the entire work. This fine bass solo shows us a strong man shaken to the very depths of his being. The thought of his persecu- tion of the Christians haunts him with the sting of remorse. Then, as he pleads for mercy, the chorus of angels whisper. Weep not; thy sins are forgiven thee," and the angels' motif is taken UP_Y orchestra. The scene in Damascus, winch will take about 20 minutes in performance, ends wit^n oaul the persecutor converted into Paul the Christian. SCRNE II. in Philippj opens with ihe song of mornbreak, which the composer calls the "Sun motif, a plaintive pastoral strain, that appears and re-appears throughout the work at sunset and sunrise. The Narrator dilates upon the beauty of morning, and is interrupted by the walling chorus of Christian women fsonranbs and altos), followed by the Roman soldiers (tenors and basses), who denounce and deride the Chris- tians and their crownless King. Paul now addresses the women, and proclaims to them the glorious facts of the atonement and the resurrec- tion. In succession we have the plaintive strains of Lydia, in illustration of Christian charity the murmurings of the people because "Paul and Silas trouble our CIty;" the maid's declaration that these men are servants of the Most High," and Paul casts out her evil spirit. Then we hear that Paul and Silas are taken and beaten with rods and cast into prisoa. At the closing of the day we have again the Sun motif. The Prison scene which follows is an elaborate piece of com- position. We hear Paul and Silas singing and praising God in their cell, and to them an angel administers consolatory words. With this trio we have the strains of the Romans, the song of the prisoners, and the angel motif. the music swelling upwards to a fine climax, and then toning down to almost perfect stillness, whereupon the earthquake takes place, of which a brief musical description is given. The gaoler, in great trepidation, is going to take his own life, but he is restrained, and the closing feature of this part is a fine thanksgiving chorus, in which all the prisoners, gaolers, and Romans acknow- ledge and worship the true God. The scene terminates in quiet devotional strains, and as the night gives way to the day-dawn we hear again the sweet Sun motif. SCENE III.-The theatre of which is Jerusa- lem, opens before us at night. The pilgrims are coming to the Holy City to be present at the Pentecostal feast, and Paul comes also. We hear the song of the pilgrims, and Paul's own painful recollections of his persecuting days. The night ,watchmen sing salutations to eaen other on the walls of the city. In the faint distance wecatch an echo of the Christians' anthem "Jesus, our Saviour -The day dawns again, and we have a charal, with which the Sun motif is most in- geniously interwoven. The Temple scene is an impressive one. The composer has here turned to account the learning of Edersheim, and introduces what are believed to be the actual notes of the trumpets which were blown by the ancient Hebrew Priests at the Pentecostal festivities. After a considerable development of this realism, the theme of persecution again arises, when the infuriated Jews catch the converted Paul in the Temple. This is a powerful musical achievement. The soldiers come down from Fort Ailtonia to quell the tumult which has arisen, eaul addresses the people, who are surprised to ■ I find that he knows Greek. Here he delivers the whole narrative of his conversion but when he declares that ho is sent to preach the Gospel to the Gentiles, the Jewish people become furious and riotous. The persecution motif is heard, and theChristian hymn, and there is a development of the varied themes, no less than six themes b-ting treated in combination, at the close of which St. Paul is again imprisoned. As a relief, we next get a night scene, with a beautifully soft and restful trio-Paul, Silas, and an angel—with angelic influences hovering about. But the silence of the night is interrupted by a conspiracy scene, in which the Jews take counsel together to slay Paul. A fine old Welsh tune is here worked up into a grand chorale. Through the marching of the soldiers, the eager machinations of the con- spirators, and the recurrent themes of the orches- tra, the whole scene is intensified, and Paul is ordered to Caesarea. the part ending with the Christians' hymn and the strain of the dawning day. SCENE IV. sets forth what transpired in Rome, the dramatic setting of which is purely imagi- native, the composer being his own librettist. We see Rome at night, and we encounter Timothy searching for Paul in the Imperial City. W ithin the prison Paul's voice is heard singing I know in whom I have Delieved." The bell- call to Pagan worship is heard, and Timothy, hearing it, prays the Lord to reveal himself to these people as the only true and living God. We hoar also the strains of the Vestal Virgins. Paul still siugs within the prison, and Timothy in- dulges his disappointment in a heart-rending solo. We here also meet with Claudia, an early Christian mentioned in the New Testament, who is believed to have been a Welsh woman, the daughter of Caradog, and we need hardly say that Dr Parry has taken advantage of the suggestion to tinge the music which he allots to her with purely Welsh characteristics. Next we have a varied chorus by the Chnstians in Rome, and their descriptions of scenes, such as the festivities in Nero's palace, the moans of the Christian martyrs heard in the amphitheatre, and the chorus of the vestal virgins. We have also the music of the dance, then the dispersion of the revellers, and then the martial movement of the Pretoriau guards, combined with the Sun motif heralding the dawn of another day. Paul hear- ing the approach of his goalers, supplicates in an impressive and important solo for the aid of the 0 guardian angels, who reply, "We will lead thee on," the whole being interspersed withtheSun mo- tif, the strain of the vestal virgins, and the gradual approach of the Pretorian guards, who come and take Paul away to the judgment halL Here Claudia is awaiting the hour of the trial, with sore exercise of faith, but tho chorus of angels sing cheeringly a fine old chorale, which is of Cymric spirit. When Paul arrives, we have set before our imagination the Forum, introducing to us the priests and their musical theme, the scoff- ing women with their theme, and the populace shouting Long^ live Imperial Nero." Amid pompous strains the knights, senators, jurors and counsellors arrive, and Imperial Nero at length takes his seat. The mandate goes forth Bring in the traitor," and Paul is brought in in chains, to the accompaniment of the angel motif. Paul answers to the charges against him, I am a Roman citizen," and turns to address the people, counselling them to forsake their idols and accept the true God: whereupon Nero denounces the apostolic prisoner as an "audacious wretch," and great confusion ensues, in the course of which the scoffing women sing their theme in one time, the Pretonan ards their theme in another time, the priests their strain in a third time, and the angelic chorus their chorale in still another time; all these various themes in different times being com- bined with startling and excellent effect, as they I take him in procession to execution. A* blast of trumpets introduces a sudden change. The angelic powers triumph over the demoniac spirits. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ ?" is asked. We are more than conquerers." "The night is far spent." Let us cast off the works of darkness." Paul sings, "I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought the good fight, I have kept the faith; henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness." By way of contrast with the departure to heaven of the great Christian Apostle we have a glimpse of Nero, who is haunted by the remembrance of his conduct towards Paul. The Imperial Tyrant disappears amid a chorus of demons. Here we have in striking contrast the close of two such different lives. This is a rough synopsis of the scope of Dr Parry's new work, which he considers to be by far the best and most effective of all his sacred compositions. It is not only his latest, but into it he lias put more time and study and hard work.

When Mr David Dear (winner of the Queen's Prize at Bisley this year) was a law student, he once attended an "at home." On the servant asking his name, he replied "David Dear." The girl blushed and said, Yes, yes; but what is your other name, sir?" He assured her he had no other name. But it was of no use; the servant knew better, and announced him as Mr David." At a time of great drought a schoolmaster, accompanied by his pupils, went out to pray for rain. He was met by an inquisitive fellow, who asked where they were going. "We are going to pray for rain," the teacher replied; "God will hear the prayers of innocent children." If that were so," anaw&ied the man, there would be no teachers alive." An advertiser in Texas calls for an industrial man, as a boss hand over 5,000 head of sheep that can speak Spanish flueu*te

Samuel's Sentiments. SAMUEL ON BOYS AND GIRLS. Boys will be boys," says the old adage, and I suppose that so long as things go on as they are doing, they will be, for I see no reasonable likeli- hood of their ever becoming girls. Which, from the boys point of view. seems to me to be a state of affairs to be devoutly thankful for. Yet I doubt not that the girl., would be of the opinion that the boys were to be pitied. But 'twas ever thus. One- half the world sighs for what the other half ixjssesses, and when by chance some of the half get a bit of the other half's experience, they not un- frequently wish they hac. been content with their own lot. But to my muttons. which is another way of saying that it is high time I began to go into further particulars as to the pecu- A MILKSOP. liarities associated with all sorts and conditiora of boys and girls. When a man becomes the possessor of his first offspring and it chances to be a girl, I bav4 noticed more than once that he expresses a wish that it should have been a boy, whereas the lean- ings of a mother generally go in the opposite direction, though as their childreu advance in life it frequently, if not invariably, occurs that the girls are the pets of their fathers, while the boys seem instinctively to cling to their mother?. There are no more obiectionable creatures A BROTH OF A BOT. in the whole run ot humanity than effeminate boys, usually known to their friends and acquaintances as "milksops." These young inanities are the butt of their companions, the regret of their parents. and the contempt of any girl they may come in contact with. A good English lad is a thing to be proud of. He is full of pluck and spirit, and if he has a bit of the demon in him he will be none the worse for it when he comes to fight life's battles. It is this bit of the demon that has pulled many a battle out of the fire, and has helped a man to overcome difficulties that on the surface appeared to be insuperable. It is seldom, outside the milksop brigade, that boys are inclined to be priggish, and such as are can generally trace the tendency to injudicious home training. But when they get away from home and come to mix with their fellow-boys, it quickly gets rubbed off, and unless they are innately bad they return to their homes with all the nonsense knocked out of them, and prepared to take part in all and any of the amusements and pleasures of other boys of their own age. If more attention were paid to the athletic training of boys and less to cramming, there would be fewer cases of death from over-pressure. and the English race would be improved all round. Girls are a very different sort of material, and want treating and coaching for life's battle on entirely different lines. Young girls are, with scarcely any exception, highly sensitive; and if boys would only consider this for a moment when they are inclined to tease them, they would often refrain from inflicting unin- tentional pain upon them. Even in their young days girls are apt to develop the little artsi of coquetry that have long been| held to be the exclusive possession of their sex, and no girl is hap- pier than when she has a heap of boy sweethearts hanging about A BOY'S eDtL. her. This feature of the female sex is inherent, and oannot. be eradicated; A BLUE STOCKING. train as you will it comes out at times, and the Girton girl and the Newnham student are equally susceptible to the attention and fattery of the sex they affect to despise, and whom they propose to put in their proper place at the earliest convenient opportu- nity. Bless the girls; they pretend to despise and hate the lords of creation, but in their heart of boarte they love us alL And why shouldn't they ? They can't get along without us, and are never so happy as when they have snared one ot us, and thus enabled us to do our duty and supply them with those comforts of home that they one and all yearn for even in the midst of the most vigorous campaign in the interests of woman's rights. Let boys and girls all foster true and honest love, and they will grow up good and useful met and women. SAMUEL: His SKNTIMEJTS.

GREAT WORKERS Two friends, newspaper men, went on ma ex- cursion. While on a railway tram, they were moved to mischief by the comical appearance of a country-looking fellow who sat near. How long did it take you to write 'Paradise Lost ?' one of the friends asked, addressing him companion. "Oh, about two weeks, but I was busy on the Course of Time' a bit of the while. You worked quite a while on the Vicar of Wake. field,' didn't you?" Well, yes, quite a while. Oh, I could have done it sooner if I hadn't worked so hard on R--sselaz dt, ring the time. -ibut when it comes to work, let me tell you that I caught it on 4 The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire.' I had to have it done by a certain time, and hanged if I didn't write a volume a week for six weeks. After that I took it easy and didn't write more than a volume in two weeks." They glanced occasionally at the countryman and tittered gleefully. Pretty soon the fellow got up, approached them, and said :— I have taken a lay-off merely to look for you fellows. I wanted to have some fun with you." And before they knew what he was about he seized them in a strong and mysterious way bumped their heads together and then, as the train had reached a. station, he bowed politely and got off.

Current Notes on Agriculture. By a Practical Farmer. ARE FARMERS IGNORANT P I have before remarked that some interesting and amusing bits can be heard now and then by listening to the talk of farmers when they meet at markets, fairs, and sales. I attended one of the latter one day last week where a large number of farmers were congregated. During the in- terval between lunch and the commencement of the business of the day many matters of general interest to agriculturists were discussed by those present, and many were the practical and com- monsense remarks made on various subjects which were brought forward. Amongst other subjects there was started one which has lately drawn the attention of many all over the country —that is education. Here opinion was divided on the question of the better educating of the rising generation. Farmer Jones argued that even with the pre- sent and the past facilities for education it had resulted in evil to the farmer. He maintained that this was the cause of the dearth of agricul- tural labourers which has been so keenly felt during the past harvest. Farmer Williams, on the other hand, contended that education was responsible for no such thing; that it was better pay that drew the people from the land to the collieries, works, or offices, and that as soon as the remuneration for work done on the farm became level with the payment obtain- able elsewhere, then there would be workers in plenty. He could not, however, say who would then be able to pay the present rents. He main- tained that education was a great help, even to an agricultural labourer, to do his work in an in- telligent manner while to us farmers it is a great boon if we avail ourselves of it. He hoped ad- vantage would be taken by the rising generation of the promised facilities in agricultural instruc- tion. The present generation of farmers, as a class, he characterised as being very ignorant in things pertaining to their own calling. This remark drew forth signs of dissension from his hearers, and Farmer Jones rather pom- pously asked if he meant to include those present, and dub them ignorant in their calling. Farmer Williams replied What I said was that farmers were, as a class, ignorant; but as you seem to take a liking to the cap, suppose we try if it will fit. I will ask you a simple question in your own branch of farming. As you know, I sell all the milk off my farm., I do not do this without reason. You, Mr Jones, have also your reason for making butter, cheese, &c., from the produce of your cows. And connected with this matter is the question I ask you, having made butter for so many years, how many pounds of milk will make one pound of butter?" "How many pounds of milk?" said Jones look- ing bewildered. "Yes," said Farmer Williams; "and how many pounds of milk will produce one pound of cheese ?" These questions were a poser to poor Jones, although he had talked rather tall before they were given him. It would, I fear, be very much the same with a large number of farmers, if these and similar questions were asked them, questions, too, which from their nature every farmer should know.

SALES OF STOCK. Reference having been made above to sales or public auctions, I may say that I have never seen these so numerous as this year. I am not aware whether they are above the average number through the whole Principality, but certainly they are muca above the average in my county. The most notable feature in connection with them is the high price realised for feeding material in the shape of hay and corn. It is not an unusual thing at these sales this year for oats to reach 6s to 8s per bushel, that is, of course, [ with the straw included. Thia i3 the combined result of a light crop of hay and failing to sell the store cattle but at ruinous prices. These stock sales are very well attended this year as usual. Credit and John Barley- corn are two strong factors to draw people to them who would not otherwise attend. About the usual number of people under the influence of the latter too often make fools of themselves. At one of these sales I saw a man making the most ridiculous exhibition of himself a man could well do. Having been all the after- noon an assiduous disciple to Lord John Barley- corn, he was well addled by the time he thought he would start home, which was before it was dark. He somehow secured the bridle and saddle which he bad taken off his cob, and wended his way to the place where the cob was kept. Outside this place a gamboe stood with its shafts raised to a level. On one of the shafts he carefully placed his saddle and adjusted the bridle to the end, and afterwards mounted. There he sat riding the shaft exposed to the full view of the auctioneer and the crowd, thinking, poor fellow, he was on the back of his own cob My readers can well understand how such men are likely to act under the combined influence of drink and keen com- petition.

There's a gull now that will shoot five miles," said Hicks. "Great Scott! said the veteran ";f there is another war it 11 take a brave man to bi/nu away from the front.' Mis;- Placida Syinperthy (to D'Ulthud, who has juffc &alJcn out t/ a tree): Did you hurt yourself ? D Olthud: Who in blazes d'ye think I hurt ? Ho (desperately) You are the only woman I evet loved She That may be but if it is, I am eer tain:y net tho only woman you have ever lied v>.

WELSH GLEANINGS. By Lloffwr. A correspondent has sent me some in- teresting particulars respecting the special Welsh Scholarship annually offered at the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth. The scholarship is of the value of £ 20, and is known as the Cynddelw Welsh Scholar- ship," the money grant coming from the Cynddelw Memorial Fund. Cynddelw, as my readers know, was a celebrated Welsh Baptist minister, and it is a some- what striking coincidence that the first time the scholarship was ever offered-that is last month—the honour was secured by a member of the same denomination. I am glad to learn, too, that though the terms of the scholarship were only announced a few weeks previously, a goodly number of candidates turned up, and that the competition was consequently a pretty keen one. The scholarship is open to all, whether pre- viously students of the college or not, who undertake, if successful, to pursue at the college a course of Welsh study approved by the senate. The subjects of the examination are the Welsh language and literature, and the following papers were set 1. Welsh Essay, on some subject falling within the scope of the examination. 2. Systematic and Historical Grammar of the Welsh Language. 3. History of Welsh Literature from the 12th century to the present day. The following books may be mentioned, not as text books from which the questions will be set, but as indicating the degree of detail which will be expected in the answers:—Rowland, Welsh Grammar D. S. Evans, Llythyraeth y Gymracg; Rhys, Welsh Philology; Stephens, TAterature of the Kymry Gweirydd a.p Rhys, Hanes Llenydd- Ùreth Gymreig o 1300 hyd 1650. As it is possible that among the readers of this column there may be many who will be found among the future candidates, and very many more who will be deeply interested in the Welsh Scholarship, I give below the questions set at the last com- petition ESSAY. Write, in Welsh, on one of the following sub- jects :— Athrylith Dafydd ap Gwilym. Purdeb yr iaith Gymraeg-beth ydyw a phs. fodd y mae ei sicrhau ? Arwrgerddi y Cymry. Y goleuni deflir gan ymadroddion priod y Gymraeg ar fywyd a meddwl y Cymry. Eben Fardd. HISTOltY OF WELSH LITERATURE FROM THB TWELFTH CENTURY TO THE PRESENT DAY. 1. Explain fully the position which the bards held as a separate class in the times of Welsh in. dependence, and show how they gradually lost their privileges. 2. lell what you know of the career and the merits as a poet of Hywel ap Owain Gwynedd. 3. Give some account of the literature which was produced in Wales on the basis of the romance of Geoffrey of Monmouth. 4. Distinguish Rhys Goch Eryri from Rhys Goch ab Rhiicert, and mention the chief character- istics of the letter's poetry. 5. Describe the circumstances which led to the revival of the Eisteddfod in 1451, and explain the share taken by LlawclJ^ and Dafydd apEdmwnt in the work of bardic re-organisation. 6. Briefly explain the following terms :—mab- inogi, cywydd, Pair Ceridwen, Brut, bwyell Llawdden, gorsedd, ystoriawr, clerwr, cerdd dant, and bardd cadeiriol. 7. Account for the neglect shown towards Welsh as a literary language at the close of the 16th century. What influence in a reverse direc- tion was exercised by the religious movement ? 8. Write a summary of the contents of (a) Llyfr y Tri Aderyn," (b) "Hanes y Ffydd Dditfuant," or (c) "Y Bardd Cwsg." 9. What causes contributed to the revival of interest in Welsh literature and antiquities in the eighteenth century ? 10. Show how the Methodist revival has given a unique character to the hymnology of Wales. 11. What grounds exist for assigning to Ceiriog a very exalted position among Welsh poets ? 12. Indicate the chief foreign writers who have within recent times influenced Welsh literature. WELSH SYSTEMATIC AND HISTORICAL GRAMMAR. 1. Classify phonetically the consonants used in modern Welsh, and show any three of them are represented in other Aryan languages. 2. Give some account of the chief Welsh dia- lects, showing the elements which each has con- tributed to the literary speech. 3. State the chief rules which govern the quantity of monosyllable Welsh words, indicating tne more remarkable exceptions. -j, 4. What systems of orthography have within recent times prevailed in Wales, and by what arguments have they been supported? 5. Discuss the Latin element in Welsh. At what period were the words chiefly borrowed,and what systematic changes have they undergone ? 6. Mention the chief compounds of bod, giving examples of archaic as well as modern forms of inflection. 7. Derive the following hytrach, erioed, heblaw, bid sicr, chweithach, and i fyny. 8. Explain, with illustration, the origin of our consonantal mutuationi. 9. Tell what you know of the different genitive constructions in Welsh. 10. State the rules governing the form of the conditional sentence, and compare them with those which obtain in other languages. 11. Give a short account of the history and usage of one of the leading prepositions. 12. What are the main facts as to the order of., words in a Welsh sentence ? I I am indebted to another correspo ndent for the following interesting facts :-Mr Christie Murray, in an article he has con- tributed to the current number of one of the magazines concerning his experience in and impressions of Australia, makes allusion to one whom he calls a loyal friend, good fellow, and prince of wanderers." The gentleman referred to is Mr Julian Thomas, a well-known Australian journalist, whose name is familiar to English readers as the author of "Cannibals and Convicts," and other graphically-written books. Mr Julian Thomas is a Welshman, but he has had a chequered and most adventurous career in various parts of the world. He figured prominently in his younger days in the struggles of the South American Re- public, and fought on the Confederate side in the American civil war. At the close of the latter he went to Australia, and soon made his mark in Victorian journalism. He has travelled extensively in the Paoific, and visited places where few Europeans, except beach-combers and adventurers engaged in what is known as the Kanaka labour traffic, have ever been seen. As previously stated in this column, the Llanelly Choral Society contemplates giving a concert at Cardiff on its return journey after the concert at St James's Hall, Piccadilly, which is fixed for the 10th of November, the day after the Lord Mayor's Show. The prospects of the undertaking proving a success are very encouraging indeed, as Mr D. H. Evans, of Oxford- street, in whose hands the arrange- ments have been placed, has extracted a promise from Mr Alderman David Evans, the Metropolitan Welsh map. who was elected on Tuesday Lord ]Viu,yor for next year, that he will attend the concert in state, accompanied by his fellow-members of the Corporation, a fact which in itself will guarantee a large and select audience. In connection with the Cardiff concert, Mr R. C. Jenkins and Mr John Thomas, the popular conductor and secretary respec- tively of the choir, visited Cardiff last week, to make the preliminary arrange- ments, and I understand that as a result of their visit Major Jones and Mr E. Fletcher have promised to undertake Mr E. Fletcher have promised to undertake the work of completing the necessary arrangements. The appearance of the victorious choir at Cardiff is to enable the Cardiffians and the minors and others from the Rhondda and neighbouring valleys to hear the competitive pieces which were so delightfully rendered at the recent National Eisteddvod at Swansea. The letter published this week from Dr ROWLAND WILLIAMS, of Holyhead, shows that the influence of the Welsh revival is being felt outside Wales, and in directions which probably few but those directly interested in the movement would have anticipated. The Royal College of Physicians and the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland have now adopted the Welsh language as one of the optional subjects for the medical preliminary examination. As Dr ROWLAND WILLIAMS points out, this is the first time in the history of the profession that the Welsh language has been recognised and placed on a par with the French, German, and other "languages." From the time of RHIWALLON, and the period when" Meddygon Myddvai" were sought after by prince and peasant, Welsh has been the one medium through which alone a large proportion of patients could detail their troubles. A knowledge of that language was therefore a valuable help to the doctor in his practice. Henceforth it will count for something when studying for his degree.

Welsh Calvinistic Methodism. IS IT DECREASING P A Statement with respect to the Position of the Welsh Calvinistic Methodists. At the General Assembly of the Calvinistie Methodists of Wales, which was held at Morris- ton, Swansea, on June 22-25, 1891, it was unani- mously resolved that the time had come when, in justice to ourselves, we should prepare and publish a Statement addressed to the people of England, in reply to the wanton and reckless attacks made on us in the English Press by men who occupy high official positions in the Church of England in Wale* We address the State- ment to the people of England, for in Wales we are known and have no need to defend our- selves. Our history, past and present, is a suffi- cient refutation of all calumnies, but in England, the misleading statements of Church dignitaries and prominent politicians, if allowed to pass without official contradiction, are likely to be believed as facts. The present statement contains an authoritative denial of the various unfounded allegations made respecting us; and it is sent forth with the full approval and sanction of the whole Body as represented in two Quarterly Associations, one held in South Wales, at Cwm aman, October 6, 7, and 8, and the other in North Wales, at Pwllheli, August 26, 27, and 28. I. The Calvinistic Methodists have been re- presented as political agitators" our preaching is said to consist of political harangues delivered by impassioned orators, to easily moved and excitable audiences our public meetings, such as Presbyteries and Synods, have been described as 80 many powerful political organizations, whose great function is, under the guise of religion, to stir np the people to deeds of hostility towards the Church of England, and to acts of lawlessness and violence. The connection between religion and politics is eloser in Wales than in any other country, and it may be Said generally that all the dissenting bodies are political organizations. This is especially true of the Galvimiptic Methodists, whose political influence and power cannot easily be exaggerated. Admirably organized, as they are, and kept in constant touch with the feeling of the country in all parts, the Dis- senting bodies are political engines of the highest efficiency."—Letters from Wales, which appeared originally in the Times, pp, 10. 11. The Calvins as they are familiarly called, are a strong political no less than a religious organization It may be added that as a body the Calvinistic Methodists are more active enemies of the Church than the members of any other denomina- tions."—Letters from, Wales, p, 78. Be it well understood that in speaking of agitating preachers there is no reference to the Wesleyabs—the lerwt polemical of Noncnnfnrmisb-nClr to" Baptists, nor indeed to any save one among the multitudinous sects which flourish in Wales, the members of one de- nomination only—to wit, the Calvinistic Methodists are in view, and the position of a typical preacher is re- markable. Constantly paying friendly rather than spiritual visits from house to house, he obtains im- mense inflnence with the women of every household a past-master in the art of cross-examination, he plays the part of a walking confessional his life, in fact is that of the Roman Catholic priest in Ireland, but he is lamentably behind that functionary in point of culture and refinement. "-Lettei-s froin Wales, pp. 92, 93. Secondly, the causes of recent secession-t of dis- senting ministers were to be found in the wide depar- ture of a large section of modern Dis-enters from the principles and practices of the founders of Welsh Non- conformists as seen in their efforts to exclude religious instructioa from the day schools, in a substitution of political for religious teaching in many of their pulpits, and in the utilisation of the Press for the encourage- ment of lawlessness, dishonesty, and fraud. "-Cha2.ge delivered by the Bishop of Llandaff in his Cathedral, on Monday, May 25, 1891. From. the South Wales Daily News." So far are the above from being true represen- tations of the case that the General Assembly and our two Quarterly Associations have been very* slow to move in the matter, lest we should, even by defending ourselves against the attacks of opponents, seem to depart from the traditions of the fathers; and by making D stand for our own good name, we should appear to be unfaithful to the great spiritual work which God has entrusted to our hands. At our General Assembly held in Liverpool in 1890, we solemnly protested against the false reports circulated respecting our alleged decrease in numbers, but even then the Assembly declined to name any persons, or to take any further steps beyond the mere passing of the resolution, to clear itself from the aspersions of our traducers. Politics pure and simple are never discussed, or even men- tioned, at any of our religious meetings and when matters that agitate the political world at the time are introduced into our Presbyteries and Synods, these are always subjects in which the moral and religious elements predominate over the political; such as questions relating to education and legislation on the liquor traffic. As to "political preaching," WP. are not aware of its existence, and if it has happened in isolated instances, we do not hold ourselves responsible for it, because we have always rigidly condemned the practice. We consider that we have been called not to preach politics, but to preach the gospel and furthermore, if our ministers wished to substitute politics for Christ and Him crucified, our congregations would never tolerate snch a departure from the wholesome ways of our fathers. The Methodist fathers in Wales were evangelists who were driven forth from the Church of England because of the gross abuses which prevailed within its pale. They laboured faith- fully to enlighten their countrymen, and to rescue them from the depths of ignorance and spiritual neglect into which they ha.d been thus betrayed. We, who are their successors, humbly desire to be their followers in nothing more than in preserving our religion pure from politics, worldly ambition, and worldly men. It is true that, as a body, we do demand the dishstablishment and disendow- ment of the Church of England in Wales, not from a feeling of hostility towards any section of the great Church Catholic, but from a conviction of the injustice involved in the maintenance of the Church of the few and the wealthy at the expense of the whole population, and because we believe that the connection of the Church with the State is a grievous wrong and injury to the religion of Christ. II, We have been represented as steadily decreasing in numbers, falling off in our contri- butions, sinking deeper into chapel debt, and manifesting other sure signs of deterioration and approaching extinction. The Bishop of St Asaph, in his Truro speech, since published as a pamphlet under the title, "The Truth about the Church in Wales," has said of us, "The debt upon the Methodist chapels in Wales alone exceeded in 1887 £ 320,000; while their adherents have been steadily decreasing, the chapel debts have been advancing by leaps and bounds," p. 14. Some of the marginal notes of the same pamphlet are, Its spiritual declension," Its numerical losses," "Its general deterioration," pp. 10, 11. A disin- genuous attempt is made to substantiate these descriptions by means of misinterpreted quota- tions frem our denominational publications. So reckless is the Bishop in his assertions that he has represented our chapel debt for 1887 as exceeding £ 320,000, whereas it is put down in the official sta- tistics as £ 311,495. The same authority, in another pamphlet, called Facts and Figures about Church and Dissent in Wales," asserts that while the chapel debt has been increasing rapidly, the annual contributions towards its liquidation have decreased as rapidly. To sum- manse the statements published and authorised by the Methodist body themselves prove that the number of communicants annually admitted and the total annual receipts of money have both steadily decreased, while the chapel debt has grown into what their own moderator described as a terrible difficulty,' p. 4. The Bishop bases his conclusions on the statistics of the three years 1884 to 1886, three years of hard times, when thousands emigrated from Wales. We fluctuate in our nntn'ocrs and contributions from year to year. as is the case with all long established reli- gious communities. The following figures exhibit at a glance what our present stete is, as compared with what we were 21 years ago. We quote from our official statistics, which are compiled with the greatest care, and are at present as correct as we can pos- sibly make them. 1869. 1889. In* lI,crease crease, p. cent. Total collections £ 104,989' £ 182,066| £ 77,077 73.4 Collections in support of tho Ministry— £ 40,577 £ 76,688 £ 36,111 88,9 Collections in support of Missions £ 4,420 £ 8,599 £ 4,179 94.5 Communicants j92,448 134,259 41,791 45.2 Children in the Chnrches 40,021 63,434 23,413 58.5 Deacons 3,321 4,833 1,512 45.5 Minister & Prcachers 793 1,003 205 25.6 Sunday-school Mems. 161,748 187,393 25,645 15.8 Sunday-school Teach. 18,559 23,732 5,173 27.8 Adherents or Hearers including Commu- nicants 237,404 283,629 46,225 19.4 Chapels 1,122! 1,439! 5x7 28.2 Average (20 years) 47.5 We direct special attention to a few of the fore- going figures. During the 20 years from 1869 to 1889, tho number of our communicants increased 41,791, and according to the recently published statistics for 1890, our communicants number 136,051, an increase of 1.812 on the number for the preceding year. We regret to say that the Bishop of St. Asaph, in his Truro speech (pp. 10, 11), in order to prove our steady decrease in adherents, has been guilty of taking the statistics of one county, where. owing to the stoppage of certain works, and the general depression in trade, the population of whole districts had almost vanished, and where con- sequently our numbers had decreased considerably during 10 years; and from this decrease in one county he has inferred and asserted confidently a "steady decrease" in the whole body. When taxed with this unfairness he waded the point by affirming that our statistics had ceased in their full and usual form with the year 1887"—an utterly unfounded statement. During the same period our total collections in- creased £ 77,077, and in 1890 they amounted to £ 202,707, an increase of £ 20,640on cbe collections of the previous year, and a. total increase of 297,717 on the amount collected in 1869. It should be borne in mind that the vast majority of our people belong to the working classes. It be said cf the Nonreoafonmsts of Wales tha*- not many rich have been* called. Our present chapel debt is very heavy, being £295,346; but in 1890 the sum of £ 55,852 was contributed by our members towards the removing of the burden. In every eight years the Calvinistic Methodists contribute towards the extinction of chapel debt, more than the amount of that debt during any single year, Were it not that the requirements of the country demand the building of newchapels and the restoration and enlargement of old ones chapel debt would soon be unknown among us. Not only does the comparison of our statistics for the last 21 years prove a great total increase in the number of communicants and amount of our contributions, but the "steady decrease" from year to year is further shown to be a mere fiction by the following table of our state every five years from 1867 to 1890 :— Communicants. 1867 1872 1877 1882 1887 1890 91,404 95,195 116,016 122,107 130,617 136,051 Total collections. 103,583 125,758 164,073 172,686 168,948 £ 202,707 This increase alike in communicants and in Ii funds appears the more remarkable, when it is borne in mind that the population of rural Wales, where our Connexion has relatively the strongest hold on the people has been steadily decreasing during the period covered by our figures. We maintain two missions, one on the Kasia Hills in India, and the other in Brittany. The Indian Mission was established 50 years ago. The native churches now number 80, with a membership of 6.190, in- cluding communicants, probationers, and chil- dren, while the total number of those who fre- quent the services and have renounced heathenism is 8.900. The total income of our Missionary Society amounted last year to £7,952, from col- lections, donations, and other sources. This year a Mission Jubilee Fund is being collected. About £ 25,000 has already come to hand, and we are confident that before the collection is closed more than 235,000 will be contributed. None of this sum has been included in the amount col- lected last year. The amount collected towards religious purposes by the Calvinistic Methodists during the 21 years, 1870—1890, reaches £ 3,358,342. We have two colleges for the education Of our ministers-one at Trevecea. in South Wales, and the other at Bala, in North Wales. These institutions are supported by the interest of two funds, one of 2.20,000 and the other of £ 29,000, which were raised for that purpose some years ago. It has not been our habit to enumerate our good works, or to enter into details respecting the part that we have taken from the first in every movement concerned with the welfare of our cpuntrymen. We have contributed our full share in money towards the establishment of efficient schools throughout the land, and towards the starting and the support of the National Colleges. We have always been firm advocates of the temperance cause, and it has been our uniform endeavour to elevate the masses of our people both by our teaching and example. On the other hand, it has been our practice to lament our own defects, and expose our sores, in our denomina- tional publications. These stnctures which are sometimes the result of our zeal for perfection, and sometimes are of less worthy origin, are misinterpreted and quoted to our disadvantage. Our own words are twisted, and we are made to appear self-condemned; whereas these para- graphs, rightly understood, merely prove that though we fall short of our ideal. still we have not lost it out of sight. We are dissatisfied with our present progress, and strive after higher things. Our vvatchmen on the wall have not for- gotten their duty. We make these statements in no spirit of un. seemly boasting, but with humility and deep thankfulness that we have been counted worthy to serve and have been prospered in our efforts. It would have been much more in accordance with our inclination to have kept silence on these matters, but the circumstances of the times have forced us to speak thus in self-defence. III. We have been charged by the Bishop of St. Asaph, with the removal from the list of mem- bers of those too poor to contribute to the support of tl-ie 'ctilise (" Facts and Figures,"p. 15), i.e., excluding from the Lord's table, those who from poverty or other reasons did not contribute to. wards our Church funds. The origin of the report has been clearly exposed in lengthy newspaper correspondence, and the fullest contradiction has been given to the statement. We admit incorrect returns from certain Churches, in which the number of communicants was understated in order to reduce the amount payable from such Churches towards the expenses of. the Presbyteries, as the deacons thought it unfair that their churches should have to pay for non-con- tributing members. This practice was severely cen- sured, and-has, we believe, entirely ceased. Thereare hundreds of our members, who so far forget their duty that they never contribute a penny, though well able to do so, ana there are thousands who have nothing to give, as they depend on the charity of their fellow Christians but neither in the one case nor in the other a.re persons ever de- prived of their privileges as church members because they are too miserly or too poor to contri- bute. We grieve to add that though the above charge has been amply disproved, yet the pam- phlet containing the statement is still on sale. IV. It has often been said that eminent and distinguished ministers have seceded from us to the Church of England. A few secessions take place from time to time. We almost regard these few seceders with satisfaction; their departure has inflicted no loss on us, and was a distinct advantage to themselves. Certainly Wales had never heard of the "eminence and distinction of these migrated ministers, until it was assured of the fact on the testimony of jubilant bishops. The Bishop of St. Asaph has recently stated that sixteen ministers of position had appealed to him for admission during the past two years (Daily News, July 3C, 1891). If this is the case, we are astonished that the Welsh Bishops should persistently reject the men "of position" and ordain those of much humbler degree. V. Much is made in these days of the rapid progress" taking place in the Establishment. This increase, in so far as it is the result of honest spiritual work in an awakened Church is matter of joy to us. As long as Christ is preached, we can say therein we do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice. It is not our business to determine how much of the genuine element of religious life there may be in the renewed activity displayed in church circles in Wales, but we can neither be blind nor silent with respect to the fact that once deserted churches are beginning to fill by a process of insidious proselytising. On many estates un- due preference is given to Churchmen in the letting of farms, and in other districts work, custom, and promotion are the rewards of con- formity to the Established Religion. We are further reminded of the number of churches built or restored in the Principality during late years. Very few, if any, of these edifices have been built or restored at the expense of the people the work has been done by the great landlords and wealthy gentry, most of whom are not Welshmen. Finally we would express our firm adherence to the voluntary prin- ciple, and our steadfast conviction that the Church of Christ should be perfectly independent .of all State control. We have not found the voluntary principle to fail us. We have made full proof of it during the last 150 years, and that in a land poor in natural resources, where we have also to support a Church whose services we neither appreciate nor require. As we look round us we cannot help recognising the fact that many of the evils from which our country has suffered and is still suffering are the direct effects of that spiritual stupor and deadness, the invariable con- sequences of the subjection of the eternal to the temporal, of Christ to Caesar.

THE CHICAGO EISTEDDVOD. TO THTC EDITOR. SIR,-I-T.av,ng a sincere feeling towards our Welsh brethren in America, I propose we send a representative Welsh choir from South Wales to patronise their grand eisteddvod. Let the choir consist of the best of the members of the choirs from Port Talbot to Llanelly, on the main line, with a good representation from ail other parts rn South Wales, under the able leadership of Mr R. C. Jenkins, the hero of the day. Without •joubt a couple of successful concerts could be held in America to help in defraying the ex- penses. Trusting some interested and influential per- sons will assist is working up this proposal,—1 am, &c., ALPHA. Oct. 1, 1891.

A FAIR WARNING. "THE Race Committee will give you j315 an acre, deacon, for the lot! To lay out a racecourse on ? No, sir! "1 don't believe in horse-racing—it's sinful" "Say £ 20." Well, PH take B20 but if they lay out a race- course it will be against my earnest protest!

I Barnes not a great writer." No, bub was a tower of strea*Tth to his s*at»ar»'e~"

A SAD, SAD TALE Several years ago in a small mining camp in the_West, I had passed the evening watching the vacillating fortunes of several miners and a few Chinamen bucking the tiger." One o'clock left only a few gamblers lounging sleepily on chairs and tables. The dealer was counting his gains, and only the bar-keeper whistling "Down on the Swanee River" broke the stillness of the room. Suddenly the door opened, and a gust of wind and rain ushered in a vision of whiskers and ra»s. It approached the bar and asked for a drink. Did he have the price? Well, no, but would make it. all right to-morrow. The bar- keeper shook his head. Just then the faro dealer finished counting his money, and, as he threw it carelessly in the drawer, pitched a dollar to the bar-keeper, saying— Give him a drink, Bill}- As the stranger drank he talked plaintively, and, as his voice grew stronger. he carried u& with him to the aay* of his childhood, of the morning glory and the apple blossoms of the old homestead, of the ambitions of youth and the disappointments of manhood; repeated to us the old, old tale of "Ostler Joe," and went 00 until every head was bowed in bringing back to memory the sound of the church bells on a quiet Sunday evening of our childhood. Sud- denly he ceased, and so busy were we with our thoughts that we scarcely heard the door close. No one spoke until the dealer noisily started up. Bayin- Billy, let's close up and go home." The gambler gathered his tools together, end reached into the drawer for his money, and kept fumbling around until he had pulled the drawer clear out. At last he looked at us with a ciueer smile and said- "Gentlemen, that stranger was a pretty smooth preacher--he's got the bank roll."

Sunday-school Teacher What kept the Israelites in bondage ? Smart Pupil Playin' Faro, marm. It's dwedfully expensive, this business of taking Wales for a model." Is it ?" Verwy, Since I heard that he was a steady loser at cards, I have had to cut down my expenses." Young Husband My dear Melani, I must say that this pudding tastes very bad." Wife' AU imagination it says in the cookery-book that it tastee excellent Mr Flannels Ah, by th' way, heard the news ? Ther' was a little girl born at theSmithers laast night." Mrs de Mode (absent-mindedly): Eh-what did she have on ?" THE TKNKIS ELBOW.— Mistah Ebony How ie youan good healty dis mo'nin, Mistah Black ?— j Mistah Black 1's all hunkydory 'cept my right | a'm, Mistah Ebony. I's suffenn' from de tennis elbow.—"What have you been dOiU'? "t ji's" a'oet,"