The Aberdare Leader

THE GREAT JANUARY SALE, 19Q5- R.T. JONES & Co., MERTHYR. ANNUAL.. WINTER SALE THIS DAY & DAILY DURING JANUARY. The entire Stock of Ceneral Drapery, Furnishing Coods, Cer¡ts' Mercery, Suitings, '40 Meq's and Juvenile Clothing, &c., including the LATEST WINTER FASHIONS offered at enormous Reductions off Regular Prices. LIST OF DEPARTMENTS. Indisputable Bargains will be found ill each. Black and Coloured Dress Materials, Black and Coloured Silks, Velvets, Mantles, Jackets, Costumes, Blouses, Furs, Feather Stoles, Umbrellas, Shawls, French and English Millinery, Laces, Gloves, Ribbons & Fancy Neckwear, Ladies' Outfitting, Baby Linen, Children's Garments, Corsets, Dressing Gowns, Toilet Jackets, Linens, Lace Curtains, Quilts, Carpets, Linoleums, Oilcloths, Rugs, Bedsteads, Bedding, Window Hollands, Blankets, Flannels, Calicoes, Sheetings, Haberdashery, Trimmings, Wools, Ladies' and Children's Hosiery, Gents' Mercery, Hats, Gloves, Hosiery, Suitings, Men's and Juvenile Clothing. We cordially invite personal inspection, as this sale offers an unequalled opportunity of purchasing Parcels of Reliable and First-class quality Goods at very exceptional Reductions. Ternr|s Gash. Po Discount. All Parcels delivered free. BBBBB B B R. T. JONES and Co. (LATE PHILLIPS & EVANS), 125a and 126, High Street, j 1, 3 and 3a, Victoria Street, MERTHVR. 1 and 2, Central St., Market Sq.,

X X WE WISH you all a Happy New Year and if you are suffering from ingrow- ing toe nails or corns, have them attended to at once. D. James has been most suc- cessful and has a quantity of testimonial. He also makes a Porous Plaster for Lum- bago. Cured sufferers' praise of it is aston- ishing. Used by ministers, doctors, chemists, lawyers and all classes. If you suffer, try one. If it fails, your money returned. D. James, 68, Ynyslwyd-street, Aberdare. X. x

Sale bills, circulars, etc., neatly printed at the LEADER Office, Market-street, Aberdare.

Gymnastic Display at Aberdare. The Annual Gymnastic Display and En- tertainment of the Robertstown Church Clubs took place in the Memorial Hall, Aberdare, on Thursday. The gymnastics took up the first part of the programme, and commenced with an overture by Prof. R. Howells. Next came a comic song ex- cellently sung and acted by Mr W. Monger. Then followed dumb-bell drill by the junior members. Weight-lifting, which was one of the chief features of the evening came next, being done by Messrs S. Jones, J. Lloyd, W. James, and T. Hale some of the best lifts being 102lbs jerk, 120lbs sitting, and 650lbsby MrT. Hale 130lbs one,"hand press, by Mr W. James, and 130lbs, two hands, by Mr J. Lloyd. Mr S. Jones did very good lifts for a light weight. The posing looked very well under the lime- light. The next item was bar-bell drill by the jHnior members then came the display on the horizontal bar by 12 members, led by Mr W. James. Some of the tricks were very smartly done, the clowns being especially clever. Indian club swinging, by Mr S. Jones, followed. The ball punching was exceedingly well done by Mr J. James, sdlendid time being kept. The first part concluded with another comic song by Mr W. Monger, which was enthusiastically en- cored. During the interval Prof. R. Howells played some excellent music. The second part consisted of a play en- titled The Enchanted Prince," the characters being King Leonidas, Mr W. James Florizel, Mr T. Hale Courtier, Mr S, Jones; Queen Gertrude, Miss Maggie Morgan Princess Ida, Miss Mary Davies Princess Pearl, Mrs Hale Fairy, Miss Amy Organ. Fairies, attendants, etc., members of the clubs. The first scene commenced with a song and dance by the children, which was very pretty under the lime-light, the Fairies Dance in the Forest also being very effec- bive. The acting was exceedingly well done, and the costumes were very good. The whole performance reflects great credit on bhose taking part, and was most enjoyable bo the audience. Great thanks are due to bhe chairman, Mr W. Herbert, Paik Lane, :or his kindness; also to Mr Pardoe, for manipulating the lime-light; Mr J, Harris, 3tation-st., for lending scenery, etc. Mr )xenham, for fixing the foot-lights and to Mr Lindsay, Robertstown. If you have a good business, advertise to ceep it. If you have a poor business, Ldvertise to improve it.

Aberdare Educationists at Variance. Uplifted Fists at a Committee Meeting. On Monday was held the special com- mittee appointed by the Aberdare Education Committee to investigate Mr Stanton's charges of excessive punishment., being inflicted on his son by Mr W. B. Stephens at Ynyslwyd School. The Committee sat for over three hours. There were some very exciting scenes. When Mr Stanton came forward to give his evidences, he accused Mr T. Walter Williams of having prior to the meeting made an expression that he was against him (Mr Stanton). Mr Williams said that that was a lie, and told Mr Stanton not to make himself a bigger fool than nature had made him. This was too much for Mr Stanton, and with an uplifted fist he made m-kush for his antago- nist. Mr Berry, however, stepped between them and averted a display of fisticuffs. The Rev J. M. Jones made some remark, but Mr Stanton retorted with the obser- vation that Mr Jones, being cf the same calling as Mr Stephen's father, was pre- judiced. Mr D. Jackson Thomas frequently called out that there was no fairplay, and several times during the sitting it seemed as if order had been banished, and wild chaos reigned. Mr Stephen's story was that the boy had repeatedly disobeyed him, and that even- tually he was obliged to punish him with the cane, but he disclaimed any brutality. Eventually the meeting came to the con- clusion that the boy had evinced stubborn- ness, and that the punishment, which had been duly entered on the punishment book, had been regularly inflicted, but that it was possible although there was no proof positive of that-that the boy had been roughly handled in being pushed from the form. The two dissentients from this conclusion were Messrs E. Stonelake and D. J. Thomas. The meeting was not open to the Press.

MLAH. THE INCORPORATED THAMES MA UTICA H.M.S. I WORCESTER,' off Greenhlthe, Kent, TRMBNtNG COLLEGE t 9 EDUCATES BOYS for OFFICERS in the MERCHANT A i SERVICE, Naval Cadetships granted annually and W appointments to K.N.R. m Apply W. iff. BULLIYANT, Hon. Secretary, W 72. MARK LANE, LONDON, E.C. f

Readers and Writers. Shakespeare has been shewn by somebody or another to have known everything and been everything under the sun. It is something, to learn, on the authority of Mr. William Archer, that he was no volunteer. The magnificent description of the night before Agincourt in the prologue to the fourth act of King Henry V. has seemed to some to indicate the opposite fact. But Mr. Archer has himself been in camp—on Salisbury Plain—and the predominant feature of a camp at night, he says, is the jewel-like glow of the lighted tents and marquees. "The bell- like tents seemed to me like luminous balloons, the marquees like phosphorescent monsters of the deep." The first of these similes could scarcely recur to Shakespeare, for balloons were not known in his time nor was the second likely to be within his ken. So much Mr. Archer admits. "But that Shake- speare could have found images, and infinitely better ones, for these rows of lucent orbs, who can possibly doubt ? His failure to do so seems to Mr. Archer to shew that he had them not in his mind's eye. Whence we are to infer that he never actually saw a camp at night. Well, well; it cannot be helped. Shakespeare saw so much else—so much through the eye of imagination- that we can readily excuse him in the matter of the camp. Nearly twenty-five years ago Mr. Watts-Dunton protested in an article in the Athenaum against the persistent attempts which are made to turn the Psalms into rhyme. There is not, indeed, as he says, in the whole of modern history, a more suggestive subject than this-the attempts to versify the Psalter, and the uniform failure of these attempts. ? At the time that Sternhold, the Groom of his "Majesty's Robes, was" bringing" the Psalms into "fine Englysh meter" for Henry VIII. and Edward VI., Continental rhymers were busy at the same kind of work for their.own monarchs —notably Clement Marot for Francis 1. And it has been going on ever since, without a single protest of any importance having been entered against it. The latest attempt lies to the credit—or rather the discredit—of the American Presbyterians, who have been engaged for some time in trying to make David "run in rhyme in a new version of their own. I am never likely to hear this new version in the land of its birth, but I can imagine some poetical Puritan repeating the sarcasm of the man who suffered under the doggerel of the old Bay Psalm Book. It was thus profanely that he recorded his views—"written out of temper on a panel in oneofthepues": "Could poor King David but for once To Salem Church repair, And hear his t'salms thus warbled out, Good Lord, how he would swear! Alas! it is more than likely that "poor King David" would have utterly failed to recognise himself. J. C. H.

THE REVIVAL. HEN-DY-CWRDD MEETINGS. Revival services were held at Hen-dy- Cwrdd Unitarian Church on Thursday and Friday evenings, conducted by Rev T. J. Jenkins, Gellionen. The services were well attended and were marked with much enthusiasm, several members of the con- gregation engaging in prayer. UNITED PRAYER MEETINGS. This week united prayer meetings are held by the young people of the churches 11 in Aberaman, Aberdare and Mill street PREACHING DISPENSED WITH AT CWMAMAN. The revival fervour shows no abatement at Cwmaman, large congregations assem- bling at the various churches (including St Joseph's) almost every evening. The half- yearly meetings of the new Welsh Baptist Cause at Godreaman occasioned scenes which will not be forgotten by those present. The advertised preachers were Dr Waldo James and Rev J. Nicholas, Tonypandy. A fairly large congregation assembled at the morning service, when Mr Nicholas preached It became evident that the fire was smouldering, and would ere long burst into flame. The afternoon meeting was held at Noddfa (Welsh Congregational), the edifice being packed. It was resolved that the preaching service be dispensed with, and a revival prayer meeting be substituted. The meeting then became Pentecostal, many praying at the same time, and others singing or reciting. Both the visiting preachers spoke a few words, the remarks of the aged Doctor drawing a flood of tears. The Revs J. H. Thomas, Noddfa, and W. Harris, Beulah, also delivered addresses. In the evening, Waldo delivered his well- known sermon on the Prodigal Son to a large congregation. MOUNTAIN ASH REVIVAL ITEMS. Miss Ricketts of Oxford, the famous Evangelist, is this week holding Evangelis- tic Services at the Miskin Primitive Meth- odist Church. She will conduct the services at the Newtown Church next week, and the following week she will be at the Primitive Methodist Church, Bruce street, Mountain Ash. The converts at Mount Pisgah Baptist Chapel (Rev G. Neighbour) number 130. At Bethel Welsh Congregational, Miskin, 33. Miskin Primitive Methodist 25. Welsh Calvinistic Methodist Church, Miskin, 18. A member of the Mountain Ash Police Force informed our representative that the Revival has been the means of raising the general tone of the inhabitants of Mountain Ash: instead of comic songs being sung along the streets the sweet strains of the favourite hymns of the revival are every- where to be heard; also, there is more orderliness in the town, which is most marked on Saturday and Monday nights. FRATERNITY AND FERVOUR AT PENRHIWCEIBR. The revival spirit is in no ways abating here. among the various, churches. The converts are still coming in, and the prayer meetings are being continued. The Con- gregationalists, Wesleyans, and Methodists hold united prayer meetings twice each day, and the young people of the English Baptists as well joined the young people of the three mentioned churches on Monday afternoon at Hertaon, and had a very good meeting. On Wednesday afternoon the young sisters' united prayer meetings will be held, and on Thursday the mothers and daughters' united prayer meeting will be held. The religious fervour, the spirit of prayer, and the psalms of praise, are still well to the front. The converts are stan- ding firm to their convictions. A general report of the churches will be supplied next week.

Resignation of the Rev. W. James. Declined by the Church. As our readers are aware the Rev. W. James, the venerable pastor of Bethania. C.M. Church, Aberdare, has for some time been in indifferent health. His state of health reached a dangerous climax when a few months ago he was taken ill with a paralytic seizure when away at Llanwrtyd. From that serious attack he gradually rallied, but has never recovered even his normal state of health.' Last Sunday the resignation of Mr James was read at Bethania. The church, however, decided with unanimity that the resignation be not accepted, and that nought but death shall sever Mr James' connection with the church which has already lasted for the period of 35 years. Mr James has always expressed a wish to die with his hands on bhe plough, and although he has since his last relapse been unable to preach, he has attended the meetings with wonderful fidelity for one of his advanced age and poor health. The relations between pastor 1nd flock have always been most cordial, 1nd it is a universal prayer that the highly revered pastor of Bethania may long be spared to take at least a passive interest in ;he church to which he has ministered so aithfully for so many years, and from ivhich he testifies that he has always received unqualified respect and consider- ition.

PRINTING Neatly and Promptly executed at the LEADER" OFFICE. Printed and Published at their Printing Works, Market Buildings, Market Street, Aberdare. in the County of Glamorgan, by the proprietors, W. PUGH and J. L. ROWLANDS.

The complainant said she now lived at 18, Rheola street. She was employed there as a servant. She was 22 years old and left Pontypool two months ago. She had known the defendant for six years. A few weeks prior to Christmas, 1903, she worked near defendant. She kept company with a George Hill up to October, 1903. She then commenced going with defendant. On Boxing night, 1903, she went to Newport, and on the way home at Abersychan she met defendant. He walked with her so far as her home. It was then 11 o'clock at night. On the way home he threw her down and intimacy took place. Between that time and April, 1904, she met defendant several times whilst attending a chapel. He used to take her home on these occasions, but intimacy was repeated only once. She discovered her condition in April, and told him about it. He replied something to the effect that she had been with a thousand people, and that he would not pay a penny. A female child was born on October 3rd, but died on January 11th. Replying to Mr T. J. Powell, for the defence, complainant said that the case had been tried at Pontypool some two months ago, when it was dismissed. She admitted that she said an untruth at Pontypool. It was with reference to a boating incident. She had denied that there were two men in a boat with a Miss Bright and herself on a certain occasion. Asked why she had denied this, witness replied that she must have forgotten herself. Miss Bright and complainant's mother gave evidence. Mr Powell submitted that he had no case to answer. The Stipendiary replied that there was a case to answer. It was not a strong case, it was tiae. The defendant was then called and gave a complete denial to complainant's allegations. After a lengthy hearing the Bench made an order for payment of 3s 6d a week and I costs, up to the date of the child's death.