The Aberdare Leader

LOCAL CHATTER. 4_ BY THE CHATTERBOX. Mr. D. T. Alexander, Cardiff, the auctioneer at the Bute Sale held at Aberdare last week, was in a reminis- cent mood on the opening day. He lived at Aberdare some 50 years ago, and a series of very interesting articles on Old Aberdare from his pen appear- ed in the South Wales News fnd Aber- dare Leader a few years ago. He had one very good story concern- ing The Beehive, Aberdare. After Mr J. H. Powell, J.P., had bought the Sremises Mr. Alexander asked him if e remembered the establishment being kept by a Mr. Gabriel. Mr. Powell did not. "Well," said the auctioneer, "I do. He was very fond of having Sales, as drapers do, and there were bills in his window con- tinually, 'Selling off.' This went on for some years until one day the notice was varied, as follows: 'Selling off, Belling dff, selling off. Indeed to goodness I am going. I have booked my passage for Australia; Goodbye now, whatever.' That," added Mr. Alexander, "was the origin of the phrase, 'Goodbye now whatever.' Then there was another story con- cerning the Fothergills Arms. Dr. Roper, a well-known doctor in Aber- dare back about the 60's or 70's, had an assistant who had ai passion for strong drink. After a bout one day he developed a tremendous appetite, and he went into the Fothergills and ordered a dinner, and ate it so raven- ously that the beef steak choked him and he died. The Werfa Dare Colliery engine, which was responsible for the death of Mr. Joseph Llewelyn, Windsor St., Trecynon, was, some 40-50 years ago, in use at Blaengwawr Colliery, and strangely enough it was responsible for Mr. Joseph Llewelyn's father's death, who was fatally injured by it, but not quite in the same manner. Sir A. Conan Doyle has been in Mer- thyr again speaking for Spiritualism, when Mr. W. Edwards, H.M.I.S., oc- cupied the chair. In the course of his address the famous novelist said, "I know that the dead live, for 1 have spoken to them—my son, my brother. my nephew. Speaking of the eternal I lire hereafter, the lecturer said "that everything from this life onwards was better." Theological talk about people being naturally wicked and all miser- able sinners was "pure hypocracy and nonsense." He admitted that great numbers of people required purifica- tion, and that refining process would be theirs after passing from this life, but not to hell, which did not exist. In the Strand Magazine for this month—an excellent Xmas number, by the way—he has a very interesting article dealing with certain phases of Spiritualism. He cites one or two in- stances of haunted houses, investi- gated by himself, and he satisfied him- self that they were really haunted by dead persons who had previously oc- cupied those dwellings and who were anxious concerning some papers which were left in the wall. Conan Doyle, after a fruitless search was made for the papers, successfully persuaded the spirits not to trouble the present tenants any longer. In this way Conan Doyle may ren- der very signal service to a few more troublecl people. There is a historic mansion in South Wales, which is alleged to have been haunted for years, and it is with the utmost ditti- culty (or was at any rate) that the owner-occupier could keep maids. They arrived from various towns one day and left next day, some of them after a weird experience. Let Conan Doyle spend a few nights there. A well-known Eisteddfodwr has just passed away in the person of Mr. David Williams, Alexandra Place, Sirhowy. His bardic name was Myfyr Ddu. He was a brother to the late Myfyr Wyn, of Aberaman, whose widow and son, Mr. Edgar Williams, Lewis Street, keep a newsagent's shop. Like Myfyr Ddu, Myfyr Wyn was a frequent contributor to the Welsh Press, and was t bard of considerable merit. But his strength lay in humor- ous articles written in colloquial style. Myfyr Wyn was the "Bachan Ifanc" of the "Tariah y Gweithiwr," and hundreds, probably thousands of people subscribed to the Tarian for the sake of following those very humorous and interesting series. He died about 20 years ago, and a volume containing some of his prose and I poetic works was subsequently pub- lished by his family. — )

LEAGUE OF NATIONS. j I MOUNTAIN ASH PASTOR ON ITS OBJECTS. Preaching from the text Micah, iv., 1-1, the passage in which appear the words "they shall beat their swords into ploughshares," etc., at Bethlehem Chapel, Mountain Ash, on Sunday even- ing, the pastor, Rev. J. R. Evans, B.A., B.D., said that in these words the pro- phet described his vision of the Golden Age of the future. In faith and hop6 he beheld the day when (1) religion would be supreme in all the activities of human life; (2) all nations would be one in their worship and service to the living and true God and in their acknowledg- ment of His law; (3) wars would have been banished from the world-Hand they shall beat their swords into plough- shares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up a- sword against natio l, neither shall they learn war any more." The desire for the real- ization of such a vision burnt with in- tensity in many hearts to-day in Brit- ain and other lands. As a result of that intense desire we had the covenant of the League of Nations. It was an en- deavour to dispense with war and at the same time to secure international jus- tice. Instead of rushing to arms, the members of the League pledged the a- selves to refer all disputes to a repre- sentative body and to acquiesce in the judgment and award of such a body. The league aimed at the adoption of effective means for the bringing of any recalcitrant nation to a better mind. When, all other methods had failed, the League would use its military powers. The League aimed at fair treatment of all nations, especially the smaller ones. Its ideal was not the balance of power, but the partnership of all nations for the tommontweal. This movement re- ceived its impress from (1) The contem- plation of the horrors of war; (2) the certainty that the next great war would be incalculably more horrible and deadly in its results. Scientific skill had de- vised more destructive methods of war- fare, and as one of our leaders had told us, we were only beginning to learn the alphabet of destruction. (3) Occasions for quarrel might become more numer- ous. The aeroplane and wireless tele- graphy had transformed the world into a neighbourhood. Science had enlarged the universe, and at the same time it had made the world a smaller place by annihilating distance. All nations were now neighbours. It was the duty of the Christian Church to give her whole- hearted support to this effort to banish war. Evil influences were at work, seeking to perpetuate hostilities and to SQW the seed of future discord. It was the church that could create the atmos- phere and foster the spirit which would make the-League a power, and not a dead tetter. Its message of the Father- hood of God and the brotherhood of men is essential. Jesus Christ is our peace, and His love will break down all walls uf partition.

WITH SLYNDWR'S CHOIR. Welshmen and the American Nation. BY T.D. Mr. Tom Da vies, the secretary of the Glvndv.r Concert Party, contri- butes another very interesting epistle on the Party's American tour. His references to the part played in that o y great country by representatives of Hoft Waiia Wen are especially grati- fying to every true Welshman :— My last epistle just touched upon our concert at Brooklyn at The Han- son Place Methodist Episcopal Church, one of the largest in the city, whicn was filled to its utmost capacity. Captain John P. Roberts, owner ot the sight-seeing yoebts, took us around the city and harbours, one oi the very best sights of the city even to tne residents of Greater New York. The choir was very much impressed with the views of the city with its sky- scrapars and miles of wharves, com- paring somewhat favourably with Mountain Ash and Cw mhach! We sang at Bridgeport. This is the town where the Hemington and Bethlehem Steel Works are situated, employing thousands of men who made muni- tions of war for the Allies. Your readers will remember that through the intrigues of Bernstorff and Captain Von Papen, portions of these works were blown up during the war. From Bridgeport we went to Derby Conn., and Waterbury, renowned for the famous Waterbury Watches. New Britain is a very clean town, and the enthusiasm of the audience was bound- less. At Hartford Conn. the choir was engaged by the Shriners, \:ho held the concert ai the Masohic Temple. This entertainment was ex- clusively' confined to the Shriners and their families, having bought the ser- vices of choir for that purpose. South Manchester, Rockville, Holyoke, Westfield, and Springfield all asked tor .return engagements. From the stage at Springfield concert, Tom James, Cyclist, from Mountain Ash, was re- cognised. Tom was a great cyclist in his day, especially upon the high machine. Mountain Ash sportsmen will remember him coming second to Zimmerman at Herne Hill, London, Open to all the World. Northampton is a college town, and our concert opened the series of concerts for the winter. North Adams, Mass., is a great cen- tre of Welshmen hailing from New- town and Llanidloes, North Wales, who are employed in the large woollen mills there. A small town close by, Blackminton, is inhabited exclusively by Welshmen. We met here a brother and sister of the late Arthur Davies, Copley Street, Mountain Ash, who en- tertained us to supper and we listened to records of songs sung by Evan H. Williams, the Welsh American tenor who died very suddenly last July. Do you know that Welsh communities in America were actually in mourning after his death? His income due from royalties on gramophones was over 10,000,000 dollars per annum. Every Welsh home has records of his songs. He has immortalised "Ar Hyd y Nos" and "Mentra Gwen." To ray mind the marvellous thing about the gramophone is the retention of the human voice for all time. Listening to him singing "On away awake, be- loved" (Coleridge Taylor) and "Open the Gates of the Temple," the breath- ing, enunciation, and phrasing could be heard distinctly, although he had passed away never to return. Who can forget the National Eisteddfod Concerts at Mountain Ash, when I David Hughes and Agnes Nicholls took so remarkably ,vell P Evan .v 1t- liams was off colour until he sang "Thy rebuke hath broken his heart." He was certainly furious about his ina- bility to grip the audience. He sur- passed himself af'ter the- rendering of the above solo. The very last time he sang at North Adams, a reception was given him by the Welsh people, similar to the one given to the Mountain Ash I Choir. Not one of the bunch of Welsh- men who emigrated from Newtown, North Wales, could speak Welsh to him. Evan Williams was furious with r the whole bunch. Williamstown, Mass., is another college' town founded by a Welshman, Col. Williams. It was at this college that President Garfield received his education. Welshmen have taken a prominent part in making America what it is to-day. They occupy re- sponsible and substantial positions throughout the country. Listening to a sermon the other evening, references were made to the passage and landing of the Mayflower, which carried the Pilgrim Fathers and landed them at Plymouth. The lecturer was asked if he knew that it was a Welshman who captained the ship and brought her safe into port. There has been a I keen controversy trom time to time about the discovery of America by Madoc in the 12th Century. At an Eisteddfod held at LIangoiien, North Wales, in 1858, a prize of E20 and a Silvei; Star was offered for the best essay upon "The Discovery of Ameri- ca." Six compositions were received. The one bearing the name of "Gwr North Ergydlym," was adjudged the best and fully worthy of the prize. He proved to he Thomas Stephens, of Merthyr. The authorities of the Eis- teddfod withheld the prize because he did not write on the real subject; they contended that Stephens' claim was all a myth. Notwithstanding this the American Government appointed a commission of experts to investigate the matter, and it is said that the idioms of the Welsh language were dis- covered in the dialects of some Indian tribes. ,George Borrow in his "Wild Wales" also states that America was first discovered by the Welshman Madoc. D. W. Griffith, the great Film Pro- ducer, is of Welsh extraction. He produced "The Birth of a Nation" and "Intolerance." There is a general holiday throughout America, to-day (Kov. 26th), a Thanksgiving Day. The celebrations are similar to our Xmas feasting. Turkey is the order of the day, and reunion of families and friends make ono feel homesick. Au revoir, more to follow."

ABERDARE JUVENILE WELFARE COUNCIL. Judging by the attendance and the enthusiasm of last Friday night's meeting this organisation is destined to playa powerful part in the juvenile welfare work of the district. Under the chairmanship of Mr. T. Botting, there were represented clergy and ministers, teachers, magistrates, miners, railwaymen, Trades ct Labour Council, employers, Chamber of Trade, Co-operative Societies and Guilds and j Social Clubs. The Secretary (Mr. J. C. Poole) reported that the Council was now directly affiliated to the Ju-: venile Organisations Committee of the Board of Eclucatiin, and that in the near future the Board hoped to issue a magazine for the help and guidance of Councils throughout the conn try. The meeting considered various recom- j mendations of the Provisional Exocu- tive, which after considerable dis- cussion were slightly amended and adopted. The Executive as a result of these resolutions, is now empowered to make grants to any organisation which exists mainly for the benefit and welfare I of boys and girls between the ages of 14 and 18. On the motion of Mr. Minty (X.U.R.), seconded by Mrs. A. N. Jones (Co-operative Women's Guild), it was unanimously resolved to hold a public meeting early in the New Year and to invite Mr. Vivian Hoes-the pioneer of welfare work in Cardiff-to give an address. An Executive was elected for the year, consisting of Rev. J. A. Lewis; J. Morgan, T. M. Jeffreys, Mrs. Jen- kins, Mrs. Arthur Jones, Mrs. Man Jones, Miss S. George, Miss Penny, Mr. G. Pryce, and Mr. E. Williams. Reports were received from the Care Committees attached to the schools in the Town Area which showed that use- ful work was being done. it was de- cided to ask all the schools in the other pa rts of the district to establish Care Committees on the same lines.

UNVEILINC CEREMONY AT MOUNTAIN ASH. The members of the Church Benefit Society met in the Parish Hall on Fri- day evening for the purpose of unveiling a portrait of the late Mr. J. K. Brooks, J.P., for many years secretary of St. Margaret's Lodge. Col. Morgan Morgan, J.P., presided, and was supported by Rev. J. LI. Croft, G.W., and Bros. Tom Sayers, P.W., Lewis John Davies, Sec., C.B.S., W. Langford M.E.C., chairman of committee, Alfred Phillips, Aid. Wm. Jones, J.P., and Chief Hpe. Charles Hud- son, London. Apologies for non-attend- ance were read from Bros. Tudor Davies, M.E., Percival Mettsner, Lon- don, and Sapi Spencer, Notts. — The Chairman opening the proceedings, re- ferred to the high esteem in which the late secretary had been held, the con- fidence he had inspired and his remark- able devotion to duty. 'During the war there had been numerous instances of devotion to duty, but tht displayed by Mr. Brooks was quite different, for his was shown not in times of stress. The Mountain Ash Lodge was the largest and the most flourishing in the kingdom, and that was undoubtedly due, to a large extent, to the personal courage and exemplary conduct of Mr. Brooks.— Bro. W. Langford also addressed the meeting. He had, probably, said the speaker, come into closer contact with Mr. Brooks than any other member ot the society. They had been closely as- sociated in their work not only in that room, but also at their respective homes. Brother Brooks was a great worker for the society, the interests of which he had at heart. It was in that room, on that very spot, that, in harness, he closed his career with the society, and the last words that he spoke, were to him (the speaker),—"carry on with the work." Prior to his death, the subject of a suitable recognition of the secre- tary's labours had been talked about, and it had been decided to do so, at his coming of age as secretary. He would like, said Mr. Langford, to see the idea of recognition of officers carried out dur- ing their lifetime. In conclusion, he begged to offer fraternal greetings on behalf of the Executive Couficil.—Bro. Alfred Phillips, who had been deputed to unveil the portrait, said that it was with deep feeling that he drew the veil aside. He (the speaker) was the oldest member of the society, practically the founder. As the ceremony was per- formed by Bro. Phillips, the whole com- pany stood in silence.—Aid. Wm. Jones and Chief Sec. Charles Hudson also ad- dressed the meeting.

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