Rhondda Leader Maesteg Garw and Ogmore Telegraph

RANDOM READINGS. HIS BATTLE. The. soldier's greatest victory is not always on the field. Nor are the enemies in "Ilia most terrible contests always hie fellow-men. One such contest is described in L. E. Chitten- den'B "An Unknown Heroine," published by an American firm. During the Civil War Lieutenant Bedell was shot in the thigh. The bright red gush of arterial blood told him where the immediate danger lay. In vain he tried to check the stream. Then he called for aid. Cord it, boys," he said. Take a hand- kerchief or anything, only be quick! Try a cash and bayonet," he added, seeing their futile endeavours. At last the flow was stopped. The officer was carried on a stretcher to the temporary field-hospital. The doctors examined the wound; amputation of the leg must take pl<ioe at once, and the patient might die under the knife. Bedell heard the diagnosis. Is not this wound certain to be fatal if you do not operate ? "Yes." "Then do not lose a moment's time." They laid him on the table. His native vigour was in his favour, but his great size was against him. Sixty-four square inchea of flesh were laid bare before the operation was over. The right hand was crushed, but the surgeons dared not touch it until it was seen whether the patient would rally from the amputation. That evening the camp had to move. and the jolting journey was an awful ordeal for the wounded man. At last, expecting his death at any moment, the doctors had him carried to a farmhouse by the way. In the morning he had gained a little strength. "You doctors think I have my fatal wound," he said. I know perfectly well the chances are against me. But I have wife and children who want me. I am going to make the hardest fight of which I am capable. Will you help me? A consultation was held. Only one young surgeon thought there was the slightest hope of life. In his care Lieutenant Bedell put himself. My life is hot'my own property," said he. For a year more it belongs to the United States; after that to my family. I shall not throw away one chance to save it. Doctor, I am ready." Again he was laid on the operating-table. He did not wish to take an ancesthetic, but he submitted when tha doctor said: "The operation on the hand and the dress- ing of the wound will be very painful, and therefore, exh^ueting. You must husband every particls of strength." On a hard bed of straw, his only covering an old army blanket, the wounded man with his young doctor fought the fight for life. And they won. CHAMPION CATS. It will probably come as news to most people and to many cat-lovers to know that there are as many as twenty-three more or less distinct feline varieties—some of them, it is true, only based on differences in colour and marking, but nevertheless separated for show purposes into distinct varieties. A com- plete pictorial record of all these twenty- three varieties is published in the November number of Pearsons Magazine-together with some interesting notes on cat-breeding generally. Mr. C. A. House, who contributes the article, writes: The cat is an animal of great antiquity, and from mummies in the British Museum and Sanskrit writings we know that it was domesticate*! »> o.nnn otw-1 Ig" -It if, flowavo)', /Srily iviHn r> tite last twenty years that any progress has been made in breeding cats for points, in the same manner as dogs and other fancy stock are bred. The National Cat Club was started just twenty-one years ago, and since that time the cult of the cat has proceeded apace. For many years a cat which had won the special for the best cat in the show was con- sidered a champion; but by the rules of the National Cat Club, introduced some two years ago, a cat has now to win THREE CHAMPIONSHIP CERTIFICATES under three different judges at three or more championship shows to secure tha title. Years ago Blue Persians were about the only long-haired cats known to English breeders then the white Angoras were imported. Soon English breeders began crossing the two, and the result has been cats of many different colours, colours previously unthought of, whilst the admixture of the two kinds of coat has given us cats not only longer in coat than the original Angoras, but also denser and closer in texture than the first imported Per- sians. To-day it is impossible to differentiate between the Angora and the Persian; thus a few years since. the National Cat Club de- creed that henceforth the titles Persian and Angora should be dropped, and all such cats known under one generic term of long-haired cats. Laws or no laws, custom has proved too strong for the ruling pow ers; and al- though schedules and catalogues of cat shows speak of long-haired cats, the breeders persist in calling them Persians." A VISIT TO WARSAW. When the train from Berlin reaches the Polish frontier at Alexandrow, you realise that you are in a new world, writes the Editor of the Sunday at Home. Russian military officers enter the train, the carriage-doors of which are then locked. They proceed from compartment to compartment, taking from each passenger his passport. As you look from the carriage-window you see the porters, in white caps and white linen smocks (like the dress of a chef in a hotel), running with the heavy baggage on their shoulders from the baggage waggon to the Customs office. You do not see a .;gle porter walking. Then, your carriage-door being unlocked, other por- ters come and take the light luggage from the racks. You follow them to the Customs, and there you witness a varied scene at 1.30 in the morning. East and West have met. The confusion of tongues is here indeed. Rus- sians, Poles, Germans, English, French, Japanese, Chinese—all are here. Except per- haps in Cairo, there are few places where one sees in a company of about 150 people such a mingling of various nationalities. In Warsaw itself the impression of a new world is deepened. The city is still under martial law, and is garrisoned by 50,000 troops. There is DQ such thing as municipal self-government. Soldiers are everywhere. Mounted police keep guard at the principal street-corners. At the hotel you are at once asked for your passport, which is sent to the authorities to be registered and returned. It is undesirable to walk in the streets without it. Many things remind one of the stormy times through which Warsaw has been passing. A superior officer of police had been shot in the street two days before my arrival, and l watched his funeral from a friend's upper room. ANIMALS' TOILET ECRET Natural history would be a far more attrac- tive subject if it were always treated aft-er the manner of Mr. G. M. Mackaess, who dis- cusses in Cciqsell's Magazine, The Toilet Secrets of Bird and Beast." "Birds," we are told, perform the most careful toilets of any creatures, and they carry on their own dainty little persons 1 aids to beauty which few of us would suspect them of possessing. Cold I cream and vaseline, fuller's earth and pearl- powder, brilliantine and pcniatnrsv -all of these are in daily use a the birds, though few enjoy all of them at one:, Triw, N-ud serves for cold cream suy1 vn -JI mostly, common dust for pearl-powA&r and fuller's earth, but the brilliantine is actually carried by the birds that use it in a small and handy reservoir ou the upper surfaos of the tail. The brilliantine is used by the birds for anointing their plumage, and is really an oily secretion which is yielded by a tiny gland, shaped something like a heart, and often tufted with feathers. In the case of water-fowl this oil-gland is exceedingly well developed, and the bird draws very freely oa its supply of natural pomade when making its toilet; so, when we see a duck burrowing in- dustriously among the feathers of her tail, we may be quite sure that she is engaged in • tappingx' her supply of natural oil for titi- vating purposes."

Children's Concerts at < Penygraig. 011 Thursday and Saturday evenings, two gvaiicl concerts were given at Llanfair Hall by the Penygraig Infants' School. Mr. Samuel Price, M.E., took the chair on Thursday, and Mr. Tom Evans, D.C., presided on Saturday evening. The hall was besieged by large audiences each evening, and the performances were well worth witnessing. Although the eldest child could not have been more than seven years old each one knew his work to perfection, and the excellency of their performance reflects great credit on Miss Harris and her staff. Miss Williams, who was a member of this staff until lately, but is now headmistress of Stanleytown Schools, Pontygwaith, conducted the singing. So thoroughly was everything accomplished that it would be difficult to note out any item for special mention. The audience was, however, exceptionally delighted with the drilling. Every move- ment seemed perfect, and the change from one action to another was accom- plished with the greatest of ease. These concerts clearly demonstrated the advance- ment that has taken place in recent years in the education of infants. The object of the concerts is to obtain the necessary money to pi'ovide a. piano for the use of the school, and Miss Harris and her staff can be proud of having more than achieved their aim, for besides being able to purchase a good piano, they have more than satisfied the Penygraig people with the extraordinary efficiency of the school.

Dinas. The Rev. E. Arfon Jones, Dinas. has accepted a pastorate at Caerau, Maesteg. His numerous friends in the district will be very sorry to hear that ho isi leaving.

Death of Mrs. Goldsworthy, Ynyshir. There passed away on Saturday week, at her residence, No. 1, Church Terrace, Ynyshir, after a long and painful illness, Mrs. Emma Levi Goldsworthy, the wife of Mr. George Goldsworthy, under- manager at the Standard Collieries, Ynyshir. Deceased was, too. the mother of Mr. Harry Goldsworthy, of the Stan- dard Collieries Offices, Ynyshir, who is popular in many circles and acted for many years < as secretary of the Porth English Congregational Church, and is at present secretary to the new cause at Penuel, Ynyshir, which he helped to found. Deceased, who was 58 years of age, was highly respected, and her regret- ted passing away leaves a vacant space not easily filled. She was one of the oldest members of the English Congrega- tional Church at Porth, and was enthur -=.11i7- '+"¡, '0" +U A of the new church at Ynyshir- which she joined at its formation. The deepest sympathy is expressed on all hands for her husband, who has lost a faithful and encouraging helpmate, and for the chil- dren, who have suffered the loss of a loving parent. The funeral took place on Thursday, the 18th inst., and it was a long and mournful cortege that wended its way to Llethrddui Cemetery, the place of interment. The bearers were the officers of Porth English Congregational and Penuel (Ynyshir) Churches. The mourners were —First c,-ti-iiage-Afr. G. Goldsworthy (husband), the Misses Annie, Alice and Florence Goldsworthy (daugh- ters)), and Mr. and Mrs. H. Goldsworthy (son and daughter-in-law); second car- riage—Mr. and Mrs. Richard. Thomas (son,4in-la.w andl daughter), Henry and Sidney. Hocking (nephews) • third car- riage—-Mrs. H. Hocking and the Misses Hocking, Miss B. Emanuel, Cardiff, and Mr. James Davies, Porth. There was a large and representative gathering of the public, including Mr. W. James Thomas, J.P., Brynawel; Messrs. John Thomas, M.E., Fernbank; John Hughes, cashier: William Thomas, under-managen; Daniel, overman John Evans, overman William Jenkins, Standard Collieries Office; tradespeople, workmen <fcc. The funeral arrangements were undertaken by Messrs. Jones and Son, Ynyshir, the coffin being of oak and brass inourlted. The officiating ministers were: --At the house, tht Revs. R. E. Salmon, Porth, and T. Evarugj Tylorstown; at the grave- side, the Revs. H. E. Salmon, E. C. Da vies, Saron, and Thomas Evans, there being present also the Rev. J. Ll. Da,vies. D.A. (curate), Ynyshir. The hymns im. prestively sung werle: LElnd, Kindly Light" and "Loved ones gone before." The following sent wreaths:—Mrs. W. J. Thomas, Brynawel, Ynyshir; Standard Colliery Officials; Porth English Congre- gational Church, Penuel Church, Ynys- hir; Mr. J. Powell Davies, Porth; Mr. and Mrs. F. Wilkins, Porth; Mr. R. Hocking, (brother) and family, Penarth; Mr. W. Richards (brother-in-law) and family, Southport; and the bereaved femily. Letters of sympathy were re- ceived from the Revs. J. 'Williamson, M.A., Cardiff; Jenkyn James, London- J. T. Rhys, Aberdare; Edward Bush, Caerphilly; MorgaM Jenkins, Abercynon Ed. Thomas, Bracknell; Prof. Joseph Jones, Brecon; Rd. Williams, B.A., Brecon College; Mr. J. S. Grant, M.A., Porth; Mr. J. W. John, Ynyshir; Mr. D. James, Aberayron; and many others.

Inquest at Porth. At the Porth Police Court on Tuesday morning, Mr. D. Rees, coroner, held an inquiry into the circumstances of the death of Samuel Bray, residing at 6, Bloss Houses, Glynfaeh, Oymmer. It appears that on Monday, the 8th inst., Bray—who was a horse-dealer—in com- pany with II. Smith, butohcr, of Porth, was riding in a, trap, the property of a Mr. Ph "Is. of Pontypridd. Whilst nego- tiating a turn of the road by the Palace, the vehicle suddenly, swerved and Braj and Smith fell out with great force umn, the road. Smith escaped with a fe superficial injuries, but Bray sustained a fractured base of the skull, from which lie died on Friday, without even regainin consciousness. Dr. Cochrane gave evi- dence OJ h-v-NG attended deceased fro. the day of the accident up to his death, and stated he died from syncope, i r- result of injuries received in the accident I and the jury returned a verdict aecor ingiy. i Deceased who was a native of Devon- fhire, and will be buried there on Thtirs-

Cantata at TonyrefaH. On Thursday and Saturday evenings- last week, the Primitive Methodist Choir, -a Mill Street, rendered the sacred cantata, "Amos, the Cripple of Capernaum," in full character, at the Institute. The per- formances were. attended by crowded audiences each evening, and quite a large number could not gain admittance. The- following were the chief characters —- Ohnza" (Herod's steward), Mr. W. R. Evans; "Joanna," Mrs. Evan Jones; "Amos, the Cripple," Miss Cissie Davies; "E^ra," Mrs. R. Morris; "Zillali," Miss T. Morgan; "Widow of Nain," Mrs. El, Mr. F. WILLIAMS. ^1 A. Trevcthan "Roman Centurion" and Barach," Mr. Morgan John; Phineas," | Mr. F. Cliappell "Reuben," Mr. F. J Smith; "Mieah/' Mr. H. Cox; "Lamech," I Mi-. T. Gibbs. The pianist was Miss Irene I Griffiths; organist, Miss M. Chappell; J conductor, Mr. F. Williams. In addition i to the performances on Thursday and J conductor, Mr. F. Williams. In addition i to the performances on Thursday and J Saturday, a special performance for chil- '4 dren was given 011 Wednesday evening. 1 The Rev. F. Turp presided on Wednes- day Mr. W. Ev ans, J.P., on Thursday; and Mr. J. Hoskinson Saturday. The, three performances were very successful, and a word of praise is due to the con- ductor, Mr. F. Williams, for the excel- lent manner in which the cantata was, performed, this heing the first attempt of this young conductor in the direction of a character cantata. The result of his enthusiasm was the more gratifying to the committee who so warmly supported him. The secretary was Mr. T Gibbs. The stage arrangements were exceptionally good and well managed. The proceeds will be devoted to the chapel debt fund..

Cost of Education in the Rhondda. Lowest But One in the Principality. The Board of Education have issued a- Parliamentary Paper on the cost of edu- cation in the various Authorities in the Kingdom, from which we extract the. following figures, which shew that the expenditure in the Rhondda is, when compared with other County Boroughs, Boroughs and Urban District,SI one of the lowest in the Principality and consider- ably below the average cost for England and Wales. The cost in the Rhondda is 57/- per child, while in the lowest in Wales it is 56/ and the highest in Wales is over 100/- per child, and in the country as a whole it is 64/10, so that our educa- tional system for the past year was one of the most economically managed in the country; for the previous year this was even more marked, when the expenditure was the lowest per head. Expenditure alone is not a. criterion of success but when coupled, as it is undoubtedly in the Rhondda, with great efficiency, the result is very creditable. PARLIAMENTARY RETURN ON EDU- CATIONAL EXPENDITURE. (a) County Boroughs s. cL Cardiff 65 11 Newport 66 4- Merthyr Tvdfil 63 2 Swansea 56 8 (h) Urban Districts s. d. Aberdare 65 3 Abertillery 72 tt Barry leD 10 Ebbw Vale 61 7 Llanelly 56 0 Mountain Ash 67 2 Pontypridd 68 10 Rhondda 57 0 (c) Average: s. d. For all County Autho- rities 57 4 For London 94 3 For all County Boroughs 64 7 For Boroughs 60 4 For all Urban Autho- rities 64 9 Average for the whole of England and Wales 64 10

Inquest at Trehafbd. An inquest was held on Monday at il Vestry, Trehafod, touching the death of R. Dentist, of Trehafod. Evi- dence was given to the effect that (le- ceased, who was a night worker, retired on .day to bed,, and was found dead by his wife. Some time 'ago he sustained t severe injury to the head whilst follow- ing his employment at the Lewis Merthyr Colherv, and commenced work after his recovery. A post mortem examination was held on Sunday by Drs. Powell and Vincent, of Cardiff, and Dr. Carroll, of n-ehafod, who found that death was the result of a elot of blood resting upon the brain. The Mines Inspector not being; in attendance, the inquiry was adjourned tiH riday next.

wH £ NOmmFA/L K r —THOUSANDS OF 1/—^BwrnifsssMMsm ITOOTHvACHf BL AND fl| H Kp/vwm ■^NEURALGIA A Jl STORES. H- 7' MANUMCmm, LPOWDE ;ZZAWELLY' Promptly Arrests Quinsy and Colds