The North Wales Weekly News

Woman and the State ADDRESS BY MISS HOVEY AT COLWYN BAY. At a meeting in the Lecture Hall on Friday evening, held under the auspices of the Colwyn Bay and District Women's Liberal Association, Miss Hovey, B.A., Principal of Penrhos College, delivered an address on Woman and the State to a good attendance of members and friends. The chair was taken by Councillor T. E. Purdy, and he was supported on the plat- form by Miss Hovey, Miss C. S. Sugden (Secre- tary), and Miss Ethel Hovey. In the course of a few brief remarks the Chairman declared himself a warm advocate of the franchise being extended to women—(ap- plause)—and formally introduced Miss Hovey to the meeting in felicitous terms. FAMOUS QUEENS IN HISTORY.. Miss Hovey, who was warmly greeted on ris- ing to speak, said that first she would deal with the part played by Queens in the history of the State. In this connection Miss Hovey instanced the British Queen Boadicea, who rose against the Romans in A.D. 62, and the heroism dis- played by her in warfare, when she led the Britons in person, dispersed soldiers through the garrisons, stormed fortified posts, and ex- horted her forces so successfully that she almost destroyed the Roman army. In those days it was not unusual for the Britons to war under conduct of women, and ancient historians re- corded numerous cases of deeds of bravery per- formed by women in battle. Etihelfleda, the Saxon Queen, who was a daughter of King Alfred, and endeared to the hearts of her countrymen under the name of the Lady of Mercia, ruled Mercia after the death of her husband, and completed King Alfred's work by finally defeating the Danes. A notable Saxon ruler was Queen Sexburga, of whom William of Malmesbury s.aid Thre was not wanting to this woman a great spirit to discharge the duties of the kingdom. She levied new armies, kept old ones on duty, governed her subjects with clemency, kept her enemies quiet with threats, and in a word did everything at that rate that there was no other difference be- tween her and any king in management except her sex." Referring next to the English Queens, Miss Hovey said that until the time of Anne lloieyn a Queen Consort was entitled to, a tenth of the revenue paid to the King through fines, licenses, pardons, and charters granted. A Queen Consort sat in Councils with the King, and gave her consent to. measures along with his majesty. There were four Queens Regnant in English history, and Miss Hovey gave cogent reasons why Mary and Anne were not so great as Eliza- beth and Victoria. Owing to the fact that she was a Roman Catholic, Mary was educated upon narrow principles, whilst the High Church in- fluence to which Anne was subjected resulted in her too having but a moderate education. HIGH POSITIONS HELD BY WOMEN. The reigns of Elizabeth and Victoria were itvvo of the greatest reigns in history—(applause) —and in connection with Queen Elizabeth Aiiss ILovey said it with regret that she recently read in a history book, written for boys, a refer- ence to Elizabeth as that extraordinary female." Such a remark hvas calculated to dnistil inrto a boy prejudices which, at such an age, he could not otherwise hold. (Applause.) Speaking of those women who ranked next to the Queen, Miss 'Hovey said that Ladies of birth and quality sat in the Saxon W itenagemot; the highest position a woman might attain in the State was that of Abbess, and Hilda, Abbess of Whitby, presided over the Council of Whitby in A.D. 664. (Hear, hear.) Many of the most learned men and women of that time, including several bishops, were educated at Whitby under Tilda. Peeresses with seats in the Council of the Realm were allowed to send proxies to vote for them, to. serve in their places in the army, to attend Courts, and to fulfill other duties, the system of proxies being also extended to old and infirm men. Those peeresses did homage to the King as was the custom of the nobles of that time, and in turn received homage from their own vassals. Women regularly held the posi- tions of High Sheriff, Marshal, Constable, Steward, Chamberlain, Governor of Royal Castles and Justice of the Peace. (Hear, hear.) Some of the years in which women acted as Sheriffs were: Lincolnshire, 1217 Wiltshire, 1236; Rutland, 1301 Worcestershire, 1449; and Westmoreland, 1650. Next in rank to the peeresses were the County women, and although there was no record of a 'woman having ever been a Knight of the Shire, there was no law to prevent such an event taking place. In fact Anne Clifford once stated that if her particular candidate dec limed to offer himself for election she would stand her- self (Laughter.) County women might nomin- ate members to private boroughs, and on March 25th, 1628, as a result of a disputed election, the Committee of Privileges and other members of the House of Commons decided that Mrs. Copley and the other inhabitants was the true and legal precedent for the form of return of the Borough of Gatton in Surrey." In 1571, a woman, Dame Dorothy Packiiigton, sent the two members of the Borough of Aylesbury to Parliament. WOMEN AS JURORS AND ARTISANS. In. cases declared by judges in 1606 and 1619 it was ruled that a Freewo-nian or feme sole if possessed of freehold property might vote for Parliamentary candidates, unless married, when her husband must vote for her. At Lyme Regis, in 1789, the first three names on the voters' list were women, and there was a dispute as to whether nan-resident burgesses were entitled to vote. Free-women were liable to be summoned to the Courts of the Manor, and! in default of being present themselves or sending proxies they were fined. There were numerous instances of women serving on juries, especially in cases when women were on trial —(hear, hear),—one case being on record in 1435. There were Freewomen of the Boroughs, in. cluding London, who shared the duties of the Freemen in the service of the King, and on an old document it was expressly stated that A Freeman, when she is a woman, shall have no excuse from the duties of watch and ward." (Applause and laughter.) Women acted as •members of Corporation, and! there were Free- women of Ccrrupanies, especially in London, who corresponded to the Trades Union Officials of the present day. Women were members of Guilds in which moral conduct was essential, the same standiard being required by both sexes. One heard much in the present day about women encroaching on the trades and profes- sions of men, and in that connection it was in- teresting to note that some three hundred years women acted as drapers, clockmakers, prln, smiths prf £ mourers' barber surgeons, black- received the same tailors, and masons They (Applause.) In a doc unit J? ay as did the men. Church of St. Martin's in the i< nrMfd, at the which recorded the erection of that editicA-i, was found that the bell was cast by a woman, and much of the brick, iron, and other materials used weie manufactured and placed in position by women. That was a striking in- stance of the amount of freedom which in those days was allowed to women to earn their own living. (Hear, hear.) EVIL ACTION OF A MALEVOLENT JUDGE. Speaking on the loss of rights sustained by woman, Mis6 Hovey said they were to be attri- brut.ed to five chief causes. In the first place, there was the baneful influence of the Latin races, whose advanced civilisation was founded on paganism before it was affected by Christi- anity and -was overshadowed by Roman Im- perial rule. Secondly, the acttaon of Henry VIII. in abolishing monasteries. Miss Hovey said sbe lv- no friend of monas- teries aid convents, but it was impossible to I deny that King Henry did a great injustice to those institutions. In consequence of their abolition, it was no longer possible for a woman to become an Abbess, which was the highest position after that of the Queen, and thus the women's seats on the Council of the nation were lost. Many of the abbots were compensated by being made bishops, but no such provision was made for the abbesses. As a result of the con- vents being abolished the education and trading of women was almost totally checked, and hence-forward women were brought up to no other career than that of marriage. Thirdly, the action of the same monarch in abolishing the Guilds, which lost to women- workers the dignity of position to which they attained by reason of being equal in independ- ence to men. The fourth case, was that of the Puritanism described in the Little Quaker Sinner "— (Laughter)—on the one hand and the frivolity which came about with the Reformation with its low moral standard on the other. Both regimes pulled woman down. Finally, legal pedantry, especially that of Sir Edward Coke, who de- livered himself Off an obiter dictum, published dn 1644, which stated that clergy should have no voice in Parliament, being of the multitude bound by Acts of Parliament, who are not parties to the election of knights and citizens, as all they that have no freehold, and all women having freehold or no freehold, and men wlithÏin the age of twenty-one years." Miss Hovey re- marked that she regretted time did not permit of her enlarging on the demerits of Sir Edward Coke, but she would assure those present that if they knew of his record they would have no re- spect for him. (Applause.) Nevertheless, his influence on the law of the land had been very great. THE SLAVES FREED, BUT THE WOMEN BOUND. In 1640, Sir Symonds d'Ewes, Sheriff of Suffolk, at a Parliamentary election with the consent of the candidates, rejected the votes of women, although," lie said, in Law they might have been allowed." On February 4th, 1641, a large concourse of women gathered round the door of the House of Commons to present a petition claiming to share privileges as they do calamities, urging the purity of religion, and the liberty of the person." Mr. Pym, one of the five members who stood out against Charles I., came to the door, and thankfully accepted the petition, which he declared would be carefully con- sidered. (Applause.) In the Reform Act of 1832, the word male was interpolated before persons in the Charters of new boroughs. Never before, and only once since, had the phrase "male persons appeared on the Statute Book, and it was grim irony that such a thing should have taken plae just at a time when England was freeing the slaves. Until 1832, women had the privilege otf (abstention from voting, but that became changed to the penalty of exclusion. In 1S34 an iniquitous bill was passed, which took away the ancient right of dower which existed as far back as 1692, thereby making it possible for a man possessed of means to leave his wife and children penniless. It might inter- est a Liberal gathering to be reminded that both those measures were passed by a Liberal Government. (Laughter.) However, the Con- servatives were also to blame, for they too had passed bills infringing on the rights of women. In 1835, the Municipal Franchises Act of the Liberals limited the privileges to male persons in spite of charters and precedent. In 1850, Lord Brougham's Act for shortening the language of Acts of Parliament was passed, and) it contained the proviso that the words importing the masculine gender should be deemed to include females, ex- cept where expressly stated. Amid laughter, Miss Hovey regretted that the bill had not been passed a few years previously. (Hear, hear.) In 1867, the Conservatives passed the Repre- sentation of the People Act, a proposal to sub- stitute male person for man being rejected as also a proposal that women should be expressly included. ADVENT OF LADY GUARDIANS. In 1868, the case Chorltion v. Lings was de- cided in the Courts, and the claim to vote made by 5374 Manchester women and 1500 Salford women was rejected. Nevertheless, some voted, and at the present time there were cases at every general election in which women and others registered votes owing to their names having by mistake been placed on the register. It had never been definitely decided whether an un- qualified person was legally entitled to take advantage of an error in that way. Dealing with anomalies and disabilities, Miss Hovey in-stanced other Acts, some of which had played an effective part in, removing woman from her true sphere in the life of the State. The Medical Act (Liberal) of 1858 excluded women, with one exception, from practising as doctors, but with the establisJunelllt of the School Boards by the same party, in 1870, women were en-titled to serve thereon, and eight were re- turned at the first election. (Hear, hear.) With the Liberals in power in 1872 the Judges decided that no married woman was entitled to a Local Government vote. In 1888, under a Conserva- tive Government an unmarried woman's right to vote was finally established, but although in London two women were elected to the County Council, and one chosen as an alderman by that body, the Judges decided in 1889 that they had no right to sit. In 1894, the Parish and District Councils were established, the Vestries in London, corresponding to the Dis- trict Councils in other parts of the country. Women might both sit and vote on the Councils, and on the Vestries, and the rate qualifica- tion of guardians was abolished. The result was that the number of Lady guardians in the country rose from 175 to exactly five times that number. (Hear, hear.) The reason for this was to be found in the fact that hundreds of married women who were not ratepayers were enabled to offer themselves for election. Unfortunately, however, the Government gave with on hand only to take away with the other, as women owners were deprived of their ancient rights to vote for Poor Law Guardians, although the rights of men owners were enlarged, and men lodgers and men-servants became entitled to votes. The Conservatives passed the London Government Act in 1899, which had the effect of replacing the Vestries by Borough Councils. At the instance of the House of Lords women were disqualified from serving thereon. By the Conservative Local Government Act of 1900 married women were allowed to vote for the London County Council, but not for provincial, county, nor town councils. WOMEN IN MUNICIPAL LIFE.. The Conservatives by their Education Act of 1902, transferred education from the School Hoards to the County Councils, and women lost their control over education unless they obtained their seats by co-option, which did not entitle them to the prestige and power possessed by elected representatives. The Liberals atoned for much when,, in 1907, they removed the Local Government disqualification of women in regard to both sex and marriage, allowing them to act as Councillors and Aldermen—(applause)—in County and Borough Councils, including Lon- don. When chairman, however, a woman might not take advantage of the privilege commonly accorded to the chairman of a Council of a -A on the Magistrates' Bench during his period of office. Neither might a woman sit on the Cor- poration of the City of London. The effect of a decision by revising barristers had previously been that no married woman could vote or be elected for any Town or County Council outside London. As a contrast with that state of affairs, Miss Hovey recalled the fact that at the same time women were permitted to vote for directors of the South Sea Company, the Bank of England, and the British East India Company, the directors of that latter company wielding a well nigh incredible power, inasmuch as they had the power of life and death, taxa- tion, imprisonment, and banishment over a hundred thousand English born men and a hun- dred millions of Indians. As showing that societies which had for their object the assertion of women's rights were of no mushroom growth, and that agitation was no new thing, Miss Hovey instanced the Female Re- form Society, a body which was formed by the working women of Blackburn in 1819. In 1825, demonstrations were held in, favour of woman suffrage, and in 1841 the women obtained fifty- thousand signatures to an Anti-Corn Law Peti- tion. In 1851, the first petition of women suffragists was organised at Sheffield as a result I' of a public meeting, and the petition was pre- sented to the House of Lords by Lord Carlisle. In 1867, the National Union of Women's Suffrage Societies was formed, and four years later it secured no fewer than three hundred and thirty thousand signatures to a petition. (Applause.) The first Women's Liberal Association was founded at Bristol in 1881, and the Primrose League in 1885. The Women's Liberal Federa- ttiion was formed two years later. AN ELOQUENT APPEAL. Continuing her address. Miss Hovey said the State bad a duty to perform towards woman. Woman demanded justice and freedom to develop, as well as care and defence. The State showed a woeful Lack of acknowledgement of woman's work. (Hear, hear.) One heard much at the present time about unearned increment. (Laughter.) Was not woman's work an un- acknowledged increment, and was not every woman a direct benefit to the State? (Ap- plause.) Home was only part of a woman's duties, andevei-i her duties to the home became imperfect if she had not wide sympathies, in which case she often) showed family selfishness, just as a man showed personal selfishness. The sphere of woman had been narrowed1, hence her mind became narrowed. The effect of going out from home would be most beneficial both to the mother herself and to the children under her care. The effect of work outside, and of mixing with others would make woman realise her responsibilities. The infinitely small might become the in- finitely great, and what appeared so often as paltry, petty, and prying in woman i-,i f. ,-t be changed into careful and minute atten- tion to detail, wherein lay the success of great and small schemes. (Applause.) The chief evils woman had to combat were custom and pre- judice. Custom was often a curse, and pre- judice always was. It was evident, however, that some of the most intellectual men of the day were beginning to realise the benefit that would accrue to the State as the result of woman being accorded the vote. Dr. Wood, headmaster of Harrow, had said If I wanted anything neatly, intelligently, and conscientiously per- formed, I would get it done by a woman." (Hear, hear.) Edward Thring had declared: I hold that nation to be highest in. the world which gives the highest place to women as workers; which in a true way has got the farthest in recognising woman's mission as a worker, whose unique power it is to undermine and discredit force, to lizake work lovely, and to present a living example of the highest influ- ence depending on gentleness and helpfulness." (Applause.) WOMAN'S CLAIM TO THE FRANCHISE. Women claimed to be represented on the same terms as men. (Hear, hear.) It was on those lines that was founded the great appeal of 1896, which secured 257,796 signatures. It was an un- doubted fact that the House of Commons was as sensitive to the claims of the represented as was mercury to the weather. But, as Mr. J. Stuart, the member for Sunderland, had truly said Petitions sent up by the unrepresented are like bell handles rung outside a door tfiat have no bell attached at the other end. They occupy the attention of those outside the house, but do not disturb those that are within." (Laughter.) The franchise was being continually widened for the benefit of men, but was it not also im- portant that the franchise should be granted to women? (Hear, hear.) It was a matter of justice, not expediency, for it followed that women would take greater interest in the State, train their children to do so, too, and instil into them the unselfish love of country, for women had no axe to grind. (Applause.) It should be a duty and not merely a privilege to possess a vote. Modern legislation tended more and more towards the questions of domestic life. One did not for a minute doubt that men were better than the laws they made, and one did not like to suggest they were treating women on the lines of the old saying Them as asks shan't have, and them as don't ask don't" want." (Laughter.) In conclusion, the speaker wished to express a hope that in the near future the quotation, Fair women and brave men might be fittingly varied by the phrase Brave women and fair men." (Applause.) The Chairman having referred in appreciative terms to the interesting and edifying address, and thrown the meeting open to discussion, Mrs. Blackwell said she considered that in the event of women being granted the vote, marriage should not be held to disqualify them from exer- cising the franchise. (Hear, hear.) Therein she differed from Miss Hovey. Miss Elizabeth Lewis in proposing a very hearty vote of thanks to Miss Hovey for her excellent address, said it was clear woman had taken a backward step in recent times. It behoved them to see to it that before long they made an appreciable advance. (Hear, hear.) Mrs. R. A. Lloyd seconded, and expressed the hope that Miss Hovey's address might appear in print. (Applause.) Mr. George Kettlewell supported, and the resolution was carried with acclamation. MARRIED WOMEN AND THE VOTE. Miss Hovey, in reply, said she regretted not having had thrice the amount of time at her disposal in which to deliver the address in order that she might have enlarged on the subject. She was conscious of the splendid work accom- plished by Lady guardians—(hear, hear),—and it had been her intention to deal with that point among others had time permitted. She would also have liked to have quoted' the opinions of eminent men and read extracts from literature in support of the question that interested them all so much. With reference to the remark passed by Mrs. Blackwell, Miss Hovey wished it to be understood that she had been quoting facts and not expressing her personal opinion on that matter. (Hear, hear.) She was strongly convinced that married women should have votes, but the present petition was for women to be granted the vote on the same terms as men. That once secured, perhaps enlarged privileges would follow. (Applause.) Miss Hovey proposed a hearty vote of thanks to the Chairman, and paid a tribute to the kindly in- terest he took in all local objects. (Hear, hear.) Mr. Edge, in seconding, said that Whatever Mr. Purdy put his hand, to always turned out a I success. The meeting that evening was a case in point. (Hear, hear.) The Chairman suitably replied.

Flintshire Educational Appointments. A recommendation that Mr. J. 0. Smallwood be appointed head master of AbermoTddu School, at a salary of ^135 per annum, came before the members of the Education Committee at Mold. On behalf of the School Management Sub-Committee, it was explained that the ap- pointment had not been advertised, but this was a most exceptional case, as Mr. Smallwood had been assistant master at the school for twenty six years, and was well qualified and of excel- lent character. An amendment that the appointment be ad- vertised was moved by Colonel Howard, and seconded, by the Rev. W. Ll. Nicholas (Rector of Flint). Mr. Tilby, while not in favour of passing any hostile) motion on account of the feeling in the locality in favour of the appointment, hoped this incident would not constitute a precedent. Eventually the proposition made by Colonel Howard was withdrawn, and the appointment was confirmed. Colonel Howard said it would have been far more decent had the post been. advertised.

Discussing extraordinary divorce compacts, Tit-Bits calls attention to an arrangement come to between a Welsh couple whom divorce had separated. A single existence did not suit the man, who soon began to regret his hasty action in cutting himself adrift from one who, whatever might have been her faults, had been, at all events, an excellent household manager. He sought his ex-partner, and, confessing that he could not live in comfort without her, offered her re-marriage. To this she turned a deaf ear, though she so far relented as to agree to resume management of his household for a handsome monetary consideration.

r WAT E R SOFTENER N 0 BLEA(Hin I SODA /-i Help of Helps .:I! for all quick house work. In the laundry it softens the water, helps the soap, bleaches white clothes, -V; •V: brightens up colours, and saves the rubbing. Carbosil the water for greasy pots and pans, V washing up dishes and cutlery. Carbosil in the bucket for whitening floors, scrubbing tables, shelves, etc. •; ¡: Ily iii.g. Carbosil waste water to cleanse and purify sinks and drains. Carbosil is a powder containing no soap; far • handier and more effective than the old- v/ a. Id. Paekets. I

Good Templary at Colwyn Bay. A PRESENTATION. On the 24th ult., the Pioneer Lodge held a social and entertainment, which proved very interesting and successful. There was a very good muster of members and friends, and every- one seemed to thoroughly enjoy the proceed- ings. The meeting was presided over by Coun- cillor W. Greenfield, who, in his opening speech, paid a tribute to the Good Templars for the amount of gopd work they have done and are doing in the town and district, compli- menting them upon the steady growth of the Lodge in number and usefulness. He also stated that he is a Charter member of this Lodge, having joined it as an active member at its institution by Bro. J. Stanford (now Mayor of Wrexham), early in 1901, and he was still a member. In concluding, he submitted some statistics and figures, which showed that tem- perance is making progress all over the country, 's and referred to the satisfactory report recently given regarding drunkenness in the town and district by the Police Superintendent. The talent secured to provide the entertain- men was of an excellent quality. Beyond doubt, the chief item contributed was Mr. Tom Smith's performance on the violin and the Japanese fiddle, of which it is impossible to speak too highly. It was truly a treat but seldom avail- able at such meetings. His performance on the one-stringed or Japanese fiddle called forth an outburst of applause, to which he kindly re- sponded with an encore piece. The vocalists also gave the utmost pleasure to their audience. Miss Sally "Parry, in her usual fine style, sang" The Songs my Mother sang," and the Carnival Miss Wiiliams, Verniew Bank, sang a Welsh solo, "Y Plentvn a'r GwLith," her birdlike voice charming everyone while Mr. Wadge sang Shipwrecked," a piece well suited to his powerful voice. The accompanist was Miss Lloyd, of Penrhyn Bay, who performed her part to perfection, to whom the Lodge and the artistes desire to ex- press their deepest gratitude for her able as- sistance during the evening. After everyone had partaken of the refreshments provided by the sister members of the lodge, a very interesting little ceremony was one through. It being the birthday of Bro. Edward Jones, G. Sec., it had occurred to the members of the Lodge to pre- sent him with some small gift as a birthday present, to show their esteem and their ap- preciation of his services to Good Templary. The presentation was made by Bro. W. J. Hill, C.T., and the gift consisted of a pair of photos of Bro. Jones' daughter as Queen of the May- Day festivities in Colwyn Bay Last year (1909). In making the presentation, Bro. Hill eulogised the recipient in high terms, and Bro. Rev. D. Griffiths also added his quota of praise. Bro. Edward Jones, in acknowledging the gift, said that no better object could possibly have been selected to give him pleasure, for the photos would alwavs remind him of two events the honour paid his daughter by her schoolmates in choosing her May Queen, and the honour paid him by the Pioneer Lodge in thus presenting him with the photos. The presentation was a little surprise packet to Bro. Jones, and one which no doubt he will always look back upon as an agreeable one. Some novel and mirth. provoking competitions were arranged, and the winner in each class received a prize kindly given by Bro. Bisset, E.S. This was the last meeting of the Lodge in its old quarters, for it has removed to the Orient Hall, Greenfield-road, where it will be more central and in other respects more convenient. It has been decided to hold open session every alternate Monday in the new room, when the public will be admitted at a nominal charge. O.L.C.

Colwyn Bay District Nature Notes. The weather has been more wet and stormy than usual, but the great amount of warmth absorbed by sunlight during the previous sum- mer and autumn on our uplands is already bearing evidence in early growths of springtide. The flowers of the Dogs Mercury were plenti- ful the second week of last month (February), and now, the 24th, the dark green arrow-headed leaves of the Cuckoo-pint are well through the dead leaves of last winter. We see also the new leaves of the wild straw- berry, the Celandine, and Wood Sorrel, while the Marsh Marigold is a conspicious feature about the middle of March in the brook within sight of Bryn y Maen Church. Associated with the winds of the month, we shall see troops of Anemones with their delicate star blossoms, as they vie with the primrose in clothing the woodlands near by. The frequent visitor to our uplands and annual stranger, too, will miss what formed a pleasing attraction of the month. I refer to the tall branches of the Sallow that grow by the roadway on this old Llanrwst road, about 660 feet above the sea. The golden clusters of the male flowers pre- ceded by the soft white velvety catkins, would indicate Palm Sunday each year, while the longer and green flowers of the great branches near them proclaimed the female type. It is difficult to understand the vandalism that prompted the destruction of those fine speci- mens of the Sallow tribe, because they were far out of the line of roadway, and most likelv this old morass had produced the like ever since the days when the Angles and Saxons in- vaded Britain. It has required the introduction of the modern Celtic Highwayman to exterminate it from its ancient site. The beauties of nature mean so much to us that one can hardly realize how many centuries have passed before they received any attention at all by civilized man, and now that the great- est poets of the past have immortalized them., indications seem to point sometimes that the world can exist without them altogether, in life's struggle for wealth and popularity of various kinds Great urban and county authorities do not disturb their minds with commonplace objects, but all our literature and all our interests of life itself would be very dull and void of real attractiveness without the poetry of nature in all its various moods. Seaside resorts for the tired and weary city dweller as a rule do not consist of woodland glades and fern-clad dingles, but Colwyn Bay is unequalled in these attractions; for here we get all the wealth and variety of Nature's workings that make the fir-sit sight of spring so joyous and attractive and the successive seasons so enchanting. THROUGH THE PWLLYCROCHAN WOODS The hazel blooms in threads of crimson hue. Peep through the swelling buds foretelling Spring; Ere yet a white-thorn leaf appears in view, Or March finds throstles pleased enough to sing. To the old touch-wood tree wood-peckers cling A moment, and their harsh-toned notes renew; In happier mode the wild dove claps his wing; The squirrel sputters up the powdered oak, With tail cocked o'er his head and ears erect, Startled to hear the woodman's understroke; And. with the courage that his fears collect. He hisses fierce. half malice, and half glee, Leaping from branch to branch about the tree With Winter's foliage, moss and lichens deckt. February 25th. G. DUCKERS. m

He had courted her for years, never missing his evening call, and finally was landed. On the day of the marriage a friend observed the bridegroom wandering about his new front yard in a restless manner and with a very dejected expression. H Why, what's the matter, old! man? he asked "you should be the happiest d" alive, for to-day, at least, and you look like Er—01 cofurneral." The bridegroom started. Then, why these"~k5.' £ ?T happy," he asserted, you the truth, Bill," the to tel1 burst of confidence, << I was just* w^n a wliere I am to spend my evenings hereafter!