The Carmarthen Journal and South Wales Weekly Advertiser

NOTES OF THE WEEK. "A greasy pole race" was suggested the other evening at a meeting of a local committee promot- ing aquatic sports. Welsh speeches have no more claim to be re- ported verbatim in our columns than English. We have to consider what their value is to the public and what space is available. This applies to the open-air meeting at the Park on Tuesday evening. At a meeting of the Executive Committee of tbi- National Eisteddfod, on Friday evening, a letter was read conveying an intimation that H.R.H. Th.- Prince of Wales would become a patron of the Carmarthen Eisteddfod. A similar corn iiiunicat.on was received from His Majesty at a previous meet- ing. In this column last week we referred to Mr. Hamcr's finding of the "Coronilla" near Carmar- then. He was not the first to find the plant in the county, as Mr. T. W. Barker discovered it here some three years ago. However, Mr. Hamer wri- the first to find the wild asparagus—a very rare plarit-in Carmarthenshire. A lady and gentleman who were dressed in pro- nounced motoring costume were the subjects of offensive jeering from a number of children the other evening while strolling through Spilman- street. The schools are doubtless doing all they can to produce decent manners among children, but evidently there is a deal more to be done. A well-known hotel keeper at Llanstephan has an original plan for keeping a record of the weather in his diary. Against each day is either a stroke in red or blue, or two strokes of both colours; but their meaning is suite BewTTderng, untl mine host explains that red represents fine weather, blue wet, and rod and blue thunder and lighting. A young lady staying at Llandyssul last week had the misfortune to lose her fishing rod while angling in the Teify. Mr. John Lewis, the next day fished part of the river for the rod, with a salmon rod, attached to which was a stick with a strong hook at its end. After some -difficulty Mr. Lewis succeeded in recovering the lost fishing rod, hooked to which was a splendid eel. The Rev. David Davies, of Manningham, Brad- ford (a native of Lampeter), in sending a tweh 0 montlis subscription to the JOURNAL in advance, says;—"I am always looking forward to the arrival of the JOURNAL every week. It is to me here, ;n this busy city of Bradford, like a weekly letter from my home in dear little Wales." Mr. Davies is senior curate of Bradford Parish Church. r In a town in Carmarthenshire where two big rival firms have establishments, the manager of one ap- proached the head of the other with a view to closing their premises from eleven to two o'clock 011 a particular occasion. One replied that he could not do so without wiring for sanction to his firm, and about 10 a.m. did so, At quarter to one he received the reply, "Yes, clo.,e at eleven." He put the shutters up at 7 p.m. as usual, It is a great pity that the authorities that be 111 Llanstephan do not put a stop to the deposit of refuse at the entrance to the "Sticks'e' from the beach. It leads to one of the prettiest and shadiest of the many beautiful lanes, for which the place is noted. but to have an eyesore, to say nothing of the danger from a health point of view, of this sort thrist under your nose, when taking a favourite -alk, is inexcusable. Here is some work for that ener- getic body—the Parish Council. 1** TJIC "musical standards" is not the name of a periodical. It is the term applied to the electric light posts that have just been erected in the streets-or in some of them—of Carmarthen. Those in the main streets are of metal and give out a resounding note, something like a cracked bell, when tapped with a stick. It has become recognized thac to hammer these posts with more or less vigour now and then stamps the passer by as a born humorist, and when the act is done by gentlemen on their way home after 11.0 p.m., the joke, for some abstruse reason, seems more exquisite than ever) « A pretty little incident is recorded in the report of one of the concerts connected with the famous eisteddfod of 1823 at Carmarthen. The writer says: "This was succeeded by the song "Should he up- braid, by Bishop, which was so prettily sung by Miss Owens, that it was by several persons loudly encored; some of the audience, however, not wish- ing to add to her fatigue, called "No," on hearing which the sweet performer, apprehensive that she had not given universal satisfaction was so affected as to burst into tears; which was noticed by -he audience, who, one and all, loudly encouraged her by their plaudits to proceed, which, so soon as -ILe could recover herself, she did most delightfully, and elicited the "bravos" of the hearers. Surely the Bill to amend the Welsh Sunday Clos- ing Act, which was read for the first time in the House of Commons on Tuesday night, is a subtle attempt to foist the measure on England. Tho Bill seeks to bring Monmouthshire within the provi- sions of the Act, a reason given being that at present the Act is ineffective in the eastern portion of Glamorganshire. Similarly, when the Bill s passed, it will be inoperative in the portion of Monmouthshire bordering on the adjoining English counties, and to make it effective a Bill must be introduced to extend the Act to those shires, and so it may go on until the whole of the English counties are embraced. At the same rate of pro- gress it will take nearly a thousand years to make Sunday Closing cover the whole of Wales. Last year the Government made a terrible fuss because the action of the House of Lords delayed the passing of their Budget. This year, at the bid ding of Mr. Redmond, they have apparently hung up their Budget until the autumn, and betray no signs of annoyance. Mr. Redmond has evid3it']y made it clear to the Government that ho and his party will not vote for the Budget until they kna\v the result of the Conference upon the Constitu- tional question. If he is satisfied with the result he will vote for the Budget; if not, he wjll vote against it and try to turn the Government out. With this "big stick" suspended over Mr. Asquith's head, the prospects of the Conference are far from rosy. But at least he cannot blame those wicked Tariff Reformers and their accomplices in the House of Lords for delaying the passage of the Budget. A. pathetic exhibition of the instinct of animus was noticed at a local colliery last week (writes our Brynamman correspondent). While a new horse- it had but recently been taken underground from a farm—was drawing the coal-trains towards lte. bottom of a step part of the mine, called a "slope," it began to quiver and snort violently. After ^>o- ceeding a few steps it stopped suddenly, as if unwill- ing to go any further. On being repeatedly urged to move by the haulier it gave a te-rifled jump and rushed past the spot at a wild gallop in the dark- ness. It did not stop until it arrived at he coal- face, further than which it was impossible to go. When the haulier got up to the horse the poor animal was covered with sweat and in a great fright. What caused the poor brute's alarm was this: At the spot beyond which it was so re- luctant to go, another horse had been accidentally killed two days previously, having had its brains dashed out against the side by. a runaway tr<im By some subtle instinct the new horse had been warned that it was approaching the scene where a fellow- creature had so recently met its death! A correspondent writes:—I read with much inter- est in one of your recent issues a splendid account of the "History of the Gorsedd," wherein you state that at the Eisteddfod of 1451 "a priest residing at Machynlleth, and known in bardic circles as Llawdden, was discovered to be the most learned in bardio law." May I point out that Mr. Chas. Wil- kins Ph.D., in his "History of the Literature of South Wales," states that "another distinguished man of the century (15th) was Davydd ab Edmund who won the chair prize at the famous Eisteddfod of Carmarthen, held under the patronage of Gruff- ydd ab Nicholas, who had obtained a Commission from Edward IV. for that purpose in 1451." Wil- kins further states tnat "His (Davydd ab Edmund's) chief distinction consisted in having assisted at the Eisteddfod in the compilation of the twenty-four Canons, the originals having become lost." NVilkine, in another pttg-e stat-es that "leuan Llawdden would appear to have been a bard of note (in the 15tK oentury) judging from the testimony of his con- temporaries." We also glean from the volume that an elegy to Llawdden was composed by Iorwertb- Vynglwydd, and that the elegy contains the fol- lowing "Eminent was he found with his sagaeious mind The man who excelled in composition. Who was to be seen as the winner of two chairs The gold chair of Carmarthen of undisparaged Ieara. ing Did the lover of knowledge possess. Another chair became him N And he received the dignity of Gwynedd And the gold axes of Glamorgan where wines arel found." It would be interesting to know in what year the "gold chair" was won by Llawdden if not in 1451, and if in 1451 what was the difference between the 41 gold chair" awarded to Llawdden and the "chaic prize won by Davydd ab Edmund, for it is evi- dent both took part in the compilation of the twentv- four Canons." An amusing example of the skits, political and! otherwise, which used to be a common feature of public life at Carmarthen years ago. has come into our possession with others. It has lost much of it point by reason of old age, but the flavour that made it and its kind popular in those days can still be detected. Here it is: — RATS IN THE CORN, OR "ROGUES IN GRAIN! NOTICE is hereby given, to all Parties whom it may, concern, that on Thursday last, the 19th inst., the Churchwardens of St. Peter's, in Carmarthen (not ROME), through the Agency of the "sbirri," or Police, took forcible possession of a Quantity of Barley, in Bagnall's Stores (right taiN the Church), under a flag of "Distress, and the same will be sold (after five clear days) on Tuesday, the 24tb instant; and the Public are invited to attend the Sale, to point the finger of scorn and everlasting contempt against the despicable creature, in the shape of a man, who will degrade himself by the first BID, for property seized and obtained under circumstances so flagitously wrong and disgraceful. Before the commencement of rhe Sale, the Auc" tioneer will announce the usual conditions, viz. For convenience of Sale, the Corn will be sold in Lots. The successful Bidder for the first Lot, will be im- mediately appointed Grave Digger for the Parish of Sr. Peter, and on the following day, will dig his own grave, and be buried without funeral rites The Purchaser of Lot Xo. 2. will be elevated to tha PILLOBIUM of Public Opinion, and treated with Egg FLIP, and Pickled Cabbage The Purchaser of 3rd Lot, to be 'ducked in the nearest horsepond, or bestride old St. Peter's Steeple Cock, for 24 consecutive hours, without food, raiment, or water,—whichever he may con- sider most agreeable The 4th and remaining Lots, will probably be bought in by the Churchwardens, to grind down for the Benefit of the Poor Dissenters! [ pon the close of the Sale, the Churchwardens will, alternately, mount the Auctioneer's Rostrum, and deliver practical Addresses upon the following subjects:— "Do ye unto others, even as ye would have otbere do unto you." "England expects every man to do his duty," and "may it pleasci your Worship" IN POSSE. "I had rather be a Doorkeeper, ef., than dwelf in the tents of the wicked;" with a 17 years' good character, signed by the Protege's Patron, and certi- fied by the Superior at the Head of the Dioceses. "I am ready to acknowledge that Church Rates,. as they staQd, form to the Dissenters a serious and substantial grievance."—EARL OF DERBY, 1834. "As a matter of justice, it is felt to be wrong, to call on men to pay for the propagation of opinions in which they do not share."—LORD STANLEY, 1853.. "I deny that in England Church Rates are likff Tithes, to be considered a CHARGE Upox LANDS.— Church Rates are, in point of Law, a PEBSOSAE TAX."—-LORD CAMPBELL, 1837. At the end of the last Address, the Police will retire to the Station, thoroughly disgusted with their day's work, the SERGEANT chaunting, "I'm unhappy, I'm unhappy, I'm a miserable man The Churchwardens, with their Friends, will then adjourn to the Vestry of St. Peter's, to comfort tho "inner man" with a glass of Mulled Port or bad Pontac, and to meditate, in solemn silence, upon the "forlorn hope" of another Church Rate for the said Parish. And before separating,, a Resolution will be moved, and doubtless passed, 'nem. con.— That a Testimonial be presented to the exemplary Warden,—"ecclesiastique," who for 17 long years, to the neglect of other more important duties, has sacrificed his time and convenience for the Brood of St. Peter; and that the Testimonial shall be a handsome, full length, faithful Portrait of the de- voted Warden, to be appropriately fixed against the centre pillar of the Church, for the admiration of posterity throughout all future ages; and that the Artift to be employed, be a near relative of the Parochial Warden, who will deserve the sincere sym- pathy of the Public in His attempt to produce a flattering likeness The Parish Clerk will wind up the finale, by singing an Anthem, Solus, composed expressly for the occasion by the worthy Organist, and accom- panied by the Orghn, assisted by the bellows-blower, commencing with, Let us sing to tho Praise and Glory of BOZ. CARMARTHEN, Jan. 20, 1854. [Printed at the "Seren Gomer Office." Carmarthen.J

SOCIETY AND PERSONAL Field-Marshal Sir George White, the hero of the' Siege of Ladysmith, celebrated the 75th anniversary of his birthday at Chelsea Hospital on Wednesday in last week. Among those present at the celebra- tions were Lieut.-GenCTal Sir James Hills-Johnes, V.C., G.C.B., Dolaucothi, who was one of five' high officers present wearing the coveted Victoria Cross. Lady St. David's is staying with Princess Alexis I Dolgorouki at-Nochdom. Taplow, where on Tues- day, Wednesday and Thursday (yesterday) a sale of work by Russian peasants was held at a series of garden parttes. Lady St. David's is one of the stall-holders, and the sale is under the patronage of the Empress Marie Feodorovna. An engagement is announced between Mr. Arthur. Vyvyan Lloyd Jones, of Penvrallt, Llangeler, Car- marthenshire, eldest son of the Rev. Frederick Edward Lloyd Jones and Mrs. Llovd Jones, of Mil- field, Folkestone, and Edith Mary, "onlv daughter of Mrs. Price, of 27, Augusta-gardens, Folkestone. -Yr In the House of Lords on Tuesday the Bishop of St. David's supported an amendment to the Census Bill providing for a column in which the religious professions of the person enumerated might be stated entirely at their option. The Imperial Maritime League have sent to the Prime Minister two extensively signed letters plead- ing for a loan of a hundred million pounds for national defence. Lieut.-General Sir James Hills- Jonnes, V.C., G.C.B., is one of a large number of high officers of both services who have signed the appeal.

LLANDEFEILOG AGRICULTURAL 8.HOW.-The secretary of the Agri- cultural and Horticultural Show wislies to remind intending exhibitors that the entries close on Satur- day, July 23rd, addressed to him at Plas, Ferry side.