The Brecon County Times Neath Gazette and General Advertiser for the Counties of Brecon Carmarthen Radnor Monmouth Glamorgan Cardigan Montgomery Hereford

BRECONIAN IN EGYPT. Wants to Meet Old Friends. We have received the following letter from a former resident of Brf con who is serving in the Australian Expeditionary Force:- To the Editor of the County Times. August 4th, 1915. Sir,-As an old Brecon boy I should be pleased to know of any of the boys who are stationed in Egypt. I paid a visit to No. 15 General Hospital and met Mr C Bown, of the R.A.M C He has only left the old land a few months, and it was a great pleasure to meet and talk with him of good old Brecon. During all my travels i" Australia I have never met Anyone frcm tLe old town, so it was a lovely treat to meet one so fresh from home. He gave me one of yonr papers, and I was eorry to read of some of my old school mates meeting their deaths at Aden but as your paper says, what better death could they desire than dy- ing for their king and country ? I don't know how long we shall be in Egypt, but I sball be very pleased if yon will pot my regiment in your paper, so that any of the Brecon boys may see. We may gfit in touch with one another at any time, and I shall be more than delighted to meet any of them. It is always a great treat to have one of yoor papers to read. Yonrs sincerely, W. E. HARDWICK, Sergt., D Co. 21st Batt., A. E. F., Heliopolis Camp, Egypt. P S.—I am writing this from Alexandria, where C. Bown is in hospital.

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The f acred Call of the Bugle. (By a Talgarth Boy, author of Gallant Little Wales."] Hark the sacred bogle's calling, Sball it call on you in vain ? See your brothers fighting, falling On the fearful battle plain. Honour calls you, calls you loudly, I Life and freedom are at stake, Heed her call and answer proudly, Leave all for year country's sake. In this dark and fateful hour, Right and Might are locked in strife Help to breik the tyrant'* power If be conquers, what is life ? Could yon brook the Prussian bandits Masters in your native land ? Look at desolated Belgium, Barot and butchered by command. Harken, brother, time is precious; Once in many a bandred years Comes aicrisia so momentous Fraught with thrilling hopes and fear-- Is the world to worship freedom Or accept a creed of crime ? Slave or Freeman is the question, If for freedom, no?.s the time. Blood is flowing fast liba water Life is freely, nobly given In that hell cf fire and slaughter. Lightning swept and thunder riven. Bot no feare or doubts assail us, We of victory are sure Calm and courage never fail as, We shall win if we endure. Better far is death in battle, Better far the silent grave, Than to see the brutal German Call a single Briton slave. Fade thfir 'freara of worl,) dominion Bftfpd en martial tyranny Come 1 we'll cleave the Eagle's pinion With the sword of liberty.

Lucky Brecon Man Wins a 2250 Prize. Mr J. Watkins, Blynffynon, Abercrave, Brecon, has just -won a prize of £ 250 in a Tit-Bits Literary Competition (Dittoes). These contests are running weekly as well as others in John Bull (Bullets), Answers (Simplets), and Pearson's Weekly (Jnmbles), and altogether about £ 3,000 is offered every week. Send a stamped addressed envelope for full particulars and two smaor efforts for each contest applicable for current week. We can win for you as we have done for hundreds of other people and we charge you nothing if you do not win, and only a small part of your winnings as commission when you do. Send now. EDITOR, COMPETITOBS' MUTUAL SOCIETY, BEVERLEY, E. YORKS.

I Telegrams: Nott's Garage, Brecon. Telephone 110,11 land 112 (Private Branch Exchange). "ottd parage, cTA lp d't. TSrecon. CAR AGENCIES BEDFORD, FORD, HUMBER, PERRY, STUDEBAKER, &c. am Any Make Car To Order at Current Prices. ACCESSORIES OF ALL KINDS. Tftotor .Vctlec-I Cash or Deferred Payments. THE UNIVE.RSAL CAP PRICE AT WORKS (MANCHESTER) I FORD CARS TWO-SEATER, £ 115. FIVE-SEATER. £125. FORD VANS PRICE AT WORKS (MANCHESTER) £ 120. ————————— TYRES IN STOCK AVON, DUNLOP, WOOD MILNE, &c. OILS & GREASES HOUGHTON, PRICE, VACUUM, CASTROL, &c., &c. t Vulcanizing (HARVEY FROST). Accumulators Charged. Carbide in Tins or Bulk. CARS FOR HIRE. |fl_ FORD OR ANY OTHER MAKE GAR SUPPLIED ON _B i" EASY PAYMENT TERMS BY ARRANGEMENT. WRITE OR CALL FOR PARTICULARS AT- —-——-————-——————-—-

Hymns in War Time. 1 When a Bishop recently remarked that a good comic song might be as helpful towards the cure of a wounded soldier as a hymn he spoke sound common-sense. At the same time the fact remains that hymns do in these times of war acquire a remarkable popularity and exert a compelling influence. It would seem that the appeal of hymns is especially great at all times of strain and distress for it is not only in periods of prolonged war that this is seen, but also in such isolated catastrophes of life as* disasters on the sea or beneath the earth in mines. The fact that the hymns which are most widely popular are those which appeal especially in times of trouble may, of course, be due to some characteristic of our people and not to a general human instinct. It is true that our most popular hymns, even of thanksgiving, possess a marked note of solemnity and almost of sadness, and one of our poets has told us that "our sweetest songs are those that tell of saddest thought." Nor, so far as we know, have the hymns that appeal most powerfully in days of sorrow been written as a rule in times of exceptional distress for their authors, but as often as not amidst peaceful surroundings. It is curious that the three hymns sung at the recent great Intercession Service in St. Paul's Cathedral were all written by clergymen living in the quiet countryside of Devonshire. But the power of the appeal of hymns at the present time is extraordinarily strong, whether it be due to a common instinct or in part to a peculiar strain in our people. Feel- ings have been aroused which demand appropriate expression, ar.d they find it in these hymns which have sprung from and been made so widely familiar by the National Church. Indeed, the Church may well receive some credit for this work of supplying and familiarising the great popular hymns and thus meeting a very real need in such times as these. Few, if any, hymns have become sufficiently widely known except those which constant use in connection with the services of the National Church have rendered part, as it were, of the common knowledge of the people. Nor, we suspect, has the Church merely met a need. May it not be responsible for the feelings which demand expression through these hymns ? Observers have been struck by the way in which men, who have hitherto seemed utterly careless of all claims of religion, have on active service shown a spirit of true devotion. May not that spirit have been 1 implanted and kept alive, perhaps without the owners' knowledge, by the mere exist- i ence and quiet permeating influence of a Church with a recognised national character i and position ? Those who lightly contem- « plate the ending of the Establishment, or, in 1 other words, the historical national position, f of the Church would do well sometimes to ponder upon its unseen, impalable influence rather than always concentrate their gaze upon any practical anomalies or shortcomings 11 which may be found in the organisation of j the Church which fills that position. B c

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NEW ZEALAND WORKING GIRLS' WAR HELP.— :0 spite of the stroouou-* year they have pat io to (quip the thousands of New Zea- anders who ba..e hft th3 Doroiiot1 for the Dardanelles, New Z al-tri(i wnooeu are still howiag extraordinary in'hnoutPui aud CJ iperatiou in prepariny aod RecdioK out vaat itorea of hospital necessaries, &c. And by no ntacs are tb tse all leisured- womeD. Natuber? If large faotories have placed tbeic workrooms it the disposal of work parties after hoars, and it some of these as many as a hundred women vork for hoars at nights-their spare hoars— n making bandages, pygamas, sheets, &o. Some of tbe hotels have also provided rooms vhere their domestic staff spend their off hours titohing for the good cause.

WARSAW. \> August, 1915. City of ancient glory, city of princely might, City whose byegone story shines like the son's white light Far down the fleeting ages Gleams her glorious pageantry, History's flaming pages Tell of her chivalry. City of ancient glory, alas, now city of night. City whose children loved thee, bat loved their Empire more: City of home and childhood, thy troubles grieve them pore. Tbf>Y foagbt like gods to save thee, Out on the grim grey plain, Se!ling their yonng lives dearly, Mother, to spare thee pain City of home and childhood, menaced by the dogs of war. City bereaved and shaken, city of pain and loss, Tho' now by the blonde beasts taken, btill clinging to Cbrist's red cross; Deserted, stricken city, tboa Thine honour still retain, Tho' Han boots rattle roond thee now Soaked with the blood of Blain, Sons cf tby noble Empire who died to avert thy loss. City of ancient glory, oity of byegone might, City whose present story is swathed in the blood red figbt. We hail tbee, stricken sister, City of brightest worth, Martyred in dreadful straggle for The safety of God's fair earth City of sintly glory, halo'ed in heaVenly light. SCRJPTU8.

THE WORLD'S WHEAT SUPPLY. As empba. 9ising the wisdom of the Canadian effort to reap every possible sort3 and to produce a record harvest, which is now fortauately within sight, it is shown in official returns recently issued that the total exports of grain from Russia daring 1914 amounted to 6,238,000 tone, compared with 10 797,000 tons in 1913, and 9,142,000 tons in 1912. The falling off indicated occurred in tbe last six months of the year, for which period in 1914 the exports amounted to 1,585,000 tons compared with 11,189 000 tons daring the corresponding period in 1913. As these figures cover only portion of the war period they do not afford an ade- quate indication of the actual situation in Russia. Otber European war areas are neces- sarily similarly affected. No cruts could be sown for this year's harvest over large tracts of Europe, and, of course, none can be reaped even were labourers available for the work which they are not, the armita having absorbed them.

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VETERAN PUBLIC SERVANT. Sixty-two Years in Office at Brynmawr. Mr John Thomas, clerk to fcha Brynmawr Council, has resigned after being in the Coun- j lil's employ, first as clerk and surveyor, end latterly as clerk exclusively, for a period of 62 years. Failure of health has foroed this step, which is much regretted in the town. Mr Thomas, who is about 85 years of ago, has lived through a most interesting period in local history and seen some startling changes. When he was a ypnng man the lot of the working c'aesfB in fhe Monmouthshire valleys was very different from what it is to day. At that time living was even more expensive than now, bread in particular being very dear, whilst the floor of which it was composed was of poor qaplity. The meat portion of the worker's diet wag composed chiefly of bacon, fresh meat was a great laxory, and milk was scarcely ever nsed as a food aud was used in tea, together with lunop sugar, only on very special cccasioriB. The men bad no "beet clotbes," and the 11 tilanket jacket" was the Snndav dresp. whilst they wore their working boots cleaned up with oil for ohfipel-going. The collier bad to work very hard for XI a week, and frequently he who was on the best terms with the weigher got the highest wages Tho method of payment, too, was very differ- ent from the present. At Nantyglo the men wers-i paid by the bitch (each batch had one of their better pdncated "batties" as a leader). Tbe money was given to one of the batch by means of notes on Mr BiiSey's bank, together with a little change. A local innkeeper used to change the notes, and received a considera- tion of 21 61 for changing each 95 note. PpJiticA in those days was an exciting topic. Mr Thomas remembers (at the age of 7) attending, with his father, a mass meeting of Cbnrtists which was addressed by Henry Vincent. Mr Crawshay Bailey rode up, but the crowd was in a threatening mood, and be did not interfere. Mr Thomas's brothers lpft home on the Sunday of the rising, hot his father stayed where he was. He remembprs some of the local adherents lo the cause of the Chattipte, and knew some who were sent to prison in connexion with the movement. One of these was a oobbler known as King Crispin," who when the moment of action came did not go 10 Newport with the others. When the constables searched bis bouse he was found at the bottom of a coffer of old boots and arrested. He was tried at Brecon and sentenced to prnal servitude. CalvBcistic Methodism was founded locally in the kitchen of Twyn Blaenant Farm, occu- pied by Mr Thomas's grandfather, and Mr Thomas has been a supporter of the cause all his life. Salem Chapel, Nantyglo, was the first bnilt, and be remembers well-known preachers officiating there, and he was present at the funeral of Morgan Howells at Wacn- goob, Bennfort, when be heard Evan Harries aod Dr Charles preach from tbe windows of the chapel to the great gathering in the churchyard. Mr Thomas, with the aid of a few friends, started the English Calvanistio Methodist cause at Brynmawr owing to the great increase in the number of English- speaking inhabitants. He holds the long- service (60 years) certificate for Sunday School teaching, and was for 52 years local secretary to the Bible Socieey. He well recol- lects the start of the temperanoe movement for Sooth Wales at Salem Chapel, Nantyglo, in 1835. He was a student at the Normal College, Swansea, in 1851, and remembers a great disestablishment meeting there, and four years later the first meeting on the subject was held at Brynmawr. He has been a member of the Liberation Society for over 40 years. Newspapers in those days possessed by no means the great circulation they have to day. One copy of the Times was shared between Brynmawr and Nantyglo and read aload in the old reading-room. The Rev Thoa. Davies (afterwards of Caerpbilly) used to be heard with interest reading Russell's letters from the Crimaen War. Mr Thomas was joint secre- tary with Mr James Phillips, J.P., Nantyglo, of the first reading-room, in the Old Market- hall, and for two winter seasons taagbt a class arithmetic. At that time a congregation minister taagbt grammar on alternate evenirgs. Education bas made great strides daring Mr Thomas's lifetime. The Brynmawr British School was boilt in 1846, bis eldest brother was the first> treasurer, and big mot her sub- scribed £10 towards the funds. The Brynmawr School Board was formed before 1870, and the debt on the British Sohool (aoot JE200) taken over and paid, one-third by Libanas Calvinistic Methodist Church, ope-third by Reboboth Congregational Cbnrcb, and one-tbird by Calvary and Tabor Baptist Cbarohes jointly. Mr Thomas served on the Llanelly (Brecon- shire) School Board in the second batch, and was one of the first selected on the Aberys- truth Sohool Board. His sister and be were present in 1837 at the opening of the Nantyglo National Scbool, where, be says, bis education was varied fre- quently by standing on a form as a punishment for not reciting the Catechism. On the formation of the Breconsbire County Council Mr Thomas was selected as the Brynmawr representative, bat retired after a few years' service. His son is Dr. J. L. Thomas, of Newport, who holds a position under the King Edward VII. Memorial scheme, and there are four daugbters-Miss Susan Thomas, Mrs Jenkins (Machynlleth), Mrs Donbleday and Mrs Millward (Abergavenny).

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YSTRADGYNLAIS METHODS. | Lively Scenes at Council Meeting I A special meeting of the Ystradgyulais V J brict Council as held on Thursday to be J witnfisseB in reference to the report of Idt1\Ít Howells (a couucil.'or) on the olaim of ™ |J Gwilym Morgan for work done at Tirgof Bri^ I- Mr Rhys Chapman said there were tw0uf 1 three questions bearing ou the report of i.^ 1 Howells read at the last meeting, tbat be like to ask. First, waa the report, tbe rep^ of the sub-committee or of Mr Howella ? ft Mr Lewis Thomas: I think it was a reYe8 made by Mr Howells, with which the CClIlPllt agreed. Mr Chapman: Mr Howells said he went w there (to Cwmtwroh), twice. Was tbis io interests of the Council or because Mr Boe had some malice against Mr Sam Tbotnaa ? Mr D Lewis (who wos in the chair ia 'f, temporary absence of Mr T Willinuit) said 0 did not like the word "malice." Mr Howclls Shall I aaawer ? t The Chairman I don't like that word Mr Howells No, no leave him alone. Wi- Mr Chapman You said you went up I want to know why. < The Chairman If yon are bringing a cego against Mr Howells, wa want to kuow Wh you say he went. Mr Chapman I do not know. m The Chairman Then if not, Mr cannot ad3wer it. Mr Lewis Thomas: I don't like thesa tions as to where and why Mr Howells up, and whether be went up twice. Where of be went, he went for facts not because personal feeling against Mr Thovars. de Mr Chapman I think Mr Howells [JJj$b the report, and you as a committee agreed e. him. Ycu did not go with him to ievestlf&'$b' With Mr Thomas Williams in the chaifi\ p Conncil proceeded to deal with Mr Morgan's bill, aud interviewed him on the ject. ABked if be had any account of tbej1^ worked by Mr Thomas, h^ replied in tbe ative, and said he had one book contai°V0 some entries with him, but he objected to Council seeing it. Mr D R Morgan said every item would to be proved before it was paid.j Mr Gwilym Morgan said the Conncil bftd the fsots in the accoont, o Tbe Clerk (Mr Jeatyn Jeffreys) pointfid tbat if that waa so, why need Mr Morgan to show his book containing them ? He replied tbat tbere were only a few in the book he bad with hicn, and there other books with entries at home. Be there were entries regarding other matterS the book he bad with him. 0 Mr Jestyn Jeffreys said the Council not pry into other matters entered in the A Mr W. D. Walters You must not go home now and make up your book Bcoard to tbe account you know 1 A Mr Morgan persisted in bis refusal to s" the book. The Clerk said the acoount was dated J 11th, more than two mouths ago, aud if Morgan said, Mr S J Thomas uid 170 £ work, he would have noteB of that on bis sheets. A Mr Morgan said the full details were and he could not produce them there. Council had his account. The Chairman That Trill net ao for o* Mr Morgan If you think the ConLicl not bad value I am willing to arbitrate. gtI.ø Answering another counoilior, Mr 1\1 refused to produce the aoooanta. MI The Chairman Yoo will have to ptooo them if yoa go to coart. $1)8 Mr Howells He is speaking about matter, and knows nothing about it. Mr Chapman Nonsense. The Chairman What is your oboe Come to the point. ft Mr Chapman I ask these questiatis .J enlightenment. The Chairman I am in a very a^ position, bat I most role that you mogt jP fine your questions, Mr Chapman, to oto Howells's report. You cannot make a cbs by insinuation. We must have plain fact Mr Chapman said all be bad to s" ¡P that people were declaring that Mr So had something against Mr Thomas. i Mr Howells said he was sorry ta Chapman bad brought the matter op^j^ way, because be (the speaker) had sp»tflV time in making his investigations, aod able to say tbat the whole thing was to the core." He bad nothing at all Mr Sam Thomas beyond what be discovered in his investigations. The matter then dropped. Mr D, R. Morgan asked if Mr Morgan was ready and willing to produce necessary figures by 12 o'clock noon. dooo Mr Morgan No I am living in Pontar I should have to go home first of all' to Mr D. R. Morgan Do yoo try to OV&de time sheets ?—No; it is done up. d Mr D. R. Morgan I maintain that o0' -M penny will be paid until everything is M After several questions, Mr Gwilym admitted that he booked the time as P* given him by Mr S. J. Thomas, from who usually got it at the latter's house. Mr Howells: Yea, and we are not ris" and we shall not pay until we are. Pressed by further questioners., Mr refused to produce his entry books, V stormy scene between him and Mr Walters ensued. Ultimately Mr F picked up his hat and stick and left 10 room, stating tbat as a representative 0 ratepayers he would never be a party payment of the olaim. Why yoa J # produce what you say are facts/ b" claimed, I cannot stand it; I am goi°&'r Mr Gwilym Morgan having withdraj' Council unanimously decided to witbbo' W ment until more proof wa<? forthcoming i work having been done as claimed for- b/ It waB agreed that the committee sP^ again meet to collect evidence from otber ooøø working on the bridge to lay before the oil at the next meeting.

9 Printing Posters, Progra m meS, Pamphlets, Catalogues, Cards, etc. 'cd Cou nty Ti mes Otf,c BRECON. A I

THE PEOPLLING OF CA.NADA.-Accordit)R to an official estimate just made by the Census Department at Ottawa, the total population of Canada at the beginning of the year was 8,075,000, including the soldiers of the Do- minion now at the front. The growth of population siuce the ceusub was taken in 1911 is officially estimated at approximately 850,000 or 80 average of about 200,000 p-r y!lar. Tbe total immigration for 1914 is given us 168,930 With the exception of the new pstitlera arriving in WiSteru Canada from tho United StateB, immigration has practically Ci:» rd 00 account of the war, and is not heiug enconragycJ by tbt Canadian officials io Europe. There is great activity all over the D )rtiit)ion-i,-j thn iudas. trial centres where inanitions of war are being turned out in vast quantities to meet the j requirements of Great Butain and her Allies in the field, as well as on the farms, where a record harvest is about to be reaped, and in the mines but local Labour supplies have hitherto proved equal to the demands, save on the farms, where harvest hands are wanted. In Canada, as in the British Islands, however, the military authorities have arranged to relieve a nomber of troops to assist the farmers, and with the aid of these, supplemented by workers from the United States, the harvest will doabt- iees be satisfactorily saved. 1>