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"TIPYN 0 BOB PBTH I
"TIPYN 0 BOB PBTH I IWM SO NOT NECESSARILY tllUa; THE OPINIONS KXFEESSBD I BX WBITIKS IN IBIS COLUMN.} A good deal is being said and written, just now, in optimistic anticipation of what we all hope may happen in the near future, as to the necessity for laying down plans of after- war reconstruction in many directicns. There is one particular direction, however, in which attention is not being turned quite so per- sistently or so urgently as it migh. be. Allu- sion is made to some attempt to iv institute musical organizations and enterprises upon something like the pre-war basis. The extent to which the war has interfered, say with choral combinations—and this is but cua illus- tration-is forcibly marked by the difficulty which those responsible for festivals find in obtaining, with anything like the readiness manifest in happier times, the necessary com- plement of artistes and what is true of choirs in general is equally true of individual performers in particular. The Executive of ?he National Eisteddfod-which, by the way is to be held at Corwen in 1919, Lhe Proclama- tion ceremony presumably taking rlace next I month-must feel this sh^rta^e with excep- tional keenness; and perhaps in direction is this more manifest than in regard to Male Voice Choirs, the most popular cu-tests at the national sra^hering,, that. owing to the impos- sibiHty of securing entries, are having to be abandoned on all hands. ,110 .♦ However, faced by .the fact that something like a clean cut has been made of the old order of things,and opportunity may be presen- ted, of building up upon new foundations,it is surely not too much to hope that, profitting by the lessons of the past, those who under- take theresprinsP 1 duty will build truer and obtain better results. The condition into which. musical matters at Llangollen had drifted prior to the war was' every way typical of others that prevailed in scores of plaoos: in North Wales, where, somehow or other, it has become a common attitude of mind for people to imagine they inherited, as a peculiar grace of God, the powers of musical expression and had no call to cultivate them. The idea thalt artistry of this kind was a mat- ter of: nationality and that it was presump-, tuous for opy oth-er parts of the kingdom to question the Welshman's claim to the first place in the realms of music, had not only be- come firmly established in the naitonal mind -let it be addiitt-ed not entirely without cause—but it had led to the spread of a spirit of overweening confidence, giving tiie native vocalist what a writer, terms an elegant con- ceit of himself," and leading to the whole- sale neglect of methods to preserve the stan- dard high, so that, in this direction, Welsh supremacy was being seriously auestioned on the native death and on eisteddfod platforms, and threatened, eventually, to "go under" before the plodding,painstaking persistence of competitors from other parts of the kingdom. To be beaten at its own game its not a pleasant experience for any nation. Germany is feeling something of this to-day in regard to the ghastly war game into which she has waylaid Europe, and this is undoubtedly what would'have happened in Wales bad not the war intervened Take the history of musical effort and development at Llangollen a quar- ter of a century ago,to go no further back than this, and what do we find? There was an abundance of well-trained local talezifc always available; no difficulty in arranging a con- cert or organising a choir when needed for any event; and, what is more, when their ser- vices were obtained they were always able, whether in competitions or otherwise, to give a very good account of themselves. There were no difficulties in those days—at any rate this is what those who should know assure me—of getting students to come regularly to practices, or of securing harmony and good understanding on committees, and the result is pleasurable to look back upon. Then, somehow or other, crept ri the attitude of mind aptly expressed »bv the phrase "resting upon oar laurels," and we know where it was leading. • # Now, what were the contributory causes to this lack of sustained effort to maintain the standard—it is well to recognise them, if they are to be successfully avoided in the future. Tn this respect it is almost impossible to ex-J aggerate the bad effect upon mqsical progres,4, exercised by denominational ism. There are many directions in which denominationalism j has been the pioneer of dry-rot; this is one of them. At times we hear something of the bad effect of the competitive spirit upon Welsh singing it is as dust in the balance compared with the disintegrating force of de- nominaitionaHsm. Its bad < ".ect r-rent into I choirs, causing cliquism, petty jealousies, and all kinds of retarding obstacles, with the ulti- mate result that organisation on anything like the scale necessary to ensure e production of really good work became impossible.. So it same to pass that every chapel had its own eisteddfod, and there was not a good one • amongst them. < Sufficient has been written to indicate the nature of the dry-rot; of course, there were many other causes of disunion at work, apart from denominational differences. All of these, however, point, to one plain, straight road, along which future progress must be attemp- ted, if it is to be attempted sueeessfuljv. and it leads to complete unity of effort. Musical talent exists to quite as great an extent in the, Dee Valley as ever it did; all that is I needed is capable and united organisation to develop it. There is no scope for sectional effort in little towns—the best, the whole best, and nothing but the bes?, irrespective of .any I consideration but musical ntness—must be or- ganised and brought together under one baton and then there is no question that a -^result will be obtained that will add new I laurels in the future to those gained by Liall- I gollen choirs and vocalists in the past. One I wonders if there is sufficient enthusiasm for music in the locality—and one would not care to ihink there is not—to ensure the sacrifice of personal prej udices, sectarian differences, class distinctions, and so forth, to promote its highest development along the line of least resistance. If there is. one may look con- fidently forward to what, will happen when the opportunity for reeonstifcution occurs, as ■we all trust it will, so very soon. I < I RW,FA GLYN,
RECTOR COMMITTED. I
RECTOR COMMITTED. I REMARKABLE CHARGES I BY SERVANT GIRL. LONG HEARING AT OSWESTRY. I For nearly six hours on Thursday afternoon, the Oswestry magistrates at the County Petty Sessions were investigating ctarges brought by Mabel BfJii. aged 15 cf Broseiey, against Rev. John PryddOrch Poole-Hughes, rector of Llanymynech, of having criminally assaulted her at the Rectory between November Lst and Dec. 31st The case earns forward a month ago and was adjourned for the bench to be reo- constituted, tiie magistrates tibem being unable, to come to a dec^on. Lord Harlech was chairman of the bench on Thursday, the other magistrates sitting during- the hearing being Generaii Mont- gomery, Messrs. T. WbJrd Green, R. S. PaTry, and Dr. Beresford. Mr. J. C. H. Bowdier A. Peate, (Shrewsbury), again appearcJd to prose- cutefotrthe Grown, and the defence was in the hands of. Messrs Lewis and Lewis, London, (-,epi,es,ent-,a.ted by Mir. H. du Pare). Mr., Fetrrington, Oswestry, watched the proceed- inge m tine interest of Mrs. Lizzie binons the housekeeper, and Mr. Roberts Jones, solici- tor, Oswestry, in those of Mr. Jones, the gardener at the Rectory whose name waa men- tioned dunrig tiie previous hearing. In opening the case for the prosecution, Mr, I In openeia? ig t?at he was inctructe?d to take the j proceedings. and he mcounted the facts as stated I at the previous metefcng It was alleged to be the Rector's custom, he raid, to sit in his study, ring for coaul to be put on the fire, and when the girl entered the room tp do this, he was said toavG committed the alleged offences. thv i r l because Upon the Rector discharging l ,the t girl because I she would not comply with his wishes, she re. fused to leave the Rectory, and in consequence of a statement; she made, a medicat men wu sent for; and upon the girl afterwards signing a paper prepared by a solicitor, in which tihp state- ment appeared that the rector had at no time treated heir improperly, she was permitted to romaien for a time. A monthot so later, how- ever, she loft the Rectory; and, in consequence of statement.s the diaugthteir made to her father, he. caused the proceedings to be instituted. I SERVANT GIRUSEVIDENCE. Mabel Ball, a, smartly dressed young girl, said she was fiftelel11 years of age, and in May lass year w -en-t into the Rector's seroce, which she left Ori Feb 1st this year. The Rector would ring and say he wanted the fire making up, and, wihe-n she entered the study, lie would exciaim It's not the fire but you I want." Then he would, assault her; and this happened seven or eÍgtht times. The housekeeper would sometimes be in the uouse on these occasions. In January hJé toAd her to go back to her granny as she had been rude; but she declined to go. She had been cheeky to him because he was so rough, in pudin, her a,bout, and when he asked for an ex- pla.nation as to why she would not go, she said "you know what you have been doing and I am not. going." A doctor was sent for and examined her, and she sigred a paper saying the Rector had done nothiig improper to her. If she had not done) so she was afrwid she would have to go. When she left the R?oot?ry, eventually she tg ??d heT father what bad happened, amd he in- terviewed the Rector who, in her p1oe', said that "many a t;me ho h?d had Mabe'F on lis knee." Cross-examined she said she was greatly dis- tressed to think tl-,O rector should turn her away after what had bbppened. There was no use her speaking- to tllue housekeeper who always stood up for the Rector Her grandmother lived a few miles away, at Knockin, and here thic Rector was frequently teiTing her-to go, but she had never complained to her, she felt too ashamed and frightened. Anyone from the lawn could see what was going on in the room wfheret the assaults were stated to have taken place. She made complaints to no 0019 as to what the Rector had done until he gave her rotice to leave his employment. FATHER AND RECTOR. Francis Bail, father of Mebeii Ball, in cross- examination, said he went to the Rectory to see i what tlhe Rector intended to do. Mlr. Hughes admitted t?o .criminal law was against him. I When he saw the Rector he said "have you ever had my d?u?hMr on vouT kn<?e?" M?d he ad- mitted that he had. He never pleaded that he was innocent, but sw:d if he (witness) took the matte,r to the Bishop of St. Asaph it would ruin him He a^ked the Rector if h" was going to fight it out. and he sa d that he who Then. said the fathør," I will go to the. Bishop amd the Chief Constable." He believed ychaA his daugh- ter had told him about wha.t fibe Rector had done. and hi$ emhatj¡c denial did not convince I him. He had no idea of making the Rector pay v as a prieiliminairy to dropping it. THE HOUSEKEEPER. I Mrs. Liz), Parsons, ELI Top, Ple&isington, Blackburn, foii'mei'ly housekeeper at the Rectory, sa)id Mabel Bajll came' to the Rectory in May, 1917. She was a clean, tidy girl, and to her knowledge had no sweetheart. On January 14, I the Rector wa.s going away and ehe went. into the study and 1 found him with Maibel. The Rector sa! d do vou know anything of this ? Witness said "Anything of what, teiil us Mabl what Mabeil related to answer, and went up to tihe Rector and com- menced to toy with his watoh-guaird. Sub-se- qu'Sntly he asked her if rfie thought. Mabd was all right in«ntally, and the doctor w&s sent for. Mabel afterwards told her of her condition wibiah upset her verv rrmeh. The Rector summoned hg" and Mabei into the study, and s he told him that; tlhe news bad upset her, and he swfd to Mabel do "n"! mean to afllege thjait I am re- sponsible, adding. "When this baby arrivee we will see thPooilourof it." He aiso told her to pack up her box and. go, to which she replied if vou set bbi bells ainnging you do it vourseilf and I will tell the ATdhdeacon." Subsequeniftly he 'recalled her. and a da.v or two later, he was in tihe study with Mabefl and toM witns hie was 1 getting, her to sign a paper. Some daiys after she fatd to the Rector: Is it money ?" and the Rector was very cross. In cross examination too housekeeper e aid that Mabeil was often saying strange things about the Rectoir. The'Rectoir was the only ono dbe .-said t-he-x, aboiit. and she had h1 very cross with her for doing it. When Mabel went up to the Rector without speakinc, put ber band on his watch-chain, rfw posted her m y and rebuked her for lior fbmiliar"tv, for it was a ?tra,T]e? t'hi?T for a child to do to the head of the how?. Sh? mcnHon<'d the inmd?nt to 1\h"S, Bizzell. the schoolmistress. And MabeO said It was not the first time fJhe had viame- d with the Rotor's watcn-guard. Mabeil did srlve her impression Ai? went out to someone in th^ village to talk, the matter over, amd told the RectoT the mattp,- was being disouesed. T!lie girl romily went ont at, night. Dr. Harold E. Montis, KinmerJey, and Dr. F. Widow field Melvin. Oswestry, gave evidence. It was impossible to make a defimte statement as to the- RiflV condition, but Dr Meilvin said if there was any truth as to tdle girla' condition, it was caused within the la&t two months. John Jones. Nortih View. Llanymyneoh, sa/d he rem-ernbered Mabel Ball coming to the Reotory. He had never been familiar with her. P. 8. G. E. Diggory, Maieebuiy, said he served the Rector with the istimmons. and he denied i the charge. THE DEFENCE. I I Addresing the bench for the ctefence, Mr. du I I Addre?,nn& tt the Grand Jury ha.'?n? gonè, at a? Df?te for lt4 Donod of ?  *agistm?es stood b?ff?n accused and the hardship, suSer. j | ing and Jndig'ni?' involved in sending a caa& of th?s kmd for tna?. He ridiculed the idea of the Rector being guilty of misconduct of the the Rector b eg rior an open French wi n d ow, kind alleged, before an open French window, through '.Mi ch, as by the other door, anyone might have entered the room. The only date the girl actually specified was Dec. 21, amd on this day Mr. Poole-Hughes complete.y accounted for ins) actions, and showed that it,, would tiave been impossible for him to have been at the Rectory at tiie alleged time, or to have acted as stated. Defendant said he waa 53 years of age and, before going to Llanymynech, h&d been Vi&r at Corwen and Mold. It was, he said, cus- tomary tor the sohoolmasber to walk into the study at any time quite unannounced, and other ellergy friends might come in .n trie si-yrie wa.y. There was absolutely no truth an the statement which the girl had made. In cross-examination, witness said he was quite ready to prove what he was cioing on St. Thomas' Datv. but the question had not been put to him at the previous hearing. He knew nothing against Mrs. Parsons, but the story as true. girl toying with his watch chain was un- | true. Perhaps she did not like leaving, and statement. It was a he to say that he sa.:d Wait bill the child arrives and we will he sa:. d see the colour of it." ge,veral witnesses, including the Rev. T. Jones, Curate of Guilsfi&'d (in whose companv the Rev. Pook-Hughes was on Dec. 21st), and Mrs Marv Sockett were called, and evidence & to defen- dants high aiid uriimpeee,ha-ble. chameteir was given by Rev. Eben. Evans, who had lenov/n accused since boyhood: M«\ Edward Bizzea., sc!hoolmast.eT, Diaitymynech, who said it was always possibl'e for bachelor vistorls to walk straight into the study without ringing to pee the Rector; and Major Whitworth, who had known the Rector for many yeans, and could not speak too highly of his character. The magisfir&jtea were absent from the couTÍi ffv- a brief int,ervail and, upon returning, Lord Harlech said tihay were Lot prepared to take the responsibility, of deciding upon the case, which must go to the Shropshire Assizes for trial.
I ,-i I BORDER NEWS IN BRIEF.
BORDER NEWS IN BRIEF. Denbighshire. Colwyn Bay rat-as are reduced by 2d..0 4s. 6d. in the £ It is 21 years since so ow a rate was levied before. The death is announced of Mr. C. G. Has- well of Chester, who was interested in colliery and kindred undertakings at Wrexham. During a visit that Mr. Hodge, M.P., Min ter of Pensions, paid to Wrexham during the week-end, an important step was made the establishment of a diamond cutting and polishing industry for disabled soldiers and sailors at Acton Park, Mr. Bernard Oppen- heimer, the diamond merchant, presenting to the Minister the title deeds of tH estate, portion of which he acquired recently for the purpose. I I Merionethshire. j The inmates of Festiniog workhouse com- plain of having to givo up iheir afternoon ) tea at 3 p.m., and the Local Government I top Machynlleth Food Control Committee are exercised about meat going bad when it can- not be sold witbtSut coupons, and they are asking the Food Ministry what their powers are to deal with meat in danger of deterior- ation. Mrs. Eliza Rogers, Fowneg, Llansantffraid whose death is just announced to have oc- curred in her 76th year, was an aunt of Mr. Hughes, the Australian Premier, being sister of his mother. She Lad been in failing health for a considerable time. Montgomeryshire War Agricultural Com- mittee received with some sarcasm the request of the divisional food commissioner, that they, should appoint as a representative on the ad- visory committee to investigate complaints with regard to the fixing of the price of milk I someone "entirely unconnected with the milk business. x I I Flintshire. I The directors of the Mold and Denbigh Junction Railway have appointed Mr. H. Milner Willis to be secretary in succession to the late Mr. Thomas Hitchcock. Flintshire Insurance Committee has unanim- ously resolved to recommend that there should be a department in Wales not subordinate to the English Central Department, and also that a Welsh, Advisory Council should be estab- lished. I Montgomeryshire I  An alarm of fire in Maengwvn- street,Mach- ynlleth, on Wednesday, is attributed to a jackdaw having built its nest in the chimney and prevented the smoke issuing from the Board are being asked to allow this meal to the official diet of the institution) I Shropshire. i Whitchurch district rate is raised by 2d. to 2s 2d. A Sunday boating trip by two Army Pay Corps men at Shrewsbury ended in disaster, and the drowning of one of the men. The Mayor of Oswestry was the pr acher at Castle Court Primitive Methodist Church anniversary at Shrewsbury on Sunday. I The Earl of Powis presided. at a county meeting at Shrewsbury, on Saturday, to ap- i peal for additional help for the prisoners of j war fund for the Shropshire regiment. A memorial service was held in Whitchurch parish church, on Wednesday, for Pte. J. W. Brookes Richards, Moss Side, who fell in I action on Palm Sunday. At a meeting of the members of Pra?s parish church congregation, Messrs. H.Dl\vi.s I and G. J. Young were appointed dele-s ,tes to the ruridecanal and archidiaconal conferences*. A Craven Arms woman was fined E30 at Birmingham, last week, for supplying rab- bits at prices exceeding the maximum, and a greengrocer was fined P.60 for purchasing them. Miss Evelyn Beckett (daughter of Mr. Alfred Beckett), Whixall, has been success- ful in passing the examination of the Asso- ciated Board of the Royal Academy and the Royal College of Music for excellence in pianoforte playing, elementary section. General Sir Pitcairn Campbell, present. ing badges in recognition of war work to a number of men and women at Shrewsbury, on Friday, mentioned that the idea was initiated in London by Lieut.-General Sir Francis Lloyd among workers in the canteens, and was now being initiated in other parts of the country.
NEWS OF THE WEEK.
NEWS OF THE WEEK. The Coalition candidate has beaten the Labour nominee at Keighley by a majority of 2,524. There were impressive l -nes in Dov6r on Saturday, when the men whO fell in the daring naval raid on Ostend and Zeebrugge were buried will full naval -,iours. Princess Mary celebrated her 21st birth- day on Thursday. Th > were no public fes- tivities and the customary salutes were not fired, nor were the bells rung. A Monmouthshire woman who was sent to prison f -? drawing S,94, her husband's separ- ation allowance, after his return to civil em- ployment, said his beer cost her 15s. a week! Negotiations between the N.U.R. and the = Railway Executive have resulted in the rais- ing of the 21s. increase previously granted t :> 25s. Women will receive half the men's bonus, or a minimum of 12s. 6d. a week, and boys 2s. a week. Mr. J. H. Thomas, M.P announces that the new agreement does not apply to those railway workers in receipt of the 12! and 7! bonus awards. Mr. William Skindie, joint founder with his father of the famous riverside hotel at Maidenhead that bears his name, and was often visited by King Edward when Prince of Wales, died at Worthing on Friday, in his 102nd year. Reviewing the work of the Ministry of Muni- tions in the House of Commons, on Thurs- day night, Mr. vdnston Churchill said that notwithstanding our losses in material during the recent fighting we were, ca the whole, slightly to the good. I' A golfing deacon who every time he foozled the ball or got bunkered whispered energetic- ally "Assouan! Assouan!" because -issouaa was the biggest "dam he knew on earth, I was mentioned by the Rjv. J. E. Roberta in his presidential address to the Baptist Union. The Court of Appeal has decided that 8ec.- Lieut. Wernher, though only 18 when killed ila the. war in September, 1916, could make It | will. In it he left over £ 1,000,000, including £5,000 to the colonel in command of the Welsh Guards to be used for the relief of those ia the regiment and their dependents who are in distress, and R-5,000 to General Sir H. L. Smith Dorrien. In view of present conditions at Shrewsbury, the Standing Executive Committee of the University of Wales has maided that the meeting of the Court, if-d for May 31st, shall be held at Chester instead of Shrews- bury. The annual collegiate me--ing ot the Court will be held at Cardiff en July 19. at 10 a.m., and the Congregation for admission to degrees will be held in the afternoon of the same day. The trustees of St. Deinioi's (Gladstone Memorial) Library, Hawarden, have decided to continue their effort to male teachers in public elementary and secondary schools in Wales, of "Student Readerships" tenable at S't. Deiniol's Library. The successful appli- cants a,re, in return, expected to make the fullest use of the opportunity of free access to the library, consisting of some 50,000 volumes, for the prosecution of some definite and approved scheme of study. Lord Rothermere, owing to continued ill- ness, has relinquished his office as Secretary of State of the Air Force, and in a letter to the Prime Minister, on Thursday, asked to be relieved of his duties at the earliest possible date. Sir William Weir rucceeds Lord Rothermere as Air Minister. The resigna- tion of Lords Bhondda and Lord Northcliffe have been more or less definitely reported, but it is stated that at the request of the Prime Minister they are continuing to hold the office of Food Controller and Director of Foreign Propaganda respectively. Mr. E. Shortt, K.C., M.P., is mentioned as succes- sor to Mr. Duke in the Irish S^rpf^-vship. The special committee of, the North Wales Temperance Federation, which conducts the prohibition campaign in North Wales, met last week at Chester. The Rev. E. K. Jones, Cefn Ma.wr, presided. Reports were submit- fed by the divisional secretaries, showing that 70 public meetings had been held during this year, and that the opinion expressed at them by speech and by vote had been overwhelm- ingly in favour of the prohibition of the liquor traffic during the war and demobilis- ation, against the nationalisation of the traffic in any and every form, and in support of a local option measure for the Principality. It was resolved to urge the Government to pro- vide means whereby Wales can express her opinion by plebiscite on ^mperance ques- tions.
RUABON.
RUABON. FOR SOLDIERS.—Postal orders valued 14s. I 6d. each have been despatched to (tihe 258 Ruabon men serving overseas, and a box of cigaro, valued aft Ife. 6d. to each of the 16 officers. WAR SAVINGS CAMP AIGN.-The war saving campaign revised £ 5,350—certificates -01,125 and bonds £ 4,225. This will purchase two aeroplanes instead of the one it was hoped to procure. PARISH COUNCIL.—At the annual meet- ing, presided over by Mr. F. H. Edwards, the u-sual appointments were made of various com- mittees- Sir W. W. Wynn, Bart., was re- appointed chairman and Mr. Robert Griffith* vice, Mr. T. E. W. Saint, hon. clerk, and Mr. J. Gittins hon. allotment inspector. FIELD CLI -'B.Th,- members of the Field Club had their third outing on Saturday to Valley Crucis Abbey and Eliseg^ Pillar; The members from Ruabon and Rhos were joined at, Aerefair. and Trevor by c-OTiAirb^ents from fcheso placets, and., arriving at Llangollen, proceeded by boalt along the canal to Pentrefelin. The party then proceeded to Eliseg's Pillar, where the Rev. D. J. Bowen. B.Sc.. Grammar Schodl, described the pillar. The party afterwards pro- ceeded to the Abbey. Mr, Bowen described the obiciObs of interest, there. The party, which numbered 69, partook of tea at the Ohain Bridge Hotel. HOME NURSING.—The result of the recent examination in hoane nursing- is now to hand. Twenty-three candidates, trained by Dr. Kafh- erine Drinkwater, presented themselves for ex- aminat-ion by Dr. T. Owen Jones, RutluT). aruj all were successful Their names are ^-Cer- tificates Hilda M. Crewe, 'Agnes Davids. Lily Darliriifftotn, Doreen Dyk'e Dennis, Ivy Daa-n, Edith Eaton, Jessie M. Evans. Katie Edwards. Katie Johnson, Hilda Jones. Gwladys M. Jonej. Sarah jftlen Jones, Annie Knowles, Evelyn Nicholas, Ivy Meadway, Alice M. Morris, Dor- othy Workman. For pendants/ (6); Rebecca Beckitt, Kate Clay, Lilian Konriok, Margaret Parker, Roisina.S, PiMrimgifcoii and Poilie Wng