The Welshman

TO THE IDITOR OF THB WBLSHMAN." SIR,— Your leading article on this subject may help to shed some new light on this somewhat shadowy question. Perhapp, from its shudy character, it has not hitherto received the light which its importance would seem to demand. I would fain join in classing it among the most important and pressing questions of the hour-a subject that cannot long be shelved or brook much further delay. The wonder i& that thp rural labourer should stand complacently by, listening in a self-satisfied mood to the platitudes served up under this fascinating name. Perhaps this singular attitude may be explained thus: The agricultural labourer, since his en- franchisement, has been promised many things from the State. What he has received I will leave the labourer to answer for himself. The recipient, how- ever, of continued false promises is likely to wear an air of stolid indifference when subjected to an overdose, and in this matter even the veriest dolt would form no exception to the rule. Another reason that the labourer elects to stand back and not press forward his claims is the fact that he is leaderless from within his own ranks. Scattered as he is over the country, his isolated character forbids social intercourse with others of his class, a privilege so much enjoyed by his brethren in the towns. When he is taught to hate the equire and the parson as formidable foes, and to look upon his employers as Egyptian task-masters, ready to drain the life- blood of his veins, then his training in political dogma is fairly complete. He has grasped the teachings of a certain school of thought sufficiently when he has mastered those rudiments of their creed. Whether, by this means, the labourer in his calm and sober moments-that is, when freed from cajolery and solicitude-will consider his true political interests fully served is another question I shall leave himself to decide. Turning now to the subject, the first point to consider is, Who are to be the pensioners ? Is this scheme to supersede and supplant the poor law system by merely changing the name pauper to pensioner," or is it to raise the status of the honest toiler above that of the street loafer ? inasmuch that he shall know and feel that his labour is recognised by the State, and shall be rewarded accordingly. If it is the former, little need be said about it. But if, as I take it to be, it means the latter, no subject ever had a greater claim on the attention of Parliament. Already the pension system is strong in the British Empire. There is the Naval Service, the Military Service, the Civil Service, the Trinity Service, and so forth. All these have worked more or less for the State, but then there are tens of thousands of others who work for the State as well. The man who digs stones in the quarry, the man who breaks them on the road- side, the man who shoulders the mortar hod up the scafiold ladder, the collier who digs the coal and conveys it to the pit's mouth, and the agricultural labourer, whose labour provides at least a part of the food consumed by the Britisher, all these and many more render service to the State so surely as Nelson and Wellington did, and although not entitled to so much pension as those heroes, they each and all have as much claim to their humble share. Let us illustrate. Take, for instance, a workman in H.M. Dockyard, earning his weekly wage. Separated only by a stone wall we may find another repairing the streets. One shall eventually be kept comfortable in the bosom of his family, in his declining years, at the expense of the State, while the other, if he cannot provide for himself, shall be severed from his family, and caged like an animal for the remainder of his existence. Yet, one has worked as much for the State as the other. Again, I would ask, does the man who fixes the armour plates on an ironclad do more for the State than the man who digs the coal to steam her. Not one whit. Yet, one shall be well cared for, while the other must take care of himself, and at best hard is his lot. These are merely reflections, rather hurriedly written, still they may serve as food for thought when political agitators are practically quiet, and the minds of our toilers are not so perturbed. If they obtain-as they eventually must—this modicum of their deserts from either party of the State, I do not know that it will taeto any sweeter or the reverse come from which side It may. Yours, &c.. HODGE OF PEMBROKESHIRE. I

THE RURAL DISTRICT COUNCIL OF CAR- MARTHEN. TO THE ZDITOR OP THB WELSHMAN." I SIB,—On behalf of the ratepayers of Trelech and Llanwinio, allow me, through the medium of the Welshman, to call the attention of the above Council to the following perplexing facts, and very respectfully ask for an explanation thereon. Some time ago the District Council, at the request of the Llanwinio Parish Council, put a footbridge over the Cwmbach Brook at Pootrisien. Later on a private person, viz., Mr W Evans, Ddolgoedog Mill, wrote a letter to the District Council, requesting it to place a footbridge over the river Ginning, near Ddolgoedcg. The thing was straightway done without any demur. A month or so ago the Pariah Councils of Trelech and Llanwinio made a joint appeal to the District Council to throw a foot. bridge over the same river at Mioroa, which is about three miles higher up, and where the traffic is greater than at Ddolgoedog. Strange to say, this last applica- tion has been refused, and the two said Parish Councils have been directed to do the job at their own joint expense. Now, why give the one and refuse the other 7 I again ask, Why P Has the Carmarthen Rural District Council no regard for consistency ? Is it amenable to law or reason ? Is mere whim, or favouritism, or personal advantage its collective guide of action ? Many await the answer besides, Yours truly, QUERIST. I

THE RESULTS OF ARTIFICIAL SALMON HATCHING. TO THE EDITOR OF THE WELSHMAN." SIR,-Enclosed I heg to send you an extract from a recent number of Country Life, which, I think, if you can find room for it, will be interesting to many who are anxious to see some improvement in the fishing in our waters, especially now that our Board of Conservators are about starting a hatchery. The results recorded of artificial hatching are, indeed, astonishing, and make one wish that our Board could obtain a Government grant to enable them to carry on their operations on a larger scale. Country Life seems to think that artificial hatching would alone be sufficient to keep a salmon river well stocked. I hope our Board will not take the same view, but will, if possible, increase the preservation of our rivers when they have turned some fish into them. I am, Sir, your obedient servant, EDWARD H. MORRIS. 2, Nott's equare, Carmarthen, 13th February, 1899. From,, Country Life of 14th January, 1899. I Mr Moreton Frewen, writing to the Times on the rain of the Irish salmon rivers, makes two points of first-rate importance, gathered from the report of the I American Fish Commissioners. These are, that experience shows that even if salmon eggs are laid naturally in the river, only about a hundred eggs out of a thousand are fertilised, or would ever become yuung salmon. Of these the greatest number are destroyed while in the egg stage. But if the parent fish are caught, and the roe artificially impregnated, about ninety per cent. of the eggs are fertile, and these can be kept until they hatch in safety. From this the practical and only sensible conclusion is that the money spent on watchers and bailiffs to protect spawning fish should be spent to further a system of artificial hatching. This is what is done in the United States, and the results are simply astonishing. We should like to print them in large capital letters. In the New England States alone, where salmon had almost disappeared from the rivers, they are now restored in such quantities that, though the nets have increased tenfold, the price of fiesh salmon has fallen to 4d per lb. Over 500,000,000 ova were turned out into these rivers by the State in a single year "To this we should like to add a word on a third point affecting the stocking of rivers with artificially bred salmon, due to the disoovery (made in England this time) that the salmon does not feed, in the proper sense, in fresh water. It follows from this that qua food supply there are practically no limits to the amount of salmon a river will hold, except the capacity of the grcund available for spawning beds. If the big fish had to be feeding daily on the limited amount of food in our rivers, we should tee an end to the immigra- tion of fish. They would be starved out. But it is now clear that all that the salmon ask is enough food to maintain them when in the larval and smolt stage. All the rest of their food they take in the sea. Could natural economy go further, or give a broader hint to man to use and not to abuse it P Here is another broad hint, from the report of the Commissioner for Lake Superior, on the trout fisheries of the Great Lakes: At one time trout were so plentiful that they did not command a price at all pro- portionate to their edible qualities, but as the fishing continued the catch decreased, until about the year 1886 the market price of trout became equal to that of its more delicate rival. At this time it became evident to the Federal and State Governments, as well as to those dependent upon the industry for a livelihood, that decisive steps ought to be taken toward providing against the extermination of this valuable fish food. Artificial hatching was commenced that year with the object of restocking the Great Lakes. The work pro- gressed only ic a limited way up to 1892, when the out- put of both the United States and the Michigan Fish Commissions reached something like its present pro- portions. Daring the season of 1895 the United States Fish Commission at Northville secured over 11,000,000 lake trout eggs. As indicative of the success attending the plants of lake trout, it may be remarked that for a short period during the season of 1896 the fishing boats, which have been working to their fullest capacity, ceased operations, the market being glutted, and the remuneration not being commensurate with the labour and capital involved.

THE REV. L. JAMES'S MOTION ON WAR. TO THB EDITOR OF THE "WELSHMAN." Sill.-MY tongue having failed last Tuesday to give effective support to my friend's motion, re the Tsar's Rescript, perhaps, through the medium of your valuable paper, you will allow me to try my pen. What I wanted to express was that beings such as we are, endowed with reason and conscience, and professed followers of Him who was an incarnation of reason and love, might spend our energies and hardly-earned capital (sorely needed for properly feeding, housing, and eduoating our working classes) more profitably than in pquaodering them so lavishly on armaments and weapons of destruction, which, after all, only democ- strate the bollowness of our professions, and the fact that we are still in reality worshippers of Mars and Bellona, cot of the Prince of Peace, still, at bottom, under a thin veneer of sham Christianity, con- fessed wild beasts for what are all our munitions of war, with all their gaudy trappings, but human equivalents for the teeth and claws of the tiger ? But, perhaps, it may be urged that all this is too abstract, too logical, and altogether taking too high ground, and that to aay anything effective one ought to come down to the concrete and practical. Well, then, not to recapitulate all that has been so often repeated as to the statistics of the question-the exact number in millions of so-called Christians who are armed to the teeth, and so well discipline I as to be ready at the word of command to fly at one another's throats on some trumpery question, such as Venezuela or Fashoda afforded, let me refer to the very practical suggestion made so long ago as last October by Colonel Sir G S Clarke in the 19th Century Magazine," viz., "That at the Conference about to be held, io accordance with the Tsar's Rescript, earnest endeavours should be made to get at the very root of the disease of which armaments are merely the outward and visible symptoms, and that our statesmen, by intelligent anticipation, should do all that is possible to remove the causes of war." Looking at one great cause, viz., commercial rivalry, he asks: Since arti6cial restrictions to commerce prejudice the interests of all except the monopolising State, is an international agreement, binding the Great Powers to the principle of the open door for future application in certain parts of the world, altogether impossible?" Another of these causes is the violation of the Tenth Commandment in respect of territory, what may be called earth-hunger, or greedily grabbing more of God's earth than we can properly develop and make use of. And even with regard to this hitherto very fruitful source of internecine strife, the Colonel is sanguine enough to think that a frank interchange of views among the Powers might not be without effect. In a word, he seems to imagine that among reasonable men reason might be as effective as armaments, in which case the hundreds of millions now wasted on warlike preparations might be available for making the short lives of the hard-worked masses more enjoyable, more befitting beings so highly endowed by their Creator. I am, Sir, yours truly, R. WARD. February 13th, 1899. P.S.-If your space could have been spared, refer- ence might have been made to a very able article in the Contemporary, which, among other very interesting matters, shows, on the authority of M Bliokh's great book on War (which converted the Tsar, and led to his Rescript), that, in the opinion of military experts, much of the enormous expenditure lavished on huge modern armies is actually thrown away, even from a military point of view, as they are now too big for use. Accord- ing to these experts, there are at least on the Continent ten million more soldiers than could in case of war be utilised! efficiency being sacrificed to numbers.

PUZZLE! WHAT DOES THE REV. A. KEOGH I MEAN? TO THB BlUTOR OP THB WELSHMAN." I SIR, -Last week's letter from the pen of the Rev A Keogh is certainly the most remarkable bit of literary composition it has ever been my lot to peruse. Ordinarily, language is supposed to convey intelligible thought to the bearer or reader. In the light of this ordinary rule I read Mr Keogh's letter, seeking to find what was he aiming at. I tried again, and yet again, but finally had to give up, with the conviction that Mr Keogh's thought-whatever it is-was not to be dis- covered in the ordinary way, viz., strict interpretation of language. Of course, I know that sometimes Thought transcends language, and defies expression. The artist, with his brush, oftentimes fails to fully utter himself in his painting, and with sore disappointment tells us, I have failed to express my thought." But he never so completely fails that when looking at his picture you do not know whether he has painted a house or a tree, an angel or a devil. But Mr Keogh has so failed. After perusing his letter one cannot tell whether the Church, of which he is a member, is of God or of the devil. It would be interesting to know what the Rector of Narberth, who, according to Mr Keogh, so correctly and aptly characterised another letter of his by a phrase which I certainly shall not quote, thinks about this last letter. For the benefit of those who did not read it, please permit me to give the following synopsis. Of all literary curiosities this is the funniest. It aavs 1. Thai, once upon a time, Mr Keogh believed in Disestablishment.. 2. That now he believes in an Bstablishment. 3. That the Church at the present time is not Established. 4. That all good Christians ought to work to establish the chureb. 5. That the idea of the present Established Church is worse than any other of the devil's inventions. Now, Mr Editor, and readers of the Welshman, did you ever see such a literary creature as the above P Is there any species with which you can classify it ? To me it is at right angles with the whole order of the literary universe. Please make one more effort (thank I you for your leading article of last week) to get Mr Keogh to come down from the "clouds," and then let him tell us in plain, simple, unequivocal language, why I it is that he no longer believes in Disestablishment, viz., the freedom of the Church from State patronage, State control, and State support. Yours truly, I TOMOS LOMOS.

THE PEACE CRUSADE 1 I ROUSING THE NORTH. 1. 3'7 | —iwa-Jrirrif By W. T. STEAD. I The Crusade of Peace has had a splendid tteefc —the best in many respects since the movement was proclaimed at the great meeting in St. James'. Hall. London is giving abundhnt evidence of interest in the crusade, but it is in the proviucegt that our strength lies. The Far North of Englandt has ever welcomed great ideas. Often it bát. given a lead to the rest of England on soma question of moment. Its population is by nature one of lighters. Centuries of warfare witb the tribes over the border have given a pugnacity to the Northern race which is not yet eliminated. The Tyne, which gives life to the whole district, it lined with shipyards in which huge war vessels are being constructed. The fame of the destructive weapons of Armstrong has travelled over the world. Half the population of Newcastle is directly dependent upon the great Elswick shipyard and ordnance works. Yet the meeting at Newcastle was one of the most rousing yet held. Earl Grey was primarily responsible for the fine gathering at the Town Hall in Newcastle. From the first he has thrown himself heart and soul into the Crusade. As soon as he placed himself at the head of the Northern movement its-sticeess was assured. He was accompanied on to the platform at the Town Hall by such a collection of public men as has not been seen in Newcastle for years. Old political friends who went different ways when the Liberal party was divided found themselves once more united in a common cause, and more than one former politician who has deserted public life came from his retirement to speak a word on behalf of peace. If Newcastle was the centre of the Northern movement, Sunderland and Gateshead were barely less to the fore. The audience at Sunderland waa a little cold at first, but before the meeting had finished it was splendidly roused. These fine gatherings had been preceded by a local effort at Burnmoor, over which the Earl of Durham pre- sided. He displayed some confusion of mind as to what the Peace Crusade is. At Darlington there was a capital meeting, with the Bishop of Durham on the platform, accompanied by several members pf the Pease family, the devotion of which to every good cause is almost part of the history of the North. Nothing quite like the enthusiasm of Scarborough and the neighbouring towns has yet been experienced. On Saturday and Sunday three huge meetings were held, and at the last it is calculated that there were not less than 3,000 persons present. There was no need to get up steam at any of these gatherings. The whole population seems inspired with the love of peace, and in the three meetings there was not a single voice raised up against the support of the Czar's proposals. Yet Scarborough is precisely one of those places of which a pro- fessional organiser would be afraid. The tone of London on this great question of the arrest of armaments improves week by week. The best meeting that has yet been held in the metropolis was that at St. Martin's Town Hall. The fine room was filled to practically its full Capacity, and the response to the speeches as hearty as could be desired. Mr. G. W. E. Russell delivered a speech full of good points. At the very close of the meeting new life was given to the audience by the enthusiastic eloquence of the Rabbi of the West End Synagogue, who, though not on the list of speakers, begged to be allowed to say a word on behalf of the J<ws. The Rev. Hugh Price Hughes was tremendously applauded. In short the meeting was in every respect notable beyond any which London has seen since the opening of the camrniirn. At Westminster we did not do so well. "A good meeting for Westminster is the verdict of those who know the district. There is a world of meaning in the words. Westminster is one of the wealthy divisions of London in which there is the greatest difficulty in obtaining any public display on any question. It has a large business popula- tion, which migrates to the suburbs every night. Consequently, the task of organising a meeting of any kind is heavy. Yet, with no speaker of English reputation announced, the Westminster Town Hall was more than half filled, and those who were present displayed plenty of spirit and a keen appre- ciation of the object of the Czar. Very different to Westminster was the meeting in the Hampstead Vestry Hall. That building does not hold so many persons as that at Westminster, but it was packed to the doors, and the strength and enthusiasm of the audience was unmistakable. The veteran Dr. Newman Hall spoke with dramatic fervour, and referring to a letter from Mr. Brodie Hoare, M.P., in which the latter stated that he regarded the Czar's proposal as altogether impracticable, the great preacher declared that it was necessary even now to teach senators wisdom. If Mr. Hoare was against the Czar, that was not the case with a more distinguished resident in the neighbourhood. Sir Walter Besant wrote saying that if anything practical came of the Czar's proposal he should join the committee in rejoicing. So well has the organisation of London gone forward that the Committee of the Crusade, which determined to devote all its attention to the Metropolis and to leave the provinces to look after themselves, now feels that London is assured, and that it can give time to the great towns which have not already arranged for meetings. The number of these is now comparatively few. Without any aid from the central office most of the provincial centres have thrown them- selves into the Crusade. Examples of the extent to which the provinces have organised themselves are furnished by the meetings at Darlington and Kidderminster, which were arranged locally, and carried through without the headquarters being aware of the intention to hold meetings. After the provinces will come Scotland. There the Crusade has so far made but little progress. A few meetings have been held, but there is no evidence that the new gospel of peace has been seized with avidity. No fear, however, is felt as to the result when once work is commenced. Scotland will be untrue to all her traditions if she is behind England in her devotion to a movement which makes for the elevation of mankind and for greater brotherhood among the nations. C The metropolitan campaign is to be brought to a conclusion by a mass meeting in the Queen's Hall, which will probably be held during the first fortnight of March. This will be a rallying-point for the whole of London before the National Convention is held. The principal speakers will be Mr. John Morley and, I hope, the Bishop of London, who is, of course, chairman of the Crusade. The gathering should be a fitting end to the movement, which has swept across London. An address to the workers of all Continental countries has been drafted and approved by the Labour Committee of the Crusade. This will be placed before a great gathering of London working- men at St. Martin's Town Hall, on February 15th, to which the representatives of organised labour in the metropolis are offering splendid support. Mr. George N. Barnes, the secretary of the Amalgamated Society of Engineers, is to preside. The labour manifesto, signed by more than five hundred leaders of workmen of every shade of opinion, has now been scattered broadcast. On the Continent the Peace movement is making progress. From England we are giving what aid we can to those who have the real battle to fight, but it is difficult to do this and not to offend foreign populations. Both in Germany and in France, however, local committees are at work, and the reports from the devoted workers who are giving themselves to the movement are full of evidence that progress is being made against every obstacle.

A she eking accident occurred on Saturday Lt Messrs Jewscn's Southtown saw mills at Great Yar- mouth. John Hammond, an engineer, was standing on a ladder examining wheels on the main shafting, when the bolt of the coupling caught his jacket, and he was whirled r,-)tir.-d at a wreat speed, striking a heavy beam each time. The eng ne was ctopped, and Hammond's manaled body fell to the ground, the poor fellow expiring on removal to hospital. Deceased was married only six weeks since. wam? a amomma e i1? Cure Fits You are not asked to spend any money to    cur* Fit$, Epilepsy, St. Vitus's Dance, etc. I ??'? asked to do to .end for a I FREE bottle of medicine amd to try it. I I d J,rniite prepared to abide by tbe result. I Q.ROOT.?End?eitrh O'd'ns, London.

I THE REV. A. KEOGH ON CHURCH AND STATE. TO THB EDITOR OF THB WELSHMAN." Sitt,-I was much interested by your article on my letter. I agree with you that there is an element of weakness in the ability to see too much of what can be said on all sides of a question, though I cannot Batter myself that I posses that ability. Bat I venture to question your statement that my views are unpractical and unintelligible. Suppose I said that I was fond of good butter, but that I very much disliked the stuff that is often sold as butter, surely that would be a very plain and rational thing to say, and that is just what I say about the Establishment of the Church. If the union between Church and State were a workable, advantageous, sympathetic union, then I should be in favour of it, but the present union is far from being of that character. This is uot a "strange" statement of mine. Thousands of Churchmen are beginning to say the same thing. Church Bells, a well-knowc moderate High Church paper, has been advocating Disestablish- ment. Canon Scott Holland, one of the most influential clergymen in the Church, with large masses of men, writes in his paper that he only holds on to the present Establishment by the skin of bis teeth. Many earnest men are so sick and tired of seeing the Church tied and bound to the chariot wheels of the State that they would welcome even a drastic scheme of Disestablish- ment, for, after all, the Church derives no benefit in any way from the present form of Establishment, and the State gains very little except the possible pleasure of thwarting and snubbing the Church. People talk of the national recognition of religion, but that is not very substantial, and what substance there is would surely remain, even if Disestablishment took place. But I think I recognise the motive power behind your article. You are angry with the Nonconformists and the Radical party because they oppose the grant of a Catholic University to Ireland, and you think what one ought to renounce the Radicals and all their works. I entirely agree with you. I regatd the educational policy of the so-called Liberal party as most lamentable. Of course, there are great exceptions. Mr Birrell made a most grand and liberal speech the other night in the House of Commons with regard to Ritualism, and one Nonconformist and Liberal paper, at least, is in favour o justice and fair dealing towards all schools. But as a rule, the Radical party is in favour of bigotry, per- secution, and sectarianism. For this very reason I wish the Unionists to deal with the questions of Education and Establishment. I earnestly wish the present Government to pass a measure of Disestablishment, to free the Anglican Church from its fetters, and to secure to us a fair share of our endowments. I say a fair share, because as it was plainly inequitable for Irish endowments to belong altogether to Protestants when the great majority of the people were Catholics, so it is manifestly unfair that the Anglican Church should have all the tithe of Wales when there are such enormous numbers of Nonconformists. That is plain enough in all conscience. Then you do me the honour of wondering what I think of the present agitation in the Anglican Church against Ritualism. Personally, I am what is called an Evangelical." My tastes and temperament are opposed to an elaborate ritual, and the whole bent of my mind is contrary to advanced sacerdotal and sacramentarian teaching, and, of course, I think I have the spirit of the New Testament chiefly on my side. But does anyone, not blinded by fanaticism, really think that you can overoome and expel Ritualism by Parliamentary or even Episcopal action ? It cannot be done. We "Evangelicals" have a harder task before us than that. We must outshine the Ritualists by higher life, by more devoted zeal, by weightier teaching, and it will be no easy matter to be more holy and dead to self than Dolling at Portsmouth, or Londer in London, or the hundreds of devoted Ritualists scattered up and down in the most leperous spots in our land. But only so can we capture the hearts of the rising generations and so out-live Ritualism that it shall die naturally, a the fire is put out by the blaze of the sun. But to att-mpt to stamp cat doctrines by noise, and bluster, and threats, and imprisonment never has succeeded, and never will succeed, in this or any other possible world. Youra, &c I ANDREW KEOGH.

I MAIN ROADS IN PEMBROKESHIRE. I TO THB EDITOR OF THE "WELSHMAN." SIR,-At the last quarterly meeting of the Pembrokel shire County Council it was proposed that the Counci ehould take the repairs of the main roads into their own hands. This must really be a step in the right direction, and I trust it will be carried out; At present the main roads are in a most deplorable state-far worse than the parish roads. I may mention the road leading from Crymmych to Clynderwen, through Llandissilio, the old Cardigan road. Part of this is in Carmarthen- shire, and part in Pembrokeshire. I trust the road will receive the attention it requires. It was also pro- posed at the meeting to convert many of the parish roads into main roads. This may or may not be wise to do. But in the first place, surely, it would be better to put the present main roads into thorough repair. Yours, &c., I JOHN MUSCOTT.

A WINTER JOURNEY THROUGH BRITTANY. [SPECIALLY WRITTEN FOR THE WELSHMAN."] (Continued from last week). I had no chance of learning mach aboat agrioaltare beyond what I heard in conversation and observed from the windows of the railway carriage, but even that may have a little intereet for some readers. Were it not I that the country is much flutter than Wales, its genera aspeot through the department of He et Vilaine re- minded me a good deal of Sooth Pembrokeshire, and the style of farming ia not unlike that of Wales generally. I think the farms are, on an average, still smaller than what we have here. One novelty was the way in which frait is grown. Frait trees are sometimes planted in hedges, bat more generally they grow in rows in the open fields, with plenty of space between The distance between the TOWB is such as to prevent* any great loss in the cultivation of ordinary crops; Cattle are numerous, and appear to be mostly of one breed, which has a good deal of the same character as the Channel Islands stock. These Breton beasts, bow. ever, grjow to a larger size. I saw a considerable number which seemed perfectly black, bat was not close enough to any of these to describe them well. I could see that in head, hornp, and some other points they differed considerably from our Castlemartin type of animal. The land looks well, and is evidently skilfally cultivated on the whole. There is nothing very remarkable that I could see about the herbage or the surface soil, but in most places the subsoil, an seen in quarries, railway ontings, and excavations generally, is of a dirty yellow coloor, like faded ocbre. Once you go as far as Rtnues and south of it, everything seems to flourish, and this is still more the case when one enters the department of Loire Inferieure, a great part of which indicates remarkable success in the breeding of superior cattle and horses. I think there are few parts of France where this kind of industry is carried out so extensively. A be!t of country lying near the sea, in the western aide of this department, consists largely of salt marshes (marais salants), where multitudes of men called paludiers are occapied in the prodootion of both wbite and grey lalr. They have a very ingenioas system of canals and re-ervoira for introducing and re- taining the tidal waters. I learn that in 1887 these marshes produced 50,700 tons of salt. Some ancient marshes in this western side of the department have long ago dried up, and now form a firm boggy ground, where peat tort is cat for fuel, just as we see it in Ireland, in Cardiganshire, and some parts of Eogland. The catting of tarf is no longer common right, except to specified ootnmaner, but is now subject to striot regulations. The largest bog, La Grsnde-Bricre (6,600 beotairee), it, 1 ascertained, the oommon property of seventeen com manes, bat no tarf can be cut except during cine days in the month of August, and then only after obtaining a permlS from Monsieur le Ataire. In 1887, it appears, over 4,000 permis were granted by matresj and 25,000 tons of turf were taken from this bog. From time immemorial, and even now, peat is barned by the bambler class in the rich and beautiful oity of Nantes. But by far the largest part of the Loire Inferieure is clothed with the riobest verdure, and pleDtifDlly abaded with arboreal growth, apart from the numerous forets. Same old towns like Clisaon (named the Tivoli of the West ") are exquisitely beautiful. Of the 697,900 beotairea of land in the department, 47,463 are woodlands, 31,000 are devoted to vineyards, 114,457 to meadows and pasture, and 304,000 to various kinds of cultivation. The many slate quarries, which used to employ multitudes of people, have, from some cause which I did not quite discover, declined very much but the unlimited granite quarries of the west continue to yield products which cannot be surpassed, as anyone will admit who has seen the pavements at Nantes, the capital of the department. Here the thought occurs to me that this department w one IU WUICn most JCiUgtisnmen and i rotestants everywhere should feel a particular interest. Who has not beard of the Edict of Nantes, by which complete religious liberty was granted to Protestanta in France, and that at a time when Protestants in other couniriea were not prepared to do quite as much for minorities who differed from them ? It way, be said that it was, perhaps, a mere accident that made Henry IV. select Nantes as the place from which to promulgate his ediot. Perhaps it was, and more probably it was not; the whole story is not yet told. When a weak French king, frightened by real or supposed plots, and driven on by his unscrupulous mother who had a grievance against the Protestants, ordered the persecution, and even slaughter, of the Oalvinists, what happened P St Bartholomew happened; which, though greatly over- coloured and exaggerated by popular English writers, was nevertheless a most savage and dastardly affair, according to the evidence of French Catholic writers. At that time the people were alarmed not only by the oriea of treason against the throne and la patrie, but also by stories of bow their co-religionists were being hanged, drawn, aad quartered by Protestant govern- ments in England, Holland, and elsewhere. Besides, persecution was the fashion of the day, and almost the recognised duty of a loyal citiaen. It may well be imagined, then, that in most parts of France the king found numeroua willing tools. Now, at such a time-we cannot doobt a well-attested historical fact-tbe people of the district which is now called the Loire Inferieure rose in Indignation at Nantes, Clissou, and the other principal towns. Their magistrates and local ad. ministrators came forward to eoho the voice of the masses, and the royal mandate was set at defiance. So the Loire Inferieure tc-day proudly disclaims all share in the disgrace of St Bartholomew. Can any story be more honourable P How many communities of any creed in that age-at such a time and aader such circumstances-would have acted in an equally noble, intelligent, and Christian spirit ? I cannot allow any otitic to minimise the honour due to the department by saying We know that some noted captains of the Huguenot party came from the neigh- bouring towns, and no doubt these people bad a good deal o( sympathy with the Reform party." The !fact« are exactly the other way. It was not want of zeal for the old creed that made them ebrink from persecution, as may be judged by what fallows. Tne census of 1891 gives the population of the Liire Inferieure aa 644,243 Catholics, 900* Protestants, and 120 Jews that is one Protestant to every 700 people who are at least nominally Catholic. I have not many statistics a' hani, but it seems to me that no other department in France has stock so fast as this to Catholicism, and no other has shown so little disposition to accept the views of those whom it stoutly lefaeed to persecute. So I see nothing which explains the conduct of tbese people except the supposition that a few hundred years ago they, more than any community in Fiance-io Europe, perhaps-bad imbibed tbe spirit of Christ. I hope they have not wholly lost it yet. They appear to live up to a high moral standard, and theirs is one of Itbe very few de- partments of France where the population is steadily inoreuing tbe survival of the fittest, a-ain. In leaving this part of the stljeot, I may aiy that the Cdlvinists have a nood tig churoh in Nantes at present, bot the other Protestant places of worship in the department must be small or little frequented, for I beard of none. I noticed several miaisters, bow- ever. in my rambles through the department of lie et Vilaine. They seemed to confiae themselves a good deal to the seaports and adjoining villages some were unmistakably British, and represented, I suppose, certain Nonconformist missionary societies. Of the priests, whom I met at every corner, and often talked to in railway carriages, &j., I formed on the whole a good opinion. A considerable number of them seemed to be college professors, chaplains, and men of society who took life easily and pleasantly enough hot the parochial clergy, who formed the great majority, and who anxiously trotted to and fro everywhere, appeared to be, of all tidily-dressed Frenchmen, the people who had the greatest load of care and the smallest load of wealth to balance it. They apparently work very hard for very little remuneration, and get very little thanks. "What will you bavef everyone seems to sity; he has not a very good time of it, bet that is only what a man has to expect in tbis world if be chooses to be a priest." Speaking of professors reminds me that at one railway station my carriage was invaded bj a crowd of growing lads coming home for the day, or for a vacation, from their lyces, academy, or whatever it was and some cleticq of the professorial cast followed them. I was then on my way home, expeoting to reach St Malo that night, and looking out I noticed that the name of the station was Do). That was at it should be, bot I forgot or.Odid not know that I had to pass Dul. Dol, Dol! I said to myself; why, that is one of the places the archaeologists visit. Isn't it near St Brienc, or somewhere out west ? Well, here's a go I shall be dropped to-night, perhaps, in some remote French village, and may not catch a boat for two or three days again." Bat I could not see bow I bad gone wrong, and still hoped I might be on the proper route. So I jomped up aDd began hurriedly to inquire if St Malo was the first etation after tbis. In my excitement and anxiety to be understood before the train started, I believe I was rot oontent with première gare," but added the English word first," in the wild hope that some of the learned people round me knew it. The most aotive-looking youngster among the studente- apparently a young aristocrat, certainly a spoiled boy- got up with a mock gta-rity, which I cannot hope to portray, and, bowiog profoundly, sai I Non, Monsieur; ce nest pas la premiere, mais c'cst la deuit. La dernt, deust, deust," I kept repeating, and no doubt my face expressed bewilderment as well as lack of intelligence, tor in a moment I noticed that every soul in the carriage was struggling hard to keep his countenance. Even the lively schoolboys showed themselves worthy of the national character, and made great efforts to be as polite as any mortal could be io such a laughable recontre. At last I realised-or thought I did-what mv informant meant, and thanked him accordingly. [I have no doabt that on bearing the word first," which he readily understood, the young hopeful wanted to show bis cleverness and amuse bit friends by forming a French ordinal on the English model; and 80, instead of saying "deuxioaae" for "second," ha took the cardinal number "deux," and, adding "at" as in fig-st," coined the word 11 deux-et." It must have been a good little joke for Frenob people, but bo It was a stupid Briton to see tbroogh it at once?] When I sat down the others woold have been oon- tent to let the game escape, bat my spoiled boy was not so easily put off the eceot. Rislag again, and mimicking the intonation of an elegant man of tbe world, he began "Tenez! Je vous montrerai comme nous eausna aux salons de Londres et de Coventry. 'Ow do you do, @are P I (addressing a young priest sitting opposite) "et quaod on dit, Allez vons bien P I'autre repond yes —ob, yes. Et vous devez dire. It falls moche rain, et il vous retournera ye", yes-ob, yea-et il faut que vous appreniez la fa9 >n de demander comme ga, Sire, veel yoa tek a ceegarette? et puis. [He was rolling a cigarette at the time] et pais. Yelb, yes." It was all dreadfully funny, and by this time I had curled up into a corner, enjoying it at least as much as anyone in the carriage. Evidently, however, my fellow-travellers thought the poor foreigner wasvolkiog, and whether they made signs or looked discouragement, I can't tell. For some reason, my "tormentor" sub- sided rather suddenly. His pronunciation was really not bad, considering the difficulty of teaching Eaglish to French people; and hAd I known which waa his tator in this branch, I should have oomplimented the man. I could bear this kind of take-off very well, but a very polite loafer who way-laid me at the end of the journey was nearly too much for my patience. How- ever, that story will come later on. e To be continued.)

"THE MAGISTRATE" AT LLANDILO. A comedy by A W Pinero, produced under the direction of Surgeon-Captain W H Lloyd, in conjunc- tion with Mr T H Powell (who acted as stage manager), for the benefit of the Carmarthenshire Infirmary, was given on February the 8th and 9th, before crowded audiences. The elite of the neighbourhood were present in full force. Among those who attended were The Honorables Gladys and Gwenllian Rice and party Mr and Mrs Herbert Peel and party Mr and Mrs J W Gwynne-Hughes and party; Mr and Mrs Meuric Lloyd; Colonel and Mrs Gwynne-Hughes; Major, Mrs, and Miss Lloyd. Harries Mr and Mrs J Lewes Thomas, Caeglas, and party; Mrs Lon4 Price and party; Mr and Mrs J W Nicholas Mr and Mrs Picton Philipps Mr and Mrs Lewis Bishop and party; th., Rev Lewis and Mrs Price and party; the Misses Bath Mr and Mrs William Phiiipps and party; Mr R Shipley Lewis and Miss Prolliroe Lewis and party; Mr and Mrs J Fortescue Hughey and party Dr Lloyd and party; Dr Phillips and party; Dr Evans; Mrs Lewis, Bank House, and party Mrs Powell, Carreg- cennen, and party; Mr Fred Lewis and party; Mr and Mrs Picton, Trawscoed; Dr Deozil Harris; and Dr Morris, Pontargothy. This play was first produced at the Court Theatre, London, in 1885, by Messrs J Clayton and Arthur Cecil; subsequently Mr Beerbohm Tree played the part of Posket on the occasion of its second staging." It was revived, in 1892, by Mr Edward Terry, at his own theatre on April 13th. In addition to enjoyiog a long run in London, at New York it was doubly successful, while at Boston it is performed every year, included in the season as a classic comedy at the Boston Museum. It has been translated into divera languages-in German under the title of M Der Blaue Grotte" ("The Blue Grotto "). Amongst the Slavonic it is a favourite, being played at the National Theatre, Prague. Hence, it follows that the play undertaken for performance by our amateurs was of the best, and that the talents and energy necessary to an adequate representation must needs be equally so. The whole of the excruciating funny situations of the play are the immediate results of a characteristically "feminine" untruth told by Mrs Posket (late Farringdan) aa to her age, declared on ber second marriage to Posket, the Mulberry-street Magistrate. In the first scene we are introduced to Cis Farringdon (Mr Ernest Lloyd) and his young, sprightly music teacher, Beatie Tomlinson (Miss Dowse), a protege of Mr Posket, who is of an age with Cis, the youth- according to his mother's false reckoning is 14 years of age-being in reality 19. Between these parties a lively flirtation is carried on, intercepted, on occasions, by Popham, the parlour-maid (Miss Lilian Lloyd), who was erstwhile Cis Farringdon's flame, now replaced in his affections by Beatie Tomlinson. This scene provoked much amusement, the acting on the part of each giving a fair promise in the start. Mr Bullamy, a co- magistrate (Mr J H Lloyd), enters with Mr Posket (Mr T H Powell). Mr Bullamy, whose bronchial tubes are of the worst-continually partaking of jujubes" -is highly struck with Cis Farringdon's precocious ways, Mr Posket assuring his friend that Cis has Bedueed him into betting, and taught him a game at cards called Fireworks," at which he always loses. Cis, as a consolation, tells him that when he under- stands the game better he will win." At Cis's instiga. tion the three gentlemen adjourn for a quiet rubber. Cis borrows a sov. from his guv. for a start; then, in a distinctly precocious manner, fleeces both. Miss Verrinder (Miss Hilda Lockyer), a sister of Mrs Posket, who has been expected on a visi*, enters, and almost gives the show away "on seeing her lively nephew s ill in an Eton jacket." Mrs Posket here exp'ains to her sister the reason of his wearing the "too juvenile garb," giving a resume of the conditions that led her into the marriage with Posket, and the cause of her false assertion re her age. This recital was "done with refinement and splendid enunciation. Miss Verrinder advisea Mrs Posket to make a clean breast of it. The prospect of such a confec-sion terrifies Mrs Posket, so it remains unexplained. When Cis's "previous" ways and precocious habits are remarked on, he informs them generally, with unique sang-froid, that a fellow is just as old as be feels," and as his moustache has become more and more obvious each day, he looks quite as old as he is. At this juncur8 letters are brought in by Wyke (Mr T W Griffiths). Mr Posket receives one from a Colonel Lukyn (Mr D J Morris), an old school- mate just returned from India, whom Posket had met recently at his club, arranging the following day to done with the Poskets. At the mention of his name Mrs Posket recognises in him the gent who acted as godfather to her darling Cis nigh twenty years ago at Baroda. Here she found herself on the eve of a discovery. Quick-witted, she immediately decides to visit Colonel Lukyn and beg of him not to disclose the truth. ltln Posket receives a letter from Lady Jenkins, a friend, who is indisposed. So she declared her intention to her husband of visiting Lady Jenkins. Accompanied by her dister, she really means to go in quest of Lukyn. Cis Farringdon bas received a letter from Achille Blond (Mr T W Griffiths), proprietor of the Hotel des Princes, demandink pay roeut of arrears, due from the fourteen-year-old Cis, in respect of a room which he has rente! at the hotel. Cis, being acquaint wiib his mother's intended nocturnal visit, sees his chance, shows his bill to the guv. and, after much persuasion and inimitable guile, induces the old gentle- man to accompany him fur a night out." Miss Vernnder has received a letter from her fiancie, Captain Vale (Mr H Grismond Philippe), breaking off the engagement owing to her desperate flirtation at the meet," etc. All parties pr-pare for their different visits. Cis" prompts the guv. on the way to bribe and shut the mouth of the butler, Wyke. This is a scene full of mirth'and side-splitting situations Mr Posket's:diffidence, Cis's i 1) sinuatii g wiles, and Wyke's knowingnesil gives each character a show. The parts were admirably acte-without bluster, with incisive- ness, each point sent home with a bang. A peculiarly happy hit is made when Cis's gives the guv. two coins to be presented to Wyke on these terms: Wyke, you want a new umbrella; buy a very good one. Your mistress has a latch-key, so go to beo, which Mr Posket, in his confusion, transposes into, "Go to bed; buy a very good one. Your mistress has a latch key-so-eo you want a new umbrella." Wyke discovers the amount to be 2d, whereupon he decides to tell the missus." This closes Act I. From this time forth all the situations spell demoraliza- tion. SCENE Hotel des Princes. I Posket and Cis arrive at the Hotel des Princes, and are attended to by Isodore (Mr H P Lunn), the waiter, who acts the part of the Frenchman in an admirable manner, both in oice, accenr, and gesture. Colonel Lukyn enters with his guest, Captain Vale; also Achille Blond, the proprietor, with a card from a lady who desires to see Colonel Lukyn on important business privately. Captain Vale retires to the balcony. The ladies (Mrs Posket and Miss Verrinder) enter. Mrs Posket mentions her dilemma, and begs the Colonel to promise not to give her husband dates at dinner. The Colonel takes it that Mr Posket mustn't eat stone fruit. The rain is heard pattering against the balcony, where Vale is in hiding. Lukyn is in a fix, what with his guest's unenviable position in the wet, especially after Blonds assertion, that the only possible egress from the balcony was by falling off it, and his gentlemanly desire to give a courteous hearing to the lady. He looks out for his friend, of whom be misses sight, and concludes he has toppled over, so in his despair he makes the promise. Then his friend appears. L"ky is jubilant, =vites the ladies to sup off the prepared viands; and Vale-who is in a frenzied mood, wet and dishevelled beyond description—enters the room, and, on discovering his lady-love as one of the party, demands an explanation, which ends in a reconciliation with Mi8s Verrinder. IThe excited Blond enters, end, in an intense flurry, announces that the police have entered the hotel, being open after hours. The ladies are horrified; the Colonel wishes to oarry things off with a high hand. Ends in all running to hide, when the lights are turned out. Posket and Cis are brought in, and Posket gets under the same table with his wife. He soliloquises on his position, and is pinched by his still unrecognised companion. On the entrance of the police, Cis and Posket escape by falling through the balcony; the others are taken into custody. Through- out this scene the audience was kept in a most hilarious mood. The assumption of the character of the hot- tempered, withal gallant, Colonel Lukyn, by Mr D J Morris, was masterly in this scene and the manner in which Mr H G Philipps looked and acted the part of Captain Vale was excellent. A more thoroughly washed out, dilapidated appearance, after his experience on the balcony, was never seen on any stage, and oreatei a furore. Achille Blond was all that a French hotel-keeper would be. Politeness personified, demon- strative and excitable in turn, Mr T W Griffiths did the part to a nicety it was a complete change from his other character as Wyke. He maintained well the difference in temperament and manner of the characters. Both his assumptions were great successes; while Mr Lunn, as Isidore, was most Frenchy "-a real Garcon." Miss Lewis, as Mrs Posket, acted with stateliuess and dignity. Miss Lockyer, as Miss Vet rinder (a sprightly fin de seicle young lady), played with daRh and verve, Jiaking the most of a rather thankless part. The next scene was the Mulberry- street Police Court, occupied for the nonce by Sergeant Lugg. Then enters poor Posket, cutting a ludicrous figure in his mud- stained habilaments, and his visage decorated with court-plaster, wan-looking and worn out after his night's debauching at the Hotel des Prinoe", and his subsequent chase by the police. He makes guarded enquiries whether there ara any letters from Mrs Posket or Cis whom he lost during the escape. He shows evidences of an agonised mind and painful body. Mr Worming- ton, the clerk (Mr J L Jones), appears, and cites the cases for the day, including the raid on the Hotel des Princes, an allusion that atartles the guilty Posket. He reads the names on the charge sheet. The ladies having given false names and addresses are unidentified by either. A card is brought from Cjlonel Lukyn, cell No. 3, demanding audience of Posket, a boon which is granted after some demur on the clerk's part. l ukyn is brought in. Then the Magistrate moralises on the Colonel's plight, which irritates the soldier beyond measure; The Colonel appeals that the ladies be released. The answer is, "No." Then he pictures to Posket a ruined home and the broken hearts of husbmd and wife, &c. He even engages himself to give the ladies' proper names and addresses to Posket in private, that he may know whose fate he holds in his hand. Persuasion being of no avail, the Colonel gets beside himself with vehement rage, and, declaiming in a frantic manner, he is forcibly taken back to his cell. The Court sits. Posket, in a fainting condition, is hauled back to his office. He has at last seen Mrs Posket in the dock, and in his stupor he has sentenced the parties to seven days without the option of a fine. The next scene is again at Posket's house. Cis has returned in a sorry plight, is attended, and brought to by his devoted friend, Beatie ToM?o? and .fo?/?M. t. propOMa to j8M<«, and quaintly remarks that—" I wish to write that down on paper before my head gets better." Enter Posket, attended by Sergeant Lugg (Mr George H Fuller). Then there is quite a tragic scene between the guv. and Cis, who ascertains his mother's position and Posket's part in the affair. The transfor- mation in Cis's manner, and the crestfallen, abject appearance of the terrorised Magistrate while he is denounced by his stepson was, without a doubt, one of the best-acted incidents in the play. Just as matters are at their height Bullamy enters, having released the parties. Then, what with Mrs Posket, Miss Verrinder Captain Vale, and Colonel Lukyn joining in harranguing poor Posket, and Bullamy denouncing him as a partici- pator in the revelry at the Hotel de Princes, the Magis- trate comes in for a warm time of it; however, explanations are given on all sides. Cis and Beatie are engaged, and thus ends happily a splendid comedy, magnifioently staged, and admirably acted throughout-. It is declared on all sides to be the best representation ever given by any amateur company in this town. Mr Powell, as Posket, reached professional altitudes he played brilliantly from start to finish, his enunciation, diction, and gesture being almost perfect-not a phaso of feeling or point in the jests throughout the effort but received their due weight, without that fault of the generality of amateurs—exaggeration. After Posket, Colonel Lukyn (Mr D J Morris) and Ois Farringdon (Mr Ernest Lloyd) deserve special mention, both giving artistio assumptions of the first order. The way Mr Lloyd acquitted himself in the first scene, as the irre- sponsible, petted young Lothario, and, again, in conjunction with the guv., in the other acts, was most finished. Mr Morris's tour de force, as the Colonel, stamps him as an actor who could make his mark in any company. Mr J H Lloyd, as Mr Bullamy, Mr T W Griffiths, 'as Wyke and Achille Blond, did splendidly, exhibiting great ability, and each giving superbly adequate representation. Mr Lunn, as Isidore, and M Fuller, as Sergeant Lugg, were characteristic and real in speech and action, while Mr H G Phiiipps was extremely funny as Captain Vale. Mr J L Jones, as Mr Worm. ington, performed the part of the sedate, irreproach. able clerk capitally. Mr J V Philipps and Mr J T Hopkins, in minor parts, as Inspector and Constable, ful- filled their duties in good form. Coming to the ladies, it is difficult to give them too much praise. Miss Laura Lewis, as Mrs Poskett, assumed a trying part with much power and dignity. She rose to every occasion finely, and, aided by a charming stage presence, gave a notable performance. Miss Locker, as the "up-to-date" Miss Verrinder, gave a dashing representation with grace and point. Miss Dowse was sweetly charming in speech and manner in her love scenes with the irrepressible Cis, and gava several evidences of being no stranger to the histrionic art her precision in enunciation and her graceful gestures proved it. Miss Lilian Lloyd, as the servant Popham, acted with talent and charm. All in all, it proved a memor- able performance, equally enthusiastically received and appreciated by the elite and gods. ap Vh, stage management was'perfcrmed by Mr T H Powell in a manner which reflected great credit upon that gentleman, in view of the fact that he was cast fcr, and played, the title-role in the brilliant manner already indicated. A splendid orchestra, under the leadership of Bandmaster Howells, was in attendance, and gave very pleasant renderings of selections from "The Shop Girl" and other music. The stage effects ani propert ie J were under the charge of Mr T Charles Thomas, who worked in his usual creditable manner. t