The Cambria Daily Leader

I I The cruiser Birmingham, which is I being built by Messrs. Armstrong, W1 ..itworth, a.nd Company 4it Now- castle-oll-Tyne is to ho launched on May 7 by Mrs. Austen Chamberlain. The Birmingham is a sister ship to .the Nottingham, launched at Pembroke on Frid;i7\ and the Lowestoft, launched at Chatham yesterday.

Sun Rises 4.49, Sun Sets 7.9. Lighting-up Time, 8.11. High Water, 8.11. I

4 SHIPBUILDING. I With great glee the Protectionists I have fastened their teeth into the an- nouncement that three large British steamers are to be built in France. We are told that the wages arc going to the foreigner, that France is overtaking us in shipbuilding, that Tariff Reform would stop this kind of thing, and all the rest of it. What are the facts" Anyone conversant with the state of tho shipbuilding trade in this country knows them. But (a Free Trada corre- spondent reminds us) it is fortunate to be able to refer to a Protectionist news- paper for them. The Daily Mail ot Apnl 17tli, after setting forth that out of four ships required by a British firm, three (costing £ -300,00(1; are to bo built at Dunkirk, and one on the Noi-th-cast Coast of England, proceeded: The vessels are all required in the course of next yeal, and the diriieuity or seeming delivery from British yards was one of the reitsons lor rlacmg this largo order in Fiance. As we reported on April 10th, British shipyards at present have 503 vessels under construction, amount- ing to 2,003,1)31 tons, wlÙch excoed by 377,000 tons the vessels m hand a year ago, and is more than twice a-o much as w<i& iu hand in 1009. It IS the greatest "boom" which Lloyd's Register has any record of. Further examination of the facts em- phasises the extraordinary circumstance that both employers and employed in .the British shipbuilding are actually declining orders. Whether the men ought to work harder or longer is a question that does not concern us im- mediately. The Tillies shows that the Dunkirk firm can do tho work more cheaply because British shipbuilding costs, owing, to some extent, to the general rise in wages, are now on a very high level. Mr. Job a. Hill, general secretary of the Boilermakers' Society, in his monthly report with Reference to I the society's efforts to obtain an ad- vance in wages said recently: The employers complained that members by attending football matches and funerals lost 18.8 per cent. (almost a lifth) of their tirae, and asserted that they could get 18.8 per cent, on their wages without an advance if they would work full time. There were scores of union members in many of the yards aver- aging £ 300 per annum, lost time in- cluded. The employers declared Every advance we have given you has been abused by your ili-conduct I and bad time-keeping." The Mail's Pairs correspondent (April 17th) said that the Dunkirk firm employs 2,000 men at an averago wage of five shillings a day. It is evident that the reason why the contract has gone to France is not that the French builders pay lower wages than the British. If that were the only con- sideration France would scoop up all our shipbuilding trade. High wages often mean low cost of production, be- cause of the skill used. When this matter is looked into with- out wearing the Protectionist spec- tacles, it is seen to be in reality a proof that Free Trade has filled our shipbuilding yards with work, and compelled those who want vessels in a hurry to get them built elsewhere.

DOCTORS AND THESOCIETIES Is the dispute which has arisen be- tween the Swansea doctors and the trades unions and friendly societies re- specting the rate to he charged for medical attendance in the case of the wives and families of members capable of amicable adjustment? We have no hesitation in expressing the opinion that it is, if only both sides will ap- proach the matter in the right spirit. The failure to effect a settlement at the former conference convened by the Mayor is attributd largely to the vigour if not the violence of some of the speeches delivered. When the con- ference is resumed it is hoped there will be nothing in the way of oratory of the firebrand type, which may serve its pur- pose on certain occasions but which is certainly not caculatoo to facilitate the progress of negotiations in a dispute such as that between the doctors and the societies, which everyone concerned is anxious to see settled and out of the way. In the discussions which have taken place at the meetings of the liospital i?oar< i Gf Hospital Board of Management and elsewhere much—perhaps a little too much—has been heard of the principle •involved. it is well sometimes that questions of principle should not be overlooked. Here, however, the poIIIL is common to both sides, and may there- fore be safely eum.nated from the dis- cussion. Once that is done practi- cally the only important ques- tion remaining for settlement is the financial one And there should be no difficulty whatever in ar- riving at a mutually satisfactory ar- rangement regarding the rate to be charged for medical a tendance in the case of uninsured persons, providing there is a real determination on the part of the disputants to rind a way out. Failing a settlement at the fur- ther conference which the Mayor has arranged to convene, the rate should be iixed by arbitration. But the ground will never be clear so long as the ex- tremists on either side persist in the at- titude which they have hitherto taken up. The Chief Magistrate of the Bor- ough has spared no effort to effect a friendly settlement of the trouble. The i points at issue have now been thoro- ughly discussed. The representatives I of both sides owe it to themselves and the public to withdraw the threats in- dulged in, and pgrf-,C- ment is arrived at without further friction

Literary & Other Notes. 1 o BY T. HUWS DAVIES. Wales, l:ke all the other Celtic coun- tries, has always been a land of violent resolutions and vigorous revivals—and at the present moment it is passing through one cf the most startling periods of change in its whole history. It would be strictly true to say, as a writer in the TimBs" on St. David's Day of this year suggested, that every sphere of activity 'in the Principality is undergoing a most thorough trans- formation. its political, its spiritual, its social, its intellectual life are ail rapidly changing in their character— but particularly is this so of the in- teiie-clual lire of the country. It is true that the transformation is not only characteristic of the iife of Wales, but also oi almost all European countries. in most of them, however, the passing of the old and the advent of the new lias been a gradual process. In Eng- land, for instance, the appearance of the new Maseiieid in poetry has not been sudden auti violent. Tne re had been in- d'icatioivs of the approach oi a new spirit in art and literature for many years. The birth 01 the new realist was but the fulfilment of a prophecy, foretold by many, and heralded with various significant and revealing signs and por- tents. How different in this respect is Wales! in the whole literature of the country during the nineteenth century, I doub c if one can find a single indica- tion of the coming, say of the poetry of W. J. Gruffydd, as exemplified by his "Trystan ac with its haunt- ing music of words and sensuousness 01 thought and idea. For a century and more, the hunirxn soul had dominated tho poetry of the whole nation; but here, at last, without any warning, the ciean human body with its violent pas- sions and rending desires was having its fling. Pa beth yw poenau rhyw lxion brudd Os caiodd unwaith, er mewn cwmwl oer Gofleidio cynnes fron ei dduwies gariad. A thc-, 'iulo'l gwallt yn nyddu gylch ei wddf P Mae eiiiad serch yn hwy nag oes o Uffern." The red wine of other cultures naa been poured into the Cymric cup at last, and the youths of the old country rushed to drink of it. One might almost say that the publication of a joint volume of lyrics by Silyn Roberts and W. J. Gruffydd a little over ten years ago marks to a day the first outbreak of the literary and intellectual revolution, buL a great deal has happened since that day. There came (as in Gruffydd's later work) a greater economy and restraint of expression, accompanied by a great deal more originality and less imitation in the four lyrics, Cerdd Hen Lane T'n y Mynydd," Cei-dd yr Hen Chwarelwr," "Cerdd yr Hen Longwr," "Cerddy Prydydd leuangc" are found something really of the Welsh soil, but entirely new and original in presenta- tion. Here and there in thesc, and in other lyrics of his, as well as in the work of a number of other poets of the now school, one came across just a sug- gestion of the new realism which was beginning to dominate European litera- ture generally. It was, however, very timid and uncertain. At last, even this seems to have reached fruition in the latest poem pub- lished by the young Welsh poet, T. Gwynn Jones, who has already written some of the finest romantic poetry in the language. In the curreut issue of Y Beirniad" we find a poem by him entitled Pro Patria," which is as rea- listic a piece of work as we have ever set eyes on. It would be interesting to know the date of its composition. Perhaps the author will tell us some day. We have some slight recollection of Mr. Gwynn Jones's attitude towards the Boer War, when "There was treason done, and a false word spoken, And England under the dregs of men, And bribes about, a;nd a treaty broken." This poem of an incident in that war bears upon it manv marks of a casting at white heat which suggests that it may have been a product of those angry days. Can it be, we wonder, that it was actually written before "The Ever- lasting Mercy, "Tile Widow in the Bye btreot," and "The Daffodil Fields." We ought to know before we can esti- mate accurately the true value of the powerful piece-of work it is. Be that as it may, this is certain—that there is no timidity, no fear, no uncertainty in the realism of the work. We can only give one illustration the words of the dying scoundrel, a soldier, who has ruth- lessly ruined the lives of his mother and his love. "'Stand back!' 'rydwy'n oofio dweyd hynny. Or I'll brain you, by God, that I'll do,' Gan droi bon fy ngwn i fyny, 'Rwy''n corio cynddaredd fy llw; Nid wn at h? Ie yr anelais Bob ergy?,Lm cbwarter awr, Ond taw odd y twrw. A gwelais Ddau glwt o ymenydd ar lawr." Whatever be our opinion of its value, we have to admit that it is new and strong, as well as in close kinship with the best of modern poetry in other countries. it was bound to eome--though we never thought it would arrive quite so early. We will venture to express the hope, however, that Gwynn Jones will not forget that in poetry, he has other gifts than that of realism.

DOUBLED IN 3 YEARS! Th,, steady and substantial increase in the circulation of the CAMBRIA DAILY LEADER." AUDITORS- CERTIFICATE. 91 and 93, Bishopsgate, E.G., 9th April, 1913. To the Directors of THE SWANSEA PRESS, LIMITED. Dear Sirs,—We have examined the pub- iisV)ing books in reference to the "Cambria Daily Leader" (including your Saturday's issue "The Sporting News"), and certify that the increases in the net sales were as faiiows:- 1910 over 1909 37.7 por cent. 1311 Ji&r 1909 69.3 per cent. 1812 over 19t3 95.5 par cent. thus showing that the sales have almost exactly doubled in three years. Yours faithfully, SEARLE, KGNEYBOURNE & CO., Chartered

News & Views é I Caught in Spite of it. I A six-legged field mouse has been caught in a trap at Filey. Thought Better of It. Air. Upton Sinclair, the novelist, who was married Oil Tuesday, once fiercely denounced marriage as a "iegaiised form of slavery." Fame. Fame," once said a noted author who had fallen on evil times, "is what endears you to the publishers atter yotll"e dead and all your copyrights nave run out." Poor Orphan. "1 did steal 3s," admitted Ja- (,'o l ,a at ?,v iii,?uen. Cole at V* lileoUen. "1 did it bee; my stup-ratiier turned me out and fUDCcl to keep me." it was scated that his age was th Armed Merchant Ship. The Urst merchant ship u. mounted with guns in conformity r Mr. Cuarchill's policy is the Royal A iSteam Packet Company's A-mg, which sails for boutii America L morrow carrying two guns. I Noil- Waiters. Dr. Edwm Ash has given Londoners some excellent advice. To the "non- waiters '—the men and women who are in a pcipetual state of rush-he says; Learu to preserve that energy by exorcising seil-control." No Bail for Bachelors. "A:o bail for bachelors," was the rule adopted by the VYiiiesden magis- trate. loti are a single man," he told a prisoner, "ajid wuen your hat is on your iiouse is thatched- You cannot have bail." Shakespeare in Braille. Before very long those who are aJihcteci with biincmess will be able to read the whole ol Shakespeare's works in -e-raille-Lile sonnets and doubtful i plays in ciuded. The complete editior will run to thirty-ii ve volumes of fool- scap size. ILord Coreil's Sayings. Amongst the famous pronotmce- ments of the recently deceased Lord Gorell, which have become almost nousenold words are: There are three classes of eggs- eggs, frush eggs, and new-laid eggs." If the dnnk habit could be eradi- cated from the nation the Divorce Court might shut its doors." Man Who Went Without." A prisoner in a London law court contending that the prosecutor had not proved that his coat was stolen, said he know of a man who had received compensation at twenty different hoteis in respect of pairs of trousers w liicn he saiU had been stolen during the night. It was eventually dis- covered that the man had gone in each case to the hotels yithout any itrousers. I Knocking Out the Devil. I "The devil tempted me," was the solemn explanation given by a small boy who w as accused of thelt at West iriani yesterday. Has he tempted you before?" in- quired the magistrate. Yes," repiied the boy, four or five times." "Then you will have six strokes of the biicli," said the magistrate. Per- I haps that will knock tne devii out of you. Painting at 93. Mr. James Sant, the veteran Royal Academician, celebrated h;s nmety- tiiiiu b'.ruiaay yesterday with a few intimate friends in his delightful Lan- caster Gate residence. itie famous painter of The Soul's Awakening," Tne Laot Phase," and All My na o-l.. i few is another instance of the longevity of R.A.'s upon wnicii Haailitt remarked in one of his essays. He wili be represented at this year' s academy by three more pictures. A Bandit's Will. Soudy, the notorious motor-car bandit, who was executed on Monday, leit a will, in which he says: "I leave to M. Etienne, the Minister of War, my jemmies and my skeleton keys to help him to open the door to social militarism by the law of tnree years' military ser- vice my brain to the doyen of the medi- cal faculty; and my skull to the museum of anthropology. Lastly, 1 leave to the journal 'L Anarchie' my autograph in order that the clowns and apostles of philosophy may make use of it for their cynical individuality." Dickens' Originals. The deaiit has occurred at South gate of Mrs. Mary Ann Cooper, who claimed that she was the original of L.tuie Dcrrit," being so christened by Dickens himself, waen, as children, they were playmates together in Somers Town. "Little Dorrit,' it will be remembered, was the heroine of Dickens' novel of the same name, and the story is partly laid in the Marshal- sea Prison for debtors. It was when Dickens's father went to reside in. Johnson-street, Somers Town, and Mrs. Cooper became acquainted with Charles Dickens, who called her Dorrit" be- cause he did not like her name of Mary Ann. Mrs. Cooper would have reached her 100th birthday this year. Three years ago, Mrs. Georgina Margaret Hayman, who also ,IL.d to be the ?.rigi,a?,l of Little Dorrit," died at Southsea at the age of 81, and it was said that her brother was the original of Tiny Tim. Temperance in Diplomatic Circles. Mr. Bryan, the Secretary of State, imposed his own temperance principlea on the Diplomatic Corps last night by refusing to serve alcoholic beverages at the dinner he gave to eighteen Ambas- sadors and Ministers and their wives ia honour of Mr. Bryce, the British Am- bassador, and Mrs. Bryce. The thirty diplomats were served with mineral and plain iced water, and as a piece de re- sistance a large bowl of temperance punch was at their disposal. Its in- grc-dients were unfermented grape juice, rLÍuBral water, orange and lemon juice, and plenty of ice. The concoction was a dark red in colour and bubbled as it was poured into large goblets. This is the first time, as far as anybody in Washington can remember, that the Secretary of State has refused to serve the diplomats at a formal dinner with the beverages to which they are accus- homed, though there have been pre- viously teetotal heads of the state Department.

"Bought and Paid For" at the New Theatre will reach its fiftieth perform- ance to-morrow evening. The Empire revue, "All the Win- ners," will be made yet more attractive by the inclusion next Monday of a dance interlude, in which fdlle. Lytlia Kyasht will make her reappearance in London. Ald. Charles Pinkham has been elected chairman of the Willesden Dis- trict Council, which governs the largest urban population in England, for tiio fourth time in twenty-one yeatfA.