The South Wales Star

OPEN LETTERS TO WELSH LEADERS OF OPINION. No. XIV. MR. LEWIS MOREIS, M.A. DEAR MR. MORRIS,-80mehow, though I know you so well, I never could call you anything but "Mr. Morris," and even now, when writing an Open Letter to you, I cannot, as I have hitherto done to others, address you by your Christian name. I don't knew whether that's a sign of greatness in you, or modesty in me. My intimate friends and the Saturday Review would probably hold different opinions. In any case, it points out one of your great faults-a certain stand-offishness which is pardonable in a great poet, but which, in a politician, is fatal. I-know you have a kind heart and a sympathetic temperament; what great poet is in these lacking But you don't impress people with the idea that you possess these great, qualities. These be democratic days and even a poet, if he wishes to be popular, must cultivate comradeship. I wonder it you can tolerate American verse-1 won't offend YOllr good taste by calling it poetry—but it is expressive. When big vessels meet, they say Taey saloot and sail awaj. Jest"the same are you and me- Lonesome ships upon a sea Each one sailing his own jog For a port beyond the fog. Let your speaking trumpet blow Lift your horn and cry" Hullo Say "hullo" and "how d'ye do," Other folks are good as you, Wen ye leave yer house of clay Wanderin' in the Far Away Wen you travel through the strange Country t'other side the range, Then the souls you've cheered will know Who ye be, and say hullo." Now your native town, Carmarthen, though once the premier town of Wales, where the noblemen and gentry kept a town house,' and where, with unruly followers, they disturbed the kmgs peace, is now, like its ruined castle, little but the shadow of a glorious past, It still produces its great men its Picton, its Brinley Richards its Hugh Price Hughes, its Lewis Morris. But it is little more than a small country town. Yet even here your writings are better known than your person. It was all very well for Horace to write" Odi pro- fanum vulgus et arceo," but, then, Horace was a different man to you. In his study he could affect a dignified contempt for the vulgar; but when his short, squat figure was seen hurrying through the streets of vainly tryin°" to rid himself of a bore that held buttonholed" him, his face red with unwonted exertion and wearing a comical look of puzzled resignation, he looked as undignified as the real Morien 1 at the Gorsedd. and it was impossible not to have a fellow-feeling for this b"ourgeois, thoroughly human figure. It is different with you. When you stalk (I can't describe it better—a fifth form boy would say incedis")—when you stalk in all the majesty of your two yards of length, clad in that brown velveteen coat, which, like com- moners' rights, is of immemorial antiquity, with eye bereft of the poet's frenzied roll, and glancing at the passers-by with disdainful haughtiness, you look the picture of the anax undron. the cold, proud Lord," whose untimely fate you have so pathetically described in your epic, and who vr as never loved, Nor was Horace ever possessed with the ambition to represent his fellow-citizens, as tedile, or tribune, or consul You are not cofttent Xvfth being the greatest Jiving Welsh poet; you ToSist needs descend from heaven to deal whh the affairs of men. And why not ? We live in a prac- tical atre. Mr. William Morris. the poet,' as the Saturday Reviler calls him, is a manufacturer, and >svhy should not Mr. Lewis Morris, of Peabryn, be ;an M P. ? I am only sorry, though I aei not sur- prised that you al?e not already m Parliament. You are not cut ottt for contesting Parliamentary seats in this democratic, not to say, 'demagoguic age. You remind me of Coriolanu? seeking the suffrages oi his fellow-citizens. When you beseech the democracy i'er its voices," it is-with a proud heart you wear your humble weeds. all recognise your'merits, as the Romans did those of Coriolarius, btet you should do wtat the haughty mtriciaii tr'ed in vain to do. Since, he said, the wisdom of their choice is r^tlier to have my hat than rav heart, I will practise the insinuating nod and be off to them most ceunterfeitly that is sir, I "frillcounterfeit the bewitchment of some popular man. and give it bountifully to the de- sirers." This he tried to do witfc indifferent success. His procd soul could not brock for long to ask; •alms of the" mutable rank>ecented many." Ä-t: one moment he asks for their" most sweet voices With scornful humility; at-the next he breaks OU^ M'OiI:t sweet voices Bfetter it is to die, better to starve, Than crave the hire whiclftlirst we do deserve. Why in this wolvish toge -should I stand here To beg of Hob and Dick,that do appear, Their needless vouches? custom calls mo to*i. Rather than fool it so, Let the high office and the) tonour go '-To one tha.t would do thus. Thenlhe proceeds with a qfeiefcehange of thought— 1 amrha.If through: "The one part suffered, the other will I do. Suohffeas been your attitadertowards the Carmar- then electors Conscious that you hav« first « deserved the honour thatT«u now do crave^t i^ withihalf-restrained impatieaje that jou -»atch theS Blow movements,and behold that you^re^not so iiMispensable as you hail thought. When the iManelly Liberals eeem to prefer the claims of their fellow-townsman to -"yours, you caaa. only see two ways otexplain^ bliiidafifes. "Either I am not 80 well.roown "at We," you said, I had fondly suppled or the constituency is bek*w the average in mtellect- 'Ual £ >a.a«"itv The retort of tke Satni dap ft. f u w and cruel: that you m»v be known.«t home than you supfose, and that the constituency may be aibove the average in intel- ,1ectuÜ,CF,pacity. And because the Llane&lj Li- berals uwere slow to srecogniao your ..pobticai claims, "SJO* speak o Ihe people, /Asiif you were a god to punish, not A nan of their iBiirmity. •We all recognise the nobility.of so. mens oaaiscia recti" '.defying- the worH in ariM; but whaa the hero public!? climbs d« wn," -one*. s apt to lool: at • the former de fiance as ebullition of temper&>na not as the result of a conscioitiness of r||ht. Your "-climJft! down ibave not ^een dignifced. We pardoned., though we-regrettei. the words | pu applied to <3a vmberlain .years ag% twitting turn ^wijth {itis 41 ej^glass audi&is orchiCj stinking. of vulgar weal^t. but yo*r public apology o&y ^maide.tlie oUqb-si more ptA-k. Corii anus had 10 'be«d!h4B haugh^r* spirit, i £ »fe3 wished ito be consaS and,y^u had to ^tract andmake a mrtue of yo«r -eixoier <&y saym^ it was a,lfc elsh Qha*&cteristic, 35 xyou.^lsfced to wt'te M-P-a#er your.sname. Bui -such .episodes dofy.ot comm^td a t0 a con4 ^tituenoy, and ptaride amus# menc tos^he Phiiis- ttifxe-Sa^PB. Thus: it is that for the lar- twenty. years you **eem toibe.on the btlnk of bei^ g retur»d to Par- lament: Init thowgfe you:h»«-i '■ pined# o long. you have found fsuitiou mvck you. So it is thfet you:ha\te the utdying woim of sen* which frets and gnaws the vnsatisfied soul." T^u will esex&e ipy quoting. *y°u so muet better thaaffklp; bm you remind IjUe of .Sisyphusmainly struggling :tp jroll t^e ,.1top.eto tthe m,oii«^ain's sumnsit. The halting figUM bentitseV again To the -Jd task,acd up the cigged.ste^, Thrust ilhe great stick with gjoamrigs^ Slowljv with dreadful toil, And strtjg^le and^4rain,and heeding har.dsand kntt^.s, And more than mortal strength against the hill He pressed-tthe wretthed one! -illI Wlth le^g pain He tremVl«t un the -svmtuit, a gijunt fonji, Now gaining #iow regaling, no-.vsn act To -win the now borne down again, f- And thin tli« i&evitablc crash—th» mass f Leaping from to org £ ( I can't trutMaJdy say that Ingret that .second letter of yours the .efeictorate, i'or it has given '-Ils a chance of heholdiJiug the nvist intei^sting ] contest that has <rJ^r taketi place in Wales. The ]Poet and the warrk?r. the juian of tko pen anf the Iftan of the sword 'Truly.& most inspiring fight, and all the better be<3»tise botJi are true Welshman lovers of their eonntry. To me nothing h%s happened in Wales of late years to llliloke me Soí) Ptoiiy. of my native land to see two si^rh noble tnen contending as to who shail represent the de- in Parliament. As y<0& said, xay dear I.ewis ah you see I more familiar ^hen I ttink of your affection for YDur country the day hat: passed when Wales returned the most feeless of ker sons or foster Hons to Parliament, should we sead dumb dfiven ,cattle there iQng as heroes like Major Jones and you are still Unprovided witb a seat? Truly you are you two foemeu worthy of each other a e1, JjD I may speak of what I am sure will °uly be a friendly contest. The Major has the ad- vantage of you in knowledge of Welsh, You mias the royal road to a Welbhman's heart by not Possessing '• the old fair treasure of our native *peech." Yon have yourself pre now in a. passage ^hich I cannot at this moment recall sung your at your- igucranw of the toi^T"- ol Pafydd ap Gwilym and Goronvvy Owen. Great is the power of eloquence A wonderful gift^is to be '• eloquent to move, and -strong to teach in any language but a still rarer gift it it is in aspeaker to make an audience hang on his lips when addressing them in either cf two languages..And this gift-of the gods is yoer rival's. Both of you also have won fame amotg the Saeson. Major Jones, after fighting his way up from the ranks and after covering his name and the country of his birth sfith glory by his U3&flinching courage-w the field of battle, came back to England and has since proved that peace has her triumphs no less renowned trail war." He has become known all the world Q"£1' as a literary man of the highest; class, a writes- of standard books in biography, .1 history, and statistics, while as editor of the Shi j)piny World—to descend to my lowly pursuit —he has shown that he is one of the smartest of livus.g journalists. It were super- fluous — almost impertinent—on my part to enumerate your great works, your songs of Two Worlds, your Epic .of Hades, your Songs Unsung, Vision of Saints, aiid others, that I believe will live as long as the Eoglish language lasts. I do not say that you rank among the first of English poets. I would not like to say that you are the equal of Tennyson, or even of Swinburne. But I believe that your works will be read when many of Swinburne's will be forgotten. You have the i divine afflatus, and though you have failed to reach the highest niche in the temple of poesy, you can say as°once you said of another who was put in competition with Apollo, God-iike 'tis To climb upon the icy ledge, and fall Where other footsteps dare not. Let carping critics say that you have too many heaven-kissed summits," and snow-clad tops," and subtle undertones." and jewelled shrines," and '• gadding vines," and" youug-eyed Innocence," and" rosebuds pearled with dew." Let them sneer at your description of a perfect woman, with a child in her arms— Fused by some cosmic interlacing curves Of beauty into a new innocence, or of a blank verse such as Which seta itself to Be. And yet is He— Quondam dormitat Homerus," we used to be told, and our old friend Horace said, "nec semper arcum tendit Apollo." You can afford to scorn such captious critics; the majority—ay, and an intelligent majority—of your readers will say, with John Bright, that your Epic of Hades is another gem added to the wealth of the poetry of our language," What recks it that these all- knowing Saturday Reviewers say you are only a second-rate poet 1 Why, they call Gray and Cowper second-rate and, I in common with most people, prefer the poet who sings of the greatness of Knowledge, and Duty, and Strength, and Love, and Purity, and the "Life God-lighted, and the sacrifice" in chaste and noble language than a prosy Wordsworth or an unwholesome Shelley. Nor should I forget that it is not only in in poetry that you have made your mark as a writer. Few, possibly, know that you are an old Oxford prizeman. Was it the Lothian or the Arnold historical prize that you won for an essay ? And it is still fondly remembered at the city (11 the Isis how it was that the only prize essay man that came from Wales, before Owen Edwards, has developed into one of our greatest modern poets, while the only Welshman who has ever won the Newdigate has developed into the prosiest of Oxford dons. Both you and yout rival, also, have rendered sterling service to the cause of Welsh education. You were among the first promoters of the scheme for establishing an University College at Aber- ystwyth, an I when the experiment was still doubt- ful nowhere throughout Wales could there be found a sturdier advocate of its claims. Every educational movement has received your most un- grudging support; and atill Welshmen are glad to see that the old warrior is foremost in demanding a University for Wales. Nor must we forget your rival's services in the contemplation of yours. We must not forget what Major Jones has done for Cardiff College how he got too department of music established, and secured the appointment of Dr. Parry as Professor of Music how he organised the appeal to the country for money, worked for the «stablishment of a workmen's college, and raised, in conjunction with others, a sum of £14.,000 for that object; has successfully advocated the establishments a School of Medi- ciwc, an Engineering Department. Law Buildings, aaad Technical Instruction.; how he has, at great personal inconvenience, in spite of the stress of •fflher work, addressed countless meetings, •arid how indefatigailily he has worktd <on the va-iou3 committees of the College. iBoth of you belong to historic families in Wales. I don't mean thatvoc are descended from Iorwerth Drwyndwn or Owes. Gwynedd or Rhys ap Tewdwr or any other of the founders of the fourteen Royal Tribes of Wales. The first Lewis Morris was the, son of an Anglesea cooper, and the father of Daniel Rowlands is unknown to fame. You have a higher claim to the respect of every Welshman you are descended from two of the greatest and noblest Welshm-eii that ever lived. You, dear Lewis, are descended from the great Lewis Morys, of Anglesea, Llewelyn Ddu o Fon," the leader of the literary revival of the last century, the patron. and lifelong fmend of Goronwy Owen, the dis- coverer and the nourisher of his genius—his friend in the little prosperity that befel him, his friend more than ever in the troublous days of his adversity—the founder of the Cymmrodorion, the Maecenas of Ieaian Brydydd Hir, and the author! of Morwynion Glan Meirionydd." Your great ancestor would the still a greater name in Weilfili) literature, but far the genius that he helped .aad unenviously ridnnired-" Y gwr enwog Goronwy." He was the cfirst< of a series—a long series by .this time, thankiieaven.—of men who did their utmost; to raise the -moral, educational, and social .cø.n- dition of Wales. It was of him that G^noiuvfy Gethin sang— Ar y.sydd i'r oes hon Yn fawrddysg awen feirddion, A gwiw lesfrydi'w glwysfron, Bryd araT i'w bro dirion, Agos oil y'nt (leg, weis lion, o ddysg abl ei ddysgyblion, and while echoing jiis wish, A phoed iraith gofihad a mawl I'w arglwjddawl ryglyddon, j I feel that, if it wepc only that you are of Ltew€%n Ddu's ki-fch and kin, without any ooagpiGuoais merit of Jpour own, I would say "Grod .8pe6d to ji you." ASFoU are descended from the man .who did most t« start the literary revival of the last century, m your opi onent is descended fcam the;' man who,,aibove all-ether, changed the meHgiousi condition,><af Wales—Daniel Rowlands, oi Xdan-tj geitho. X^aan not one of those who are wont to; I trace the history of Wt'les only from the Met&odist; revival of the last cent iry, nor am I one of those; short-sighted; people nj.'io ascribe every chaæge inti Welsh chacfiteter to theu-eligious movement. JLike; every other aceformatior., the revival of the last', century wat ^preceded .^y a Renaissance, a literary; revival; am<$it is impossible to say how £ a<r ,the, one acted upon the other. But still it is almost! impossible to,,exaggerate the influence of Daaiel. Rowlands on-the historj' of his country; aaad I cannot forget, that whale Lewis Morys «ras! r lamented by ffite of Wal« greatest poets. Daniel | Rowlands was.imourned 2/j- Cymru's per-gazuad- -vdd," William#.jPantyceljg.1. In any case, it is r^nost interesting to see the descendants of the eha«a- Ifions of both the literary a%* religious movements; ■9i the last ^ritury contesting Carmarthe^j boroughs to^Jarj. The Btirdd a'r Gler," the! bards and the clergy, have aj.vays been at bitter; fesvd in Wales;<^me part ot the spirit of both! factions have cow- down to their posterity for i hetf we have one the stock ^of Lewys Morys o FOB pitted in FRIENDLY rivalry, against one who is dm tended' from fee Rev. Daniel Rowlands. If 6 stranger saw^you both addressing a meeting he w-wld put Majof,>rones down.a.s the poet, and you at. the warrior. $011 are of pfr-:t God-jiiM as Zeus, and }f.a.jJ.,r Jones loolse .much more, like your de- scriptioB«of a poet— A youth who vc leaned Against the tmi^r<of a dark cy»uess. A 8orrft^ful, and soul, Such as sifinetimes he knpws, who meefc? the gaze, Mute, uue^mplaining, y,et»jyost pitiful. Jtor do roufl&rike the or^wary beholder^s having the pain "iWhich fills a port's eyes. You will forgive me, I am rStune. for comparing an-") perhaps contracting you you miiti know everyone is doin^j that now .asd a poor jotunalist has ne.ught to dc but follow is. everybody's wake and sei?:e the p^vchological Moment for doing things. I'm not going toyrophesy wkoW get chosen, hub th ings. I'm not going toyrophesy wkoW get chosen, hub I'll say tMs. that whichever it Ii. a good man Drill be left out .in the cold. I'll say *aore, the good mav. won't fae out long*. You cant get both rft- tnrn^d for the Carmarijjen Boroughs—but there are other constituencies where a g<God man is needed. If Major Jones does not exceed, he needn't be discouraged as long as he ca1j. get his pick from Mr. Schnadhorst; and if you are dis- appointed again, you can console yourself with the thought that you have never bc^n confronted with such an antagonist before, and that there are othgr constituencies in Wales who would be glad to welcome one of Cymru's most illustrious sons. But if you never do enter Parliament, von can console yourself with the reflection that, as Rixon Morgaa said, your worka will read wb&a 'I puny names will be unheard of.; Dig num. laude virum Mttsa rctat mori." And if the old sore still rankles, even when you are poet Laureate, I will quote for your consolation tv.o extracts one from Major Jones', and the other from your own favourite author :— O poet a new nobility is conferred m groves and pastures, and not in castles, or ;by the sword- blade, any longer. The conditions -&re hu.ru. Ihiu equal: Thou shalt leave the world, &»d know the Muse only. Thou shalt i" know any longer the times, customs, graces, politics, or opinions of men, but take all from the muse. God wills also that thou abdicate a duplex and. manifold life, and thou be content that others speak for tbee. Others shall be thy gentlemen, and shall represent all courtesy and worldly life for thee others shall do the great and resounding actions also. Thou shalt lie close hid with nature, and canst not be afforded to the Capitol or the Ex- 1 change, The world is full of renunciations and apprenticeships, and this is thine thou must pass for a fool and a churl for a long season. This is the screen and sheath in which Pan has protected his well-beloved flower, and thou shalt be known only to thy own, and they shall console thee with tenderest love. And this is the reward; that the ideal shall be real to thee. and the impressions of the actual world shall fall like summer rain, copious, but not troublesome, to thy invulnerable essence. Thou shalt have the whole land for thy park and manor, the sea for thy bath and naviga- tion, without tax and without envy; the woods and the rivers thou shalt own and thou shalt possess that wherein others are only tenants and boarders. Thou true land-lord! sea-lord! air- lord Wherever snow falls, or water flows, or birds fly, wherever day and night meet in twi- light, wherever the blue heaven is hung by clouds, or sown with stars, wherever are forms with trans- parent boundaries, wherever are outlets into celes- tial space, wherever is danger and awe and love, there is Beauty, plenteous as rain, shed for thee, and though thou shouldst walk the world over, thou shalt not be able to find a condition inoppor- tune or ignoble." Or you may console yourself with what one of our greatest modern poets has said in undying verse in one of his finest pieces, More it i" than ease, Palace and pomp, honours and luxuries, To have seen white Presences upon the hills, To have heard the voices of the Eternal GoJs. —With best wishes. I am, dear Lewis, your candid friend, THEODORE DODD.

BARRY DOCK WEEKLY TIDE TABLE. Morn. After. Ht. h.m. h.m. ft. in. Oct. 30 Friday. 5 41 6 58 32 9 „ 31 Saturday 614 4 29 33 6 Nov. 1 Sunday. 6 44 7 0 34 9 „ 2 Monday. 7 16 7 31 35 5 w 3 Tuesday 7 47 8 2 35 7 „ 4 Wednesday. 8 17 8 32 35 1 „ 5 Thursday 8 47 9 3 34 0

AUDERSOFS WATERPROOF CLOTHING FOR THE WET SEASON. WATERPROOF COATS, WATERPROOF MANTLES, WATERPROOF LEGGINGS. ISDIA RUBBER BOOTS AND OVERSHOES. ALSO OILSKIN CLOTHING FOR ALL PURPOSES. Please Send for Catalogves. Anderson, Anderson, and Anderson, THE WATERPROOFERS, 8, QUEEN-STREET, CARDIFF. [305 THE ROYAL STORES IN THE HAYES, CARDIFF. # FORMOZA TEA AT PER 1 S. 8D. LB. THE BEST AKD MOST LUXURIOUS IS ENGLAND AT THE PRICE. This is what they say of it! READ IT! From a Lady at Neath to Friend at Cardiff. My dear M "I cannot write you a long letter to-day but will do so very shortly. I want you to ask Mr. Griffith if he will kindly send us a Small Caddy of Too, about 10 or 12 lbs, the same Tea as we had at your house. I think you told me it was only la. 8d. per lb. I cannot enjoy any Tea since I tasted that. iUWith fondest Jove to all from us all, "Believe me, "Ever lovingly yours, THE ROYAL STORES IN THE HAYES, CARDIFF Mayberry Williams. 79, TAFF-STREET,; PONTYPRIDD IS NOW SHOWING TP YEP LATEST NOVELTIES IN MILLINER Y, MANTLES, JACKETS, CLOAKS, ULSTERS, MACKINTOSHES, DRESS GOODS, FURS, &c. 4 -1 ALSO Extraordinary Value in Blankets, Sheets, Quilts, Flannels, Skirtings, Umbrellas, G-loves, &c. NOTE THE ADDBESS:— 79, TAFF-STREET, PONTYPRIDD. STUDY YOUR HEALTH, BY DRINKING LEWIS'S DANDELION COFFEE, It is a most Delicious Beverage. HEALTHY! REFRESHING and INVIGORATING For persons Buffering from Weak Digestion. Bilious and Lirer Complaints, Impura Blood, Hysteria, &C., it is the best Beverage, and should be used by everyone, in preference to Tea, Cocoa, or Ordinary Coffee. IT IS NOT A MEDICINE! BCT A DELICIOUS ARTICLE OF DIET. Patronised an.i recommended by the faculty. Sold by all Grocers in Tins, 6d., Is., Is. 6d., and 2s. each. Be sure to ask for LEWIS'S, and do not take any other. SOLE PROPRIETORS AND M ANUF. VCTURIIR.T— JAMES LEWIS & CO., Ld., CARDIFF. -A. Wonderful Mediciner > BEISlWS For Bilious and Nervous Disorders, such as Wind and Pain in tlie Stomach Sirk ClSjFrusWn^fW^1!655 aSweUing I1"161" meais' dizziness and Drowsiness^ C^d nn thU r.- £ uai' ^?SS of Appetite, Shortness of Breath, Costiveness. Blotchcs Se nStioS'Ar t £ T1 Frightful DreamS' aU Ncrvous and T«mhHn £ £ FIT THEJIRS? DOSE WILL- GIVE RELIEF IN TWENTY MINUTES. T1 is Every sufferer is earnestly invited to try one Box of these Pills, and they BEECHAC^Q°SeTd#edi t0 WORTH A GUINEA A BOX."w health ?, S PIL.LS' taken as directed, will qukkly restore females to c^picte ■OT i_lelPr0mP y Femove anv obstruction or irregularity of the svstcm Tor a fh-.ll'Kr Impaired Digestion; Disordered Liver; sssaftssass, ■ rritpnred y by THOMAS beeohakJI St. Hoions, uuwuhiro. EUigiarcL Sold in Doscs,.9jd., Ir. r-2., — J 2s.

HOMES ASl> NEWS FROM PONXyCYMMER. There ,ifi .nothing ,*ery striking here this week, accept thajt old B^lkrat got nioce than he bar- gained for. He evidently got a Roland for his (Miyer, and -sfcere him ri^ht too. I optica tjiftt there are to be six additional con- sig,bies adde{l .tv the Porttypridd distric. I think there ought tp.fce a few mpre in the Garw Valley. Just fancy, only .one in Blaengarw, amoeg three or four .1^0,usand[ip £ :abitants, and not one in Pontyr- hil. J?ancy a .constable g^ing into a room in the Bl^ngarw Hotel last j&-eek, to find about thirty wen and sixteen wom^n more or less ele- vated. is carried £ >n in the —— — in broad dayjlight- Why are these things winked at ? If some poor fellow ggts a few pvits of beer, he is fined for being drunk, while tJw publican can break the lasr with impunity and get off scot free. Are the constables too or are they bribed ? Possibly the Dettws Chamber of Commerce will take the matter up but I forgot, it has changed its name. Tis now The Gaiw Valley Chamber of Trade." Ifcg meetings are held in The Inn, Pontyr- hil, with the rer, rector of -——— in the chair. The walking ganger is secretary. Surely the powers that be are trembling in the presence of this august assembly.$o doubt we shall scon get the long-promised bridge by the Llest. A cer- tain member of the Chamber of Commerce said, u Put me on the L^cal Board, and you shall have a bridge;" but no bridge has come. But what trade are they going to protect/ Possibly the chairtaan is going to revive indulgences. The influenza is busy about here again. Min- isters and doctors are all alike. But I don't think our father at fclftiidaff has suffered now his joy ia too great, by the acquisition of such an illustrious licm M tilt? <?&C lQQ mentioned last week. We have a knowledge of the famous man, and I Relieve we could give him a stall at Pontyrhil.; we have a large church here but it is empty. Send him here; he may become the chairman of the Garw Valley Chamber of Commerce, if nothing else. L'iUISIX.

CORRESPONDENCE. QUALITY OF GAS AT BARRY. TO THE EDITOR OF THE SOUTH WALES STAR. SIR,—I should like to be allowed, through the medium of your valuable paper, to the fact that the quality of the gas supplied by the Barry and Cadoxton Gas and Water Company is of a very inferior quality. As far as I can judge, it is the same throughout the district, and the complaints are numerous. Now the winter is drawing on, it is essential that the lighting of the district, and, indeed, the lighting of private house and shop, where gas is laid, should be of the best; indeed, we should claim to be supplied with the very best gas at all times, considering the very heavy price we have to pay. I make this complaint as a house- holder and a ratepayer who has an interest in the district, and as one who speaks from observa- tion.-I enclose my card, and remain, yours, &c., HOUSEHOLRER. Holton-road, Barry Dock. -0.- THE FREE CHURCES AT BARRY. TO THE EDITOR OF THE SOUTH WALES STAR. SIR,—The Rev. F. J. Beck at the diocesan con- ference at Newport rather understated the case at Barry. No less than 12 Nonconformist pi worship have been erected since the establish « of the dock works-not nine, as reported—ana there are also three other buildings in course of erection. Mr. Beck also omitted to state what is even more neglectful on the part of the so-called "National" Church in this new district-viz., the almost total absence of accommodation for the Welsh-speaking community, which numbers pro.. bably one-third of the whole. While Noncon- formists have built no less than six Welsh chapels, all of which are in a flourishing condition, the Establishment" at the present time holds its only regular Welsh service in a small room at the back of an hotel! Truly, Barry is ample proof of the voluntary system for providing places of worship but what a sad commentary upon those who profess that the Church in Wales is the Church of the people. Were the Chuveh disestab- lished she would be of ten times more use in Barry than she is at present with the State chains girt round about her.-I am, &c.. Barq, Oct. 24. FREE CHURCHMAN. THE LIBERAL PARTY AND HOME RULE. TO THE EDITOR OF THE SOUTH WALES STAR. SIR,-As the official organ of Liberalism in this division, I hope you will grant me a small space in your journal to call attention to the importance of the leaders of the great Liberal party explaining their scheme of Irish Home Rule to the electorate previous to the general election, so that each voter should know what he is voting for. There are various arguments which could be brought forward in favour of this mode of procedure. In the first place, the Home Rule scheme should be explained, so that the Irish Nationalists should see it and pro- nounce their verdict thereon, for according to the G.O.M. himself any Irish scheme must satisfy the inhabitants of the fair Isle. Again, the Irish Bill should be unfolded for the benefit of Liberal candi- dates, for what consistency can there be in asking any person to pledge himself in favour of Glad- stone's Home Rule when no earthly being knows what the said Home Rule means. For it is possible that unless the Home Rule Bill sees the light of day before the election, we may again witness one of those miserable schisms in the Liberal party which occurred in 1888, and which cost us some of the ablest men of the present day. Again, no cause should be given the magnates of the Upper Chamber to reject the message of peace to the Isle of Erin. Therefore, in my opinion, the New Home Rule Bill should be unfolded at once, and the Liberal party say at the same time. Thus far we go and no further," so that if the Irish nation reject the scheme, the Liberal party could then set to work in propounding a thorough labour pro- gramme, a policy which would carry them trium- phantly into power.-I am, &c., Penygraig, Rhondda. DAVID THOMAS. — OGMORE AND GARW LOCAL BOARD. TO THE EDITOR OF THE SOUTH WALES STAR. SIR,—Please insert the following in the next issue of your valuable paper :—I beg to state that I am not the author of, and that I have no connec- tion whatever with, any letter or letters that have appeared in the St a r lately re Ogmore and Garw Local Board. Perhaps you will be good enough, Mr. Editor, to confirm the fact that I have, as yet, never sent you a line on any matter whatever.- Thanking you in anticipation. I remain, yours, &c., MATTHEW OWEN, Superintendent to the Llangeinor School Board. Pontycymmer, Ocbofeer 26,1891. [We readily, though sorrowfully, bear out Mr. Owen's statement tihat he has as yet never contri- buted anything to the Sta,ED. S. IF.<S'.] THE SANITARY CONDITION OF PONTY- PRIDD. TO THE EDITOR OF THE SOUTH WALES STAR. DEAR SIR,-[ am surprised that some of the officials of the IPontypridd Local Board have not taken some stegw to remove the stench, or to order the removal of the filthy refuse which has been allowed to accumulate on the Tramroad Side. Councillor Refoerts is, as a rule, a good member and is not slow to tackle the officials when they have neglected their duty. But why, does not he who must pass this spot once or twice a week bring complaints about it ? He cannot fail to see it, he cannot tf ail to smell it. why, then, is he silent ? Perhaps he will answer through the columns of the Star.—Yours, &c., A. RATEPAYER. PENTYPRIDD LANDLORDS. TO THE EDITOR OF THE SOUTH WALES STA8. You., undoubtedly, know the rent is unneces- sarily high in this town, and the landlords reap a good harvest from the poor tenants who have to pay these rack rents. I am only a poor working man, but I have been living in the house which I now occupy in Jones's terrace for 17 years. During the past few months the rent has been raised 3s. per month but this is not all—I, and several of my neighbours, have received notice to quit without any reason at all. We have been most regular ia «sur ;payments, and have, as far as we know, done nothing to offend the owner or the agent, Mr. J.. J. Evans yet here we are on the verge of bemg-ithrown out of our houses at a time when it is almost impossible to obtain others.- Trusting that you will allow this short note to appear in yoar valuable paper, in order to afford Mr. J. J. Evaaje to give his reason for endeavouring to eject us (if he has any), I am, &c., b ONE OF THE ILL-USED TENANTS.