The South Wales Star

alsop^OABM^D, MKTOL I 0':> E' Barry Agent: Irs. 0. Green, Beer Dealer. PALE 4P^1# ALES, ^ftJSTO^' IX 4I GALLON CASKS FROM 10D. PER GALLON. 2 PORTER AND STOUT FROM Is. PER GALLOX. CARDIFF STORES: 9. WORXIM-STREET. NEWPORT STORES: COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS. CHEPSTOW STORES: BEAUFORT-SQUARE Cadoxton Agents: Sonth "Wales Provision Stores. ¡

BIRTH. O'DONNELL.—ON the 5th iust., at Barry-road, Cadox- ton, the wife of P. J. 0 Donncll, of a daughter (pre- maturely), who survived her birth one hour WADDELL.—On the 31st ult.. at R-omilly-road, Barry, rhe wife of W. Weddell, A.M.I.C.E., of a daughter. DEATHS. Doiisox.—On the 1st inst., George Stephen Dobson, eldest and dearly beloved son of G. and P. W. Dobson, of Penarth. Dobson, of Penarth. PARRY-THOMAS.—On the 1st inst, D. Parry Thomas, of The Sportsman, Pontypridd. RICHARDS.—On the 29th nit., Henry BAohurds, 57, Severn-ro".d. Canton, Cardiff, son of the late Henry Richards, of Hig-hlight Farm, near Barry. HARDING.—On the 3rd inst., at 71, PrinceVstreet, Barry, Augustus, youngest son of the late Joseph Harding, St. Fagau's Mill. aged 36 years. "^tXH55555^557"! CERTIFIED UNDERTAKERS AND COM I PLETE FUNERAL FURNISHERS. | The Best and Cheapest in the District for all f | Classes of Funeral Cars, Hearses, Shell ibicis, jj Mourning Coaches, at Mayne, Hooper & Co, | High-street, Barry; and at 30, Windsor-roacl | Penarth. f, Penarth. f. qa

LEGAL APP OIN T ATE NTS IN WALEsT Two weeks ago the Western Mail announced that Mr. Cecil Beresford, the recently-ap- pointed judge for the Mid-Wales circuit, had been removed to an English circuit, and that Mr. T. W. Lewis, the stipendiary of Cardiff, had been appointed to fill the vacancy in Mid- Wales. Mr. Beresford, for some mysterious reason, wrote to dbny the truth of this state- j ment, and there was much ill-concealed joy in some quarters that a job, for the exposure of which we think we are entitled to some credit, had been suffered to pass uncensured by the Government. It has now been authorita- tively announced that Mr. Beresford has been removed to the Derbyshire circuit, and that a I Welsh-speaking Welshman, Mr. T. W. Lewis, has been appointed in his stead. We have never tried to make party capital out of the question of the due recognition of the Welsh I language in legal and other public appoint- z!l 11 ments in Wales. We have from the first been convinced that Welsh Conservatives would not tamely submit to the ill-advised, unjust, and unjustifiable action of him who has been aptly and truly called the Lord High Jobber. We protested against the appointment of Mr. Cecil Beresford, not because he was a son-in-law of Lord Salisbury. It would be unfair to shut I out anyone from merited promotion simply because of a circumstance over which he had no control, and about which he _1 had not been consulted. Neither' did we object to the appointment because j Mr. Beresford was an Englishman for that also was simply an accident. What we have constantly urged is that a monoglot Englishman, who has not at all events a II, colloquial knowledge of Welsh, cannot even with the best and most honest intentions deal l, fairly with the poorer monoglot Welsh litigants at his court, who are unable to employ a lawyer I to state their case. This is no now contention. His Honour Judge Gwilym Williams has preached this doctrine in season and out of season Mr. Osborne Morgan in 1872 succeeded in getting a resolution passed unanimously by the House of Commons deprecating the appoint- ment of monoglot Englishmen to Welsh judge- ships and the present Lord Chancellor con- ceded the principle by removing an eminent I 'lawyer from the Mid-Wales circuit solely on -the ground of his insufficient knowledge of the Welsh language. We are glad to think that .our confidence in the patriotism of our friends, the Welsh Conservatives, has not been mis- placed, and that they have nobly protested against the recent scandalous job. Our object is not merely a sentimental one, though we fail to understand why Welsh sentiment should I not be considered in such matters. We are j often apt to forget what an important influence 1 has been wielded by sentiment over the destinies ] of the world, and how nations have been made and unmade, how kingdoms have risen and fallen, how dynasties have been served and expelled through the force of mere senti- ment. But though a strong case might be made out against all such appointments on senti- mental grounds, we have preferred to base our t objections to them on more practical reasons. It is not only that Welsh sentiment is ignored, but actual miscarriage of justice has often occurred through the inability of an honest judge to understand the language of the parties to a suit. This the Government has now admitted, and thereby our quarrel with Mr. Cecil Beresford ceases. We leave it toothers, to the Law Time,s and Qther competent authori- J' ties, to decide whether Mr. Beresford's legal standing atid knowledge is sufficient to merit his promotion over older and More experienced » jjien- With his removal from Wales, the 7 & jitter, as far as we are concerned, is at an end i si. m- and we can only hope that this ill-fated appoint- ment will be the last of its kind. We may, in conclusion, be allowed to express our strong hope that a Welsh-speaking Stipendiary will be appointed to Cardiff. Were it our desire, we could easily mention the names of several bar- risters, who by strength of character, legal attainments, and knowledge of Welsh would be qualified to fill the post. It has never been our intention or desire, however, to advance the claims of any individual, and we can therefore only trust that the Government will make a wise selection in appointing a successor to an able, honest, and conscientious magistrate. THE CRISIS IN THE COAL TRADE. In old times, when disagreements broke out between the different nations ofiEurope the chief remedy—and indeed the only remedy-lay in an appeal to force. We are glad to think that civilised nations are at last discarding this bar- barous resource, and are more and more inclined to settle all their disputes by arbitra- tration. The struggle between capital and labour entered upon its warlike stage with the great strikes of the twenties, for strikes may be regarded as the war of industry. For many long and weary years, strikes have been almost the only remedy for industrial disputes. It was a remedy fatal and destructive alike to em- ployers and employed. The course of trade was deranged for years, the employers suffered much loss and inconvenience, and in many cases the men were reduced to the verge of starva- tion. The year 1892 seems to herald the dawn of a brighter and less barbarous era. The year 1891 ended amid gloomy anticipations of an industrial war, as pernicious and as fatal as that of 1874. These anticipations have now fortunately been falsified. An agreement has been arrived at between the representatives of coalowners and of the men, which bids fair not only to end the present dispute but to serve as an exemplar how future disputes should be settled. The age of conciliation and arbitration in industrial disputes has been entered upon. With the advent of better times we have discarded the weapons and the re- sources of a more barbarous age. The rights of the men -are beginning to receive due con- sideration, and employers will find that by taking the men into their confidence, they are the better safe guarding their own interests. We congratulate both masters and men on the amicable arrangement arrived at—especially are the men's representatives deserving of all praise for the conciliatory way in which they have conducted a most delicate negotiation, and we feel that their action in the matter will add to the great confidence which is reposed in them as honest, trustworthy, and moderate men. We can now with firmer hope and faith wash our readers a Happy and Prosperous New Year. THE PAINTERS' STRIKE AT BARRY. Though it is not quite right to say that the lamentable strike among the Barry painters is at an end, it may be said that practically the men have gained their point. It may be well first of all to recapitulate shortly the origin of the dispute. Certain rules were drawn up last spring by the men, which were subscribed to by all the employers in the district, and by the men's re- presentatives. One of the rules provided that for eight weeks immediately before and eight weeks immediately after Christmas, the work- ing hours should. be from 7.30 a.m. to five p.m. The masters wished to have the working hours reduced by half an hour a day, that is, from 7.30 a.m., to 4.30 p.m. The rules, however, provided that, in order to effect any change in the agreement, notice of such alteration must be given on or before January 1st, and if the proposed alteration were mutually agreed upon by both masters and men, the amended rule should come into effect on the 1st day of May following. The masters, entirely ignoring this rule, tried to force the men to accept their amendment of the rules and the men, more on account of the principle that was at stake than for any other reason, unhesitatingly re fused to accept the masters' proposition. Dur- ing the last month several meetings have been held both by the employers and the employed, but there seemed to be but little prospect of a solution of the difficulty. Thanks however to the efforts of Councillor Meggitt and to the strong and growing force of oiKside public opinion, both the parties to the dispute have now consented to submit the case to arbitra- tion. The district owes much to Councillor Meggitt for the public-spirited manner in which he has come forward to bring about an agree- ment. His action in the matter may be only what is due from his position as the chairman of the Local Board and the representative of the district on the. County Council; but, at the same time, it contrasts very favourably with the action of another member of the Local Board, who, after advising the men to unconditionally surrender to the masters' de- roan Is, cynically wished them a happy new yea.r- The final result of the strike is now in the hands of the arbitrator, and we have no wish to prejudice the issue. We may, however, take credit to ourselves for having from the very first endeavoured to act fairly and justly to both sides. This does not mean that we have abstained from expressing an opinion on the merits of the case. We have not waited till Public opinion has indubitably declared itself nor have we abstained from declaring ourselves until it has been shown which is the stronger side and safer party to uphold. We have, in no doubtful terms, declared ourselves from the first moment on the side of truth and justice, and truth and justice are with those who resent the breaking of an agreement which has been subscribed to by employers and employed. I't

LOCAL NOTES. The mysterious death of Moses Lewis, whose body was found in the river Tag at Pontypridd on Christmas Day, has again called attention to the want of all increase of the police force of the town. Until very recently the*Berw-road was the favourite walk from the town, and was one of the most quaint and picturesque places in the district. The combined efforts of the TafE Vale Railway and the builders have, however, done away with its beauty, and the building operations on the road and the opening- out of the colliery district of Ynysybwl have effectually disturbed its repose, the road itself has become one of the streets of the town in eVtory respect but one the police do not, we understand, include it in any of the policemen's beats. The street is certainly one that is deserving of the attention of the police, anddt is probably the knowledge that it is not watched by that body that is gaining for itself the reputation of ia dangerous locality. Many other districts in the town) are in a precisely similar state, and indeed in some of the principal streets of the town it is almost an everyday occurrence to see a fight take place, and last for half an hour or more without the appearance of a policeman upon the scene. Surely it is time that something should be done to increase the number of the force. The Graig Ward division of the Liberal Associa- tion are not idle. On Friday last they selected the Rev. Father smyth, Mr. William Morgan, and Mr. Morgan Jenkin." as candidates for the next Burial Board election. Nothing appears to have been heard of the other local branches of the association. They Mil do well to follow the example of the G-rtf-S Ward, and show that they are watching the Liberal interests 111 the small'as well as in the larger Sections. A meeting of the liberals of what is known as the Graig and Treforest County Council District is to be held at the Catholic Schools, Treforest, on Wednesday, the 14th inst., when Councillor James Roberts will address the meeting and give an account of his stewardship. It would be well if all the representatives on the council followed the good example set by him and Councillor Morgan Thomas (Ferndale), but it is questionable if all would come out from such a test as unscathed as these two gentlemen. Peace and goodwill are essentially connected with Christmas time, but amongst the colliers of Pontypridd and all contacted with them it was this last Christmas a question whether there was to be peace or not. A Metry Christmas" was as usual on the tongue of everyone, but it was with a more than usually serious face, and perhaps a more sincere meaning that it was used this time. Undoubtedly, a great crisis was at hand, and the prolonged conference becVeen colliery owners and the labour representatives on the sliding- scale committee made the time between Christmas Day and the New Year a very anxious one. On New Year's Day the excitement in Pontypridd became intense when it was kUown that although concessions had been made on both sides a settle- ment had not yet been arrived at. It was pain- fully interesting to observe the number who met the late trains in the hopes of hearing good news, and to see the eagerness with tf^ich, after obtain- ing the evening paper, it was Carried to a lamp post to be read by a number of anxious colliers. It was with feelings of deep thankfulness therefore that the news of the settlement of the questions in dispute was received on Friday night, and had the South Walt's Echo, with a report of the ending of the Conference, been for sale at Pontypridd that night, it would have sold for almost any price. Peace having been again restored, we trust and believe that there is in store for the district a prosperous and happy New Year. Questions were raised at most of the collieriers in the district with reference to the signing of the contracts. In all cases the colliers refused to sign the book providing for the deduction from the wages of the workmen for doctor's fund, &c., but as this was not insisted on by the colliery owners, the contracts were generally signed. Work for this reason was practically at a standstill on Tues- day, but was pretty generally resumed on Wednes- day morning. The question of the gas supply in Pontypridd. was before the Chamber of Trade at their meeting on Tuesday night, and, as might be expected, several of the injured tradesmen were Present to give vent to their grievances. The advisability of adopting the electric light system was supported by some. The Chamber ultimately resolved to send a deputation to the Local Board to urge upon them the necessity of considering whether the Board should not undertake the lighting of the town, either by purchase of the gasworks, by electric lighting, or otherwise. There is no doubt that something must be done in the Matter. Upon the question of the Board's purchase of the Gas Works there is likely to be a diversity of opin- son. Some consider that the speculation would net be a profitable one, having regard to the danger of gas being superseded by the electric light. Others consider that the both ways of lighting would succeed and be desirable in the town, electricity being used in the central portion of the town only. At all events, if the Gas Company's undertaking is to be purchased, the present is the time for doing so. A large outlay of capital is needed in order to meet with the public requirements, and if the pur- chase is to be made at all it must be made no^v or left alone, as the value of the undertaking will be very greatly increased if the Company are allowed to complete the required work before purchase. By the Act of Parliament under which the Com- pany were formed, they were given a great monopo- ly. That monopoly having been abused there is no reason why they should have any further rope.

OPEN LETTERS TO WELSH LEADERS OF OPINION. MR. J. BRYN ROBERTS, M.P. No. XX. MY DEAR BBYJT.—Theodore Dodd commences this letter to you with mixed feelings. He likes you very well indeed, he admires you ten times more than he admires most of your colleagues, and, therefore, it gives him no particular pleasure to tell you some home truths. You are, you know, Bryn, and we know too, a very fine fellow, and what is more a very clever one. Aye and H«les has looked on you and esteemed you, and yet, like a certain young man in the Gospel, you have gone, or at least will go, away sorrowful. I won't finish the quotation, for you are a regular attendant at yr ysgol Sul," and the cyfarfod misol," so you can finish it for yourself, and if you are wise ponder over it. I said you were a good fellow and a clever one. This fact Carnarvonshire knows very well. You have risen well, you have gained wealth and honour, and yet your former rivals and competitors are your friends, and not your enemies. In point of family and in social position you belong half to old Wales and half to new. You spring from the old freehold farming class, the backbone of Welsh Liberalism and Methodism, and as you talk Welsh and are a Methodist, many people regard you as a man of the same class at Tom Ellis or Owen Edwards. But, on the other hand, you have, like many another Welshman, your swell relations, though not being a snob you never talk about them in public. You have cousins who are knights, and you have cousins who are deputy-lieutenants, and a blaenor tells me that if (which Heaven forbid) at the last and grand assize you appear in the wrong box, it will be because you love horse and hound, not wisely, but well. The blaenor, however, is not a Gladstonian, and, therefore, you will fear his opinion little. You were known at school as a hard working boy. I am told you would actually work on half holidays. You never went to college, which I think was, on the whole, a misfortune f or you. It was decided that you should be a solicitor, so you were articled in the regular way, and astounded Bangor and Carnarvon by passing head of the whole list of articled clerks examined. This made a great impression, especially in your own denomination. and, as you showed that you did not consider it necessary for the member of a learned profession to be a Churchman, you soon made business as the Nonconformist solicitor of North Wales. Men came to your office, and they found that you knew the law well, and were a shrewd and careful adviser—one to whom nature had given the divine faculty which all lawyers need, but all do not possess, of seeing a case from both sides. As a lawyer you had one disadvantage. You were not a fluent speaker, nor are you now. But your ability triumphed over that difficulty, and the,teaok" and the county-court judges listened to you with respect when they discovered that if neither your delivery or choice of words was perfect, yet you always talked sense and always understood the law. And the more men knew you socially the more they liked you, because they scon discovered that you are at the same time a gentleman and a democrat. I use this last word, my dear Bryn, in its best sense. There are many Liberals in Wales there are few democrats. We are Nationalists, Liberals, Tories, Churchmen, Methodists, Congre- gationalists-most of us snobs. We are all wishing and praying night and day to get to know folks bigger than ourselves. We are all of us ready to be jolly and civil when it suits our pur- pose, to Tom, Dick, or Harry, but we are equally ready to give the said Tom, Dick, or Harry a jolly cold shoulder when we happen to get our friend the Lord Viscount to ourselves in a quiet little corner of the smoking-room at our club. You Bryn (as many a young Methodist preacher, as many a young articled clerk,,will say in your praise when you are gone) are always the same. And so you bear without abuse The grand old name of gentleman, Defalked by every charlatan, And soiled with all ignoble use.. Fame and wealth (not great, but yet sufficient) have come to you, and iyou have deserved them. You have rebuilt your father's old house at Bryn Adda, and it is a fair residence for a county membei. And the woods are green and the pastures wide, By your pleasant homestead there." You are now on the commission of peace for Carnarvon, and you are a useful member, and you are also an Alderman of the Carnarvon County Council. And no squire of the lot of them looks forward more eagerly to a day with the hounds than you do. And after a hard day's hunting you have a pleasant home to which to return, and live at your ease, for you are still a bachelor. Your sister, Miss Roberts, who keeps house for you makes a kind and charming hostess, you have an excellent table, good wine for your friends, and as you drive to Bangor to petty-sessions, and watch the little girls dropping you courtseys, and the small boys raising their hats, I fancy you must often ask yourself "Could the world give me more if it would." Not my dear Bryn that I would wish the readers of the South Wales Sta r to think that you swagger in the least. As I have already said you are too much of a gentleman to do that. But let me tell you that though you are a Methodist and a Liberal you are an' excellent type of a Welsh squire. Respected and trusted by your neighbours, with pleasant surroundings, and living as you do with quiet and comfort you typify the only sort of aristocrat whom Cymru Fyad will endure. Well, would it have been for all our gentry if they had abstained from the lavish waste, from the absurd imitation of (London smartness, from their powdered footmen, from their swell and tedious fashionable guests, that jointly have been the cause of their debts, their mortgages, and their unpopularit^in the land of their fathers. In your own quiet way you have enjoyed life. You shot a little at one time, though I hear you have now given it up. You also play tennis. In truth, you are as I have said, and as Owen Edwards has said in Cyvtru Fgdd, a Nimrod in relation to horse and hounds, and you are, perhaps, the best chess player in the House of Commons. A good old Anglesea rector, a fierce old Tory, too. in his way, once said to a Church defender Just let Bryn alone. He goes in for disestablishment, and that is very wrong, but then he is a good sports- man," and the old man's eyes twinkled as he spoke. And a certain well-known Scotchman, who some- times enlightens and ofttimes bores the House of Commons, remarked, Ah. but if Bryn does not go in for Scotch and Welsh Home Rule, never mind, he plays a good game of chess." You were always a Liberal and a Liberal by conviction. Not that you have studied greatly the political philosophy or history of the past. But you took the world as you found it. and having been taught by the Sunday School to argue and reason, you asked yourself if the old aristocratic and ecclesiastical regime that prevailed in the Wales of your boy- hood suited the country, and your common sense answered the question with an emphatic negative. The Welshman of the chapel was quite as fit, you thought to yourself, to govern the country as the Welshman or non-Welshman of the Church upper ten. But then you were cautious. You easily accepted the principle of disestablishmont, and even swallowed land reform but as a practical man of the world, who knew well the Wales of the sixties and the seventies, you told yourself that things could not be rushed, so that the net result of your thinking and reflecting was that you pinned your faith absolutely to that moderate reformer the G.O.M. You always took a genuine interest in elections, and I am told that, years ago, although a solicitor, you worked out of such pure enthusi- asm that you actually returned your election fee. You were talked of as a Parliamentary candidate for many years before you entered the house; but it was not until '85 that you were elected. You were asked to stand for the southern division of your county, and were elected by a large majority over a popular local squire, Mr. Ellis INanney, a majority which you actually improved in '86. You found that as an M.P. it was difficult to work as a Bangor solicitor soyou sold your business and entered the Bar at Lincoln's} Inn. You practice at the Chancery Bar and go the North Wales Circuit. OIl Circuit you have been very lucky. YOtl got no end of briefs the first time, although every solicitor knew that you were no orator and you also figured on the prisoner's side in the mys- terious case of attempted murder that convulsed the kingdom about a year ago. And the solicitors showed their sense.. You always, somehow or other. Bryn, make a good impression on the judge, as the summing up of the case shows. I think, however, you will do even better at the Chancery Bar. Once upon a time I, Theodore Dodd. strolled into the Chancery Division Court, number one, and heard you arguing a hopeless case before Mr. Justice Chic-ty. All of us who know that Oxford Judge, realise that he is a diffi- cult person even for an experienced counsel with a good case to address he does interrupt you so terribly with his questions and Bryn, he was that pay dead against you; but, all the same, you stuck to your guns, like a man with a firm, deter- mined courage, and you can say that you died with honour. Socially, men at the Bar like you, although you are far too modest a man to assist yourself, when- ever a young junior whom you know feels diffi- culties touching a knotty point—say in a convey- ance—you are always most kind, and you will help him as readily as in days gone by you would assist a rival solicitor at Bangor. In the. House men like you and you get an attentive audience when you speak. Your speech on the Welsh Disestablishment, if somewhat prosy, was excellent in point of argu- ment. Unless you have something to say to the point, however, you hold your tongue but when you have let the Tories do their worst you will say your say. So much. Bryn. for your virtues and successes. Yet, how is it ? You are not popular as a politician, and though we cannot deny your influence, yet the best of the friends of Welsh Nationalism feel that it is an influence for evil. You are miles above the poor crew of the old gang of Welsh Liberals—Samuel Smith, who can- not get the Pope and Ritualists off his brain Dillwyn, the worn-out old Whig; Osborne Morgan, once the hope of the Chancery Bar. now the poor squabbler with the Rector of Brymbo; and Stuart Rendel. the capitalist swell. You are a better man thne these, Bryn. There is better stuff in you, and yet you are not one of us Once morel ask, How is it.' How is it that you have thrown cold water on the idea of a national party ? How is it that you are an opponent of Welsh Home Rule ? How is it that a syllable from that Ritualist squire of Hawarden (whom of course I admire in his own country, and follow there enmme 11 .taut) on the subject of Wales carries more weight with you than a speech from the farmer's son of Cynlas. The fact is, dear Bryn, you are like many other great men of all ages—unable to discern the signs of the times. What that great man Joweit wrote some time ago of the reactionary statesman, will hit you off to a 11 T" in ten years time. When the face of the world is beginning to alter 1 he is. still guided by old maxims, and is the slave of inveterate party prejudices. He cannot per- j ceive the signs of the times; instead of looking forward he looks hack lie learns nothing and forgets nothing with wise saws and modern in- stances he would stem the rising tide of revolu- j tion. He lives more and more within the circle of his own party as the world without him grows stronger. This seems to be the reason why the old order of things makes so poor a figure when confronted with the new, why churches can never reform,, why most political changes are made blindly and convulsively. The fixed ideas of a reactionary statesman may be compared to madness he grows more and more convinced of the truth of his notions as he becomes more isolated, and would rather await the inevitable than in any degree yield to circumstances." Of the old Wales before Methodism you know nothing. You never realise that you belong to a nation, which once had its place amongst the nations of the earth, and negotiated on equal terms with the great powers of Europe. Of the Wales of your boyhood you know a good deal:. but, Bryn, that Wales is passing away. A narrow chapel feeling on one side, a narrower church feeling on the other: squirearchial tyranny from above, bourgeois complaints from below :— that was the past. But that Wales is going after the Wales of Glyndwr. Your own Methodist pulpit might teach you some- thing. Look at Owen Edwards who can write with sympathy and enthusiasm of Bret on Catholicism; fifty years ago the Methodist preacher got all his ideas of the Roman Catholic world from Fox's "Book of Martyers." The men of '68 styled themselves Nonconformist and Liberals, but Tom Ellis is known as a Nationalist, and goes for his inspiration to Thomas Davies. Think of the revival of the Cymmrodorion. Think of the interest now felt in the study of Welsh history. Think how a clever controversialist like the Dean of St. Asaph tries to prove himself a priest of the Celtic Church. John OWim, like your- self, went to the Sunday school, and he knows how to talk to the Welsh farmer. Look again,.and this will appeal to you a.s a practical man how Welshmen of all parties agree that from an educa- tional point of view at least Wales is a nation. Then think once more of the Rhondda and.Mabon, the minstrel and the liberator. Mabon is of the people, bone of their bone, flesh of their flesh, soul of their soul, and he is also an international politician. Mabon is no dreamer. Bryn, no Oxford student, and yet Mabon feels that even he would be powerless unles he said out boldly, Wales, a nation," and sang out in his fine tenor voice the glories, the aspirations, and the possibilities of Hen Wlad fv Nhadau." Bryn, you do not know what nationality is ? You cannot conceive Welshmen ever feeling themselves brothers. You think that a man will always be prouder to dub himself a Liberal or a Tory than a patriot. You do not believe that the spirit which could drive the armies of Napoleon from poor demoralised Spain, which could make Italy one, which safeguards the old home of free- dom. the mountainous Tyrol, would in Wales weigh in the balance against a bill drafted by Sir Wm. Hareourt, or Mr. Schnadhorst. But for the present, while disestablishment is to the fore you are useful, and we will put up with you. After- wards, I grieve to say it, I see the fate of David DLtvies prepared .for you. I -am sorry, Bryn, to say this. You are such a dear good fellow, and we one and all do love you so much, that if you could only be born again, if yon could only make yourself a Welsh patriot, we should rejoice otherwise I fear, with all your ability, and geni- ality, and goodness, we shall have at last to sacri- fice you on the altar of country. But if that day comes you will do it well. The other day I heard a Scotch lassie sing about the Laird of Cockpen, who was proud and great," and whose mind was ta'en up with the affairs of the state." Bryn. hs reminded me of you somewhat, and I fear in 60 years to come that saucy young lady. Miss Eifyon, will act to you as Mistress Jean did to that famous laird. You may besiege her then with all the pamphlets of the Cobdcn Club; you may point out the terrible evils that will ensue from Home Rule when an Independent farmer comes out against a Methodist grocer, and as the result cf the split a Tory solicitor is elected; you may shed tears over the fate of the great English Liberal party which may possibly lose the support of some Welsh members when Wales' grievances are redressed, and you may try to show that in some mysterious way that it is the interest of the Welsh Dissenter that the sons and daughters of Wales should not be masters and mistresses in the land of their fathers. You will try hard I doubt not, and you will expect to win, but with you as with your prototype of Cockpen. Amazed was the Laird when the lady said na, And with a proud conrtsey she turned awa." And like him you will take it well. Dumfounder'd was he, but no sign did he gie." He mounted his mare, and he rode cannily, And often he thought as he rode down the Glen She was daft to refuse the Laird of Cockpen." Well Bryn I have warned you, and prophesied your fate, but I fear it will be useless. Like Phillip De Commines who wrote a charming book of memoirs on the age before the reformation, and never expected the great religious catastrophe that was at hand, and wrote as if the petty.dynastic feuds of Burgundy and France would last for ever like Frederick the Great who knew Yoltaite, and made Prussia, but died in 1787 never dreaming that the French revolution was at hand, so I fear you will never open your eyes until it is too late. Still I have warned you. Well, this I will say in conclusion that a nobler friend or opponent no man or party could desire. You are a man of whom Wales in general, and the bar, and Nonconformity of Wales in particular may well be proud. So with a cordial shake of the hand dear old fellow. Believe me. vour true but sorrowful friend, THEODORE DODD. Next week Theodore Dodd will address an Open Letter to Mr. L. L. DILLWYN, M.P.

PENARTH POLICE COURT. MONDAY.—Before Mr. J. S. Corbett, chairman Mr. James Ware, and Mr. Duncan. VAGRANTS AT PENAUTK. — Two Irishmen t Kelly and Wilson, both marine firemen, who had walked from Swansea since Friday, were brought up in custody charged with being found sleeping in a shed belonging to Mr. Williams at Penarth at two o'clock on Sunday morning. Police-constable Charles Brown said he found matches upon Kelly. The sleeping out nuisance was becoming very great at Penarth. The men were discharged with a caution. '■BEGINNING THE NEW YEAr. IX A VERY BAD WAY."—Henry Shepherd pleaded guilty to being drunk and disorderly at Penarth on New Year's Day. Police-constable Henry Headen proved the case, and Mr. Corbett remarked that defendant was beginning the New year in & very bad way. Fined 5s. DKUNK AND ASSAULTING THE POLICE.—Geo. Rees, a carpenter, was charged by Police-constable Thomas Ford with the above offences at Penarth on Christmas Day. Mr. T. H. Belcher, solicitor, Cardiff and Penarth, defended. Evidence having been given on bodh sides, defendant was fined 5s. and costs for drunkenness, but the charge of as- sault was dismissed. y

FOLLICK'S is the Best Shop for Jewellery. Splendid assortment and at all prices. Corner of Barry-road and Main-street.—Advt.. "Fd.h'

IN AND AROUND BARRY. The Local Board meeting on Tuesday was really an enjoyable one. I don't know exactly why it was so. Mr. George Thomas cast a halo of re- spectability over the whole Board, it is true; but then those sidewhiskers have adorned the meetings ) for some time now. Mr. W. Thomas, of Vere- street, was as sweet as sugarcandy. but then so he always is-always saying such pleasant, things, and smoothing roughnesses, and making straight the crooked. General Lee was as careful as ever of the interests of the health of the district; Mr. John Cory was laconic, curt, and to the point Mr. Meggitt was as adroit as ever in steering public business in a treacherous sea Mr. Barstow struggled bravely, but vainly to resist the 'over- powering fear of the Economist of Vere-street, and to express his own opinions and Mr. W. Thomas, of Sully, was as keen, and wary, and self-, possessed as ever. But then we are used to all this. We missed moreover the Sultanic poise- of Dr. Treharne, and the kindly brogue of Dr. O'Donnell. How was it, one is compelled to ask, that the meeting was still so enjoyable ? We had no scenes" of any moment; no very cutting thiligs were said: no very important matters were decided upon but still the meeting was most interesting. The only reason I can assign to this ludicrous fact is that it was at last discovered that. Mr. Jewel Williams had a decided opinion on a subject, I think this discovery merits a fresh paragraph. If the chief would allow me I would publish it in leaded bourgeois, but, as "sual, he prefers his own dull reflections to such startling discoveries as I am continually making. Mr. Jewel Williams' opinion is not an epoch making one. Mr. Williams has no very decided views on the question of dividing, the district into wards. In fact, he will do as the ratepayers decide. He doesn't know erectly what to make of the correspondence between Mr. Meggitt and Mr. Jones-Lloyd, for he hasn't read it all. (I think he should, though. It is most instructive. It shows what nasty things can be said in polite language. Talk about Billings- gate Commend me to the correct Attic of the ¡ Chairman of the Local Board, or the somewhat coarser Doric of the Secretary of the Ratepayers' ¡ Association). Neither had Mr. Williams any de- cided views on the subject of flushing apparatus. It was true. he explained, that he had promised to I second Mr. W. Thomas of Vere-street's motion on the subject, but he had since changed his mind, as the motion would rescind a bye-law—and a cautious and a Conservative man is Mr. Williams. No Mr. Williams held an opinion which, I am bound, to say, is more startling than any of these, and. which I can hardly bring myself to believe is well. founded. He surprised the whole Board by saying that the Clerk smiled Everyone was shocked.; everyone was amazed It was incredible. All looked at the Clerk, who was pallid, either through excitement or through the effects of influenza, but who certainly was not then smiling. Indeed, no one seemed to be more surprised at Mr. Williams's remark than the Clerk himself. Mr. Williams, noticing the general incredulity, explained that it was a fleeting smile. And all the Board mourned thereat, and despatched messengers to catch it, but the smile, like Prince Arthur, has not since come back, and the Clerk, like a certain English king, has never smiled again. The latest intelligence that has reached me says that the Clerk has been spend- ing hours in the seclusion of his private office, with locked doors, and with strict orders that he is not to be disturbed. I am told with the best authority, that he is doing his best to manufacture another smile, which will be ready for the next meeting of the Board. The Chairman proposed a resolution which would commit the Board to an expression of opinion as to the desirability of dividing- the district into wards. The resolution was seconded by Mr. J. Robinson. I don't think it would have been well to pass such a resolution without first ascertaining the wishes of the ratepayers of the district, and I was therefore glad to see the motion withdrawn, and an amendment carried, to convene a public meeting of ratepayers to consider the subject. I think the Chairman distinctly scored by explaining how it was that the meeting, which was requisitioned by certain ratepayers, and which was determined to be called at the last meeting of the Board, was not convened. It seems to me that the action of Mr. Jones-Lloyd in the matter was, to say the least, hasty. I don't think the Chairman, how- ever, was so well advised in taking notice of the anonymous letters which have recently appeared. The letters in question speak ior themselves, and as long as the anonymity of the author or authors is preserved they are below the notice of a public man holding such a responsible position as the Chairman of the Local Board. Everyone who knows anything of the matter knows that the action of the Chairman has been perfectly honest and weH-meaning and all who did not hitherto know it can easily understand from his remarks on Tuesday why it was that Mr. Meggitt acted as he did, and that he was not only j ustified, but per- fectly right in doing so. I regret very much that the question of dividing the district into wards should be in danger of being turned into an electioneering cry. I believe that one and all of the members of the Board are quite willing that the division should take place, and it is palpably absurd to say that the chairman was actuated by selfish motives in his dealings with Mr. Jones-Lloyd. Even if a public meeting had been called a month ago. and the division of the district had been decided upon. it could not take place till next October at the very earliest, that is, six months after the next Local Board election. As a matter ■ of fact, it is doubtful whether the town is yet J sufficiently settled to admit of anything like a final division into wards. I think, however, that there are many reasons why the district should be so divided, the foremost of them being than an important district like Barry Dock is, under the present system, altogether unrepresented on the Board. Mr. W. Thomas, of Vere-street. was in gieat form. He enjoys the distinction of knowing more about water-closets than any other man on the Board. He has collected information on this sub- ject, at great personal trouble and some expense in the form of stamped envelopes, some of which have never been returned, from Cardiff, Swansea, "and other towns. I have never heard him so eloquent. It was really a treat to hear him de- nounce the flushing apparatus, which he called an annuity to plumbers and an annoyance to house- holders." He therefore begged to move that the byelaw referring to these should be rescinded. The Clerk said that before any alteration could be made in the byelaws the Board must get the con- sent of the Local Government Board, and that the whole of the byelaws must be submitted at the same time for approval. This was not what the Economist wanted. He therefore begged to alter his proposition, and moved that the section of the byelaws referring to the matter be not enforced. Mr. George Thomas seconded, but again the Clerk declared that it was illegal to pass a resolution stultifying any of the byelaws, and the amended motion, amid the covert smiles of Mr. Barstow, had to be withdrawn. Mr. Thomas had one consolation left. Mr. George Thomas had at last recognised the weighty influ- ence of Mr. W. Thomas, of Vere-street, and had seconded his motion. The Economist beamed benevolently on Mr. George Thomas' whiskers, and Mr. Barstow, jealously watching these symptoms, growled out something about trying to save £5 a house. Presently Mr. George Thomas put out his hand across the table to reach a sheet of blotting paper. The Economist, violently blushing and thinking that this was only a further indication of Mr. George Thomas' growing friendliness, eagerly grasped the outstretched hand and warmly shook it. And the whole Board talked of peace and good- will, and Mr. George Thomas looked as if he couldn't make it all out. General Lee deserves the warmest thanks of the ratepayers for the interest, he has taken in the future of Cadoxton Common, and in trying to pro- vide a breathing place for the inhabitants of Barry Dock. It has now been defmitety decided to convene a meeting of Commoners, and ask them to forego their useless rights on con- dition that the Lady of the Manor is will- ing to close the same. Hbw useless these rights are will be evident to all who have visited Cadoxton Common. Unless one were told otherwise, it would appear to be nothing but. a ploughing-neld. It is being constantly encroached upon and cut up, simply because there seems to be no cue who has the power to prevent it. It would be much better if it were properly kept and laid out as a pleasure ground. I hope the Commoners will recognise that by foregoing rights, which are now practically valueless they will be serving not only the interests of the people, but their own best interests as well. The Trailr Unioiii-t is an excellent paper in many ways, but its Welsh is not its best feature. One hears a lot about Welsh orthography in these days, but it has been left to the Ito start an entirely new and startling style of Welsh orthography. The poor old Dafydd ap Gwilym Society has been much belaboured because its members tried to introduce a strange orthography; but the Dafydd ap Gwilym scheme is nothing compared to the Cnion- iat'x. Mr. T. Thomas, of the South Wtd«* Star composing staff, has a vigorous letter in last week's issue protesting against the mangled and mis-spelt Welsh. The editor has humourously placed the letter immediately below the Welsh column, under the heading, "But we've turned over a new leaf since then." The following ex- tract wili exemplify the greatness of the change. Y mae dyled arnon, yn y lie cyntaf, i ofyn mad- denant ein darlenwyr i obyggdd y Trad" I niottist o herwydd ei amryfusedd yr wythnos o'r blaen yn Cvhoeddi Uythyr tra yn anwybodus o'i ggnnwpsi&d, ac heb sicrhau addasrwydd yr ieithweddau na chywirdeb yr orgraph; y cunlyniad fu, fody llythyr wrdi gunenthur ei ymddaughosiad meun gwisg annhrcfnus." This is but a mild specimen, and I will only echo the remark of the Welsh editor that there is nothing which gives so much pain to the patriotic and cultured Welshman as to see his dear old language unfairly treated."

THE BARRY PAINTERS' STRIKE. MASTERS CONSENT TO ARBITRATION. TEE FIRST STEP TO VICTORY. The first stand up fight amongst employers and employed in any section of the building trade in the Barry district is coming to an end, the men on strike in the local painters' dispute being promised, we are. proud to state, a most creditable victory. The points in dispute between them and the master painters of the locality are by this time very well known, suffice it to say, that the strikers, thanks to the timely interposition: of Councillor J. C. Meggitt, the chairman cf the Barry and Cadoxton Local Board,, recently made an offer to their employers, viz.-to submit the whole case to arbitration. For a period the employers attempted to wriggle out of this blunt offer, and adopted 1 several tactical moves with a view of shirking the main issue. Notwithstanding these various acts of diplomacy, public opinion in favour of the men soon reached such a point that it became at once apparent that unless they surrendered their stub- born attitude, and consented to have both sides of the dispute laid fairly and unreservedly before some impartial and independent person, who would act as arbitrator, they underwent the probability of being forced to give response to the voice of reason in a more unpleasant manner. It was admitted on all hands that the crucial stage in the deplor- able dispute would be reached on Wednesday night, when the employers were to hold a meet- ing to give a final and decisive answer to the point-blank question placed before their con- sideration by not only the strikers them- selves, but by a large and enthusiastic meeting, representative of all shades of public opinion, which was held at the Cadoxton Public Hall on Saturday night last. Accordingly, on Wednesday evening at the Barry Dock Hotel, the Barry District Master Painters' Association m( t, when the following employers were present :—Messrs.*A. W. Morgan (chairman).F W.Taylor, I. T. Dando, T. H. Morgan, J. Eavenhill, J.Wiiliams. E. J. Roberts, D. Edmonds H. R. Paull, and W. Dando. It will be seen, there- fore. that the meeting was fully attended, and most representative. The proceedings were strictly private, as our reporter discovered when he essayed to gain admission, but was informed that a resolu- tion would be arrived at by about half-past nine o'clock. At ten minutes to ten there were still no prospects of an understanding being arrived at between the employers, so it was evident that there were differences of opinion in existence, some expressing their determination to act firmly, while others, prominent among whom was Mr. F. W. Taylor, sought to induce the meeting to decide to allow the whole matter to be settled by adopting' conciliatory measures and permitting the question of the working hours, as desired by the men. to be decided upon by arbitration. At ten o'clock the reporters were admitted and informed that the fol- lowing resolution had been unanimously arrived a' YIZ. That the offer of arbitration, as per letter of January f 4th, be accepted, or as an alternative, the previous compromise of continuing work on and till five o'clock come into operation OK January 18th, be again offered, and in the e vent of arbitration being adopted, to re- quest the men to arrange to agree on an arbitrator, so as to eftect an immediate settlement. Comparing this decision with the expressed de- sire of the men, as contained in the resolution passed at the public meeting last Saturday, it will be seen that the iirst step to victory kas been reached by the workmen, and that the course of trades' unionism in the district is being given a splendid impetus. ATTITUDE OF THE MEN. The men had a meeting on Thursday morning at the Witchill Hotel, and appointed three from, amongst themselves to meet three of the employers to select an arbitrator.

SAD FATALITY AT CADOX- TON STATION, A YOUNG SAILOR KILLED. At the Cadoxton Railway Station on Wednesday evening, a serious accident, unfortunately "attended with fatal results, befel b, young Swedish sailor named Peter Karllsen, of the barque Beda," (captain, J. V. Holmqvist,) of Lanskrona, Sweden, now lying at Barry Dock. It appears that the deceased, who was about 22 years of age. and a fine, well-built, manly-fellow, over six feet high, with two shipmates, had. during the afternoon, walked up from Barry Dock to Cadoxton for the purpose of making- some purchases. After having com- pleted this business they preceded shortly before six o'clock to the Cadoxton Railway Station for the purpose of catching the down train then about due for Barry Dock. On arriving at the station they discovered that the train was already in, and in order to get to it, ought to have pro- ceeded to the I other side' by means of the subway. UnfOTtunately, in order not to risk losing the train, Karllscn, and at least one of his friends named Watros Svensen jumped from the platform on to the line with the intention of crossing that way so as to save time. A mineral train was at the very moment passing through the station in the direction of Havod and dashed Into the two men, Karl 1 sen being struck against the head and hurled a distance of several feet. Death was almost instantaneous, a complete fracture of the skull being sustained. Svcmen, fortunately only suffered slight bruises on the face and arm, his injuries being most trifling. From the fact of the deceased having been struck on the left side of the head, it is evident that when he jumped on to the line lie heard the train ap- proaching and turning, was at once dashed down as mentioned. The body was at once removed to the waiting-room, Dr. Treharne who resides a few hundred yards away being immediately sent for. His assistancee, un- fortunately, was unnecessary, as the deceased had expired. The body was subsequently removed to the stables at the Wenuoe Arms Hotel to await an inquesc. A painful scene was witnessed at the station on the body being removed to the waiting room, the deceased's companions being completely overcome with grief, and appearing quite dazed at the thought that their shipmate had been suddenly taken from them. Sad as it is, this fatality only more prominently brings before the public notice the extreme danger of crossing the line at this station to get to the down platform. It will be p at, within recollection that several months ago a man had one of his legs cut off, through attempt- ing to cross the line in the method indicated. In justice, however, to the station officials, it should be said that so far as lies in their power they sternly prevent all passengers crossing by any other means than the subway.

SERIOUS FIRE NEAR BARRY. A VILLA RESIDENCE DESTROYED. At an early hour on Sunday -morning a villa residence, situate on4 General Lee's Estate, at Brynhill, near Barry, was totally destroyed by fire. The house, which had been unoccupied for some time, was between six and seven o'clock on Sunday morning, observed to be in'names by the caretaker, Mr. S. Emery, a carpenter at Wen- I voe Castle, who lives close by. Emery at once sent for the police, and Inspector Rees, Acting- sergeant William Gammon, and police-constables Stephen Davies, and David Roberts soon arrived. Comparatively nothing, however, could be done, as the fire had taken firm hold of the building, and there was neither a hydrant nor a supply of water near. It is probable that the fire was caused either by an incendiary or accidentally ignited by some person or persons who may have entered the building to sleep fer the night. The damage is estimated at £ 400 at least. The pro- perty burned down was known as Woodland YilIa, near Brynhill, and is situaie oh General Lee's estate. It was owned by Mr. Henry Adams, builder, Barry.

"LEWIS'S PECTORAL BALSAM did me A wonder- ful amount of good, It relieved my cough instantly -Is. UJ. per bottle. No MOUI2 GKAY HAIR OR BALD HEADS.—BEE the People's; Fireside Journal, this week. All news- agents, Id.; post free, 2d., from 59, Newman-street, London W.