Merthyr Times and Dowlais Times and Aberdare Echo

Situations TOlanteb, &c. TO LET.—Eleven-roomed House.—Apply for particulars, &c., to Caedraw Factory, Merthyr. [3461 TO LET.—House in Thomastown, Merthyr. Rent £ 20. Immediate possession.—Apply A," Times Office. [3601 -WANTED, Smart Active Lad, aged about 16 TV years.—Apply MB. IhLL, Belle Vue Hotel, Merthyr. APARTMENTS.—For single gentleman, or two young men to live together. Excellent cooking. —Apply 30, Thomas-street. [3483 COMFORT ABLY-Furnished Front Sitting and C Bedroom for one or two gentlemen. No chil- dren.—Apply BRYNAMLWG, Rees-street, Merthyr. [3460 A" CCOUNTANCY Contracts entered into for Systematically Keeping, Balancing, and Auditing Tradesmen's Books. Accounts collected. Terms strictly moderate.—" A," Times Office, Merthyr.[3471 RADESMEN'S Books Balanced or Posted by Experienced Accountants, in Merthyr or district moderate terms. — Address, ACCOUNTANT, Constitutional Club, Merthyr. [3470 OR SALE, TWENTY fully-paid up SHARES in Messrs. Bevan and Co.'s, The Cardiff, New- port, and Pontypool Furnishers.—Apply X., Times Office, Merthyr. LOST, on September 23rd last, a light brown;Irish Terrier dog pup. Whoever will bring the same to S. POWELL, Rose Cottage, Albert-street, Merthyr, will be rewarded. Dptainer prosecuted. LOST, since the 21st instant, from Pant, Dovvlais, Bay Gelding, about 14.3 black points head collar on finder rewarded.—Apply Police-station, Dowlais. [3605 CJHORT NOTICE.—Mr. Tom Howells will Sell by Public Auction to-morrow (Friday), the 8th inst., at the Red Lion Inn, Castle-street, Glebeland, Merthvr Tydn). a large quantity of HOUSEHOLD FURNITURE and other effects. Sale to commence at 2 p. m. LOST from A bercanaid, October 1st, a YELLOW ROUGH GREYHOUND, about 26 inches in height, wound on the right side, one of the front teeth broken.—Owner, ISAIAH DAVIES, 1, Canal-row, Abercanaid. Finder will be rewarded. I EMPLOYMENT Required by Young Man (25), Ll willing to work and make himself useful in any capacity.—Apply B," Times Office. THE DISTILLERS Co., LTD., EDINBURGH The Largest Distillers in the World, want everyone to try their Celebrated D.C.L." YEAST. Try it for Loaf Bread, and all sorts of Fancy Cakes. Book of Instructions with many useful and novel recipes and Sample sent on receipt of four stamps. Ask for" D.C.L. Yeast, and we are sure you will be delighted with it. More Agents Wanted. [3063 ATCHWORK. Patchwork. Patchwork.—Agents P wanted. Ladies, Families, and others to try our parcels, containing about 200 assorted pieces of beautiful prints, suitable tor aprons, cushions, quilts. One sample parcel, Is. 6d. two, 2s. 6d.; four, 4s. 9d. carriage paid. Also velvets, silks, satins, &c., one parcel, 2s. 6d. two, 4s. 6d.; four, 6s. 3d.- J. BLACK, 71, Buriington-street, Manchester. J- S YOUR MEMORY RELIABLE? If it is you do not require to l)e reminded that you should always ask for D.C.L." YEAST. The finest bread, sweet, nourishing, and of enticing appearance can be produced by using this Celebrated Yeast. Pretty cea cakes of many kinds and fruit cakes can also be made. A little book of recipes will be sent on application. Sample sent on receipt of Four Stamps.—Sole Manu- facturers, THE DISTILLERS CO., LTD., Edinburgh The Largest Distillers in the World. 063 THE Inhabitants will be glad to hear that Pro- fessor Desmane, the Specialist on all com- plaints, has decided to stay in the district altogether, and will give advice free of charge. Head address :— Merthyr: The Dispensary, Westbourne-place, Ply- mouth-road. Tuesdays and Sundays all Day, and until Noon other Days. Dowlais: Merthyrand DowlaisCoffee Tavern, Mondays, 3 until 9 p.m. Pontypridd City Coffee Tavern, High-street, near Station Gates. Wed- nesdays, 3 until 8.30 p.m. Aberdare Davies' Eat- ing House, 2, Market-street. Thursdays, 3 until 9 D.m. Treharris: 33, Perrot-street, near Railway Station. Fridays, 2 until 8 p.m. Times and places as usual. Teeth Extracted, 3d. each. [157-9 MONEY.—If you want it promptly, privately, and at a low rate of interest on your simple promissory notes with or without sureties, apply immediately, enclosing stamped envelope, to Mr. W. P. Thomas, 20, Market-street, Abertillery, or to Rimer and Co., the Don, Aberdare Junction. Special features :—No inquiry fees; reasonable interest which is quoted beforehand universal promptitud?, a day's notice being generally sufficient; no oppression of honest and solvent clients. The Carlton Bank, Ld., for whom Mr. Thomas is Branch Manager, has been established 10 years, and has a capital of £ 30,000, consequently no genuine and respectable application n ever refused. [2876 Country Gentlemen should not fnil to obtain a copy of the "COUNTRY GENTLEMEN'S CATALOGUE. It IS the handiest and most useful book published. Everything you want is there. Cloth, 3s. 6d. 1 aper boards, 2s. 6d. post free. EDEN FISHER & Co., 6, 7, and 8, Clement's Lane, E.C., and all booksellers andbookstalls. [2933 auctions. ON TUESDAY AND THURSDAY,November 12th & 14th 1895, Commencing at Two o'clock precisely each day, IMPORTANT TO PARTIES FURNISHING. MESSRS. J. G. MADDOX & SON WILL SELL BY PUBLIC AUCTION, at their AUCTION ROOMS, 25, DUKE-STREET, CARDIFF, on the above dates, an immense assemblage of very superior HOUSEHOLD FURNITURE (Removed from various residences for absolute sale) including 6 Hardwood Bedroom Suites complete, 6ft and 4ft. Wardrobes, Pairs of Handsome Toilets, Iron and Brass Bedsteads, several excellent Carpets, Fenders, Brasses, 5 excellent Dining and Drawing-room Sui tes, Rosewood and Walnut Cabinets, 6ft. and 5ft. Side- boards, Bookcases, Dining and Occasional Tables, Walnut, and Gilt Overmantels etc., etc., in all about 400 lots. On view morning of each day of sale. Arrangements made to pack and forward all goods purchased by country buyers. Established 1860. [2840 Market Hall, Merthyr. SALE OF CHINA & EARTHENWARE. MR. W. WILLIAMS Is instructed by Mr. T. BRIAN, of Melbourne Works, Longton, Staff, TO SELL BY PUBLIC AUCTION, On MONDAY, NOVEMBER 4th, 1895, AND FOLLOWING DAYS, A Large and well assorted Stock of CHINA & EARTHENWARE. SALE EACH EVENING AT 7 P.M. Goods on view each day of Sale. Inspection iuvited. [3599 public announcements. MARKET SQUARE CHURCH. NEXT SUNDAY, NOVEMBER IOTII. PREACHER—REV. J. G. JAMES. Morning Subject.—" Is Saul also among the Prophets ? Evening Subject.—" Is life worth living ?" High-street Baptist Chapel. ANNIVERSARY ON SUNDAY NEXT, November 10th, 1895. Preacher.-REV. JAMES OWEN, of Swansea. ul Services at 11 a.m. and Six p.m. Collections for hurch funds. Afternoon at 2.15. Young children's s irvice. NEW QPEltA JJOUSE, MERTHYR. Sole Lessee and Manager.MR. WILL SMITHSON. Special Engagement for Six Nights only, r9on}" mencing November 11th, of Mr. "Beerbolnn Trees No. 1 Company from the Hayniarket Theatre, London, under the direction of Messrs. H. Yardley and J. Hartleigh, the success of the London season, A BUNCH OF VIOLETS. A BUNCH OF VIOLETS-A Fragrant Name Enshrouding a Domestic Tragedy. A HUNCH OF VIOLETS—The Emblem of the one Unselfish Love in a Bad Man's Love. A BUNClt OF VIOLETS—The gage of Battle between the Adventuress and her Victims. A BUNCH OF VIOLETS—Purple Flowers of Fate which Dominate a Life. A BUNCH OF VIOLETS—A Last Mistake as they fall from Stiffening Fingers. NOVEMBER 18m The Work Girl. Interesting selections of Music every evening by the Orchestra, under the conductorship of Mr. Carlisle. Usual time and Prices. fJlHEATRE JJOYAL, c ARDIFF. LESSEE & MANAGKR, MR. EDWARD FLETCHER. TO-NIGHT, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6th, 1895. for positively Three Nights, and by Special Desire, TWO GRAND MORNING PERFORMANCES THURSDAY & SATURDAY, NOV. 7th and 9th. Doors open at 1, to commence at 2. Instantaneous Success and most Enthusiastic Recep- tion in Cardiff since his Fifth Successful Tour in America, of MR. WILSON BARRETT AND HIS CELEBRATED COMPANY IN THE SIGN OF THE CROSS. MONDAY NIGHT, NOV. 11th, FOR SIX NIGHTS AND ONE MATINEE, THE NO. 1 COMPANY, In the Greatest Musical Play of the Period, THE SHOP GIRL. GRAND THEATRE, CARDIFF. LESSEE & MANAGER.MR. CLARENCE SOUNES. THE PREMIER THEATRE OF WALES. FRIDAY Delighted audience and grand November 8th, reception of GRAND Hardie and Von Leer's Company FASHIONABLE in the elaborate production of NIGHT, under the patron- THE FAST MAIL. age and presence The S eimboat Explosion of the Mayor, Flight of the Fast Mail P. W. Carey, Niagara Falls by Moonlight Esq., J.P. A pronounced success. MONDAY NEXT, NOVEMBER 11TH.—The latest highly successful Farcical Comedy, THE PASSPORT, from Terry's and Duke of York's Theatre, London. Box Office at the Theatre from 10 to 4. Tel. 725 (Nat.). Doors open at 7 commence 7.3b. Prices from 6d. to JB1 Is.

NOTES AND COMMENTS. THE Goleuad has originated a quarrel which has at least the merit of being lively and amusing. Some weeks ago it brought a charge of some im- port against Mr. Lloyd George. It accused him of being the cause of the late Government's down- fall. On the other hand, it lauded Mr. Bryn Roberts to the skies. Mr. Bryn Roberts had not destroyed any Government. He was not the man to do anything so wicked. In fact, he was not a man to do anything at all. Now the Goleuad is the Methodist organ, and Mr. Bryn Roberts is a Methodist deacon. Those facts may explain matters to some extent. But Mr. Lloyd George is not altogether without defenders. He is liand-in-glove with the Carnarvon editors, and they massacre and slaughter the Goleuad with- out mercy. The Cymro looks on with undisguised contempt, and pokes fun at everybody all round. On the whole, the attitude of the Cymro is the most rational one. The Baptist organ is the Sercn, which twinkles down its blessing on Mr. George, and goes for the t, r I Goleuad. That, too, is as it ought to be, and ex- ceedingly funny. The Bauer has now brought its heavy artillery to the field, aiming its shots at Mr. D. A. Thomas. The responsibility for the Rose- bery Government's downfall, says the Bauer, belongs not to Mr. Lloyd George, but to our Senior Member. And so the merriment goes on. By and bye all Welsh M.P.'s will be dragged into this diverting quarrel. We in this constituency should congratulate ourselves that at least one of our members has not yet been snapped into the whirlpool, though there is no knowing when his turn may come. The matter does not deserve serious treatment. What is at the root of it all is sectarianism. The Goleaud^ jeremiads will do Mr. George no harm. He is saved by the very poison of the arrows hurled at him. If anybody is damaged it will be Mr. Bryn Roberts. The curses of the Goleuad will go home to roost. Meanwhile the M.P.'s have their vanity gratified at a time when they did not expect it, and the public are hugely amused.

WAS the ancient custom of Sin-eating ever pre- valent in Wales ? The Sin-eater was one who ate the sins of a dead man, and so delivered his soul from purgatory. The practice seems to have varied in its details. Mr. Matthew Mogg- lidgc, in 1852, described to the Cambrian Archaeological Society what he alleged to be done within the memory of people then living in the neighbourhood of Llandebie, in Carmarthenshire. The Sin-eater, he says, placed a quantity of salt on the bosom of the dead man, and a small piece of bread on the salt. Then, with loud lamentations, lie ate the piece of bread, and so took into himself, as it were, all the sins of the deceased. The sum of half-a-crown was given him by the mourning relatives, and he ran away as soon as he could out of sight, for he was hated by all, and looked upon as a lost man. Is Moggridge's story to be relied upon ? At the recent meetings of the British Association it was recounted by Mr. Sidney Hartland, who based upon it his statement as to the prevalence of the custom in parts of Wales within the present cen- tury. The Cymro, in an erudite and interesting article on the question, adduces some facts to show that Moggridge was wrong. There was published in Carmarthen, some dozen miles from Llandebie, in the year 1823, a book containing a collection of Welsh superstitions. This book, called Hynafion Cymreig," has not a word about Sin-eating. Had the custom, as Moggridge alleged, been in existence it would certainly have been mentioned in the Hynafion." It is almost impossible to escape the conclusion that Moggridge was misinformed, and that Hartland's theory therefore falls to the ground. Then we have this further fact the custom is not mentioned in any Welsh literature that is extant. The poets do not refer to it, nor is there a syllable about it in any text-book of antiquities or collections of superstitions and folk-lore. This unbroken silence can only be explained by the absence of the practice in the country.

ABERDARE NOTES. [By ARGUS]. There is no accounting for the vagaries of the season. On Tuesday a fine specimen of the butterfly was seen flying about the Police-court. We suppose that if this butterfly was seen at the present time of the year at some of the seaside resorts we should have columns of pars in the press about the extraordinary occurrence." After the current rate, the Aberdare Park will be free." Tommy Atkins" has sent me growl No. 2 :— Dear Argus,—As you might imagine, the wet weather has not in any way conduced towards the beautifyingof David Price-street. In tact the thorough- fare is like a ploughed field, and a man sarcastic- ally asked me the other day whether the inhabitants intended planting potatoes or cabbages there When, oh When will the District Council attend to this benighted thoroughfare? The controversy respecting the 25-mile cycling championship still goes on. That the N.C.U. have not acted fairly in revoking Mr. R. H. Pugh's licence is generally admitted throughout this district, and an old cyclist," writing to an evening contem- porary, says that he is very much surprised at the decision of the N.C.U. To sum up the whole busi- ness, the committee may safely use the old adage, We strain at ? gnat and swallow a camel." Mr. R. H. Pugh informed me the other day that he would soon be ready with proofs to sutistantiate his charges of professionalism against several promi- nent cyclists. We have received a copy of the Aberaman Parish Magazine" for November. It is a neat little periodical, published by Mr. George Eynon, Aberdare. In addi- tion to the local news of the parish, there are very readable articles on Our Dumb Dependents," Missionary Work," &c., as well as a serial tale. There was a rather amusing incident at the Empire the other evening. Mr. Howard, the clairvoyant, was asked to describe a certain article belonging to an occupant of one of the seats in the gallery. "It is a ring," he ejaculated. Right; what kind of ring?" Eighteen carat brass." The laughter that ensued fairly shook the building. It would be well if a certain class of young men were to be more discreet in their langauge when fre- quenting our football fields. There was a squad of these foul-mouthed folk at Caesmith on Saturday, and their language was enough to stagger the army in Flanders. Some young men positively revel in beastly language. The visit of the lady footballers to Aberdare aroused the liveliest interest in the town. I cannot do better than quote the following from the Cardiff Evening Express Ah, ha ah, ha what have we here? The lady footballers oh, dear; Run, run for mercy's sake to spy, They're coining, coming! oh, my eye What splendid creatures it would seem So nice in an opposing team To meet these champions it should vex To think they give the other sex No chance in these encounters Man as yet they meet not, though to scan Their fair proportions one might say, They'd be victorious in the play." By the way, it is interesting to note that the lady footballers number 22. They have a manager, Mr. A. Hewitt Smith, who attends to the bill-posting, &c., which are matters that the ladies cannot very well attend to. Miss Honeyball, the secretary, is ill but Miss Allen acts as secretary pro tem. The ladies have all rosy faces, plump figures, and look the very picture ot health. One of the ladies is known as Tommy she is a sweet-faced, curly-haired little maid, End a very good exponent of the game. Tommy," whose real name is May Hudson, is only 14 years of age. Mr. R. Jones, secretary to the Llandudno Eis- teddfod, has just compiled an interesting synopsis of the expenditure and receipts at 16 National Eis- teddfodau since 1862. Inasmuch as Aberdare is included in the list, we feel sure that our Aberdare friends will be interested to learn how their town stood in the matter. We give fitst the year in which the eisteddfod was held, and then the name of the town, followed by the receipts and expenditure at each place1862, Carnarvon, JS2,020 — £ 1,21318s. 4d.; 1876, Wrexham, JB5,907 3s. 8d.~ £ 3,844 7s. lOd. 1877, Carnarvon, £ 3,982— £ 2,582 1878, Birkenhead, £3,328 6s. 8d.— £ 3,128 6s. 8d. 1880, Carnarvon, £2,210 7s. lid.— £ 2,169 17s. 1883, Cardiff, £ 4,755— JB4,655 5s. 7d. 1884, Liverpool, JB5,055 Is. 4d.— £4,905 4*. 3d.; 1885, Aberdare, J65,252 0" 7d.— JE5,094 2". 5d. 1886, Carnarvon, J62,147 9s. 9d.— JB2,087 3s. ld. 1888, Wrexham, £ 4,088 6s. lid.— £ 3,258 6s. lid. 1889, Brecon, £ 4,935 18s. 5d.— JB5,740 13s. ld. 1891, Swansea, £ 5.541 7s. 6d.— £ 5,320 7s. 6d. 1893, Pontypridd, JE4,076 8s. 7d.— £ 6,595 15s. lOd. 1894, Carnarvon, £ 3,740— £ 3,316. The latest intelligence from Paris concerning Michael, the Aberdare cyclist, who has been surpris- ing the Frenchmen with his marvellous pounces on the wheel, show that he is still making great headway, and that from March 10th to the end of last month, he had won 32,000 francs, or JB1,280 for racing alone. In addition to this, he receives a wage from the firm he is racing for, and when it is considered that he is engaged only on Sunday, with an occasional week- day run, he is doing exceedingly well. We fancy that all our young men in Aberdare will want to learn cycling after they read this paragraph. By the way, whilst on cycling, I may remark that Choppy Warburton has taken up the challenge of Stocks, and and it is probable that Michael will meet him. Choppy's opinion of the merits of the two lads is that if you toss up a penny, you will have his real opinion as GO which is the best. The obstruction of the streets on Sunday nights is becoming a serious matter. On Sunday last, from eight p.m. to rine p.m. Canon-street and Commer- cial-street were a regular pandemonium. People had to elbow their way through a. 'dense crown, princi- pally young men and women, who completely blocked up the pavements as well as the roadway. If this sort of thing is going to continue, it will be necessary for the police to line up and charge."

LIBERAL ORGANISATION AT lBERDARE. On Wednesday night week a meeting of the Liberal and Labour Association for No. 3 Ward, Aberdare, was held at the Temperance Hall. There was a very good attendance ot electors. Mr. G. Evans proposed that the Rev Mr. Williams (Twrfab) should take the chair, and this was agreed to.—The Chairman, in opening the proceedings, dwelt on the importance of organisation, and said that they intended making the association a power and an influence in the town. He trusted that they would have plenty of fire at the start (applause).—The election of officers and an executive for No. 3 Ward was then proceeded with. Mr. Jenkin Howell, printer, was unanimously elected to the post of president. Mr. Miles, Commercial- place Mr. John Morgan, and Rev. Mr. Williams (Twrfab), were proposed as vice-presidents. The Rev. Mr. Williams, however, withdrew, and Mr. Morgan and Mr. Miles were elected. Mr. Rees Evans was elected treasurer, and Mr. J. T. Roderick was elected secretary. The following were elected on the executive committee :—Messrs. E. John, Albert- street D. Williams, Albert-street; D. Davies (Dewi Fychan). Mr. E. Thomas, Little Wind-street; Mr. W. J. Evans, Clifton-street; Mr. R. Lewis, Fair- field House Mr. Thomas Hodges, Mr. D. R. Lewis, Wind-street; Mr. John Wilkins, Ynysllwyd-street; Mr. John Morgan, Pendarren-street; and Mr. Thomas Hughes, Unity-street. During the course of the meeting addresses were given by Mr. J, W. Evans, Councillor Thomas Thomas, Graig House; Rev. Richard Morgan, Rev. J. Griffiths, Calfaria; and Mr. Mills.—Mr. J. W. Evans, in the course of his remarks, said that at the last election they had a hard fight, and they had found out the necessity of having a proper organisation to fight their battle. They had found out their mistake in time, and it afforded him great pleasure to become a member of the association that they were now forming (applause). During the time that he had been on the Board of Guardians he had advocated Liberal views, and he would continue to do so (applause. The. speaker then referred to the Gelligaer question, and mentioned that a gentleman calling himself a Liberal had brought up a resolution which condemned the county scheme. This gentle- man had played into the hands of the Conservative Party. What did the Conservatives care for the Gelligaer Charity ? They wanted to close the Inter- mediate Schools as long as they could, and prevent the children of the working men having higher educa- tion (applause). During the last election it was said "Vote for the Conservatives and better times" (laughter). Vote for the Conservatives and old age pensions" (laughter). "Vote for the Conserva- tives, and there would be no more unemployed (laughter). They (the Liberal Party) wanted to stop such lies as those. In conclusion, he again empha- sised the importance of organisation (applause).—Mr. Thomas Thomas, in the course of his remarks, said that he was very pleased to be present. He was really to have been at another meeting, but he thought the Liberal meeting more important, and he conse- quently attended (hear, hear). Whatever might have been their faults in the past, let them now band together and put their armour on (applause). They should all unite together and entertain a charitable spirit in furthering the Liberal cause in the country (applause). Their Conservative friends were sanguine of being able to wipe off the Liberal majority in the Merthyr Boroughs at the next election but he (the speaker) did not think that they would be able to do so, but, on the other hand, the Liberal Party would again get that majority which they obtained in the election previous to the last (cheers). He hoped that by January they would all have formed their organi- sations, and that they would have stirred up the friends on the other side of the hill to do the same, so as to stamp out all prospects of the Tories winning c_l (applause). A meeting was also held the same evening at Mill- street Chapel, Trecynon, for the purpose of forming a branch of Nos. land 2 Wards Liberal A ssociation. —The Rev. Mr. Jacob, Aberdare, the president of the asso- ciation, occupied the chair, and gave an address ex- planatory of the steps that led to the formation of the association.—Mr. J. Ifano Jones, Aberdare, the secre- tary of the association, also gave an address, in the course of which he traced the history of the organising movement, and the aims and objects of the organisa- tion.—Alderman D. Morgan followed with a vigorous address, which was attentively listened to.—Mr. J. Thomas proposed, and Mr. James seconded, that a branch association be formed at Trecynon.—The pro- position was put to the meeting and carried unani- mously.-OtticerB were elected as follows:—Presi- dent, Mr. T. James secretary, Mr. G. Rees, Merion street treasurer, Mr. J. Jones. We may add that there was a large attendance at the meeting, aud much enthusiasm waa displayed.

THE GELLIGAER CHARITY. SIR,—In your report of the Merthyr School Board proceedings in your issue of 31st October, the resolu- tion, which was carried, of Mr. Arthur Daniel with regard to the Gelligaer Charity is given,together with the speeches and votes. Perhaps you will permit me to give you some reasons for dissenting from the decision of the Board, and the arguments brought forward by those who carried the resolution. The Charity, which is now known as Lewis' Endowed School, was left by its founder, Edward Lewis, of Kilfach Vargoed, in the parish of Gelligaer, by his will dated 19th March, 1715. There were five separate gifts, this one being for the erection of a school, and the payment of a master and clothing the scholars. This gift differs from all the others in his will by being given the preference of residue for after the specific sums of money for the other gifts had been expended the trustees were to use the rest of the profits for improving the said Charity for the use of the said master and boys." The school continued under vary- ing schemes of the Court of Chancery, till in 1874 a scheme under the Endowed Schools Act of 1869, was drawn up by the Endowed Schools Commissioners, and sanctioned by the Privy Council. The school, is, therefore, now under a Parliamen- tary scheme, and the constitution of the governing body and management are all regulated by that scheme. The school now consists of a capable and enthusias- tic headmaster with a competent staff of assistant- masters. It, has over a hundred scholars attending it. The subjects taught are precisely those which will be taught when it is a county intermediate and technical school, with the single exception that Greek is not now taught. A girls' school was lieing provided, whilst meantime funds were given by way of subsidy to other school-; for the education of girls in the parish Scholarships at leaving are also given. The school has been and is doing excellent work and needs all the funds available. Edward Lewis gave that Charity to the parish of Gelligaer, and in the scheme of 1874 the general scope of trust is thus expressed :—" The object of this Foundation or Trust shall be to advance the education of boys and girls by means of a school or schools in the parish of Gel- ligaer and otherwise, but subject to the provisions hereinafter contained for establishing thereon a separate endowment for certain ecclesiasti- cal purposes (referring to a lectureship endowment). In 1874, therefore, the principle was acknowledged that the Charity was for the parish of Gelligaer, and not elsewhere. The "otherwise" refers to payments of not less than £ 150 a year to provide for girls, who, according to Mr. Arthur Daniel, in one of his many misstate- ments, received no benefits, but were now left out in the cold" also to payments for exhibitions to be held at some place of higher education or technical or professional training," generally known as leav- ing scholarships." In 1889 the Welsh Intermediate Act was passed, one of whose sections (Section 3) made it the duty of the Joint Education Committee to submit to the Charity Commissioners a scheme or schemes for the intermediate and technical education of the inhabi- tants of their county, either alone or in conjunction with the inhabitants of any adjoining counties, specifying in each scheme the educational endowments within their county, which in their opinion ought to be used for the purpose of such scheme." Another section gave them power to apply to the Charity Commissioners with respect to an endowment as if they were the governing body of that endow- ment. Under the powers so conferred, the Joint Educa- tion Committee specified amongst other endowments Lewis' Trust, and submitted their scheme. The Charity Commissioners have approved their scheme. Therefore Lewis' School becomes a county school. Its endowment will be used for the purposes of inter- mediate and technical education. It will be under the control of four members of the County Council, one of the Merthyr Rural Sanitary Authority, four of the Gelligaer School Board, and one each of the Bedwelity and Mynyddyslwyn School Boards, and two co-optative members. It will be subject to the same supervision, inspection, and examination as the other county schools. All that is within the power conferred by the Welsh Intermediate Education Act, for the committee have specified the endowment, and it will be used for the purpose of Intermediate Education as above shown. But the County Council scheme approved by the Charity Commissioners goes a step further than that. Gelligaer must give up its £ 3,000 to £ 4,000 a year to the county fund, and be thankful that it is to be allowed to receive back JSI.,500 a year (not J62,000 as Mr. Arthur Daniel's fertile imagination makes it.) To me the transaction seems a piece of robbery as barefaced as any confidence trick. Let us consider what right anyone has to interfere with the expressed will of the founder as further sanctioned by Parlia- ment. At present a man has just as much right to leave his property in trust for charitable purposes as he has to leave it to his own children. The only question that arises is whether the gift fails on the grounds of its being a gift for super"titious uses, or where the gift is too vague, or where the object is illegal, or where the trust becomes exhausted, as for instance where gifts were made for the redemption of slaves, for hospitals for lepers, for setting free the captives in Barbary, &c., in which cases the State steps in and says what shall be done with, the funds. The law as it now stands is clear, and is^thus stated by a well- known authority (Tudor's "Charitable Trusts," 3rd edition, p 136): "Where the object of a testator's bounty is clearly defined, and his charitable purpose is capable of being carried into effect, and is not con- trary to law, his directions must be strictly followed. In such a case there is no power to apply the gift to any other purpose than that which he has marked out. The mere fact that the gift might be more usefully applied in some other way is no ground for departing from the intention of the donor." Mr. Arthur Daniel indulged in some wild talk of "the tyranny of ancestors," of the "dead hand," &c., &c. To deny the right of any one to make a charit- able bequest at all, whereby land becomes locked up, is a perfectly intelli^i >le stand to take. If it is wrong, as conceivably it may be, change the law, and let the lands revert to the heirs of the doyors, or fail- ing them to the Crown to go towards wiping off the National Debt. That is consistent and logical, but that does net help a set of men who say, We want that Charity which Edward Lewis gave to Gelligaer, for the whole county. Why should we he liound by the tyranny of our ancestors If he had lived now he would probably never have meant it for Gelligaer only lie would have given it to the county anyhow we think the county ought to have it, and it shall have it." Unfortunately for that class of person, Edward Lewis's intentions can only be judged of by the words he used, and his will was that Gelligaer was to receive his gift. Let us have done with this shallow cant of the "tyranny of ancestors," of the "dead hand," and of the expressed intentions of the founder not to be respected. Some, with an inconsistency which Nould be amusing, were it not contemptible, with one and the same breath almost say the intentions of the founder are not to be resected," and then lay blame upon the governors of the present scheme of 1874, for not carrying (ju t the true intentions of the founder. The true intent say that it was for poor boys. (Poverty, by the way. is an elastic term). The 1874 scheme put it in the reach of all classes. Of that, more anon. But is this new scheme to restore the funds to the poor boys of Gelligaer? Or is any abuse, any mis- management, any neglect alleged ? Is there any mis- application of funds which the new scheme is going to remedy ? Why, they are actually going to use the same funds, for the same purpose, for the same class of boys as the school now teaches, but the will of the founder must not be observed—he is a tyrannous ancester"—and so the people of Pen.) rth and Barry, of Pontypridd and Porth, to whom the owner Edward Lewis' never willed the gift, are to have their rates eased, and their children are to share the gift by the will of Aaron Davies and Arthur Daniel and the like. And as to the "dead hand," why, it will be a< much upon the land whether the owner's will is to prevail or the spoilers'. The reason for spoliation is as clear as the sun at noon. The County Council, compelled to get the Intermediate Schools built and carried on, desire to do so without going upon the rate which the Act empowers them to levy. It is a sordid motive, which its apologists can only cover with a thin and con- temptible disguise. In 1874, the Commissioners laid it down as a principle for the guidance of school governors that saving the rates is not the appropriate function of educational endowments." The Com- missioners seem, however, to have thrown that principle overboard under the new scheme, for saving the rates is the only explanation of the double fact of the dispersal of the heritage of Gelligaer to all the corners of the county and of no rate having been levied. The appropriation of the funds of Gelligaer is, I believe, illegal as being ultra vires, and even if it should become law by accident, will be unconstitu- tional and an evil precedent. The Commissioners have their powers conferred upon them. and limited by Acts of Parliament. Under the End med Schools Act of 1869 they have large discretionary powers given to them with regard to the government, management, and studies of endowed schools, and in the applicational of educational endowments with the object of promoting their greater efficiency and of carrying into effect the main designs of the founders thereof, by putting a liberal education within the reach of all classes (from which it will be observed, by the way, that the perversion of the founder's will from helping poor boys to helping the children of all classes is the result of an Act of Parliament carried by one of our own Liberal Governments! And yet Mr. Arthur Daniel, the Radical politician, in his ardour puts all the blame upon the governors of the 1874 scheme for perverting the founder's will !) But the Endowed Schools Act confers no right of confisca- tion of funds. In this instance the Commissioners promote the greater efficiency of the Gelligaer School by with- drawing its funds, and they carry into effect the main designs of the founder" by disinheriting the object, of his trust, and disregarding the words of his will Personally I regret that the matter was never taken to the Privy Council by way of appeal, where there would have been a declaration upon the legality of the action of the Commissioners. However, Gelligaer has not done with the matter yet. If Aaron Davies, who plays the double role of school trustee and county councillor on the Joint Education Committee, is willing to sell the heritage for a mess of pottage, there are others who cling to their birthright, and who view with detestation his act of sacrificing the trust he was in honour and in duty bound to protect. Whose will, I ask, deserves the more respect ? The will of that good man who, with foresight and large- heartedness, provided for the education of generations of the children of his native parish which lie loved so well, or the will of those who, to save their pockets, with impious hands attempt to seize the gift of his trust, while with their lips they revile the giver? Let the memory of a good deed done, let gratitude, Itt justice answer.—I am, sir, yours faithfully, Brynteg. JOHN IjEKJlKKT

ABERDARE EISTEDDFOD. On Monday, a grand eisteddfod was held at the Market Hall. Aberdare, under the joint auspices of the Aberdare Operatic Society and the Ysguborwen Volunteer Band. The weather was fine, and heavily laden trains brought thousands of visitors to the town. Great interest was taken in the various items which drew forth some very keen competitions. This was particularly the case in regard to the chief choral and male voice, a prize of £ ib and gold medal being offered in the former, and JE20 and a silver medal in the latter. The adjudicators were Mr. R. C. Jenkins, of Llanelly Mr. D. W. Lewis, of Brynaman; and Mr. T. Seddon, of Kettering. All these names a familiar to the frequenters of eisteddfodau, and it is needless to --rate that they gave entire satisfaction on the present occasion. The eisteddfod accompanist was Mr. Richard Howells, and the preliminary accompanists were Messrs. E. Moses and Tom Jones, A.L.C.M. The preliminary contests came off at the Tabernacle and Nazareth Vestries. We may mention that Mr. W. J. Evans was to have been one of the preliminary accompanists, but owing to illness he could not attend, and Mr. E. Moses very kindly took his plac*. There had not Ix.) much attempt at decoration, but the time honoured 1* Mor o Gan yw Cymru Gyd was worked in white on a blue ground at the rear of the platform, and the words, "Success to the Band," had also been worked in white on a red ground. The president for the morning was Mr. L. A. Williams (high constable), who most ably filled that position. The proceedings commenced at 10.45, when the eisteddfod song was sung by Mr. Phillips. He was followed by Alderman David Morgan, the conductor for the day, who made some Welsh remarks, which at once put the audience in good humour. Then came the first pianoforte solo competition, Rosee du Matin (Horace Haselden). Prize, one guinea, given by the publishers. There were three competitors, two girls and a boy. Mr. D. W. Lewis said that Miss Blodwen Morgan, Howells-row, Cwmaman, was the best, but the two other competitors had also done very well. The pre- sident gave special prizes to each of the unsuccessful competitors. Then came a quartet, Ein Gweddi (" Our Prayer"), by Mr. A. N. James, professor of music, Aberdare. Prize, one guinea, given by the composer. Only one party came forward, viz., Mr. D. Phillips, Canon-street, Aberdare, and party, who, the adjudicator said, gave a very good rendering, and were deemed worthy of the prize. Mr. Phillips' party consisted of the followingMiss Mason, Miss M. Rowlands, Mr. Ted Barrey, and Mr. D. Phillips. Next came a cornet solo (with pianoforte accompani- ment), Ar hyd y nos," prize 10s. 6d. The con- ductor humorously observed that the cornet playing would be in Welsh. The variations had, however, been borrowed from Italy (laughter). There was only one competitor, Mr. Charles George, Maesydref, Aberdare. The adjudicator said that the competitor had played the solo very well, and he would be given the prize. After the cornet solo came a Welsh address by the President, who said that he was obliged to the committee for the honour they Ihad done him in asking him to preside that morning. He was not a bard, but lie was the son of a bard who had filled a prominent; position in the bardic world, and who had done his best for Wales and Welshmen (cheers). He (the president) could not help but feel pleased when attending eisteddfodtc gatherings, and he had many pleasant memories uf eisteddfoddan that he had attended in years gone by. After the pre- sident's address there was a soprano solo, "0 chwi Hy'n cam Vaw" (Dr. Parry); prize, one guinea. There were three competitors, and the best was Miss Mary Alice Hughes (Llinos y Porth), Porth. We may state that this young lady has won 47 prizes in soprano solo competitions. Her instructor for the present competition was Mr. Aptafonwy Mills. There were four competitors in the pianoforte solo competition, Toccato in G Minor "(Walter Macfarren). The prize was a complete set of Beethoven's 32 sonatas, given by the publishers, Edwin Ashdown, Limited, London. The prize was awarded to Miss Maria Williams, Maesteg, who had given a very good execu- tion. The president and the conductor also gave additional prizes to the successful competitor. The next item was a baritone solo, "Wreckers of Dun- raven (D. Pughe Evans, Swansea), for which a prize of one guinea was offered. There were three com- petitors the best was Ap Hywel Cynon, of Aber- aman, whose rendering was highly praised by the adjudicator. Next came a euphonium solo (with pianoforte accompaniment), Wiederkehr," prize 10s. 6d. There were three competitors. The Ijest was Mr. D. Davies, Aberdare, a member of the Ysguborwen Band. There were four competitors for the contralto solo, Onid Oes Balm yn Gilead" (Owain Alaw), prize one guinea, which was awarded to Miss R. A. Thomas, Mountain Ash, a pupil of Madame Clara Novello Davies. The Wrass band competition which followed evoked a spirited competition and created much interest amongst the audience. The piece for competition was Lyric Garland," the following prizes lieing offered First, £ 15; second, £ 10; third, £ 5; fourth, £ 2. The competing bands played in the following order Aberaman Silver Band (conductor, Mr. W. Young); Aberaman Public Band (conductor, Mr. W. Young) Abertillery Temperance Band (conductor, Mr. Sutton); Ferndalc (conductor, Mr. J. Ryan). The adjudicator awarded the first prize to Ferndale; second prize to Abertillery third prize to Aberaman Silver Band and fourth prize to Aberaman Public Band. The succeeding competition was that of the male voice, which aroused the livliest interest and enthusiasm. The test piece was "Destruction of Gaza" (Lawrent de Rille), which is a very popular one in eisteddfodau. The parties competed in the following order :—Mountain Ash (conductor, Mr. Hugh Ellis; accompanist, Mr. Harry Evans, A.R.C.O., Dowlais; Hirwain (conductor, Mr. Ben Thomas accompanist, Mr. Jenkin Morris); Aber- dare, Meibion Dar (conducted by D. Phillips; accompanist, Prof. R. Howells); Ogmore Vale (conductor, Mr. J. Phillips); Nantymoel (conductor, Mr. W. M. Dav ies); Abernant (conductor, Mr. J. Dcvonald); Trecynon (Mr. Hopkins). The adjudi- cator gave his adjudication as follows:—No. 1 Defective in intonation; quality of voices not good. No. 2: Quality of voices rather hard; this party were defective on the soft part. No. 3: Better quality of voices, but lost a little on the soft part; on the whole a good rendering. No. 4: good and rich voices first bass lost a little on the soft part; good rendering on the whole. No. 5 Fairly good, but not such good voices as No. 4. No. 6 Good voices, rich in quality and well-balanced every- thing was very good in this party except the effect on the soft part. No. 7 Good quality of voices, but the bottom bass sang rather sharp, and the movement in the soft part was too quick. The two best parties were No. 6 (Abernant) and No. 4 (Ogmore Vale). Of these two, the Abernant Party excelled (loud cheers). The next item was the bass solo competition, The Lord YVorketh Wonders." Two were selected out of the Pleliminary test to appear on the stage. One of these had to leave in order to catch a train, so that only one sang on the stage, viz., Mr. R. G Jones, of Morriston, who was deemed worthy of the prize. The tenor solo drew forth three competitors; the test piece was" Llwybr y Wyddfa" (W. Davies), the prize being one guinea. The prize was awarded to Mr. Alfred Evans, of Abernant, who. the adjudicator said, gave a very good rendering. The last and most interesting competition was the chief choral. vour choirs had entered but only two sang, viz., Cwmdare (conducted by Mr. William Williams), and Aberdare (conducted by Mr. W. Thomas). The first prize was £ 25 and a gold medal, given by Mr. J. A. Davies, Ebbw Vale, for the conductor. The choirs were not to be under 75 in number. '1 he adjudicator said that the Cwmdare Choir possessed clear and pure voices, although rather light. The intonation of the choir was good, and the choir gave correct reading and time all through. The choir made the best of the voices. The Alierdare Choir's voices were not so good as those of Cwmdare, with the exception of the bass .The choir did not go well together, and the reading was incorrect. The liest choir was Cwmdare. The announcement was received with great applause by the supporters of the victorious choir. Towards the conclusion of the eisteddfod the follow- ing telegram was read from Mr. D. A. Thomas, M.P. Hooper, Liberal Club, Aberdare. Ex- ceedingly regret inability to preside at eisteddfod to day. My secretary will explain." The conductor said that although Mr. D. A. Thowas could not be present, he had given a good subscription (loud cheers).

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A FACT THAT PURCHASERS AT ^TILLIAMS-S, J HIGH STREET SAVE FROM 15 TO 25 PER CENT. v. This is an absolute fact, as many of our customers have testified. Ask anvone who has purchased from us, and they will satisfy you. Many houses in the furnishing trade are accustomed to ticket goods at the doors, especially cheap, to attract attention. Williams's have no call-birds of this description all thsir goods are priced in the same low ratio as those particularised below. THE PRICES. THE TRIUMPH LEATHER SUITE.-Com- JL moner Suites are sold elsewhere from 6 to 8 guineas. Our price for a good Suite, sound as a bell, £4- 17. 6d. EDESTAL WRITING TABLES. Others' price, £ 3 10s. Williams's price, 44s. SIDEBOARDS.—A grand 6ft. bow-front Sideboard, ks in walnut, oak, or mahogany, only 13 guineas. DINING TABLES.—Telescope Dining Tables, with extra leaf, polished throughout, 35s. OVERMANTELS.—See our really magnificent 0 display of "all solid Walnut Overmantels afe 10 to 20 per cent. less than others charge for veneered ones. Call upon us, and you will be satisfied this is true. OUCHES.—Good Leather Couches, well stuffed, c 17s. lld. SADDLEBAG SUITES.—A good, sound, saddle- S bag Suite, nice pattern, well-made frames, and clean finish, for 7 guineas. CABINET. — Inlaid Rosewocd, with bevelled c plates, B5 12s. 6d. EDROO'.NI Sl:, ITES. -Williams's Gigantic Stock of Bedroom Suites is unapproached and un- approachable. They are not garret-made goods. Call and see what they are, and the prices will astonish you. BEDROOM SUITE.—A pretty Suite, Japanned Satin Walnut and Hungarian Ash, with plate- glass door to wardrotw, dressing chest, marble top w.ashstand, &c., &c.. £.178. 6d. EDROOM SUITE.—6ft. Black Walni!fc4iedroom ►suite, high-class makeand finish, for 22 guineas. This is acknowledged marvellous value. Commoner suites are sold daily for 8 and 10 guineas more money. Call and s; e this suite. DUCHESSE TOILETS. — Williams's Cheap Duchesse Toilets, 36s. 6d. the pair. BEDSTEADS.—Full size Bedsteads, cheap make, B 9s. lid. BEDSTEA 1)S, with massive pillars, a special line. With 2-inch polished pillars and heavily brass mounted for 65s. as good and heavy a bedstead as those ticketed elsewhere at L4 4s. BEDSTEAD in Parisian sha|>e, with brass mounts and j»earl spindles, £ 2 12s. 6d. WIRE MATTRESSES, double woven, from 7s. lid. WOOL MATTRESSES from 9s. lid. MANGLES, full size, 24-inch, warranted best quarted rollers, 35s. Compare the prices. BRASS CURBS and FENDERS from 4s. lid. The Champion Brass Curt), with 6 massive supports and heavy rail, at 18s. lid., speaks for itself you have doubtless seen it in our windows. Call and look at it next time you are passing. TOILET and DINNER WARE.—A neat pattern, full size, Toilet Set, 4s. lid. Dinner Services from 7s. lid. C^RPEIS and CURTAINS.—Tapestry Squares, 15s. lid., excellent pattern; Lace Curtains, with frilled edges, 6s. lid. ASSlNETTES and MAIL CARTS.-As we are B compelled to clear these to make room for ou growing Furniture trade, we are offering them a exceptionally Low Prices. | VRINCESS MAY ROCKERS, 1080 6d. each. fjpRlUMPH NUKWRY~CHAIRS frornT0sr6d: KI1CHEN CHAIRS. Good Lath-back Chairs, 2s. lOjd. each. STAIR RODS. Round, Half-round, and Tri- angular Stair Rods at 25 per cent, off iron- mongers' prices. CORNICE POLES of every description. Shaped C Brass Bay Window Poles, l^in. thiek, Is. 6d. per foot. Our Magnificent Furnishing Guide Free by Post. All Goods Delivered Free. Please Note Address :— WILLIAMS'S, THE JflURNISHING |^MPORIUM 14, HIGH ST. CAKmrF

IT is something to be proud of that our National Eistcddfodau, during recent years, have been suc- cessful from a financial point of view. The solitary exception is the Pontypridd gathering in 1893, when there was a deficit of £ 2,519. Exceptional circumstances account for that disaster. The average receipts for the 16 years amounted to f3,723, and the average expenditure to £ 3,">44. This gives an average surplus of fl79 for each year. It should be borne in mind that the local committees do not aim at profit-making. As long as they get enough money in to clear the expenses they are satisfied. The dominant idea is that the whole of the receipts should be given away in prizes and fees. The Eisteddfod is not a commer- cial speculation or a money-making concern. On the other hand, the financial liabilities are enor- mous, and it speaks highly of the energy and prudence of the committees that these liabilities have always been met.

LADY FOOTBALLERS AT ABERDARE. AN AMUSING SPECTACLE. The New Women turned ou^ strong at the Ynys Field, Aberdare, on Tuesday afternoon. The weather was miserably wet; but although a pitiless storm of rain swept across the field, the lady footballers were nothing daunted, and played their match. There were about 200 spectators, but if the climatic sur- roundings had been more favourable, there would have been a big assemblage. The people who did attend, went out of sheer i curiosity but many of them were not very much edified with what they saw. The teams represented North and South. All the players were ladies with the exception of the goal- keepers, who were members of the Aberdare Associa- tion Team. The play was not of a particularly brilliant description, and the picture of some 20 ladies running pell-mell in bloomers across a sodden field would have sent Mrs. Grundy into fits. "Tommy" was a great favourite, and shouts of Go it, Tommy," were very freely raised. The spectators kept up a running comment of ejaculations, such as "Well played, bloomers," "Played Ginger," "Go it little 'un," Now Venus, on the ball &c., &c., &c. The ladies did not present a very becoming appearince as they filed out of the field "after the ball was ov?r." The unmerciful rain had played the deuce with their curls, and the bloomers were spotted with mud. Nevertheless, the ladies were loudly cheered a few hoots were heard, but these were in the minority. For the information of some of our readers, we may state that the Ladies' Football Club was first formed at Crouch End, and it is there that the headquarteis of the club still are. There are about 60 in the club, and a selection is made for touring. The teams are composed of northerners and southerners. Those from the north mostly come from Newcastle. In England the ladies have been well-received, whilst in Ireland, there were 10,000 people at one match, and the ladies were dragged round all over the town in a conveyance. Fancy!

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BY THE WAY i A Merthyr musician uttered a terrible blasphemy on Monday. He called our local Parliament Parish Council." A female witness at the Me) thy r Police-court on Monday said that some relations of the defendant always used obscure language when she passed them. Ottscene language, you mean," said Colonel Lewis, smiling. A correspondent, who seems to be a bit "dotty," sends the following :—" Here's a riddle, for you, Mr. Editor. Why isMountain Ash, which lostthecup, richer than Llwynypia would be under the same circum- sfances ? Because they would still have a "tanner" left. There were many amusing incidents connected with the St. David's Church bazaar. Verona Palace," the Merthyr bachelors' stall, received no end of win- some smiles and dainty visitors. The bachelors' motto was To be or not to lie, that is the question." We have been informed by one of the bachelors that they are still single. The local volunteer corps prefer attending Cyfarthfa Church to any place of worship in the kingdom. Why ? Because its low church ?'' No. Because the vicar can preach a good warlike sermon ? No. Because the middle aisle is courteously given up to them ? No. It is because there is no collection. Fact! The Rector of Merthyr eajoys a bit of fun like everybody else. The programme of the St. David's bazaar contained the following sentence with regard to one of the stalls Tobacco and cigars of the )<est brands, and all requisites for smokers of both sexes. When all things were made, none were made like tobacco." Yet we have never seen the rev. gentleman enjoying a pipe. A pressman at the Treharris Eisteddfod found him- self in an awkward predicament. His hat dis- appeared, and could not be found anywhere. The pressman was in an angelic mood, as might be expected,and his equilibrium was only restored when he discovered that the committee had utilised his hat to draw lots for the competing choirs. He means to send in a bill to the committee for the use of the hat. Important to the Guardians of the Merthyr Tydfil Union. Regulation 14 runs as follows :— "Every memljer, whilst speaking, must be standing, and shall address the chair, and he shall avoid tedious repetition and unbecoming language or behaviour, or any breach of order." We could with- out apologies name a few gentlemen who might cut this out and stick it in their pocket books."

MERTHYR COUNCIL AND THE RATE COLLECTOR'S SALARY. A meeting of the Duties and Salaries Committee of the Merthyr District Council was held at the Board- room, Workhouse, on Tuasday evening, there being present: Mr. John Harpur (in the chair), Messis. D. W. Jones, Dan Thomas, V. A. Wills, W. Lewis (Treharris), J. Lewis (Penydanen), J. LI. Atkins, J. Roberts, John Evans, Joseph Owen, Thomas Thomas, and the deputy-clerk. The com- mittee met to consider the duties and salary of Mr. T. W. Goodfellow, the collector, and had before them the minutes of the last committee meeting. A reso- lution having been passed that the reporters be admitted into the meeting, the Clerk read the report, which has already appeared in our columns.—Mr. Dan Thomas said he was still of the same opinion that it was necessary in the interests of the parish that some division in the duties and salary of their collector should take place. He thought the present was a splendid opportunity to do so. As they saw by Mr. Harris' report, the increa-sed ratable value of Merthyr increased the salary of the collector (now paid by commission) very much. He contended that a ehange was necessary from an economical point of view, and they, a< memi>ers of the District Council, ought to save money when they had an opportunity of doing so. They would see from the committee's report (he disagreed very much with it) that it was proposed to appoint two collectors at £ 80, and one at JB225 per annum. The committee, then, w nild give to Mr. Goodfellow £225 per year for collecting in the Town Ward alone. A greater injustice could never be perpetrated. He thought they should equalise matters. He admitted he had a difficulty before him in dealing with an old public servant like Mr. Good- fellow, but he (Mr. Thomas) was prepared to do his duty. Mr. Harris' report showed that the total amount collected every quarter was £ 10,900—prac- tically £ 11,000. But if they read that report care- fully they would see that out ot that sum the collector received J36,659 Is. 8d. from the colliery and iron masters, leaving for collection only JM,276 7s. 10jd. He contended it was extravagance on the part of the Council to pay j3500 or J6600 a year for collecting £ 4,000. It meant 8 per cent. on the money collected. The bills were sent out withont even being checked by the collector. He would withhold further argu- ments for the Council meeting, but he thought that if they did not agree to a more radical change they would not he doing their duty to the ratepayers.— The Chairman said that Mr. Thomas appeared to misunderstand the whole question. Mr. Goodfellow was at present responsible for the whole of the collecting, and he would continue to be so respon- sible. He thought it was important to have a respon- sible person to look after the total amount.—Mr. Da.n Thomas £ 4,000, sir.—The Chairman Mr. Good- fellow is responsible for the total Mr. Dan Thomas The iron and coal masters send in their cheques.—Mr. D. W. Jones But Mr. Goodfellow is responsible for the money. —The Chairman We cer- tainly must have a responsible person and pay him well for his services. I am still of that opinion. I do not think JB225 is too much. Even the assistant collector in Cardiff gets £ 180.—Mr. W. Lewis: That is different to Merthyr.—Mr. Dan Thomas said that by a previous resolution the Cjuncil had decided to lessen the work of collection by having two rates. Mr. Goodfellow's responsibility was only &3 far as JB4,000 was concerned. They found the average collection (>er day was £ 40 to £ 50. If they wanted a resjxmsible man they could put it in the hands of the book-keeper, who made out the bills, and he could check the collections.—Mr. D. W. Jones said he was certainly surprised to hear Mr. Thomas suggest that they should put any more work upon the book- keeper. He believed Mr. Harris had already a large amount of work to do. Then there was another thing. The system the Council had adopted in appointing one man to keep the books and make out the accounts, and another man to collect the money, was the best system they could have. If they amal- gamated the two offices they would be giving one man too much rope, and it would be a very great mistake. The committee had considered the matter very carefully several times, and he thought they would hesitate before they came to any contrary decision to what they had already decided in the matter. It was almost unanimously decided upon, Mr. TI o uas being the only dissentient member. But Mr. Thomas had a happy knack, as a man in the minority, of trying to upset the work of those who had been hard at work. He thought it was high time to put their foot down upon such tactics. In reply to an interruption on the part of Mr. Dan Thomas, Mr. Jones said it was agreed by three votes to one that the district should not lie divided. The only matter in the report which they did not agree upon was the question of salary. They thought that an old servant like Mr. Goodfellow certainly ought to get JB250 a year. He (Mr. Jones) suggested JB200, and in order to split the difference Mr. Harpur, who proposed J6250, came down JB25, and he (Mr. Jones) went up £ 25. He moved that the report be adopted as it stood, leaving out the salary of the head collector.— Mr. Dan Thomas seconded this, and it was carried.— The next item was "The committee discussed the practicability of dividing the district for the purpose of collection, but came to the conclusion that it was not feasible to do so."—Mr. D. W..Joues moved that this be adopted, and Mr. Joseph Owen seconded.— Mr. Dan Thomas moved that the district be divided into three, and that each collector take two wards.— Mr. Thomas Thomas a-ked if, in the event of the paragraph being adopted, the Council would have a responsible man at the office. It seemed to him that Mr. Dan Thomas was not clear upon the point.—Mr. D. W. Jones If you are going to appoint three collectors I suppose each of them will pay the money into the bank ?—Mr. W. Lewis thought the district should be divided, and believed that by adopting that course the work would be well done at less cost than at present. He thought each collector should be held resoonsible for his resoective district. At the same tune he quite agreed that one should be made responsible for the whole.—Mr. D. W. Jones: lhen you must vote for rue.—The Chairman: It is impracticable to have three collectors, each to !>e resjxmsible for his district. We must have a man who is responsible for the whole of the collections.— Mr. Thomas Thomas said that if anylxxly could con- vince him that the work could be done more effectually by dividing the district he would be most willing to support them (hear, hear). He failed to understand how the Council would henefit by dividing the district. He thought they should have somebody at the head of affairs. Mr. Dan Thomas Some of our friends seem co labour under a misunderstanding. The collectors in Cardiff pay the money in direct, and that is vir- tually the system I advocate.—Mr. D. W. Jones: They pay the money to the chief collector.—Mr. Dan Thomas II beg you.- pardon. The effect of your pro- position is that you continue the present system.—Mr. D. W. Jones My resolution says the district should not be divided. You want to make three good jobs for somebody.—Mr. Dan Thomas. You want to con- tinue the present unsatisfactory system.—Mr. V. A. Wills It simply comes to this: I want Mr. Good- fellow to be what I would call the chief collector, with the sole control of the collections of the parish. I want the Council to appoint two other collectors as well. I think they should be subordinate to the chief collector, and they will pay him every day. The question of salary can be discussed again.—Mr. T. Thomas seconded Mr. Dan Thomas' amendment.— Mr. Wills We are all of one opinion. We want one collectorand two assistants.—After further discussion, the report was adopted.—The next item was with a view of reducing the work in the collector's depart- ment, the committee discussed the practicability of having two general district rates instead of three as at present, and came to the conclusion that there was no reason why the same could not be adopted, piovided that the half year ended with the financial year of the Councils accounts. The committee therefore recommend that after the End of the next financial year (31st March, 1896) the general district rate should be made for six months, making two rates for the year."—Mr. V. A. WilL said he could not agree with that. —Mr. Dan Thomas said that it would save a lot of office work and collection, which meant a saving to the ratepayers. He moved that the paragraph of the report be adopted.—Mr. Thomas Thomas seconded.—Mr. V. A. Wills proposed they have three rates as usual. As a tradesman he objected to be called upon to pay rates six months in advance. During the coming winter they were going to have a depression in trade, and now the rate was made for four months it should be collected within the four months.—Mr. Atkins seconded, and Mr. J. Roberts supported.—Upon a division the report was adopted.—Mr. Lewis then proposed, and Mr. D. W. Jones seconded, that there he three collectors.—It was suggested that the motion should exclude any mention of salaries, and Mr. Joseph Owen having supixirted this view, it was agreed to.—The next question was to consider Mr. Goodfellow's salary.- Mr. Thomas Thomas moved that he be paid JB150 per year as chief collector; that his time at the office should be from three to four hours per day, and that two assistants be appointed at J380, with an increase of E5 per annum.— Mr. Roberts agreed.—Mr. D. W. Jones proposed that Mr. Goodfellow be retained as chief collector, to collect in the Town Ward, to do all correspondence and receive all monies, to keep hooks, and do his general duties at a salary of J3225 per year. Mr. Goodfellow had been in the service of the Council for 26 years, and he thought no one would deny that he had been a very excellent officer. Large sums of money had gone through his hands, and the work had been carried out to the satisfaction of the Board in past years. He was getting old, but that was no reason why they should shun him. When they considered he was at present earning something like J6400 a year—(Mr. Dan Thomas: "A lot more")—he did not think it would he too much. If they gave him JE225, and appointed two assistants at JB89 each, the salaries would a'nount to £ 385 a year, whereas they were now paying, say, £ 700.—Mr. W. Lewis seconded the first proposition. —Mr. J. Lewis, Penydarren J6225 a year is £5 a week, and the manager of the Dowlais Iron Company doe? not get much more. Mr. D. W. Jones: Rubbish. You don't know what you say.—Mr. Lewis They don't get much more than £ 5 a week.- Mr. Joseph Owen seconded the amendment.—Mr. John Evans supported the proposition. —Mr. Dan Thomas considered they would be dealing liberally with the chief collector if they gave him JE150 a year. He would have been only too pleased to second Mr. Thomas had he proposed jBlOO a year. The book- keeper had more to do with the cheques than the collector. — The Chairman supported Mr. D. W. Jones' amendment. When they prot £ 41.000 collected for £385 it would he cheap.—Sir. Dan Thomas: Forty what The Chairman I am shaking of the total amount which passes througit the collector's hand, either hy cheque or in cash.—Upon a vote heing' taken, seven were recorded for the motion, and four for the amendment, and the Chairman declared the motion carried.—The voting was as follows :— FOR THK MOTION. AGAINST. Mr. Thomas Thomas. The Chairman. Mr. Dan Thomas. Mr. D. \V. Jones. Mr. J. Lewis. Mr. V. A. Wills. Mr. J. L1. Atkins. Mr. Joserh Owen. Mr. J. Rolierts. Mr. J. Evans. Mr. W. Lewis. 1 he question of appointing t wo inspectors of nuisancer was deferred.

SPARKS l-ROM THE ANVIL. BY JOE HAMMERSMITH. "Theatre-goer" writes: "Dear Joe, I was very glad to see your remarks last week on the conduct of some of the actors and actresses that come to our town. I have been a theatre-goer for a great number of years, both in London and some of the chief pro- vincial towns: but I have never seen stage-wh'eper- ing carried on to such an extent as in Merthyr. What the explanation of this may be, I do not know. Mr. Sinithon shouldn't stand any nonsense of this sort. Let him deal with the companies he engages with a strong hand, and sternly put down what you very rightly describe as an insult to the audience." The Rev. J. Puleston Jones, M.A., though blind, writes his own letters. He uses a type-writer, an instrument which he handles with marvellous dex- terity, and which he takes with him wherever he goes. During his recent stay at Aberdare, the type- writer vot out of order he took it all to pieces, dis- covered what was amiss, put it right, and got the machine to work. All this he did with his own hands. As is the case with most blind men, his powers of memory have been developed to a wonderful degree. He has an unfailing ear for voices, and never torgets those he has once heard. He is said to know nearly all the Welsh and English hymns by heart. Gwilym Gwent is a name familiar to Welshmen in all parts of the globe. He was without a doubt one the greatest musical geniuses our nation has ever produced. Some of his compositions are unsurpassed for their sweetness and lyrical beauty. They are universal favourities. Gwilym was personally known to manj of my readers, as he lived in this district before crossing the Atlantic. His old friends and admirers were no doubt glad to understand that his memory has been honoured in an appropriate manner by the Welshmen of America. One of his neighbours in Wilkesbarre for a long time was Mr. J. D. Walters, of Tramroad-terrace, who re- turned to the old countrv about the time of the musi- cian's death in 1891. I had a long talk theotherday with Mr. Walters about him. In private life he was way- ward and erratic, and Mr. Walters and others had to act the Good Samaritan very often towards him and his family. It would answer no good purpose to give details. Gwilym was a man of genius, and he nad the failings of a man of genius. It is a terrible thing," said the late Oliver Wendell Holmes, to have a man of genius in one's family." Who would care to tie the brother of Bobby Burns, Goronwy Owen, Edgar Allen Poe, or many another brilliant intellect in whose constitution there was no room for the ordinary virtue? of everyday humanity? Gwilym, I am told, was not a good hand at adjudi- cating, especially in choral competitions. He found it almost an impossible task to weigh the relative merits of competing choirs. He hadn't got the knack: you can't say more than that about it. Nor did he stand alone in this respect. Some of the best and most cultured musicians in Wales to-day labour under a similar difficulty. Gwilym was for a while a doorman in one of the coal pits at Wilkesbarre. In his spare moments he plastered every available inch of board and wall with music notes. Music was the be-all and end-all of his existence. As Mr. Walters puts it, take the music out of him, and there was very little left, and that little but of a sorry quality. That picture is a pathetic one. Fancy such a splendid musical genius a door-man in a coal pit: Things are some- times most exasperatingly topsy-turvy in this world. 'Twas ever thus. One of our most promising bards is this very minute a miserable, destitute wretch, living in a cellar, without bread to put in the mouths of his wife and litte ones. Not long since he was within an ace of capturing the chair at a National Eisteddfod, the only prize now left for him to com- pete for. Some of his poems are the best of their class in the language. Yet he himself is absolutely penniless. He has not been harshly treated, and for his present condition he has only himself to blame. It is the same old tale. Only too well do we know it in Wales. Lie bo camp bydd rhemp." There was an item of exceptional interest at the p iona in Caedraw Mission Concert on Monday evening. This was the recitation "Scenes from the Zulu War," given by one who had been an eye-witness of what he described. Mr. John Burton is one of the Zulu camp- aigners, and he could tell you many a stirring story of peril and adventure. He passed through the campaign scatheless, and returning to Merthyr obtained em- ployment at Cyfarthfa. After awhile the desire came upon him of resuming military life, and he arranged to re-enter the service of his former officer. At this juncture, however, mysterious fate interfered, and on the morning of his last day at Cyfarthfa he met with an accident, and lost a foot. This incapacitated him for military duty, and he has remained in Merthyr evel since. He enjoys the esteem of his fellow-towns- men, and takes an active interest in the Caedraw Mission.