The London Welshman

Football. RUGBY. Wales v. Scotland. More than precedent (says the Morning Leader) was upset at Inverleith on Saturday. Several of those calculations" which can fairly be described as axioms of the game, and are usually regarded as reliable premises on which to base forecasts of "the chances," were rudely overturned. That Wales would sooner or later win at Edinburgh, precedent or no precedent, was inevitable; and although Satur- day's win was only by the narrow margin of one try, it was sufficient to demonstrate the superiority of combined as against individual efforts. A Brilliant Game. Competent critics pronounce the game to be one of the finest internationals ever played. The sides were well matched, and the suspicion that prevailed as to the soundness of the Welsh forwards proved to be unnecessary, for they held the Scotchmen very well throughout, but the latter played so well that the Welshmen were not allowed to indulge in so much open play as at Cardiff. As a display of football, however, it left the England game far behind, the opponents each being aware of the other's strong points, and framing their play accordingly. Wales Superior Behind. It was behind the scrummage, however, that the Welsh superiority became most pronounced. The two movements that yielded tries were admirably executed-were, in fact, characteristic Welsh tries, the outcome of that thorough understanding between the half-backs and three- quarters which has paved the way to more than one Welsh victory. And there were several other brilliant bursts which only failed to yield tries through the stout defence and deadly tackling of the Scottish backs, particularly that of the full-back, whose play was one of the features of the match. The Triple Crown? By defeating Scotland on Saturday, and thus gaining two consecutive victories, Wales has high hopes of again winning the triple crown. Ireland, of course, is as yet an unknown quantity, but the match against the Emerald Isle will be played at Swansea-no mean advantage. The Welsh team no doubt is a side admirably balanced, and of more than average excellence, even when judged by the Welsh standard. They should, therefore, on their form, win on March nth, and thus secure for themselves the unique honour of being the predominant partner in the Rugby world. The London Welsh. The provincial invasion of London last Saturday was perfectly successful. Devonport Albion, Leicester, and Northampton all came .and conquered. The Albion's victory over the Welsh, however, was the biggest success. The latter had to take the field without three of their best players, Morgan, Harding, and Williams (reserve forward) being away in Scot- land on behalf of Wales. The Western cracks had much the best of the play, crossing their opponents' line on no less than five occasions, while the Metropolitans gained their points by means of free kicks. A good crowd witnessed the match, and enthusiasm ran high. It is to be hoped that in future the London Welsh will arrange their fixture card so that their most important matches will fall on dates when their crack players are likely to be at the disposal of the club. On Wednesday the London Welsh- men journeyed to Oxford, and engaged in friendly combat with the University men. A hard, fast, though pleasant, game resulted in the Welshmen running out victors by 14 points to I o.

THE AMENITIES OF FOOTBALL. With reference to the letter of a Mr. Gray Stewart, alleging discreditable practices on the part of the Welsh team in the international match at Inverleith on Saturday, replies have been obtained from several men prominent in the world of football showing that the charges are utterly unfounded and unsportsmanlike. Mr. A. J. Gould thinks that a strange feature of the affair is that not a word was heard of the matter in Edinburgh. Surely if anything out of the ordinary had occurred the referee would have stopped it, and the matter would have been mentioned to the Welshmen, but not a word was said. On the other hand, the Welshmen suffered far more than the Scotsmen in the matter of injuries. Hodges and Harding were so badly knocked about that they will be out of the field for some weeks, and Teddy Morgan received an injury to his shoulder that will take some time to recover. Willie Llewellyn, the Welsh captain, said it was absurd. The Scottish team, so far as he knew, all declared it to be a hard and fairly- fought game, and the referee expressed a similar opinion. There was not a single sugges- tion or insinuation from anyone in Edinburgh, neither players nor officials. Mr. Walter Rees, the Secretary of the Welsh Rugby Union, said no one was more surprised than he was to see such an attack. He knew it was not the feeling of the Scottish people or of the Scottish team. Everyone congratulated them upon the spirit of the game, and said that the best team won. "It is the first I have heard of it," said Cecil Biggs, the Cardiff captain, to a representative. "The game was a pleasant one throughout, and the Scotsmen were delighted with it, not- withstanding-the fact that they happened to be on the losing side." Several Scotsmen have also expressed opinions denouncing Mr. Gray Stewart's charges, while the Warsonians and the University players who tour in Wales speak in high terms of their recep- tion there and the conduct of the Welsh players.

PEMBROKE COUNTY CLUB, LONDON. A Bohemian Musical Evening of a most en- joyable character was held on Saturday evening at the Hotel Provence, Leicester Square, by the kind invitation of the proprietor, Mr. J. T. Davies. Mr. T. Sydenham Jones, LL.D., pre- sided, and the musical arrangements were under the direction of Mr. P. S. Mason. During an interval the chairman announced that their old and true friend, Mr. W. Evans, had prepared an essay on the subject of "Business," and in calling upon that gentleman to read his paper, Dr. Sydenham Jones referred to Mr. Evans as one of the past chairmen of the club, and one who had done much for its welfare, and was a loyal friend of the county, and of the members of the County Club in London. Mr. W. Evans said that business" com- prehended nearly everything man was engaged in. It implied employment in some useful affairs for the purpose of profit or improvement. In strict terms it should be confined to those requiring skill and attention rather than physical labour. The true elements of business were virtue, truth, and knowledge; and in order to acquire happiness it was essential to cultivate religion, knowledge, and business, as well as a study of our particular business and activity of mind and body. To be happy in business, too, we must regulate our days so as not to become absorbed in any one of these elements to the exclusion of the others. Business was the truest test of virtue; it ex- tended civilisation, equalised the comforts of life, led to useful discoveries, favoured the spread of learning, and fostered advance in mind and morals, art, knowledge, and law, and moie than all, ensured liberty. Mr. Evans then detailed the needful bodily equipment for a successful business career and went on to say that while we lived in this world we must have an object in view, and must work at something. Self-neglect was as fatal to the body as to the soul; the mind could not exist inactively. The true business man thought not of the end he might fail, but he was determined to leave unturned no stone that would help to success. The means, not the end, was the central object in business and to assure the success of these the young should have instilled in them in early years, the necessity of cultivating the discipline of the mind to perform its important part in meeting the keen competi- tion of modern times. The world was too full of men who strove after nothing but useless honours they became loaded with impractical learning. Mr. Evans next touched on the value of counting-house experience in after life. All kinds of businesses paid equally well in the hands of those capable of managing them. The requisite qualities were strength, ingenuity, good address, and a strong nerve and enterprise. Calculating faculties, the very mind of busi- ness, was more than ever necessary in these days. If business men were dishonourable, so would be the character of-our countrymen in all parts of the globe. Rather let it be said of England, as of Tyre of old, Her merchants were princes, and her traffickers the honourable of the earth." Good-humour, good health, and politeness were minor virtues, but urgent to the 'man of business, who should not be too smooth," but have more of the cocoa-nut than the peach in him. Do not take too much advice," said Mr, Evans, in conclusion, steer your own ship, keep at the helm, and avoid excessive credits." The lecture was heartily applauded, and a vote of thanks was accorded to Mr. Evans. The chairman announced that the twelfth annual dinner would be held on Saturday, February 18th, at Holborn Restaurant.

H. S. JONES, (AP CAERALAW), Accompanist for Eisteddfodau, Concerts, &c. (also Humorous Songs and Sketches at Piano). For every Kind of Entertainment. Private or Public. Terms apply: 2, EMERSON ST., SOUTHWARK, S.E