Llangollen Advertiser Denbighshire Merionethshire and North Wales Journal

BILL BAITING. PUBLIC interest is still centred upon the educa- tion proposals of the Government almost to the exclusion of every other topic. It is satisfactory to find, also, indications of a desire to follow up the whirlwind of denunciation that the measure drew forth from certain quarters, with some- thing in the nature of calm constructiveness- It is because it is so easy to denounce and destroy, so hard to plan and build up, that this change in the tone of public criticism, which all who study their daily papers must have noted, is so widely appreciated and so genuinely welcomed. And it is when amateur legislators attempt to construct a scheme that will better answer the purpose for which it ia devised than that of which Mr. Balfour is the putative parent that they find it to be far easier to throw stones than to erect the targets that attract the attention of political discontents. It is quite true that there is no definite alternative proposal to that put forward by the Government before the public up to the present; but it may be anticipated in the near future,that is if any reasonable inference is to be drawn from the efforts of opponents of the Prime Minister's proposals to clear ground that cannot remain unoccupied. It is very plain to anyone who takes the most cursory notice of public opinion, as expressed through authorised channels, that the bulk of feeling in the country is decidedly against the Bill now before Parlia- ment. Were it possible to take a plebiscite on the question there is no reason to doubt what the result would be. The verdict would be overwhelmingly against the Government's pro- posal and we feel sure that this knowledge is gradually coming home to His Majesty's advisers. It is contended that, to a considerable extent, this feeling is due to misapprehension, or only partial apprehension, of the nature of the Bill. This may be true in part; but it must be conceded that the vital constitutional principles which are disregarded by the framers of the measure in their desire to further objects which they con- sider higher than any conservation of secular rights, are principles to which the majority of people are disposed to attach the utmost im- portance. There can be no question, however, that the Bill is an honest attempt ou the part of its authors to promote ends which they conceive to be for the highest good of the people of these realms. As Sir Theodore Martin points out, I the rigid honesty of Mr. Balfour's character sets he seal of genuine endeavour upon the Bill. It is devised with no mere desire to catch votes or to strengthen party ties, but purely as an effort to solve knotty problems, and it is in this light that it should be accepted and considered by conscientious politicians. There are those who, in this connection, tell us it is better to bear the ilia we have than fly to others that we know not of; in other words, that it is not well to take a leap in 'the dark. We are inclined to agree with them. At the same time it is not well to exaggerate the degree of perfection attaching to existing conditions. Sir Theodore Martin, may we suggest in a somewhat pessimistic spirit, describes the fruits of the existing system, as he views them, in another column; and there is no gainsaying the fact that many high authorities to-day take precisely the same view of the matter. Whether they are right or whether they are wrong is open to question; bur there is no questioning the sincerity with which they advance their contentions. If, however, the moral fibre and tone of the rising generation is suffering so severely because, in a- certain section of elementary schools, religious instruction finds no place in the curriculum, is it not perfectly fair to ask what are the numerous religious agencies, whose function and whose glory it is to supply that which has been deleted from School Board time tables, doing in the matter ?" Is the Church, the Chapel, or the Sunday School filling the admitted gap? Not if Sir Theodore's indictment be accepted as correct. This, of course, is by no means to say that these agencies are incapable of doing that for which the Rev Ivan T. Davies contended at Carwen, the other day, they should be held responsible it is only to suggest that there may be a need for greater activity on their behalf. Here, of course, for the sake of argument, we" accept as being accurate, the views which Sir Theodore takes of the condition of the rising generation. It may be admitted that the settlement of 1870 was never regarded by serious politicians as being a final adjustment of the problems dealt with. It is difficult to imagine anything akin to finality in legislation relating to the intricate questions connected with national education. At the same time it is quite fair to contend that that settle- ment shall not be interfered with otherwise than to promote progression. We do not think it i« possible to fairly argue that Mr. Balfour's sug- gestions are progressive on the contrary it i,;} perfectly fair to contend that they are retro- grade. They constitute an attempt to put back the hands of the clock—whether those hands have gone forward too fast is a matter for argument—but, at anyrate, the Government appear desirious of acting on this supposition Archdeacon Wynne Jones, in another column,, makes a suggestion that at anyrate has the charm of novelty. It is that the Bill should be adopted and given a three or five years' trial, its future fate, after the period of probation, to be determined by the report of a Royal Commission as to its success or non-success. Suggestions of this kind are very welcome, but it is hard to see how the tentative adoption of the measure could prove efficacious for the purpose named, simply because, in this connection, it would be difficult if it would not be impossible to secure a generally accepted definition of the term success in its application to national educa- tion. What to one party appears brilliant success to another spells abject failure, and can we illustrate this better than by pointing to the divergent views held in regard to Mr. Forster's education policy ? Judged from the point of view Sir Theodore Martin and many distinguished thinkers regard it, it is a deplorable error judged by another school of thought, equally eminent, it is one of the greatest boons ever conferred on the nation. The point which the present controversy ac- centuates above all others is the need for the greater cultivation of that degree of receptivity which enables men to accept and consider, apart from any question of political parentage, measures honestly conceived with a desire to improve national conditions. The earnest desire to discover grounds of common agreement rather than the perpetual search for and accentuation of grounds of difference-this is the line of conduct likely to secure the best results; and this is precisely the line of conduct that has been too persistently ignored in the discussion of the Education Bill now before the country.

LOCAL AND DISTRICT. The Rev. E. Myrddin Rees, of Pwllheli, will occupy the pulpit at Rehoboth Chapel, Llangollen, next Sunday. On Monday morning, a labourer, named Robert Edwards, well-knewn as Bob Tyn y Caeau," was found dead in a railway truck in the Great Western Railway Goods Yard. Edwards, who was about eighty years of age, had been engaged in unloading coal, and had evidently died suddenly. The body was removed to Edwards's lodgings in Price's-square, and interred yesterday (Thursday).. A concert was held in the Pavilion on Thursday evening in aid of the funds of the Cricket Club. The artistes included Miss Bridget Jones, L.R.A.M., Mrs. R. S. Richards, Glascoed, Mr. Edward Martell, Mr. Owen Roberts, R.A.M., Mr. Herber Jones ('cello), Mr. H. Nianis (elooutioniat), Mr. A. E. Floyd (accompanist), and theLlangellen Male Voice Choir. There will be a handsome surplus as a result of the concert. --+-- An esteemed correspondent writes: Last week, in London, Mr. Denmark fined a wretohed man j610 and ten guineas eosts, and a more wretched woman :£2, for setting a couple of bulldogs on a etray cat, in a place where the tortured animal had not even the off-chance of getting away. A spell of hard labour would have seemed a better deterrent against such crime. The involuntary spectators might well turn faint with horror. We want the teaching of Cowper revived in our schools- I would not call that man my friend Who needlessly sets foot upon a worm." Mr. Alfred E. Floyd, organist of the Parish Church, who was assisted by Mr. Edward Martell, St. John's College Choir, Cambridge, (tenor) and Mr. R. Lloyd Jones (baritone), gave an organ recital, which was much appreciated, after evensong, on Sunday. The following was the programme Gothic march, Salomb; Scotch eclogue, Salome; baritone solo, "Lord, God of Abraham" (ElI jail), Mendelssohn andante cantabile in G, S. S. Wesley canon in B minor, Schumann; tenor solo, He counteth all your sorrows" (Hymn of Praise), Mendelssohn; sonata in D minor (1st movement), Rheinberger. A collection was made in aid of the organ fund. At the meetings of the Central Welsh Board, held at Shrewsbury, on Friday last, the following report was received from he meeting of examiners, and approved by the Committee The Chief Inspector submitred the names of the best candi- dates for the Board's honours certificates, arranged in order in accordance with the specified conditions. Upon consideration of their peformances, the gold medal for 1902 was awarded to Eleanor Mary John, of Aberdare County School (English lapguage, Latin, French). It was also resolved that the following pupils, alphabetically arranged, should receive honourable mention Percy Ambrose Haverson, Friars School, Bangor; Ethel Cecilia Jones, Barry County School; George Ernest Laurie, Iotermt?diate School, Newport; Albert Garfield Odgers, County School for Boys, Wrexham Howel Pugh Roberts, Coanty School for Boys, Wrexham. Howel Pngh Roberts, it may be stated, was one of the most promising pupils ever trained at Llangollen County Schools. We congratulate him upon his continued success. A very successful concert took place at the Garth Board School, on Monday evening, over which the Rev. Thomas Morris, of Vroncyssylltau, presided the entertainment being in connection with the Noddfa Baptist Chapel. The artistes were:—Soprano, Miss Annie Williams, Garth; tenor, Mr. Edward Daniel Rawlands, Vroneyssylltau; bass, Messrs. Austin Williams and J. A. Williams. The reciters were Miss Rogers, Garth, Mr. D. 0. Morgan, Garth, and Mr. Enoch Roberts, Cefn Mawr the accompanist; o,ing Mnster Oscar Cook, Vroncyssylltau. The members of the "Rising Sun" Lodge, I.O.G.T.. Vronuyssylltau, held an entertainment in the Board Schools. (;[1 W^dne-day. Brother Benjamin Williams, P.D.O.T., Penybont, occupied the chair and gave a stirring address after which the programme, composed of glees, soloa, duets, recita- tions, and stump speeches, w!M readered by the Hope of Rhoatyllen Lodge, near Wrexham. The visitors were afterwards entertained to supper by the Vron members. On Wednesday evening the harvest festival services were commenced in connection with St. David's Church, Vroncyssylltau, The Rev. Gilbert Heaton conducted the service and the Rev. Mr. Davies, vicar of Penycae, preached an admirable sermon. The services will be continued on Thursday and Sunday. The re-opening services in connection with the Primitive Methodist Chapel, Vron, were con- cluded on Sunday last, when the Rev. J. Dudley. circuit minister preached able sermons afternoon and evening. The Great Western Railway advertise an excursion to New Brighton Eisteddfod, for SepG. 27th, and three, six or seven days t.dps' from Llangollen and Corwen to London, for Oct. 3rd and 25th.

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LLANGOLLEN RURAL DISTRICT COUNCIL. The monthly meeting of this authority was held in the Board Room, Llangollen, on Tuesday after- noon. Mr. R. Ellis (Llantysilio) presided, and the following members were also present: Mr. D. Jones (Trevor), Mr. R. M. Davies (Garth), Rev. J. S. Jones (Llantysilio), Mr. D. W. Roberts (Bryn- eglwys), Mr. J. Williams (Trefynant) and Mr. J. Roberts (Vron), with the Clerk (Mr. John Evans) and the Surveyor (Mr. John Williams). VRON WATER SUPPLY. Specimens of taps to be placed on the water supply pipes at Vron were laid before the Council; and it was decided to place two from different makers in position, to ascertain, by testing, which was the better to adopt. A ROYAL MESSAGE. The Clerk read a communication from Mr. Akers Douglas conveying the thanks of His Majesty King Edward VII. to the Council for the loyal and dutiful resolution which they adopted oR the occasion of Hia Majesty'tli Coronation.-It was decided to have the message framed and hung in the Board Room. HEALTH OF THE DISTRICT.. Dr. J. P. Drinkwater, Medical Officer of Health, submitted his annual report, in which he abates Since my last report your authority has been in a very healthy state, nearly free from notified diseases. Those that have been notified have been of a very mild form and stamped out by the use of the usual sanitary precautions, such as the free use of disinfectants, isolation, attendance to drains, sewage, eto. I have complied with the instructions of the Local Government Board in case of any out- break of small-pox, but as there has been no case in your authority the sending of a monthly report has been discontinued. I consider that if there had been any importation of small-pox that it would have been nearly impossible for it to have spread, even in a modified form, as nearly all the residents have been re-vaccinated in your authority." —The report was ordered to be entered on the minutes. WILFUL DAMAGE. Attention was drawn to the wilful damage done to water taps at Vron and it was decided to take drastic step\! with a view to punish offenders when deteoted. FINANCE. The Clerk submitted his estimate of expenditure and the proposed precept for the half-year. They had, he said, from d&GO to £ 05 in hand at the end of the half-year; and at the corresponding period of last year they had jEllO Is. 3d. They had been doing with a half-penny, rate and gradually decreasing the balance in hand. He suggested that a three-farching rate be made for the ensuing six months. This was agreed to and the Council adjourned.

LLANGOLLEN COUNTY SCHOOL. CENTRAL WELSH BOARD ANNUAL EXAMINATION, 1902. The results of the late annual examination have just been received and, as far as they concern Llangollen County School, are as follows SENIOR. Cyril F. Entwistle passed in composition, history, mathematics, French (with conversation); dis- tinguished in English language, arithmetic and Latin. Emily M. Harvey passed in history, arithmetic, mathematics; distinguished in composition, English language, Latin and French (with con- versation). Enoch C. Jones passed in composition, history, Frenoh, elementary science, mechanics; dis- tinguished in English language, arithmetics, mathematics and Latin. Eric H. Olley passed in composition, mathematics, Latin, French (with conversation), elementary science; distinguished in English language and arithmetic. Alex. R. D. Wetherall passed in composition, English language, history, arithmetic, mathematics, French, elementary science. James Roy Williams passed in composition, English language, history, arithmetic, mathematics, Latin, French, elementary science. Robert Bruce Wilson passed in composition, history, French (with conversation), mechanics; dis- tinguished in English language, arithmetic, mathematics, Latin, and elementary science. Eighteen seiaior distinctions. JUNIOR. Howel Oscar Cook passed in composition, English, scripture, history, mathematics, French (with conversation); distinguished in arithmetic. Ewart Davies passed in composition, scripture, English, arithmetic, mathematics and French. Gladys Edwards passed in composition, English, history, arithmetic, mathematics and French. R. Sydney Entwistle passed in composition, English, history, arithmetic, French (with conversation), geography and book-keeping. Mabel Evans passed in scripture, Freach, domestic economy, cooking distinguished in composition, English, arithmetic and botany. Jen'nie Hughes passed in composition, scripture, mathematics, French; distinguished in English and arithmetic. Catherine J. Jones passed in composition, scripture, English, arithmetic, French, botany, domestic economy and cooking. Lilian B Littlehales passed in composition, scripture, English, arithmetic, mathematics, French (with conversation), botany, domestic economy and cooking. Linda Morrison passed in composition, scripture, English, history, mathematics, French, botany; distinguished in arithmetic. Thomas Tudor Rees passed in composition, arith- metic, mathematics, scripture, English, French (with conversation). Annie Roberts passed in composition, scripture, English, mathematics, French, domestic economy, cooking distinguished in arithmetic. Nine junior distinctions. R. Bruce Wilson and Enoch C., Jones have passed in the subjects which make the Senior Examination equivalent to the King's Scholar- ship (it will be remembered that R Bruce Wilson has also taken King's Scholarship by passing London Matriculation, first division, last July he is entering the Day Training Depart- ment, University College, Bangor). Upon the result or this examination the Internal Scholarships, of 15 each (given to pupils already in the school), have been awarded to Enoch C. Jones, Llansilin (under 16 years of age), and It. Sydney Darlington, Llangollen (under 13 years of age). FORTHCOMING SALE OF WORK. A meeting of ladies and gentlemen interested in the scho ))s was held on Tuesday last, with a view to making arrangements for holding a Sale of Work to endeavour to raise the sum of £ 350. Mrs, Barnes presided snd the following were present amongst orhers, Mr. and Mrs. W. G. Dodd, Miss Williams (Ah Ithel), Rev. and Mrs. \V. Foulkes, Mrs. Davies-Jones, Mrs. E. D. Jones, Miss Davies, Ty Coch, Mrs. Roberts, Fronhyfryd, Mr. James Darlington, Mr. Rdph Darlington, Mr. E. Fouikes- Jenes, Rev. J. S. Haworth, Mr. H. R. Olley, (headmaster), Mi-s Gwytber, MissLoe, Miss Hughes, Mr. J. Lias Davies and Mr. Carno Jones. It was unanimously decided to hold a sale of work ab m: next Whitsuntide. Mrs. Barnes was appointed president, Mrs. Robert*, F o n hyf ryd, treasurer, Miss Jones, Canoldre and Miss Rowlands, Castle-street, joint secretaries. Several ladies and gentleman undertook to take charge of several stalls and the meeting was adjourned to October 2nd, at 3 p.m.

HALF HOUR WITH SIR THEODORE. THE OLD ORDER AND IRE NEW. I WAS fortunate enough to find Sir Theodore Martin, K.C.B., "at home" on Monday when I called at the romantically-situated residence of Bryntisilio, about a mile from Llangollen (writes our representative). It would be difficult any- where in these fair realms of Britain to discover a fairer panorama of mountain and river scenery than that which spreads out below the terrace of the House Beautiful," as the late Poet Browning described the summer abode of the royal biographer and the late Lady Martin (Miss Helen Faucit) upon one of his memorable visits to the beautiful Welsh hill-country. Sir Theodore is a striking type of that grand old school of courtly English gentlemen, the cultured courtier and polished man of letters, whose intellectuality, shining from a dozen differ- ent facets, illuminates all that it is reflected upon. Far more conspicuously the scholar and the philosopher than the man of affairs at all times, he finds to-day that the burden of over four score years that sit so lightly on his shoulders favour compliance with the desire for retirement and contemplation rather than active participation in the swiftly revolving whirlpool of twentieth, century activities. It is, however, because Sir Theodore has so accurately gauged the merits of the old order that changes, giving place to the new, that I judged any expression of opinion he might give upon questions of out-standing public interest would be received with attention to-day, and more particularly was I concerned to hear his views on the trend of education legislation. Sir Theodore frankly admitted that he was not familiar with the details of Mr. Balfour's pro- posals but, he said, his personal friendship with the Prim6 Minister, his familiarity with his views and aspirations, taught him that the source of inspiration was pure and undefiled. Mr. Balfour was not the man to give up to party what was meant for mankind, and his conscience and his country's good were ever with him the foremost considerations—far before any thought of mere party gain. He admitted that Sir John Gorsts' disappear- ances was perplexing, for Sir John was a strong man where matters educational were concerned, but he supposed, even in these days, back-stair influences might be at work. In answer to questions, he stated that the result of Mr. Forster's Education Bill was something worse than a failure. The fruits on the tree then planted are ripening, and to Sir Theo- dore they are not pleasant fruits to contemplate. The rising generation in our large towns and cities, that the School Board system is training, is a deplorable product-deplorable, deplorable The sweetness of manners, the innocence of thought and action, the reverence for age and all that is pure and good-these are fast disappearing. And what is taking their place ? A spurious sharpness, the extension of so-called cleverness, the multiplication of character in which the moral fibre is either warped or decaying. You cannot go through the streets of the great centres of population without being struck by this fact; and the comparisons that 1 draw between the present generation and the children of half- a-century ago fill me with misgivings as to the future. And why is this change taking place-why have we to deplore this deterioration ? Unhesi- tatingly I say that it is because you are neglecting more and more to traiu that side of the character of the child upon the development of which its whole future conduct must depend. Yon are not educating the rising generation, for there can be no true education that is not based upon the adequate conception of moral obligations that comes with religious training." I guardedly pointed out that, to a cartain extent, the over-zealousness of contending schools of religious thought might be. held responsible for the elimination of religious teaching altogether from certain of our schools, to which Sir Theodore replied: "Well has Lucretius phrased it, Ah, religion, what works are wrought in thy name l' The sects and the cliques—for some of the many varying schools of opinion hereabouts are only cliques—are not battling for the spread of truth and the diffusion of knowledge, but for the exaltation of their own particular circle of sup- porters. There is nothing of the true spirit of religion in this, of the spirit that teaches sub- missiveness and it is a national calamity that education should be made a bone of contention, regarding which this heated struggle takes place. The whole tendency of the times is in the wrong direction, and education is feeling the results of the suicidal policy that opened the floodgates to a democracy that threatens to sweep away all the grand old landmarks of our national life. It is difficult to see where it will end!" exclaimed Sir Theodore. I suppose you have seen the recent series of articles in the Times, indicating the extent to which Socialism, is creep- ing into our municipalities. These are facts—sad and depressing facts, but facts nevertheless—and they indicate that the time is approaching when the services of the best, the truest and the ablest may not be at the disposal of the public- because the public service will be degraded and debased." The flood-gates having been opened, Sir Theodore admitted it was difficult, it might be impossible, to stem the torrents, that gathering force speedily become the roaring rapids of Socialism, carrying all before them. Mr. Balfour's bill, he trusted, might prove an effective one, as he was confident it was a sincere attempt to stem that flood, by arresting the progress of non- religious education and securing that all teaching in the future shall be based upon the eternal verities that are the basic principles of national greatness. Then Sir Theodore touched upon the evil results of the system in another direction. It has. he says, thrown our social economy out of gear. The British workman, the glory of his race, is no longer the model of the rising genera- tion. "They decline, to-day," he says. "to perfect themselves in useful handicrafts,to follow the occupations in which their fathers excelled. No they must be clerks or what not; and day by day I receive ill-spelled and badly-written letters, praying me to find clerical situations for lads whose right place is at the bench or in the workshop. "This is what the education of the present is doing—multiplying the unfit, turning out boys and girls untrained to support the high moral burdens handed down to them from the past; and the more you persist with a purely secular educa- tion, the more you will increase the terrible menace to the future of our beloved country." Then Sir Theodore bowed me out to read the marvellous object lessons of beauty which the Divine Teacher has written in hill and vale and swelling upland, combining in a picture of in- effable beauty beneath the splendid crimson of the dying sky, from the terrace of his beautiful Welsh home.