Evening Express

METEOROLOGICAL NOTES. TEMPERATURE AND RAINFALL. Ihn: TEMfKllATrRK Degrk,:s Max. eaU I OF FITOST. Sunday '17 35 24 29*5 8 Monday 18 35 23 29 0 9 Tuesdav |19 36 28 32 0 < Tuesdav |19 36 28 320 < We r.esday 20 38 28 33'0 4 Thursday .21 38 27 32"5 5 Friday i22 39 31 35 0 0'1 Saturday. i23 40 32 36'0 0 K'L'euu.erature represents extreme rea ding of the h.-1'lnometer for 24 ,.(,Ilrs ended 9 a.m., taken in the shadeat Cwrt-y-Vil, Peuarth.

LLANDAFF CATHEDRAL SERVICES. QTNUQCAGESMA SUNI) .Y, S. MATTHIAS (February 24).-In residence The Very Rev. the Dean and the Ven. the Archdeacon of Monmouth. Holy Com- munion Mid-day. Morning fe Deum, Jubilate, and Kyrie and Credo Cobb in G anthem, If ye love Me pIouk) hymn, 210 preachtr, the Arch- deacon. Afternoon: Litanv hymn, 254 anthem, "Blessed be the God" (Wesley) hymn, 428; preacher, the Rev. MinorCanon Downing. Monday. February 25. Stainer in E flat; iintheriis, Thlou shall the righteous" and Happy and blest (Mendelsshoni. Tuesday, February 26.-Tours in F; hymn, 193. Asti Wednesday, February 27.—Holy Communion, eight 11,.111, Morning: Dykes in F Miserere (•Stainer) hymns, 94 and 184. Afternoon Gibbons in F anthem, Come, and let us return (Goss). TLursdav, February 28:-Attwoofl in F; hymn, 207. Friday, March 1.—Russell in A; autiiem, "Lord, for Thy tender mercies' suke" (Farrant). Saturday, March 2. Brooksba.nk in E flat; anthem. Blessed ire thay (Monk).

Telephone, Natiou.il, 002; rcwt-office, 95. Telegrams, "Mull," Cardiff.

'f 'Œ8I"n NOTE S. BY "OBSERVER." CARDIFF, Saturday Morning. There is listlessness in tho air. The mild weather we are now enjoying has a relaxing-, and, to some extent, enervating, influence, anc the meteorological conditions are reacting on our every day life, with the result that a kind of I alf-alive spirit is abroad. Tha papers rc- flect the prevalent slackness, and the whilom enthusiastic sub-editor leans Oa<k in despair of securing a. curdling s-euoatioii for his paper. Not only so, but lar^ numbers of people aie laid Rf-ide w;t1, ■ '■knetja. Some affect to be- lieve that <1 is .01: ^uroad. Sicknees there is, but the dear, good old "Lancet" as- st rw us that it is not influenza, so sufferers have not even that fashionable consolation. There yet ren^ains, however, this tving mercy j they may style it catarrh. When a. man has [ a cold, well, 'tis nothing; but when he lias catarrh there is really no holding him down, so much is there in a name. A number ..f lofal journalists are ill, and the public may take I-, that when a scribe takes to his room, and, still more. to hid bed, there is somothin;? -trious the matter. At leaat, one Cardiff pressman is itlst now dangerously ill: lirt has the earnest wishes of his colleagues for a sjKvdy and complete recovery. Now -that Mr. Lloyd, the late deputy-town- olerk. is gone. the authorities appear to ex- perience cme difficulty in tilling his place. Indeed, they intend doing so by creating several appointments. This is undeniably a compli- ment to Mr. Lloyd, and one that carries with it 'the stamp of good faith. In fact, it is the most satisfactory testimonial that could pos- sibly Le forthcoming as to his abilities. The unfortunate unpleasantness concerning one of our leading architects and the corpo ration is causing a good deal of gossip in the neighbourhood. An explanation of the diffi oulty may be found in the fact that the whoh facts are "lot as yet before the public, WIK are, therefore, not in a position to judge correctly of the pros. and cons, of tlie ques tion. Perhaps the publication of Mr. Seward's letter may assist in bringing matters to a. head, which is very desirable for the sake of all parties concerned. Upon my word, t.here are some bold men abotit The latest is a clergyman, who writes to our contemporary in advocacy of disestab lishment. The rer. gentleman's screed is in- troduced with all the glory and fanfare of appropriate captions; but. alap, when we get to the end. nothing greets us but a miserable nom de plume. If tliis is a "springe to catch woodcocktj," it is a sufficiently clumsy one. On Monday nfght our wretched little Government will proceed to deal with the disestablishment of the English Churoh in W ales. A more ridiculous position never was, that a little twopenny halfpenny Ministry, liable to go to the wall any evening over any question, should presume to attack an insti- tution 1.500 years old! If ever there were an instance of Dignity and Impudence in politics, surely we can ind it here! Whilst we hear a .TeaT deal ibout providence amongst men. the same fine (juality amongst women is not nearly so often insisted upon. Nevertheless, it is every whit as important in the la'tter as the former. Friendly Society lodges for the special benefit of females are comparatively few and far between, and special interest, therefore, attached to the opening of one at Swarnea. this week in connection with the Foresters, when some distinguished local ladies spoke. In the course of the proceedings it was men- tioned tha.t the..Fore-sters have nearly 100 female courts, and it would be a. good tiling if other friendly societies looked up this particular de- partment of providence. Next month Lady Llewelyn will address a meeting at Swansea 011 friendly society work, and I commend her example to ladies at Cardiff and elsewhere. Sir Robert Ball (whom we have no't heard at Cardiff for a long while) spoke at Newport the other evening 011 "The Great Ice Agoc." In the course of his remarks the genial Lowndeau pro- fessor observed tlia* astronomerwere some- times supposed to be responsible in tome r.'tasurtj for the vagaries of the weather. He had been told in several quarters that he was understood to lulve made a prophecy that the fiost was going to last eleven weeks. He was asked if he made suoh a prophecy. His answer was, "Wait till the eleven weeks are over, and I will tell you." He had now no hesitation in saying that he never made that, prophecy! A writer in the Loudon "Daily News," dealing with the interesting question of buried marsh villae» s, >:ays there exist*; a tradition from remote ages, and is handed down from age to ape, that there is a buried marsh village in that arreat marsh called Llanllwch, near Carmarthen, South Wales, through part of which the Great Western Railway runs to Haverfordwest, Sea. Llan means church, and 11 well a lake, the same as the Scotch loch. Llanllwch Church stands on the verge of the great marsh bearing its name. In the old written and published tradi- tions of Carmarthen, and the predictions attri- buted to Merlin, the ancient sage, buried on Merlin's-hill, near that town, whose mound is to be seen to this day, it is said, being trans- lated into English—"Llanllwch" (the marsh town) "was. Carmarthen now stands, and Aber- gwili shall remain." The meaning of which is that the marsh town, Llanllwch, existed before Carmarthen was built, and that Aber- gwili is to supersede Carmarthen. The same correspondent heard it said that soma remains were discovered many years ago in that marsh. The great anti-tr-i n cause cioes not appear to make much pro.. The annual meeting of the society specially devoted to the extinc- tion of The weed wan but sparsely attended. One speaker fa reverend), complaining of the wide- w, L w nowadays a. man kept his pipe alight almost to the church door. and he should not be surprised if. ere long, a demand were made for "smoking pews." He was informed that a.bout three- fourths even of the Wesleyan Methodist minis- ters were consumers of tobacco. Surely a fear- ful state of things At the conclusion of the conference the fol- lowing resolution was passed: — "That as medical r.«en everywhere tes- 1 if y that juvenile smoking tends to prevent the full development of the physical and mental powers, thus uirectlv threatening the vigour and stamina of the com- ing rac-i; as many youtlis are now confessing themselves hopelessly enslaved by this unmanly and euetvating ie ilgence, aiid as the acquire- ment of th ? habit by boys is to many of tlu ni notoriously 'the first step 011 the downward road': this meeting earnestly entreats parents, teachers of youth, and ministers of the Gospel to strenuously oppose the habit by precept and example TILi, meeting further urges upon school ljoards and committees the pressing necessity of adjusting their hygienic teaching to the facts of every day life by enlightening the boys and girls whom Providence has entrusted to their care 011 the true nature and effects of the use of alcohol, tobacco, and other narcotics." I am not pr^paied to deny that smoking may exercise a "tuntLllrr influence: but how comes it that nearly all centenarians, women not exdrded, are pxs.sior.ate devotees of the pipe? 1 can imagine one of these antiquated puffers nuking very short and contemptuous work of the anti-tobacco league and its pretentions, nor would it be <asy to traverse the experience of a hundred years.

CARDIFF PUPIL TEACHERS. DISTRIBUTION OF PRIZES AT THE HIGHER GRADE SCHOOL. On Friday evening in the lecture theatre of the Higher Grade School, Cardiff, Mr. Lewis Williams, chairman of the Cardiff School Board, iistributed the science and art certificates in con- nection with the pupil teachers' centre. There were present the Rev. J. Morgan Jones (chair- man of the pupil teachers' school committee). Mr. Charles Morgan, B.A. (head-mastei teachers' centre). Mr. Farnsworth (assistant). Dr. Treharne, Professor Virianiu Jones, Mr. Whitmell (H.M.I, of Schools), Mr. Jacksoi. (Cardiff inspector), Mr. Waugli (head-inaste; Higher Grade Schools), &c. The attendance o! juveniles was large-—The Rev. J. Morgan Jones having given an address eulogising tin Higher Grade School, and the work carried 01 in it, Mr. Charles Morgan (in his report as head master) stated that the past year had been full of difficulties. The school had suffered, as it -eemed to be the fate of Cardiff educational in -titutions to surfer. from want of suitable ac comodation, and the work, in consequence, had been much hampered. They occupied at pre "H.t the Sunday School of Salem Welsh Baptist Chapel, using the Higher Grade Schools 01; Monday and Saturday mornings. The nHlnber- Oil the roll had varied from 150 to 140. the pre -ent number Ixung 141. including students iron all the board schools and -ome of the voluntary schools. The anu.al examination.- for pupil teachers were held in October last when 8] presented themselves. The result II pre llOt yet to hand, but, as they had ap peared, the following students had distinguisht-: themselves :—Agnes Johnston and Et-he1 Morgan lAdamsdown School), Ada Harne t Albany-road). Hannah James and Leal *Vade (Eleanor-street), Edith Thomas (More .and-road), May Needham, Gwen Howells Elizabeth Perkins, and Florence Mulligai (Kadnor-road). Milly Coates (Splotlands), J. J. Cann and Maud Little (Staoey-road) \fadg-e Phillips and William Williams (Wood 4-reet). At the Queen's Scholarship exami- nations in July last 27 sat resulting iu si? Ii.rst8, fourteen seconds, four t.]¡ ird", ami thie. failures, two of the latter being boys. Tin highest places were taken by W alter Ken drick, 'X 0. 54, out of l.M4; and Florenc- Williams, 150. and Beatrice Prophett, 154 out. of 4.455. At. the board's examination during the year .the highest places were taken bv Hannah Grant. Mabel Jacques, am Walter Ivendrick. of Severn-road, and Jarne rl. James, of Grangetown., A growing pro portion of the student; had been doing uni- versity work, in addition to the pupil teachers' curriculum, and two boys had passed the London niatricu'a>t:on, these being the fu..1 during the 21 years of the board's existence. They have since entered the university col lege—Walter Kendriolcas an exhibitioner, anc Joseph Ca.nn as a. Craddook Wells scholar. -8 the result of the examinations in Jun> 26 nioiik-re>ses entered in August, and art ,lo1'king wPlI; two in particular—Margarot Thomas (Splotlands) and Evelyn Raggut; deserving of much com inendation. The report, in oonüh13ioll, re- ferred to th", success of Miss E. M» Tljomac. a former studmlt of tile eHüilL6 classes, whu entered the Cardiff Day Training College in 1891. and who at the completion of her college course passed the B.A. examination, London University, in the first division.—Mr. Lewi Williams was then called upon. and. before distributing the 180 certificates in the elemen- tary and advanced divisions, remarked that he had now attained his majority—(laughter) -or twenty-first birthday.in connection with tlie Cardiff School Board. Cardiff had dtve lorsed^ until thev had 17.000 or 18,000 in the ^choolis, and they now contemplated exten- sions to provide for 4,000 more, so that the family under the care of the Cardiff School TV)arc! had become a very hrg-e one, indeed. Laughter.) Having oxnrcssed pleasure that the advantages they had to offer were shared by teachers from the voluntary schools, as well as from the board schools, lie hoped that teachers would recognise the importance of matriculating before presenting themselves for the Queen's Scholarship, as a further qualification for obtaining appointments in the future. (Applause.) Mr. Williams then gave away the certificates, and at the ciose wa." warmiv thanked for doinff so, all t.he motion of Mr. Whitmell, seconded by Mr. Waugli. :md supported by Mr. Tom John. Llwynypia. —A glee was well sung during the first parr of the proceedings, and the whole concluded with a capitally-played fa roe.

HELP THE LITTLE ONES. MR. PERCY THOMAS APPEALS TO YOU ON THEIR BEHALF. To the Editor of the 'Evening Express." Sir,—Let nobody suppose that, because the fiost has partially gone and a thaw has set in, that destitution amongst little children is any less. The thaw has brought with it a raw cold- ness which is productive of much sickness, and that chiefly umong adults. Consequentl.y^ the little ones should be just now the objects of our dcejoest sympathy and commiseration. I am feeding as luuiv of them this week as I did last week and the week before, but money is not- coming in half so well. I should be bitterly disappointed if I have to confess my in ibi'ity to ni^et all the demands nade upon me., for I know they are real and pitiuble. Will v our readers come to my r.'d? I am a Lusy man, and can only address them in this wav.— I am, &c., PERCY THOMAS.

SOCIAL AND PERSONAL INTERESTING PARS. ABOUT IN- TERESTING PEOPLE. The Earl of Dunraven is better. According to am Aniencan (contemporarv, the clerccyman with the .-trangest name on record is a minister of tlle Presbyterian Church, in the State 01 New York, named the ltey. Euore Paradise. Professor Blackie, of Edinburgh, has recently written a review of Froude's "Erasmus," a fact which r-hows that, if less active than he used t" be. he still retain* his interest in passing events. The Professor, needless to ay, is a great adnv'rer of Erasmus. A lady masseur has written to the secretary of the Speaker of the House of Commons sug- gesting that. in addition to the baths which have recently been erected, "'massage, being a great recuperative agent to the nervous system after a great mental strain following on a long debate," should be added. The Queen, who is expected at Nioe on the 15th of March, will (a Paris correspondent says) drive to the hotel at Cimiez by the Avenue de la Gare, Boulevard Dubouchage, and Boulevard de Cimiez. The autthoritie»s have hired at Villa d'Auvare. near the con- vent. lodging for 25 soldiers and a. lieutenant, who will remain at Cimioz during the Queen'ts visit. The decay of the trade in valentines is the burden of a letter issued by Mr. Melbourne, of Stoke Newington-road, London. "I used to employ twenty girb," he says, "all tit" year round on vaVntine boxes onlv. and have had ciders for 1.200 gross at a time. I now get twenty gross in a year." Mr. W. S. Caine, M.P., tells an amusing •story. The lion, member follows the nrin- cipliv; laid down by Dr. Jaeger, and believes in the gospel of wool. During one contost he was informed that his canvassers were unable to convince a certain rough working man. Mr. Ca.ine asked them to try and get him to one of the meetings. He was given a seat near the platform, and early in his speech Mr. Caine observed he was making considerable iIJl1"'(>ioH npon the recalcitrant voter, and concluded that he must be follow- ing the right line of argument. But- he soon discovered tht it was not eloquence that was j bringing this elector round, for, in a loud whisper, which was heard all around him, the man s;rd to his n^ii'ldy-iur, "I shall vote for that fellow, he doesn't- wetr c-uffs."

Healing Rill in a Grotto. STORIES OF SOME REMARK- ABLE CURES. It Contains Water Taken from Lourdes and is the Outcome of a Priest's Strange Dream. Hidden away under the great altar of St. Aioysius Church at Covington, in America, is a grotto embossed with rock, from whose sacredly smitten Iissues a musical little rill of clear, cold water that goes singing 011 its way as steadily as the seconds stream from the dial of time. Near the fountain of water or ril] stands a carved figure of the Virgin Mary to the right, while to the left is a marble altar supporting seven candies. A wicker fence separates the grotto from a chamber that is filled with seats. Here come the sorrowful and heavy-laden and find a sanctuary away from tha cla«h and clamour of the world outside. Not only do the sorrowful and prayerful pay their devotions at this beautiful and quiet shrine, but the sick bring their afflictions and here find a surcease of pain. For about seven years this grotto has been in existence, under the supervision of the Rev. Joseph A. Blenke, and stamped with the pontifical indulgence of Pope Leo. About six years ago Father Blenke dreamed three successive dreams of a grotto hidden under the altar of a church, whose healing waters relieved thousands of prayerful sufferers. After the first dream, hieh was a strangely impressive one, he Llwvght little of the vision that visited him, but when again a.nd again the picture pre vented it-self to his slumbers he resolved to find It out and bring its waters to the rescue ot sufferers in his parish. At last he located the grotto at a place in the Pyrenees Mountains, between Tarbes and Pau, in the town oi Louides, where he found thousands of afflicted persons making their pilgrimage in search oi health. This miraculous fountain has since become known to most of the civilised worlo a8 a health report. From every portion oi Europe its praises are sung. Father Blenke brought bottles of the magic water home with him, and at once set about building a grottu, winch is completed, a re-production of that at J-owdes. Suffering and afflicted people visit- ing the Covington grotto have been wondei Lv Ily cured by drinking this Lourdes water in Father Blenke's grotto and by virtue of faith and prayer. "We prefer," said he, ..to keel iheie cures as quiet possible. We don 1 ,.1re to boast alxtut them." And yet somt, if not all, would be found interesting if theii .miration could be accompanied by the name If the beneficiaries. These, however, ai\ withheld. Last summer a gentleman came h .1;0 grotto stone blind, whom the physician itad acknowledged to be beyond their skill, t'rayers were offered up for him, and he dran. a few bottles of the Lourdes water, and 11 a few weeks went away with his eyesigh Lhcioughly restored. He is <t resident o. o'ovington. A few months ago a child tha. had fallen from a. second storey window wa ;n a shattered, unconscious condition. It Lemn the physician had endeavoured to rector > ,t in vain. The child was taken to thegrottc .Il,ere the magic water was given it, am prayers offered. In .1 short while its l'ol1sciou.. uc-s ret tuned, and it was removed III a greats improved condition, and was entirely we* in a short time. Cases of tumours have beei jured, and ill proof of the cures the objection • tide excrescence has in a few cases been brough uaek to Father Bienke, as substantial tctiti iiionv. Epileptic* tib, St. Vitus's dance, an*, amidreds of other ailments and afflictions 11a\\ ,¡een relieved at the magical grotto, but nevei iias any kind of fee for the cures been taken. J'iie fame úf the place has spread far aiu i'ide. and rests upon substantial evidence 0, ,¡() duÚve character. :torie6 to the dfed thaI fhe- spirit of the Blessed Virgin returns at .u tain liuoivals to the grotto are in circula- tion. It is :t recognised belief that such visit tre paid rigularly to the grotto at Lourde- L'he St. Aioysius grotto stands welcoming it devout visitors under- a low ceiling dimly light., I by a few tapers, inviting deep meditation, il flection, and devout prayer. The grotto ha its beautiful setting of rocks, vines, and white winged birds, its kneeling-places, and its pit., ture-s, its poetry, and its music, but in a shon time a thorough change in its appointment will take place.

CRICKET IN THE INDIES. INCIDENTS OF THE ENGLISH TEAM'S FIRST MATCH. Describing the tirst match of the Engiish team in the West Indies, the special corespou dent of the "Sportsman" writes :—On Tuesday January 29, we started early for the ground, all. were fortunate in doing so. as the block iv Broad-street, the principal thoroughfare, wa- like Hyde Park Corner on the Vestry Day. Tin Governor had granted thiii dav and the ;;10I'1t, as public holidays throughout the island, am, the influx of country people was enormous, special trains being run for tlw occasion 011 pro balfly the most primitive of railways which hac never paid any dividends sillce it was opened, l'he individual members of the team wert loudly cheered when recognised as they drove to the ground clapping of hands and shouts of "Success" and "Good luck' greeting them. Substantial stands had been erected to accom modate about 20.000 people, with a charge of ±22 per head for those in the best positions, and tht tickets for the whole were sold in less than two hours from the time the lists were opened. Tilt whole of the ground had been enclosed by a high wooden fence, and every coign of 'vantage, ever to high palm trees, Ira., crowded with black humanity. One of the trees fell, though 110 one seemed to be hurt. In another part, out side the ground, on some private property, tin police actually cut the tree down as being tin only means of causing the occupants to des cend. Quite 6,000 people paid for admission, while there was a large crowd outside who wer, looking through the cracks in the fence, and on tne second day. not being oatisfied with thi,- limited vision, they improved the situation bv cutting holes to peep through. We w on tin toss, and the wicket looking in g-ood order. \I ¡. batted J-ir8t. but werl;1 800n undeceived, :1"; it would be difficult to imagine a more unplayabh wicket, every ball getting straight up. We un- derstand that some miscreant had flooded tin ground in the night by turning on the main which supplied the ground with tvater. It was suppoeed to ha-vt been done by one of the natives out of spite, be caui-e the ground had been enclosed and an en- trance fee charged, it being the first time that Sambo had over been asked to put his hand in his pocket (when he had any) to witness a cricket, match. The ground is situated at Ken- sing-ton, about a mile out "of town. As we found out later, a perfect adamant- wicket can be obtained, although the out-fielding is not so good as we have been accustomed to. We made a very poor show in our first venture, all out for 48, against the bowling of C. Goodman, who stands about 6ft. 4in., weighs about seven- teen stone, and bowls with a high delivery, right hand, medium pace. Of course the ground helped him considerably. The pitch was improving fast when they went ill, alld tht'.1 were soon disposed of for 100. Later in the day, Sewell and Lucas hit up 105 m fifty minutes, but it rained again in the nigiht, and the wicket was again very difficult, and we soon got out the next morning. Only those accustomed to tropical climates can realise how soon the t1ffed of the sun can change the state of the wicket. In the afternoon it was again easy, and we lost the match by five wickets.

A SCIENTIFIC FEAT. HOW MR. COOPER CHADWICK WROTE HIS BOOK. To the Editor of the "Evening Express." Sir,Tn a recent issue vou refer to a ,oieutiio fe.it which has been performed in the case of a Mr. Cooper Chadwick, who lost both his hands by a gun accident, and allude to the artificial members 11" has been provided with by a maker in Txmdon. One of the statements made is that by means of one of these instru- ments he wrote the MS. of his look, Three Years with Lobfngula." Will you kindly allow me, as a, friend of Mr. Cooper Chadwick, to correct this, as the MS. was written even under worse conditions, viz., by means of an ordinary pen tied to the stump of ixis arm. I should like thj., version published, as in the preface to his book, he refers to the manner in which it was written, and those who have reau the work might, 011 perusing your article, be under the impression that he had not ad- hered strictly to the truth. As a. matter of fact, the MS. was written some months pre- vious to the ius" lImeDtii referred to being supplied. I could wish that .my friend was as independent as your article would make him out to be. and. I 'should ndd. for the informa- tion of those who have lost eitdier one or both hands (and I have received several letters ask- ing advice on the subject), that in practice the appliances have not. been found of much use to him—in fwt. none of the instruments, ex- cept the knife, fork, -and spoon, arc ever used. 1. —I a.m. Ac J. Eo LAWLER. 36, Lime-street. Fencliureii-str^ Feb. 22.

She Hanged Herself. MOTHER SUICIDES WHEN SHE AWAKES. Husband Goes Mad when He Sees Her Dead Body and Jumps from the Bed- room Window. A Dalziel's telegram from Lyons says :—A distressing incident occurred at Bourgoin, near this city, yesterday. A mother overlaid her baby during the night, On waking to find it was dead she was seized with such despair that she hanged herself there and then. When the husband came home the ghastly spectacle pre- sented itself to his ejes, causing hiai to go mad, Seizing a rifle, he would have shot himself were it not for the interference of some neighbours. The man wa.s carefully guarded to frustrate any further suicidal efforts, but escaped the vigi- lance of his friends, and, jumping out of the window, broke his leg aad received injuries which appear to be fatal.

WELSH CHORAL FESTIVAL. PREPARING FOR THE ANNUAL GATHERING IN LONDON. The Wdsli Choral Festival will again be held this year at St. Paul's Cathedral, on the eve of St. David's Day, February 28, when the sermon will be preached by the Rev. David Riclards: M.A., Vicar of Blaenau Festiniog. l'ho choir, which numbers about 300 voices, is under the <onductorship of Mr. Edward Owen, R.A.M.. ((organist and choirmaster of St. Bente's Welsh Church, London). Mr. D. J. rhon.as (organist and choirmaster of Hanover Church and 01 the Welsh services, All Saints, Margaret-street, London) will preside, for the foL'ith time at the organ. The solos will be nng by Messrs. Emlyn Jones, R.A.M and LIlIlyn Davies, R.C.M. Tickets for seats under the dome may be had from the lion, sec., the Rev. Morris Robert, 31, Balfour-road. London, N, and not from the Cathedral authorises.

TOOK OPIUM. CURIOUS CONDUCT OF AN OLD WOMAN AT BIRMINGHAM. The city coroner (Mr. Oliver Pemberton) held an inquest at the Victoria. Courts, Bir- mingham, on Friday, relating to the death of Elizabeth Hopkins. 79, the widow of William depkins, ironfounder's manager. Deceaseu tor some time past had lived with her married laughter, Mrs. Reynolds, at 131, Stratford- oad, and had for many years been in the habit ot taking opium. On Saturday last Mrs Reynolds had occasion to ppeak to deceased ibout an accusation she was alleged to havt nade against her son-in-law. Deceased denied it first, and then admitted making the accusa- ion. Subsequently she went all alone as fai is Aston. She retired to bed as usual at night, and the next morning asked her daugh- ter to fetch her som.; coffee. Mrs. Revnold- upplied the coffee, and in consequence oi teceaseds condition the daughter asked hei •vhether she had taken anything. She denied .hat ghe had. but ac she had a relapse Dr. 'higgs was sent for, and found that she wac uffering from opium poisoning. She lived until Tuesday morning, and then expired. Oeceased was in the habit of writing down her rhoughts, and amongst the papers found in tht ledroom were two written in pencil. On one he had written "I am perfectly innocent of that they accuse me; I have spoken hotly ometimes, but it has been a matter of love hown to a child." In another note she said lie had taken opium to relieve her pains. She 'iad on several occasions threatened her life, ind once stated that she onh- wished to live ro 79 years and not beyond, and last Sunday vas her seventy-ninth birthday. On the pre v ious Tuesday she was heard murmuring, 'OnIt five days more."—A lady living at Aston— 1.poo whom deceased called 011 Saturday last, iftcr the words with her daughter—said that Mrs. Ilopkins stxmtd very cheerful then. She pmarked that she should poison herself, aud hould like to be buried at Aston.—The 'oroner: But was quite pleasant about it?— Witness: Quite; I never «aw her more so.— Or. Briggs said that death a rose from opium Kiisoning. Deceased was very peculiar and -hildish in her manners.—The jury found that he deceased died from opium poisoning ad- by herself when insane, but with J) intention of committing suicide.

SCENE IN A CHURCH. rNSANE WOMAN CAUSES EMBAR- RASSMENT AT MASS. The congregation of St.. Columbia's Roman 'atholic Church at New York was thrown into the utmost consternation while Father O'Hanlon as celebrating mass the other morning. A ittle old woman, who wore mourning, walked ip the centre aisle, and seated herself in a ,;ew near the altar. She was Mrs. Mary Dame. •Vhe bagan talking in loud tones to those nearest her, calling to them, "Lend me your prayer- >ook I can't see to read this one. She was juiet for a 'chile, hut at the elevation of the host she burst into shrieks, raising her arms md rocking herself to ami fro as if in the iefpet distress. Heveral men then advanced '.oward her, but she motioned to them not to 'ouch her. Again there was quiet for a little .vhile, but suddenly Mrs. Dame turned toward richly-dressed woman who sat near her, and began to revile her at the top of her voice. Mary Kelly she shrieked, pointing at the .voinan, and gesticulating, "you are a villain The woman thus addresser was overcome with onfusion. She blushed scarlet, and arose to 'eave the pew. The priest became stient. Mauy wople reproved Mrs. Dame under their breath, but rhe was not to be restrained. "Miry Kelly." ha shouted again. "1 know you. I knew you vhen you had nothing, and now you can wear ,eal-skm sacques." The won.an to whom she poke thereupon walked out of church. After I scuffle Mrs. Dame was led from church, and '•V.ther O'Hanlon resumed the interrupted nass. Mrs. Dame's eighteen-year-old son died a few weeks ago. Her grief for him was pitiful, and it has prolably unbalanced her mind.

Y[1HER WORLDS THAN OURS. REV. A. J. JENKINS ADDRESSES CARDIFF ASTRONOMERS. The monthly meeting of the Astronomical Society of Wales was held on Fri- hiv tvening at t-lw University Col- li ge, Cardiff (by kind permission), when the president (Mr. Arthur Mee. L'Mt.A.S.) occupied the chair. Twenty-three candidates were elected members of the society, bringing up the total melllbpiship to over 100. "Several additions to the library 111 course of formation were announced, including a set of Mr. J. Ellard Gore's astronomical works. The secretary (Mr. N. Luttey) was elllPQ\\ered to purchase a lauteni, so that future meetings of the society will have the great advantage that accrues from illustration by means of slides. The Rev. Arthur J. Jenkins (Newport) read an interesting and suggestive naper on "Ot.J¡PI" Worlds than Ours," which gave rise to discussion, in which the bulk of those present took part, the general feeling being that a strong case had been made out for the existence of sentient beings on the surface of the orbs of space.—A hearty vote of thanks was accorded Mr. Jeukius. who. in reply, said lie had the pleasure of being the bearer of a kindly message to the society from Sir R. S. Ball, who lectured at Newport on Thurso iv night. Dr. Ball ex- pressed great interest in the new society, wished it all success, and intimated It desire to see its publications.—It was announced that a.t the next meeting Mr. G. Parry Jenkins. F.R.A.S. (LIangefni). will read a paper on "The New Astronomy." profusely illustrated with lantern slides.

FOREIGN COMPETITION. A NEW DEPARTURE BY CONTI- NENTAL MANUFACTURERS. A new departure by Continental manufac- turers is announced. It was stated on Friday (,savs a commercial correspondent) that, eneou- raged hy the higher prices which have been declared in the English bedstead trade, a large votks is being erected 111 Belgium, and that btds-tead manufacturing has already commenced in Spam and Russia. Fp to the present, the Continental markets have been supplied almost exclusively from British workshops. It is row feared that, in addition to making them at home, they will soon 1)? sending bedsteads into Eng- land. The United States and the Argentina are also making for themselves.

A SOLDIER SOMNAMBULIST. Earlv on Friday morning a soldier mtient in the Second Station Hospital, North Camp, Aldershot. was found missing from his ward. The poor fellow was eventunllv di-covered bare- footed, wandering nlwut in the, snow, but fast asleep. His sole attire consisted of his night hirt. He will be shortly invalided from the Army.

A STORMY rETREJ A fine 8pecinen of the stormy retre! was shot at the Park Farm, Hanbury, II! Droitwich, on Friday, and has been sent to Worcester to l>e stuffed. The bird is described by a corre- spondent as having long legs, an arched baok 4-Un. long, and being marked like a partridge 1 the plumage.

Decoying English Girls SERIOUS CHARGE AGAINST AN AGENT. Annie Nightingale Tells of a Visit to Amsterdam, and Asks for Magisterial Advice. A br',rht-!ooking young woman, named Airnie Nightingale, applied to .Mr. Bushby, at the Worship-street Police-court on Friday, for his advice ari to how she oould recover a box and a quantity of stage apparel left by her at Amsterdam. Applicant said she was engaged by a music-hall agent, of York-road, Waterloo-road, to fulfil a music-hall engage- ment as vocalist and comic singer at Amster- dam. She was very young in the "profe sion," it being only her second engagement, and the agent assureu her it was a "proper" place with nice people. Another young woman, named Stewart, was also engaged, and the agent's clerk saw them both off at Liver- pnoi-.street, paying their fares to Amsterdam, i'iity arrived on a Thursday morning three weeks ago. and were received at the address given them, a house in the Dam liacke. Thence, after a rest and some food, they were taken to what was called the hall—known as che Cafe Royal, near the Dam Racke. Ap- plicant, said it was a. very large room, fur- nished with chairs and tables, and had at one end a raited platform, with piano and hairs. She found she had after dressing to go on to the platform, and stay there the rest of the evening, taking her turn to sing. There were five Dutch and three French girls, and one English girl, named Norton, there, the agent having told her Iw had sent Norton three weeks before. After applicant and Miss Stewart had been there three day; the wife of the proprietor told them that they must ao as the others did—go down from the platform and sit with the gentlemen at the tables and get them to order champagne. She also told them they were to say "Yes" if any projxjsal was made to them, but to ask for plenty of money from the gentlemen, men- tioning 60 gulden as thm least sum. There were bedrooms in the oafe, which was kept open till one o'clock. Applicant said she had before then made up her mind what sort of a piuxxi it was, and site told the won1 an she should not stop, and that she had sent to London for money to go back. Then they tried to frighten her, but on the Thursday she got money from London, and said she would leave. The proprietor, who spoke English, refused to give up her box and clothes, when she said she should leave them. She went to the English Consul, Mr. Robinson, who sent her to the police, but the man abused them all, and would not give up her things. On that night she and Miss Stewart, who is a years old, and came back with her, had to sleep in the police-station, and the next morning went on the boat and got back to Loiiuou.—Asked if ahe applied to the agent named since her return, she said she had been two or three times. At tirst he said he could do nothing for her, but when she said she trauld go to a magistrate he wtid if she kept quiet he would see what he could do, and that he thought he could get, her box by sending two other -,ns out. The girl Nor- Lon, who is twenty years old. remained in the place, saying she could not get away ljeeause -he had signed an engagement for three months. Applicant had not signed any con- craot Air. Bushby said he wa.s afraid lit ouiu do nothing in the matter, but referred the apii..cant to the Dutch consul.

BOOKMAKERS MEET. WILL FIGHT THE ANTI-GAMBL- ING CASES TO THE END. An important meeting of bookmakers and sjKXrtismen was held at Hvmmum's Hotel event Garden, W.C., all Thursday. The pro- cedmgs took plao3 under the jircsidencv of AL-. R. H. try, and were enthusiastic through- out.—The meeting was atidie.be.d by Mr. Lloyd Humphreys, solicitor, acting ou behalf of Alters, holding, Foster, Frazer, and Haaisou, bcokniakers, v.hoai Kummoiises art? i.-sred and pending, at the instance of the Anti-Cambling League, for betting at New- ;nai ket He explained to the meeting the posi- -101 of the ease and the law ou the subject, after which a proj.ositiou was made and ear- ned unanimously that the meeting take steps to form a defence fund for the purpose of ade- quately defell ling- the persons named, and iti the case of an adverse decis on to earrv the matter to a Superior Court, and to spare 110 Cams to obtain a final decision, of the law as affecting the vocation of a bookmaker. We 111 derstand that the bookmakers who have been summoned at the it stance of the An'-i-Cambliug League for alleged illegal betting on New- maik>t Ilcath will have the services of Mr Walton,^ Q.C., Mr. C. Matthews, and Mr. G. H. Stuttield, thecou) sel who were instructed b\ Me;srs. Fenn, D'Albaai, and Ellis to defend the Stewards of the Jockey Club in the recent prosecution. The hearing of the summonses against the bookmakers may be proceeded with at Newmarket Petty Sessions on Tuesday next.

SWANSEA CORPORATION. COST OF THE NEW RESEVOIR LITIGATION. The bill of costs incurred by the Swansea Corporation in connection with the litigation extending over a. period of three years, with reference to the new re«evoir at the Cray Water- works, amounts i.-t all to £7,345 3s. Of this stm, £ 4,267 4s. 2d. was spent in the law suit, Paldry v. the Corporation, while the other two matters dealt with absorbed the remainder. Mr. M'Turk's arbitration alone, cost JE1,117 6s. 2d., and the legal and travelling expenses, Parliamentary expenses, and counsel*' fees in the Cray Water aji-ou.nted to £1.4999 17s. 9d. 'J he expenses of deputations to London totalled up to the respectable figure of £1.527 10s. lOd.

IN WAZIRISTAN. BRITISH SOLDIER SAVED BY HIS MESS TIN. A letter from one of the Border Regiment in the Waziristan campaign, dated the ?7th of January. Camp Wano, gives interesting parti- culars of the doings in that, country. While the First Brigacie were marching from Kaiiiganun to Jangal the rear :t.nd baggage guards were tired into, and Private T. Harris, a Carlisle man. was wounded. He had a very narrow es- cape, his mess tin being the means of saving his life. The bullet had been tired from a height, and struck t.he top of the tin. One- tli*. bullet penetrated through and entered the man's liack, inflicting a severe though not a dangerous wound, ancl Harris is now doing well. Dr. Sullivan, who was with the brigade, was found one morning dead in his tent. Al- though fifteen others slept in the tent. nothing was known of his death until the morning.

BISHOP JAYNE TO SPEAK. The Bish1 p of Chester is about to expound his theories ot "licensing reform" in Exeter- hall. It. is a) trounced that he will do so on Sasmday evening at the weekly recreative meet- ing in connection with the Y.M.C.A. As he has announced his willingness to answer any questions which may be addressed to him, after the address, it is quite certain that an interesting, not to say lively, half hour may lie anticipated.

DON'T WET THE FINGERS. A decided note of warning has been sounded 011 the way in which books from a circulating library should be handled. It is conveyed in the suggestion—don't wet the fingers to turn over the leaves of such books. The authorities among the circulating libraries of Dresden have been conducting a series of experiments to determine if hooks in general use become a medium for the communication of infection. Soiled leaves were rubbed first with dry fingers alld then with wet ones, and the results microscopically examined. No microtis, or few, were found on tlw dry fingers, hut It 1S stated that mall." were found on the others.

DEATH ON THE HONEYMOON. News has been received of the death iu Paris of M Littleborough gentleman, named Mr. J. W. Lee. About a fortnight ago Mr. Lee vv.w mairied at Southport to 'the daughter of Alder- mlln Lawton, ex-mayor of Hey wood, who if; H resilient at Southport, ani Mr. and Mrs. L'v had gone to Paris for the honeymoon. They were both attacked with illness, and Mrs. Lee is very ill.

-<. POLICE ARE ANXIOUS. A Dalziel tt-legram from Paris says:—Some ftllxipty is felt hy the police, as a large quantity of dynamite has recently been stolen in the provinces, and it is feared it has fallen into the hands of Anarchists. Orders have been issued 1 for strictly weening all those suspected 01 Anarchist teadeno^ **—*——

The Cymric Causerie GOSSIP AND CHATTER OF THE PRINCIPALITY. Notes and News of Wales and Welsh- men of Interest and Instruc- tion to Old and Young* The Earl of Dunraven was 011 Friday reporte to be slightly better. Prince and Princess Henry of Pless are on a visit to Mr. Walter Vivian, at Froudirion. Bangor. A Methodist gymanfa held at Crug Glas, Swansea, 73 years ago was attended by 50 preachers and 5,000 hearers. A Mid-Glamorgan paper said, in reply to a question of a correspondent, that the best way to destroy weeds was by marrying the widow. Sir W. Pearson, who "cured" Colchester from its chronic Conservatism, is a member of the tirrn Pearson and Sons, the contradors for the Port Talbot railway and docks. Llanelly is aiming high. According to the "Guardian," a debating cla^s has been started at the Llanelly Liberal Club with the object of raising up a mail to succeed Major Jones. Councillor l'rauk J. Beavan has been hope- lessly smitten. lie told the Riverside Liberals on Thursday night that he did not now care to be on a committee that had not a lady as member. This advertisement appeared in a. South W ales contemporary the other day:—"A grand piano fur sale by a young lady about to cross to America in a strong wooden caoe with massive oak legs. Commenting upon the agitation by South Wales workmen on the Midland Railway for a reduction of hours, Herapath's Railway Jourual" solemnly speaks of South Wales as the home of discontent. Lord Kensington and Sir George Osborne Morgan are the only two who remain of the seven Welsh members who voted for Welsh disestablishment when the subject was first introduced into the House by Mr. Watkin Williams, in 1870. "Confound you. bQY!" cried an irats cus- tomer in a Rhondda barbers shop yesterday; "that is the second time you have cut me. Unless you are more careful, you'll drive all your customers away." "Not at all, sir." said the boy "I am only allowed to shave strangers." One of the most scathing things said of Ca.r- ditf architecture wa.s contained in the answer of the editor ot an architectural journal to a pressman who wanted to act as ittJ Cardiff representative. "Decline, with thanks," was the reply, "no one takes an inte- rest in architecture in Cardiff." Only the persons are now living out of the 75 widows and children of the Gethin explosion of 1866. This occurred in December, with a. loss of 34 live. Amount the committee two only suivive, one of whom remarks that out of this sad calamity, which caused much sorrow, there was a certain percentage of benefit, for children were well tiained, educated, and clothed who would in many cases liave probably been neglected. Disraeli, in his "Quarrels of Authors, relates an interesting anecdote in proof of the tenacity with which Welshmen cling to their ancient descent. A Welsh schoolmaster said that in Ins school there had been since the Flood 466 masters, and he was the four hundred and sixty- seventh. Before the iiood there were two, namely, Rico ap Evan Ddu, the good. and Dave ap Shoues Gaiuiah, the rauglity, in whose time the Flood came. The flag that for 119 years has braved the battle and the breeze—the star-spangled one- way unfurled at the Cnited States Consulate iu Custom House-street, Cardiff, yesterday, to remind all concerned that it was the anniversaiy of the birthday of George Washington. The day is observed annually as a. national holi- day in the States, not in reverence of the noble IJOY of truth who "never told a lie, but of the mun who made the great Separatist movement there a success and established the indepen- dence of the great K-e public. Hywel lthys. of Blaen Ola is, who is referred to in the "History of Breconshire," was a bard who made decent (•-tanzas, and brewed the old- fashioned ule ot the last century in a quiet corner of the country. He was so famed as an astronomer that Bishop Hoisley, of St. David's. paid him a special visit, and it is un- fortunate that no details have l*en handed down of the interview, llhys is said to have mixed the magic art with a knowledge of the stars, and if a guinea or a pig were lost Rhys was sought, and often, it is said, with succtws. Sir Hugh Owtn, who has been giving evidence before the Unemployed Committee, is an oihctal of 60. who has been Permanent Secretary to the Local Government Board "lIlee 1882, an office carrying with it the comfortable salary it £1,800 a. year. Sir Hugh is son of sna&m Hugh Owen, who wa* knighted ill of his services to Welsh ed'ication, and who himself did good service at the same office when it wao called the Poor-law Board. He was called to die Bar at the Middle Tem.ple in 1862. and for six years before receiving his present appointment acted as secretary to the board. If the names of river pools in Wales could be explained, a book of thrilling interest might be compiled. We mentioned the names of some of the pools ill the Teify the other JaJ, and a corresjioiident who read them meutioJlIiI other pools in the same river. In the neigh- bourhood of Lampeter and Llanybyther there are two pools which go by the names of "Pwll Billy Coch" and "PwlJ y Watch," and some distance below Llanybyther there is a pool called "Pwll y College." Near Llansawel, Carmarthenshire village, 011 a stream which runs into the Cothy, there is a pool which has been always known by the strange name of •'l'vvll y Chwanen" (the pool of tlie fiea.)! It is said to be a perfect treat to hear » discussion between "Mabon" and Sir William Thomas Lewis at the slidiug-scale meetings- Although there may be a score or so of members ill the 100111, the talk soon Betties down into a close argument ljetween the respective, leaders, and this will sometime* continue for six, seven, or even eight hours for the sliding-scale meetings are a* long aø Parliamentary sittings. There is no on" on the men's side who can stand up to Sir WilliaH1 like "Mabon," and the latter's absenct froiu: Thursday's conference placed the workmen representatives at a disadvantage which wail sorely- felt. "Mabon" will he present 4J-da1: and the battle of words will be tough ana hard-fought. In Mr. W. J. Linton's new work, "l1titttd "Mtmories." the author refers to the Xcbecct Riots ill Wales. Here is an interesting pas.- sketching the movement :1t seems tha* power is vested ill the local magistracy, ot arrogated by them, to impose tolls on the high roads, *nd, not only on the high roads, but eve" on by-ways, to their own personal advantage- So great a grievance had this bei-ome ill C»r* marthenshire that the farming people at 1»2* secretly organised themselves, and, masked aij otherwise disguised, mostly as women, pa*stM at night through the county, smashing the tQll- gates, and sometimes destroying the houses of the toll-collectors. The hand was mown AS 'Rebecca and Her Daughters, some scnptcr." warrant being found for the mi'ne. Soniiei^ were sent into the district, but their was rendered of no avail be th" imiveJ**1 sympathy with the movement and the clannish" ness of the Welsh peasantry. Thus writes the venerable Archdruid frorn Treforert ;—"A well-known clergyman 1m" jus* told me that he well knew Principal John RhyiJ, M.A., LL.D., in his boyhood and schoolboy days. The distinguished new principal of Jesus College, Oxford, lived with his parent* at Fonterwvd (Pont-v-Rhyd), which was miles from Penlhvvn School, which he attendee1 dxilv. He walked that distance, seven mdef to-aiei-fro, every day. and in both journey3 passed the house of the parents of the Rectof of G-lyntav. The future principal and Kuropea" scholar passed on his journeys through the villages of Bwldt, Nant-yr-Arian (Silvery Brook). Gog-Eynon (Eynon's Cuckoo), and TjL.11 v Llediaid, commonly spelts 'Llidiard.' III" schoolmaster, und that of the Rev. Jones, D.D Whitchurch, Cardiif, was Wr; Sylvan us Williams, a very able and Itemed man. who was a deacon with the Welsh Gal- vinistic Methodists. Mr. Sylvsuius \\ïlliaJ1'lf1 afterwards went to St. Bees College, a no became a clergyman of distinction in the Church. He accepted a. curacy in the Dioc^e of Bangor, and aftt rvvards was vicar of Caersvvs^ [ He died some ars ago, but where my in.of f 1 mant. does not know. In him, 1 am told, tn Church had a powerful supporter."