Evening Express

TEMPERATURE AND RAINFALL. I J)AT* TEMPERATURE. Max. Min. Mean SAIKFALL Wednesday, 24 58 45 5:-5 o-00 Thursday 25 59 46 52*5 0*70 Friday 26 54 33 43-5 0*26 Saturday 27 51 44 47-5 o-03 Sunday 28 54 46 50*0 O'OO Monday 29 56 48 52'0 O'OO Tuesday 30 68 48 53*0 O'OO Tuesday 30 68 48 53*0 0-00 TheTemperature represents extreme reading ef the t' ermemeter for 24 hours ended 9 a.m., taken in the shade at Cwrt-y-Vil, Penarth. The Rainfall registered at Cwrt-y Vil, Penarth, for the 24 hours ended 9 a.m.

HUNTING APPOINTMENTS FOXHOUNDS. TIVTSIDK.—Friday, May 3, Crymmyoh (to finish the seasoD)-12 noon. OTTER HUNTING. THE HAWJCSTONE HOUNDS,—Wednesday, May 1, LIandiJo-ll Friday, May 3, in the district-IO.30.

LLANDAFF CATHEDRAL SERVICES. Holy Communion at eight a.m. on Wednesday next, the Feast of S. Mark. Chants and hymns by the Holiday Choir through- out the week.

m/t ANUFACTURER. Homforth, Offers Lis JL?A. Own Goods direct from the Loom at Mill Prices, viz. :— Serges. Fancies, Cashmeres, Bieges, Meltons, Mantle Cloths, Patterns sent free on application. "rm 11% 0 Save all intermediate profit. Special Lot of Dress Meltons, sill shades,' at per yard. Address—MANUFACTURER. HOBS- ??- FORTH, NEAR LEEDS. ?- — Miwri.fap- TSI- .-gu -.?-? Justness tiroes* X STOP ONE MOMENT. X Oh, dea octor. must my darling There is very little hope, but TRY ONE OF THE MOST REMARKABLE REMEDIE OF THE AGE. '¡' rjlUDOR WILLIAMS' l ATENT jgALSAM OF HONEY Thousands of children have been saved from an untimely loth by the prompt use of TUDOR WILLIAMS' BALSAM OF HONEY No Mother should neglect to keep his Infallibe Remedy in the House ready for any emergency. Remember that it is wiser heck a slight Cougb at the commencement than to low it te develop into a lingering complaint. DO NOT FORGET TO GIVE TO THE BABY. Over 4,000 of Testimonials te hand from all parts of the World. IT IS MORE THAN GOLD TO ME. My wife desires me to convey her best wishe for the success of your Balsam of Honey. It has been of great benefit to our little ones, who suffered from Bronchitis and Coughs during the last two most in clement winters. It gives them instant relief Further, our medical attendant, Dr. Jones, quite concurs in the frequent use of the Balsam when occas sions require.—Yours faithfully, JOHN WALTER MORGAN, Esq., Brynheulog House, Hirwain. THE BRITISH ARMY SPEAKS HIGHLY OF IT During the two ye irs t'tat our Regiment were in Pembroke Dock I used your Tudor Williams' Balsam of Ho ney, and found that there was not another Cough and Lung Cure on the British market equal to it. Send me on a case for my friends at ONCE.—Band- sergt. W. HARDS, 1st Bn. The Conn. Rangers, Anglesea Barracks, Portsea, Portsmouth. Sold by all Chemists and Stores in Is. ljd., 2s. 9d and 4s. 6d. bottles. Sample bottle sent (post paid) for Is. 3d., 3s., and oin Che lavauS)>e — D. TuKx„ WILL,AMS MEDICAL HALL, ABERDARE. J.

Telephone, National, 502; Fost-offlce, 95. Telegrams, "Mail," Cardiff.

NOTE 8. BY "OBSERVER CARDIFF, Tuesday Morning. It is in every way satisfactory to find that a better and more humane and genial spirit allows signs of animating our Corporation. It WM, indeed, high time! I refer, of course, to the attitude of the parks' committee towards the opening of local, pajks and open spaces in general, and towards Sunday opening in parti- cular. The parks' committee, amongst other improvements, have resolved to throw t-he parks and open spaces open every day (Sundays included) for such a number of hours as will perfectly satisfy all reasonable citizens, and the great bulk of unreasonable ones, too. The Sunday clause of this excellent provision will be specially acceptable. Up to the pre- sent, restrictions more or less stupid and ridi- culous have been placed on the publio use of parks and open spaces on the day of rest-in fact, the latter have hitherto been shut up alto- gether on Sundays, just as though the burgesses were a pack of little children! I feel very sure the broader policy now initiated for the first time will be hailed with joy and satisfac- tion throughout the whole of our community. Fresh air is badly needed in many parts, even of bright and breezy Cardiff, and now the poor and the feeble and the sickly will have greater opportunities of enjoying pure air and sunshine, and the presence of greenery and flowers, than ever they had before. By the way, whilst on this subject^ I wonder what our councillors and the public in general think of some of Sir B. W. Richardson's notions, as expounded last week at the Manchester Sani- tary Conference. Speaking on "Sanitation, a review of the past and an ideal of the future," the great hygienist said the first ideal was that of a national main drainage. The only true way of draining a town was to separate the sewage matter of the houses from storm water. In order to take the sewage to the land away from communities they had nothing to do but to construct along the sides of railways a series of iron or brick tubes. Another ideal was the systematic management of the sick of all classes, but espe- cially the oantagious. The ideal was that in all communities hotel-hospitals, comfortably and even elegantly furnished, should be erected, with everything that was necessary for the sick, so that if a person fell ill from acute disease he should be able to find a room where he could, be looked after either by his own medical attendant and friends or by the medical officers of the place. This might be done with less expense than was now devoted to the management of sickness in private dwellings. The towns themselves should be ventilated, and to secure good ventila- tion it was necessary to make a proper course for the winds through the streets, and to secure that ventilation which sprang from vegetation. He suggested the bringing of air into the towns from heights, pressing it when necessary, and letting it pass through the close streets and alleys. He also advocated the planning of flowers and small trees on the roofs of houses. A further sanitary ideal had relation to educa- tion. Sanitary principles should enter into children's learning. Some day these Utopian ideas will become the commonplaces of town life, and who shall say the community will not be the better for the change; better, physically, mentally, and morally? Why, for instance, should not fresh air not be brought to us from the Brecon Beacons as well as pure water? There was a time, no doubt, when the mere suggestion of a vast culvert, such as tha't connecting Loch Katrine with Glasgow, or Thirlmere with Man- chester, or Cwmtaff with Cardiff, would have been scouted as ridiculous. The time may come, sooner than some of us think, when we shall breathe pure mountain air as well as drink and lave in the sweet streams from the everlasting hills. Dear "Observer,"—Reoent legislation with reference to the better protection of wild birds in the British Isles gives county councils almost a free hand, and several county councils have adopted the measure which became law as lately as last year. I submit, sir, that the Glamorgan County Council might with advantage adopt this beneficent measure, both with repprd to sea birds and land birds. Gla- moiganshire, commencing at the Rumney River, has a considerable littoral, the resort of varied kinds of sea. fowl with few friends. In giving publicity through the columns of the "Evening Express" to these remarks, it may probably be the means of inducing the afore- said council to put in force at once the amended Wild Birds' Protection Act. I am disposed to think that many species of the feathered tribe in this and other counties, if not quickly and effectively protected by the strong arm of the J--will h&va Ja poiw jJuoDataomc obwal the fate of Lord Wolmer's extinct stuffed bird —the great auk, to wit.—I am, &c., The Parade. H. RALPH INSOLE. A WAIL FROM THE COUNTY-COURT. Judge Gwilym Williams, dealing with a judgment against a schoolmaster at Swansea. Ccunty-court on Monday, observed it was not very Creditable for such a man to come there and consent to those arrangements, adding, "If you had consented to instalments privately, you would not have the odium of coming to this horrible place—for it is a very horrible place." The Judge (to the defendant): My friend, pedagogic, take heed Of the words I am going to say. A man of your kind I am sorry to find In such an unfortunate way. If only you had but been wise, You'd have saved yourself all the disgrace Of coming to me, and, to wliat you must see, Is a. horrible, horrible place, Oh, such a most horrible place! (To the Bar): Oh, is it not, gentlemen, true What I say of myself, and of you, That we'd almost forego all our stipends, you know, Than reign in this horrible place-- Oh, such a most horrible place! The Bar (omnee): Your Honour's, as usual, right-- We're of your opinion, quite: Our fees are our bond, or we'd soon be beyond, This horrible, horrible place, Oh, such a. most horrible place [All weep, and the defendant is at length induced, by such eloquence, to heartily wish he were, indeed, somewhere else.J Art students at Cardiff attend, a great many of them, life-classes^ that is classes where models pose nude for the study of those attending the classes. The models are usually lads, occasionally men, and rarely females, the letter being naturally more difficult to obtain, and their services costing somewhat more than the others. A lady model at one of the life-classes had quite a romantic little atory attaching to her, but as she may still be living in the town I forbear to tell it. These lady models may be and often are, as in the cast alluded to, girls of great respect- ability, whom sheer force of circumstances drives to a. profession they would naturally shrink from under ordinary circumstances. Paris (says a. writer in "Cassell's Saturday Journal") is the city of models; without them the great art studios could not exist. There is always "room for one more," no matter how poor a shape a model may have, for all kinds of shapes are in demand. Then you often see if ere babies posing like statues, as heroic as possible, and never complaining. For women the life is a hard one. Stress of circumstances throws most girls into this sphere, and awk- ward and shy enough they are at first; but they are quickly broken in, and in less than a week become as efficient as professional models. although they find it dreadfully hard to stand in one position for hours, with a rest of only fifteen minuted between the hours. Still, they become used to that. Then they are in it for good, for very few ever get out. Models who are well known earn fairly good wages, espe- cially if they have posed for some of the masters, for this serves as a reputation which they lose no opportunity to profit by.

CURATES' STIPENDS. A CRYING EVIL IN THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND. To the Editor of the "Evening Express. Sir,—In your report of a vestry meeting held at St. Paul's, Llanellv, allusion is made by the vicar in his statement to the question of ourates' stipends. The difficulty to which the reverend gentleman points is a very grave one, and, as I think, a difficulty which constitutes a serious hindrance to the progress of the Church in our large mining and industrial centres. There are scores of incumbents at the present moment struggling with this cruel hardship, unable to obtain the slightest sympathy from the vast majority of Church people, either inside or out- ride their parishes. You will thus see that the vicar of St. Paul's does not stand alone, either in laok of sympathy from many who ought to help him, or in the matter of maintaining in a healthy condition the financial relationships between himself and his coadjutors. Will you allow me to place before your readers an unvarnished description of the situa- tion as it obtains in the majority of such parishes at the present moment? "A" is appointed incumbent of a parish containing, perhaps, ten, fifteen, or twenty thousand people. There are several churches, and as "A" can only serve one he has to secure the help of one, two, or, perhaps, three curates. The stipends of these gentlemen are paid by societies and by local contributions. But the incumbent is legally liable for the amounts, as he is called upon to sign the nomina- tions of each curate before he is licensed to the parish. The societies which make .grants towards the stipends of the assis- tant curates require in each case a. guaranteed remittance from the parish in respeot to each grant, and the last instalment in every case, in some cases the quarterly instalment, is not paid until the remittance has been received by the society. You will thus see that the incum- bent is constantly on the rack, tortured from quarter to quarter by the difficulty of obtain- ing money to meet these demands. He is truly an object of sincere pity. His income, perhaps, is small, and his banking account unable to bear any strain, the quarter's moneys are due to the curates, the collections are in arrears, and happy is the vioar that has a friend or two to whom he can turn in such a difficulty. The case, however, is generally thus: The assistant clergy too often will do nothing to help him, as they consider that they should not be troubled with financial matters, though they know that immediately they obtain promotion they will have to grapple with money questions. They regard their stipends as a. debt due from the incumbent, and any delay in the payment is too often made the ground of a. complaint against him in the ear of those laymen and laywomen who, as a. genus, are found in every parish, and who are only too glad to hear a" fine thing about the rector or vicar. Again, the laity only feel a. kind of patronising compassion for the poor, wretched incumbent, as the force of what is known as a "moral obligation" has long since spent itself as far as nine out of every ten of our ordinary laymen go. There are, I am glad to own, splendid exceptions to this rule, but how many of our lay people use the difficulty I have described as a means of wreaking some petty spite they are fain to cherish against a man who has never knowingly done them wrong by withholding their subscriptions or by refusing to contribute to the fund that finds the re-pay- ments to the societies? Now, sir, I venture to submit tha.t this is a oryillgevil which must not be any longer tolerated. I advocate a union amongst incum- bents thus situated with the view of radically reforming this state of things. (1) The incum- bent must in no sense be made responsible for the stipends of coadjutors who relieve him of none of his work; (2) curates employed in such parishes M I have alluded to must feel that it is as much their duty as a.nyone else's to main- tain the funds of the Church; and (3) the laity must be made directly responsible for these payments. The result will be a deathblow to the babbling, gossiping curate who makes dark insinuations about money and about his incum- bent to the known enemies of the latter in the parish. The "Mrs. Brown" of the parish will have less to say, and the laity generally will be quickened to practical work, which, after all, is the best form of Church defence. I write this letter after an experience of many years, and I have not drawn upon my imagination in any way. The difficulties are real and great, and call for prompt attention and reform.—I am, &c.. VOX OLAMANTIS, fto. P.S.—To avoid explanations in future, let me say that what has been written has no refe- rence to points in dispute a.t the vestry alluded to.—V. C.

TWO COLLIERS IN CUSTODY. AN ALLEGED OUTRAGE NEAR BRIDGEND. A Bridgend servant girl, named Ellen Pugh (18), has, it is alleged, been so seriously assaulted by two colliers, named David Jones and David Howelle, residing in Aberkenfig, that her life is despaired of. It is alleged that the men were at Bridgend on Saturday night, and drank freely. Late that night they were returning home over Newcastle Hill, and called at a house where they evidently knew Ellen Pugh resided. They demanded that she should come out, and, after some time, she consented, and walked with them a little way towards Penyvai. The alleged assault was then committed, and she was carried to Aberkenfig, where she now lias in a precarious state. The prisoners were brought before Mr. R. K. Prichard, at Bridg- end, on Monday, and, after the hearing of some evidence, were remanded until Saturday.

MOTHER, if BABY COUGHS or Wheezes rua no riska, but give it a dose of Mortimer'. Cough »nd Crovp Mixtuie. Of Chemists, li. lid. pe. JfltU* •330S-J.

Spirit of the Welsh Press I BY GWTLIKDTDD-" | The Aberystwith Conference. The jubilations of the promoters of the Cymru Fydd Conference a.re not shared by the vernacular press. The only papers that give it unqualified support are the "Baner" and "Genedl," the organs of Mr. Gee and Mr. Lloyd-George. The "Herald" says: — "Whilst admitting that the conference did not come up to our expectations, it turned out better than some feared. The South Wales federation, by some unaccountable mis- understanding. did not take an official part in it. Then, Mr. Bryn Roberts, for example, who voted against 'Home Rule all round,' is opposed to it." The "Tyst"—- the organ of the Independents—writes as foilows: —"Unfortunately, only a compara- tively small number of the South Wales Federation was present. It transpired that there is a hostile spirit to the movement on the part of the chairman and secretary. The old feud between North and South had, no doubt, something to do with it. Some of us hoped that that was dead, but it seems as rife as ever. It is a pity that such a tiling should exist in so small a country. Whenever an attempt is made to move politi- cally, religiously, or socially, it stands in the way." The "Tarian" says:—"The con- ference can scarcely be considered a success. Many of the chief men of the nation were conspicuous by their absence. We admit that the action of Mr. D. A. Thomas and Mr. Hall was conscientious, but it prevented many from attending the conference. It is absurd to assert that a solid union has been effected between North and South, and it was wrong on the part of Mr. Gee to say so. We are not without fear that evil will follow the conference, and that it may lead to a split in the Liberal party." "Cymro" speaks out in plain terms, and is not afraid of the wire-pullers. Thus:—"It is difficult to understand what was the object in convening the conference. It was not summoned by either the North or the South Wales Federa- tion. It must have been the work of a. few discontented members of a society called Cymru Fydd1. We have no time to give the history of that chameleonic and short-lived movement. The Aberystwith conference was what might be expected from such a begin- ning. Where were the Welsh members of Parliament? Three only attended. The others were wise enough to keep away. Where were the old Liberal heroes who lifted Wales to its present position? They kept aloof, with very few exceptions. There were 71 from North Wales, many of whom had1 never seen their names in print before. Of the 71, 31 came from Merionethshire and 25 from Carnarvonshire, leaving only fifteen to represent the four counties of Anglesey, Denbigh, Flint, and Montgomery. And yet there a.re persons who have the hardihood to call the meeting a success, and to thunder against those who cannot see anything but mischief in the movement. We are truly sorry to be obliged to write thus about any Welsh movement, but we are thoroughly convinced that it is our duty to speak out without faltering, calling night darkness, and this chameleon movement—from which Liberalism has nothing to gain, but much to lose—a step in the direction of ruin." "Idriswyn" is also unqualified in his condem- nation of the movement, and he is not by any means a party man. He writes thus: —"Yes, Cymru Fydd is dead, and was buried at Aberystwith on Thursday Here is an end of a movement that was going to create a revolution in our country; that was to make a new Heaven and a new earth that was to convert Wales into a Paradise Talk of union It is not often we see more dis- agreeing than was observed at the funeral cf Cymru Fydd and the birth of the Welsh National Federation. Besides, the South Wales Federation was not represented, and, with the exception of Mr. Gee and the two Welsh members, there were none present from North Wales to whom Wales is under anv obligation. The advocates of 'Cymru Fydd' are responsible for it, because they endeavoured to nationalise party, and make the inhabitants of one mind by machinery. A nation is above party, but some of the dearest sentiments of WaJes have been sacri- ficed upon it. The promoters of the Aber- ystwith Conference shut out a large section of Welshmen-among whom are found some of the best friends of Wales—because they cannot support the Disestablishment and Disendowment of the Church in Wales, and have no sympathy with the object of the movement. There can be no real union except on purely national lines." The Pope and the Principality of Wales. The official announcement that the Pope of Rome is taking steps to obtain re-posses- sion of the Principality is causing some stir among the vernacular papers. There existed in Wales—before the political alliance formed nine years ago between the Disestablishers of Wales and the Home Rulers of Ireland—a strong feeling of hostility to Roman Catholicism and the Irish population. The violence of that feeling has toned down considerably, and Nonconformists and Roman Catholics may now be seen hobnobbing and sitting on the same political platform. The tone of the Apostolic letter has touched the amour propre of the Nonconformist minis- ters, in that it describes Wales as in a con- dition of heathendom, and requiring special missionary efforts to restore it to a recog- nition of the true faith. The old rusty weapons are being unearthed and re-bur- nished, and the attempt is to be resisted with might and main. The "Tyst" says: — "It is evident that the Papists look forward I to the time when Wales will again be subject to the Church of Rome. The idea is a little laughable, is it not ? Religious Wales—which sends missionaries by the score to Pagan lands —in such darkness as to need a missionary organisation in its midst!" The "Tarian" expresses surprise at the "impudence" of the Pope in treating Wales as a missionary field. "His reason for it is that Popery is weak in Wales. Yes, it is weak, and-, more, it is odious. Its cruelties and persecutions in the ages that are past have made it. stink in the nostrils of the Welsh people to this day. It will prove a hopeless task for the Papists to win them back. The Gospel has had too strong a hold on the spirit of the Welsh people to suffer themselves to be led bv the nose by the Pope of Rome." The "Seren is very earnest: —"It is mournful to hear that Welshmen should desire to see Popery restored among us. This sentiment springs from the ritualism of the Church of England and the zeal of the sects for infant baptism. Let the Welsh people be on their guard and not suffer themselves to be placed under the yoke of slavery. It would be an everlasting shame to accept Popery after all the work done by our forefathers. The Papists do their utmost ini every land and eviiy age to prevent the spread of pure religion." The "Goleuad" has the following:—"The Pope has deter- mined to form Wales into an Apostolic Vica- riate, to consist IIf the six counties of North Wales and five of the South Wales counties, allowing Glamorganshire and Monmouthshire to remain as before. There are 12,500 Papists in Monmouthshire and 25,000 in Glamorganshire, whilst the other eleypn counties have onlv 6,000 between them. It is said that five Welshmen and several natives of Brittany are preparing to come amontr us as missionaries. The attachment of Brittany to Popery is regarded as a proof that Wales may be won — an inference whirh proves that the bishop who made it knows but little of the historv of the Welsh people." The Welsh Noncon- formists do not consider the Church of Rome a Christian Church, neither is the Church of England regarded by many of them as any- thing better. Great obiection is made to the practice of confession in the English and Roman Churches, but it is not srenerallv known that both sections of the Methodists made it a condition of membership in their early history, and it is even now extensively practised. Another false idea, is generally accepted, namely, that persecution is charac- teristic of certain Churches. It is rather an instinct of human nature anrf practised bv all religionists alike in proportion to their igno- rance and bigotry and the power at their command. Cromwell wa« a remarkable illus- tration of intolerance, and two men in Wafes may be cited as proof of my contention,' rw.mely, the Marnuess of Bute and the Rev. Thomas Gee. Which of them exhibits most charity and which intolerance? Nonconformist Blasphemy. I have made quotations from time to time j in this column from the reports of the special correspondent of the "Baner" of his visits to empty churches (eglwysi noethlwm) in Den- bighshire. There appears this week a report < of an interview which the "special" had with a Robert Jones, an anti-tither, who, with a companio.n, had visited Gwytherin Church on Easter Sunday. The interview discloses, not only the bitter hatred of the "Baner" 1 towards the Church, but the want of common decency in spealring of the religious worship of Church people. The agents concerned are 1 ignorant of the nature of the services of the Church. ød utterly destitute of the jttfioecijj usually shown by even irreligious people to sacred things. Their conduct must have been most reprehensible before the vicar had to stop the service in order to rebuke them and his wife to leave her pew in order to per- suade them to leave the church. The whole affair is a disgrace to a civilised country and a serious reflection upon the religious charac- ter of Welsh Nonconformity. The following extracts are taken from the "Baner" of this week: "When we entered the church Mr. Price was reading those things (pethau rheiny) in English." "What things do you mean?" "Why, those performances (ffigiari rheiny) before the sermon, when the parson refers to the Queen, the Prince of Wales, and so forth," said Robert Jones, with the seriousness of a saint resting on his countenance. "You mean the lessons," said I. "Call them what you like; it was in English he said them." "Had you no Welsh, then?" "Yes Stop a minute. They sang a verse in Welsh, and the parson gave us a bit of a lecture in Welsh alfo." "Preached in Welsh you mean?" "No, it was in English that he preached, but he rebuked us in Welsh." "Rebuked you What did he say to you?" "Robert Jones repeated what Mr. Price said. [This is not reported.] The reverend gentle- man drew the attention of the congregation to the presence of the two strangers in the church, and expressed a hope that they would leave the church in better temper than they entered it. He finished his discourse bv a reference to the discourtesy of the inhabitants on Good Friday." "What did Mr. Price do after he finished lecturing you?" "He said that he wished' to proceed with the service, and he proceeded by delivering a sermon in English." "What took place after the sermon?" "Mr. Price stepped down from the pulpit and went to the private room where he changes his things. His wife followed him. When she returned she motioned to her son and daughter to leave the church. Others had left sometime before. \> nen she saw that we were still there she went back to her hus'and." "What then?" "She came to the next seat in front of us and asked if we wished to take the Commu- nion. We said 'No. "Well, go on with vour story." "Mrs. Price continued chattering in English and Welsh. Mr. Price came on and said thev were wirier to take the Communion, and that we had better go out." N "Did vou go out?" "Yes."

JOHN JONES, "SERYDUDWR." AN NTERESTING ACCOUNT OF A WELSH ASTRONOMER. In the course of a sketch in the "Journal of the Astronomical Society of Wales" for May Mr. G. Parry Jenkins, F.R.A.S., Llan- gefni, writes -If a visitor to Bangor asks the first inhabitant lie happens to meet to be good enough to direct him to the abode of John Jones, "Seryddwr," he will be sure to be directed aright, as amongst the many persons of the same name living in the city of Bangor there is only one who bears the distinction of being an astronomer to boot. Dr. Samuel Smiles, of "Self-Help" fame, found out Mr. Jones's humble dwelling in this' wise, and wrote an interesting account of his visit in tha-t other admirable book of his called "Discoveries and Inventions." John Jones was born at Bryngwyn Badh, Anglesey, in the year 1818, so that he is now almost an octogenarian, although it is difficult to realise this fact from his active habits and youthful manner. All the schooling he received in early life did not amount to much over twelve months. He was only twelve years oM when he lost his father, and, consequently, had to turn out into the wide world as a farm labourer lat this tender age. His thirst for knowledge was, however, insatiable, and lie never missed an opportunity of acquiring useful information; but his search in this direction was beset with many difficulties. In course of time he became a servant of the Rev. Cadwaladr Williams, of Penceint, Anglesey, a famous Welsh preacher of bygone days, and 1 have heard Mr. Jones say that after saddling his maMpy's black mare on Sunday mornings he used to creep quietly into the old preacher's study in queat of knowledge, so that it may be said he must have acquired much of his education as if by stealth. It was in this way that he came across his first book on astronomy, and what new worlds it opened up to his inquiring mind This hidden treasure was "The Solar System," by Dr. Dick, then translated into Welsh by Mr. Eleazer Roberts1, of Hoylake, whom, I am proud to tlhmk, we also number among pur members. At the age of 30 a severe ill- ness brouirht John Jones to Bangor to consult a physician, and á,fter recovery he obtained employment there in counting slates shipped from the Penrlivn Quarries, for which he re- ceived 12s. a week. He now attended a night school, acquired a little knowledge of English, learnt arithmetic, and mastered the rudiments of navigation. During the six months he attended tfiis school it appears that he went twice through the "Tutor's Aslant." and a short time before he left was taught mensuration. As 'his wages increased lie was able now and again to buy a few books on his favourite study, and amongst others obtained "The Mechanism of the Heavens," by Olmstead; "Outlines of Astronomy," by Sir John ITersohel, and also his famous "Treatise on the Telescope." The perusal of this latter work naturally created) a burning desire on the part of John Jones to possess a telescope, and he set to work to con- struct one himself. His first refracting tele- scope wa* about a yard long, made of card1* board, with non-achromatic glasses, obtained at the <œt of 4s. 6d. from Liverpool, through the kindness of one of the captains of the ships trading in slates from Bangor. This primitive instrument showed the four moons of Jupiter Mid few craters on the moon, whioh greatlv deliphted its possessor. After exploring all the wonders of the heavens that it was possible for his glass to reveal, he determined to (be- Cf me possessed of a more powerful instrument. and where there's a will there's a way. As he could not afford to buy such a telescope his only alternative was to try and make it himself. In the year 1868 he accordingly undertook the arduous task of constructing a. reflecting tele- scope. He obtained a rough disc of gla.es. which in his leisure hours he ground by hand labour, as he did not possess a lathe, to a spherical curve of 10ft. focus-the mirror being 8 3-16in. diameter. This vt as afterwards sent to Calver, the optician, to be parafeolised amd silvered. The next thing needed was the plane mirror, which was worked bv John Jones himself. He then constructed the tube and altazimuth stand, and when these were finished and an eyepiece procured, his telescope was complete. This home-made instrument has afforded its owner untold pleasure, and remains a, '•"Oivimflint to the indefatigable perseverance nifl skill of its maker. With the advnnce of old age John Jones wa," obliged some years ago to relin- quish his duties on the quay at Bangor, aind now spends the sunset of his days amongst 11 is telescopes and books, being as keen as ever to discuss an astronomical problem from Loomis rtr other authority. Long may he be spared to "mind the heavens" in this quiet, unostenta- tions way. By the way, I noticed in his little library a Gtreek Testament aaid Hebrew Bible, both of which I understand he can read in the original. I must not forget to state that under the "nom de plume" of "loan Bryngwvn Bach" Mr. Jones (of whom a portrait is given in the ??') freoiu«ntlycoi]^QQ9cs poe&x ia

Principality Parlets. GOSSIP AND CHATTER OF OLD GWALIA. A Column of Notes of Wales and Welshmen of Interest and In- struction to All. Lady Swansea and her two eldest daughter* have returned to Singleton. Leckwith Parish is a. paradise. It contains no public-house, no shebeen, and no chapel. A Swansea inspector who has for many years been 011. the watch for swino fever has just reported the first case in thirty years. Miss Rous, Cwrt-y-Rala, who has been seriously ill with an acute attack of bronchitis, is slightly better, although still very weak. Principal Edwards, Bala, will deliver the Davies lecture at the general assembly of the Calvinie'tic Methodists, which is this year to be held in London in September. Mr. Lloyd, of Gilfacliwen, the High-sheriff for Cardiganshire, has appointed as his chap- lain the Rev. J. E. Lloyd, of Newbridge-on- Wye. His friends were glad to see the Rov. W. Williams, Argyle, Swansea, back in his pulpit OIL Sunday. It was the rev. gentleman's first appearance since he became ill, some time ago. A light-fingered lady annexed a mat from a doorstep in a fashionable quarter -in Cardiff, and, caught with the article, she said it didn't matter, as she intended to "call again." The word on the mat was Callaghan." A minister who was replying to an attack at a recent conference near Swansea, said" the accusation was a double lie, in the shape of half a truth." A weekly paper said it was a good speech, and was very pointed, especially tli 3 following passage:—It was a double eye, in the shape of half a tooth." In the May number of "The Craftsman"— whioh no South Wales Freemason should miss —it is stated that the Prov. Grand Master for the Eastern Division of South Wales, Lord Llangattock, intends presenting a mag- nificent W.M.'s chair for the new Cardiff Masonic Temple, which will be opened in September next. Following upon Mr. F. J. Beavan's remark that the finance committee of the Cardiff Council are the cashiers of the corporation, someone on Monday referred to it as the cash committee. "No," gently corrected a local wag, "it is not the cash, but the hash committee, and the Conservatives are roasting it nicely just now." Roasting hashi Where does the Rev. Aaron Davies øta.nd 1 He is a member of the Welsh National Fede- ration (Aberystwith brand), and appeared side by side with Mr. Lloyd-George at Pontlottyn; now, however, he comes out as the defender and supporter of Mr. D. A. Thomas. The rev. gentleman can't be both a hare and hound. A oouple of days ago we said there were three adjoining parishes in Monmouthshire without a Disseritmg place of worship. A correspon- de.nt mentions eight parishes all in a bunch vliich have to rely entirely on the Established Church. They ar-j Llanthewy, Llandegveth, Llai henno"k, Tredunnock, Llantrissent, Llan- llowell, Llangeview, and Gwernesney. Lord Ashburnham has a magnificent library of missals and gcspels, exquisitely llh n ii ated. and bouud in gold and silver boards, whioh are often elaborately chased or adorned with jewels. He has also a perfect museum of relics of the Carl is t pretenders to the Crown of Spam, whioh will, no doubt, be of infinite interest to the future historians of the Spanish dynasty. People giving evidence on judgment sum- monses are sometimes in too great a hurry. At Swansea Coanfcy-oourt yesterday Judge Wil- liams asked one of these, "How many children has he?" and the plaintiff replied, "Thirty-fiv«!" "What?" said his Honour, gitartled out of his usual serenity, "thirty-ive children!" "Oh, no, your honour, thirty-five shillings a week; only one ohild." The orthography of Pentreseh, the abiding ulace of the latest discoverer of Stanley'. Darentage, like hundreds more of Welsh words and place-names, has not been settled. It i. variously spelt Pont-ar-Seli, Pentreseli, Pont- seli. Pontreseli. Possibly some local etymo- logist will settle the question. The river (Q: which the village stands is Cuch, and there ia no stream of the name of Seli. Fheumatism seems to be one of the busiest ilb we've got. Mr. Phil Phillips, a Cardiff tiadesmMi, who seems to have IflA lii «jr^ opea aiti once ai.d all the tun-3, offered to lend free of charge, some three dozen new patent appliances for curing rheumatism. The resull startled him. Almost before he began WOllr dcring what would be the outcome of the adver- tisement, he was overwhelmed with applica- tions from 500 rheumatic-pestered people. We deliberately and of malice aforethought obarge the "Swansea Post" with trying to make a chestnut walk. Here is our evidence, taken from our oontemporary's last isstie: — A Welsh minister from Swansea who visited Paris some time ago was, unfortunately, not sufficiently versed in the French language to carry on a conversation. He retired to rest early, and slept soundly until the break of day, when suddenly he heard a cock crow. Thank God for a bit of English!' was the com* ment." If the Welsh National Museum oomes to anything the promoters should out out one of "Idriswyn's last week's notes for future refe- rence. According to this venerable Welsh- man, Mr. T. J. John, of Kidwelly, has in hia possession a pipe made sacred and brown by John Elias. Mr. John's grandfather was a preacher, and on-:e wtmt on a taith" with John Elias, a.t the close of which the latter gave his companion the pipe. He kept it carefully during his life, and gave strict in- juuetiens to have it preserved. The pipe re- mained in the possession of Mr. John's mother; for thirty years, and when she diad she gavi it to her son, with a request that he be careful of the gift of John Elias to her father. Last Sunday the Rev. J. A. Jenkins, B.A., the Registrar of the University College, Car- diff, preached his farewell sermons 811 the Rich-, mond-road Congregational Church, Cardiff. This was Mr. Jenkins's first Church, and he was its first pastor. Before entering the. ministry he was for three years, after taking his degree, a student at the Lancashire Indepen- dent Theological College, Manchester, under Principal Scott, B.A., LL.B., D.D., Professor Hodgson, M.A., D.D., D.Sc., and other emi. nent teachers. During his eight years' pastorate in Cardiff the membership of the Church has. more than doubled, the debt on the spacious school oha.pel has been paid, and a considerable sum of money has been raised for the erection of a larger building. Mr. Jenkins intends to continue as a member of the same Church. During this year he is the chairman of the Con- gregational Union of Glamorganshire and Car- marthenshire. All men do. not boast of an American D.D. The current number of the Christian Pic- torial" contains a biographical sketch by "the editor (the Rev. David Davies, of Brighton) of the late Dr. Thomas Davies, formerly president of the Haverfordwest Baptist College. In it the writer mentions the following interesting fact:—"When the first president of Haver- fordwest College and senior pastor of Bethesda Church in that town died, the selection of sue- cessor to the presidency and pastorate fell upon Mr. Davies- He received soon after ivs ap- pointment the diploma of D.D. from William Jewell University, U.S.A., a fact, however, which only casually transpired a long time afterwards, as the recipient of the diploma had religiously locked and kept the said doaujuunt in his desk as a ouriosity only." The famous old Welsh preachers were in- veterate smokers, and many a good story is told of them. Pipes and tybacco'r actios" were indispensable adjuncts of the chapel- hoise. "Idriswyn tells the following story: —"The Rev. Griffith Hughes, of Edeyrn, Car- narvonshire, was an implacable enemy of smoking, and many a trick was played upon him by the smoking fraternity. Once the three well-known preachers—Dafydd Jones, Carnarvon; Dr. Hughes, Liverpool; and Dr. Lewis Edwards, Bala (three nottu smokers)—1 vtre to spend the night at his house. To prevent his guests indulging in their evil habit, Mr. Hughes olalked across the mantel- piece 'No smoking allowed here.' Mr. David Jones noticed it as soon as he entered the room, and, whilst Mr. Hughes's back was turned, wiped out the word No.' Whea Mr. Hughes returned Mr. Jones remarked 4 Oh! I geey SIt oking is allowed,' and forthwith lit hif pipe, and it was not long before the two other visitors joined, and smoked until Mr. Hughes found it impossible to remain in the room. At a sale of rare books and manuscripts bv: Messrs. Sotheby, the author's manuscript ofl Gilbert White's "Natural History ana An-> tiquities of Selborne" WAS knaoked: down INK Q2Q&J,