Evening Express

TIN-PLATE INDUSTRY. IMPORTANT MEETING AT PITTS- r.- BURG. As we intimated some weeks back, the American tin-plate manufacturers are busily forming a huge trust. An important meeting of tin-plate manufacturers was held at Pittsburg on Wednesday to consider a. proposal for the extension of credits from 30 to 60 days. Before separating a great conference was agreed to be held at Columbus (Ohio). Its chief object will be to arrange the formation of a great tin-plate trust. Thus the prime and constant testimonial to Protectionist tariff legislation is likely to lose its iavour in the public eyes. It is a standing argument with the high tariff politicians that, whereas their opponents denounced protecting tin-plate five years ago as propping up a bank- rupt and impossible home industry, they now see that the output has grown by leaps and bounds, until this yea.r many expect the United States to rank as a tin-exporting country. GROWTH OF THE AMERICAN INDUSTRY. The "New York Sun" of the 13th inst. pays » glowing tribute to the marvellous growth of the American tin-plate industry. It traces the progress of the manufacture of tin-pl. tes in this country from the days of '92 to the present time. and (says the "American Artisan") in its own inimitable vein of vitriolic sarcasm, it dresses down the opponents of this industry, notably the "New York Evening Post." Yet no panegyric is half so eloquent as the simple statistics of American and foreign black plates issued by the Secretary of the Treasury in 1896:- American Foreign Percent. black plate. black plate. American. Total 1892. 9,2%,553 4.350.166 68.12 13.646,719 1 1893. 43.599.724 56,219,47a 43.68 99,819,202 1894. 85,968,202 53.255,265 61.74 139,223,467 1895.160,576.934 33,224,139 82.85 193,801.073 1896.303,002,098 4,226,523 98.62 307.228,621

T.INSEED COMPOUND" (Trade Mark) gives Expectoration without strain. 9id., 134d. Sold by Chemists only. e6459—3 A SPOTLESS COMPLEXION.—Sulpholine Lotion clears off all imperfections in a few days. Pimples, Roughness, Tan, Uncomfortable okm Disfigurements, entirely fade away, leaving i a beautiful skip.. Shilling Bottle of Sulpholine •verywhore. e—4 If you wish to escape the dangers that threaten your health from the storms of Winter, take course of Gwilym Evans' Quinine Bitters, Ths Vegetable Tonic, Sold in Bottles, 2s. 9d. anA 4s. 6d. each. Avoid Imitations. e4919-1

FORTHCOMING IRISH FEIS CEOIL. INTERNATIONAL COMPETITIONS. Our Cork correspondent writes -It has now been definitely arranged to hold the next Feu Ceoil, or Irish Musical Festival, at Belfast on the 2nd of May next and five following days, at which there will be nine vocal competitions, in- cluding a quartette for mixed voices, open to Welsh, Irish, and Scottish competitors.. About, a dozen instrumental competitions are arranged for, and there will be about sixteen composers competitions. The "Daily Nation," Dublin, on this subject says—"During the summer months the Irish Feis Ceoil Committee sent delegations to Wales ar.d the Highlands of Scotland, to attend the festivals organised by the kindred institutions there. Much valuable information was gathered at the Newport Eisteddfod ana the Mod of Inverness, and the reception accorded to the Feis Ceoil delegates was most cordial and flattering. Mr. T. H. Thomas, cf Cardiff, herald bard of the Gorsedd, who hact represented the Welsh Bardic Gorsedd at the Dublin Feis, was elected an honorary member of the Irish Feis Ceoil, and was publicly deco- rated at the Newport Eisteddfod. We learn that during next year the dates of the allied festivals have been arranged as follows: —The Oireachtas, or Irish Literary Festival, at Dublin, May 24; the Royal National Eisteddfod of Wales, at Blaenau Festiniog, July 19, and four following days; the Mod, or Highland Festival, at. Oban, within the first fortnight of Septem- ber." On the same subject the "Freeman's Journal" remarks :—"The year 1897 has seen, in the Feis and in the Oireachtas, two remarkable revivals of ancient Irish festivals. It has been claimed that Wales deserves the undivided credit of having stimulated Ireland into action on the lines of the Eisteddfod. No doubt, the brilliant success of the Welsh festivals encouraged us to hope for equal success in Ire- land. But we must not let it go by default that the idea is a borrowed one. Ancient Ire- land, like ancient Greece, had her great national festivals." _—————

PEPPER'S QUININE AND IRON TONIC, embracing, vivifying, sustaining. dispels depression, cures indigestion, neuralgia, and all aches or pains. Pepper's, the only real tonic. Shilling bottJes. e-5 At this time of the year you should not be without Gwilym Evans' Quinine Bitters, The Vegetable Tonic, a valuable remedy for various ailments. Sold in Bottles, 2s. 9d. and 4s. 6d. Beware of Imitations. See the name "Gwilym Evara ".on Label. Stamp, and Bottle. e4919-5 LINUM "CATHARTIGUM PILLS, digestive, corrective, and agreeable aperient, 9jd., 13id Of all Chemitts 16451-7

News Gleanings A SUMMARY OF GENERAL ITEMS. Telegraphic and Otherwise, Obtained from a Variety of Sources. The remains of the late Mr. Charles Harrison, M.P., were cremated at Woking on Thursday afternoon. • » • Mr. E. P. Mills, Pontypridd, recently passed an examination in London, for the Licentiateship of the Royal Academy of Music. The funeral of the late Captain Pengelley will take place to-morrow (Saturday) afternoon at Penarth Churchyard, the cortege leaving The Ferns, Penarth, at 3.15. Although greaMy improved in health, Car- dinal Vaughan, acting under medical advice, will 1:0t undertake the discharge of episcopal duties until February. j*- In connection with the Caedraw Mission of the Market-square Congregational Church, Merthyr, about 160~children were entertained to tea on Thursday afternoon. At St. Theodore's Church, Port Talbot, on Thursday afternoon an organ recital was given by Mr. Frank Seaton, organist of the church. The Central News says :—The Admiralty have placed orders for 48 new steam pinaces and launches with firms in the Portsmouth district. At Porth on Thursday David Humphreys and Meredith Pritchard, colliers, of Ferndale, were charged on remand with indecently assaulting Catherine Edmondes, wife of John Edmondes, 12, Myrtle-street, Ferndale. They were com- mitted for trial at the assizes. Major Majendie, the inspector from the Ex- plosives Department of .the Home Office, went down to Hereford on Wednesday, and opened the supposed bomb. He remarked that it had been very cleverly made. The contents, however. proved to be chaff. The railway authorities, therefore, were quite right in the presumption that the affair was a hoax. A meeting of the creditors of Henry Jones, collier, Club-street, Aberaman, was held on Thursday at Merthyr. The statement of affairs showed a deficiency of £42 4s. 6d., the liabilities to rank for dividend being jB51 15s., and the net assets available for distribution £9 10s. 6d. The death took place this week of Mr. Thomas Kenrick, who was one of the founders of Llan- dudno. He was 76 years of age, and had for a considerable portion of his life taken a great interest in antiquarian matters. His collection of antiquities was quite a show. Next Monday the first examination of candi- dates for the new naval rank of artificer engi- neer will be held at Portsmouth. Thirty candi- dates from warships stationed in the port will compete. The list of the New Year's naval promotions contains the names of twenty-three lieutenants promoted to be commanders, and of twelve commanders promoted to be captains. The body of a woman, named Jane Marley. the wife of a boilermaker, of Lawis-street, Pill, Newport, was late on Thursday discovered in the Malpas Brook, at a short distance from Malpas-road. T\e woman, who was respectably dressed, ha-l oeon absent from home since Thursday morning. » At Porth Police-court on Thursday John Jones, a young man, of Ferndale, was summoned to appear on a charge of stealing a trousers.— Superintendent Coles informed their Worships that the defendant was locked up after having been arrested, and was subsequently bailed out by his father. Both father and son proceeded homewards, and after arriving at the house the father died suddenly. Under those circum- stances he asked that the case be adjourned.— The application was granted. Wm, O'Brien, of the Blue Bell Inn, Strand, was charged at Swansea with selling liquor during illegal hours on December 18. Mr. L. Richards prosecuted, and Mr. W. Smith defended. There were several persons on the premises at ten minutes to one a.m., but the only ono suspected of improper presence was a man named Kearton, and for the defence it was stated that he stayed to supper with a lodger. The case was adjourned till Monday. On Thursday Colonel Sir E. S. Hill, K.C.B.. M.P.. gave his annual feast of cake. claret negus, bon-bons, orunge«. and nuts to the boys of the Ha vilnnah co Jhip. Cardiff. There were present Sir John Gorst, the Revs. G. A. Jones. Barber, and Smallpiece. Mr. Jonas Wat- son. Captain Hill, and Dr. and Mrs. Coburn.— Sir John Gorst, on behalf of Sir E. S. Hill. pre- sented two handsomely bound books as prizes for good conduct to two lads.—In the evening the bovs attended the Theatre Royal to witness the pantomime, "Robinson Crusoe." » At a meeting of the Carmarthen School Board on Wednesday a letter was read from Principal Evans, of the Presbyterian College (former chairman of the Carmarthen School Board), in which he said that he was unwilling to leave without a word of farewe" to his colleagues. He was gratified to them lor the consideration they had shown him during the six years he had been with them. It was decided to place on record at the same meeting the remembrance of the valuable services rendered by Principal Evans. • • • A children's fancy dress ball in aid of the Newport and Monmouthshire Hospital took place on Thursday evening at the Baths Assembly-room, Stow-hill, Newport. There was a large number of children present, and the costumes were unusually pretty. In the halccny round the hall were the grown-up friends of the. dancers viewing the very pretty effect. The arrangements, in the main, were similar to those of the previous evening's ball, and were likewise superintended by Mr. J. K. Stone.

THE SWANSEA THEFT CASE. Elizabeth O'Brien and Julia Nash, the latter landlady of the Duffryn Arms, Jockey- street, were charged on remand at Swan- sea Police-court on Thursday with stealing and receiving £33 from the person of David Edwards, a cattle-dealer from Car- diganshire.—A good deal of further evidence was called as to the part taken in the transaction by the two women, the allegation being that O'Brien robbed the man in the backyard and gave the money to Mrs. Nash, and that they both ran into the house, and afterwards threw out the prosecutor by the front door.—The Stipen- diary said O'Brien would be committed for trial at the quarter sessions, but the evidence against Mrs. Nash was not so strong, and, as there was no likelihood of a conviction, she would be discharged.

HOW TO TAKE OUT PATENTS. Many useful and novel appliances are from tine to time devised which are not turned to practical account owni'- to want of knowledge on the part of the inventors as to how to patent their inventions. We constantly receive letters asking our advice and with a view to afford- injr information as to costs and modes of pro- cedure in applying f >r provisional protection and patents and registered designs or trade marks, we have made arrangements accord- ingly. Any of onr reilder3 who desire such information should send a stamped envelope, enclosed to the Patent Editor. "Western Mail," Cardiff, by wbor" it will be handed to a thoroughly trustworthy and experienced patent agent. who will reply fully to enr correspon- dents; or an interview can be arranged, on giving a few hours' notice.

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Pitiable Life-Story. MARGARET DAYIES AS A HAUNTER OF PRISONS. PATHETIC INTERVIEW IN THE CARDIFF WORKHOUSE. A sadly battered wreck of what might ha^e been a smart little woman was visited at the Cardiff Workhouse by a ""r estern Mail" repre- sentative on Thursday morning. She Las for sfcveral years past been known to the police as "Margaret Davics." On the workhouse books she sltnds entered as Martha Davics. To a hest of companions in Bute-street, Bute-terrace, and the side streets running from the two places rained she is known either as "Maggie Luny," "Lcdy Vernon," or by two or three other nick names. For several years past her career has been a continual course of crime, and her appear- ances before the magistrates in several towns already reached to a total of over 300. The first conviction registered against her was for discrdaly cor duct in July, 1879. High as the total that she has reached is, the police have been merciful to her upon scores of occasions. The character of her offences is very limited. The charges against her run upon about three changes—drunk, disorderly, sometimes drunk and disorderly. Once or twice she has been charged with assault, but never what is known as "violent assault." All sorts of treatment have been tried. The police records show that the whole gamut of possible sen- tences has been run with her—light sentences alternate with severe terms of im- prisonment sometimes she has been let off with a caution upon her promise to reform; quite half a dozen times she as been taken from the police-court to a home; at other time's she has been remanded to the workhouse; and the Salvation Army officers have taken charge of her more than once. All to no purpose. She stayed in one London home for a whole year, but a few weeks or a few days have usually been the extent of her sojourn under control anywhere except a.t prison, and this week we have seen that she remained at the workhouse for the short ¡,:pací" of five minutes. Her offences have followed so closely upon each other's heels as to make her life a continual source of trouble to the authorities, fieleased from prison on, say, a Monday, she gets drink somehow during the day, and in the evening she is locked up, to be brought up in court next morning, then sentenced to a fresh term of imprisonment. That was, practically, her fate last week. This week she was before the magistrates on Tuesday on remand. She had pleaded ihnt she might be sent to a home, and was remanded again in order that inquiries might be made. By order of the bench she was taken to the union, and immediately dis- charged herself. She seems to have kep.. out cf sight during Tuesday night and nearly all day on Wednesday, but at a late hour on Wed- nesday night she was found in a helpless state in the neighbourhood of the Docks, with her face battered and bleeding, and the police took her to the workhouse. When visited by our representative, about mid-dav on Thursday, she was in bed in one of the hospital wards. Her face was almost a mass of bruises. Both eyes were puffed and blackened, one much worse than the other, whilst her ears were swollen, cut about, and (in-spite of the skilful attendance that she had already received) still bleeding. "I want you to ten me something about your- self," said the reporter, as he took a seat at her bedside. "The only answer that she made was an almost savage glare as she slowly turned her head. The effort evidently cost her considerable pain. The question was repeated, but she gave no answer. "Come, now," said the reporter, "won't you teH me where you came from and something about yourself?'' She remained silent for several minutes, and then answered, "Yes." "Then where did you come from?" "My home was at Merthyr, but my father and mother are dead. I have no one living there now." • "How old are you ?" "Forty-two." "You told tiie magistrates that you had some relatives at Carmarthen. Have you ?" i es. I havq| an hunt living near Carmar- then. Her name is Lewis. And I have some uncles living there as well." "When did you leave home ?" "A good many years ago." "What did you do for a living?" "I was in service. I lived at Magor and Llantarnam. I liked service, but I left of my own accords It was at the rectory, and the rector was a good master." what made you take up this sort of life? Wouldn't you like to turn over a new leaf?" "Yes." "Why don't you? What would you like to do?" "J should like to go into service again." "Yes, but it would be hard to get a place for you unless you alter. You know that, don't you?" "Yes, yes; I know it," she answered, with a.) heavy sizh, "They have tried to do something for you. but they must be almost afraid that you won't be helped. Is it true that they have sent you to several homes?" "No—at least, I have been in one or two homes, and stayed at one in London for a year." "Have the Salvation Army helped you?" "No." "Just think a minute. Haven't they offered to take you to their home?" "Yes. But they wanted me to stay in the workhouse for some time first." I "Why didn't you do that?" To this she shook her head. "The other day you told the magistrates that you have been in the asylum three times. Is that true?" "It's quite true—quite true." "Why did you COlut out?" "They discharged me as cured, but it came on again." "What was the matter with you? "Pains at the back of the head. It makes me dizzy, and I don't know what I am doing whcn it comes on." "What caused it, do you know?" "No. I don't know. When it came on badly at first was when I heard that my mother died. I was I Gloucester Gaol, and when they told, me that she was dead it made me ill, and I have not been right since." "When was thitt?" "I don't know." "You fold the magistrates that you would like to he sent away. Would you?" "Yes, I should." "Well. you know, when they sent you to the workhouse here on Mondav-" "No. it was Tuesday." "Well. Tuesday-you wouldn't stay. What made you zo out" "It's a thousand pities that I didn't stay—a thousand pities! I wist now that I hadn't gone ouL "How did you get into this state?" "A sailor did it." "How?" "He beat me about at the Docks with his fists, amI this cut (over the eye) was caused when I fell against the pavement." ""Well, you sav one day that you want to go somewhere so that you may be out of harm's way. and yet when they^try to do something you won't stay. And this is all you get for it!" "Yes; that is true." "What do you want to do?" "I should like to go to an inebriates' home. There is one in London—Lady Henry Somer- set's." "Suppose you were sent there, would you stay?" "Yes; I would try to. Our reporter next went to the Salvation Army Home in Charles-street, where he saw the cap- tain in charge, and one of her assistants. In answer to inquiries, she said: "We have tried to do everything possible for her, IK.L she has been a great trouble. There are several like her in the town, so far as having a large recofl of convictions is concerned. Florence Jones is another. She has been up over 4-00 times, and there are others. We have wanted them to come into the home, but- —" "Maesjie Davies sayø that you wanted her to go to the workhouse." "Yes. The difficulty is this: We have 28 or 30 women in here, and we must be careful with them. For instance, if we had a new woman come in one day and want to go out the next day it would nnspttle the others. What we do is to say that they should stay in the workhouse for a certain time as a test, to see whether they would stay witi us cr not. There are ceve.al other reasons. But the great difficulty every- where with tint class of person is that in one has eny control over them. They are not bound to itay in ths workhouse, nor in any home, so that the only place where they can be kept is the prison. And gaol. gaoi, gaol, with nrthing but the gaol, will seldom effect any real good. Wj do ail we .'ire nbie to dn. and can only keep ort trying. What is wanted is a law giving some power tn detain them in a home. I should like to take up a share in such a work;

EPPS'S COCOAINE.—Cocoa-Nib Extract (Tea- like).—The choicest roasted nibs (broken up beans) of the natural Cocoa, on being subjected to powerful hydraulic pressure, give forth their excess of oil, leaving for use a linely-flavoured powder—"Cocoaine," a product which, when pre- pared with boiling water, has tho-comilstenco of tea, of which it is now beneficially taking tha place with many. Its active principle being a gentle nerve stimulant, supplies the needed energy without unduly exciting the system. Sold only in tins. by Grocers, labelled" James Epps and Co. (Ltd.), Homoeopathic Chemists, London." Agents: Stranaghan and Stephens, 9. Castle-street, and T. Phillips and Co.. Tud~ roa.d. e6395-f.

St. Asaph Policy. OUR CORRESPONDENT AT WREXHAM. MEETING OF MEMORIALISTS TO-DAY, [FROM OUR SPECIAL COR- RESPONDENT.] WREXHAM, Thursday Evening. I have arrived at Wrexham, in the centre of Denbighshire and of the Diocese of St. Asaph, and propose to commence my inquiry here, where Bishop Edwards delivered his famous speech a fortnight ago. The echoes of that speech are still heard in Wrexham, and I have heard several speak of it, but I am afraid that, able as it was, it has not turned the adversaries from the error of their ways. One Wrex- ham man observed, "The strength of the speech lay in the dexterous handling of figures, and arguing from averages." The bishop, however, is well spoken of here. At the same time, most people believe that the memorialists have strong grounds to go upon, and that there is something at the bottom of the agitation which is not yet revealed, and possibly will not be publicly revealed, though perfectly understood by the body of the clergy. I shall endeavour to hold the balance true between the parties, and shall be perfectly candid with every man. There is a meeting of memorialists at Chester to-morrow, when it is understood a 'reply will be made to the bishop's speech. Only the leaders are supposed to attend. CANON ROBERTS CHALLENGED. A correspondent telegraphs -The Rec- tor of Denbigh is supporting the Arch- deacon of Wrexham, and challenges Canon Roberts to produce Dean Howell's ?etiers, which, he states, were mainly concerned with the bishop, and not with the subject of patronage. On Thursday morning Canon Roberts denied that any communi- cation had passed between himself and Dean Howell since the latter went to South Wales. Further developments are now awaited with interest. Among the many letters of sympathy and congratulations the bishop has received are several from his colleagues on the episcopal bench. THE REV. STEPHEN GLADSTONE AND THE BISHOP. LETTER FROM THE ARCHDEACON OF MONTGOMERY. The "Daily Chronicle" of Thursday says: — The Bishop of St. Asaph's intimation, to which he will, no doubt, adhere, that he will not again consider the memorial which he returned to the clergy who had signed it, will not prevent their issuing a, reply, which is anticipated with con- siderable interest in the diocese. Meanwhile, the Rev. Stephen E. Gladstone, rector of Hawarden, has addressed a letter to the Arch- deacon of Montgomery, whom he says that he has known and respected for the last twenty- five years, expressing his regret that the bishop did not see his way to the memorial being pre- sented by deputation, and stating that lie ex- plained his views to his lordship the day before the Wrexham meeting. Mr. Gladstone, how- ever, protests strongly against the language used towards the bishop by one of the clergy, the Rector of Marchwiel. The Archdeacon of Montgomery has addressed a letter to the "Liverpool Courier," saying that two months ago he had remonstrated with the bishop, but that, although he signed the memorial as more moderate than his own representation, he neither attendp':¡ a meeting on the matter nor had any share in drafting it. Archdeacon Thomas adds —"An old rule used to be that the bishop approached his clergy and the clergy their bishop through the archdeacon; he was to present both sides, and promote mutual harmony and oo-operation: but now it seems he must be absolutely loyal to the bishop only."

IN BRIGHTEST AFRICA, MR. H. M. STANLEY AND ENGLISH COLONISATION. During the stay of Mr. H. M. Stanley, M.P., at Durban, a representative >f the local press called upon him to ascertain his views on African affairs. With regard to the Colonies in general, Mr. Stanley said, "Everybody who is interested in Africa has been trying to wake up Eng- land to the necessity of doing something for the Colonies of West Africa. For over two hundred years these Colonies have remained much in the same condition, without, at least, any very material im- provement. When Mr. Chamberlain came into office we hoped there was going to be a change of things. He called these Colonies national estates, which we should endeavour to develop. He said it was our duty to assist in the development of these national estates, yet from 1890 the Fiench have been sending expeditions just behind and in lines parallel with the West Coast of Africa inland, in order to open up com- munication with the interior. The fact is, the French have been ahead of us, and they have made treaties with every small and big chief, and it is only now that Eng- land is waking up to the necessity of doing something to stop this wholesale annexa- tion of territory which should have been hers." Speaking on the question of im- ported labour, Mr. Stanley said, "I hear you are trying to stop it; I think you will be very foolish if you do so. No white man could ever stand the hot sun you have on the coast here, and yet you act like a dog in the manger. Your country is not sufficiently developed, and in order to develop it you must have servants. You can't trust these stupid, awkward natives, who were savages only a few years ago, and you must have intelligent coloured labour to help you. It was just this temper which ruined Australia. Until 1890 Aus- tralia was booming, and then the working men laid it down that they would have no more immigrants in the country, neither European nor anything else. The boom stopped, the banks went smash, and to-day Australia, is scarcely in a better state than it was in 1890. You are going to do the same thing here." Mentioning the present British advance into the Soudan, Mr. Stanley said, "The upshot will be a good deal of diplomatic talk. The whoie Soudan is not worth a war with France, but our honour is impeached, and, if they find us disposed to retire from territory to which we have an actual right, they may come to think that we should relinquish possessions which it is even more important for us to retain. Something, however, will have to be done, but I do not think it will involve the straining of relations. When two Great Powers close for war theie is going to be a great deal of expense, and somebody will get hurt." Mr. Stanley will arrive at Southampton on the Union ship Moor to-morrow (Satur- day).

"LINSEED COMPOLND" for Coughs, Cold3. Asthma, and Bronchitis. Of Chemists only. I e6459-6 For Weakness. Nervousness, and Chest Affec- tions, Gwilym Erann' Quinine Bitters, The Vegetable Ionic, is recommewded as The Best Remedy of the Age. In Bottles, 2s. 9d. and 4s. 6d. each. Avoid Imitations. e4919-4 LIVEn COMPLAINTS—Dr. King's Dandelion and Quinine Live' PilJs, without Mercury, are a patent remedy; removes all Liver and Stomach Complaints, Biliousness, Headaches, Sickness. Shoulder Pa'ns, Heartburn, Indiges- tion. Constipation e—3 ONE OF THE WONDERS OF THE AGE is Spencer's New High Arm Hand Sewing Machine, with walnut cove,- and full set of appliances, for E2 18s. 6d. cash. Money returned if not apprc-ved. Best value in Sewing Machines.— Spencer's Domestic Machine Depot. St. Jchn's- square, Cardiff. e6630--Ill.W.f. LINSEliD COMPOUND." a demulcent ano- dyne expectorant for Coughs and Colds. 92d., 13id. Of Chemists only. e6459—4

WALES DAY BY DAY It was rumoured yesterday that Wales had decided to send a squadron of one to seize its fair share of China. To-day the Old Year will groan its way into the corner of the past, where they store the things that are ended. A local lady has recently sailed to India to become the w.fe of the Rev. Ellis Roberts, late minor-canon of Llandaff, who is engaged in mis- sion work in that Empire. An inscription on the bottom of the chalice used at the midnight mass at the St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church, Carmarthen, on Christ- mas Eve shows that the late Pius IX. had cele- brated with it in the year 1870. St. David's Church, Merthyr, is about to part with another official, in the person of Mr. A. J. Siker, its organist, who has been appointed to S: Peter's, Carmarthen. He is just in time to qualify for the dinner of St. Peter's boys at Cf.r.iiff text week. There was a young lady of Tenby, Who said to her confidante N. B., Never let it be said That I want to wed, But where can the eyes of the men be ? When a deaf mute was arraigned at the Caer- leon Polic.3-courli on Thursday and the police- constable had testified to the service of the sum- mons, the clerk ;Mr. J. C. Llewellyn) asked, "What did h3 say?" Then the poor policeman locked afflicted likewise. In presiding at a village entertainment near St. Fagan's, the chairman, who is not so good in English as in Welsh, remarked, after one of the ladies' songs, "Thar, now, you've had a bit of ooman, and now you shall have a bit of man." The old gentleman meant that the next song would be by a man. Now that all th. nations are knocking off chunks off China and pocketing them for their own use, we rely upon Mr. Oswald Stoli to get hold of the poor Emperor for exhibition pur- poses in this country when nothing else is left to remind us of the Celestial Empire. Li Hung Chr.ng may also go strongly as a side-show. The heat from which our cricketers in Australia have suffered so much reminds a diligent peruser of the Welsh triads that on one noted occasion there was a summer recorded as one of the three hot summers of history, "when the trees and plants took fire with the vehemency of the heat of the sun, so that many men and animals and species of birds and vermin and plants were irretrievably lost." Woman is grimly determined to take her place shoulder to shoulder with man, and race him to a finish. The "Evening Express" is running a football competition, and among the seventeen prize-winners this week are two ladies, one married and one not. The "one not" is one of the Aberdare Hall young ladies, and we con- gratulate her on her success in gauging football form. In view of the freehold nature of cathedral offices, recent appointments to the post of orga- nist* have been made subject to three months' notice. The organist of Ltandaff Cathedral writes in the "Musical News" to say that, like York and Worcester, his appointment was sub- ject to the same condition. There appears to be a strong feeling of ion in the musical world at the innovation. Festiniog is described by Mr. T. E. Ellis as the centre of a historic district. "You are within reach," he said to the natives, "of memorials of the Mabinogion and of the Welsh Princess, of tue Roman legions, of the Norman castle-builder, of the Cistercian monk, of the Elizabethan adven- turer and scholar, of the Parliamentary warrior and the Puritan mystic, of the preachers of modern Wales, and of the makers of modern ir dustrialism." Exactly fifty years ago Maesteg was visited by just the same kind of flood as busied itself there on Wednesday. The Llynvi swelled up, and two little girls, who were crossing in the night a narrow wooden bridge to Upper Bowrington, had a terrible experience, the youngest losing her life. Some fine deeds of daring were done that night, for the screams of the eldest girl were heard, and men and women rushed out with lights, the men wading in the flood up to their chins looking for the drowning child. Vicar Hyslop was reminded by a paragraph in this column yesterday of an incident which occurred during his first curacy. It was a custom to have a children's service once a week, and the little ones were encouraged to repeat verses of Scripture. One little girl ("called to Paradise shortly after," the vicar writes), when asked for her verse, repeated: Mae lieddyw'n ddydd Sadwrn, A fory'n ddydd Sul: Cofia di, Robyn, roi tamaid i'r mul. The cycle is not so modern a name in Wales as some people think, though its use in traversing roads has nothing to do with antiquity. In old Jacobite days, when even Welsh farmers would sing "For Charley is my darling," there was a club at Wrexham known as the Cycle, with branches and deeply-laid organisation. This was started entirely to aid the Stuart cause. "Cyclists" perambulated the country in mysterious ways for a time, but in some parts they were known as Knights of the Royal Oak, and in others as sea seargents. Like Kruger after the Jameson raid, Mr. Robert Bridcut will claim heavily for "moral and intellectual damages" after his immersion in Ely River mud in the small hours yesterday morning. It seems that when Mr. Bridcut got home he had enough mud about him to build a hut; in fact, Mrs. Bridcut didn't know him, and was nearly sending for the police. By the way, Ely River is not the only trap one may walk into in the dark hereabouts; no one knows how many of the bodies found in the Glamorgan Canal may not be the results of such preventible accidents. As a corrective of over-much modernity, we have been dipping into "Cardiff and Merthyr Guardian" for half a century ago. Looking at the Cardiff Police-court news for Christmas week, we find that two potters from Rumney, who were found fighting in St. Mary-street, were fined 5s. and 5s. costs, or six hours in the stocks. A man named Hurley, who was up the first time for being drunk, was discharged on putting half- a-crown in the infirmary box. In another case William Shee and Mary Driscoll appealed, each charging the other with assault. As the report says, "after a good deal of talk, it ultimately turned out to be an Irish row, and both cases were dismissed." Six hours in the stocks seemed the staple penalty in the town at that time. In their desire to ascertain whether Welsh services are necessary in the churches of Sc. Fagan's and Llanillterne, the commissioners appointed by the Bishop of Llandaff found it necessary to put some searching questions. One witness at the latter place said that he went regularly to a Welsh chapel at Pentyrch. When questioned by Mr. Ignatius Williams, who tli-n-ghout the inquiry o.ed s nno nxiety that the Welsh side should not suffer, the fol- lowing dialogue took place:—Mr. WiUhtms: "Do you say any prayers at night before you go to bed-" Witness (after considerable hesita- tion) "No, sir." Mr. Williams: "I thought you might be in the habit of saying the Lord's prayer." Witness (shamefacedly): "No, sir. Mr. Williams Do you have any prayers in your family Witness: "No, sir." Thus the inci- dent ended. What Mr. Williams was anxious to know was whether, if the witness said prayers, he preferred to say them in Welsh or in English. If he had said English, he would have felt his nationality besmirched; if he had said Welsh his evidence would have been against the officials of the estate; as it was, his circumstances enabled him to steer clear of both Scylla and Chary bdis.

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A Year of Great Change BRITAIN'S RELATIONS WITH THE WORLD. I OUR HOME POLITICS IN THE MELTING-POT. [BY FREDERICK GREENWOOD.] Not in event, but in portent, the year 1897 has been so remarkable that he must be an old man who remembers the like of it. To be sure, nothing that has actually happened within the boundary of our own seas wears a surface look of importance; yet much happens when, on some soft day in spring, the mould begins to break where the sower flung his seed. "But was not the Queen's Jubilee a great event, then?" It was a great commemoration and a great revelation; and what was then revealed (till that 22nd of June it was rather an article of faith than of knowledge) is Britain's chief stand-by in the days to come. What that is we have told each other a hundred times since; but, even in a brief review like this, it must have a glance of recognition. If there was anv doubt on the subject before, we know now that, planted though we are all about the world, there is no more united people on earth, and that the spirit of this people, wherever found, is as sound as ever. "If I there was any doubt," I say, remem- bering a time when it was no uncommon thing to hear that matter questioned in high political society, the truth being that there it was that courage had begun to soften. There, if anywhere, the old strong sense of patriot responsibility fell sick of some disease not easily explained, unless as a consequence of too much dram- drinking from the various bins of Modern Thought. ("The native hue of Resolution sicklied o'er -) Disease it certainly was, acting on the mind as influenza does on the nervous system, and attacking, nob only individual statesmen of one party or the other j but nil British statesmanship, more or less. We are curing that. We, who are the groundlings of politics, are, curing it by reaction from below. the \1 official plane. /lie Imperialist sentiment, winch no political faction dare deny nowa- days, is an up-gro vth. It started from the deep bosom of Le nation itself, made its way into the Y,h places where Govern- ment and Opposiuon play their game, and began there the needed conversions to a healthier state ûf mind. It was beiore 1897 that a beginning was made; but the year of the Jubilee leaves no one at liberty to say that public spirit in these islands is a spirit of apathy. Looking back over the last twelve months that is the one thing clear, and it has entirely to do with our foreign relations. entirely to do with our foreign relations. Lucky it is, however, that the one thing clear does relate to them, for they are what concern us most. Never since the day of Waterloo has the British Govern- ment been exposed to so much anxiety from abroad as in this passing year. Of course, they do not acknowledge it publicly. Only when the door is shut upon them in Council can it be acknow- ledged amongst themselves. But the anxiety is there, and every newspaper reader knows why. Amidst universal un- friendliness there must be anxiety. IL is still possible to believe in a policy of isola- tion, for many men do believe in that, lingering remnant of Manchester doctrine. But there is an ideal isolation, in which n country is rid of entanglement and cut o& from risk. and there is another sort, which is isolation in a complete environment of friendless uncertainty. When the philosophers of Radicalism persuaded us to adopt their policy they promised us the one thing as a matter of fact, we have got the other; and the history of the year at the Foreign Office, at the Colonial Office, is the story of an alarming disappointment. For a sign, behold who are the alarmists. Not out- siders, but insiders. Mark that a pro- digiously strong Navy was thought enough for safety at the beginning of the year, but not at the end of it. The Army also must be strengthened and so let it be. So let it be, for our first business is to mend what is amiss, no matter how the mischief has come about. But, no. To do that well something else should be done first. We must acknowledge to ourselves frankly what the mischief is, both in extent and character. All the newspapers are re-calling the history of the parting year. Look at it, not through the glasses of poli- tical partisanship, but with the eyes of an actuary. Consider the place which we have been compelled to take in the Euro- pean Concert, and ask whether it is the place of authority that England has been accustomed to. Mark what these new. Continental alliances signify, according to universal belief where they are made, and say whether it is not true that this country is regarded with animosity bv nearly every great nation in Europe. And then confess -for that you must do-that there is a change in the distribution of power, a change in our relations with the rest of the world, which makes defence a matter of the first necessity to the British Empire. Cer- tainly, more soldiers are needed, and not only for the commonly assigned reason that the Empire extends. It does extend, but sn do some other things. So. if we look in one direction, does the envy of surrounding nations. So, if we look in another, does familiarity amongst "native races" with our wonderful arms of precision and practice in the use of them. That is an "extension" of considerable moment. No addition to our fighting strength which the Government asks for should be denied. In return, we may ask our rulers to find a means of con- vincing foreign Powers that these arma- ments are for use upon any too impudent application of the squeeze—whether in Africa (where plenty of trouble awaits all its partitioners) or elsewhere. In domestic affairs, also, the year 1897 has witnessed a great development of a great change. We must stand off a little to see it in its full magnitude, and, when seen, some courage is required to describe it truly. "Confusion of parties" is a pretty little phrase, but far from adequate on the present occasion. In one sense, to be sure, both the Radical and the Conservative party may be said to be confounded--and yet that is not exactly the word that I should choose in describing the change that has overtaken both. Nor are they in the same case. As to the Radicals, the expe- rience of another year leaves no doubt that -literally, and in no mere rhetorical sense -they are entirely without effective lead- ing. If we say that they have no leader at all, no commander loved or unloved, the truth will not be exceeded, and the cause of that misfortune is more clearly seen now than ever. It is not only that Mr. Glad- stone's lieutenancies yielded no command- ing political genius, nor even an oratorical glamorist, who might have done as well; it is also because they have not enough of un- exhausted principle to fit out a programme. Both these deficiencies were apparent, of course, long ago, and, of course, there could be little expectation of immediate remedy. But another year passes, and in no respecc is there the faintest sign or prospect of remedy. We sometimes hear of men "rising to the occasion," responding to the need of the time. Where is the Glad- stonian who does this? The Parliamen- tary campaign of the year, the platform campaign of the year, might have added something to what the Radical leaders are so unusually short of—personal distinction and authority. But fortune failed them, or else they really cannot reach to what they would attain. In one speech, the sober effectiveness of which there is no gainsaying, Mr. Fowler raised himself to the place he was slipping from; but his colleagues, even the most eminent, have suffered palpable decline. This is not because they fell below their best, but; because it is now clear that their best has been seen. What they would do, or attempt, to keep themselves in office when they got there is a disappointment of the same character; such an array of shop- worn goods as their programme brought to view on their several platforms would be the ruin of a trader in anything but politics. Not a single item in it is likely to re-kindle the least enthusiasm, and there is nothing new to offer. My own opinion is that they may go far with tneir opposition to the "forward policy" in India. There fortune favours tliem-tliere they have wicu them a flowing tide of public feeling. For the rest, without plan. without hope, and with little mutual con- fidence, they trust to whatever pickings may be dropped by Government error and mishap. So as to the Radical leadership. But do we find rank and liie Radicalism very much dusheartened P It cannot be said that we do. Considering how many woes the Glad- stonian remnant inherited from that ex- tremely bad speculation, Home Rule, it is almost a wonder that they have not languished out of existence altogether. But despite their lack of leading, their no flag, no star, no stirring cry, they make a good fight. I speak of the rank and file, and, of course, it will be asked, "Does it not fol- low, then, that they have something to fight for. No. Occasionally it is enough to have something to fight against, and this they feel that they have in particular and in plenty. Every Londoner does not know how keenly the Radical determination against the Government is sharpened by the presence of Mr. Chamberlain in it. That he should flourish amongst the Tories! But he does, and more and more he does, and no doctor in philosophy is needed to explain why that should edge the teeth of a Radical Opposition. If we look back, there we find a reason. If we look forward, there we find another, or what is felt to be another and a more bitter reason. For they say, murmuring amongst themselves (it would not do to speak the thing out- right in everybody's hearing), "What chance is there for us if every attractive, every romantic scheme of popular legisla- tion is to be labelled 'Truly Conservative' before the next ^peral election comes about?" Now, it X' Mr. Chamberlain who does the labelling 4^ "busily—never with the paste-pot out of his hand, and even through the walls of Opposition council chambers we can see the glare of anger as this ques- tion passes round. A sore question it is, indeed, but one that inspires to the taking up of cudgels rather than to thtl throwing of them down. It works; bu yet it is not the only thing, of com\y, that puts the Radical rank and filfe in better fighting trim at the end of 1897 than it was at the beginning of the year. Certain electoral successes count-all "soldiers' battles"; but I mean no dis- respect to the Nonconformist Conscience in saying that Greek affairs, Cretan affairs, and the unpunished Armenian massacres have kept that powerful ally of Radicalism in full activity all the year through. And in what trim is the Conservative party ? The bravest trim. Yet when we look closely in that direction we see another remarkable change. Officially, there is no longer a Conservative party. Not, of course, that Conservatism itself has dis- appeared the truth being that Conserva- tives are more numerous in the country and in the House of Commons than either Liberals or Radicals, or than both together. Yet "Conservative" is the name of no party now. It is, in fact, a name forbidden in official party nomenclature. That, how- ever, means nothing, and does not matter I in the least. The rose would smell as sweet were its name forgotten quite. Yet not so much, however, were it put under- ground ■ and it happens that very little fegislation this year lias been Conservative, much has been wholly Radical, and some of it directly opposed to the strongest, most urgent, and most recent teaching of Con- servative leadership. A curious new state of things, which the voting on both sides of the House brought out very remarkably, scores of Opposition Radicals and scores of Ministerial Conservatives changing sides on envision. And the heartburning—the rage of the Opposition at being "dished" so superbly, and, on the other side, the anger at whatever it may be that drove Conservative Ministerialists into open rebellion! There seems to be some difficulty about finding a name for the whatever it was that provoked this con- sequence. Some have called it Tory Demo- cracy, but that must be a mistake. For it was the Democracy (who else?) that re- solved at the last general election to return a thoroughly Conservative House of Com- mons, and it cannot be democratic to negative the whole intention and effect of a national vote. The people's will is to be considered the will of the people when it decides against Radicalism no less than when it calls for a spell of Radical rule. So, at any rate, many Conservatives have argued lately; being strongly moved to think, it seems, that their principles may as well be dropped altogether if they are to be treated as obsolete when the country votes for them, and also when it doesn't. However that may be, the fact is that the discontent which arose upon these conside- rations during the session continued into the recess. It did not subdue. From time to time the most influential Ministerial journals admitted that it had reason, and the consequence seems to be that a rather more popular Conservative spirit will direct the legislation of 1898. Many Liberal Unionists in the House of Commons are themselves desirous of this, it is said; perhaps because they are wise, perhaps because they are tender—tender enough to dislike seeing their old comrades so often and so mercilessly dished." Either way, we are grateful to them. This is to be good men and good citizens.

NATIONAL EISTEDDFOD 1898 GORSEDD DEGREES. The executive committee of the Gorsedd has completed the syllabus of subjects for the G orsedd examinations of candidates for eisteddfodic degrees at the Blaenau Festi- niog National Eisteddfod. Examinations will be held at various centres, and the degrees will be conferred upon the successful candi- dates at the Gorsedd meetings at Festiniog. The subjects for the degree of bard are: — The Chicago International Eisteddfod Chair Awdl on "Jesus of Nazareth," by the Rev. E. Rees ("Dyfed"); the Arwrgerdd (heroic poem) en "Madawg Ab Owain Gwynedd," by the Rev. J. C. Davies ("Cad- van") "Gammadeg Barddoniaeth," "Tegai" and the po^icai works of Goronwy Owen and the poetilal works of "Goronwy Owen" and Ceiriog Enighe?. For the ovate degree subjects are, "Grammadeg Cymraeg" "Dewi Mou" (Professor D. Rowlands's Grammar of the Welsh Language); "Drych y Prif Oesoedd," by the Rev. Theophilus Evans; and "Welsh Poetry, Historical and Critical." articles by the Rev. H. Elvet Lewis, from "Y Geninen," 1888-9. For the druid degree candidates must pass the bardic or ovate examinations. The papers in the musical examinations can be worked either in tonic sol-fa or old notation.

FOR SAILORS' FRIENDS. FOREIGN ARRIVALS AND MOVE- MENTS OF LOCAL VESSELS. Barlby left Newport for Genoa 29th. Gledholt arrived Bilbao from Genoa 29th. Pulton arrived Aarhuus from Baltimore 28th. Watlington arrived Jarrow from Bilbao 28th. Preston passed St. Michael's for Dunkirk 28th. Ely Rise arrived Newport 29th. Gwalia arrived Algiers 27th. Glendower arrived Seville 28th. Gorsedd arrived Calcutta 27th. Eestormel passed Pera 29th. Cosmopolitan left Constantinople cor Eupa- toria 29th. Mandalay left Liverpool for Cardift z.9th. Chas. T. Jones left Malta for Odessa 29th. Trongate left Teneriffe for Hampton Roads for orders 27th. North Devon sheltering at Plymouth 30th. Stokeslev expected to leave Caen for Penarth 30th. Merthyr arrived Newport 50th. Topaze left Garrucha for Calais 29th. Mercedes arrived Portland 30th. Sapphire arrived St. Vincent 29th. Saxon Briton left Bilbao for Newport 29th. Camrose arrived Marseilles 29th. G. E. Wood left Cette for Huelva 29th. Sprightly leaves Dartmouth for Newport 31st. Blue Jacket left Delaware Breakwater for Newport News 30th. Ancient Briton left St. Malo for Newport 30th. Dunmail left Poriiand for Barry 30th.

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