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I sold KBSiia Bonrera&H am lawaxzoaf- EXHIBITIONS. « 0 FRf'S PURE CODfCENTRAlPEt C 0 C O A/ Prepared by a new and special scientific proeew •retiring qstreme solubility and developing fiavonr >-of the eo86a.—" I have never ta^pd Iboeoc I like so well. it is especially adapted to tboef whose digestive organs are week. and Istron&irteoom, JJIØDd it as a substitute for tea for young person. -Sir titia*. A. Cameron. President Royal Gothfe tf Surgeons, Ireland, Sc. < ZOTCfe
HOPK1N8' CAKE,
It seems almost impossible to believe that Christ- inas is here. Why,as I'm a living sinner,there hasn't been a sign of Yule tide until the last few days, during which the ice-king has honoured us with a visit. We have had an exceptionally long summer,lasting even into November,with only a few alternations of mugginess, fog, and the consequent human depression. To the dyspeptic, to all who are troubled with indigestion by land or sea, and to all who suffer in these directions, generally, I offer a word of condolence, as I do to those who are bodily and mentally indisposed at this festive season of the year. They have my sympathy and consideration. To the strong and lusty, and those in the full enjoyment of robust life I offer my con. gratulations. May they continue to enjoy the blessings of health! For, after all, what is more precious than a sound mind in a sound body 1 don't know. I no more believe that riches carry happiness with them, than I believe that the moon Is made of creain cheese, or that a certain friend of mine with a bandy leg (a tumble don't you know) was struck so. After this brief and wandering prelude, I offer, with the greatest sincerity, my best wishes for a merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all those who read these wayward ind erratic jottings, and to all the world beside. I have in my mind a vivid word picture, sketched by the inimitable master, Charles Dickens, of a Christmas dinner by the Cratchit family, as de- picted in the famous "Christmas Carol. There was Mrs. Cratchit busy with the goose and puddings, while the little Cratchits crammed spoons into their mouths lest they should shriek for the savoury bird before their turn came to be helped. I can see poor Tiny Tim, the crippled child of the family, sitting placidly beside his doting father in a not luxuriously furnished apartment and in sur. roundings of the deepest poverty. Let me, for the sake of the time of year, bo pardoned for making one little extract from the book:—"At last the dishes were set on, and grace was said. It was succeeded by a breathless pause as Mrs. Cratchit, looking slowly all along the carving knife, prepared to plunge it in the breast; but when she did, and when the long-expected gush of stuffing issued forth, one murmur of delight arose all round the board, and even Tiny Tim. excited by the two young Cratchits, beat on the table with the handle of his knife and feebly cried Hurrah! There never was such a goose. Its tenderness and flavour, size and cheapness, were the themes of universal admiration. Eked out by the apple sauce and mashed potatoes, it was a sufficient dinner for the whole family; indeed, as Mrs. Cratchit said with great delight (surveying one small atom of the bone upon the dish), "They Ibadn't ate it all at last." Then there was the entrance of the pudding, ftlazing in half a quartern of ignited brandy, and bright with Christmas holly Stuck into* the top— oh, a regularly wonderful pudding; then there was the sweeping of the hearth and the following If hot stuff from the jug." Then there was the toast from the tender-hearted head of the family: A Merry Christmas to us all, my dears. God bless us! which all the family re-echoed. i" God bless us every one!" said Tiny Tim, the last iof all. And these are my sentiments, my dear readers, and that is why I have been beating about the bush to show ifiy meaning in better language than my own, God bless us every one." And while we are enjoying the luxuries of the festive season may we not forget that there are others who will have hard times and scant fare to put up with, to say nothing of the pitiless elements in these searching times. This reminds me that I have just hatched a .project which I sincerely hope will come to maturity. I admire the daring of the street arabs, as I do their capacity for enduring all the iiit that flesh is heir to. I fancied that a jolly good tuck out to the Cardiff ones, at this time of the year, when most of us are killing the fatted calf and making merry, would not come amiss. Roast beef and plum pudding are to them, outcast boys and girls as they are, only a vision, as things go now- a-days, and if we could give them a chance of realising this vision we should, I am sure, be pro- Tiding a jovial hour or two to these poor waifs and strays, and at the same time be receiving the "well done" of those inward monitors—those consciences of ours. I have broached the idea to a few friends, and they cordially approve it and have promised their support. Our prize competition jogs merrily along, but it Is very disappointing to find that so many of the competitors do not fulfil the conditions laid down. Hundreds of them have sent their letters in a day after the time announced, and are, in fairness to others who have completed, disqualified. Thirty- one competitors have been succesful in winning prizes. The word competition this week is HOPK1N8' CAKE, and refers to that delectable article manufactured by Mr. Hopkins-beg pardon, Mr. Councillor Iffopkins-at the large and well appointed bakery in The Hayes, Cardiff. The article in question has a large re- putation, not only in the Principality, but, throughout the 'king. dom, and the only thing that puzzles me is that such a first. class article can be made and sold at such cheap rate. The newest of our town counCillors" deserves to get on he does try." A glance at his stores at this festive season of the year will delight the eyes, I am sure, of all the visitors. I know of some butchers and bakers and candle- stick makers who wont be behind the door when I ask them for a little aid in kind, and to those who feel inclined to give a shilling or two towards the object, I beg of them to send along their mites to Mr. F.W. Lock of Richmond-road, Cardiff, who has kindly consented to act as trea- surer to the fund. All these ladies and gentlemen who would like to assist as amateur waiters, and attendants extraordinary, in feeding the all but houseless children who get their livings on the streets, can signify the same to me and their sug- gestions will be thankfully and gratefully received. I have already made arrangements for providing a short entertainment after the repast is over. and, with appetites appeased, and risible faculties pleased, who shall say that a good work, if it comes loff, has not been acomplished. I Let us emulate The Fine Old English Gentle- man," who while be feasted all the great, be ne'er iorgot the poor 1" To other towns I say: Go and do likewise. There was quite a hullabaloo at the last meeting of the Cardiff Guardians because one of the members had the assurance to object to the selec- tion of a candidate for rate-collecting honours by iteM by ballot. It might have been a bit personal LU say that some of the guardians wanted the ballot for the purpose of telling disappointed can- didates that they gave them their vote and inte- rest. But was there not some truth in it ? There was, of course, a lot of uproar from sensitive quarters, but why need there have been ? If you asked me, I should declare upon my honour—that is, of course, providing these secret-mongers would concede that I had a particle of that commodity- that the man who was afraid to let it be publicly known who was the candidate of his choice had no business with a seat at the board. I think it a scandal that, out of business considerations or from personal motives, the transactions of a public body should be carried on "on the sly." However, I am not a guardian, and I suppose this "Jotting" will be put down to my ignorance, or prejudice, or bad nature, or all put together. So let it be, but I have, nevertheless, speken my mind. I quite agree with the course taken by the Local Government Board in censuring Dr. Lougher, and am not sorry that extremities were not resorted to. The doctor,was wrong, no doubt, but, oh, you guardians and paupers, there is a good deal of human nature about those who administer physic as there is with the rest of mankind. When we get our danders ris," as Artemus calls it, we are prone to do and say things which we would give a big consideration to have left unsaid. That's all the world over. However, having put this down, I am bound to offer the opinion that a recipient of parish relief is just as much entitled to consideration at the hands of a medical officer as one of his more happily circumstanced patients Courtesy and kindness, if rare, are exceedingly cheap, and I like. above all things, to see these characteristics in a doctor. I cannot leave off, however, without saying that cheek in a pauper is anything but becoming. I can quite understand that Mr. Carbutt, who this week has been the recipient of a testimonial from his Newport friends, was not very well pleased with the decision of the electors at the last election for the Monmouth Boroughs. I was prepared, too, to hear some hard words said against his opponents, but I am glad to be able to record that on Monday night he was temperate enough, although he attributed the success of Sir George Elliot to the ducal and lordly influence at Mon- mouth. I don't fancy this was a compliment either to the electors or to those who are supposed to possess ducal and lordly influences. These are the days of the ballot, and a voter can exercise the franchise without pressure from any source, and he is either a fool or a coward if he does not do so. There is one thing about Mr. Carbutt's speech which gives me considerable satisfaction. He has at last come out in his true colours, and declared himself a Unionist. So far, so good. It seems to me that all good Liberals and Badicals are becoming Unionists, and I expect soon to hear they have joined the great constitutional party of the country. The Irish have a big share of the sugar plums to be given away by the State, and they come amongst us and earn their bread and butter with the best of us. Why they should want separation is a marvel to me. Ireland by itself would be a very small affair, and it would only afford a happy hunting ground for paid political agitators, who thrive upon the ignorance and credulity of their mis- guided compatriots. I wonder what Irishmen would do if we tried on a little of their hanky-panky in the shape of Boycotting, and declared that if Ireland was to be for the Irish we would take jolly good care that England should be for the English. Get out There is one little silver lining of consolation in the address of the late member for the Monmouth Boroughs. He has promised to use his voice and his influence in order to reconcile the Unionists and the Separatists. Good. The most eminent statesmen of the day have tried their hands and failed; but now that Mr. Carbutt has put his band to the plough he will not turn back until the lions Gladstone, Morley, and the rest are lying peaceably down with the lambs Hartington, Cham- berlain, and the other members of the patriotic flock; I have not a word to urge against the efforts of Welsh Nonconformists in providing church and school accommodation, but I wish to goodness they would exercise a little ordinary business capacity before launching into debts which they can never hope to liquidate. I am not going to find a verdict in the case of the Rev. John Vaughan, who, after having filed his petition in the Bankruptcy Court, is now awaiting his trial on a serious charge, but I cannot help referring to an incident which has cropped up in connection with his present unfortunate position. A collier, of Heolgerrig, has just had his examination in bankruptcy closed before the Merthyr Registrar. His gross liabilities amounted to more than jE3,000, while his assets could almost be covered by a £5 note. His average wages amounted to the magnificent sum of fourteen bob a week, and the foolish fellow — i don't exactly know whether I correctly describe him—incurred the greater part of his incubus of indebtedness as trustee of Horeb Chapel. Was there ever such madness ? I have no pity for the debtor, and I can't say I have for the creditors. My decision is Serve them right all round. « Mr. Dodd's "Pops" at the Park-hall, Cardiff have already become quite an institution in the land. Last Saturday night's concert was well attended, and those who were present did not by any means go empty away. Madame Gertrude Lewis sang her songs with the sweetness and pathos which are her especial charms, while Mr. Dodd found a tower of strength in Mr. Herv6 d'Egville (a well- known member of the renowned Carl Rosa Company), who has a splendid voice and knows how to use it with effect. "The Signori" were there with the tuneful man- dolin and the rich buffo singing, and took re- markably well. Among the other specialities were violin solos by Mr. Arthur Hudson, an ac- complished musician and a full master of bowing and intonation. Altogether the entertainment was very enjoyable, and if my words are any encouragement to the entrepreneur I say—Go in, Dodd, my boy, and win I I have received a graphic account of the marriage at St. Mellon's of a widow and widower, but I don't care about entering into details. My correspondent should have sent it to the news columns. If widows and widowers like to get re- spliced, I see no cause or impediment against their doing so. I admire the gallantry of the able- bodied men who took upon themselves the func- tions of the carriage-horses, and would have given a trifle to have seen the young Boniface who acted as coachman on the occasion. What a day they must have all had I There is a lawyer in Cardiff for whom I have the profoundest respect. He had the misfortune to come off second best in some little bit of business in reference to so humble; an individual as myself, but I haven't a thought which is not friendly towards him. After this confession I may be permitted to give, without hesitation or reserva- tion, an account of what occurred this week in St. Mary street. Our learned friend met a lady friend — oh! she is married, and pray don't jump to premature con- clusions-who inquired after the health of lawyer Blank's better half. "Hand over the six-and- eightpence and I'll tell you," was the laconic reply. Smart this, eb ? The ruling passion strong even in the social relations! There are many traits in the character of Mr. Solomon Andrews, of Cardiff, which I admire. I think oceans of his enterprise, and I never pass by those two handsome shops—equal to anything of the kind to be found in the kingdom—which he hu put up opposite the Town-hall in St. MarT- itreet, without wondering at the versatility and vitality of the man. He is going up a notch higher, in my opinion, by reason of a piece of information which has been imparted to me during the past week; This Christmastide he is going to present to the 500 or 600 people in his employ a 41b. cake, made at his own establishment. Bravo, Sol! What have the sanitary authorities in Merthyr been about. A severe epidemic of scarlet fever, which has become so serious that the schools have to be closed, does not come of its own accord. It must have had an invitation in the neglect of the past. It is no good now crying over spilt milk, so I shall reserve my censure for a future occasion if I find it is necessary to pronounce it. My pre- sent duty is to urge vigilance upon all hands. It is not a bit of good having local authorities without they have some gumption about them. Up and doing" must be the watchword until this calamity is overpassed. I am awfully down on those who are cruel to animals, and I cannot say I much admire police- court advocates who forget their respect to the administrators of the law in their zeal for their clients. This week an Irish cattle- dealer was summoned before the Neath magistrates for ill-treating cattle by overcrowding them in railway trucks, and, the charge being proved, he was fined. Serve him right. There is too much of this kind of cruelty going on, and I am afraid the railway authorities have a good deal to answer for, in not looking after the matter. Bleed- ing and exhausted calves, and cows in agony with swollen udders, don't count for much with some of your' cattle dealers, but it means a terrible amount of suffering to the poor creatures who are submitted to the ordeal. I shall pat all those magistrates on the back who set their faces against cruelty to animals, and bid them treat with dignity the sneers and gibes of paid advocates. There, I have had my say, Messrs. the cattle dealer and the lawyor. I suppose the majority of my readears have heard of the Cardiff Whip, a literary and satirical journal. It is a well printed piece of work, and it is conducted with vigour and sprightliness by Mr. C. J. Griffiths, who came to the town some time ago as publisher of an evening paper. This is what the Journalist, a high-class paper devoted to journalists, writes of venture:—" An illus- trated journalistic ven- ture, yclept the Whip— now two months old— has been started in Car- diff. Its columns con. tain matter grave and gay, and its publication, so far, has proved a most pronounced success. In addition to the satirical matter such journals usually contain, it has a 'portrait gaIlery" of local celebrities, the blocks for which are executed by the Meisenbach process. The editor and manager, Mr. Charles J. Griffiths, has had a wide experience in enterprising journalism in America, London and the provinces, and will doubtless make his mark in the principality. It is rumoured that Mr. Griffiths will shortly become closely connected with another publication, but of a different character." It is nearly twelve months ago since I con- gratulated Sir W. T. Lewis upon his well-earned knighthood. Twelve months! apd though his spurs were richly deserved before, he has since given fullest evidence of worthy deserving. Largesse here, my masters; largesse there. The bountiful hand giving freely in obedience to the promptings of a bountiful heart, and now, con- tinuing the long list of benefactions, we have his gift of a valuable freehold site to the people of Aberdare for a Free Library A Free Library is the logical addenda to free education. May the Aberdarians make the gift one of the most im- portant kind, so that long-removed descendants may bless his memory. I am glad to congratulate Cardiff on an honour just obtained by one of its sons, and to offer my felicitations to the gentleman through whom this came about. Mr. W. J. John, in the recent com- petition at the Royal Academy Schools, obtained the first prize, a silver medal, for the model of a figure from life, and the second prize, value JE20, for a set of three models of a figure from life. Willie John, until a few years back, worked with his father at the Cardiff Castle as a carver, and in the evenings attended the Science and Art Schools, under Mr. Bush. He then went to London, and worked for the well-known sculptor, Nicholls, and devoted his evenings to study in the Lambeth School of Art. There he worked hard and dili- gently, and eventually gained admission to the Royal Academy School- Since then his labours have not been without their rewards, for Mr. John has gained con- secutive prizes of £10, JE25, and now the highest award of thisj year—a silver medal. In the Sketch Club1 attached to the school he stands foremost of all, being six marks ahead of the rest of the students. Although he has met with very credit- able success he has by no means had it all his own way, for at the same school there are many clever young men, and three in particular who for a long time have been, as one might say, "running neck- and-neck" with him, sometimes one going to the front, and sometimes another. But next year will be a climax for one or other of them, for then will be awarded a gold medal and I leave you to guess the earnestness of the tug of war that is existing between those four aspiring young men. I under- stand that Mr. John is now working in the studio of Mr. C. B. Birch, A.R.A.
AN UNWORKABLE SCHEME.
AN UNWORKABLE SCHEME. PHOFESSOK OF SCIENCE (getting warm on the sub- ject For instance, sir, take a railroad from the earth to the sun, with a train running forty miles an hour without stops, it would take about two hundred and sixty-five years to make the journey. BUSINESS FRIEND Then what might the fare come to, Professor ?" PBOFESSOB At a penny a mile, I estimate the fare would come to £ 372,000." BUSINESS FRIEND Then its no use. Professor Them figures kill the project."
[No title]
The Press Association is officially informed that the Queen has been pleased to approve the appointment of Field Marshal Lord Napier of Magdala, G.C.B., to be Constable of the Tower of London, in the room of the lateJFieId Marshal Sir B. J. Dacres, G.C.B. J
"Y DDRAlQ GOCR A DDYRY GrcKwrx."
I Nadolig dedwydd i bawb, yn enwedig i ddarllen wyr y golofn hon. Dichon y dywed rhywun fy mod dipyn yn bartiol yn fy nymuniad; ond cofier mai dilvn esiampl yr apostol Paul yr ydwyf, canys y mae ef yn dywedyd, "Gwnewchddai bawb, yn enwedig i'r rhai ag sydd o deulu'r ffydd." Yr wyf yn dymuno gwydd dew ar fwrdd pob un, a"bara mewn sam" i'r holl blant cyn cinio. 0, ie, bydded hefyd ar dy fwrdd, daar- llenydd anwyl, bwdin o'r fat.h frasaf. Ond paid a bwyta gorinod o'r naill na'r llall, oherwydd y maent yn bethau trymion i'w troi gan olwynion dy gylla. Ond, wedi'r cwbI, rhyw wlead bagan- aidd yw bwyta gwyddau ar y Nadolig. Hynod yw'r ffaith mai o herwvdd y Cymry y I daeth v ddefod o fwyta gwyddau ar y Nadolig i arferiad. Yr oedd y fyddin Gymreig, o dan Brannus, yn gwarchae ar ddinas Rhufain, a hjmy yn mhell cyn amser Iwl Csesar. Yr oedd pyrth y ddinas oil yn nghau. Un noswaith dywell gwnaeth rhai o'r milwyr Cymreig ddringo craig fawr, serth, gyda'r amcan i enill y ddinas,'pan oedd y Rhufeinwyr yn cysgu. Ar ben y graig yr oedd teml i'r dduwies Juno. Yno cedwid gwyddau yn gyssegredig i'r Peiapus. Pan oedd y milwyr Cymreig ar latnu dros ben y dibyn' rhoddodd y gwyddau y fath ysgrech ofnadwy fei y dihunodd y fyddin Rufeinig, rhodasant at eu harfau, a llwyddasant i rhwystro rhagor o'r Cymry rhag dyfod i mewn; a thaflisant y lleill dros y dibyn i'r gwaelodion obry. Felly cadwyd y ddinas, daeth yr wydd yn gyssegredig fel arwyddlun o allu Amddiffynol Rhufain, a byth wed'yn cedwid haid o wyddau ar draul y Ilywod- raeth. Gwnaed delw o wydd mewn aur, ac unwaith yn y flwyddyn cludid hi mewn goryni- daith grefyddol trwy y ddinas fel arwydd o barch, a dyled yr holl wlad i'r gwyddau am yr hyn a a wnaeth yr haid flaenorol trwy rhoddi rhybudd prydlon o ddyfodiad y Cymry tua phen y graig. Aryr un pryd, lleddid ci fel arwvdd oanmharch am na roddodd y cwn rybudd ar yr achlysur nodedig. Mae y bardd "Talhaiarnwedi gwneyd can wawdlyd am yr hanes uchod. Yr oedd ef yn credu ein bod ni, y Cymry, yn rhy barod i ganmol ein hynafiaid Cymreig ac yn edrych ar hanes ymgyrch y Cymry i Rhufain fel ffug hanes. Ond nid Cymryaysgrifenoddyr hanes ond Plutarch, hanesydd Groegaidd. Dyma fel y canodd Tal" With Brennus for his general, my uncle thrashed the Romans, Which people nowadays believe was nothing but a lomance He 3lew '• the fathers in their chairs, and then he swore, 0 drabbit all"! And cooked the famous gooses that cackled in the capitol. Rhyfeddwn i ftewyn nad mewn coffadwriaeth am wyddau Juno a fuontyn achos o'r fath anffawd gynt, yr arferir genym yr ymadrodd, Yr hen wydd afiach I" ond os nad ydym yn caru coffad- wriaeth yr wydd, yr ydym yn hoffi ei bias, a mwy o honynt a ddelo i'n rhan, a dywedyd yr holl bolJlo rt Amen 1" Yr hen enw Cymreig ar Nadolig yw Arthan Yr wyf yn credu mai genedigaetli Arthur, neu haul y flwyddyn newydd, a olyga yr enw. Ond yn awr, y Nadolig ydvw yr wyl goffadwriaethol am enedigaeth Haul Mawr Cvfiawnder. Mae yn amlwg i bawb fod IIawer iawn o bethau pagan- aide wedi dyfod i lawr o'r cyn-oesoedd gyda'r Nadolig i'n dyddiau ni. Dyna'r uchelwydd, neu mistletoe-nid yw, yn fwy na'r wydd, yn perthyn i'r Nadolig Cristionogol. A wyt ti, ddarllenydd, wedi gofyn rhywbryd i ti dy hun paham y cusenir o dan yr uchelwydd, neu brenawyr, yn amgen nac o dan rhyw bren arati ? Mae yr hen arwydd- luniau a defodau ein gwiad yn llawn o hen feddyl- ddrychau ac arferion ein hynafiaid. Dyna'r Pylgain—gair Lladin ydyw a ddaeth, yn ddigon tebyg, i mewn gydag Eglwys Rhufain, yn nghyd a llawer o eiriau eraill a ddefnvddir genym mewn cysylltiad a phethau crefyddol. Nos Arthan yr hen Gvmry oedd nos y dydd byraf; gelwid hi Nos Sadwrn-du-bach." Nos dranoeth oedd Nos Calan, ac mae yn debygol eu bod yn ei threulio i ga.nu mawl i Dduw am y flwyddyn newydd ag oedd ar dywynu ar y byd. Mae rhai pobl yn credu fod yr hen Gymry yn addurno eu tai a byth-wyrddion, fel moddion i darfu yr ysbrvdion drwg; ond y gwir yw mae eu gosod yr oeddynt i addurno eu tai fal arwyddion fod y bywyd anianol eto yn gryf, er y rhew, yr eira, a'r ddryghin auafol ag oedd ar fyned lieibio o flaen saethau, Bef pelydrau haul y flwyddyn newydd. Hen fynachod ofergoelus a chelwyddog a daenasant y celwyddau am ein henafiaid goleu- edig ar hyd ailed y gwledydd. Mae'n ddigon tebyg i'r Plygain gael ei roi yn lie Nos Calan, gyda'r amcan i arwain y werinos oddi- wrth yr arferion Derwyddol at Gristionogaeth. Ond dyweder a fyner, nis gallaf yn fy myw lai nag edrych yn ol gyda hoffder mawr ar hen fythynod yr hen feirdd, yn addurnedig ag uchel- wydd, iorwg, a chelyn, a gwrando cerddoriaeth telynau y tadau a lleisiau soniarus merched y Gomerii, oil yn moli ar dafod ac ar dant Awdwr mawr Blwyddyn Newydd. Os wyt ti, ddarllenydd, yn deall pethau yn well na hwy, diolch i Dduw am dy wybodaeth. Ac ar yr un pryd bydd ofalus i dreulio dy Wyliau yn ddoeth, trwy fod yn gymedrol yn mhob peth. Nid oes neb yn fwy hoff o bregeth Gymreig dda na'r ysgrifenydd. Mae yn dda ganddo am lawer o bregethwyr, yn enwedig yr hen ddosbarth. Nid yw fawr o bwys genyf pa un ai pais neu lodrau a fydd yn ngylch coesau y llefarwr, os bydd gras yn ei galon a thipyn o synwyr yn ei ben. Ond mae yn debyg fod Cwrdd Misol Dwyrain Morgan wg y Trefnyddion Calfinaidd yn edrych yn lied amheus ar bawb os na byddant.yn gwisgo llodrau. Nid ar y pen nac ar y galon yr edrych yr yeungsters ag Bydd yn bresenol yn llenwi sin blychau pregethwrol, ond ar y dillad. Y mae yn dwrw gwyllt yn mhlith y frawdoliaeth o herwydd bod lodes ieuanc o'r enw Miss Davies, Treherbert, yn drech na hwynt fel efengyles, ac y maent wedi ceisio bod mor Wyddelaidd a'i Boycotio hi. Dywedir i'r hen batriarcli, William Evans, Tonyrefail, unwaith ddangos ei anngliy- meradwyaetb i ferched bregethu. Gofynwyd iddo yn dra byrbwyll ei farn ar y pwnc. Wn i ddim, wn i ddim yn iawn, beth sydd i'w ddweyd ar y mater," ebe fe, "ond gwn mae'r ceiliog sydd i ganu." Canlynwyd hyn gan chwerthin mawr, a byth oddiar hyny mae pop-guns rhai o fech, ginos Shon Gorff yn popian at Miss Davies." Yr oedd yr Apostol Paul yn cydnabod Phebe ffl un gymwys i'r weinidogaeth. Wrth ysgrifenu at y Bhufeiniaid, dywed St. Paul, "Yr wyf yn gorchymyn i chwi, Phebe, ein chwaer, yr hon sy«p weinidoges i Eglwys Cenchrea, dderbyn o honocb hi yn yr Arglwydd." Mae'r un A postol yn cyd- nabod Priscilla fel yn cydweitbio ag ef yn y gwaith da. Ond yn Mryn y Saddler rid gorchymyn y Phebe" Gymreig i'r eglwysi a wnaetbpwyd, ond ei Boycotio hi. Ond dyna, nid yw yn debyg fod neb o'r un stamp a'r Apostol Paul yn y gynhadledd yn Mryn-y-saddler. Ofnaf yn fy ngbalon bod y dirprwywyr oedd yno yn fwy tebyg i Demetrius, gof arian Ephesus, nag i apos- tol mawr y cenhedloedd. Ewch yn mlaen "Phebe" Treherbert, ac enillwch, trwy berseinio neges yr Efengyl, goron diddifianedig. Ow mae hen Gatws, Llangana," wedi ehedeg ffwrdd i wlad machludiad haul bywyd. Bu yn byw mewn bwthyn uweh Pontypridd,. ger bee* Llantrisant, am dri-ugain mlynedd, a bu ftirw yn I 8b oed. Brodor oedd hi o Llingan, neu, fel arall, Llangana, o dan dwyn Hi gododd y ty cyntaf ar y bryn, o'r tu deheuol i dref Pontypridd, a galwodd y ty yn Llangana er cof am y pentref enwog He ei ganwyd. Dyna y modd y daeth y rhan bono o dref Pontypridd i'w galw yn Llangana. Dywedodd Ieuan Wyn wrthyf mai y llwydrewa'i lladdodd. Gobeithio ei bod hedayw yn mhell o ddylanwad rhew o un IIiw, ac yn canu rbai o hen odlau y wir Langana, a glywyd yno yn amser y Parch. Dafydd Jones Efe oedd y Jones hwnw, am yr hwn y canodd per ganiedydd Bethesria'r Fro:— Jones, fel angel, yn.LIanganna, Yn udganu r udgorn mawr, Nes bai'r dorf, mewn twyn sercbladao, Yn dyrchafu nwch y llawr. Bu cyfarfod dyddorol iawn yn V Tabernxct Pontypridd, yr wythnos ddiweddaf, pan y cyf- Iwynwyd i Mr. William Griffiths, gynt o Heoly- felin (yr hwn oedd yn un o ddiaconiaid y Taber- nacl) gyfarchiad anrhydeddus ar femrwn. Yr oedd yn ymadael a'r lie i ymsefydlu yn Nghaer- dydd. Mr. John Crockett oedd y llywydd. Tyst- iodd pawb mai dyn rhagorol yw Mr. Griffiths, ac mae'n ddiddadl eu bod yn dywedyd y gwir atn dano. Ond yr oedd yn lied hynod yn fy ngolwg taw yn Sassonaeg yr oedd pawb yn ei ganmol. Yr oedd hyny yn lied chwithig i oi, ag sydd heb ein \ithio a llawer o'r iaith fain." Braidd yr wyf yn credu i un cyfarfod erioed o'r blaen gael ei fendithio a chymaint o sain y llythyren h ac a gafodd y cyfarfod hwn. Sylwyd, hefyd, gyda theimlad annedwydd bod un o'r siaradwyr yn dywedyd "Greet" am flreat! Ond pan gododd Mr. Morris, Sardis, ar ei draed, dechreuodd yr hen Omeraeg seinio et pheraidd odlau nes i fcwwbsynu fod neb yn dewis yr iaith fain i ganmol a hi. *»* Bydd Pontypridd ya un o'r ardaloedd mwyaf canolog yn Neheudir Cymru cyn bo hir. Mae mynydd Blaen Cwm Rhondda. yn cael ei dyllu, a bydd cledrffordd yn myned trwyddo i'r gorllewin. Bydd cledrffordd Pontypridd, Caerphili, a Cas- newydd yn cario ytndeithwyr yn gynar dechreu y flywddyn 1887, a bydd y Barri yn barod o fewn ycliydig o flynyddoedd, a gwnant y Bont" yif lle cyfleus iawn i fyw ynddo. Dichon y bydd i'r holl gyfleusderau hyn i anfon nwyddau i ffwrdd ddenu pobl arianog i sefydlu gweithfeydd new- yddion o wahanol fathau yn yr ardaL Rhwydd hynt, iddynt I Ma.e llawer- o adad Mt wedi bod artryd i'w gilydd am ystyr yr enw Trebanog. Gwyr pawb beth yw ystyr Tre, sef tngfan. Cartref!"—O! enw tlws!—a olyga trigian cariad. Ban sydd hen enw Cymreig am Ie uchel; Og sydd derfyniad geiriau, a golyga beth neu Ie llaWn bywyd. Dichon mae ystyr 14og" yn Trebanog yw awelog —"Tre uchel-awelog." Ar noson oer, wyntog, daw yr ystyr uchod i'r enwyn beth eithaf naturiol 1 feddwl y Cymro. Yr oadd crydd yn byw unwaith ar Donyrefiil ag oedd dipyn yn hunanol. Yr oedd yn dlawd iawn, ond yr oedc yn ffroenuchel ofnadwy, ae yn cadw crefft e: hunan," fel y dywedir. Pun fuasai wedi" tapio" dwy esgyd i ddyn yn Llan- liarran, yr oedd liy*y yn ddigon o esgusawd iddo i fyned at Gruffjdd o'r Rhiw" i fenthyca'r merlyn i'w gario dlos y mynydd a.'r esgudiau. Pan fyddai'r crydd ar gafn ceffyl neu fertyn yr oedd yn teimlo mae marchogwr y bwriadodd natur iddo fod, ond i Rhaglurtaeth rbywfodd anghofio rhoddi merlyn neu geffyl iddo. Un tro, wedi derbyn ei dal am y tapio," goscdodd y merlyn yn y marchdy, ac aeth i'r High Corner House i gael peint. Yfodd dipyn yn ormodol. a phan ddaeth allanyroedd ei logell yn wag, ond ei drwyn yn uwch nac o'r blaen. Esgynodd ar gefn y merlyn dechreuodd hvrnv; ddawr-io o orfoledd wrth feddwIaza.y sUbIgarUt.fr yr oadd v crydd ag adenydd ei gob yn cwhwfan gyda. phob nnid a wnai pony y Rhiw, ac edrychai pethai yn belbulus iawn ar y marchogwr. Ar ganol y ddawns ferlynol, wele fochyn y dafarn yn saethu fel hebog rhwng coesau blaen y merlyn, gan ei daflu ef a'i farchogwr yn garnedd i'r llawr. Neidiodd y crydd ar ei draed, ac, mewn dull dyn mawr mewn nwydau drwg, gosododd ei law yn llogell fewnol ei waistcoat, a dechreuodd waeddi fel arwevthydd, Pum' punt i bwy bynag a. ddywed wrtbyf pwy bia'r mochyn yna!" Hyd yn nod mewn anffawd loriawl fel yma, nid anghofiodd Rolant ei urddas. Wele hanesyn arall na welodd argraphiad o'r blaen. Yr oedd Twm ByweI Llewelyn a Morgan ei frawd unwaith yn mynwent Ystradyfodwg "A well di y maen gwyrdd acw, Twm," ebe Morgan; acw y carwn i gael fy nghladdu. Gwna englyn i'w osod ar gareg fy medd ?" Gwoa i," ebe Twm, ac adroddodd y canlynol:— Yma gonfedd Morgan Llewelyn ar ei hyd Fe dyngodd ao le regodd tra. bu mewn hyn o fyd; Cafodd fyn'd i uffern erchyU yn wobr am ei waith, Ac yno'r erys heiyd hyd draxwyddoldeb maith! Dywedir i Morgan ddychrynu cymaint fel y rhedodd o'r fynwent nerth ei draed. Dro arall yr oedd Twm wedi blino ar gawl Cwmsaorbran. Yn awr, Twm," ebe un o'r merched, ni chfti di ddim ciniaw heddy' beb i ti wneutbur englyn yn gyntaf." O'r goreu," ebe'r bardd, a dyma fel y canodd :— Pe byddai ø. wyddyn gyfan Heb fwrw gwlaw yn unman, Fe fyddai uw'r gan ferch y d-l Yo ngrochan cawl Cwmsaerbren. Da geoyf ddes.ll fod v dyfodol yn addawol gyda'r «' Ddraig Goch {The Red Dragon), ac y bydd yn gwneud ei ymddangosiad ddechreu y flwyddyn newydd yn llawn bywyd, ac y bydd ganddo ddys- gleidiau biasus i bawb o'i ddarllenwyr, Y mae yr hen fatdd enwog, Nathan Dyfed," wedi anfon y llongyfarchiad canlynol i'r cyhoeddiad clod- fawr :— "Y DDRAlQ GOCR A DDYRY GrcKwrx." Cymru fu, Cymru a fydd." Henffych well! hen Ddraig y dreigiau, Ercti urwrea myr a cbrei&iKU Prydain fawr hyd dtsr orurau Seiliau'r inys wen." Rhudd eliyiies, eciirys genii), Gwiber grib, gurwuugcus grombll, Dera'r jBrython, Uosttuwr weitlil Dan giagenbil gen Crynent Duwiau Kaisar, Rhag ei rliiniawl Faniar, Llengau" lw1 dan drengawl grl Yn gwelwi mewn dygn alar, Dychryn ynarteithioietfod, Braw'u gordoi ei aer eryrod, Gan eu bwysgo ar ddiaperod jjrwy ei dyruod ueu. Human Buddug" chwyfiai'n glaerwyn, Iirwy'i' Ddraig goch ddyroddai'r eyenwyn," :BuddugOIJaerh! baeudu gelyn. Pawlyn bretyu brad. Dan ei swyn y dewrGaswallon," Lrwia'r actftUt Arch ■bendragoB,* Griew orneatai e'l eiynion, Gwyllon fleiddiau'r jjad. Llucb ei pheuwu Uasog, Hawntiai fiaich Caradog," Arwr gwymp •'lissyiwK ¡¡/loin Yn nhwrf Uu Jibufain "arfog, Daliodd rwysg a thraha'r Saxon, Duliodd friiUwyr coed celyddon, Ysgodd y.Normaniaid taerion, •• Hamon "fawra'i had. Ei chlaer lug enhuddai'r gelyn Byd wyll gadlas Cwm lilewalyn,* Yao, lleddf gyweirid Telya Addwyn Cymru fu," Tristwcb. galar, dwvs wylofain, Eilia'r awel,—uchel ochain- Draig Hen Gymvu, wb, tra'n ubain Ddarwaiu duddedddu) Gwyll y nos yn ysu Huan llacliar Cymru,— t Adda" 'r milain Sax a'i swydd t O'i lwydd yn gorfoleddu! Os yw'r nos yn bygddu—etto Daw Aurora i oleuo,—. LlwcU y Phenix fyu ddatguddio 'K Ddraiu, er Uywio'u llu. t Ar 01 mil a mwy 0 flwyddau, Byw yw'n Draig," a byw y'm ninaa Ag argoelion yn y golau Fel 'cawn faith gyd-fyw; Llawenychwn, nad i'lI blaenu Gyda chlcdd, na chad i'w chladdll- OJld i freintio'n gM tad, a dysgu Moes a Khinwedd svw; Dan dywysiad •• Gildas," Doethawr hoff, cyweithas, Caiff y Sais adnabod Dais Byw urdd a pherlais anian Yn ei swydd hoed hlr Oes iddo- pob dedwydawcb a'i gweinyddo.—. )4wynen Sais fo Draig y Cymro, 8wyn Heriodes yw! Ein Draig Goch yn awr eheda o GRerdyf hyd dud Oolurnbia- Heirdd Ynysodd Polynesia, Llywia er ein ttwydd Try ei gwyneb er ¡,togoniant, Ar ei Human sedda Ilwyddiant- Gwledydd Créd a'u pobloedd synant— Gwenant yn ei (jwydd Portha bawb yn bybyr— Lluniaetb Hen ar bapur Yw e! dognau helaeth hael Ei moes i'w mael cymesur,— "Gwlad y Gin," a'i Uaeth a'i llymru, Swyua'r Sais a Gildas Cymru Ar bob perwyl i'w arparu I 'ST rhad, a'i rana'n rhwydd,
[No title]
PARIS, DECEMBER 82. This capital will have a green Christmas, but apparently, not a fat churchyard, as the weekly vital statistics indicate less deaths and more births The latter embrace an augmenting number of iftegi ti mates, which would be wholly deplorable only such in due time can be utilised by the tax- gatherer and the conscription. One Christmas apparently differs as little from another as day from day. Evolution in manners and coitoms is no more measurable, in point of time, than the evacuation of Egypt by the English, when they shall have there done, as Europe expects, their duty. Unquestionably, Paris manners are slowly but surely being Christmastised-proof of the influence of the Anglo-Saxon and Teutonic races. What are theftutward and visible signs of Christ- mas ? Holly, with or without ivy; mistletoe, with or without its underneath accessories; plum pudding, imported, or prepared A VAnglais, in circular or elliptical tins; increased holocausts of geese of turkeys and cranberry or celery ready- made sauces of chromo-complimentary card3 happily interpreted by the recipients to the man- ner born to do box duty till New Years-Day- all these evidences are on the increase. Tfursery aged children conclude that St. Nicholas pays an opening trip down the chimney on Christmas Eve and continues the trips till New Year's Day. This is an original and spontaneous outcome peculiar to young Gaul that neither Darwin nor Lubbock couUMxplain, with all their fund of patient heredity observations. Though England and France may differ inspect- ing the possession of Esypt, the New Hebrides, and Dungareta, the peasants "show no race-hatred in their exportation of poultry and mistletoe to London. In the matter of geese-the tfade in which is as brisk as in toys and repeating riftes- Lorraine is coming to the rescue of NcrmaSidy. to maintain the fowl entente cordiale between the two nations. In Lorraine there are districts presenting the appearance of being covered with snow, due to flocks of geese, promenading to become fat, and white-heart drumhead cabbages for conversion into sourkrout. Every person who is anything is expected to indulge in a pot of pat6 de foie gras at Christmas. Undoubtedly it promotes indigestion and trade. Louis Blanc wrote that at Christmas the English laid in stocks, not only of beef and the thousand and one materials for the construction 6f plum-pudding, but also of aperient "pills and draughts. Now, he yas the most* intelligent foreigner that French politics ever contributed to England. The observatioQq"'Puld be really trut if applied to the patfi de foie worshippers. This pat6 is relatively act an ancient discovery- It dates from 1780, but has bad no centenarian honours. At that efioch Marshal de Contades was Governor of Strasbourg: he WM famous fir his epicureanism, He had a oêok-one Close—whose duty appeared to be to find out nawpahte pleasures for the marshal. The iclfea suggested itself to make a p&te with goose liver. The marshal found it so excellent that he ordered one to be served daily- A few months later a new king arose that did not know Joseph. The successor of De Contados was the enemy of table luxuries. Spartan black broth was his ideal. Close, mortally wounded in his amour propre, resigned. He married a widow in Strasbourg, opened a pastry shop, and went in for his speciality of pâté. Besult;, rare for inventors: He made an immense fortune by his product. Grief killed him. An opposition cook brought out a more delicate pate, and in which truffles figured; orders flowed in; Close was eclipsed and expired. Toulouse is now a rival to Strasbourg, only its products are suspected to be mixed with duck's liver. There is no truth respecting the barbarous processes for developing the big liver in the goose. The bird is cabin'd, cribb'd, confin'd, during three or four weeks; the cellar in which the cages are ranged is kept dark and warm; barley meal, milk, and lard are crammed into the geese, and when they become as fat as an eunuch or a favourite sultana, are killed. The little blood they yield is employed to flavour black puddings. Misfortunes seldom come singly. The Chamber has been prorogued till the second Tuesday in January, so that is another source of excitement cut off. On re-meeting it will make up for its absence, as the Radicals swear by the foot of Pharoah they will massacre the Goblet Cabinet. Knocking down and knocking up Ministries is one of the few brisk industries of the country. It is a peculiar 1, article de Paris." There seems to be a general truce to let the old year expire in peace. England will thus have a few days longer to "disorganise Egypt," as the mot d'ordre has it; stock will be taken of the Black Flags, if they will only stand; and Russia afforded a little breathing time to plot anew against Bulgaria. Much writing is indulged in respecting what Bismarck will do in the pre- sence of his quasi-defeat in the Reichstag Com- mittees. He will do what he has done before- and which won the cause of German unity- dispense with Parliaments. Merlatti continues to keep the even tenour of his pap-way dietary. Milk, wine, and tapioca, with some fortifying medicaments cunningly cast in, constitute his restoratives. Before ten days his stomach will be in apple-pie order. The poor are benefiting from his long fasting. He hauds over to them the baskets of the most dainty provisions forwarded to him daily; he continues also to receive offers of marriage—" None but the brave deserve the fair," His own family forward frcm Italy Strachino cheese, grapes, and maca- roni. It is not generally known that be passes an hour daily in the kitchen of the Grand Hotel; not to derive the pleasure of washing his eye at the spectacle of preparing the roast and boiled or sniffing the smells—Shakspeare alludes to the possibility of living on the vapours of a dungeon -in that nourishing milieu. The secret of this I visit is, the chef is his fellow-townsman. Merlatti, when accorded a clean bill of health, will set out for some sunny isle near Naples. The railway and packet companies will give him a free pass—like a deputy. Let him be on his guard against earth- quakes; it would be a sad ending if. after living 50 days without swallowing anything, he was fated to be swallowed up. A fete took place at the Hippodrome a few evenings ago, the proceeds being for a charity. The firemen and the members of the Military Gymnastic School went through a series of attrac- tive exercises. The firemen rehearsed the saving of life in houses five and six storeys high, and the various plans they have for entering rooms on fire and lowering their occupants in the space of three seconds to the ground. The soldiers did not come up to some of the wonderful performances of military lads at the Agricultural-hall, London. The new feature, borrowed from the German Army, of the soldiers singing in chorus, was excel- lent. Who does not enjoy the musical ring of the sailors when strong pulling and long pulling and pulling altogether? It knits choristers together, for music is the food of love. The Opera has so rehearsed Sardou's Patrie before a paying public that the official represen- tation is as much a premiere as a stage whisper is a secret. The plot is founded on the author's drama, where the Dutch rise against the Spanish occupation of the Netherlands under the infamous Alba. The dramatic lieu is the wife of the leader of the insurgents falling desperately in love with his best co-patriot, and her denouncing the rising to Alba out of revenge. Alba natu- rally sends the good and bad to the stake, and so gets rid of the lot. The music, by M. Paladilke. is well married to the scenes, full of dramatic interest, but this, at the same time, lessens the opportunity for melodies, which so many consider to be essential to an opera. In a word, while the few duets and solos are most pleasing, they are next to -drowned in the loftiness of declamation. Sardou is the man most occupied in Paris; more so then Premier Goblet, and the public is more interested in his Patrie and his spectacular piece, The Crocodile," thah in voting the Budget by monthly instaloftnts, the abolition of the Con- cordat, the alliance with Russia, or the conversion of Paul Bert to Christianity on his death-bed by the same bishop wbtfis labouring to do the same for the Tonquinese. At Saint Quentin a man, aged 66, assassi- nated his sister, aged 62. He felled her, then got his knee OR her chest, and, with a hammer, inflicted no less than 40 blows. Next, with a cold chisel, he punched out her eyes and ripped all the flesh off her face. The creature still lives: motive, to inheritlier fortune.—At Delettes a robust woman though over 60, fired by herself on a small holding and a pension of 400L a year. All her children loved her. She wae^iound dead and fearfuliy stabbed; all her money,upon her. The hands were minced meat, the consequence of struggling with her murderer.-In the department of Eure et Loir, a road-maker felled his second wife with a blow of his fist, stretched the corpse before the fire, poured a quart of petroleum over it, set it on fire, and next to the cabin. «But in extinguishing the con- flagration the neighbours discovered the remains. Sentence, only transportation for life. The schoolmaster abroad At Perreau a young man was condemned to death for murdering a tajsr-collector. He had previously robbed another, and among the loot was the biography of the demi- mondain Cora Pearl. He tore out the leaf contain- ine the certificate of her baptism in English, and prosed it^of fwith lodging-house keepers as his own, prosed it^off with lodging-house keepers as his own, alleging he was born in England. Being so armed, the dupes never called the English act in question —proJtf, that all the French are not enemies of p per fide glbzon. t Baron Rothschild noticed a picture for sale in a bric-a-brac shop, owned by a fellow-Israelite. The baron seat his servant to the broker to lend the picture for examination, with price. In due course he returned it, with an offer of 450f. in. stead of 500f. 4, 11 If the baron," said the dealer,, made such an offer, he must have turned Chris- tian." At the inauguration of a statue to ChHstopher Columbus>t St. Louis, the orator said: If the likeness does not FMemble Columbus, it is what Nature would have made him had she been able to do so." 1 I
"" CKRISTMA.S IN LOJTOOK.
Edited by One of Them. CKRISTMA.S IN LOJTOOK. I. A Merry ^Iteistmas to my readers, to be fol- lowed, I trust, in due course by "A Happy New Year." Here in London we are enjoying (!) real Christmas weather. I am looking out on snow- covered roofs and slippery pavements. The little boys are rejoicing in making the perilous highway still more treacherous, and the doorsteps are a standing danger. Nevertheless, there is general rejoicing in the shopkeepirig world. The recent fogs at the West End have been a veritable wet blanket on their Christmas preparations, and have dismally obscured their gaily-decorated windows. This is a loss to the lookers-on as well as to the shopkeeper, for the windows at this season make really a very pretty sight. Toys are in the ascendant every- where, and, according to the changing fashions of the time, they most abound in the drapers' win- dows, where they dispute the precedence with Christmas cards. Toy shops and stationers are left far behind in their own proper spheres. Our large drapers, like the great American dry goods stores, have become universal emporiums. One drapery establishment in Kensington has set aside an upper floor entirely for Christmas cards. They are really very pretty, and some of them are ridi- culously low in price. A regular staff of assistants is told off to serve them. It is evident that this pretty custom is not yet on the wane. I hear that seven hundred additional postmen have been on duty for the Christmas season in London alone. This means, of course, additional work and addi- tional pay for the men, which is, no doubt, very acceptable in these hard times. So the little winged messengers are of some practical use, besides the employment which they give to all the hands which they pass through. SHOP DISPLAYS. Returning to our shop windows. I have noticed in several of them a sort of pantomimic group, consisting of a beautifully dressed wax doll, some two or three feet high, looking like the veritable little Beauty which she impersonates. By her side stands a grizzly brown bear, held by a blue ribbon. He wears a muzzle, and a ticket in front of the pair informs us that they are Beauty and the Beast." The juvenile lookers-on aro, of course, highly delighted. Well, it is good to be children sometimes, and never better than at Christinas." So our great novelist, who loved that season so well, tells us in his "Christmas Carol." I certainly agreed with him as I stood outside the bazaar in the Qaeen's- road and looked in at the inviting window. Santa Claus will have a. delightful store of good things from which to make his selection; but if he would carry off many of the articles displayed there he must come in the form of some fairy god-parent who has plenty to spend upon Christmas presents. One of the chief features among the toys seemed to be the fittings for dolls' houses. There were large and handsomely-stocked boxes, with the most elaborate dinner services, dinner glass, silver, all complete. But perhaps some small house- keeper would be even more pleased with the com- fortable, compact kitchen, supplied with every requisite for cooking, and even with a most for- midable little range. I must confess, however, I was more interested in the jrowd of children gathered round the window than in the pretty toys, for it was pleasant to see the delight which a mere glimpse of the bazaar gave them. I hardly know which enjoyed it the most—thoo to whom the costly trifles were familiar objects, or the poor little ones of the streets, to whom real Toyland is an unknown world. I noticed one small sailor of soms five years, who looked at every, thing with an admiring but a critical eye, and was full of eager comments upon all. Next to him was a poorer child, who, after its first exclamation of surprise, gazed at the strange playthings in silent wonder. KOME DECORATIONS. But Christmas must be kept within doors, and not without. The decoration of the home is a very important feature. 1 can let my readers into a little secret which will lend a novel attraction to their walls. It is a change from the old custom of making a form of words out of green leaves and holly berries for a Christmas greeting. Cut the letters you require out in cardboard, about six inches long. Get some large rice which has been soaked in water for about ten minutes to make it swell a little. When it is dry, sprinkle the rice over the cardboard letters, which have previously been covered with gum. The rice should lay very thickly on the card, and over the rice throw a slight sprinkling of frosted powder, which can be obtained at any artists' colourman's. I have seen these letters very effectively done when previously traced in old English form on the card. Some young friends of mine, who have great taste and ingenuity in such matters, carried out this idea to great perfection. They prepared a scroll bearing the words Gloria in Excelsis Deo," which was set on a red ground, and added effectively to the Christmas decorations of their church. -THE CHRISTMAS PtTDDTNB. I In most households the Christmas pudding has long been made; indeed, by the time this letter is read I expect it is in the saucepan, wo that I am afraid it is rather late to suggest an amusing, though expensive, addition. It is the custom in a family I know to put several new pieces of silver in the Christmas pudding. Great fun "is always occasioned by the finæar of the money. Ten shillings in small coin are put into the nursery pudding, and five shillings into the kitchen one. Of course, the fun consists in the uncertainty, as the mixing of the ingredients makes it a veritable lottery. One fortunate little girl obtained three shillings and sixpence in one slice, while her neigh- bours looked in vain for the treasure. WINTER TOILETTES. Nearly all dresses, I notice, are now made of two materials, and certainly they look much handsomer than when only one stuff is employed. A warm and becoming winter toilette is composed of a velvet j under skirt, and a soft, rich, woollen material for the drapery and bodice. Stripes are a good deal worn. but I must protest against the circular stripe. The stripe running down the skirt is softened by the folds, and is often very elegant, but a stripe running round the figure, whether on the upper or under skirt, looks stiff and stariag. A walking dress is somewhat of a sinecure, fit, as a matter of fact, it is hardly seen. The majority of the winter mantles entirely cover the skirt, so that the mantle can be seen and nothing else. To atone for this the outdoor garments are often very costly. Even those which do not boast sable or fox trimmings compensate for their absence by rich satin linings and the quantity of plush about them. But it is useless providing omeself with a costly garb unless some taste is exercised inthe selection. When there are so many varieties in all articles of dress, and some of them are really pretty, it is surprising to see whatieferange coundbi- nations meet the eye. I have seen a really fright- ful coat, which I daresay cost as much as one that was far more elegant. It was made as a tight- fitting ulster, of a light-coloured ground, covered with oblong patches of" darker shade. like dominoes, arranged horizontally and perpendicu- larly in alternate order. A crossway piece down the breast, narrowing to the wsist, and running down one side in a panel, completed this strange costume. Another mantle I have seen was made of dark blue cloth, covered all over with elephants' heads of a brown colour! v BONNETS. Bonnets still seem to be greater favourites "than hats. With the present style o £ hair-dressing, the small, close-fitting bonnet is certainly very be- coming. But, however small the bonnet itself may be, there seems to be no difference in the quantity of trimmings piled on the front of it. The new I tufted aigrette, though pretty in itself, is often carried to an extravagant height. I saw a young girl this morning who had her hair raised very high on the top of her head, so that her hat was tilted quite down over her eyes. Tii* aigrette on the hat consequently stood out straight in frdlit, with a somewhat ludicrous effect. The other day I met a short lady who wore an immensely high bonnet, fantastically trimmed, which certainly added a foot to her height., I hope if'my readers are making or receiving Christmas gifts in the way of dress, only such as are both useful and becoming may find a place in their repertoire. CHRISTMAS RECIPE. Another Christmas Cakt.-Half a pound of semo- lina, belf tlpound of flour, twenty eggs, a pound and a half of butter, one pound of raisins, one pound of sultanas, one pound of almonds, one pound of sugar, one pound ot dried ffoits of any kind, cut, washed and dried; four otmces of peel. a teaspoonful of hot spice, two wine glasses of brandy. First mix and baat the sugar with the yolk of the eggs for about half an hour, and the white of the eggs separately. Then add butter well beaten to a cream. Mix well, add almonds, dry fruit, raisins and sultanas. Then add semo lina and flour and the white of eggs. Bake imme- diately. I
FRIDAY.
Should the present seasonable weather continue the athletics for the week will dwindle down to that of skating. Already-I am writing on Mon- day—it is not unusual to see skates prominently carried about, but where these persons indulge their skating proclivities I am unable to say. A greater number of persons usually carry skates about than those who use them in the skating season. 'Twas ever thus, and thus it will continue. Football will. therefore, be at a discount. There are very few engagements fixed for Friday Llanelly are down to meet the London Welsh, a match of which it is rather difficult to forecast the result. If the match is played-and there will have to be a complete change in the weather before this can happen-and the London Welsh bring up a thoroughly representative team, despite the fine display of the tin-platers last Saturday at Llandovery, the Cockneys should take off the palm. On Saturday there are no matches of im- portance. Monday (Bank Holiday) brings quite a surfeit, Cardiff and Swinton, Newport and London Welsh, Swansea and Neath, whilst the Llanelly men commence their tour northwards, playing the Brighouse Rangers. Should the bile have been properly worked off from Saturday's revelry we should see some excellent displays. It is the intention of the Cardiff men to show Swinton a wrinkle in the art of football, whilst Newport fully believe that they will emulate their last Saturday's achievement. On the form shown by Cardiff last Saturday against Carmarthen, it would not be safe tipping them to win. The stand made by the Carmarthen boys after their popular captain won the toss was a treat to witness. They had, in many cases. quite the best of the game, and were within an ace of scoring. Should they play a similar game during the cup season, they should stand a good chance for the silver ornament. To our muttons, however. An immense improvement in the Cardiff team will have to be made ere they overcome the Manchester team, and should Swinton play a similar game to that played against Swansea they should win. If Newport has the same team as that with which they vanquished Swansea, I don't see what will prevent them taming the tables against the London weisn. swansea snouia gave no aimcuny ia coming Neath. ;if, # The matches to be played daring the iftpefc -ae on the febudiv following are as follows— < FRIDAY. CARDIFF.—flantonCrcsaders t>. Penaith (SesonS). f LLA-VSLXT.—v. London Welsh. Llanelly (Second) V. Llunelly WAUdopm. XEATH.—Neath v. Penarth. There are two or three minor matches fixed foe Saturday,but they will, doubtless, be canos&ed. On Monday (Bank Holiday), the 27th, the follow- ing encounters take place BA.TH.—Bat.hf.Ha.rtequm!. BBIGHOUSK.—Brighouse Hangers v. Llanelly; CAIUUJT.—Caidifi r. Swinton. jj. „ Cardiff Unned (Seoogd) «. WMsKhmcb <Second). „ Canton Crusaders v. Longcroww „ Pensrth (Second) v. Canton -Crusaders (Second). LLANILLT.—Cardif fUnited r. L'arelly (Second NEWPORT.—Newport r. Loudon Welsh. T „ St. JIary's (Cardiff) v. Newport J £ Qe. Machen Wanderers t". O&kAelds. • SWASSXAi—Swansea c. Kaath. TON u.-Tondu t,Peaygiiu< On the 28th (Tuesday) Swinton meet t^tisss at Swansea; Lianeily, Dewsbury at Dewsbury and on the 30th Lianeily meet Wigan, thus con- cluding their tour. In reply to a letter of a correspondent signing himself" Interested" ancnt the Ely Rovers and Llandaff football match, "One of the City Boys sends the MIowmc *— 14hink it hardly fair to the Llandaff team that the-statement made by: "An Unbiassed (?) Spec' taor," in your, Notes" of Monday, should go unchallenged. Be says: II No appeal wa* made by either of the umpires; bntil coaeFftered the try illegal, the Llandaff umpire cal^pg the ball back." Now, this is monstrously incorrect. The facts etre-Vie Llandaff umpire did not call the ball back, but heaven appealed to the referee, and so did the Eiy capt ain, who evidently was so satis- fied with the dneisiuu giren tha.t he ordered hW men to charge the bail when the goal was kicked. This, I believe, the Eiy captain will not Mr. A. J. Green, the umpire for JtAandaff, also writes in the same vein as An Old City Boy,' t but pressure of space prevents my publialifnetJI6 letter. „ **4t: it It will not take much the indeutity of this trio:— r. Probably the Newport team owe tfGtS t5 this collection than to anybody else, and it*i§0he wish of all that they may becoiae numbered ftatoofsfi the wearers of the black andauber. The Neath umpire in the match against New. port writes me as follows :— I see in your issue of Frr "v last a letter from Mr. John H. Young, the Newport umpi-e In tIw above match. 1 trust you "]:, 5r fairness, insert the few remarks I slwll r.inke in !-pp;y thereto io your next issue. The Newport -ocrezary men- tioned the names of two (-a-, ft gentlemen or Mr Goldsworthy, of Swansea, for the pos: of referee and the Neath captain immediately wirea Uiem but received negative re,, lies from the three. He then took it upon himseif to ask Mr. Trubsbaw of Llanelly, but that gentleman was elso unable to attend, the result being that we had to go on the field in the hope of finding someone there to whom Newport would not object Mr. Young says that Newport were willing to acceptMr. Cox,of Neath, but that he would not take the post because he had some bets on the game. Did Mr. Young think when he wrote that letter thatno Neath people were likely to see your jottings, or has he forgotten there were others on the field beside himself ? If the truth were told it would be that Mr. Cox when asked by Mr. Young and myself if he would accept the post immedi- ately offered to draw" his bets if the teams would agree to him, but. worse luck, Mr. Gould, when spoken to by Mr. S. S. Clark, said he was "afraid Mr. Cox did rut know the rules suffi- ciently well to act as referee," and suggested that all disputes should be settled by the captains, which was agreed to. Mr. Youag am says that Mr. Adams, when appointed, gave his book to a brother reporter" This he also knows is quire unuue. because he is bound to have seen him making poles, Mr. Adams being at his side all the while tie was on the field as referee. I appealed to Mr. Adams several times, but found that he was so interested in his book that he did not see what was going on. Hoping that Mr. Young wili not allow hie temper to run away with him again to the extent to which it did a* thp above match, and that next time Newport and Neath meet Newport will select some other gentleman to look after their interests, —I remain, &c\, Co The two tries gained by the Cardiff men, EnD. and Williams, on Saturday, were" squeakers." I won't say that either of the try-getters' featcret are here delineated. It's R kind of joint-stock ffair, with honours divided.
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A presentation of plate—the personal gift of the Colonial Commissioners of the recent Exhibition -was made to Sir Philip Cuniiffe Owen on Satur day, in the Prince's-roorn at the Exhibition build ings, South Kensington. Merlatti, says the Paris correspondent of the Daily Teleyraph, is not progressing towards the J recovery of his health and strength quite so rapidly as he anticipated. He c¡¡,o walk about the room with the aid of a stick, and has even taken a short drive; but he does not propose doing so again for some time, as he returned home very fatigued. His fifty days' fast has so weakened his digestive ox-gans that even now ( he takes no solid food. The doctors tried to nourish him with condensed meat, but they say that what he is best able to take is thin tapioca. As he no longer receives visitors, he has left the large apartment he occupied in the Grand Hotel. but has taken a smaller one. He told me that nothing would ever induce him to undertake another fist. He is gradually regaining some of his gaiety, and seftids to have abandonsd the idea of going to Italy to recruit his health. There was a brilliant gathering on Saturdnj afternoon in the private chapel of Windsor Castk on the occasion of the baptism of the infant son 01 Prince and Princess Henry of Battenberg. The Dean of Windsor officiated. The choir of St. George's Chapel, with the organist, Dr. Parrott, was in attendance. The Queen, the Prince and Princess of Wales and their children, Prince and Princess Christian, Princess Louise, and the Duchess of Albany were present, with all the Chief Officers of State, and the Lords and Ladies in Waiting. The Ministers present were Lord Iddesleigh and Lord Cross. The infant, who wore the christening robe worn on so many similar occasions by members of the Royal Family, was taken from its mother's arms at the proper place ia Lhe office by Princess Louise of Wales, who named it Albert Victor Alexander. The other godmother was Princess Irene of Hesse, and the godfathert Prince Alexander of Bulgaria. Luncbeoa served in the Oak Dining-roo—»