Weekly Mail

OUR SHORT STORY. -0 AN EXPERIMENT IN THE KITCHEN. Ever since our honeymoon almost, we—that Is, my wife and I-have been worried by the vagaries of the British cook. With the trifling exception of unpaid bills, a too numerous family, and my wife's mamma, this has been the only cloud which has darkened the other- wise serene happiness of our married life. But it has been quite enough to cast a gloom over what would have been else a fine example of conjugal felicity. Judging from our experience I should conclude that the art of boiling a potato is entirely lost, and the proper prepara- tion of meat for civilised digestions a secret only preserved, perhaps, in West End clubs or more fashionable hotels. Let it not be imagined from this that I am a fidgety epicure, an irritable gourmand, par- ticular to a nicety about the flavour of my Boups, and dogmatic on the subject of sauces. Not at all. On the contrary, if my joints aro aerved up to table in any condition almost between purple rawness and absolute dessica- tion. I feel thankful, and, if not happy, am at least content. By way of showing that I have some justifica- tion for exercising the Englishman's well- known privilege of grumbling, I will enume- rate a few of the nymphs, with their charac- teristics, who have, from time to time, pre- sided over my kitchen. To begin with. then, there was Sarah. Now, Sarah, I admit, had a willing mind, but her ideas on the subject of cooking were those of the primitive savage-, she might have been popular and successful in Central Africa, but in Europe she could only be called a failure. Bridget again, not to mention her culinary failings, had clandestine relations with the Metropolitan police. Polly, who, indeed, had some fair notions about pastry, was dirty, and "answered" her mistress. Jane, the only girl ever knew who could "devil" a bone, had nine brothers in the British Army. Fanny could never hold a plate, and filled the dust-bin ■with broken dinner-services. But why complete the melancholy catalogue? Let me pass over the rest and come at once to Matilda, for it- was Matilda who brought about a crisis in the affairs of the kitchen, and caused me to have recourse to the notable experiment which I am about to describe. I will do Matilda the justice to say that as a cook she was not absolutely intolerable, and this is really high praise in these degenerate days; but she had her faults, and they were many. In the first place she was a kitchen tyrant of the worst type. and her mlitress, if she inadvertently thrust her nose into the culinary region, stood a fair chance of having it snapped off. In the next she was incurably addicted to petty larceny, and denied her pil- ferings with unblushing impudence. Worst of all, she had a weakness-for the bottle, and nnder the influence of her native whisky would, I really believe, have been capable of any crime recorded in the Newgate Calendar. Returning home one evening, weary and hungry, from the City, I was surprised to find my house in a state of siege. My wife had locked herself and the two younger children into one of the bedrooms, while my eldest boj* end the nursemaid were timidly reconnoitring from an upper landing. Matilda, armed with a rolling-pin. was promenading up and down the hall. Destruction marked her career Already she had shattered the hanging lamp, knocked a hole in my grandfather's portrait, and done considerable execution upon the barometer, when my timely arrival on the scene of action prevented further atrocities. That evening, when Matilda had been con- fided to the care of the nearest policeman, I said to my wife. with appropriate solemnity: — "Julia, the climax has been reached at last." She sighed, and replied sadly- "I quite agree with you, my dear," which, by the way, she didn't always. "My love," I continued, "I will no longer sub- mit to this hideous tyranny. I have done with cooks for ever. The question is. What course is to be adopted? Shall we make up our minds to prepare our food ourselves, or shall we be content to exist upon tinned meats and Ger- man sausages?" My wife shook her head; neither alternative commended itself to her, nor did the prospect, I confess, appear very pleasing to myself. We sat down opposite each other in a de- sponding frame of mind, and mechanically I unfolded the evening paper. Glancing through its contents, my eyes were attracted by the heading over a letter to the editor. Curiously enough, it was upon the very sub- ject which then engrossed my thoughts. I perused it eagerly, and soon became fasci- nated, absorbed. The novelty and boldness of the idea put forward, the lucidity of the reason- ing that advocated it, delighted me, and I read on with ever-increasing approval. When I reached the final words my pent-up enthu- siasm could no longer be restrained. "Eureka!" I shouted, and so far forgot my dignity as to wave the paper round my bead. "John," protested my wife, "how extremely abrupt you are!" "Never mind that. Tell me. Julia, why should not people employ old sailors as cooks?" "Employ old fiddlesticks!" "Cooking," I went on. ignoring this sneer, and still qnoting the iudicious letter-writer, "is pre-eminently a man's art." "Pooh!" "At any rate, I think, my love, that we have proved it not to be a woman's." "I suppose, then. that Mrs. Beeton and Mrs. (Hasse were men?" This was intended to be a clincher. "No; I admit their sex, but deny their originality. No woman was ever original. rhey were industrious compilers, nothing more." "That is so like a man to run down the whole sex because his servant gets intoxi- cated." From that point the conversation degene- rated. However, I was determined to make the experiment, and eventually got my way, at what cost I will not state, but I may add that when I really do make up my mind even the wife of my bosom thinks it prudent to give tD Two days afterwards the following advertise- ment appeared in a morning paper:- "Wanted, by a family in the northern luburbs. a retired sailor as cook; mcst be un- married. used to the work, and have first-class references; wages, L20 a year and all found; comfortable home.-Apply to X. Y. Z., No. —, Mincing-lane, London, E.C." On the morning that this appeared I sat in my inner office, and contemplated the adver- tisement with considerable satisfaction. I felt not a little proud of it as the unassisted production of my brain. It was terse, I thought, and to the point; no doubt, I should have a choice of applicants. Presently a clerk knocked at my door. "Man to see you, sir. he said. I had given instructions that they should 6e sent in to me. The next moment a power- fully-built, truculent-looking ruffian lurched into the room. He bad silver rings in his ears, a red handkerchief round his neck, and a mangy fur cap in his hand. "I've come about this yere," he observed hoarsely, showing me a dirty scrap of paper in his grimy paw. I recognised my advertisement. "Have you been a sailor, my man?" "Well, guv'nor, I can't say as I've been a lailor zactly. but I've worked a barge for ten years on the Regent's Canal, if that 'ud do." I got rid of him, not without difficulty; his profanity was awful, and even blackmail to the extent of twopence did not wholly mollify his wrath. My next applicant was a person of very lifferent character. He was a tall, lank, man, clad in a long, rusty black coat buttoned ap to the chin. His boots were deplorable, but Ms hat shone with a superb lustre. He bowed and seated himself with an air of deferential assurance, as of one modestly con- scious of his own merit. "Have I the pleasure of addressing Her, Y Z?" he inquired. I intimated that he had. "I have called in reference to your adver- tisement." "In what way? You know of someone, per- haps?" "Not at all, sir. I seek the position for myself." I looked at him incredulously, but began my nsual formula. "Have you been a sailor?" "No, sir. I confess frankly that I have not been a sailor. On the contrary, I have belonged to a profession superior even, if I may say so, to that of the mariner. I refer to the law. Stop, sir. Hear me out. I could easily have passed myself off as a seafarer, but such a subterfuge was beneath me. I udmit without reserve that I have been a jolici^or's clerk, but I may add that I never took kindly to it. Nature, sir, intended me Jor a cook, and I will say, in confidence, that 2 have always preferred studying Soyer to terving writs, and cared more for Mrs. Beeton than Blackstone. As to my qualifications, I have for many years cooked my own dinner, and for a chop or a Spanish onion I will back myself without fear against any man in London!" He stopped and looked at me with nervous Winning from behind his bibulous nose. "Sir." I remarked, "when I require an attor- tey's clerk to preside over my kitchen, I will lommunicate with you. Till then I wish you rood-morning" Whereupon he departed sadly, leaving an atmosphere of stale gin behind him. I A Jew hawker, an Irish dock labonrer, and a nondescript German were among the next applicants, but the nautical element which I desired to come in contact with was con- spicuously absent. However, about noon my clerk Jones again entered my room. "Another of 'em, sir," he said with a. sar- castic grin. I mentally determined that Jones's salary ahould not be increased that year. "Show him in. sir; and. Jones, Til trouble fou to be more careful in making out those Accounts current. There are several mis- takes." Jones departed. looking somewhat scared, tnd a short, square-built man, clad in a worn, £ &vy-blue serge suit. entered the room. His face was the colour of terra-cotta, and more liaed than a. railway map of London, his eyes small and keen, his nose flat, his mouth a straight horizontal slit; beneath his square chin a sparse fringe of hair flourished feebly. His age might have been anything from thirty- five to fifty. Such was Joe Poddies, a man with whom I was destined to become better acquainted. "Marniu', capfn," was his first remark, accompanied by a scrape of his foot. A civil fellow, I thought. "I presume you have come about the adver- tisement?" "'Tamt presumin', cap'n; which I hev' come about the advertisement." "Very well. Ahem! Have you been a sailor?" "Man and boy, thirty year, yer honour." "Very good. indeed. Now, about cooking; 'have you had any experience?" "I were cook's mate two years aboard the Frolicksome Lass, and served a matter of three year in the galley of the Maiden Queen." "'l'Üen I am to understand you are a good plain cook." "Plain and fancy, cap'n. I can turn out a pea-soup as the Queen herself wouldn't turn up her nose at, or, if you've got a squeamish stomach and want something a bit tomptin'. why, I'm as good at a bullock's heart or;, sheep's liver." I shuddered a little at my nautical friend's notion of a tempting delicacy. "What i3 your name, my man?" was my next question. "Joe Poddies, your honour." "Are you married or single?" "Well, Cap'n, I'm both one and t'other in a kind of way. I'm a widower, d'ye see; least- ways my wife's dead and buried." "That's quite sufficient. I feel disposed to give you a trial, Poddies; but to whom must I apply for a reference?" Poddies scratched his head and looked per- plexed. "There was Cap'n Blowhard," he mumbled meditatively, "he know'd me well; but be ain't been 'eard of for ten year, and maybe he's M' dead. Then there was Cap'n Marlinspike, but he's mostly in Chiney; hows'm'dever, if your honour would just step round to the Pi6 and Whistle, in Upper East Smithfield, and ask for Bill Garnett—that's the landlord—I've no doubt. as Bill 'uld speak up for me." "Nonsense, man! you must give me some better i,eft,rence than the Pig and Whistle." Eventually I obtained from him the names of the owners of the last vessel on which he had served, and Poddies took his departure, promising, at my request, to look in on the following day. In the meantime I ca!;ed upon the owners, and elicited the fact that Poddies had been on the ship's books for some years, and that nothing was known against him—a negative kind of evidence with which I was obliged to be content. One evening a few days later Poddies and I drove up in a four-wheeler to my house. "There's your future home. Poddies." said I, pointing out to him our semi-detached villa, 'And as snug a berth as ever I see, cap'n," was his reply, as the cab pulled up. My wife received him not over graciously, but softened somewhat on being called "my lady." The sea-chest, containing his goods and chattels, was dragged into the house, and that very evening Poddles was installed in his new office. In spite of my wife's dismal prognostications, he proved a very respectable cook, and, with tne exception ot a too strong predilection tor onions, which had to be sternly checked, and a heavy hand at pastry, his performances were certainly an improvement upon those of his predecessors. Not only that, but he was an exceedingly handy man about the house, and "took" immensely with the children, so that I began to congratulate myself upon having secured a domestic treasure. I was premature. One evening, a few days after his arrival, my wife and I were startled by a series of prolonged howls or moans of a most dismal character, apparently proceeding from below. "What on earth is that fearful noise?" cried ¡ Julia. "Sounds like a dog, my dear. But how could he have got in? I'll go at once and aee." As I descended the kitchen stairs, however, the moans ceased, and my ears were saluted instead by the following strain:- "With a rum, turn. tiddity, fal, lal, lal, We'll drink to the sailor lad, my gal." It was the voice of Poddies. He was seated in the easiest kitchen-chair, by the side of a roaring fire; a jorum of hot grog-his nightly allowance-stood at his elbow, and in his hand was a long clay-pipe, with which he kept time to the strains of his melodious voice. Opposite him sat our little housemaid, bolt upright, and gazing with wfde-eyed admiration at this nautical vocalist. "Molly," said I, trying to repress a smile, "go to bed. I want to say a few words to Poddies." The latter rose politely, and pulled his grizzled forelock When we were alone, I observed:— "I think I heard you singing just now, Poddies?" "Yes, cap'n," he replied complacently—I really fancy he expected a compliment—"I were." "You must not do so; you disturb the house and annoy my wife." His jaw fell; he looked perplexed and scratched his head thoughtfully. "Well, cap'n," be said at last, "you're on your own quarterdeck, so to speak; what you orders has got to be done; but I make bold to say that it's a poor heart what never rejoices." "Just so; but rejoice silently, or at least don't rouse the house with your expressions of delight." This was the first indication I had of any peculiarities which lessened the value of Poddies as a servant, but others soon followed. I think he was to a certain extent the victim of his excessive popularity, for not only was he a prime favourite with the female servants on both sides of us but the circle in the bar- parlour at The Plough, where he usnally spent his free evenings, was not considered com- plete without his presence. I put up with a good many things. I put up with the sailor's hornpipe, danced in a state of inebriation on the kitchen table. I par- doned him for calling me a "land-lubber, reflecting that if he had been sober life would never have mistaken his "cap'n" for such a person. I even forgave him for teaching my eldest boy to chew tobacco, though my wife never did; but with Poddies, as with Matilda, the climax was reached at last. A matter of business had taken me to the seaside for two or three days, and my wife. who stood in need of a change, accompanied me. Returning home late one evening, a day earlier than we intended. I was surprised to find the dining-room windows brilliantly illu- minated. and as I rushed up the stops and opened the door with my lachkey, a rousing .7 Ó. l.;o.LJ.1 UC I.L.J.t::LJ LU'" v'L. Fearing the worst. I ran to the dining-room and threw open the door; my suspicions were confirmed. Poddlea was entertaining. Seated at the head of my table, with his mahogany-coloured visage beaming with whisky and hospitality, he reminded me of Burns's description of Tam o'Shanter- "Glorious "O'er all the ills of life victorious. The room was filled with smoke and reeked of tobacco and spirits, a basin of grog steamed in the middle of the table, and long clay pipes were de rigueur. Among the distinguished company present, as the reporters put it, were the cook from over the way, the housemaid from next door, and the potboy and barmaid from The Plough. A wild shriek from my wife interrupted the proceedings. She had recognised her eldest boy, the hope of our house. There sat the little imp, in the chair of honour at Poddles's right hand, smoking a brown-paper cigar, and choking himself in the manly effort to imbibe whisky and water. In a trice Julia had clutched him and fled from the scene with her rescued darling in her arms. I cleared the house with some difficulty, and the next morning had a solemn interview with my too hospitable chef. M "Poddies," I said, "you passed the Rubiconi last night; you placed the ultimate straw on the camel's back. Henceforward all is over between us. We must part." He shook his head dolefully; the prospect of leaving, together with his last night's pota- tions, combined to render him exceedingly melancholy. "I know'd it, cap'n," he replied. "I know'd it. I won't deny as I see it comin' a while ago. It's all along o' me enjoy'n' myself too free; but it's my natur' to enjoy myself, and what's in your natur' you can't prevent comin' out, nohow—leastways a sailor can't." When he took his final leave of me he placed in my hands a newspaper parcel. "That's for the youn' uns, cap'n," said he: "they kinder liked me, bless their little bodies! Them's for 'em to remember Poddies by." On opening the parcel it was found to con- tain an Indian idol, a string of cowries, picked up, Heaven knows where on his travels, and a model cutter, carved in his spare time. Poddles now holds the post of messenger at my office. I confess to a sneaking fondness for the man. Perhaps I have found a sweet, wholesome kernel under that rough rind of his; perhaps I like being saluted and called "cap'n." Who knows! I regret to have to confess that my kitchen has again become subject to the feminine tyranny from which I had hoped to emanci- pate it. So far my experiment has not suc- ceeded, but I do not yet despair of being able to find among the retired members of the British marine an old salt who shall possess the virtues that distinguished Poddles without the faults whereby he fell.

A MISSING RHONDDA DEBTOR. At Aberdaro County-court on Monday (before Mr. Rees Williams, registrar) James Powell, of the Allen's Arms Inn, Mountain Ash. licensed victualler, was summoned to attend his public examination, but there was no response to the "call" of the chief bailiff. Mr. W. L. Daniel (Official Receiver) thereupon proved sending the necessary notices by regis- tered post, and to their return undelivered. and upon his application the learned registrar ordered the examination to be adjourned sine die, and issued a warrant for the debtor's apprehension.

BRECONSIIIKE AND ITS WELLS. THEOPHILUS EVANS AND HIS DISCOVERY. [By SILUBIST.] The article which appeared under the heading "Remedy for Cancer" deals with a subject which is of considerable importance to the inhabitants of Brecon- shire, and, indirectly, of the whole of Wales. It is not my object to deal with the reported cittc, or partial cure, of cancer by reported cittc, or partial cure, of cancer by means of sulphur water obtained from a spring at Builth Wells. That case is still under the observation of a local medical practitioner, and the public can afford to wait for his report, which, no doubt, will be published in due time. Coming to the "Western Mail'' article, one finds it sug- gested therein thai: Theophilus Evans was the discoverer of the virtues of the water of Llangammarch Wells. Whether that be so or not, it is by no means conclusive that it was lie that discovered the virtues of the water of Llanwrtyd. In other words, the account given by Jones in hi., "HIstory of Breconshire" is unsatis- factory, inasmuch as it presents difficul- ties which do not admit of any rational explanation." teo far 'is dates and other important details arc concerned, Theophilus Jones is frequently inaccurate, and he does not always distinguish between tradition and fact. Much of what he wrote was tran- scribed from memory, "the oldest inhabi- tant" being a person of considerable ser- vice to him in the compilation of his work—z great work, no dout", in the best sense of the word, but, still, fallible and untrustworthy in many lespects Theophilus Jones was born in 1781, some six year. before his grandfather, Theo- philus Evans, died. It is clear from Jones's statements that hi- knowledge of his grandfather was traditional, and in some, important particulars inaccurate. For instance, lie states that Theophilus Evans's first publication was "Pwyll y Padcr," I and that it appeared in 173D. Now, it is well known that that work appeared in 1733. But it was not Evans's first nor second appearance in print. His first venture was "Drych y Prif Oesoedd" ("A Mirror of the Primitive Ages"), which appeared in 1716, but according to Taeophilus Jones that work was not given I to the wo-ld until 1739. It has passed through many editions, but there is not a known edition bearing the date given by Jones. These facts are mentioned with a view of showing that Jones in matters of detail, even in regard to a man who lived prac- tically only one generation before him, and was a contemporary of his for about six years—his own grandfather-can only be accepted with caution and after due examination of his statements. Come we now to Evans's alleged dis- covery of the medicinal properties of the Llanwrtyd waters. The discovery is said to have been made in 1732, and the well is said to have stood in the grounds of Doly- coed, "once the residence of a family of the name of Jones," but in Theophilus Jones's time "a public-houss," and at present a well-known hostelry. Llan- wrtyd is a parish adjoining Llangam- march, of which Theophilus Evans was vicar. But it must be remembered that he was not vicar of the place in 1732, the date of his alleged "dis- covery." At that time he was Rector of Llanynis, some twelve miles away—more than twelve if we take Theophilus Jones's map of Breconshire for our guide. Theophilus Evans was at Llanynis until 1738, when he was pro- moted to Llangammarch. At Llanynis he was a great sufferer from scrofula; in- deed, he suffered so much, it is said, that his case was considered desperate. The story goes that during his career at Ltenyms he heard in casual conversa- tion of a certain well somewhere at Llan- wrtyd. The spring was called by the inhabitants a "ffynon ddrewllyd," that is, a malodorous well, and it was stated that its waters were poisonous. It is not sug- gested by Theophilus Jones or anybody else that this well was pointed out to Theophilus Evans as containing a possible remedy for his disease. What is stated is that Evans. suffering as he was and in a hopelessly advanced stage of scrofula. went out of curiosity to Llanwrtyd, and I was attracted to this particular well by the curious odour emitted from it. He had not the faintest notion that its waters possessed anti-scorbutic proper- ties, but somehow or other he gravi- tated in the direction of the well, being literally led by the nose. We are next told that Evans sat on the brink of the well for a long time, afraid, of course, to drink poisonous water. While he was in that thinking mood a frog leapt out of the well, as sleek and as active as a frog could be, and, looking in the invalid's face, seemed to say, "Drink, pretty crea- ture, drink." Evans forthwith argued that if the well was poisonous not even a frog could live in the water, and he felt disposed to drink. Drink he did, and instead of dropping down dead, as he must have dreaded, he felt immediate relief., Appetite came, and he drank and drank as much as he could well carry. Let us see what Jones has t-o say further on the subject. He states that his grandfather sent an account of his discovery and cure to the "St. James's Chronicle," and quotes what purports to be the account which appeared in that periodical. But the way in which it is quoted is. to say the least, a very un- usual one with historians. It is evident, that ho has not before him the is.me of the magaz le from which he makes the quotation. "My grandfather," he writes, "in 1738 or 1739 gives the following i o w. i, account of It in a letter to the editor of the'St. James's Chronicle. This is years after the event of 1732. Jones's igno- rance as to the date of the sending of the alleged letter proves that he had not the periodical to quote from. How he was able to give the quotation without the original to refer to is not for me to explain. In fact, the question is a nut explain. In fact, the question is a nut too hard for ordinary men to crack. Nor does the fact that Jones wrote his history in 1804—more than eighty years after the reputed discovery, and sixty-six years after the writing of the letter—assists us in finding any solution of the difficulty. Of course, the alleged discovery of the virtues of the Llanwrtyd water had become a tradition by 1804, and local tradition is often very mislead- ing. In the absence of positive evidence it is much more reasonable to believe that when Evans went to Llangammarch, in 1738, he found a mineral well in the neigh- bourhood which bore an evil repute, and, tby reading that certain waters were Rtnown to possess ingredients calculated to cure scrofula, the idea occurred to him that he might try the water of that parti- cular well. It must be remembered that every chalybeate well or a well impreg- nated with chloride of barium is a "ffynon ddrewllyd." The term is a name given to a class of springs, and not to any parti- cular spring. The Llangammarch well is as much a malodorous well as that of Llan- wrtyd, and must have been in existence in the time of Theophilus; Jones, though a local legend has it that it was covered over bv the Irvon until about sixty or seventy years ago. In connection with the Llangammarch well, again, tradition is busy, and states that its virtues were dis- covered by mere accident. Here the in- strument or agent of revelation was not a frog. but a pig. Many years ago, it is said, there was such a remarkable drought, that the bed of the Irvon was dry. A labourer in the neighbourhood, having lost his pig, went one Sunday morning in search of the animal. Having searched everywhere in the parish without finding it, he thought of the bed of the river, and, to his infinite joy, there the pig lay, wal- lowing in the puddle. On closer inspec- tion the man discovered that where the pig lay was a spring. Deponent hath it that he knelt down and swallowed a copious draught of the water. Then he took a second mouthful, which he forth- with emitted as if it were some very nauseous stuff. The discovery got wind, the water was examined, and found to be good for this complaint and that. The owner of the land built a wall round the well, and there it is to-day. This version, of course, traces the fame of Llangam- march to a very recent date.

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CAERPHILLY CHEESE. DECLINE OF AN ANCIENT INDUSTRY. Whether he did it unconsciously or not is best known to Mr. Staniforth, but in one of his cartoons a couple of weeks ago he placed in the hands of that House of Commons waiter a perfect specimen of a Dutch imitation of Caerphilly cheese. Perhaps the artist, in common with thou- sands of others, will be shocked to know that the manufacture of Caerphilly cheese is a thriving industry in Holland. It is. Tons of it are imported into this country, and consumed in blissful ignorance by a deluded people. "When the eye doth not see the heart doth not grieve," and it is only the most "cultured" palate that can detect the difference between the genuine and the bogus article. The aforesaid cartoon may prove of public service if it leads to an inquiry whether the Kitchen Committee of the House of Commons had got hold of real Caerphilly cheese or an imitation. The cartoon, by the way, was simply a sequel to the bantering speech of Mr. D. A. Thomas at Aber dare a few days previously, when he was 1'1,7 thus reported:—"With the assistance, he .the lion, member) understood, of CJlcrtc1 Fred Morgan, the party had in- duced the Kitchen Committee to place Caerphilly cheese upon the menu of the House of Commons dinner-table. (Loud laughter.) But even that great conces- sion to Welsh sentiment had been with- dr2wn after a week. (Renewed laughter.)'' To those who are jealous of the reputa- tion of "caws C2.2rphilly" there is more tragedy than humour in these words. For some time past there has been a slow, but steady, decadence in an industry that was once very flourishing. This is attributed to a variety 01 causes. One, and a tplausihle COle, is that those farmers who made it chiefly their business to manufac- ture real Caerphilly cheese now find it more profitable End less laborious to send their milk for sale in Cardiff, which is a sort of huge sponge, absorbing the con- tents of all the dairies in the districts of St. Motion's, Ba.s-aleg, Peterstone, St. Bride's, Coedkernow, Caerphilly, Lisvane, and other milk-producing places within a convenient radiu; of the town. Another reason given is that the Dutch and Somer- set imitations are so difficult to detect and sold so much cheaper to the unsuspecting retail customer that the home-made article is being pushed out of the market. While -at,- Caerphilly a few days ago I cnlled upon one of the largest traders in Caerphilly cheese, and he was good enough to take me \.t. his stock-room, where I might taste for myself the three '"makes"—Welsh, Dutch, and Somerset Caerphilly. Even to my inexperienced palate there was a big distinction with a bigger difference between the Welsh and the two other brands. It was not until after I had swallowed the three samples that the mer- chant coolly informed me that he believed the Dutch used nothing but grease in the manufacture of their Caerphilly cheese. There was certainly no suspicion of nitlk in the taste of it. The Somerset farmers are more successful in the art of imita- tion, and it takes a capable connoisseur to swear to a Somerset not being a genuine Caerphilly. Still, the quality is inferior, and it seems that we have reached that period in the history of the famous cheese when the rarity of it converts it from an ordinary article of digt into a positive declicacy. The question then arises:—"Ought not the customer to be protected by law in buying cheese as well as in buying butter?" A merchant or grocer who sells margarine for butter is liable to prose- cution and nenalty, but the same man crn dispose of Dutch and Somerset imitations itv of Caerphilly cheese with impunity. But, then, there is involved the further ques- tion of "What is Caerphilly cheese?" Has not the Dutchman or Somerset man the same right as tha Welsh farmer to describe the product of his dairy as Caer- philly cheese? Many of the older resi- dents of Caerphilly would answer that by slaving that there is in existence a charter which restricts the manufacture of Caer- philly cheese to a certain area. That charter, which I have been unable to lay hands upon. is aileged to be based on tne theory that the herbage within a stated radius of Caerphilly is possessed of characteristics so peculiarly its own that it is only from the milk of the cows which graze on the lond included in that area thst it is possible to make the "original" Caerphilly cheese. When I sought entrance to the market- house shortly after noon at Caerphilly recently, I found the door locked. I called upon the car^tsker, who told me that not an ounce of Caerphilly cheese had h"I'11 brought into the market that day. 'Twas not ever thus, and it is perfectly cle-ir that the manufacture of the Caer- phdly cheese is rapidly on the wane. Some of the causes to which this is attributable have already been given, but there are others in addition. I have it on the authority of a farmer living on the out- skirts of Cardiff that "local cheese dealers, by their grabbing for big profits, have almost, ruined the Caerphilly cheese market." I have quoted that gentle- man's own words, because he expresses himself.so eleaHy. Then there is the gradual shifting of the market to New- port, and though lack of enterprise in the town of Cierphilly nothing has been done to counteract this movement, and j-IJ~ £- _• c. 1 ..1_- tHe lanMtwy, iiiMViiu OA vse; VJJJ! £ cm' art of cheesc-makins. have developed the milk trade to which I have referred, and send upwards of "0.000 gallons of milk nnnually to Cardiff and other places. There are some farmers who continue making Caerphilly cheese, but they find ready buyers in the shopkeepers, who secure it before it reaches the market. The genesis of Caerphilly cheese dates so far back as to be lost in the mists of antiouitv, nul many are the stories told in the homesteads of the old town con- cerning its early history. One venerable resident told me that the Caerphilly market is at, least 250 years old. and it is n. pretty piece of imagery to picture Charles I. with a chunk of Caernhilly on Charles I. with a chunk of Caernhilly on the Royal table. or Oliver Cromwell enjoying a bite of it on the battlefield. One old resident, bordering on eighty years of aqe, says that he often heard his parents relating amusing stories of Caer- philly market incidents. Jennv Price, an old Merthyr dame, drove to the market weekly in her little cart. This was the m°ans or conveyance in that nre-railway arye from Nantyglo. Tredecrar. B'-ynmawr. Rhymnev, Newport, and other places. The markets were then held on a sauare occu- pying nearly two acres of ground, and here the business was transacted. It was then considered thnt 30s. to 3es. per cwt. was a very good price, while the prices in the early part of the last decade were scouted rs unremunerative at anything below 55s. to GOs. per cwt. So crowded was the market in those days that it was difficult for people to move about. The inhabitants of Caerphilly depended on the market for a livelihood, rnd there wis considerable "cwrw bcch" in vogue. The cheese was brought in carts from the districts I have named, and so keen was the rivalry among the farmers to be first in the market that the furious driving on the roads leading into Cierphillv made it dangerous for pedestrians. A blin(1 bard of that period, who was knocked down by one of the carts, sang in one of his songs Jlhyw haner ffwl ddaeth at" fy nhraws, I werthu caws Caerffili." The decline of the market has been evident for some years, but it is not too late to inaugurate a movement for the revival of this ancient industry, and among the 'Welsh farmers there is a strong feeling in favour of measures being taken which would safeguard the public in the matter of being supplied with real Caerphilly cheese when they order it.

A GENERAL INVITATION.-We invite you to note that HORLICK'S MALTED MILK offers the nearest approach which chemical skill hae devised to the nature of haumn milk, to which it is physiologically similar, and for which it is the hest substitute. It may be given, wb ?re necessary, from the moment of birth, either as a supplement to mother's milk or in place thereof. It is also a valuable adjunct to the nursing mother's own diet. as it never fails to enrich and in- crease the How of milk. HORLICK'S MALTED MILK is never rejected in the form of curds, and hence it produces none of the distressing symptoms occasioned bv inability to assimi- late ordinary cow's milk. It is the lightest of all diets for invalids, and a great blessing to the nervous and sleepless. Of all chemists. Is. 6d.. 2s. 6d., and lis. Send for free sample and pamphlet of important medical testi- monials to Horlick and Oo., 34, Farringdon- road, London, E.C. L2243

A COLOSSAL COMBINE. AN AGGREGATE CAPITAL OF ¡ £ 400,000,000. [By AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT.] Even in Wall-street, New York, where nowadays millions float about in the air like motes in a sunbeam, much interest has been created by the latest big "deal." This has been brought about by the for- mation of a company with the modest, in- offensive, non-descriptive title of "The -Northern Securities Company," such a title as may be seen on many a door on the third floor back of many an office building in London, Liverpool, or Man- chester—in which cases it simply means that the compariy-promoting molo is con- cealing his identity. All the world now knows, however, that "The Northern Secu- rities Company," incorporated under the laws of the State of New Jersey, has been formed by two railway kings, each backed by his respective banking king, to settle a bitter feud; but all the world does, pro- bably. not know that the effect of the formation of this company with the non- descript title is that one small group of individual^ will control transcontinental railroads with no less than 32.4--1 miles of track and an aggregate capital all told of £ 400,000,000. Four hundred millions sterling—a nice, round, mouth-filling sum! It is a little difficult for the ordi- nary mortal with a. slender banking account to conceive what this vast sum means, and reflection on the subject is apt to induce the condition which Art-emus Ward described himself to be in when he was asked how many children Brigham Young had and tried to find out. Artemus said he thought he could ascer- tain by counting the pairs of stockings hanging out to dry in Brigham's back-ysrd on washins-day, but after he had used up the multiplication table he came away "feeling dizzy." A short statement of how the formation of this "colossal combine" came about may be interesting. The two railway kings referred to are James J. Hill (commonly known in America as "Jim" Hill) and E. H. Harri- msn. "Jim" Hill is, without doubt, the strongest and most interesting personality in the railway world. Born in Canada some sixty-five years ago of Scotch-Irish parents, he soon drifted to the United States, and, after passing through i.he customary early vicissitudes, he found him- ?elf in what is known as "transportation business" when the development of the great North-west was beginning. He eventually made his headquarters in St. Paul, in the State of Minnesota, where, by slow stages, he acquired control of the old fct. laul, Minneapolis, and Manitoba Railroad, which has now been transformed into the Great Northern Railway of America. It has pushed its lines across the Rockies to Seattle, on the Pacific coast, where it hns exclusive steamship cotmections with China and Japan. The Great Northern Railway is a splendid monument to the magnificent ability and foresight, as well as to the untiring industry and pertinacity, of "Jim" Hill. Hill is no mere juggler with figureq and creator of large capitals with a stroke of the pen, though he can-, hold l^s own at the game with the best of them, but he is a practical railroad 'man, conversant with every detail of the business, whom nothing escapes, and who is not too big a man to consider for himself what is the best material and what is the best kind of paint to enable his bridges longest to maintain the strain of Rocky Mountain winters. It was his practical' genius that first started the theory now adopted by every railroad manager in the United States who wishes to reduce his operating expenses, viz., the big train theory. To have the best road bed, that will support the biggest locomotive, that in one train will haul the biggest number of cars, of the biggest carrying capacity—that is the theory which the ordinary railroad pas- senger in America sees in practice on any railroad every day. The travelling Eng- lishman is, however, impressed by the un- usual sight of one locomotive haulinjf 85 or 100 enormous cars, each 30ft. long. The travelling American in England laughs at our toy engines, with their short tails of toy trucks, and serious American railroad experts think the English system should be altered. How far this big train sys- tem would be applicable to our little islands, with the short runs, is, however, for experts to determine. After this digression one would nave thought that, having created the Great Northern Railway, "Jim" Hill would have been content, and enjoyed the rest which his magnificent fortune and his artistic tastes could have so well enabled him to appreciate. But he sighed for other worlds to conquer; and backed by his banking associate, the world-renowned J. Pierpont Morgan, he commenced to endeavour to acquire control of the Northern Pacific Railroad, which, like the Great Northern Railroad, started in the middle west, though further to the south. and terminated on the Pacific Coast—and did, in fact, acquire control of another railroad, called the Chicago, Burlington, and Quincy." "Control" is acquired by purchasing a majority of the stock and getting the voting power; and the vast amount of purchases necessary to accom- plish this, while they may be commenced in secret, generally attract attention before they are consummated. Thus, the acquisitive tendencies of "Jim" Hill soon attracted the attention and created uneasi- ness in the bosoms of J&. II. Harriman and his fidus Achates, the Hebrew banker of New York. viz., Chcrl?s Schif-F. of the firm of Kuhn, Loeb, and Co. These two controlled the Union Pacific Railroad- starting in Omaha, Nebraska, and also reaching to the Pacific Coact. in Portland— a transcontinental lino like the Greet | Northern and Northern Pacific, though still further to the south, and also, like its great rivals, with numerous allies and con- nections. They also controlled the Southern Pacific Railroad, a transcontinental line in the extreme south, terminating in San Francisco. Harriman and Schiiff, having realised the game that Hill and Morgan were playing, said to the latter in effect, "You are invaenng our territory. You intrude upon our zone. Let go m our territory, or we shall put our grip in yours." These overtures were declined, and so the fight for the control of the Northern Pacific began. There was an abandon- ment of all disguise. Both sides were furiously bidding for Northern Pacific stock the price rose by leans and bounds. What a year previously had been only 35 went up to 150 and 200. Unsuspecting bears who had sold the stock which they hadn't got made furious attempts to buy back. Holders of the stock in distant parts of the States, realising that flicy had become suddenly and unexpectedly rich. chartered special trains, and rushed to New York to deliver their stock, where, unlike London, the system on the Stock Exchange is that of dailv settlements, and so the price actually rushed up to 1.000. Then. hey presto! there was the panic of the fith of May. 1901, when many stock- brokers were insolvent, and the giants struggling with each other realised the havoc they had caused. Tt would appear that ultimate victory, so far as control of the Northern Pa^:fic Stock was concerned rested with the Harrlman Schiff party. A period of stagnation, if not peace, followed. Thp hot summer months supervened, wt,pn little business is done in New York. With thp coolness of the autumn the neriod for reflection brought wiser councils, and a "rapprochement" was announced. The two contending parties agreed together; the control of all the vast properties was "pooled" by transferring the majority interests in the respective companies to the Northern Securities Cempany, whi^h bv tllp voting power so gained controls I I the following railroads — Name. Miles. Canital. Union Pacific 5.5F6 .$395,OCO,OOfl Southern Pacific 7.657 464.400.000 Great Northern 5.418 220.700.003 Northern Pacific 5,649 329,600,000 Chicago, Burlington, and Quincy 8,171 215,453,000 Grand total. 32,481$1,625,153,000 Truly a gigantic enterprise. And what L will they do with it ? If the controllers are wise, the separate organisations will be allowed to proceed each in their separate way as if they are still separate concerns engaged in friendly rivalry, but not suicidal competition, each president of each railroad vieing with the other as to who will most largely increase the gross receipts and reduce the operating expense. The controllers would do well to give a large and handsome bonus for success in these respects. But a warning note has already been sounded. Through the trumpet of the press the Governor of Minnesota has'

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THE LATE MK. T. H. ISMAY A Liverpool telegram says that the share, holders of the White Star Line Company hare decided, in order to place permanently on record their deep sense 31 indebtedness to the late chairman and founder of the line, Mr. T. H. Ismay, to give £ 10,000 to the Liverpool Seamen's Pension Fund, and a similar sum towards the endowment of a ward in the Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast, to be called the Thomas Henry Ismay Ward. It was further decided to commission Pro- fessor Herkomer to paint two portraits of the late Mr. Ismay, one to be presented to Mrs. Ismay, on behalf of the shareholders, and the other to be hung in the general office of the, company. t SWANSEA HARBOUR TRUST, The monthly meeting of the Swansea Harbour Trust was held on Monday, Mr. Griff. Thomas (mayor) presiding-.—Mr. F. H. Glyn Price, in moving the adoption of the finance report, said the revenue had been El2,309 17.i. 6d. for the past month, as compared with £ 15,055 19s. 8d. in the corresponding month of last year, and the profit was JE940 5s. 7d., as against £ 2, £ 17 10s. 7d. There had, therefore, been a falling off, but it should be remem- bered that November, 1900, was an unusually coed month. The result of the eleven months' working was that the profit had been £ 10,700 2s. 3d., as compared with £ 12,273 8s. 7d., and lie thought this satisfactory considering the fctate of trade.-Sir .John Jones Jenkins. in Reconding, said he had noted the Board of Trade returns for the past eleven months, and throughout the whole country there had been a falling off greater than that shown in this district. It was only to be expected, after such a. boom as they experienced last year and the end of the year before that there should be some corresponding depression.— The report was adopted. The executive committee's report recom- mended insurance under the Workmen's Com- pensation Act. the purchase of a 5-cwt. hydraulic jigger at the fish market, a hydraulic ram for shipping coal at the fifih wharf, &c.It was agreed to.

LLANELLY HARBOUR BOARD. The monthly meeting of the Llanelly Har- hour Commission was held on Monday. Mr. Joseph Williams presided.—The dredging report showed that 6,500 tons had been removed during the month.—Six tenders were received for the erection of jetties at the dock. these being referred to the engineer.— AI. account of E25 from Mr. David Rand-ell, solicitor to the pommiaoion, came up.—Mr. Edmunds objected to this, on the gronnd that it included train fare to London and the hotel bill, for which the commissioners were not liable.-The chairman and clerk were deputed to Bee Mr. T-andall on the matter. It was reported that during November 51 -.eMeIs paid dues, as co upared with 69 in the previon.% mo?:th. The imports amounted to 6.B13 tons, and the exports to 10,715 tons. Mr D Bees Edmunds drew attention to a rase of a vessel which carried 240 tons to lalanelly, aLd yet the register was only nine- teen was, and on this the dues were payable. It waa stated that the register of the vessel had been reduced. Mr. Maybery looked upon this as a case which should be brought to the attention of the Board of Trade. This was agreed to.

The Glen-Spey Distillery, situated in the finest Whisky-producing District of Scotland. is the property 01 W. <x A. Giibey. This Whisky is made entirely from home-grown Barley, and is kept absolutely unblended in His Majesty's Bonded Warehouses to mat are, and sold by W & A. Giibey'a agentj in every town at Ss. 6d. pit bottle. 142260 1

sounded the alarm, and has called on the Governors of the other States to confer with him and tabe such action as may be necessary at law to render null and void the formation of the Northern Sectirities Company, aa being illegal and contrary to the public wcll-ueing. having, in fact, for its real object the raising of the railway rates and the plundering of the long- suffering railway-using public. A nice legal I point is involved, which will, probably, be much discussed by able jurists at the expenditure of much time and by the J accumulation of lordly bills of costs. But the American public will consider the matter in a larger sense than that of whether the strict letter of the law has not been observord in the formation of this combine. Probably it has, for these railway and hanking giants are not likely to have launched a scheme which has been long incubating without being well-advised as to its strict legality. The wider ques- tion is. "Is it for the common weal that these colossal trusts should be allowed to exist, and should not the Federal Legis- lature by specific act pronounco them illegal? The financial world was in a state of expectancy as to what the new President Roosevelt would have to say on -lie subject in his forthcoming message to Congress when it assembled early in. December. Young men's debating socie- ties throughout the United States this winder will, probably, with their elders, debate the question "Ought large combines to be legalised?" On the one hand, the picture will be drawn of great companies bound together with a golden cord oi union, employing large bodies of men at good wages, and serving the public well as regards transport, and providing means of investment for the savings of many, and doingr good all round; and, on the other, of heartless capitalists squeezing the life-blood out of struggling farmers end small manufacturers and operatives, and hunianitv being "crucified on a cross end small manufacturers and operatives, and hunianitv being "crucified on a cross of gold." The question will be debated peacefully and academically while the country is, as it is to-day. generally and universally prosperous. But when hard times come agam and the pinch rf poverty is felt a deeper note will sound in the voices of the debaters, and the agitator will be li-ar(i in the land. The subvert is a deeply interesting one; the question is bard to answer. Time, which is the revealer of all secrets, alone can tell it.