Weekly Mail

PRISONER'S ESCAPE. A successful escape from Lekrh Police- station was made on Monday morning: by a man named James "U11 worth, who wa-s in cus- tody on a charge of suspicious loitering'. He was found on Saturday night near a house with housebreaking implements in his pos- session. On Monday his measurements and description were being taken when he made a rash for the door and got away. Nothing1 atereh.a# been seen of hint.

PERSONAL PARS. PEOPLE IN THE PUBLIC EYE. The Prince of Wales has consented to be Treasurer of Lincoln's Inn for 1904. In ttiiu associating himself with the Bar, the Prince is copying the example set to him by his Royal father and grandfather; indeed, for many years the Royal Family have taken an interest in the affairs of the- Inns of Court. At the present moment the King is a Bencher of the Middle Temple, and in the first Jubilee year of Queen Victoria he held the office of Treasurer. Prince Albert was a Bencher of Lincoln's Inn, and the late Duke of Clarence ww a Bencher of the Middle Temple. People have suggested that Mr. Carnegie's great hobby is the distribution of free libraries all over the country, but this ie not so. In his younger days, when he was prin- cipally occupied in making money, Mr. Car- negie had but one hobby, he occasionally took a day off and went fishing. Since then he has always been an enthusiastic angler, and recently he has had salmon and trout hatche- ries built on the banks of the Eveleeks, a.boat three miles from Skibo. Mr. Carnegie is so fond of the sport that he has taught his little daughter to use a rod and line. A strangely hilarious scene was witnessed in a Madrid theatre not long ago. Don Aliens y Borbon, a cotisin of King Alfonso fu the second degree, finding himself in reduced circumstances, owing to family misfortunes, has taken to the stage for a living, and made his first appearance with the Fuentes com- pany as the revolutionary Mario in Lt's Miserables." In the scene when the prince- tragedian appeared on the barricades to cry, Vive la. Repnbliqne!" the idea of a lineal descendant of Louis XIV. rousing the mob against Louis Phillippe was too much for the audience, who knew the actor perfectly well and literally shrieked with laughter. Mr. Horace A vary, counsel for the prose- cution In the Whita-ker Wright case, i. a clean-shaven and athletio-looking ma.n of something over fifty. Prom his appearance one might judge him to be barely forty. In his college days he earned a great reputa- tion on the" Corpus boat, a-nd he is now a keen huntsman and a capital shot. Nor does he disdain the less masculine pastime of tennis, at which he has much more skill than the average amateur. He is an ardent cyclist, and no one is better qualified to lay down the law as between pedestrians and wheelers.' Pertinacity and perspicacity in cross- examination have always been Mr. Avory's strong points. He depends much less on flights of eloquence than on a shrewd and thorough mastery of the details of a case. There are many stories of his unique suc- cess in turning witnesses inside out." On one such occasion the victim of his astute- ness, A well-dressed hooligan, was so dis- comfited that he began to whimper, saying. You'll be accusing me of murder next." Mr. Avory coolly took lip a sheet of paper from the table before him, looked it over, and said, "Murder! Which murder? I have par- ticulars here of four that you are said to have committed." The last foreign Pope, Adrian VI., a Fleming, was elected in 1522 (says S. Cortesi in the Pall Mall Magazine"). Of the Z63 Popes who have sat in the Chair of St. Peter 213 have been Italians and only 50 foreigners. Of the former, 106 (just half) were Romans; and of the latter, 16 were Greek, 14 French, 7 German, 5 Levantine, 3 Spanish, 2 African, 1 Dutch, 1 Portuguese, and 1 English-Adrian IV. (Breakspeare), who reigned only five years, from 1154 to 1159." I may add that Break- speare's monument) in the church of the little Buckinghamshire village of that name, near ChalfonWoad Station on the Metro- politan, may still be seen* The church is very interesting, and quite lately the curious old three-decker pulpit still survived there. Gordan Cawtle, Banffshire, where the Prince of Wales is going on a visit early next month, is a huge pile of building the great feature of which is the quadrangular tower of six stories built by the second Earl of Huntley some four oentnries ago. The Bog o' Gickt; or Windy Bog" they called it in those days, till a Marquess of Huntly was made Duke of Gordon in 1684. Towards the close of the eighteenth century, practi- cally the whole of the rest of the building was rebuilt by the fourth Duke, the great central block of four stories having spacious wings to the right and left, the total frontage being 568ft., so that it can readily be believed that a hundred guests or so can be put up without any danger of overcrowding. Plots of grass and flowers, shrubberies, and trimiy-'kept walks extend far in front of the Castle, and adjacent lies the great park — a level expanse of ten or twelve square miles, containing some of the finest trees in the north of Scotland, especially limes and sycamores. In a great enclosure a. large herd of fallow deer roams at vill, these beautiful creatures, or rather their ancestors, having been the pride of Gordon Castle for more than a century. The in- terior of the castle is sumptuously furnished, and adorned with paintings actt statuary and innumerable deers' heads. In the aall there is a section of a fir tree 19ft. in cir- cumference, from the Duke's forest of Glamore, in the Highlands. Will Mr. Austen Chamberlain succeed Mr. Ritchie as Chancellor of the Exchequer? Everybody who doesn't happen to know, and the papers, say he wilk If he does, the Cabinet will still (reflects the "Morning Adver- tiser ") contain a second edition of the late" Colonial Secretary; the eye-glass, the im- maculate silk hat, the beautifully rolled um- brella, the flower in the button-hole, the Empire collar, the clean shave, the pressed trousers, the air of confidence, the cigar which smells fifteenpence a piece on the wind, the love of a ca.b, the quick stride, the alert look, and the general spick and span- ness" — are all with the lion as with the father. That father is proud. He melted— nearly—in the House of Commons when his eon made his maiden speech, and Mr. Glad- stone paid a tribute to the young man, now on the threshold of higher offloe. Mr. Austen" went to Rugby, and then to Trinity* College, Cambridge, but he never did much (continues the Advertiser") in the schools. He haa always taken an interest in politics, and all a youth ueed to go to the Tory meetings in Birmingham to inter- rupt and oonfound. He has seen some good tough fighting, and can box a bit himself. The time came when he took life seriously, and planned himself for politics. He had an excellent teacher, and was an apt pupil. His general competency soon showed itself. He became his father's greatest paJ," and what- ever those who don't know may eay of Mr. Chamberlain there is one striking fact, that his family almost worship and certainly revere him greatly. Mr. Austen" is not such a good debater as his father, but he is a clear speaker, fluent, pointed, and interest- ing. His knowledge of men and affairs is wide. He inherits the business faculty, and at the Treasury, aa art the Post Offioe, should prove a success. It is difficult to believe that Sir Charles Wyndham was sixty-two years of age on the Saturday of last week, for he certainly looks at least twenty years younger than his real age. When the distinguished actor is playing his fa-votu-ite part—"David Garrick he also surprises one by his extraordinary juvenility. Like many aotors, Sir Charles began life in a profession otter than that of acting. His first ambition (says Golden Penny") Was to be a doctor, and he took an active part in the American Civil War. It was in America. that he first appeared on a stage, having I received an engagement from John Wilkes Booth, the brother of Edwin Booth. In 1868 Sir Charles made his first bow to an English audience, and for thirty-live years he has been constantly before the public. After a long and very successful tenancy of the Cri- terion Theatre—with which his name will always be connected—he has built two theatres for himself—Wyndham's and the New Theatre. Sir Charles is one of the best after. dinner speakers in London; he is also one of the very few aotors who have played in a foreign language. Some years ago he took a company—including Miss Mary Jfoore—to Germany and played- a short season there. Many years ago (remarke" M. A. P. in its Society columns this week) the greatest of living English poets-I have the story from an old friend of his-had sat all day in the throes of a new poem. Evening came, and with it hunger, for even a poet must eat, and so he repaired to his club for dinner. After the meal he sat crooning to himself, until at last it occurred to him that he had better go home to bed. To the lobby, then, he went for his hat; but no hat, at least of his, was to be fonnd. Apparently someone had taken it away by mistake. In his annoyance the poet threw each hat—there were only half-a-dozen or øo-oontemptuouflly on the floor M he examined it, and was turning away in disgust when these glisten- ing Bilk cylinders caught his eye. A demoniac spirit seized him. Among these hats must be that of the villain who had taken his. With a subdued whoop the enraged poet proceeded to execute a war-dance on the crackling tubes, and had just reduced the last of them to pulp when the hall porter, who had been temporarily away from his post, rushed in upon the scene. "Oh lor, sir," he gasped, whatever are you a-doin' of?" The bard muttered something about a confounded ruffian having stolen his ha £ Oh dear, dl ar, sir," cried the hall porter, more in sorrow than in anger, don't you know as ow when you come to the olub to-night jrou didn't are no 'at oai"

A FATAL DRINK. BARRY INFANT POISONED WITH ALCOHOL. At Barry Dock Police-station on Monday Mr. E. Bernard Reece, the divisional coroner, con- ducted an inquiry into the circumstances attending the death of Herbert Charles, the infant child of Julia Barnes, of 63, Graving Dock-street, Barry Dock, who died on Thurs- day from the effects of alcoholic poisoning. Julia Barnes, the mother, gave evidence that the child, who was two and a half years old, was taken very ill on Wednesday and vomited. He appeared to be very thirsty, and she gave him a little milk and whisky. On Thursday morning she left the child in bed, but shortly after nine o'clock she was called upstairs by her brother, and found the child sitting on a chair with a cup containing whisky in his hand. The child had taken the whisky from a bottle. Shortly afterwards the child fell asleep, and Dr. Bray was sent for. The Coroner said he would ttrongly advise no spirits being given to a child unless ordered by a doctor. William Barnes said he went upstairs on Thursday morning to see if the child was awake, and Jound turn kneeling on a chair and pouring whisky from a bottle into a cup. He took the cup and bottle from the child. Dr. N. J. Northey Bray said when he saw the child on Thursday it was in a semi-conscious condition. He saw him again during the after- noon, and found be wac suffering from convul- sions. The child was also suffering from gastric trouble It was very dangerous to give young children spirits Jfithout proper advice. He was of opinior that the child had died from alcoholic poisoning as the result of taking a quantity of Whisky. The jury returned a Verdict of "Death from misadventure."

CARDIFF JEWEL ROBBERY. £500 VALUE STOLEN FROM CASTLE ARCADE. Sometime during Monday night a daring burgiary was committed a.t the shop of Mr. James Keir, watchmaker and jeweller, Castle Arcade, Castle-st-reet, Cardiff, the robbers getting away with an extensive haul of jewellery. On Monday Mr. Keir closed the premises about half-past nine o'clock, when everything waa safe. On Tuesday, however, when he caino to open his premises, at eight o'clock, he found that he could not obtain admission, the shop door being locked from the inside. It appears that the burglar or burglars must have gained admission. from the sky-light ill the roof, beiow which is the workshop. In order to do 80, they had proceeded up the stairs in Salisbury-chambers, got on to the gutter through the sky-light there, and pro- ceeded along the gutter to Mr. Keir's shop. The sky-light here is a very little One, so that only a small person or persons could have got through it. At all events, this is how ingress was obtained, and in reaching the floor of the lavatory at the workshop they Upset a wasbstand. Herd further progress was barred by the doot of the workshop, which Was locked from the inside. The thieves had evidently tried to prize it open with some instrument, but, failing in their attempt or becoming impatient, they smashed the door close to the lock in a very clumsy manner, inserted a hand, turned the key, and found themselves in full possession. Descending the staircase from the workshop to the stockroom, on the ground floor, they started to ransack the place. Their opera- tions would be partially hidden from the out- side by the blind Which covers the small window where Mr. Keir himself works, but the second window was quite open. Jewel- boxes were taken from the glass plate cases and their contents quickly abstracted," whilst the brackets in the windows were stripped of watches. Altogether, about 100 gold and silver watches were stolen, and between 40 and 50 gold, sapphire, and diamond rings, besides chains, necklets, and bracelets. So far Mr. Keir has been unable to give the exact number of articles stolen until a thorough examination of his stock has been made, but what he has missed is valued at about £500, none of which is insured. When Mr. Keir found that he was unable to gain admittance to his shop, he sent one of his workmen along by the same way that.the thieves had entered, and when the door was opened he found his premises in confusion and everything upside down. Upon an examination jewel eases and botes were found to have been carried upstairs, and after being rifled were flung into the ash-box in the workshop. Fortunately, a large num- ber of watches had been locked up in two safes, and these were found all right on Tuesday morning. Whether the thieves had tried the safes or not they were ftnsuccetfeful in this direction. They left the shop by the same means whereby they gained entrance, for the workmen's tools were found placed below the sky-light, and the working apron of Mr. Keir, jun.. was missing, having evidently been taken by the burglars to carry away their booty. On discovering his loss Ifr. Keir at once prave information to the police, who now have the matter in hand, but up to the present tto arrests have been made.

A SHOT IN THE BACK. STRANGE SHOOTING AFFAIR AT MELINGRIFFITH. On Monday morning two young men started to walk from Cardiff to Pontypridd. At Melin- griffith they took the canal bank, add had not proceeded far on the to Wing path before they heard a shot, and a bullet entered the back of one of the young men under the shoulder blade. They made their way at once to the surgery of Dr. Arthur (Llandaff Yard), by which time the injured young man had almost entirely collapsed. The doctor did all he could under the circumstances, and had the patient convayed circumstances, and had the patient convayed to the Cardiff Infirmary. He also Bent for Police-sergeant Phillips (Whitchurch), who is making inquiries into the case. Upon the admission of the young man to the Infirmary, it was found that the injury to his shoulder was only slight, and after treatment he was allowed to go. His name is Thomas. John Williams, aged twenty, and he lives at No. 1, Milbrook-street, Landore, near Swansea. All he knows is that he was walking along the towing-path at the time he was shot, and he hM no idea who could have shot him or what reason anybody oould have had for shooting him.

STOLEN GOODS RECOVERED. JEWELLEAY FROM CARDIFF IDENTIFIED. The polioe at Leman-stroefc 8tation, White- ehapel, will bo glad to hear of the owners of a large quantity of stolen property, portions of which were found at the house of a notorious receiver, at Mofosley-buildingfl, Bethnal-green, and the remainder at the residence of a woman with whom he formerly lived at St. George's-street, E. Among the property were over 30 dozen table and dessert forks, and table, dessert, tea, a.nd mustard spoons. Other property consisted of 32 black Melton skirts, piped trimmings; 38 ladies' silk scarves, 30 tape measures in leather cases with folding JiandleS, 18 mbhair capes six rolls of green and blue sash ribbon, four black silk applique collars, seven pairs men's white kid gloves, ten yards sky-blue silk, five yards plain Saxony lace. 2l yards of blue Melton cloth, four yards silk chiffon, eighteen yards green silk furnishing plush, one lady's military grey jacket (lined with white silk), one box containing ten dozen artificial rose leaves, three pairs imitation cashmere half- hose, six cigarette cases, one cigar case, five silver-mounted briar pipes, one lady's black leather hand-bag, gold-plated fittings, one black leather purse, a stiletto, fourteen boxes of pens, nineteen gas mantles, and one valu- able grey jacket. Three gold rings, a bracelet, and a diamond brooch have been identified as part of the proceeds of jewel robberies at Cardiff and Scarborough, for which two men are now undergoing penal servitude.

GIRL'S ATTEMPTED SUICIDE. Elizabeth Griffiths, a single woman, of Gelli- j galad-road, Ystrad, was charge before the justices at Ystrad on Monday with attempting to commit suicide by drinking a quantity of carbolic acid. Maria Griffiths, a sister, stated that her parents left home on the 4th of September to bury a little brother at Tregaron, leaving her and the prisoner in the house. Her sister was upset ever her brother's death, but did not seem unduly depressed. She had been out three times on the day mentioned, and on returning the third time she (the witness) asked her to put 11.p some curtains, and noticed she had something trickling from her mouth. She thought ehe had toothache, but afterwards saw her lying on the sofa, and, becoming alarmed, ran for a doctor. Mrs. Owene, a neighbour, stated that the last witness called her in, and, thinking the prisoner had been taking poison, she adminis- tered a dose of milk, salt, and water. She had heard the young woman threaten to take her life, stating she was in trouble. Prisoner expressed her regret at the occur- rence, and promised never to attempt any- thing of the kind again. Her father promised to look after her. She was bound over in the sum of £5 to come up for Judgment when called upon.

VIGOROUS SPEECH BY MR. KEIR HARDIE. The members of the Merthvr District of the South Wales Miners' Federation held their annual demonstration on Saturday. After parading the principal streets with the Aber- canaid and Troedyrhiw bands playing lively march music, they had a mass meeting at the Drill-hall. Mr. D. W. Jones, solicitor to the district, presided, and among those on the platform were Mr. Keir Hardie, M.P., Mr. Robert Smiliie, president of the Scottish Miners' Federation; Mr. Ben Davies, Rhondda; Mr. John Williams, the newly-appointed agent for the district, and Mr. John Davies, agent for the Dowlais District. Mr. John Williams, the agent for the dis- trict, moved a resolution hailing the ad- vanced position secured through the efforts of organised labour throughout the country, and declaring unabated deeire for further reforms in the direction of an improved Workmen's Compensation Act, an amended Mines Act, an eight hours day by legislation, and old-age pensions to deserving workmen; endorsing the policy of direct Labour repre- sentation, and expressing delight at the suc- cess of the Labour Representation Fund; expressing dissatisfaction with the conduct of the non-Unionists of the district, and pledging support to whatever method might be adopted to compel them to fall into line in the future; recording confidence in the miners' leaders in securing the formation of a conciliation board as a medium for regu- lating wages With a fixed standard minimum, and condemning the new Education Act and the Change suggested by Mr. Chamberlain in the present fiscal policy as most mischie- vous and dangerous to the best interests of the working people of the country. Mr. Frank Arscott seconded the resolution, remarking that the non-Unionist question was a burning one in the Merthyr district. Mr. Keir Hardie. having congratulated the district upon the election of Mr. John Williams as agent, said the present minimum wage was good so far as it went, but it did not go far enough. Last year the colliery owners paid Income-tax on profltB amounting to Seventeen millions, besides paying eight millions for royalties to the landlords, and yet they came crying to the agents, and asked to be allowed to have a reduction in wages to keep them from going to the workhouse. (Laughter.) When they remembered that the total number of men and boys employed in and about the pits was under one million they would see that every man and ooy in and about the pits was earning £ 25 for the employer and the landlord. Surely, then, if there was to be a reduction anywhere it should be in these swollen profits and these iniquitous royalties rather than in the wages paid the workpeople for their laborious toil. With regard to the new situa- tion created by the crisis in the Cabinet, It was doubtful for a time what was going to happen—whether Mr. Chamberlain, with his heresies, was going to triumph or be defeated. It was now evident that in the conflict with the Duke of Devonshire a,nd the other heads of the Government, apart from the Premier, Joe, to use a prize ring metaphor, had been knocked out in the first round. But he Would not have them imagine that on that account Mr. Chamberlain was disposed of. In a few days from now he would turn up smiling, fresh as paint. Mr. Chamberlain had raised a question which only the people of this country could finally dispose of—which was fraught with tremendous issues to every !1rorking man and to every working man's wife, and he hoped there would be no disposition anywhere to treat this matter, lightly or as of no importance. He admitted that, whether trade were protected or free, the conditions of the worker remained pretty much the same; but were this country to return to Protection now, 110 matter how it might be disguised, the immediate result would be to increase the cost of living and to make life harder for them and those dependent upon them. In course of time it was possible that wages might adjust them- selves to the increased cost, but that would only be after long and weary years of effort and struggle, in which time would be lost and bad feeling engendered by strikes and disputes for higher rates of pay. Things as they were were none too good, but going back to Protection wotild be to make them worse than they were now, when they ought to be stepping forward and outward to an improve- ment instead of heading for retrogression, One effect of the crisis in the Cabinet was that an early dissolution was certain. He believed the dissolution would come next month. Mr. Smillijj had referred to the number of candidates likely to be found in the Merthyr Boroughs. His Comment on that was, "Let 'em all come." (Laughter.) The more the merrier. The question had been raised what position he was likely to take up as a can- didate, if he were one, in the Merthyr Boroughs at the next election. His reply was that he would stand at the bext election as he stood at the last election—as a Labour candidate without a«y adjectival qualification of any kind whatever. (Hear, hear.) He had made sacrifices to advance the idea of a Labour party, and, surely, in the hour of success no one had the audacity to expect that he would foul hi. own record by going back upon his past and throwing over long- cherished and sturdily-upheld opinions in order to make it more easy to get back into the House of Commons. The Labour move- ment Was not now the struggling infant it was even threo or four years ago. At the nfext election there would be 46 or 50 Labour candidates ran all over the country, and a good score of those would be returned. He ventured to predict that the majority on either side would be small, and here they Would have in the House of Commons twenty or 25, perhaps 30, members of the Labour party who were not bound to either party, Liberal or Tory. Suppose the Liberals came in with a small majority, they would want these 30 votes, and if these votes were to be got, it must be upon tertos and conditions. If the Liberal Government promised and agreed to give a good place in its Cabinet proposals to a Miners Eight Hours Bill, to a proper Workmen's Compensation Act, to pen- sions for all aged people, and to legislation of that kind generally, they could depend upon getting these 30 Labour votes; but if these measures were refused, or if they were pro- mised, but held back, those same 30 votes would be sure to be given against the Government to turn them out and compel them to appeal to the country. (Applause.) That was tho policy for which be had been contending, and what did they ilea wrong about it? (A Voice: 1," Nothing.") He hoped that the three years' service he had been able to render the boroughs had convinced, not merely the working men, but also the middile-ciass Liberal people, that a the middile-ciass Liberal people, that a man could be an extreme Labour member and yet give full service to all those causes for which Liberalism had stood in days gone by. So he hoped and trusted that if he were again a candidate, and were returned as their member—(A Voice: You will be ")—he would go back to the House of Commons with the same feeling of confidence in their stability wnd strength as he did on the last occasion. (A Voice: Yon are right enough.") He had the feeling this tame strong upon him that his work in the Labour movement waa drawing towards its close. (" No, no.") As a pioneer in the work he had had his day and done his share. It was now for younger and abler men to take up the work and carry it forward to still greater triumph. But he should like to—and, God helping him, he wonld-fl|(ht the next elec- tion at least, and to come out even more triumphantly than before, if only to give the lie to the foul crowd who for weeks and months had been using the public press and the public platforms of the country raking up the abusive lies and rubbish of the put. fifteen years against a man whom not one of tbam dared meet on a public platform in open debate. (Hear, hear.) The resolution was then pat, Imd canted unanimously.

MINERS' DEMONSTRATION AT EBBW VALE. The annual demonstration of the Ebbw Vale District of the South Wales Miners' Federa- tion was held at the Market-hall, Ebbw Vale, on Monday. A procession, headed by the Beaufort Brass Band and the Salvation Army Band, paraded the main thoroughfares pre- vious to the meeting. Mr. John Barber moved a resolution regard- ing with pleasure the continued success of the Federation; expressing satisfaction with the establishment of a conciliation board; supporting agitation fOr shorter, hours and improved mining legislation, amendments to the Compensation Act, and old-age pensions; recording pleasure at the success of the Labour Representation Fund; and protesting against the refusal of the Government to repeal the coal-tax and against any attempt to alter the fiscal policy of the country.—Mr. Evan Davies seconded. "Mabon" supported the resolution, and said that in his own experience he knew of no place where organisation had done more, or even so much, as at Ebbw Vale. They were conscious, he went on, that a crisis tted come. Mr. Chamberlain had resigned. (HHear, hear," and Good job.") He regretted he did not see much for congratulation in the supposed defeat of Mr. Chamberlain, for if for the moment the man had gone, the policy remained. There was no doubt about it. The forces of retrogression within the Cabinet had divided themselves in their own interests. That was his opinion on this matter. They had composed two camps that they might fight upon a better 'vantage ground—one to propagate a policy of preferen- tial tariffs outside the Cabinet without embarrassment, and the Prime Minister to be at liberty to advocate his policy within the Cabinet untrammelled by Mr. Chamberlain. (Applause.) They had both gone on their errands, and in his opinion both errands meant retrogression. (Applause.) He went on to quote an old speeoh of Mr. Chamberlain condepining the taxation of food, and said he agreed with him that he could not conceive of the working classes being so foolish as to allow the food of the country to be taxed one iota. (Applause.) The tax on food would mean, if not a decline immediately in wages, a certain reduction in the purchasing value of their wages. No good could accrue to the working classes of this country by the adop- tion of the fiscal policy, and he hoped they all agreed that they would not have it. Twenty years ago they heard talk of a fvee breakfast table, but to-day the old taxes remained, and a vast number of other neces- saries of life had been taxed aIM. He had been asked why he shouted so much upon this question, and what difference would be made by the addi- tion of Id. or lid. to the price of a loaf of bread, and he replied that the working classes would have to pay the tax. The present Government had robbed labour of its rights, given them more than thirty years ago, by judge-made laws relating to the disposal of their funds. The Conservative Government told them they had given the workers something. True, they had given them the Compensation Act, but they had not given it upon principle, but as a matter of policy. They had given the privileged classes relief out of the Exchequer of the country, such as grants to voluntary schools and exemption to curates paying rates. In the case of the Compensation Act, if a firm became bankrupt, where were their employes going to get their compensation • from? (Applause.) The workers of the country were now convinced that this battle would have to be fought in the political ftrefla. They must have a Labour party in the House of Commons. Liberals and Labour must merge into one party to fight for the rights of the workers. Although personally he was a Radi- cal, he was Labour first. A strong Labour party was necessary in the House of Com- mons to give it health and vigour, and even the Liberal party needed a resurrection or a tombstone. (Applause.) No party in exis- tence at the present moment was strong enough to take up the cudgels for Labour. They must improve their organisation as much as possible by widening its basis of representation. If they had a party of 80 Labour representatives in the House of Com- mons. it would be necessary for them to have 200 or 300 friends there as well- Those Liberal members who were doing what'they could in a friendly way for Labour should be asked to become Lahottr first and Liberal after- wards. (Applause.) He wanted a more equit- able balance of power. Five of the seats in South Wales and Monmouthshire were held by Tories, from whom they expected nothing. He hoped to live long enough to become one of a real Labour party in the House of Com- mons. (Applause.) Mr. T. Richards (general secretary of the South Wales Miners' Federation) also sup- ported the resolution, and referred to the vastly improved conditions of labour at vastly improved conditions of labour at Ebbw Vale under the regime of the Federa- tion. The motion was adopted unanimously.

No. 1 (RHONDDA) DISTRICT. Mr. Thomas Hill (Tylorstown) was appointed chairman of the monthly meeting of the No. 1 (Rhoiodda) District of the South Wales Miners' Federation on Monday at Porth, and Mr. J. Jones (Wattstown) was appointed vice-chair- man.—It was decided to contribute f650 to the men of the Hetty Pit (Hopkiiistown) who are out of work—Mr. Watts Morgan said there was a movement on foot to fulfil a promise made long ago to make the hauliers' position olearer. A special meeting of the executive council was to be held on the 88th inst. to take the matter into consideration, and something should be done to better the position of the hauliers. If they allowed the question to drift they might expect again a disturbance similar to that of 1893. In reference to the question Of the storage of explosives which hOO been raised at the Mardy Collieries, Mr. Morgan said two men had been fined at Porth for keeping a quantity of "ammonite" at their homes. If an offence had been committed this was done partly in obeying the regulation laid down by the Colliery company, ahd, in a sense, it was compulsory upon the men to take the Explosive to their homes, because it was only served out to them on two evenings in the week. The regulation had now been altered.—The meet- ing directed Mr. Watts Morgan to consult Mr. Nicholas, solicitor, upon the genera,1 question of the storage of explosives. It was reported by Mr. Morgan in regard to the proposal for reducing the price-list of the Red Vein Seam at the Cambrian Collieries, Clydach Vale, that notice was not served on September 1, as expected, but there was a rumour that notices would be issued next month. Mr. Abraham and he had been there, and if there should be an attempt to reduce the prioe-list they would have something to say as to advising the men to make common ground in the whole of the Cambrian Collieries While the dispute in No. 3 was pend- ing.

INCIDENT OF THE GALE. SKIPPER'S PLUCKY DEED NEAR THE MUMBLES. A plucky action on the part of a Bristol Channel skipper during the recent gale is reocrded. The schooner John Ewing (belong- ing to Mr. H. Norman, of Watohet) had put into the Mumbles for orders, and at the time the gale burst with euch fury her skipper (Mr. s. Norman) was ashore, transacting business. On account of the state of the weather he decided to go on board, but on reaching the shore found that his boat was already washed away. He chartered a tug, on which he pro- eeeded from Swansea to the Mumbles in order to board hie vessel. When the tttg reached the Mumbles there was no sign of the vessel, but, concluding that she had gott6 up Channel, the tug was pnt in that direction, and even- tually found the vessel about a mile to the eastward of Port ^Talbot, with anchors down and apparently holding on. With a terrific sea. running, the task of transferring the cap- tain became a very difficult one, and after making some half-dozen attempts it was found quite impossible to run sufficiently close .to the vessel, which was rolling: heavily in the sea. The skipper then decided upon a hazardous experiment. The ttig having run close under the quarter of the vessel, a line was thrown from the latter and secured by those on board the tug. Making this fast round his body, the skipper of the vessel jumped overboard, and his crew commenced to haul him on board. This turned out to be no easy matter, and for several minutes the daring swimmer's life was in jeopardy, the waves buffetting him about the whole time. At length, after being immersed for about ten minutes, the skipper was hauled on deck, fortunately little the worse for his trip. His pluck was rewarded by the fact that his presence gave the crew the assistance they required in order to raise the anchors. It transpired later that when the gale burst the vessel, which was riding with two anchors down, broke a new cable which had just passed Lloyd's test, and then commenced to drag across the bay. The vessel was afterwards towed into Swan- sea.

ALLEGATIONS AGAINST A WIFE. At Barry Police-court on Monday (before Alderman J. C. Meggitt and Mr. J. A. Manaton), William HelIingtl, shipwright, Barry Dock, late of South Africa and Australia, applied for the discharge of a maintenance order. Mr. Harold Lloyd, solicitor, Cardiff, appeared for complainant, and Mr. F. T. Lloyd, solici- tor, Barry, defended. The opening statement of Mr. Harold Lloyd was to the effect that an order for 15s. per week towards the maintenance of his wife was made in 1900, and was paid for some time, when complainant heard of his wife's misconduct. Two years ago Sellings went to South Africa, and afterwards to Australia, and he now applied that the order be set aside on the ground of alleged mis- conduct of his wife. Mr. Harold M. Lloyd called Police-sergeant A. Poolman, Police-con- stable Richard Beedles, Kills. Ethel Lavine (Cardiff), William Davey, and George Spicer, who alleged that defendant lived a. life of misconduct at Ba.rry and Cardiff. Mr. Jones-Lloyd, for the defence, pleaded that complainant's neglect had conduced to his wife's misconduct. The Bench discharged the order, and directed Hellings to pay the arrears due (£18 1511.) by instalments of 7s. 6d. per week. UL

NEATH COLLIER'S CRUELTY. At Neath Borough Police-court on Monday (before Messrs. C. it B. Gardner and F. J. Gibbins) William Rees, collier, of 49, Crythan- road. Melincrythan, was charged with neglect- ing his four children, of ages ranging from five to twelve years. Mr. Edward Powell prosecuted on behalf of the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children. The evidence of Inspector Gibbs, of Port Talbot. went to show that defendant's home wae in a filthy condition, and that the children were poorly -clad and shod and dirty, the eldest, a girl of twelve, being verminous and covered with sores.-—Police- sergeant Michael eaid the defendant was of drunken ha.bit8.-Defenda,nt was sent to prison for three months with hard labour.

NEGLECT OF CHILDREN. Catherine Edmunds, Cross-street, Maesteg, wife of Alfred Edmunds, was charged before the Bridgend magistrates on Saturday with cruelty to her six children, aged 13, 11, 9, 6, 4, and 1 ye&r and 9 months respectively. Alder- man T. J. Hughes prosecuted op behalf of the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children.—Inspector Rogers, of the society, had a pitiable tale to tell of drunkenness on the part of the defendant, while the husband was a hard working, temperate, and respect-/ able man.—Alderman Hughes applied for a/ committal to the quarter sessions, but the Bench sent defendant to gaol for two

LAUGH & GROW FAT HUMOUROUS PARS FROM EVERYWHERE. "I made a great mistake when I accepted you," she said. "Yee, my dear," he answered, "but it's all my faalt." "Your fault?" "Yes; it wae a foregone conclusion you'd make that mistake the first chance you had, and I ought never to have given you the chance." QUITE UNNECESSARY. suppose," said the visitor, "your constant prayer is that you may ever be poor and humble?" "Not exactly," replied the village parson I I pray that I may ever remain humble, but my congregation attends to the other part of it." SHE DID HER BEST. Mrs. Uppmann: I must tell you, Delia, that 1 was displeased at your entertaining that policeman in the kitchen last night. Delia: Faith, Oi did ax him into the par. lour, ma'am, but he wouldn't go. NO DANGER OF A FALL. Sharpe: Yes. Parker invented the safest airship ever heard of. Whealton: But it refused- to fly. You couldn't get up on -it. Sharpe: That's why I say it was the safest. i, OUT OF PROPORTION. "I am a self-made man," said the proud in- dividual. "Well. you are all right except as to your head," commented the other man. "How's that?" "The part yoft talk with is out of proportion to the part you think with." AN UNBLUSHING APPLICATION. Replying to an advertiser's "Wantfifl, a smart boy," the following unblushing certifi- cate of himself was sent in by an applicant: —"I am 14 past, smart, tall, of good appear- ance, I am a. good freehand drawer. Should you favour me with the situation your in. terest will have my best attention." LITTLE JOHNNY. "I say, auntie, uncle said this morning that there was not another woman like you in the world." "Ah, the dear fellow; did he really, Johnny?' "Yes; and he said it was a gocid job, too! OUR CHILDREN. Narse: Yon dreadful children! Where have you been? Young Hopeful: Oh, nursey, we've been try- ing to drown those dear little ducks, bat they will come to the top. A BISHOP'S ARGUMENT. A man was arguing recently with it well- known bishop on the subject of clergymen, and asserted that they did not practise what they preached. Oh, wèll," said the bishop. perhaps YO. expect too much of them. Did you ever hear of a signpost that followed its own direc- tion ?" DElSPERATE! "Convicted of stealing sheep? And he used to be one of your beat citizens!" Henry w&e that, 80," said the Sottthron, sadly. "But nobody blames Henry. Bein' one of Ottah best citiaefis, he Was about all the time bein' called on to pahticipate in aotae lynchin', etih, till he nach'ly couldn't 'tend to his private business. Henry had to do somethin', suh!" MAKING HORSES. Little Freddy, while oat walking with his nurse, saw a blacksmith shoeing a horse, and upon returning home said to his mamma, I saw a blacksmith who makes horses to-day." Are you sure you did ? asked mamma. "Of course, I am," replied Freddy. "He had one nearly finished when I saw him. He was just nailing on its back feet." THE POET DESCRIBED. "My father's the boat man in the world," said one little girl. "He is a. minister. He makes people go to church." "Mine is the best," piped up another. "He's a doctor. He makes sick people well, so they can go to church." Three or foft" more enlarged upon the bene- fit the world derived from their fathers, and it finally cams the turn of a sweet, blue-eyed little girl. "My papa's the beet of all," she said. '1te'a a poet." "A potftf" Bald another, joining the group. "Why, a poet isn't a profession. It's a disease." HONESTY AND ITS REWARD. Dr. Carl Peters, the well known explorer, on his last expedition gave employment to a. homeless black youth whom he took from the forest and trained in the duties oi a valet. Thus his tent, where he kept his outlandish weapons, was always neat. One day the boy brought an assegai to Dr. Peters. "I found this, sir," he said, "outside. It belongs to you, doesn't it ?" It does," the explorer answered. He had remarked the interest that the boy took in his collection, and, therefore, he added: "You may keep that assegai, Jerome, for your honesty." The boy appeared properly grateful. A few daya later, though, Dr. Peters lost a piece of gold. He knew he must have lost it in hie tent. Therefore, he waited confidently for Jerome to return it to him. But the boy made no sign. Jerome," Dr. Peters finally said, I lost a gold piece the other day. Did you find it? Yes, sir," Jerome answered. Well, what did xou do with it ? I kept it for my honesty," said Jerome. SARTORIAL POVERTY. A well-known American general was tra- velling some time ago in Georgia.. He says that in a. little Georgia town he heard the following conversation between two coloured lads:— I'se gwine No'th," said the first. Dasso?" said the second. Yes. I'se got a trunk to take wlv me, too." A trunk ? What am a trunk fo' ? "W'y, to take your clo's in." "WhatI An' go naked?" Thie reminds one of the story told about Mark Twain, who in his early daye out West was once seen walking along with an old cigar box under his arm. A friend, on asking him why he carried the box, received the laconic reply, Im moving." "NO QUESTIONS ASKED." Once there was a woman who lost her. pnrse, and advertised for its return, stipulating in tile advertisement, No questions asked." Next day a individual brought the missing purse to her house and requested the promised reward. "In a minute," she said; "but first I would like to know-" You said No questions asked,' leddy." At this she grew fairly apoplectic in appear- ance. Evidently she was having a severe inward struggle. At last the spoke: Well, I don't want to ask any question*. but you may k¥p the troublesome old thinr if you will only tell me how yo. got it. Did youftnd it or did ydo steal it? But the beetle-browed stranger, who had settled upon a policy of No questions answered," was disappearing down the street with the purse in his hand. KNEW ITS LOCATION. Joseph was 1tp before a looal police justice, charged with a. violation of the health 1&w8. and, as Is Customary, the warrant was read to him before the case opened. It stated that the applicant for the warrant acted on "information and belief." The justice, anxious that Joseph should thoroughly understand the nature of the proceedings, said: "I presume you know what this means?" "Yes, sir," answered the culprit. "What does it mean?" asked his honour, not yet satisfied. Joseph did not seem to be able to clea.rly explain. "Tell the court what is meant by informa- tion," asked the judge. "Oh, I know that," Jopeph hastened to aesure him. "Information is something folks has on the bowels."

YEAR AFTER YEAR. Who 11M not read the remarkable letters from working men and women which, day after day, and year after year, are being published in this and thousands of other aewspapers throughout the United Kingdom respecting the undoubted merits of Dr. Tibbies' Vi-Cocoa. as a Food Beverage? Yes." you say, I havo read all about it, but I havo not tried it." Then take our advice and do eo at once. Vi-Cocoa is not an ordinary cocoa. It is not sickly and insipid like many of the foreign cocoas, but a plea- sant beverage, and a food and tonic in the bargain There is no cheaper or better article on the market. It is sold by ull grocers and stores in 6d. packets and 9d. and is. 6d. tins; or you can try it absolutely free by writing (a. post card will do) to Vi-Cocoa, Limited, 60, Bunhill Row, Londoo, E.C., for a dainty oamxtle tin. w298.

MINOR MATTERS- i POLICE-COURT AND PICKINGS. The Rev. J. J. Williams, Rhymnfff- £ ?! accepted the pastorate of filldn Pentre, in succession to the Rev. L. J' D.D., now principal of Bala-Bangor oe At a. meeting of the Llanelly Sarbcaf > mission held on Monday it that the maximum harbour dues in accordance with the Parliamentary V on and after November 1..$ The Hereford polioe are inqttiflfl& Woman who gave an address at Brecon, where she is unknown, and alleged to have defrauded fotir tradesmen with worthless cheques. jjitP Sir John Puleston, Constable of Oastle, has appointed Mr. Charles A. ,.0- Carnarvon, as the Deputy-constable. u1 ^4 cession of the late Sir Llewelyn jg occupied that position for upward! j years.. AflSt j The dissolution of the Board took pla*te on Tuesday at tM Schools, Pontlottyn, votes of thank* passed to all the officers. Susannah Gabe, landlady of the Nelson-street, Swansea, was on TtteSdjWT pf 20s. and costs by the Swansea magistr* # selling adulterated rum. Th«> ruffl* 'degrees below proper strength, defence was that it was due to Lord Jersey eome time ago express re&dmefcs to provide Pentrechwyth ground to be laid out as a 1)le&8." Several of the leading burgesses have øét fjp a site at the rear of Bethlehem Chal^1'^ a deputation will wait upon hie lordship', a view of obtaining this piece of There was a lively scene at Swansea when the crews of two French onion had a squabbJe which lasted meanly J1 hours, and was watched with interest 01' big crowd. One of the Frenchmen fired ill gun in the air to disperse the crowd, proved effectual. No arrests were 10 Qp At Swansea Police-court on Mondat Adams, a labourer, was charged With ing a sack of coal from the Great Railway at Port Tennant. When he constable, defendant said he was potatoes from his garden. He was or fourteen days' hard labour. An inquest was held at Taff's Monday afternoon by Mr. E. B. (coroner), oh the body of Arthur ffiSt Stiles, the eleven-weeks-old child of J Stiles, a labourer. The evidence proved j. the infant died suddenly in bed ftoø1 vftlskms, and a verdict to that ei?G<5* returned. At Newport Police-court on Monday^ øt Sinclair, a Scotch seaman, was fined ofte month, for obtaining food from Ms." "Jt O'Rourke, 24, Portland-street, Newpo'^Kjis false pretences. He gave her what he his bank-book and what he said fivers wrapped up iti paper, but on ing the Parcel she fdttnd neither bårtk. nor money. At Bridgend on Saturday, Ca*? ff Edmunds, wife of Albert Edmunds, oolll*^ y) pairer, CroSs-street, Maesteg, was sentenC* two months' imprisonment for neglectiB^ji six children. Dr. Egbert Williams, of stated that the ohildren Were in *01 neglected condition, being dirty, verfift^jl and insufficiently clad. The husband g* that his wife had given way to drink. f The charge against Richard Brynhyfryd, Swansea, of feloniously and wounding his wife, Sarah, by stf her was to have been heard on Swansea Police-court, but Mr. Viner stated that his client (tDé profeefctltrW jM not intend to give evidence in support & M charge. The Bench stated that the cas* have to be proceeded with. and fixed day for the hearing. pf The old custom of the Welsh CbnrC £ jfl' public catechising was introduced bit yjie day last to Pehygraig, Rhondda Valley- Sunday Schools of the following joined in the festival: —Penygraig, pia, and Cymmer. In the evening. church was crowded. There was a 0' service and a sermon by the Vic**gj|\t Ystradyfodwg. The combined choir* (^pj! the anthem" 0 Arghvydd ein loti Gadsby. A man, George Lee, who fell from tb« ^4 of a house at Portheawl on Thursday 1S%$9 sustained serious injuries, was remoV^^jr Saturday from Portheawl to the Cardiff *^>4 mary. Lee wM accompanied by a nttrae. He is suffering from a fractured <^5* serious flesh wounds, and shock, and dition is ierious. It will be remembered ct Lee fell ft distance of 25ft. He is 6i age, and this fact makes his rftteteff doubtful. uA There appears to be a difference of t in Haverfordwest as to the decision tØ majority of the Ooronatioh plant an avenue of trees in oommetotf^j it It is stated that there aire so many the town and its vicinity that more wanted, nd it in Ml tfcat ataofc of memorial would not be petttsanefeVjQti ntimber of people think that a should be erected, and are initiating a ment to call a town's meeting in the ma* At PontypOol on ftftturday Barak Pontypooi womafc, was fined ids. for assa*1^ an elderly woman named Sarah ft—asi i.ff*1' after the sentence had been passed dant retorted, I am sorry I did iw* her ten shillings' worth of heating. Chairman immediately called her hao** yi eaid that after her oooduet and there that day she Would be boahd keep the peace and would have to par additional costs. -Ju0h A man, n&med John Bird, • fera h* jZf whilst apparently in a mad stats of drsf ness, smashed ten panes of glass in dows of ti»e Station Inn Beer-facmse, on Saturday nighk^When Oaldicobt interrupted him in his mad. (his hands and face covered with bloc* siUd he had walked a mile to do It.—Mr..> cey, the landlord, knew nothing about 1P:8Ii The Magistrates on Monday eenthb to J** for two months..Jl At Merthyr Poiiee-cxmrt on Monday ø:it.. Lewis was charged With stealing a bodice, jacket, an apron, and an u value lis., and £ 6 in gold, the property ot gl BathUrst, a sergeant in the Merthyr co1™yft the Salvation Army. The woman *9* friended by the prosecutrix, and ft house with the articles named. There evidence that the defendant took the but ehe wore the clothing in the court, was sent to prison for 28 days. The ceremony of laying the found stones of the new parish hall at Gw»4» Ebbw Vale, took place on Monday. A service was held in St. Paul's Church, 0' conducted by the Rev. — Evans, St. Mary's, Victoria, after which a proce^juj was formed. Churchwarden Peters and Churchwarden Taylor (Wannlwyd) )l the two stones. The cost of the hall 'tr"IP. £1,300, and it will seat 500 persons. ^4 During the month of August 51 vesusl^Ajl dues at Llanelly, as compared with previous month and 61 for the correspo* period of last year. The imports anio^r to 5,548 tons, a decrease for the 3,9% tons, and a decreMe compared ji# August, 1902, of 4,531 tons. The V amounted to 15,968 tons. At Burry P° rft>* vessels paid dues, a decrease of twelve. imports amounted to 2,073 tons, an of 387 tons; exports amounted to 12,083 a decrease of 2,240 tons. pi David Davitt, a labourer, who it was in evidence, had a mania for stealing ings and smashing police cells, was at the Ystrad Police-court on Monday f being drunk and disorderly and brealfij\ panes of glass in the police oell, vala*%i# 10s. The defendant acknowledged cl*??if*5 the oell, but denied emphatically that drunk. His record In the latter respect \jt for some time back.—A fine of 20s. flicted for the first offence, and for bre^r \<P the windows defendant was sent to ga° a month. jflt At an occasional court held at the Police-station on Saturday (before Pearson R. Cresswell, C.B.. V.D.) Hannah Gillett, aged 40 years, was under a warrant issued in June la*t> stealing some wearing apparel, jeweller domestic articles belonging to her Samuel Gillett, Merthyr Vale. She was by Sergeant j. H. Edwards at the i* Pleasant Inn, Dowlais, where she service as a barmaid. Formal evidence tjj been taken, the woman was remanded r day (Monday), when she will be brought øP Merthyr Police-court. If. At Swansea on Monday Mr. Rupert plied for a summons for attempting to money under false pretences against J II Gay, 5, Ivor-place, SkeUy. The facts explained by Mr. Lewis, that Gay, after tr*yJ ing from Dowlais to Swansea in Augn^^j*? missed his Gladstone bag, and filled & claim form supplied by the company f°f tr odd. The bag was afterwards found 00t, M suck worth Hotel, and was discovered to 11' tain only a couple of artioles out of made up, and Detective Townsend (Great P. tern Railway) said they were worth including the bag itself. The summon* ( granted. The Mayor of Newport (Mr. J. H- and the Mayoress (Mrs. Dunn) w**a tlr, Saturday evening, at the Town-hall< recipients of a number of handsome from the workmen engaged in th« gj*' shipping department of the Alexandra of which Mr. Dunn wae, prior to his retirement, superintendent for over 24 Mr. James Nixon, of Watts, Watts. JrJ presided over a large gathering. The was presented with a handsome and DjVijJ fully-framed water-colour portrait of in the robes and chain of office and elaborate illuminated address setting IjI/ the appreciation of the workmen who .p served under him and the public in the J district. Mrs. Dunn was presented 4 lovely afternoon tea service i» silver » silver-mountsd omhrsU*. a 1.