Weekly Mail

FEMININE FASHIONS. DRESS SLEEVES OF THE FIRST IMPORTANCE. In matters sartorial at this time dress sleeves are of the first importance. Their great size makes them important, a doubtful advantage when combined with ugliness. Undeniably ugly the newest sleeves are, and their preposterous dimensions have never been exceeded, I believe, in the fashions of the past. Of course, the wing-sleeve and the angel-sleeve were wide and deep, but, then, they fell gracefully on each, side of the figrare, and did not—as the sleeve of to-day doee- distort the arm it covers. For example, the top of the sleeve is gauged for a few inches. and the material released forms a deep frill, below which appear two bell-eleeves, one just above the other. Being kilted, their volume is increased; now follows a hanging puff of extravagant size, falling low at the back of the arm and ending in a deep pointed cuff. It is possible to ring many changes on this pattern, but they will all be ugly. A series of bell-shaped pieces more or less wide, but especially wide, falling one over the other, with a voluminous puff below, is, perhaps, the sleeve most generally seen. In the eleventh and twelfth centuries hanging sleeves of great width were worn, but they were all cut in one piece. In an illustration of the twelfth century sleeve I see it was made tight to the wrist, thence it widened out greatly, taking the form of a canoe. The sleeve of the eleventh century broadened from the top of the arm. and was shaped so that it formed a pouch of great length, falling from the back of the arm, thence narrowed suddenly, and was gathered into a wristband a few incites in width. Tight- fitting sleeves came in in the four- teenth century, and then, as usual, extremes met, for dress sleeves were quite tight-fitting, and either buttoned from wrist to elbow or the wearer was sewn into them every morning. A most trouble- some method, and. strange to say, in exis- tence for over a hundred yeaaas—an almost unexampled concession to vanity. BASQUES Oome next under notice in the category of present-day modes. The adjustable basque is very convenient. Many are made in this detachable manner, and when added with a Russian coat we get the effect of one of the three-quarter jackets we see so many of. Worn indoors, the basque, if very long, simu- lates a double skirt. Shorter basques can be used as basques proper, attached or discarded at will, and thus effect a slight change, easily made, in the appearance of a dress. GREEN AND BLUE. Affection for this combination is curiously constant. In the earlier months of the year an attempt was made to unite blue and mauve, and it was a pleasing contrast if the right blues and mauves were brought together. Certainly, I liked this contrast better than the more usual one of green and blue. Evidently, this preference is not shared to any extent; indeed, the unity is rarely seen now, whilst blue and green are almost as popular as ever they were. A dark blue zibeline, for instance, striped with white is strapped crosswise with emerald green. The bodice is made with a cape^ike trimming round the shoulders, this ornamented with diamonds of cream satin, veiled with guipure, 4md bound round with emerald green velvet. A West End dressmaker showed me the other day a royal blue bopsack gown. The vest, yoke, and collar were made of soft silk, striped green and brown. The stripes, equal in width, measured half an inch. The yoke was short and pointed, and the stripes met in an acute angle. In the vest they were allowed to fall straight from yoke to below the waist. The bodice—blue, of course—was turned back on both sides with white cloth, this edged with a galon in mixed colours. A thick sprinkling of French knots worked in coarse silk, green and brown respectively, appeared on the cloth. The sleeves were not absurdly full, as so many are. They formed a puff at the back of the arm. and were gathered into a wide, pointed band of green and brown silk, arranged like the yoke. A small turoed^back cuff of white cloth termi- nated the sleeve. A piece of the galon was laid on the puff above the band. The price of this dress was eight guineas, and, noting the elaboration and labour represented, it does not appear unduly extravagant. The skirt was plain in the immediate front, with a polonaise arrangement, long, and coming to an acute angle on both sides. Two shaped flounoes appeared below this tunic at the back and sides only. As this costume may be taken as a sample of an up-to-date visiting toilette, I have described it in detail, hoping I have informed, and not wearied, the reader. MANTLES AND JACKETS. It is certain that more jackets will be worn than mantles, but the huge sleeves to dresses cannot be accommodated in jackets, unless, in their turn, jacket sleeves are cut in a. still more extravagant fashion. CROSSED BODICE6 With handsome buttons are amongst the newest styles, and some new dresses are made in three parts—skirt, bodice, and coat— ignoring the blouse; but no one need be afraid that blouses will go out of fashion. They are far too useful and too economical to be permitted to sucenmb to any fickle phase of temporary fashion, and almost all of the firms which, stock blouses are in keen rivalry. The greateet. variety and the best possible value for money are conspicuously set forth in all the catalogues sent out illustrating new blouses, Ac., for the winter. I have by this post received one of these catalogues, and wish it were possible that all those meditating the purchase of blouses, whether for very smart wear, afternoon, or morning wear, could glance over the pages and1 see how charming the models depicted are, and how very reasonable as regards price. I believe the catalogues are sent free; at any rate, the postage of that I received was paid. MOST CONVENIENT Is a very deep collar so fashioned that the neckband is one with collar. This can be worn over a low-necked bodice when one less decollete is dearred. It is very smart-looking, and may be had in cream silk with fancy herring-bone stitch; also in black, sky, pink, nil, and heliotrope. The bands of silk alter- nate with bands of herring-bone open-work, arranged in circular fashion. The edge of the oollar is trimmed with fringe. Twelve shillings and ninepence is the price. Another taking little article is a neckband made with a point in front, bands of fine linen alterna- ting with fancy herring-bone stitch. This collar costs a fraction less than a florin. Many dresses are just piped round the neck to admit the adjustment of these tasteful transparent collars. SIMPLE USEFUL GIFTS. With the approach of Christmas many are thinking out the question of what to give and to whom ? Most of us, no matter how limited our means, wish to give some small token of affection to friends, and the generous impulse is sometimes checked, because one does not know of any tasteful and useful articles which do not exceed the modest allowances set apart for the purchase of gifts. I set my face against the presentation of trumpery- useless trumpery. Far more acceptable to most—I think I may say to all—would be a friendly letter expressive of affection and filled with good wishes, which a penny stamp will carry to their destination; but there are not a few really useful, inexpensive articles that anyone will be grateful for, and the dainty little hair-tidies I am about to describe are of this class. Everyone has a use for them, and I have seen similar tidies sold at bazaars for a shilling each. Two balls of variegated thread—this can be had in many colour combinations, and costs Hd. a ball. Make four quarters to the tidy. Work them as follows:—Begin with ten chain, turn, one long in the back loop of fifth chain stitch, one long, two chain, one long into the last of the chain. Tarn, five chain, one long in the bock loop of second chain, one long at the back of one long of laet row, two chain, one long in end of row. Oorrtinne until you have sixteen long in middle, then go in one less on each side in every row until you have only two in the middle. Join two sec- tions thus made up to the widest part, which is the row you have, sixteen long in the middle, with two double, five chains, slip a wtitch in last double, which wiH make little picots; repeat all round until you come to the other side of the sixteen long; then join to a third section in the same manner. On the top of one quarter or section work ten chain, ten long with picots between two long. For the lower part make four long loops of chain, two chain picot, two chain picot, two chain pioot, five times. Cut some cardboard or stiff white paper the shape of the work, and fasten inside, this to hold the hair comb- ings. I trust these directions are clear. They were written out by a friend who has made many tidies of the kind. The idea is novel, I think, and was brought from a, rather exclu- sive depot for fancy work by the friend to whom I am indebted for these directions.

SEQUEL TO SOCIETY DIVORCES. A society case of two years ago is re-called by an advertisement of the marri- age of Mr. Hugh Watt, of Albert-gate, S.W., to Lady Violet Jocelyn, only child of John Strange Jocelyn, late Earl of Roden." The marriage took place at Brighton on Septem- ber 18. Mrs. Watt was formerly Lady Beau- ohamp, wife of Sir Reginald Proctor-Beau- champ. In May, 1901, Sir Reginald petitioned for the dissolution of his marriage on the groond of his wife's misconduct with Mr. Watt, who was formerly M.P. for the G&mtaohie Division of Glasgow. Sir Reginald was soc- ceesful, the jury assessing damages at JMMOO aDd granting Mm the custody of the children. In October, 1902, a letter written by Lady Violet to Mr. Watt came into Mrs. Wait's possession, and, instituting a emit for libel, she obtained £5;000 damages against Lady BeCtuchamp. The ease further developed in March, 1903, when Mrs. Watt petitioned for the dissolution of her marriage on the 1 of her husband's cruelty and adnltei > the judge pceaounoed a 4eotee nis aorta.

FOR FEMALE FOLK. USEFUL HINTS FOR THE HOME. TO CORRESPONDENTS. "Many Gloves.Keep them in wide-mouth glass jars, hermetically sealed; wrap each pair in tissue paper, and put a. layer of paper between the gloves. They will. by these means, be kept aoft, and will not spot or "mildew," as it is termed. I am told that if a kid gloves are stored in a. tin box with a lump of a.mmonia the same result follows, but the ammoni.a. must not touch the kid. SUET PUDDING SUPREME. At this season of the year we can eat. with relish more solid sweets than we were inclined to in warmer weather. Take a cup- ful of suet chopped fine, a cupful of treacle, one of sour milk or butter-milk, a teaspoonful each of cinnamon and cloves pounded to finest powder, a grate of nutmeg, two level tea- spoonfuls of salt, one egg, a heaped teaspoon- ful of soda, and three and a half cupfuls of flour, one cupful each stoned raisins and washed and dried currants. Put in a greased basin, and stew for four hours. The fruit may be omitted if desired. A GOOD FRUIT SALT. Four ounces tartaric acid, 4oz. of Epsom salts, 4oz. bicarbonate soda, 4oz. cream of tartar, Jib. icing sugar. See that all the ingredients are thoroughly dry. Mix and pound them fine. Pass three times through a wire sieve, then put in dry bottles, and cork tightly. These ingredients are inexpensive, and a really good saline draught is obtained from them. SCONES. One pint batter-milk, the same quantity of floor, two teaspoonfuls of sugar, one tea- spoonful of soda, & level teaspoonful of salt. Beat together thoroughly, and pot in spoon- fuls on the moulding board, on which dust plenty of flour. Cover the hand with flour, and smooth the batter to the thickneee of half an inch. Cut it into triangles, and bake slowly. May be eaten hot or cold. IRISH TEA-CAKES. Sift a Quarter of a, pound of flour into a basin. add teaspoonful of salt, rub an ounce and a half beef dripping into the flour. Mix half a teaspoonful carbonate of soda with a. teaspoonful of cream of tartar, pour a. gill of sour mHk over these, and whilst in a. state of effervesoonce moisten the flour with it tb make a soft dough. Roll out on a board, form into small cakes with a wineglass. Bake in a brisk oven for fifteen minutes, split open, butter plentifully, and serve very hot. DECANTER STOPPERS FIXED. These must be treated carefully, or the neck of the bottle will be broken. Set the decanter in hot water, stopper downwards, or let the water reach to the lip of the bottle. With a. feather put a little oil round the stopper. As a rule, it may then be removed; if not, stand in more hot water-not boiling, of course. GINGER APPLES. Two pounds of cooking apples. Peel, core, and throw them into cold water. Take the weight of the apples, after they are peeled and cored, in the weight of loaf sugar, and half a pint of water to each pound of sugar. Put the sugar and water in a stewpan, and, when boiling, put in the apples and two ounces and a half of whole ginger. Let them be whole). Colour the syrup with a little cochineal. This should be served cold, with custard or cream. HOUSEHOLD BREAD. One quartern of flomr; mix into it one tea- spoonful of salt, one ounce of yeast stirred to a liquid, with one teaspoonful of sugar. Pour this and one and three-quarter pints of tepid water into the middle of the flour. Make into a light dough. Knead it till quite smooth. Cover with a cloth and put into a warm place for an hour. Then turn on to a floured board and make into. loaves. Bake forty to fifty minutes in a quick oven. PRIED CELERY. Thoroughly wash three heads of celery, remove the leaves, and out into four-inch lengths, then put into a stewpan with two or three slices of ham, half a pint of stock and a seasoning of pepper and 'salt. Simmer gently for a quarter of an hour. Let the celery cool; then take it out, dip it in egg and breadcrumb, and fry in butter. Arrange on a hot dish, and serve with tomato sauce. Average oost, Is. 3d. HOW AN ACTRESS KEEPS HER BEAUTY. After a performance an actress never washes her faoe, but smears a liberal share of cold-cream over it, whirh she wipes off with a soft towel. This not only removes every particle of dust, out also protects the skin when leaving the theatre, no matter how inclement the weather may be. She rarely uses as a powder-rag anything but the softest of flannel, which is most agreeable to the face, and will not streak, as ohamois skin is apt to do. A yard of flannel will make over a dozen of these rags, and is cheaper and very much cleaner and pleasanter than anything that might be sub- stituted. GIRLS WHO LACK LOVERS. There are many. There is the girl who never tries to be agreeable unless she may have all her own way. This type of girl is never successful in her love affairs. Be a man ever so smitten with a girl, he is but human, and will not give way in everything. As the old lady said: "Keep a man in hot water a little while, and he boils soft; but let him remain in hot water, and eventually he hardens." Yes. and then he asks himself a serious ques- tion. He considers that a girl who is so con- trary during courtship will be no better as a wife, and so, for his own sake and for hers, he rides away. Then the girl with the haughty manner and the cold stare. No man dares to make love, because there is nothing whatever to love in her. and, as Bridget has it: "One cannot make nothin' out of notjiin' So this damsel scowls at what she considers their bad taste, utterly ignoring the fact that her own foolish conduct is the sole cause of their seeming neglect. Imagine a man wooing an ice maiden or an Egyptian sphinx! Another girl without a lover is the exceed- ingly shy maiden. She likes to admire men at a distance, but the moment they draw near she drives them back with her embar- rassment. They retire simply out of pity, seeing her distress and awkward bashfulness. Finally, the girl who does not want a lover- the home-girl, who finds a joy in domestic employment, and is blissfully happy in fol- lowing her round of duties. There are many such. Perhaps they dream of an ideal lover; but he is so far away, or so out of reach, that she is content to dream of him as an unattainable hero. This girl sometimes gets a lover, though generally late on in life. She never loves pas- sionately; but her affections are sincere, honest, and lasting, and she always does her duty.

I I 1 Dinner and Digestion. ) The average person dines about 20,000 times during a life-time. What an enor- mous tax dinner alone must be on the digestive organs. No wonder there is such a constant and ever increasing demand for Colman's Mustard, that pre-eminently excellent aid to digestion. Cote Mo^nl TrirrrTT 1

ANSWERS FOR ALL. COMMON ITEMS OF GENERAL INTEREST. We cannot publish any letter unless the writer sends his real name and address, not necessarily for pub- lication, but as a guarantee of good faith. The Editor cannot undertake to return re3 acted com- munications. Inqajies to be answered in the next week's issue must reach the "Week'y Mail" Office not later than the first post 011 Tuesday morning.

MEDICAL. CATCHING COLD. Most people catch cold first only in the nose; then the various air-spaces in the skull get affected, producing a feeling of "stuffi- ness," and then, unless steps are taken to check it, the cold gets down into the throat, causing sore-throat; into the ears, causing deafness and discharge; or into the chest, causing bronchitis. A9 soon as you become conscious that you have caught cold, start right away to treat it. First, get some Ferrier's snuff, and snuffle it up the nostrils frequently. This treatment will often check it altogether. This snuff is not a proprietary remedy or a patent medi- cine. We know what is in it; any chemist can make it, or keeps it ready-made; and we can recommend it. If the oold is not better on the following day, saturate two plugs of cotton-wool in a 2 per cent. solution of cocaine or a 5 per cent, solution of menthol, a.nd insert them in the nostrils for a few hours, breathing through the mouth mean- time, and indoors. Or spray the throat or up the nostrils with camphor 1 per cent, solution, or use a eucalyptus oil inhaler. Now, in many oases, owing to the careless- ness of the patient or to the serious character of the infection, the cold becomes definitely a constitutional disease, with feverishness and headache, and sneezing and shivering. If the cold has "got a, good hold" on you. and you are coughing & little, say. on the second day of a severe cold. take a hot bath at bed-time, remaining in the bath only just long enough to get hot an through, and then jump out and have a rub-down with rough towels. When in bed have a basin of hot gruel, and then a. hot mustard poultice on the chest. If possible, have a good long night's rest. In the morning eat as good a breakfast as you can manage, and if the cold is not better, or, in any case, take the following medicine:- Ipecacuanha wine ten drops, and paregoric twenty drops, every three hours, in water. After the cold the patient should take a tonic medicine for a few days—say, a mixture of quinine and iron, or a dose of Easton's Syrup twice a day. If the patient is gouty it is well to start treatment with a smart saline purge, like a dose of Carlsbad powder, or a five-grain blue pill, followed by a half-pint of Friedrichshall water. In the case of a child, the mother may give one or two grains of grey powder, and after a few hours a teaspoonful of Rocheile salt. In this manner a colli may be successfully treated, and will be prevented from taking on a chronic form. "Ranalagh."—Take a few bottles of quinine and iron tonic, such as is obtainable from any chemist. "Nina."—Please be much more explicit. Where is the rash exactly? How long has it lasted'? What is its character and appear- ance? What are your habits? "Eager."—Beyond looking after your general health, taking plenty of nourishment, and leading a quiet life, you can do nothing that would be of any use. "Dot."—Periods of massage of the joint and friction with stimulating liniments, alter- nating with periods of gentle blistering of the joint, and firm bandaging, would constitute the proper treatment. "W. S."—Take of potassium bromide five drachms, tincture belladonna four drachma, simple syrup one ounce, water to four ounces. Take a teaspoonful of this mixture two hours before bed-time and at bed-time. "H. G; P." (Leicester).—You probably have hemorrhoids. For the worms, use rectal in- jections of a lotion made of quassia chips and water, and use dilute ointment of ammoniated mercury externally. "Baldness."—The lock of hair seems quite healthy. The baldness probably depends on a low state of health. A full diet, especially of fate, would suit you, and read and follow the advice given to "Ranalagh." "Mrs. D. C."—Get four recently-prepared capsules of extract of male-fern from the chemist. Take two at night, two in the morning, and a large dose of castor oil four hours later. "Dorothea."—You must look out for the occasional advertisement of systematic cures few stammering. No medicine will cure it; it is a matter of self-control, taught by an experienced teacher. "W. H. G."—We regret that we camwt advise without a chemical analysis of the urine. You might try the medicine advised to "W. S. only taking a tablespoonful instead of a teaspoonful. "A. T."—Nourishing and plentiful food, open-air exercise, steady habits, and modera- tion in all things are necessary. But "vitality" is largely a question of birthright and living within your strength. "Alva."—She needs elastic stockings and plenty of rest, but all such methods are pal- liative and do not cure. Only a small opera- tion can cure them for ever. Go to any general hospital. "Bareseh."—The disease is probably ring- worm, and tedious and difficult to treat. The greatest service we can do you is to advise you to oonsult a dactor. Ringworm cannot be treated by home remedies with any chance of success. "Bryant."—Leave off all alcoholic liquors. Take two grains of calomel powder every Saturday night, and a large eeidlitz powder every Sunday morning. During the week take the med'icine prescribed for "Liverish" in these columns. "W. J. P."—If the early baldness is not an hereditary failing, it ma.y be due to a para- site, such as ringworm, to scurf of the scalp, to constitutional weakness, or to poor nourishment. You must look into the case more closely, and let us know. R. J. Qiallis.—Under the circumstances, we fear it is useless for you to expect a cure. The fits are dependent on something beyond ýour, control, and you would do well to con- tinue the hospital treatment, however un- satisfactory it may seem to vou. "Anxious" (Hastings)-—As you are subject to a chronically relaxed throat, you can only take eaje of your general health, and use local remedies from time to time. Sponge the neck every morning with oold water. Suck lozenges of chlorate of potash whenever it feels sore. "Liverish."—Take five drachms of dilute nitrohydrochlorio acid', one and a half drachm of liquor of strychnine, an onnce of tincture of calumba, 'and to ten ounces of infusion of gentian. Mix, and take a tablespoonful in a wineglass of water, after food, three times a day. J. W. Tye.—We very much doubt if they are warts at all which trouble the girl. Your account makes us think of a contagions skin disease. If you cannot give us an accurate description of them. let the girl see a doctor, and inquire whenoe she could have caught the disease. T. Hall.—Try the following of rose- mary, four drachms; epispastic fluid two drachms; spirit of camphor, two ounces; glycerine of borax, one ounce; tincture jaborandi, one ounce. Make a lotion, which is to be rubbed into the roots of the hair night and morning.

l LEGAL. Liability Under Lease.—" X. Y. Z."—You cannot evade the liability unless yoa can obtain a release from the landlord. Notice to Quit.—" Scott."—A notice to quit need not be served personally upon the tenant, but the landlord must be prepared to prove that it reached him In due time. Cheque.—" Perplexity."—You can recover the amount from your wife and son upon proof of the facts stated in your letter, but the Statute of Limitations will have run in favour of the bank. Compensation.—"South Walian."—We fear your daughter cannot enforce a claim to compensation. She had better, however, lay the facts before the committee of the insti- tution. and request them to do something for her. Hawker's Licence.— D. P. —If you intend to use a. horse and cart you will have to takoe. out a hawker's licence for each partner but if you are gotng on foot you will only want a pedlars licence. In the first case, it would he obtained from the Inland Revenue authorities, or, in the second, from the police. Loan.—" Anxious."—It is difficult to fully advise you without knowing more of the cir- cumstances. It will be legally sufficient if you have a promissory note, signed by your father, but this, of course, would only make you an unsecured creditor, and if he became bankrupt you would rank with the other creditors. Has he any property onrsr which ho could give security? Tenancy and Rates.—Senex."—A appears to have paid the rates under a mistake of law, and cannot now recover them from B. We cannot advise you as to the water pipes without knowing what right the oompany had to lay them upon the land. A purchaser of land is entitled, in the absence of special provisions, to all the rights of the vendor in respect of it, including the rents paid by the tenants. Wife's Will.—" M. H."—A wife may make a will in respect of her separate property with- out any control by the husband, and under the circumstances mentioned m your letter you are entitled to make the will m the name by which you have passed for so long, and also to describe your child by the name under which she is known. At the same time, in order to avoid any possible trouble, you had better also give your married name. A hus- band cannot claim any part of hie wife's separate property which she has disposed of by will, bat if she died intestate it would, if personalty, of course pass to him. If a child die intestate (and, of course, if under 21 she cannot make a wim her property wanldi pass to her father as next-of-kin.

GENERAL. Thomas E. Pitt and Auwybodun.J'—Andrew Carnegie, Fact., Skibo Castle, Sutherland. N.B. Badminton."—Yes, Cardiff is a seaport, and so is Hartlepool. Oldest Reader of Your Paper."—Monmouth (County) was in 1874 represented by Lord Henry Somerset and the Hon. F. C. Morgan, and the District by Mr. Thomas Cordes. Bey."—Redbrook is in the parish of New- Tsnl (want "001110 in tlari rmrntli aHBoooestor. and is two miles and a half from Monmouth, the poet town. J. M. Sullivan and R. Williams.—The num- ber of paupers, indoor and outdoor, in Eng- land and Wales in 1872 was 977,664; in 1873, 890,522; in 1902, 801,356. The figures for 1903 have not been published. Rhys Rowland.-Write to the editor Y Drych" newspaper, Utica, U.S.A., placing all the circumstances before him. The Drych circulates in every State and Territory of the Union, and is the recognised organ of the Welsh people in the United States, Husband and Wife.-If a wife refuses to live in the home provided for her by her hue- band he is not liable for her maintenance. The father is always entitled to the custody of his child, unless the child is of too tender years to be removed from the mother. Monte Carlo."—Monte Carlo, or Monaco, is a Principally in North Italy, held by the Genoese family Grimaldi since 968. By a treaiy signed in 1861 the Prince ced?d the chief part of his dominions to France for 4,000,000 francs. A commercial convention between the Prince and t'ranee (1865) was much discussed as tending towards the abolition of the French navigation laws. There is an army of 126 men; the number of inhabitants is 12,548.

DEATH OF "LLEW BUALLT." A TALENTED WELSH MUSICIAN PASSES AWAY. Our Brecon correspondent wires:—"Llew Buallt" (Mr. Evan Evans) died on Sunday afternoon at 3.20.' Be had been ill for some considerable time, and about five weeks ago his malady had assumed such a serious aspect that his case was regarded as hopeless. His friends had been getting up a testimonial, with the object of sending him on a tour in search of health, but, unfortunately, this pro- ject was rendered of no avail by his death at the comparatively early age of 55 years. Llew Buallt" will long be remembered in the musical annals of Wales as the talented and successful leader of the Builth Wells- Harmonio Society, an organisation which, under his able leadership, achieved remark- able success in competitive and other events. When quite a young man "Llew" found the greatest pleasure in going from village to village teaching the tonic-solfa system of music to all who showed a desire to learn or had the faintest appreciation of the art. Although he had not the advantages of an early education, he applied himself assidu- ously to the study of music, and associated himself with everybody within the limita- tion of his travels who were in any way gifted in song. Thus year after year he laboured on under apparently insurmountable difficulties till he reached I the zenith of his ambition and surprised the world at Llandudno National Eisteddfod seven years ago. "Llew" always believed there was as good voices in Mid-Wales as there were in Merthyr and other large centres of population, and set to work to prove the truth and force of his belief. "Llew" loved music, and, whilst many other choir leaders would have rested on their repu- tation after once winning the "National." he preferred to continue his work of musical education, and to still create a taste among rising generations for one of the noblest and most refihing influences of human life. He was born to be a vocalist and a leader, and when the reader reflects over the fact that his great-grandfather, his grandfather, and his father were musical and notably talented in singing, there cannot be any great reason for surprise at his successes, nor at the distin- guished career of his eldest daughter, Miss Bessie Evans, R.A.M., who some years ago won the contralto solo prize at the World's Eistedd- fod, Chicago.. The biography of Llew Buallt" is largely a history of that organisation which will ever be associated with his name, the Builth Wells and District Harmonic Society, which was founded in March, 1894. Since its incep- tion the choir has taken to the picturesque little Wye-side town many laurels of victory and distinguished achievement. In 1894 the first prize of dS20 was won at Brecon. Encouraged by that success, Mr. Evans, the, now famous conductor, led his army on to further victory, and at Abergavenny Eistedd- fod in 1895 the choir came away the proud possessors of- £ 50 and a gold medal. Deter- mined to win greater victories, the society entered for the Llanelly National Eisteddfod second choral competition of 1895, and carried off first honours with RM. "The singing in that choral contest," said Sir Joseph Barnby, "was of a higher standard than in the chief competition." On the following New Year's Day (1896), at Dolgelly, the choir again proved victorious and secured JS40 and a metronome. It was on that occasion the late Dr. Parry awarded the choir full marks, and stated that their singing had reached his "ideal of perfection." The greatest victory, however, was yet to come, and that the unexpected and brilliant success of the choir at the Llan- dudno National Eisteddfod in June, 1896. That achievement thrilled the Principality, whilst the sum of 200 guineas was credited to the society's account at Builth Wells, and Llew Buallt" became the worthy recipient of the lever watch. Commenting on the work of the choir, Mr. Cowen, one of the adjudi- cators, said: "We are of the opinion that this has been a magnificent contest, and the finest smoe the London Eisteddfod in M.- Mr. Joseph Bennett, writing to the "Daily Telegraph" of the same performance, said, "Here was a choir trained to sing artistically, which had been made to grasp the composer's In meaning and express it, which was au fait with the niceties of choral art. and could produce from every phrase exactly the effect required. Hardly anything could have been better than the lightness and delicacy with which Builth Wells sang the Siren's music from Dewi Sant, or the sound judgment and propriety with which the entire piece was given. The part-song hardly rose to the same pitch of excellence, but was finely sung, nevertheless, while in the Handelian chorus this choir once more almost touched perfec- tion. These are strong words, but they are uttered with conviction, and, if not true, then I don't know what excellent singing is." Nearly two years later Mr. Joseph Bennett was adjudicator at Dolgelly Eisteddfod (1898). where he had the combined pleasure of again hearing the choir and awarding them the chief prize of £ 40 and a gold medaL At Abergavenny Eisteddfod (1900) the choir gained the chief and second choral prizes, amount- ing to LIM, and also the chief and third choral prizes, value £11D, with gold and silver medals, at Abergavenny again last Easter Monday. Dr. Coward, of Sheffield, complimented the choir at Brecon last June, where he awarded them the first prize of £5(). During its existence the choir Won over £ 1,000 in prizes, a very creditable aggregate for a town whose population is under 2,000 inhabi- tants, and for a choir whose members are scattered about here and there in a sparsely- peopled county like Breconshire. How "Llew Buallt" always mobilised and financed his forces for practice and competition was the wonder of all who knew the district. Yet, with multifarious difficulties in the way, he ventured and succeeded. Only in March last the choir gave a most successful concert at the Que-jn's-hall, London. It is safe to say that another leader of the calibre of "Llew Buallt" will be hard to find.

TOO OLD AT FORTY. Returns presented to the Poplar Board of Guardians, London, how that on the 1st ult. there were 2,753 persons chargeable to the union under 60 years of age. Of this number 1,773 were children or young persons under sixteen years of age. The figures, in the words of Mr. Lansbury, the chairman of the schools committee of the guardians, show that people now enter the workhouse at a much earlier age than formerly. It would seem that after reaching 40 years of age they are too old to get work.

FATAL STABBING AFFRAY. At the Scottish High Court on Monday Gildo Veochiacohi, a young Italian, was charged with having, on the 16th of September, stabbed James Williamson and murdered him in an ice-oream shop in Wishaw. near Glasgow. Evidence for the prosecution went to show that three men and the deoea.sed went into the shop. Some laughter took place, and the accused, getting angry, seized a knife and stabbed Williamson, afterwards running away from the town. Prisoner pleaded provocation.

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