The Cardiff Times

MmBSBM TRY IT.

WORKMEN'S TOPICS. I By MABON, M.P. THE LORDS' REVOLUTION. question being so interesting and most Important to the workers of the country is my S?'y reason for returning to it again and again, House of Commons has already Y^USsed and passed the Budget of in all its stages, so that it may j^ive the Royal assent on the anniver- eijy of its first .appearance. The Opposition j^ttioured long for its submission to the new W-liament, but they are not very easy in their jjtads now that their desire has been satisfied. u > one need not stop now to consider why. interesting to the workers than the ais- ^Qfiture of the Peers and their Tory .j.'?8 in the Commons is the general Ijj^de of the country towards a measure has been assailed with greater Olence than any other Bill has experienced £ lng modern times. It was debated in the for six bmonths, it received unpre- ^teated opposition from the Lords, and it treated during all election campaign— ught with unexampled vigour on both sides— Y though it had been the work of the evil one. Ifo ^°"day it is marvellous how few there are On to waste their breath to denounce it. fcaLf- e °^ler hand, the Labour and Liberal j^ties are highly convinced of its merits, the kj^jonalists have decided to vote for it, and to6 2.0r'les now realise that if they were called office they could not do otherwise than So its main features. In a single year this call Revolutionary Budget has won its ■ y to an acceptance more general than per- tajp? the most commonplace Finance Bill of last two generations, and twelvemonths *&u mos^ 113 W^1 be wondering why so fuss had ever been made concerning it. V«t re' then,we have an illustration of how the resolutions jtist passed by the Commons 6^ work in actual practice. I refer to the j^OQd resolution in particular, for under the 3^2 *t Would not be competent for the Peers to vio^te Constitutional practice by inter- im?1?, with finance. To give them their full ^id y exceeded their rights because they tj0 relish the policy of proportionate taxa- ^epj,aecordmg to ability to pay, and they to try and impose on the G # Princil,'e of taxing food ei>ence to that of taxing unearned incre- b)rr*' aQd land values. But assuming for the OMJ en^ that the Finance Bill had been an ^iQary legislative measure constitutionally hG_)jecft to the Lords' Veto, one may now see bgj. the interests of the country would be WT?r servea-under the Constitution as defined in resolutions than under a system iest the Peers may claim the right to UvJ°y the work of the people's representa- taff, ^e. COUI1try had to accept the Lords' ^Daption that they knew the minds of the e better than the men whom the electors Woah?nu^° Parliament, the Budget of 1909-10 4g have been as dead as Queen Anne. 'reu st ces are, the Budget not only sur- ijje months have sufficed to show that Hfrfj P^ple fully approve of it, and the ProsPeritv has suffered only from the constitutional act of the Peers in deferring of the Finance Bill into law. skrus £ rlU be forgotten, however, that the 'with the Peers has now entered upon fch*v On 30th November last year the privilege of the Crown and bower tTfL. e Commons in claiming the defeat a TWCe 6 Ministry to resign ana to Ihp ln=c c ^ce They cannot now avert *L, .,i°l Millions to the nation nor the neces- K, the people's will in passing to ■"u<Jset so lighay rejected. But, in order {7 save themselves from the penal- of abusing their position, they seeking now to take the privilege of Crown to modify the constitution W.ke House of Lords, which is the only consti- ^Tl°nal means the people have of disarming t^e Solutionists. And the Tory party and ^tart*5^ press is supporting them in this It is, indeed, laughable somehow that a GePS' SUPPorters are speaking and writing K that assumes that a Constitutional | rrf^ prefer to act upon the advice of ^ority in Parliament rather than upon i,0* the Ministers whom he has appointed Recommendation of the majority of the If another election is forced upon the t^Ty we shall be in this unique position, issues will be the defence of the Crown the attack of the party that would rob tli,- Monarch of the prerogative he holds for ^^P^atection of the people's rights, and those who would drag the Crown into party politics—and I cannot see that of such an election would be any to their liking than that of 1306. A Tariff Referm" Traveller. LgZe of the Tariff Reform pilgrims who have Vjw travelling in Germany is a Mr Bagley, *6 41 claim to distinctionis that he stood lory ''workingman" candidate for Leices- I year, and;got beaten by over 6,000 votes. £ 5^? been retailing since his impressions of to the Daily Mail." He also omits I lugt^efuses to say how long his investigation But the results are very amazing. He s?i °nly one agricultural village, and so H W^V^tty competent to say that he saw no fcjJjJ^We-down cottages in agricultural dis- Vjju' but persons like myself who have ttiore than one village could not say as that The general rate of wages QOjJ^fllled labour throughout Germany runs ^8 r»f 27s per week—much higher than in try." The Board of Trade, which had of skilled investigators working at their found the average money wages of un- labour in the building and engineering only occupations which could be 6d to j;24s and 18s to 22s, being wvely 83 per cent, and 100 per cent, of Responding English wage—these figures t? account of prices or of hours of labour H&tn f^^y suggests that in those Germany is H&tn f^^y suggests that in those Germany is to** ar the happier, and again with equally Of kJ?*ete disregard to the real facts—the hours the Board of Trade found are 11 per bri-bigher in Germany than in England, and are. 18 per cent. higher. )>^agley talks of the marvellously at Barmon. The Board of Trade that the German rents were practically 33 they were in Great Britain, al- the British rents include rates, and the th8 n°k Bagley saw no slums. r^t have been there can well believe that Jhe "Wng through a German town he missed H tt?8' m»y have missed them, but y there is too well known, unforfcu- N fl The streets are wide and clean, true tbe police see that the tenement are painted is equally so^ It is not, the streets but the houses that make ^d anybody who has ever seen a wor'{jng"ciass quarter of a town that the overcrowding and the-satutary wons are worse than anything this country can show — a fact 1'4it, the Germans themselves readily ad- {^» Bagley concludes that Germany is 7,Perior in the conditions of working men's But we ourselves know that they are and one would at once set against his e not our own evidence of what one is ^jWitness to, but the impartial conclusion Board of Trade, that whilst nominal v^e 35 'u Grerm&ny as in England, ^"ilst the general level of food prices in ^jT.^»erman towns is also higher than in wages in those trades for which com- has been made are substantially lower, longer hours are worked." Labour Exoiianges. biassed critics of the Government's M tjrj °f Labour Exchanges whose impatience to condemn Mr Churchill's plan be- W^^bad been in operation many weeks will SC^y feel somewhat sorry they spoke so Some official figures have just been Wj. and they make decidedly interestmg Q8- Briefly, they prove that on the whole ^cto^t two months' working is highly satis- —the fact that since the Exchange two months' ago 33,023 people have Provided with work is something of cq t Churchill may be proud. It has been ha sneer &t the Labour Exchanges. But g°t to work and in a way that bears at*^&y to the fierce energy of Mr Churchill. S^ £ ?ver may be said of the present Govern- tQevj°*faras their politics are concerned, 0 get things done.

BATH AND WEST SOCIETY. tjH°Utlci! meeting of the society was held Mw .Grand Hotel, London, on Tuesday, ? view of lwxt year's show at Cardiff, new members were elected :— St. jv "uncan. Itlidose Colonel W. Forrest Aslj \3I1S I- George, The Grove, Mountain »> • Harpur, borough engineer, Cardiff s ?• jP&ncross Farm, Llancarvan T. Peu] FTonde^, Radyr, Cardifi E. Morton Wn O^ ^ter-road, Swansea W. Meyler as' iiiysplwm, Llantrisant.

BALKANS WAR. WOMEN & CHILDREN KILLED. Ottoman Empire at Stake. Salonica, Wednesday.-A force of Ghilan Albanians, estimated to number 7,000, is con- centrated in the neighbourhood of Hakub. Despatches received this morning state that the Turkish troops have bombarded Godantz, with terrible results. Five hundred persons, mainly women and children, are said to have been killed.—Central News. Constantinople, Wednesday—A telegram from Prishtina, despatched yesterday evening, reports that the Albanians in Kaphanik Paas have twice repulsed attacks made by troops to clear the Pass, and that fears are entertained for the safety of the towns of Prishtina and Prizvend.-Reuter. It is further reported that the Lyuma clan has joined hands with the Albanians, and is blocking the road between Ferizovitch and Prizvend.—Reuter A Serious Situation. Constantinople, Wednesday Night.-There is no longer any doubt but that the authorities are confronted over practically the whole of Northern Albania with a very setious situa- tion, and that the Albanians axe-oftering a stubborn resistance to the advance of the troops. A telegram from Uskub announces that the Albanians at Preshevo, 50 miles north-east of Uskub, have risen and joined the Ghilan men. All reports concur in stating that Christian villages are not being molested by the Albanians in fact, that orders have been issued by the Albanian soldiers that on no account must Christians be harassed. Though there were no encounters yesterday,, it is added that the Albauiana-at Kafth&mk have again stopped trains and cut telegraphs. -Reuter.

TROUBLE IN EGYPT. Anti-British Agitation. With regard to reports from Egypt, published in the London Press, that the influence of this country was rapidly weakening in Egypt and that English residents in many places could not go out without the risk of being insutted, an inquiry was addressed yesterday in the House of Commons to the Secretary for Foreign Affairs. Mr McKinnon Wood, who replied. said recent, reports respecting the situation in Egypt, with special reference to the assassination of Routros Pasha, were not as satisfactory as could be de- sired, but he had not heard of any cases cf insult to English residents, and had no papers on the subject which he could lay before the House.

A FAMOUS PAINTER. Mr James Sant, R.A., who has been cele- brating his 90th birthday, was for a long time the Painter-in-Ordinary to Queen Victociaend he has known most of the first-rate men of the century. In his official capacity, Mr Sant has painted almost every member of the Royal Family. He is known in almost every home in England by the picture, The SOUL*B Awaken- ing," which has been reproduced by almost every conceivable process. He married in 1851 the daughter of Mr R. M. Thompson, Staff- Surgeon at the Bengal Presidency, and her portrait was exhibited in the Academy in 1893. She died in 1907, and th" artist's yovngast daughter, Miss Hilda Sant, a well-known lady golfer, acts as hostess and is his constanfc-com- Mr James Sant, It-A. [ panion. Mr Sant has a subject-pictitfe for this year's Academy, called, The Dawn of a New Faith." It represents a figure holding aloft a crucifix on which the light from some in vie- ible window falls. Prayer would have done equally well for a title.

INDO-CHINA CONSPIRACY. French to be Massacred. Paris,^ Wednesday.—The Journal Aw Debate publishes a cablegram from Hanoi, Indo-China, stating that the autboritko have discovered a conspiracy on a vast scale in NorthemAnnam, with the object of maaeacrmg the French or expelling them from the ccanify, and placing Prince Cnong De on the throne. Emissaries of the Prince are said to have been actively working throughout the country in the hope of bringing about -A general rising, and a contraband organisation at Haiphong had actually succeeded in arming a large number of partisans. Prince Cuong De has taken refuge on Chinese territory.—Oarnteal News.

ROYAL OPERA. A brilliant company gathered on the opening night at Covent Garden, when the season known as The Grand" season, opened with a performance-of Verdi's La Traviaia." Much disappointment was occasioned by the absence of Mme. Tetacaaaini, but ttme. Donalda, a I Mtee- Donalda. ] Canadian singer, filled her place at short notice jj with great distinction, and as Viotetta, tfae j purity of her singing and charm of her style i easily-captivated her hearers. Mr Jofan Mc— Cormaek (like^yise a British subject has also a returned from America with a voice undoubt- edly riper and fuller/than before.

MU_LK)NAIItFS WtlL. Dispute After 20 Tears. New York, Tuesday. -The Tribune states tawt severaJ heirs of the late. Mr Louis C. Ham- mersley, of "New York, who died, 20 years ago, leaving estate of several million dollars, have begun an action in the New York Supreme Court with the object of invalidating certain provisions of Mr Hammersley's will, their aim being to prevent large sums of money •from ttie estate going to a son of Lady William Benes- ford, widow of the late Duke of Marlborough. At the time of her marriage with the Duke of Marlborough, Lady Beresford was the widow of Mr Hammersley.-Central News.

SMUGGLERS ON ROYAL YACHT. Paris, Wednesday.-A St. Petersburg tele- gram to The Matin states that a fresh naval scandal has been brought to light, it having been revealed as theresult of searches carried out among the personnel of the imperial yacht Standart that enormous quantities of contraband goods were brought back on the conclusion of the recent cruise.-CentPal News.

WELSH COUNTRY HOMES. XXVIII.—Wonastow Court. TALE OF A MAIDEN'S BRAVERY. CROMWELL'S HORSES IN A CHURCH. A Morning with Sir John Seal*. Two miles south-west of the old county town of Monmouth there is another former home of the Herbert family. Wonastow Court occupies a magnificent situation on a spur of hill over the Trothy Valley. Standing as it does, nearly 200 feet above sea level, it commands ex- tensive views in almost all directions, save to the north. To the north-east you may see far over the house tops of Monmouth, while to the westward the tall Tudor gables of WONASTOW COURT-THE FRONT PROM THE NOKTH.E&gr. Treowen form an interesting object on the i skyline. Further north the conical Sugar Loaf t mountain is a prominent feature at a distance < of ten or a dozen miles. The mansion, which j f or nearly a quarter of a century past baa been i the home of Sir John Seale, Baft., is surrounded J by an enclosed park and garden of about 12 J acres in extent, beautifully wooded, the por- ) tion near the house including an unusually large proportion of lofty fir trees. The ap- j proach from Monmooth is a long drive which í was formerly bounded by an avenue of very lofty ehn trees, but many of these have, in the last decade, been cut down by the owner of the estate, Sir Thomas Pilkington, from whom Sir John leases it. Some H istorical Points. The manor of Wonastow was, in the year WONASTOW COURT—THE SOUTH END, WHICH WAS FORMERLY THE CENTRE OF THE FRONT QF THE TUDOR MANSION. 1074, bestowed by the nephew of the Con- queror of Gwent upon the Priory of Monmouth. Of its history during the succeeding 400 years very little seems to be known. In the time of Henry VIII.. however, it had come into the ownership of Sir William Herbert, of Troy House, who by his will left the manor to his wife for life. A quarter of a century later, in 1552, his eldest son, Sir Charles Herbert, by his will directed that the manors of Wonastow q-iid St. Maogban's should be sold to pay his debts. Colonel J. A. Bradney, in his invalu- able History of Monmouthshire, expresses the view that in all probability Wonastow was paBdtasd by Sir Thomas Herbert, the brother 1 WONASTOW COURT-PORTION OF THE COURT YARD SHOWDJG THE TUDOR DOORWAYS. of. the testator, for he resided there and died there in 1588. The Old Tudor Heutse. Coxe, in his History of Monmouthshire, remarks, after visiting Wonastow Court in 1799, that the house seems to have been con- structed as early as the age o f Henry VI. This authority, however, omits to mention the data upon which he bases his theory. A century ago most, if not all, of the old mansion must have been standing, but to judge by what remains of it to-day, it was certainly of 16th century date, and would appear to have been built by one of the Herberts during their occu- pation. The south end of the present mansion, which was formerly the centre of the main front, contains, built into the fabric, the Her- bert Arms. The Tudor House, most of which was three storeys in height, was built around a courtyard, at the north-western corner of which was the chapel. It is unfortunate, from an historical point of view, that so far as we can ascertain no picture of the Tudor mansion remains. Some of it was built into the present house, while certain portions of it were retained in such a manner that externally, at any rate, they present their erstwhile appearance. This remark applies to the south-end, and the portions on the northern and north-western sides of the courtyard, of which the more modern building forms the eastern side. Exciting Episodes in the Civil Wars. It is difficult to-day, in visiting the old place, now such a hav, en of rest and quietude, to fully comprehend the stirring events of which it was the scene during the struggle between King and Parliament during the 17th century. At that time Wonastow Court was in thtf occu- pation of the Milbourne family, to whom it had passed as the result of a marriage between Mr George Milbourne, early in the 17th century, with a grand-daughter of SirThomas Herbert. The Milbournes, who were originally a Somer- setshire family, were seated at Wonastow for several generations. Mr John Milbourne had espoused the cause of Parliament, and in 1644 Wonastow Court was garrisoned with 60 horse and ten foot soldiers. The stabling accommo- dation was quite inadequate, and Cromweirs horses were stabled in the old Church, which stands but a stone's throw from the mansion, ready in case of emergency. The Royalist troops, who were in command of Sir Trevor Williams, of Llangibby, forced their way up the steep ascent, and delivered a frontal attack from the south. A fierce strnggie ensued, and the defenders—an &U too weak garrison— otficered. by Captain Bailey, of Stroud, fought with great heroism. A Maid-$«rvanf 8 Bravery. Let he who dare proclaim that Gwent cannot produce women as brave, when need arises, as men, marie what follows The garrison were hard pressed, but there was a maid-serrsait. among them who never lost heart, and by words and deed she shamed any who might have thought to sur- render. When ammunition began to fail, this valiant m"bethought her of two six pound boxes of powder which had been stored away and forgotten. These she produced, and I once more the garrison took heart and hailed leaden bullets upon the attacking force. What a scurry and a rush the interior of Wonastow Court witnessed that day Not only the lead from the roof but the pewter plates and dishes were berled willy-nilly into the cauldron upon tho Are and melted down. In the race for utility the bullets were the prime necesstfajs. All the while help hastened from Monmouth town. At the 11th hour it came, and Wonastow Court was saved for Cromwell. In a twink- Ing the erstwhile aggressive Royalists were in full fight. Major Somerset and other officers were left dead, and the brave Wonastow garri- son exulted over the capture of Captain Lewis and some forty Royalist soldiers. Nor was this the only advantage gained, for in their head- long retreat the flying Cavaliers left large quantities of arms behind them—so many, indeed, that in the words of a contemporary chronicler, muskets were sold at sixpence a piece. And what think ye was that heroic maiden's reward? The gallant Puritan governor of MonmouthcCastle himself performed the grace- ful task of bestowing two hearty kisses upon the blushing damsel's cheeks. Truly a pretty story-one of the rare examples of Puritan gallantry. Ghanges a Century Ago. The Milbourne family resided at Wonastow until 1775, when the last Charles Milbourne was gathered to his fathers, and his only child married Thomas Swinnerton. Their daughter married Sir William Pilkington, Bart., and Ins grandson, Sir Thomas Pilkington, still owns the estate. The year 1803 witnessed great changes at Wonastow Court, for the eastern portion of the Tudor mansion was pulled down and in its place was orected the present front. This portion of the house possesses no external architectural pretensions. The building is three storeys in height, and it possesses the virtues of solidity and comfort, for the rooms are large and well arranged. It must be counted to righteousness that these early 19th century builders retained the centre of the Tudor front, and the north and west sides of the old building. The photographs of the present front and south end, which we publish, and for which we arc indebted to the courtesy of Sir John Seale, present a very interesting and instructive contrast. In the older portion the Herbert Arms are to be noted in the centre' beneath the uppermost window. The only feature of this end which jam upon the eye is the tablet upon the Tudor doorway, which the early 19th century restorers seem to have thought it incumbent upon them to insert into the Tudor masonry to set on record in im- perishable stone, the date on which their re- building was completed. Before turning to the interior, two other points should be noted. At the northern end of the 1803 mansion there is another porch introduced rather curiously in the angle formed with the extremity of that portion of the older building on the northern side of the courtyard. Beneath this porch, and built into what is now the outer wall of the older portion, is a Tudor fireplace in an excellent state of preservation. The courtyard itself is pictu- resque, and we reproduce a photograph of a portion of the northern side, in which the Tudor doorways may be seen. The/Present Occupant. For nearly a quarter of a century past Sir John Seale has resided at Wonastow. Sir John himself is a Devonshire man, his family having been seated for many generations at Norton Park, Dartmouth. Considerations of health, however, resulted in Sir John and Lady Seale with their family removing, 24 years ago, to the more bracing air of Monmouthshire, where they became the tenants of Wonastow Court. From the first they took a keen interest in the land of their adoption, and in the time that has since elapsed a very genuine affeo tion for Wonastow has manifested itself in many ways. A man of many in- terests and cultured tastes, Sir John has, with the student's enthusiasm, read much of the history ofOwent in general, and of Moa- mouth distriet.in particular, and chats about it and of the history of Wooastow wtth ateen- ness and knowledge which one would only have looked for fromthe native born. BeMnd all this, however, there is a very fitting pride in his native Devon, and this, in the coarse of a very pleasant visit which we paid to Wonastow Court recently, manifested itself more than once in the course of conversation. Sir John and Lady Seale have taken an especial interest in the welfare of the pretty old Parish Church of Wonastow, and a new carved stone porch has recently been aidded aa the redult^aC their generosity- Some Choice Ceramics, A very lwge proportion of the many inter- esting' contents of the mansion were bromght by Sir John from his old Devonshire home. One of the most striking feature is the very large and beautiful collection of old China, a large potion of which is the property of Lady Seale. From the hall table to the upper storey fine examples ofthecemmit: art meet the eye at every turn. In every corner whether of room, passage, or staircase, there are cabinets of china. Some of the choicest pieces are-of Plymouth and Lowestoft, and an especially noteworthy section is the large number of eafuisite figure ornaments, many of them products of the Chelsea, Bow, and Staffordshire works. There are oriental dishes and bowie in profusion, and in one corner of the dining-room are some rare old 'Wedgwood vases of classical design. Portraits by West, Oote, and Lely. In the dining-room, which opens from the apathera side of the entrance haJI, there are some family portraits by famous artists. One of the finest of these is of Sir John's grand- father when a boy at Eton. This is a very fme example of the work of Benjamin West, and bears date 1794. On the long wall is a portrait by Sir William Beechey of Sir John's grand- mother, representing her as a very distinguished looking woman attired in fancy dress, while balancing it on the other extremity of the beautiful old mahogany cheffonier is a port- rait of another ancestor, from the brush of Sir Peter Lely, who flourished under the patronage of the merrie Monarch." In the drawing-room, which occupies the southern or older portion of the ground floor, there are several fine pictures, among which may be noted one of Sir John Seale's grandfather when it child of two or three years of age, playing with a big dog. This painting, which is by John Opie, R.A., is regarded as one of that famous painter's best examples, and is spe- cially referred to as such by Mr Rogess in his catalogue of the artist's works. Memories of the Sreat Napoletn. In the corridor behind the drawing-room is a handsome mirror, which onoe formed the top of a pianoforte which was the property of 55-apoLeon Bonaparte, and Sir John recalls with interest theiact that his father saw Napoleon in 1215, after the master of Europe bad fallen, and~when on board the Befierophon he was brought into Plymouth, just prior W his being tateen-4x> -exile in St. Helena. Near by is ail esqniaiteiy made model, in bone, of a~ship Mtadeby Frer* prisoners a* Dartmoor, which, eameinto the possession of Sir John's grand- fatiror when he was commanding officer of the > Soath.Dewoo mitttta, and in that capacity was responsible for'the ciratodyof thetaiaomers. OnAbe staircase there ace. several lacge and j very striking portraits of ancestors of SB" John's famay, notably one of Cbfenel Seale. Hayne, who was paymaster-general some time I in thelSth century, and who is depicted in' the pictmoselm gwb of the Georgian era. Of old worthy there are otbervehes in the sbape-ofhis pistols, which occupy a-position on a,t-abie by the window in the dining-room. Another notable picture is a big landscape by Salvador Rosa, the 17th century Italian paimter-poet-musictan, whieh was bought by Sir John's grandfather in Spain. In another room are exquisite engravings of Queen Vie- toria as a-girl, and her mother, the Duchess of Kent, which were presented by Her Majesty to Sir John's parents after a visit paid to them in their Devonshire home more than half a century ago. There are many other interesting lares and penates which Sir John and Lady Seale brought with them when they left Devon- shire, including a very fine old Sedan chair, but our space is filled. Enough, however, has been written to give an idea of Wonastow Court and its present genial, kindly owners. Next Week-FONMON CASTLE.

At a meeting of the Port hcawl Chamber of Trade, held on Tuesday evening, it was decided to petition the chief constable to increase the I local police staff, which is the same to-day as when the town was less than half its present size.

DEVELOPMENT BILL Read a Third Time. NAMES OF COMMISSIONERS. A Welsh Specialist Included. The Development and Road Improvement Funds Act U909) Amendment Bill,as amended, was accorded a third reading in the House of Commons on Wednesday without a division. An amendment by the Opposition that the num- ber of Development Commissioners be six instead of ten was withdrawn on Mr Lloyd George fixing the number at eight. The Com- missioners selected were announced by the Chancellor as follows :— Chairman, Lord Richard Cavendish. Vice-Chairman (who will be the paid Com- missioner), Sir Francis Hopwood. formerly Permanent Secretary to the Board of Trade, and now Permanent Secretary for the Colonies. Mr S. Eardley Wilmot, formerly Inspector- General of Forests in India. Mr William Stowell Haldane, of Edinburgh, Writer to the Signet, and a land agent. Mr Albert Hall, director of Rothamsted Experimental Station. Mr Sidney Webb. Mr M. A. Ennis, of Dublin. Mr Henry Jones Da vies, of Carmarthen.

TRIAL OF DR. HYDE. Kansas City, Wednesday.—On the resump- tion-to-day of the trial of Dr. Bennett Hyde, on a charge of murdering Colonel Thomas-- Swo/te, by administering strychnine, Hugo Breckkvin, a local druggist, and three of his employees produced their account bodks proving by their testimony that Dr. Hyde bought capsules of cyanide of potassium in September and December, amounting to 25 grains. So dangerous a poison is rarefy sold in capsule form, and Brecklein testified that once he had telephoned and asked Dr. Hyde to verify his order and had warned Dr. Hyde to destroy what he did not use. Dr. Hyde replied that be wanted it for killing a dog. Dr. A. L. Stewart, a bacteriologist, testified that he supplied Dr. Hyde with cultures of typhoid germs in November and December.— I Renter.

A PRCMJFIC WRITER. Mr Pett Ridge, whose marriage with Miss Olga. Hentachel last November was only an- nounced the other day, has been a prolific writer, with working class and suburban Londen as his inexhaustible themes. Since 1895 he has written on an average a book a year, and in addition has been responsible for I Mr Pett Ridge. I numerous short stories. Mord EMIY," 'Erb," and Name of Garland are a few of his better-known works. Mr Pett Ridge is also the prime mover in the Children's Happv Evenings Association," in connection with which Miss Olga Hentscbel has been an un- tiring worker.

AUJCTOE OF A LADY. An Exmoor Tragedy. A love affair is said to be the cause of the suicide of a Reading lady at Simonsbath, Exmoor. She was found by one of Barl Forteecue s employees lying unconscious in a hole in a. hayrick. with a bottle of poison, several sulphur tablets, and two maps of Devon by ber side. She died a day or two a&erwards without regaining consciousness. On the wristband of her cfeness was the name r "Saeriet Mabel Williams." It transpired at the ironest that she stayed at Market Lavington, Wilts, and she left there last Saturday week to gather some dowers in the country. She Aid hot return, and inquiries revealed the factthat she traveled b^the night mail, reached Exeter at 3 and put up at the-Oreat Western Railway Hotel. A servant saw her destrov several letters and tear off -the corner of her handkerchief, which, presumably, contained her name. After reaching Simons- bath she had tea and went for a walk, and was notrseen again until she was discovered as stated.

AN OFFICIAL HOSTESS. Lady Oladstonc, who leaves with fcord Glad- stone at the end of this wed for South Africa, as the wife of the Oovernor-GetMB*al, will have the responsibilities of the official hostess of the Administration. At GoverameMfcHouse, a beau- tiful mansion at Brynterion, Pretoria, designed in the South African Dutch style of archltec- ture by Mr Herbert Baker, the architect who builk-Groote Schurr in Cape Town for the late CecflvRhedes, the principal receptions will be held. The gathering which assembles on such i. CecflvRhedes, the principal receptions will be held. The gathering which assembles on such occasions is perhaprwithoet equal in the world. In the first place, there are the Ministerial I Lady Gladstone. heads of the Government, the leaders of the. Boer people-Iouis Botha, who wo^.tacoe as a soldier Jan Smuts, equally distinguished as a general and as a scholar of Cambridge Rissik, a Hollander and a. survivor of the old Kruger regime. Then come the officers-of'the Military and Civil Administrations, such men as might be met at a levee at St. James's, side by side with such old veterans as De Wet, Hertzog, ex- President Steyn, and Delarey—names that are as household words amongst the old South African people.

A FARMERS' FEUD. At Abargavenny on Wednesday a fanner, Ed. Will iams, was charged withdoingwflful damage to the extent of jEl 8s 3d to the property of Gilbert Bailifi, tenant of Pentre Farm, Aber- gavenny, on the 20th and 23rd of April. Harriet Fair, housekeeper to Williams, was charged with aiding and abetting. Williams kept up a running commentary on the evidence, and when sentenced to imprisonment at Usk said, I have been there before, sir." It was shown that Williams had a long-standing feud with his neighbours, and he was committed for two months in respect of each date, the sentences to run concurrently. The female defendant was bound over.

CENTRAL WELSH BOARD. Ttachers' Representatives. Mr Richard David Chalke, M.A., LL.D.. headmaster Pupil Teacher Centre, Porth Mr David James, headmaster Boys' School, Tre- herbert; and Miss Hannah Williams, LL.A., headmistress Albany-road Girls' School, Cardiff, have been nominated for election as representatives of the certificated teachers of elementary schools in South Wales and Mon- mouthshire on the Central Welsh Board. Cer- tificated teachers wishing to vote on the appointment may obtain voting papers on application to the Central Welsh Board Offices at Cardiff before Sy*wday next.

WELSH GLEANINGS, News and Views in Lighten Vein. Cardiganshire's poet-policeman, Mr Rhys Davies, Goginau, has just been married. Sure to lose is the nom-de-plume of a singer competing at the forthcoming Anglesey Eisteddfod. The swans on the roachpond by the Penarth- road, Cardiff, have made a nest and are now sitting. Now. sir," said a budding Welsh barrister with severity to a loquacious witness at the recent Cardiff Assizes. hold your tongae and give your evidence clearly Welshman: Well, what do you think of Conway Castle ? American Wal, I guess it's a furry fine old bit, but what on earth pos- sessed 'em to build it so close to the station ? Mr A. J. Attewell, the secretary of the Cardiff Branch of the Association of Tramway and Vehicle Workers, has been approached with a view to his becoming a candidate for the Riverside Ward of the Cardiff City Council next November. Princess Mary of Wales, who will be 13 to- day, is exceedingly pretty, and has been de- scribed as orobably the prettiest Princess of the Royal Family in a century. She has been brought up very simply and sensibly, and hap had her full share of games and romps with-her brothers. Fifty years ago the directory of Sooth Wates was published at Bristol. According to that directory Newport was the principal town in South Wales, Swansea was the seoond, and Cardiff the third. So popular was the airec- torv that-two years afterwards a^second edition was catted for But in the second edition tJheet was no reference to Cardiff at all! Bifion Wyn, prince among engiymrpc, divided the prize for the best engtyn on "Mwsog," among three competitors. This beautiful weed-picture was sent by loan Brotbesi:— A'i ill myrdd o wyrdd-dew man—wele dsrt Ifel edaiedd sidan; Amwisg gtyd yw'r Mwsog glan, Guddia henaint gwedd anian. One of the few surviving officers of thechaqge of the Light Brigade under Lord Cardigan ia Major Phillips, late of the 8th Hussars (Royal Irish), who on Saturday celebrated J»s 80tjj|, birthday. There is, by the way, a striking re- ference to Major Pbillipsm Kinglake's Hia- tory of the Crimean War." One of the sons of the veteran is Mr Obairies Hwlkps, the awii known baritone. That Cardiff is well known inlee.ding cirtgqp was demonstrated at the p jblic inquiry intik the application of the Glamorgan Ooonsby Council to borrow money for their new offices in Cathays Park. Mr Mansel Franlden, the clerk, was explaining the advantages of Cardifi as a centre for the offices when the Local Government Board's inspector chimed in witft Yes, it's the hub." Tom Tynant, the veteran Cardiganshire banj^ of the Old Druidk School, stall adheres to tb8 muse. Recently a cattle dealer, renowned foe his keenness, had occasion to do business witt1 him. The characteristics of the Porthinaa were set forth by the bard thus :— Ei ergyd sydd am fargen,—a sieryd Y n siriol a Uawen Un o bwyll, llawn yw ei ben, o ias hyfryd am sofren In the ancient parish church of Laureate Cornwall, Archdeacon Du Boulay has ju» dedicated clergy seats and choir stalls. Ori- ginally a Norman church stood upon the situ occupied by the existing church, but of thaV little, if anything, is left, save the old circulatt font, which is considered one of the finest in Cornwall. The present venerable fabric is dedi- cated to St. Marnach, probably an early Welsh saint, and is of the fifteenth-century. Cardiganshire people are much concerned by a remark made by Colonel Davies-EvaoSw Lord-Lieutenant of the county, at s political meeting held at Llanybyther. Acr« ~t 1 y to the- Welsh Gazette," the Lord-Lie* 5? re- ported to have declared that ti come so intolerable under this Liberal ? ment that he had decided to leave the w for South Africa," Cardiganshire eler- desire to know, should the Lord-Lientenanc carry oat his expressed intention, wbetttter th* Lord-Lieutenancy becomes vacant ? Penffordd School, on the slopes of Pceeetty, Mountain, was referred to as a model at tho Pembrokeshire Education Committee's meet* ing on Friday. The supply teacher at thU school stated that the percentage of average attendance for the past year in this school waf. 93. Only two children lived within one mill of the school, 21 children came a distance dJ between one and two miles, 14 a distance of between two and three miles, and one child a distance of over three miles. And the school had not missed a single attendance holiday since 1908 After a long lapse Builth WeUs people hav. awakened to the needs of advertising the beau- tiful and historic town and district. Pushful and enterprising boroughs have acquired re- putation tor bleak and Darren mountain laa £ with artificial parks and lakes, while the-town- ship of Builtn, nestling modestly in a vallay beside the silvery Wye, and hemmed in fry old fortresses and battlefields made saefd. by Llewelyn's last tight and death, is forgottaa and neglected. An organisation has nowbeeQ formed to provide amiwenreyito tor viaitanr and generally advertise the- town. Sir S. T.JSvana motored the othar-ragofferfngB^ Aberystwyth to Carmarthen ,/uid having somft time to wait for the mail to London, he saaar tered into the Ivy Bush Royal Hotel, winwt exterior had been brightened by a bolUant md and on going to the bar to order dinner ob- seived to the manageress, with a m.eø::t twinkle in his eye," 1 see JJOU hawe boot pain tiug the place red." we baye» limond, replied the young lady; don't you ttunMI the right colour t" "Yes," replied tefNaJodgy suavely," it's a very cosy catour aadvarf nice." Red is the Tory colour p^nnfmartMl. It is fitting, after St. Geocaafe Day Saturday (writes Appksdore "),tp retell thai St. David was the lieutenant of St. G-eotga, who was supposed to be the leader thesewen Champions of Christendom. The legend do«a not say that the two Charapkms ever h»d a, quarrel, but history saye moat ejinphMgc^Ur that England and Wales in the old days weft the bitterest enemies, and waoe ahrays at inc. Whatever happened m the past it is bo Àfi hoped that now at least Welsh and l^nglwh ndil sink their differences—if they have any— wear a rose as a symbol of peace and hrfrfaur- hood." Two years ago an old Carnarvonshire far- mer lay seriously iU- The medical man who attended him was a visitor to the neighbour- hood. and he felt firmly convinced his client* days were numbered. When, however, tM doctor visited the district again recently he wafl surprised to see the old gentleman working quite sprightly on a field. Well, John Jones, Mtid the doctor, you have recovered bettor frhaji I expected." Oh," said the fannerf I have two looking after me now." TwQ." oh served the doctor and who can they be t "Ob," replied John Joneti, quite sincaEaty, they -be the Almighty and-Hoyd Geocge." AmOngat a bundle of old papers in tiM Welshpool Reference Library an interesting autograph letter by Chades Dickens has bean discovered. It is dated Thursday, 5th Febfn- ary 1851," from the Office of Household Words," and reads -.—Dear Frederick,—I am sorry to be obliged to reply to you as before. I cannot lend you the £ 30. Firstly, because I cannot trust you, and because your bad faith with Wills and Austin makes the word lend an absurdity. Secondly, because if this were otherwise it would not m the least save you from creditors who have already power of tak- ing you in execution.—Affectionately, C. D. Plenydd, in the current Geninen tells an interesting yarn against himself. His father's shop used to be the village Parliament, and it • was Plenydd's great privilege to be allowed to fill the chairman's pipe. One evening, how- ever, he mixed black powder with the tobacco and from a corner watched the old gentleman lighting his pipe, and at the same time laying down the law on a burning local topic. There was a sudden explosion, the pipe was dashed to pieces, and the buckets and brushes hang- ing from the ceiling clattered. There was a panic, and the company rushed out of the shop helter-skelter. The sequel, declares Pienydd, as far as it concerns himself, was too painful for allusion. After the poultry and egg industry has been thoroughly organised in West Wales, a fortune awaits an enterprising firm of piano dealers. When the hens struck late in the fall some humorist told Mrs James Creamer, of Spring- field, Ohio, that chickens were fond of music, and she decided to experiment. With the kitchen door open so her fowls coulcf plainly hear, she played the piano the major portion of the day. To her surprise next day she got six more eggs than had been her daily allot- ment since the cold weather made its appear- ance. Mrs Creamer then moved her piano further out towards the nests, and played in- dustriously. The hens, touched by the efforts for their relief from the winter's ennui, pushed themselves a little, with results financially satisfactory to all concerned.