The Cardiff Times

THE NEW NATIONALISM. Mr Roosevelt on the Doctrines ef Lincoln New York. Wednesday.-Mr 'Roosevelt was last night the guest at dinner of the N ewhaven (Conn.) Chamber of Commerce, and delivered a. speech in characteristic vein, devoted mainly to an exposition of his New National- ism theories. The ex-President, whose optimism and energy have evidently suffered little as the result of electioneering reverses, contended that the New Nationalism was based upon the doctrines of Abraham Lincoln, and declared that if business men would not come forward Lo lead the work df reform demagogues would do so. He declared himself a Radical.— Central News.

SLATE CLUB TRAGEDY TRUSTEE'S SUICIDE. Missing Money Mystery. The inquest on Joseph M. Mole, the senior trustee of a loan club, who was found shot in a train at Fenchureh-street on the day of the club's sharing out, was held at Southwark 0:1 Wednesday. The widow said her husband, whose age was 30, was a commissionaire, and had been em- ployed by Mr Baker, M.P., in the Temple. He was invalided Out of the Army eight years ago. Latterly he had been away with Mr Baker electioneering. Emma Mole, the dead man's sister-in-law, said that on Saturday afternoon she received a telegram from East Ham (where Mole lived) which said, Come to East Ham without fail. —Joe." She went and found that everything was apparently all right, but in the evening a constable came and told her of the man's death. Another witness said he was standing on the Tilbury platform at Fenchurch-street station when he heard a pistol shot. In a first-class carriage he found Mole on a seat with a re- volver in his right hand and a wound in his temple. James Edmunds Barrett, an engineer, of Loughborough Junction, and the junior trustee of the Kennington District Mutual Loan Society, said 536 shares were taken up by mem- bers, and there were three trustees. Mole would at times be entrusted with certain money to be banked at the Post Office. This could not be withdrawn without the signatures of the secretary and the other trustees. lIX151 Beilcit." On the last night for paying in for subscrip- tions and loans Mole was asked for his receipt. He said he had just come from a regimental dinner, and had not got it. That, added the witness, was considered strange. On Saturday, December io, the witness received a letter from Mole, written in pencil, in which he said No doubt you wonder what has become of me. It is this. I left the bag containing the money in a District Railway train. It contained JE185, and the remaining money belonged to myself. I don't know what I shall do. Trust the members won't think I used the money myself. I have not I take my oath before God. I am going off my head over it I am going home, but I don't know what for. My wife knows nothing of this. Please spare her and my children. Enclosed in the letter was the bank book and warrant for withdr wals. Mole had been connected with the society for eight years, and there had been no trouble. The witness went on to say that sums amounting to n3 18s 6id, which Mole held in trust to change into small silver to facilitate the payment of the shares, should have been handed to him, but the man had not done so. The Coroner Is there a deficit ? The Witness: One hundred and fifty-one pounds. I Mole had been in possession of the money for a fortnight before the paying-out day. Mrs Mole (recalled) said her husband told her on Saturday afternoon that he was going to draw the money. She asked him if it was all right, and he said, Yes." No Trace of the Money. A constable said in the dead rii^n's pocket was an envelope, on which was written.— Darling Mary,—Do forgive mefor doing this. —Joe." The only money found on the body was 6d in coppers. The Coroner's Officer said no trace of money could be found. The loss had not been re- ported at the District Railway Office. Mr Barrett said there was an actual deficit of E151 which bad been in Mole's hands, and the members of the society had not the slightest idea what had become of it. Mole was the proper officer under the rules of the society to receive the money, and the society was duly registered. The Coroner said the only possible motive for the act, as far as could be seen, was the deficit. The jury's verdict was Suicide whilst of unsound mind."

THE AGENDA CLUB. The Agenda Club, of which Lord Shaftesbury is president, is an organisation on novel lines which has just been formed. The object of the Agenda Club," in the words of its constitu- tion, is to do a few things that need doing and can be done for the betterment of existing Social conditions. The Agenda Club is estab- lished for a limited period of 25 years, and shall forthwith cease to exist on the seventh day of December in the year of oar Lord, nine- teen hundred and thirty-five." In general, the Earl of Shaftesbury. I idea. behind the clab is that there are a great many men in the world who wi -h to do some- thing for their fellow-men, and are discouraged because there is no business-like organisation which will tell them what to do and help them to do it. A second dominating idea is that men can be most usefully employed in I, social service when they are asked to use their own professional or business knowledge to further the general good. There is no subscription to the Agejida Club. A man becomes an Agenda man if he does the thing he offers to do or is asked to do.

AMERICA'S CHALLENGE. New York, Wednesday.—The Aero Cluti of Vuerica has telegraphed to the British P-ero Club a challenge or the Gordon Keraett trophy, whi.U was won by Mr Grahame-White at theHelmout Park cuter.

WELSH COUNTRY HOMES. LIU.—Plas Machen. NEWPORT IN DAYS OF QUEEN BESS. Old Home of the Morgan Family. ITS TUDOR CHARACTERISTICS. There are many old homes of the various branches of the Morgan family in Gwent and Morganwg, and among tb ese Plas Machen de- serves especial notice because it was here that for several generations lived the branch of the family, from which Lord Tredegar, its pre- sent head, is directly descended. Though it is more than two centuries since Thomad Morgan, on the death of his father, Sir William, removed from Plas Machen to Tre degar House, the family have ever since held the old place in affectionate regard as the honi ( of ancestors who in their day and generation I PLAS MACHEN FROM THE SOUTH SHOWING THE OUTER WALL AND BUTTRESS. PLAS MACHEN—ENTRANCE THE MAIN FRONT. FLAC MACHEN-THE SOUTH END SHOWING OLD & NEW WINDOWS. PLAS MACHEN AS IT APPEARED A CENTURY AGO. held high place in their county and played their part in the shaping of its destinies. Its Beautiful Situation. Plas Machen occupies a very charming situa- tion in the Romnfy Valley between five and six miles west of Newport. It stands but a couple (!\ hundred yards back from the high road leading from Newport to Caerphilly, but the fall of the land, i,ii(i l copse, lend the old place shelter from the main road from which, however, its tall, clustered cWmncys attract attention- Coxc rei ers to PIas Machen as being situated under the hanging groves of Ru- perra," but this is not correct, because Ruperra woods are on the south-western sid" of the valley while Plas Machen occupies the north- eastern side. It is a charming prospect, bol h up and down the y. The hills on either side are finely woottod and the winds along the fertile fields in the valley bottom. This district has for centuries possessed a reputation for fertility. In medieval times it was a great fruit growing district, and Mi Basbam, of Bassaleg, who has proved to thE present generation that it still possesses thes< qualities, will recall the fact that at that time more fruit was grown in Gwcnt than in Mon. mouthsbire. In the 16th century Leland men- tions the good come produced in Magheu Paroche." Plas Machen in Tudor Times. Thomas Morgan, the founder of the line of Morgan of Machen and Tredegar, was the second son of Sir Thomas Morgan, Knight of the Sepulchre, who was steward of Gwentloog in 1448. He married a daughter of Roger Vaughan of PorthamaJ. He was th e first of his family who was of Machen," and he may have been the builder of all or of part of the house which is the subject of the present article. He was an esquire of the body to Henry VII., and must have lived to a good old age, for be was alive in 1538. He had a large family, of whom the eldest was Rowland Morgan, who succeeded his father at Machen. H<> married a daughter of John Thomas of Llanarth, and was Sheriff of Mon- mouthshire in 1557. It was he who held sway at Plas Machen when old Leland passed that way, and wrote There is another of the Mor- gans dwelling by Rumney at Maghen, having a fair house. He bad bene a man of fair landes if his father had not divided it partely to other of his sunnes." Concerning this owner of Plas Machen, three and a half centuries ago, it may not be unin- teresting to relate one or two incidents which throw an interest ing side-light upon the ship- ping trade of Newport in the days of Queen Bess. The State papers of that time are our authority. A Pirate in Newport Haven. It appears that in 1576, there was a notorious pirate, onr- John Cullis, who, with b,>()ty which he had captured, put iu with his ship to •• Newport Haven." One John Crofts' was commissioned by the Admiralty to seize John OuJlis and his but the pirate showed fight and Crofts fouiltl IÜ" force insufficient. So Crofts at once despatched letters to be de- 1 livered with spede to Rowland A. Morgan, at Maben (Machen), and to William Mor- gan at Llantarnam, requiring them at their peril to render him assistance. But for some reason or other these letters do not appear to have been delivered, and before John Crofts could obtain the necessary aid Sir William Morgan of Pencoyd and Langstone had seized his opportunity and captured the pirate and his prize himself. John Crofts, the holder of the Admiralty com- mission, was very wroth and his temper could not have been improved when, on putting his side of the case .before Sir William Morgan, the latter told him very bluntly that he cared neither for his commission or himself Sequel in the High Court, Forthwith the enraged Crofts departed in high dudgeon to London and report the matter to the authorities. Evidently, to judge by the sequel, John Crofts vented his bad temper upon Rowland Morgan and William Morgan, for in the following April missives arrived at Machen and Llantarnam summoning their respective owners to appear before the judge of the High Court! They obeyed the summons, but pood fortune would appear to have followed them, for the judge was Dr. David Lewis, a native of Abergavenny, who was probably acquainted either with them or their family. They pleaded that they did not receive the letter? sent by Crofts, and after'hearing the case they were exonerated from all blame. So terminated f atisfactorily a case which must have occa- sioned^onsiderable anxiety to the Plas Machen household. A few months later Rowland Mor- I gan was gathered to his fathers. Thomas Morgan and His Brother-in- Law's Will. His successor was his son, Thomas Morgan, of Machen and Tredar. He was a barrister-at- la w, was Sheriff in 1581, and M.P. for the County in 1589. This Thomas Morgan was a brother-in-law of Myles Morgan, who was the last of the eldest branch of the family, and when Myles Morgan in November, 1578, sailed on an expedition from Plymouth with Sir Humphrey Gilbert, as "capitayne" of The Red Lyon." with "seven savles," he made his brother-in-law his executor and his heir. Miles Morgan never returned and, when the time came to prove his will, litigation resulted n the Probate Court As the result of this the matter was setti(Ain Thohias Morgan's favour. That will of Myles Morgan was an interesting document. He "specified a bequest of E3 6s 8d to Thomas Morgan of Machen" to make him a seal of arms for himself." He also left a sum of ten shillings towards the repairs of the Cathedral Church of Llandaff," a sum of A 13s 4d towards the building of the steeple of the Parish Church of Bassaleg, a sum of £ 3 6s 8d for the poor of Bassaleg. a similar sum for -the poor of Newport and XIO for the repalring and building of Newport Bridge Plas Machen in Stuart Days. Thomas Morgan, when he died during the last year of Queen Elizabeth's reign, left a large family of whom the eldest son, William, was knighted in 1633. He was probably born at Plas Machen, but he succeeded his father at Trede- gar while his eldest son Thomas resided at Plas Machen. It was Sir William who, when nearing his ninetieth year, received King Charles 1. at Tredegar House. Thomas Morgan was the last of the Morgan's to reside at Plas Machen, for on the death of his father, Sir William, he re- moved to Tredegar House, and from this period the old family residence at Machen gradually fell into neglect and became a farm- house. During the succeeding century Plas Machen reiitained a farm, and when Archdeacon Coxe visited it more than a century ago he described it as "a once respectable seat now a farm- house hastening to decay." An illustration of the old house at the beginning of the last century, drawn by Sir Richard Hoare, is worthy of reproduction, because since that time a considerable portion of the building to the left of the porch has been taken down. A Century Ago. In Coxe's time, despite the fact that it was hastening to decay," Plas Machen exhibited a few traces of past grandeur." These appear to have been most] y contained in the portion which was pulled down. They included a circular apartment called the hunting room," the great beauty of which j was a wonderful plaster ceiling, depicting Diana in the centre with 12 surrounding panels, each representing a different scene. Coxe adds that a pair of andirons, weighing three hundred pounds, which were not unusually employed in roasting an ox whole, with a large oak table on which it was served, convey recollections of former times and former hos- pitality." It is sad to reflect that this interesting por- tion of the mansion was the part doomed to demolition, when the pretty old place was reduced in size something-like half a century ago, but still enough of Plas Machen remains to stamp it at a glance as an edifice fit to rank, both from point of view of pictuesqueness and situation, with almost any old manor house in Gwent. Plas Machen To-day. And what of Plas Machen to-day ? It is true that it is still a farm house, and that now kine are herded in the yard across which, nearly four centuries ago, Rowland Morgan led his bride, the fair daughter of Llanarth, to her new home, but all through the years Plas Machen has retained and still retains a certain stately distinction among the houses of the the Rumney Valley. It has hai its vicissi- tudes. but it has stood the test of time and is stall a spacious and very charming old place. p The best view of Plas Machen, which is to\ day tenanted by Mr Fred Stratton, who farms the land in the vicinity, is from the south, for it is only from this point that you get an adequate idea of its fine situation and of what may be termed its outer defences, ■w^iich were probably those of a pre-Tudor dwelling. From the flat meadows in the valley bottom, the mas- sive buttresses which support the wall which now marks the limit of the garden present, as will be seen by one of our illustrations, a striking feature. The majn front from which a private road connects it with the main high- way faces north east. The porch, which is very broad and which extends the full height of the house, is surmounted by a gable, behind which are clusters of tall chimneys. Some Tudor Characteristics. The windows in the porch, like most upon this north eastern side, arc original Tudor work, and so is the doorway which gives access to the porch. A photograph of a portion of the south eastern end shows, side by side, the original small Tudor windows and the larger windows which, though mullioned in the 16th century manner, are of quite recent date. being inserted to meet modern requirements in the shape of more light and air. The interior of Plas Machen contains fewer features of anti- quarian interest than its exterior might lead one to expect. In the dining-room, a well-lit, pleasant apartment, with a south eastern aspect, however, the 16th century ceiling beams retain some quaint decorative features, being painted in a somewhat primitive design. It is a big rambling old house. Upstairs, in some of the passages, portions of of the original paneling remain, and a stone Tudor fireplace, the opening in which is now bricked up, occupies a position in one of the walls. The house contains what one so often finds in mansions of this date, a long flue extending from the upper storey to the base- ment. The latter, which contains upon the south western side many big cellars, enables one to get an idea of the massive foundations of Plas Machen. The pretty garden, which is terraecd by the great wall extend ingTrlong its south western and souUi eastern sides, commands charming views, both up and down and across the vallev, the hiils of \yhi,'h are ci owned t'y wooded luxuriance of the Ruperra Woods. Next W- ek—OLYNK CASTLI5.

LADY AND SOLICITOR. AN EXCITED PLAINTIFF. Allegations of Injustice. In the London Sheriff's Court on Wednesday (before Mr Under-Sheriff Burchell and a jury) the case of Clarke v. Newton was called, it having been remitted from the High Court for the assessment of damages. The plaintiff was Miss Alice Courtrtnay Clarke, and the defendant Mr Arthur Newton, the well-known solicitor, of Great Marl- borough-street, W.C. Mr H. E. Schwartze appeared for Mr Arthur Newton, and told the Under-Sheriff that an application had been made to a judge in chambers. The Under-Sheriff delayed the proceedings whilst the plaintiff was sent for. On her arrival Miss Clarke, a middle-aged lady, addressing the Under-Sheriff, said, Two ladies standing at the door have been taken somewhere else. It is very awkward. Where can I stand ?" The Under-Sheriff: Anywhere. Mr Schwartze: I have an order, signed late last evening by Mr Justice Lush, that these pro- ceedings should be stayed until after the hear- ing of the summons oetore the Master. Plaintiff said she had had no notice. The Under-Sheriff Then it was an ex-parte application by counsel for defendant, and she would not have notice. The Under-Sheriff I have no alternative but to obey the order. The Lady They had given me no notice that they were applying to the judge. The Under-Sheriff: You will be able to argue that out when it comes before the Master to-morrow at. 1.30 p.m. Plaintiff: I have judgment on a, point of law. The judgment was not an irregular one. The witnesses are here. The Under-Sheriff: But I have no juris- diction. Plaintiff: They are here from Devon, Hampshire, Bedford, and the expenses will be considerable. The Under-Sheriff: I am very sorry. Plaintiff They are very anxious. The Under-Sheriff Weill, I will say, as re- gards their stay in London, it is very little use. You will not get the inquiry in this Court fixed until after Christmas, if you are success- ful in upholding the judgment. Plaintiff: It is through neglect of this solicitor I have been sent to prison, and- waving her band to the sheriff-they have detained one of my witnesses, and have her now in prison. The Under-Sheriff Will you listen ? I am trying to help you. I cannot go into the matter. You must go before the Master. Plaintiff (shouting): I know why it is done. The Under-Sheriff I cannot go into that. Not a Laughing Matter. Plaintiff (pointing to a member of the Bar sitting in Court, engaged in another case): It may amuse you it is a serious matter. It is very ungentlemanly sitting there grinning all over your face. The Under-Sheriff It is not an amusing matter that witnesses have been called from all over the country. (To the Court attendant) Will you go out with this lady and say the witnesses will not be required ? The Plaintiff (pointing to the counsel who she said was grinning) demanded to know Who is that young man ?" t Loud laughter.) Turning to the jury, and resting her hands on the jury box, plaintiff said, I am very sorry, gentlemen, you have not heard the case. They have kept one of my servants in prison, and they shall know of it." Reaching the well of the court, plaintiff turned, and excitedly addressing the Under- Sheriff, exclaimed, My servant is detained in prison in Eabtbourne. They have put a young girl of 17 in prison, and she only went to deliver a subpoena." The lady left the court, but returned in a moment, exclaiming, The matter should go before a jury and not be hushed up." The Under-Sheriff It is not a matter for this Court. Plaintiff then left the court with several friends.

THE FRENCH SOCIALIST LEADER M. Jaures, who has been attending the Inter- national meeting of the Socialist parties in Lon- don, has for many years past been recognised as one of the leading figures in the French Parliament. He is the foremost living French orator, and on more than one occasion, as leader of the Socialists, he has practically held the balance of parties, and been the controlling influence behind the Cabinets of the day. He began life as a professor of philosopy, and is now a politician and journalist. After a dis- M. Jaurea. I tinguished University career he became Pro- fessor of Philosophy at the University of Tou- louse, a professorship he relinquished to enter the Chamber of Deputies, as one of the Republican members for the Tarn, a seat he lost four years later. In 1892 he was elected as a Socialist by the second division of Carmaux. In the Chamber, M. Jaures made his mark at once by his splendid oratory and skilful powers of debate.

A WONDERFUL FLIGHT. The Altitude Record. A wonderful flight was accomplished by M. Legagneux at Pan, when he created a new alti- tude record by rising to height of 10,400 feet, or nearly two miles. His new aerial triumph for France was won on a Bleriot monoplane. After Paulan, Latham, Morane, and Drexel bad alternately held the record, the American, Mr Johnstone, it may be remembered, surpased them all, and scored by reaching a height of 9,380ft. Since then Wynmalen and others have tried to beat that record, and finally M. Legagneux set himself the task at Pau, where the conditions for flying have been excellent. M. Legagneux. The weather was magnificent, and Legagneux gradually forged up to an extraordinary eleva- tion. He took lh. 40min.to accomplish the feat, one of the most daring yet attempted. On reaching the earth he had to be helped from his monoplane owing to the intense cold. He was blue, and complained that at the great height he reached, the cold was almost unbearable, despite the fact that he was wearing thick clothing and had furs over these. There was tremendous enthusiasm when he alighted. In an interview after the flight he said that on attaining the record height he stopped the engine and glided all the way down.

BAN ON ASIATICS. Cape Town, Wednesday.—It has been an- nounced in the Union House of Assembly, the Government will introduce a general immigr.v- tion law this Session. It is hoped the Trans- vall policy of not perr"it' 'ng Asiatics to enter the country will be exten -d to other parts of the Union. The question is approaching a I solution.—ileuter.

WELSH GLEANINGS. News and Views in Lighter Vein. Cardiff Merchant (to office boy): Fetch me the dictionary. Iad.C)Mce B (after an absence of some minutes) I can t find it, sir what word is it you want to know, sir ? An accident to a seaman, who made an application for compensation at the Cardiff County Court on Saturday, probably saved his life. He was employed on the ss. Swanhilda, which was lost with aJl hands the voyage after be had left her. The Glamorgan Standing Joint Committee is asked to replace 300 police truncheons damaged at the Aberaman and Rhondda Valley riots." The heads which damaged the truncheons will have to repla-ce themselves"- Star." Sir Robert Hudson, the National Federation organiser, was in great form at Sir Charles Dilke's meeting on Saturday night. He de- clared that the hasty whitewashing and re- painting of the House of Lords when the disso- lution was announced smacked very much of& very inferior melodrama—" The Peers lia- pentance. or, It's Never Too Late to Mend." Grocery," the monthly organ of the grocers, has an interesting article in the current issue on the history of the Ab rtillery Grocers Association, which was organised three years ago, together with portraits of Mr J. Emlyii Phillips, the president; Mr F. A. Hall, treasurer; Mr A. J. Morgan, ex-treasurer? and Mr W. R. Hiley, the secretary, together with short biographies of each of them. During the Flint Boroughs polling P-^ Gomer Jones, of the Flintshire Constabulary, who is an able organist, entertained the votens at Rhuddlan with music. The polling wm none too brisk during the greater part of ttt* day, and this gave the officials some amount of leisure, which the police officer turned to account by giving a musical recital, ffi* P^f* ing was thoroughly enjoyed, and was greatly appreciated by those who were detained Mb the potting station for the whole day. He was evidently a ship's officer ashore, and when he entered the OaraJS restaurant he sat down with busineso-HIM determination. Beginning at the top of the tnent card, he ordered in succession every item soups, one fish, two entrees, two cuts fivwii the joint, three sweets, and coffee to finiå with. To the proprietor, when paying in blv little bill of over half a sovereign, he remarice4 That's the first good feed I've had since I was here eighteen months ago." Will you be here again to-morrow 1" asked the man of many courses. (The foregoing is a sttttemeflfc of fact.) Here is an instance of how voting for cauA- dates for public appointments is influenced. A committee at Cardiff had interviewed two applicants, and both had retired when a mem- 'her of the committee arrived late, but just ia time to take part in the voting. Withojos hesitation he wrote the name of one of the applicants on his ballot paper, and, havingfiiw whispered a query in the ear of a member who was his co-representative in a certain warcI. handed up the paper with the air of one wtJe had done his duty. A certain would-be M.P. for a South WafcjJ constituency who paid a political agency to prepare his speeches, one night during tl>* last General Election, met with heartrending disaster. Delivering his oration with appropri- ate gestticulation in its most eloquent parte, he got safely to the middle of one of his highest flights, when he surprised his audience by adding, in thunderous tones, to a remarkably fine passage Here stop and take a drink ot water." The words were a note inserted by the gentleman who supplied the speech to guidto the orator in his delivery to gain the great-eat effect. Mr John B, M.P., is never tired of telling Welshmen that the population of Lon- don is entirely at their mercy. If the Welsh milksellers of the Metropolis sell good milk. then we have healthy children. If they sell bad milk then we have weakly children, and I would bang every man that did the latter, said the vigorous M.P. for Batters" to the writer of this paragraph. Needless to say that the remarks were based upon the -known fact that the milk trade of London is nearly monopolised by Welshmen, and with bluff John again as President of the Local Government Board, milks ellers bad better have a care as to what they supply to the public in future. Mention has been made in the South tvales Daily News," writes a correspondent, of the famous election of 1831. The great feature of that election was the brilliant per- sonal yictory of Mr W. Addams Williams, the squirt of Llangibby. He was the Reform candidate and was returned unopposed. The yeomen farmers of the county, some 600 strong on horseback, headed the procession, the squire following in his coach and four with outriders wearing the Llangibby colours. Behind came 60 carriages mostly filled with ladies. The procession was over two miles long, and was a splendid tribute to the warm affection and esteem felt for the squire, who was the leader of the Reform party in Mon- mouthshire. Follansbee, a town in West Virginia, U.S.A- is made up mostly of Welsh people. A well- known local storekeeper has been condemning a few Welshmen in connection with a fracas of which they knew nothing. He added insult to injury by calling them Goats." Says an indignant writer in the Druid :—" What Welshmen want is to cultivate a retentive memory. This very man has the patronage of nearly all the Welsh families of the town. This is a Welsh town in every way. and 99 per cent. are citizens of this country and owning real estate, almost without exception. Whilst not ad rocating any vindictive measures-against these traducers of the Goats,' as they desig- nate them, it is well for the future to show them that the patronage of Welsh-Americans is a valuable asset in a town like ours. This is a subject worthy of discussion for the David's Society at their next meeting." Mr Basil Thompson, the chief of the Prisons Department of the Home Office and for- merly of Cardiff Gaol, who has been giving evidence before the Divorce Commission, has had a far more romantic career titan the average Civil servant. He was once actually a Premier, and amongst his numerous books, there is one entitled The Diversions of & Prime Minister." Son of an Archbishop of York, he entered the service of the Colonial Office, and was sent to Fiji, in the South Pacific, where be tilled various offices. When Sir John Thurston, the Governor of Fiji aDd High Commissioner felt himself compelled to depose the Itev. Shirley Baker, a Methodist minister, who had maode himself Dictator aad Prime Minister of the Tongon Archipelago. Mr Thompson, at the age of 29, was installed in the vacant premiership. Matthew Henry, the celebrated Noncon- formist divine, though born in North WaI-. came of an old Glamorganshire family. His grandfather's name was Henry Williams, of Briton Ferry, from the same stockastho WUliamses of Aberpergwm. He went to London as a servant to Philip, Earl of PeIa- broke, in the time of Elizabeth. His 8DQ Philip was called Philip Henry, and he went to North Wales as chaplain to the Pulestons of Emrall. He married a daughter of Mr Daniel Matthews, of Broad Oak, a family originally from Radyr, in Glamorgan, and their second son, the eminent writer, was named Matthew out of compliment to his wife's family name. It is a curious study to trace thus, the history of this branch of the Williams' family. By the way, Oliver Cromwell was descended from another branch of the same family. With Anglicans it is a point of honour to be married in Church but Nonconformists, who regard all marriages as equally sacred wherever performed, frequently marry at registry offices or in the parish church. There arc more than a thousand parish churches where marriages may be performed, but only 183 registry offices. Consequently many Nonconformists find it convenient to gei married in a church close to their doors. Nqft withstanding this the number of Welsh mafr riages in church is not half of those out of church. Here are the official figures In Church Out of Church. 1905 5,123 11,208 1906 5,269 11,738 1907 5,399 12,139 1908 5,518 i.. 12,074 A Cardiff Docksman writes -You have pub- lished many good stories in Welsh Gossip, but I doubt if any can beat this. It was Christmas morning, and my friend's young wife was busy preparihg the fine fat goose for dinner. Their only child-a. sweet little girl of two and a half years-had laid down on the table her little golden-haired wax doll and box of paints in order to watch her mother as she stowed away in the bird's capacious vacuum big spoonfuls of chopped sauc and onions. Just then the mother was called away for a moment, and immediately she had quitted the "kitchen the infant took the doll and thrust it into the goose, then doing likewise with the box of paints. Shortly after the mother returned and finisUeil the stuffing process, then stitched up the end. and placed the goose in the oven. When the nicely-browned bird was placed on the table, the guests seemed ill at ease, and the carver sniffed disagreeably. It was then that the child yelled, Oil, papa, don't kill my dollie wiv that big knife. Do get it out. peese."

SUCCESSFUL DENTISTRY, MR GEO. POOLE. SURGEON DENTIST, 13, WESTBOURNE-CRES^ I (Facing Sophia Gardens, CARDIFF. Telegrams-" Painless, Cardiff." Phone 334 Nat. Estab 25 years. 20020 in — in 11 w—i——■^Bagaga—■———■ <çc o 'HARD HIT' e1" CIGARETTES. 5 a id. In fact a rtppmg little. Made by an independent Firm not connected with any Trust or Combine, but saili on its own. Support Us and Buy HARD HIT CI6ABJKTTKS. S.W. TOBACCO MANTTFACTTTRnSG 00., 1M. TTEWPORT and LO-NDON.

WORKMEN'S TOPICS 11 tHE ISSUES BEFORE THE COUNTRY By MABON, M.P. "ITiere is not, and there cannot. be, any doubt tbout it, that as Mr Chamberlain said some years ago That referring to the question of the House of Lords, this question cannot be trusted to the forced consent of the Tory party to be refused as long as possible, to be conceded with reluctance, to be granted only when further resistance has been dangerous md impossible. The authority, the influence, md the votes of the people should go to the party and to the candidates who have [lever swerved in their allegiance to the people's cause." So say I. The issue before the country is limple, precise, and direct. Shall the pCCJTIle govern themselves or will tLv^y submit to be thwarted, hindered, and over-ruled by the Peers?" Let the Opposition turn and twist as ;bey like. Let them go on promising to-day what they refused yesterday,, trimming their tails to meet any winds. To the foregoing issue everything else must be subordinate. More )ver the real issues are the same now as- ¡}Jev were ten months ago. First of all comes /he Peers v. People. Let me ask who in luture is to govern-the Peers or the People ? Is I have said, this issue is the same as at the aat election, and yet it is not the same. It has Ilia difference. This election has been made lecessary, just as the last was. because the Peers refuse to accept the verdict, of the people us expressed through their thosen represen a- ives in the House of Commons. Last time obey necessitated an election because they ihrew out the Budget. Now the election is caused because the Tories have refused the tcheme proposed by the Government in the louse of Commons for curtailing the Veto kf the Lords. This time the verdict of the people will be final. There cannot be a third :lection on this most vital of constitutional puestions. Let one more blow be struck and fail play or Liberal legislation be secured. For this mrpose there is not a vote to be spared. Then comes the second prominent issue: Free Trade or Protection"—" Free imports or Protection"—" Cheappr land or dearer loaf." Our political ancestors won for us in succes- ion the liberties of Parliament against the isurpations of the Crown, and the richts of epresentation against the Oligarchy. And for is it is now reserved to complete the develop- rtent of democracy by winning the freedom of he House of Commons from the absolute veto .1 the Lords. Step by step our forefathers won, .nd it is left for us to complete the victory. ror any Progressive now to give a vote for a 'ory would be a fatal mistake. Tariff Reform in practice would mean: Workmen kept idle—wages kept low-costs of iving kept high—poverty rampant. The Trade Boom. Just as we are in the thick of a General Ilection, in which our Tariff Reforming mends re trying to deprecate our Free Trade and rying out aloud for Protection to save our optional commerce, there is published the ionthly Board of Trade returns showing that nr commerce is still increasing under Free Vade by leaps and bounds. Our overseas rade—imports, exports, and re-exports—in rovember of this year was as follow Imports rose by R2,479,901 to E64,447,474 Exports rose by £ 5 575,970 to E36,897,425 Re-exports rose by S.706,716 to zE745,606 Our overseas trade, imports, exports, and re- xports in November of the two preceding ears wor<^s follow — November, 1908 445,734,474 November, 1909 ..7.. £ T0r,684,88T is is a ladder of ascent which Tariff Re- I formers cannot easily explain away. No other country in the world can point to such figures. In 11 months, January to November, imports ee try S45,368,653 to £ 609,359,309; exports ose by 148,576,154 to £ 344,589,485. Re-ex- orts rose by £ 12,168,941 to £ 93,899,485- Notwithstanding the great labour troubles n the North of England, which must have reacted upon trade generally, it will be seen that the rise in recent months is very great Indeed. The side of the question bearing on work and food is very significant as well, for whereas we chiefly export manufactures which give Mr people work on the one hand, we chiefly import food and materials for work on the p&er. State Insuranop. One of the chief questions addressed to Parliamentary candidates at the present elec- tion is that respecting the insurance of work- Ing men, which the late Government has promised to bring in should they be again re- turned to power. The questioners even admit bhat both political parties are committed to the same principle. Hence candidates in the present election are asked to pledge themselves beforehand to oppose any measure of State Insurance which is likely to prejudice the Interests of the great affiliated orders, friendly fcnd collecting societies and companies, or to jeopardise the livelihood of the very many thousands of persons engaged in the business of industrial life insurance, and to oppose any exceptional treatment of any order, society, or company to the disadvantage of others." The last of these questions is a very proper imc, and there wiji be no difficulty in oppos- ing such a provision should any measure con- tain the same. An effort to prevent the jeopardising of the livelihood of the very many thousands of persons engaged in the business of industrial life assurance" is ery desirable and, indeed, justifiable. ence, without discussing this question fur- her jnst now. the hundreds of persons that are ngaged as collectors in the business of life d industrial assurance cannot expect can- didates, in fairness to their constituents, to 50 further in their promises trith regard to this tter than to say that they will do their bc- st. meet the wishes of themselves and the offices they represent, providing that their oing so will not be inimical to the interest of the masses of the people in the country- he very people whose interest they are sent o Parliament to guard and protect.

REVOLUTIONARIES ROUTED. Washington, Tuesday.—The Mexican Foreign Officp has informed the Mexican Embassy here that the Government troops routed a bind of revolutionaries this afternoon at Cierro Prieto, in the province of Chihuahua, killing seventy. The Federal troops lost 150 men, while many of the revolutionaries were wounded and takri prisoners.—Renter. Washington, Wednesday.—According to official ad vices received by the State Depa rt- ment here :(xic!1n troops have captured Bucrrero. Mr Wilson, the American Ambassa- dor in Mexico City, has telegraphed that the troops have oleare 1 the State of CUihuahun and other parts of the country of all organised n/\e.— B

THE BAROTSE CHIEF. One of the most interesting ol tfce Airica.11 -eliteIs whbave been received by the Duke of Connaught during his tour is King Lewanika, who welcomed the Duke at Victoria, Falls. King Lewanika visited this country a few yeaas ago, and took a good deal of interest in the Houses of Parliament, but it was the interior thereof, more especially the House of Lords, that seemed to astound him. His Majesty, with a train of dusky attendants, was ushered with all due solemnity to the gallery of that august chamber. With deep astonishment the black king looked down upon the group of King Lewanika. elderly, somnolent gentlemen conducting the business of the Empire, and many were the questions be put to the in"n-ter. Who," asked the king, is the little gentleman in the wig on the couch at the top of the room ?" Up went the king's eyebrows as the informa- tion passed that this was no other than the Lord Chancellor. Then who can that be," asked the king anxiously, witk his head lying backwards on the back of the bench ?" and it is said that when informed that it was the Leader of the House of Lords, his Majesty wisely desisted from further inquiry.