The Cambrian News and Merionethshire Standard

-———— tEhe Cambrian ipxtos Friday, May 19th, 1905. ELE3lhNTARY EDUCATION PROBLEMS. IT is said that proposals are under con- sideration by the Board of Education for withdrawing all over the country grants paid for children between the ages of three and five years in attendance at elementary schools. It is a monstrous thing that young children under five years of age should be sent into elementary schools, and it is equally monstrous that the child- ren of the poor, however strong and how- ever successfully they have passed their 44 standards," should be kept at school up to a fixed age instead of being allowed to earn something towards their own maintenance. There is a third cviI., namely, the long hours of tuition each day. Four or five hours a day is simply tyrrany for children, and tends not to intellectual development, but to a mental and physical degenera- tion, far more serious than any ordinary work could be of which they are capable. A further evil, and a very serious one, is the number of subjects taught-all imperfectly, owing to their number. Children are seldom even taught to read intelligently or to write or spell. Too much is attempted and the results are most unsatisfactory and very costly in all sorts of ways. What is most needed is that ample provision should be made for those who reveal cap- acity and who, after they have gone to work, manifest a desire to educate them- selves. In every workshop there is the girl or the boy who only lacks opportunity to excel. This opportunity should be generously afforded, instead of spending millions in trying to drill educa- tion into children who are so constituted that all learning is painful and useless drudgery to them. There is no reason why the time limit shouid not begin at five, or later; and why it should not cease at twelve in the case of all children who have passed the fifth or sixth standard. It seems a queer way of helping poor children to starve their bodies of necessary food in order to feed their minds with unnecessary food. Boys and girls who have begun to work and who find that knowledge is necessary for them should be helped in every possible way. One of the most useful ways would be to enable the young man or young woman who has done well during appren- ticeship and can pass the necessary tests, to enter technical colleges where they would be perfected in their art or craft and become masters. Every employer knows of cases in his own experience in which not only the individual, but the country would have been benefited if in- struction in the higher branches of crafts could have been given gratuitously to those who had served their apprenticeship with credit and who had manifested ex- ceptional ability. The Education Revolt all over the country is tending to bring about some most necessary reforms.

CARDIGANSHIRE RAIL- WAY SCHEMES THE inhabitants of Cardiganshire arc be- coming sccotical about the success of local railway schemes. The County Council have now agreed to contribute a sum of ^2o,cco towards a railway from Lampeter to Aberayron and New Quay. Mr. GRIERSON. the manager of the Man- chester and Milford Railway, had put the case of the Lampeter scheme before the Committee and Mr. C. S. DENNISS, the manager of the Cambrain Railways, had put the case for the Aberystwyth scheme before the Committee, but the only scheme which the Committee had to aeal with was that from Lamoetcr. One of the most enthusiastic and influential supporters of this scheme is Mr J. C. HARFORD, of Falcondale, a large land- owner in the district of Lamneter, and a thorough hard-working man of business. If anybody can bring this project to a "successful issue financially he is the man, but whether it is possible remains to be seen. Abervstwyth has had its chance, as Mr. D. C. ROBERTS pointed out. and now is Lampeter's opportunity. Cardi- ganshire is lamentably lickin- in railway communication, r/id there can be no doubt that both railways. if they could be made would add greatly to the benefit of all the people. We are not going to attempt to measure the chances of success, and we have no sympathv whatever with those who are always pleading for delay and who arc never happy except when raising obstacles. A large sum of money has to be raised apart from public grants, and if the people in the district believe in the project they must show their faith by putting their hands in their pockets. Z! We think the people are now sufficiently alive to their own interests not to be content to remain much longer without railway accommodation. We sec no reasons, except financial ones, for not carrying out both projects. Increase of i prosperity is impossible without railway communication, and whv the Aberyst- wyth project was not more heartily sup- ported remains one of the curious facts of the times. There was no influential local leader. In great projects of this kind there are always individuals who think that the whole financial responsi- bility should rest on the other people." If this Lampeter scheme is to succeed those who are in favour of it must pro- vide money liberally in order that finan- ciers at a distance mav see that the scheme is supported locallv. If the line were continued to Llandilo the advan- tages would be very great. Everything depends on the willingness of local men to make sacrifices. What the people have to learn in the whole of the district is that in this matter Mr J. C. HARFORD is their leader, and a very capable leader too. If they want the railway they must rally round him, and must not think that they have done all that is necessary when they have ex- pressed a hope that the line will be made. They themselves must find some money. If one of them happens to have a piece of land he must not expect to sell it to the railway company at ten times its worth, but must be as reasonable as he expects the large landowners to be. If it should so happen that the Lampeter scheme falls through, there is nothing for it, but every possible assistance should be promptly given to Mr. HARFORD in his efforts on behalf of the public, and it should never be forgotten that tjhe money spent is not wasted, but is a wise investment that will bring in both direct and indirect returns. We know, of course, that there is always the person who says that Mr HARFORD will be advantaged. Yes, he will be advan- taged, and so will every other inhabitant in that part of the countv. We shtil watch with interest the efforts made by Lampeter, New Quay, and Aberayron, to secure this railway, and if a good fight is made and the line is not constructed after all, the whole country side will be better for the effort. I

THE EDUCATION REVOLT IN the House of Commons on Monday night there was one of those wretched sham battles over the Welsh Education Revolt that mean nothing and that tend to obscure the real issues. Everybody knows that the Liberals and Nonconfor- mists of Wales have been determined since the passing of the Education Act of 1902 not to comply with its conditions, and they are equalb- determined to de- feat the Coercion Act. To pretend, therefore, in the remotest degree that non-compliance on the part of proprie- tors of church schools with demands for structural repairs and improvements is the reason why rate-aid is not given to those schools is an unworthy evasion of the real issue and a trifling with details. Why not at once join issue with the foes of liberty on the main question? It would have been better on Monday night to have avowed the truth which the Govern- ment knows, and not to have fenced with the Education Department on side issues. For reasons and in ways that need not now be discussed, Merioneth has forced the .pace somewhat, but the battle is the battle of Wales and not of Merioneth, and it is a pity, perhaps, that Merioneth should seem to stand alone even for a moment in a struggle that applies with equal force to every part of the Princi- pality. Nothing of any consequence was said in the course of the debate on Mon- day night as regards the main battle. We have all known for years that the Government is determined to give local rates towards the maintenance of elemen- tary schools, managed by clergymen, in which denominational instruction is given and whose teachers are subject to reli- gious tests. The Liberals and Noncon- formists of Wales knew at the outset the nature of the war that was entailed by resisting the Act of 1902. There has never been any doubt whatever, as far as we could see, that the fight would be long and bitter. Monday night's debate has revealed nothing, has mended nothing, has altered nothing. A few h' members obtained much-d sired oppor- tunities of making speeches, and that is all. Nothing has been lost or won. Everything is just as it was before and the fight is still to be fought. There is nothing peculiar in Merion- ethshire except, perhaps, the appearance of unreality created by an alderman of the County Council acting as honorary secretary of the Education Committee. The situation would have been simpler if the official work had been done by the regular officials and in their name, as in other counties, instead of making it appear as if the Merioneth Education Committee were not entirely responsible from first to last for all the action taken, or as if they had delegated all their powers and responsibilities to an hon- orary secretary. If the Education Department expect that Merionethshire will not be equal to whatever is required in the prosecution of the Revolt they will be disappointed. We do not know what the next steps will be but we are sure they tend to the disintegration of the elemen- tary education system in Wales and will daily widen the breach which has been made between Conformists and Noncon- formists. The people never were so ready for extreme action as at the pre- sent time. The only fear on the Non- conformist side is that the action will not be rapid enough or extreme enough. The Government may make a sort of Ireland in Wales, but there is not the least likelihood that Nonconformist children in future will be forced into Church of England Schools. In the meantime other Welsh counties which have been somewhat outpaced by Mer- ionethshire are surely reaching the point where the Education Department will have to intervene, however ineffectively and unjustly. Some good speeches were delivered on Monday night, but there was an unreality about them which we. at any rate., will not pretend to ignore. The Government is using its power without regard to justice or equality that is clear as noonday. The great majority of the people of Wales are going to protest with all their might against the Educa- tion Act of 1002, and all the talk of their parliamentary representatives about re- pairs was not to the point and really meant nothing. Everybodv in the House knew it meant nothing. The Education Department has not onlv got the Educa- tion Act of 1902 behind it, but it has also the Coercion Act of 1904, and it is use- less for Wales, t!o complain that the Education Department does not observe the law which she herself defies. The House of Commons debate was a sort of fusilade with blank cartridges and meant nothing. The real war which is pro- .¡ ceeding means a good deal, far more than the clerics imagine. The VICAR of Carnarvon has resigned his position as one of the managers of the National Schools because he dissents from the fighting policy of the Church. He says, we think with truth, that what is called the fighting policy is not the best for the Church or the country, and certainly it is the worst of all for the teachers. We did our best to avoid this policy, but the Church of England was determined to fight, and there was, there- fore, absolutely nothing for Liberals and Nonconformists except to bow down meekly under oppression or to fight to Z!1 the uttermost. The full dress parade in the House of Commons on Monday night may have been tactically necessary, but to us it is part of that unreality which hinders pro- gress and disguises the shame and horror of real conflict. We do not wish to quarrel with the senseless formalities of the conflict, but Mr LLOYD-GEORGE evidently felt the insincerity of the whole performance in the House of Commons and his speech lacked something and so did all the other speeches, as our readers may discover for themselves on reading them. We prefer the Irish methods which pretend nothing. On Monday night the Irish members did not vote with the Welsh Revolters. They would not even pretend that far. We should have been glad if on Monday night the Welsh members, instead of piffling about pro- vided school repairs, had boldly declared war against the Government and had discarded all masks, disguises, and pre- tensions for the plain, brutal truth. The position of the Church of England is far more shameful and pitiful than the members of that Church realize. They look down upon Nonconformists as more or less irreligious, while they view them- selves as the champions of the true faith. They see nothing wrong in their policy of grab pursued from 1870 until 1902, and they believe that they are justified in forcing what they call true religion upon every child they can force into their schools. You might as well talk to a stone wall as to the average cleric. He is on GOD'S side, and there is an end of the matter. When you meet the Non- conformist minister it is no use talking to him. He also is on GOD'S side, and there is no more to be said. This is the story in brief of all the denominational wars of the past. Religion has no more to do with this conflict than it has to do with any other senseless strife. Force will decide the issue, and in this case force is on the side of the people of Wales. To outsiders, and probably to those who will follow us, it may seem as if, with the exercise of a little sense, the whole senseless conflict might have been avoided. The conflict could not have been avoided. It is the inevitable out- come of long processes which ripen to strife in ways unseen. The brute—the tyrant-in man survives and hence war, it mav be between nations like Russia and Japan, or between Wales and the Government, or between individuals, but it is always war.

MUNICIPAL PROBLEMS. IN ancient times the inhabitants of town and country were left to violate every law of health until at last plagues broke out and the people died like flies. Black death, typhus, cholera, smallpox, and other scourges, were common, and it was no rare thing for the country to Z, be decimated. In those days there were no sanitary laws and no attempts were possible to enforce municipal cleanliness. There are millions of people in the United Kingdom to-day who are as utterly regardless of the laws of health as their forefathers were five hundred years ago. Even Town Surveyors, Sanitary Inspectors, and other munici- pal officials act as if stopped drains, contaminated drinking water, damp dwellings, contiguous pigsties, rotting manure heaps, absence of iresh air, and general uncleanliness, were of no conse- quence. In these days the death-rate has been lowered, the average length of human life has been extended, and many of the more hideous filth diseases have been practically abolished. Much still remains to be done however, in many directions, and owing to the ignorance and mistakes of the past the older com- munities of the country are face to face with difficult problems which must be solved at whatever cost is necessary if progress is to be made in future. just now, at Aberystwyth, the inhabi- tants are brought face to face with the fact that the Corporation Officials, in whose hands are placed not only the prosperity of the community as a summer resort, but the very health and life of the individual inhabitants, do largely as they please. Attention has been called week after week to evils which threaten public health and no attention is Tlaid to them- No attempt is made to defend the sort of thing we described in the issue of April 14th, under the heading Ought not to be." nor has the least effort been made to remedy the evils. The officials are masters of the situation and treat protesting ratepayers as obiects of ridi- cule who ought to know better than to protest against crueltv to animals, or danger to themselves and their children. The wrong done to the members of the community is two-fold. Evils such as we have pointed out almost every week as existing in one part of the district or another are recognised as existing by the representatives of the neonle, and offi- cials are apoointed. The money neces- sary to secure efficient supervision is spent and the evils continue. The re- sults are that not only is the money thrown away, but the danger it was in- tended to remove still remains, and worst of all the people are lulled into a sense of false security from which every now and then thev are rudelv awakened by the presence of an epidemic of filth dis- ease. The sanitary neglect of rural local governing bodies is greater and more disastrous than even that of similar bodies in towns. The nnc dominating desire of rural members of sanitary authorities is to keep down the local rates. A man who lives in a filthy form that anybodv can smell a mile off wants to know why so much fuss is made about a bit of dirt! He is not troubled about the sickness or death of other people, and when he himself is stricken he does not believe that he is a victim to filth. One of the great municipal problems is how to bring home to the members of a community their own personal loss in health, comfort, and money by muni- cipal neglect. It is not onlv in sanitary matters that the people are a a disad- vantage. There is neglect of opportu- nities, for instance, which keeps the v:l- lage from developing into a town and prevents the small town from increasinvT in size and importance. The sort of spirit we now refer to was well illustrated at the last meeting of the Abervstwvth Board of Guardians by a member of that I body, who complained bitterly that the County Council at its last meeting had agreed to vote jQ$oo towards a sana- torium for the treatment of consump- tion, one of the greatest scourges of Cardiganshire. His second complaint was that the County Council had agreed y Z, to advance -C.z0,000 towards a local rail- way scheme which will benefit a very large number of people if it is carried out, and will do much towards lifting many farmers out of the hopelessness in which they now exist. His third com- plaint was that the County Council had agreed to contribute £ 2,000 towards the Welsh National Library Fund if the site is fixed at Aberystwyth. He could not for the life of him see even the moral right of this last grant! It would be quite useless to tell him that whatever enhances the prosperity of Aberystwyth is beneficial to a larger number of people than live in that town. If the three schemes are carried out successfully the whole of Cardiganshire will be benefited every year by more than the ^,22,500 granted once for all. It would be to the financial advantage of the farmers of Cardiganshire if i>oo,ooo were spent in the county on new railways and improved roads. The sanatorium at Llanybyther, with which Colonel DAVIES-EVANS is closely identified, will be the means of teaching the people how to avoid con- sumption, and it is well worth the while of everybody to contribute towards that end. New railways will make cultiva- tion profitable that is now unprofitable, and will make life possible that is now impossible. If the National Library is placed at Aberystwyth it will make fur- ther developments easier. It will elevate the town of Aberystwyth. It will re- dound to the credit of Cardiganshire, and we believe that the money expended will repay itself over and over again. We do not blame the Board of Guardians critic. He does not see and, therefore, thinks that the things he cannot see do not exist. What can be done with great municipal problems when the mem- bers of local governing bodies fail to see which way progress leads? The apathy and indifference of the rank and file of the people in regard to municipal problems is most dishearten- ing. When the individual is appealed to, he admits that the case is very sad, but he does not think it is his duty to do anything. The newspaper, he thinks, ought to do something and the officials ought to move, and even the members of the local governing bodies, he thinks, are responsible, but he himself pays his rates and that is all he thinks is due from him. The average members of local governing bodies tend to place too much confidence in officials who may neglect month after month to carry out resolutions but are very difficult to tackle for their neglect. The ordinary repre- sentative of the ratepayers is not pre- pared to be at constant war with negli- gent officials who firmly believe in leav- ing bad alone. There is one thing to be said for dilatory and aoathetic officials, namely, that if they were active in the discharge of their duties they might bring themselves into conflict with influ- ential members of the community who would retaliate. We know that people who benefit by things detrimental to the public common weal do retaliate. There are numerous oreat municipal problems awaiting solution. The best men in every community are needed to leal with them. The work is often dis- tasteful and thankless, but if the life of the future is to be higher and better and leaner than the life of the oast then the work that lies before fach community -nust be discharged honestly and bravely by the best men and women in it regard- less of consequences to themselves.

EDITORIAL NOTES The weather during the week has been favourable for farming operations. There has been some rain, much sunshine, and some keen north and north-east winds. Some part's 'of the district have been visited by heavy thunder. Visitors are becoming more numerous. • • It seems to be generally agreed that there will be no dissolution of Parliament until the autumn of next year. There is still, there- fore, plenty of time for Mr. NAYLOR to make himself popular by means of prize cups and in other ways among the electors in the Carnarvon Boroughs. Liberals would be wise not to trust to the Parliament lasting until next autumn. It is said that Mr. ALFRED ONIONS is to be approached by an important section of the Llanelly Labour party with the object of his becoming Parliamentary candidate for Car- marthen Boroughs. AVould it be right to describe him as likely to be a strong can- didate? If Cardiff instead of Aberystwyth had been supported bjT eight of the counties of ales as the site for the National Library what a lot we should have heard of it. The MAYOR of Cardiff seems to have bad enough of the Peniarth manuscripts. The £20,000 obtained by-| Aberystwyth, in addition to a splendid sit, has been a bigger piU than Cardiff could swallow. < » At the Cardiganshire County Council meet- ing it was stated that the death-rate of that county is high. One of the reasons for tne high death-rate is the neglect of the rural sanitary authorities. This neglect is flag- rant and fatal. It was wisely agreed to make a grant to the Consumption Sanator- ium at Alltymynydd. The Privy Council Committee appointed to consider the claims fmm Aberystwyth, Cardiff, Carnarvon, and Swansea, for the Welsh National Library and Museum met on Saturday and wisely resolved not to take oral evidence as it was unnecessary. THe offen- sive bounce and bluff of Cardiff have been greatly rcdiioed during the past week or so. Whatever may be the decision of the Ixov- ernment as to the site for the TVetsn National Library and Museum the enthus- iasm evoked aB over Wales in favour of Aberfstwvtii aud the unanimous decision of the Cardiganshire County Council to con- tribute £ 2,000 towards the fund, will never be forgotten. What has been demonstrated is that "VVefeh nationalism is a living force and that the people are able to make great sacrifices for cherished objects. If anybody' had said twelve months ago that a sum of more than £ 20.000 wou'ld be obtained in aid of a Welsh National Library at Aberystwyth they would have been met with a good deal of incredulity. Major LEWES in supporting the motion moved by Mr. J. M. HOWELL and seconded bv Mr. THOMAS EVANS, touched the right chord when he said that the fight had evoked great enthusiasm and had made them feel that they would have to struggle and do their best- in order to obtain that valuab e institution for Aberystwyth. t. Attention was called at the Aberystwyth Council meeting on Tuesday to the danger- ous condition of the footpaths over Consti- tution Hill. How is it that the officials never call attention to anything? At Llandudno it has been decided that it would be wicked to let chairs tor a fee on Sundays to enable visitors to sit down on the beach. People may go to Llandudno if they please, but on Sundays they must not engage & chair, but must be as uncomfortable as possible. Remedy: go somewhere else. The Cambrian Railway traffic receipts for last week show a decrease or £495. This reduction is not the first and is indicative of the general state of trade in the whole district. People are not going to creep along the West Coast of Wales when they can be taken quickly elsewhere. Building is at a standstill. If this part of Wales will not keep pace with the times it must drop behind: that is the whole story. Cardiff has vaunted itself ridiculously in reference to its efforts to provide a fund for the National Library and Museum. Aber- ystwyth has provided more than £ 2 10s. per head of the population. Cardiff has pro- vided about four shillings per head of its population! If Cardiff had equalled the financial effort of Aberystwyth instead of having a fund of about £ 35,000, it would have had about £ 350,000! Cardiff is a, won- derful plafor brag and foreign seamen. The war is still in a state cf suspension. The hostile fleets have not yet met, and she armies are not in collision. There has beau a skirmish and it is reported that some hundreds of Russians were slain. France is the subject of much comment in the news- papers on the alleged ground that she is favouring the Russian fleet contrary to the provisions of international law. There is very little said about peace, but much about internal disquietude in Russia where revolu- tion threatens on every side. Mr. W. CROOKS, M.P., has been expressing the hope that when cheap cottages are built the owners will be content with a moderate return on their outlay. Why do not Trade Societies invest their large capital in work- men's houses, and why are workmen discour- aged from becoming the owners of their own houses. Lord ONSLOW says it has been forced upon him that it is difficult to find labourers in rural England owing to the lack of housing accommodation. Rural labour is very dreary, is very badly paid, and offers no career. Railways have greatly helped to depopulate rural England and it is possible that motor cars will redress the wrong. • In the House of Commons, on Friday, the Women's Enfranchisement Bill was talked out. This is what happens year after year, with variations. Women are not in earnest in their demand for the franchise. They work for the return of men to Parliament who are known opponents to their enfranchise- ment! Women want to enjoy the rights of the free and the privileges and immunities of the enslaved. is impossible, so women play at asking for the franchise and they make no political progress. When women are in earnest in their demand for the franchise, they will get it, but they will only get it with all the responsibilities it entails, and among them the responsibility of national defence. Clothes are still the chief concern of well-to-do women. When the rank and file of working women realize the injustice of their position, they will make short work of their exclusion from the franchise. Bishops and dukes are beginning to take interest in the housing of the people. It is often said that the cost of building houses for working people is too great. There is something in the fact that working men charge so much for building their own houses that they cannot afford to pay the rent! The day of isolated cottages is over and the day of developed villages has come. If farmers and landowners wished to see an increase in rural population, they could build twenty cottages at a time in villages. The fact is, farmers and landowners do not want to see rural popu- lation increased. Village industries could be developed and allotments could be made profitable, but the average landlord and farmer look upon increased rural population as an evil thing. At the Cardiganshire County Council meeting Mr. C. M. WILLIAMS once more en- larged on his utterly absurd notion that the mileage of main roads in each Poor Law Union ought to be about the same. No con- tention couSd be. more opposed to the best interests of the people. One Union might require five or six times as much main road as another Union, but we know Mr. WIL- LIAMS'S foot-rule sort of measurement of other things besides main roads. We are giad that his amendment was defeated in re- ference to a main road in the Newcastle Emlyn Union. It is most important mat no feeling should grow up that the northem end of the county is opposed to the southern end. The county is one and we hope there will never be aiin, upper and lower end con- tentions. < Once more the question of extending the boundaries of Aberystwytn came befoie the Council on Tuesday. The subject was re- ferred to a committee and, well, it is not the first time if. has been referred to a committee. There are many strong reasons why the boundaries should be extended. It is most important, for instance, that the town should be so increaesd in size as to enable it to be divided into wards for muni- cipal election purposes, it is also desirable that the town should control its own ele- mentary; schools!. Then there is the con- trol of some slaughter-sheds near the bor- ough, but we do not count much upon this, as there are some horrible pigsties within the borough. There is also the need for power to deal with some of the more offensive places just outside the present borough limits. Then there is the fact that people who enjoy all the advantage of the boroe.gn escape its burdens of rates. At the Aberystwyth Town Council met- ing on Tuesday attention was once mere called to the state of Victoria-terrace. Hie subject was laughed at. Many weeks ago the roadway on the Terrace opposite the Waterloo Hotel was opened up. Tne road- way has never yet been made good. Weeks before that the crossing at the Great Dark- gate-street end of Market-street was dis- turbed and was put down so badly that a pool of water re.sts there: it has never been repaired. The bridge over the Ystwyth is in a dangerous state. Is all this neglect a laughing matter? We think not. The shocking state of the streets is not a ques- l' tion of the steam roller, but of something else. Look at' the Town Hall. Look at the Trefechan colony of pigs. Look at the manure thrown into the harbour. Look at the new work at the lower end of Portland- street. Look at the Cemetery. Look at Plas Crug. Look at the rusty old lamp- post with its broken glass opposite the Women's Hostel. Look at the awning irons left out all through tie summer months. The fact is the officials of the town do just as they please and the rate- payers seem to be helpless. Are they help- less ? The Daily Telegraph says that Mr. LLOYD-GEORGE is a very smart solicitor. This statement is not intended as praise, but it is nevertheless quite true. < The result of a vote of the citizens of Glasgow on the question whether the art galleries should be opened on Sundays is announced as follows:—For opening, 53.389: against opening, 45,181. And in Scotland, too! In England a discussion is going on as to whether it is wicked to travel on Sun- days even to go to Church. In another dis- cussion the question is whether churches and chapels should use gas and electric light on Sundays. Mr. CHAMBERLAIN'S fiscal agitation has been completely snuffed out. The Conser- vative defeat at Brighton convinced Mr. BALForn that dear food not a thing the people of this country will eat. There really is nothing now for the Birmingham prophet but the House of Lords. He cannot wreck any more political parties, for there are none to wreck. Poor man, he has been a series of gigantic failures. He has even ceased to be a considerable figure in the House of Commons. Better present him witn a testi- monial and make a peer of him! The Welsh Revolt goes on and the disruption of elementary education pro- ceeds sTiowly from step to step. Under the provisions of the Defaulting Authorities Act the Board of Education have deducted a sum of J3364 from the grants due in the provided schools in Merionethshire. The grants will go to the support of voluntary schools in respect of which the Council is to be in default. There is no occasion for excite- ment. It is for the opponents of the Act to retaliate with whatever force they can com- mand. There are signs that the wages of farm servants are rising. The annual May hir- ings for farm servants opened at Notting- ham on Saturday. Wages were higher in all branches and wagoners obtained as much as L27 per annum, in addition to food and lodgings. Domestic servants for farm- houses were extremely scarce. The demand is great for willing, active women servants in towns and for men who will work and take interest in it. This means that the drudgery and low wages of rural districts will be abandoned. If the state of things at Nottingham becomes general landowners and farmers will build houses in villages and there will be a decrease in che migration from the rural districts to towns. The Aberystwyth Cemetery is just now assuming the appearance of a hay-field. The builders' yard is in full operation. Nothing has been done to the paths, the borders, or the fences. Displaced gravestones are scat- tered all about the place as freely as ever. A new heap of stones is beginning to be formed; it is now about two tons in weight. The attempt to get this home of the dead kept in decent order, seems to be hopeless. A long piece of barbed wire has been fastened across a wide portion of the ground in order, we suppose, to trip people up. If anybody falls over this wire and is hurt the Corporation will be responsible—if the Cor- poration is responsible for anything. This device is a very questionable one, and now that attention has been called to it defence in case of accident" would be impossible. When will the inhabitants of the town in- sist upon this place being kept in order? The Government threaten, or promise, a Redistribution Bill'. A large number of people speak and write as if nothing had to be considered in parliamentary representa- tion but numbers of people. It seems to us that for a place made up, say of a Hun- dred cotton mills, or a score of large collier- ies, one member would represent those workers as effectively as half-a-dozen or a dozen, while there might be twenty-thou- sand people scattered over six or eight separate communities each Witn a different set of conditions and relations, which ought to be represjented in the national Parlia- ment. What is needed in Parliament is that all the interests and relations and con- ditions of the people, as well as the people themselves, should be represented there. That is why it is monstrous that women have no representatives in Parliament.

CAPETJ MADOG, PENLLWYN S.S. Bi-Monthlv Meeting.—Last Sunday the bi-monthly meeting of the Sunday Schools in Pen- llvvyn disrridt was held at the Capel Madog Chapel. The new representatives from all the schools were present. From Cwmerfyn, Mr J Howells; Ponterwyd, Mr R Evans; from Blaeri- rheidol, Mr J James; from Cwrnerfyn, Mr 0 Williams; from Dyffrvn, Mr W Pugh;from Dewi, Mr W James; from Madog, Mr W Morgans; and from Penllwyn, Mr Richard Jenkins. Also the moderator, Rev D Morgan, and secretary, Mr W Evans, were present. The ten o'clock gath- ering was a meeting for the young people and the children. Several songs and short anthems were sung by the choir. Mr J. Rees ably conducted and the accompanist, Miss Richards, did her part with good taste. The children did their work well, being made fully acquainted with the his- tory'of Joseph. Mr Wm Morgans and Mr Evans questioned the children. At eleven o'clock the teachers' meeting was held The Sunday School members in the district were the same as when the last meeting was held and the average at- tendance a shade better. Taking all together the work in general did not appear to make much increase. Messrs D Jones and Lewis Edwards, who inspected all the schools during the last two months, presented their reports Some of the schools had done good work during the las; year, others had not done so well. The Congre- gational festival is to be held at Penllwyn this year. The two o'clock meeting was for papers to be read and address to be given on the subjects arranged previously. Miss James, Lhvyn, re*d a pnoeron our duties towards Sunday and 1 he claims of the day upon us as Christians. Mr ft vans (C.M.). Dytfryn, rt-ad a paper on congrega- tional singing. Many practical hints were given by the speaker that would much improve the singing if carried out. Addresses were then given by Messrs D Jones, L Edwards, and Wm Evans on the work of las year and all the work for this new year. Everything calls for more life, y I energy and work than ever. Some means should he used to rouse the teachers and the schools to do their best In the evening, the whole school was catechised in the 12th chapter of the gospel of Luke by the Rev D Morgan. The spirit of the diwygiadwas warmly felt in the evening meet- ing. The Word of the Lord was with power Some of the old influences of "holi pwnc" were to be felt The diwygiad hymns were heartily sung by old and young.

LLANWENOG A Rare Virtue.—Mr John E. Jones, provision merchant, Tylorstown, suffered, with many others, in business through the great coal s rike of 1898 and was in consequence obliged to make I an arrangement with his creditors. He has, however, recently paid all his creditors to the uttermost farthing. His friends, recognizing the raritv of his virtue and strict business in- tegrity, gathered together at the Queen's Hotel, Cardiff, on Thursday evening, thillth May, to show their appreciation of his honourable act and presented him with a purse containing 100 guineas and a gold pendant, and to Mrs Jones a handsome silver tea and coffee service and an illuminated address. Mr Edward England, of Cardiff, presided, who w,;s supported by several representatives of well-known business houses in South Wales. The Chairman said Mr .Tones had worked hard and steadfastly to pay back his creditors, and more than that, he had made a provision in his will that in the event, of his death his creditors were to have the first call on his estate. A communication was read from the Khondda Valley Grocers' Association tendering their sincere congratulations to their brother I' tradesman and expressing the hope that others would be able to tollow in the footsteps of such a honourable man of business. The Chairman having made the presentation, Mr. Tones very suitably responded on behalf nf himself and Mrs. Jones. Mrs Mary Jones is the youngest daugh- ter of the late Mr David Jenkins, of Clynmeherin, Llanwenog, who met her husband for the first time nt Dalis Fair at Lampeter some ten yea-s ago when, in addition to purchasing horses, he also gained a wife, a lady who had from their wedded day had been to him a devoted helpmate.

Why send printing out of town when you can get it done quite as well and as cheap fit the Cambrian News Printing Works. Terrace-road.

LAMPETER Lecture.—On Wednesday evening, at the Memorial Hall. M Evan Evans (Deheudir), Bryn-road, delivered a lecture on Cynfigen ai chanlyniadau," (Jealousy and its conse- quences). Mr Joseph Davies, mayor, pre- sided. Temperance.—On Tuesday evening, the Rev Morris Morgan. Swansea, gave an address on Temperance at Siloh ChaPEL The attendance was rather small considering it was a public meeting and not confined to any particular denomination. The Rev. E. Berwyn Roberts presided. Vote of thanks to the speaker was proposed bv the Rev. T. LI. Roderick and seconded by the Rev. D. Jones. Noddfa. Singing Festival.-The annual festival of the Lampeter and District Congregational Union was held at Soar Chapel on Wednesday last. The Union comprises the chapels of Bethel, Parcynrhos Capel Erw, Cellan; Ebenezer, Llangybi; Esgairdawe, Fialdy- brenin; Llanfair; Rhydybont. Llanybyther; Soar, Lampeter; Tynygwndwn Troedyrhiw; and Llanddewi Brefi. The chairman of the Union is Mr John Williams. Cellan trea- surer, Mr D. Williams. Old Bank; and the secretary, Mr Tim Richards. Ardwyn. The day was fine and a large number or people came together. The conductor was the Rev. Eli Evans. Llanfair, who went through his work to the satisfaction of all. Miss R. A. Thomas presided at the organ and played in a praiseworthy manner. The morning was set apart for the children, who sang well. The morning meeting was presided over by Mr Joseph Jones. Llwynhyrrvd the afternoon by the Rev. T. Lewis. Wyddgrug; r nd the evening meeting by the Rev. B. Carolan Davies, Tvnvgwndwn. The meeting-- were characterised by great religious fervour and many prayers were spontaneously d- livered between the singing of the various hymns. The singing was also effective. The: o were no certificates for passing tonic solfa exam- inations presented this year. as is usually the case. which, perhaps is due to the revival meetings having for a time eclipsed the tonic solfa classes as it has done mostly all other meetings.

LLANON. First Victim.—The death has occurred of the first victim of the motor car at th: place. It was luckily only a hen. When winged creatures are not able to get out of the way we may reasonably expect socn some of the children, or the decrepit, as victims. Music Certificates.—Mr J. T. Rees, Mus. Bac., held an examination at Lla-ion last week for the Calvinistic Methodist district. Nine presented themselves from Llanon, one from Penrhiw, and one from Pennant, Miss Jones, the Post Office. The candidates, from Llanon, were taught by Miss Kate Jones, Temperance House, and were all successful. Junior certificate: David M. Stanley Evans, Marion-terrace, and Annie M. Rees, Radnor House. Elementary certificate, Jane Emily James, Alltwyd Farm; Mary Anne Jenkins, Sunny Villa. First grade certificate: Miss Kate Thomas. Belmont; Miss Catherine Ellen Jones, Cledau Cottage; Pollie Jones, ditto.; Annie M. Morgans, Glandwr Cottage. Se- cond grade certificate, staff notation, William Owen Davies, Priory. Calvinisticj Methodist Sunday Sduoods}.—. The results of the South Cardigan Sunday School examinations held last April, have just been made known. Those who obtained above seventy per cent. of marks are in the first class, those above fittv per cent. in the second class, and those above thirty per cent in the third class. The results for Llanon are as follows:—Under sixteen. PoUie Jones, 90; Lizzie Evans, 90; Annie M. Morgans. 81. Under twelve, W. O. Davies, Priory, 93 (second prize); Jennie Evans, 81; Alioe K. Rowlands, 78; Catherine Jane V aughn, 77. Under ten, Elizabeth Olivia Evans, 92; Eliza- beth Ethel Jones, 88; Margaret J. E. Jones, 85; James E. E. Jones, 77. The results for Rhiwbwys Chapel are: Above twenty-one, J. Richard Jones. 85 (fourth prize). Under twenty-one, Margaretta Jones, 84 (third prize); Margaret J. Jones. 80. Under six- t-een. Tom Williams, 98 (bronze medal); Anne J. Morgans, 89; Elizabeth Jones. 88: Evan Jones, 85; Annie Davies, 78. Under twelve, Hannah M. Williams, 87; Daniel J. Davies, 85; Avarina Evans, 84; John Jones, 82; John- R. Jonest 78; Edward Ivor Williams, 63; D. T. Morris, 62; Evan J. Davies, 60: Dd. Jenkin Edwards, 59; Annie Daviee. 31. Under ten, Bessie Jones, 90; Margaret M. Jones, 85; Thomas Jones, 81; M. J. Jones, 74. The results for Bethania Chapel are:-U-nder twenty-one, William Thomas. 82 (fifth prize); David B. Jones, 76; David Jones. 62. Under sixteen, W. L. Jones. 82; iviaggie Evans, 81; Mary J. Edwards, 77; Mary J. Evans, 72; Jenkin Jones, 51. Under twelve. John Baker 69; W. D. Evans, 54. Under ten, SLannah Ellen Jones, 89; L. A. Baker, 89; Annie Evans. 82; M. M. Baker. 82 • E. J. Evans, 81. Owing to some mishap in the arrival of the examination papers at Penrhiw. the can- didates there did not get tneir papers to sit. C.M. Sunday Schools (Aberayron District). —The revival meetings held during the winter throughout the district have affected the ex- amination held this year, as is evident by the number of candidates which sat. Two chapels only are represented. Pennant and Pontsaeson. The candidates who sat at Pen- nant obtained the following results:—Under twenty-one, I, Mary A. Evans. David Wil- liams; III. Un yn treio. Under sixteen, I, Henry Hughes. Under twelve, I, Maggie Thomas, Katie Williams, Kato Evans; n. ,c T. Gwyn Jones. Thomas Evans. Isaac Emrys Evans. Under ten. 1. W. T. Gwy i Jones (fifth prize); W. D. Williams, Isaac E. Davies, II, Jane Emily Davies. The following ia the list of those who sat at Pontsaeson :—Under twenty-one, I, Mary Ellen Ellis; III, Maggie Evans. Bessey Davies. Under twelve. I, Lizzie Davies, Johnny G. Williams. Margaret J. Evans; II. Annie Jenkins. Under ten I. Li zzie Jenkins, Sissie M. Willianis and John W. Evans.

^i;w< ast:.b emlyn Rural District'Council.—The monthly meec- ing of the Rural District Council was held on Friday, at. the Board Room.—Mr John Lewis. Mc-iro.? Hall, Drefach, was, on the motion of Mr W. J. Wallis-Jones, seconded by Mr. Thomas Da-,ies unanimously elected chair- man of the Council for the ensuing year. Mr Thomas Barrett proposed and Mr Thomas Jones seconded, that Mr Walli«*-Jones be appointed vice-chairman.—An amendment was moved !,y Mr Daniel Lewis and seconded by Mr Thomas Davies. that Mr Henry Da '>c\« he appointed. Mr Davies having intimated that he would not accept the ofEce, Mr John Lewis proposed and Mr Dd. James .->econd?d I', p as a frefill amendment, that M-r John Davies, Pcntgarreg, be re-elected to the office.—On the votes being taken, six voted for the pro- position and seven for the amendment, wh- v was declared carried.—A unanimous vote of thanks was accorded to Mr Them as Barren, the retiring chairman, for his excellent ser- vices during his year of offict,It was decided to widen the road leading from Pencad or to Dolgran in four places so .1S to admit cf vehi- cles passing without colbs.wn.-On the motion of Mr William Jones, seconded by Mr ')1. Lewis, it was resolved to take over as a high- way the road leading from lctwen to Fhi^.y- rhiw as soon as it is put in a state ox repiir satisfactory to the Council's Surveyor.—Mr. Wall's Jones moved that the County Council be asked to take over as a main rood that portion between Llandvssul Bridge and the Half Moon. Ponttwelly, so as to complete the mnin road communication between Cardigan- shire and Carmarthenshire.—This wa, agreed to.—A letter was read from Llanfihangel- :1rrth Parish Council, nskinf? that the road leading from Whithen to Maesnewydd be widened to admit of a more convenient pass- age of vehicles.—This was agreed to.

local aitb Bietrkt Metals.—Lead f;-i-Tn soft foreign prompt. £ 12 17s 6d paid and buyers over, d *12 18s 9d vane; 1 ng.isb. ;13 3s 9d to jjjTi is. Spelter firm—-G.O.B. July paid at £ :-3 fs Qd prompt. J325 12s 6d buyers: S, ;23 i s 6J. Suang Among Ladies. — The Marquess of Lcndc.nuc.n-y. Pres.dent of the Board cf Edu- cation, speaking at the jubilee oe-lebration of the Ladies' College, Cheltenham, said he scarcely dared in that assembly to say a woid in favour of novel roaoinrr but. he had r, -ays been a novel reader He would not advocate indiscriminate use cf the ncvel. but suggested that mothers and fathers should make a selection and read to their children. Slang among young 'ladies was a thing against which he was always preaching, and nnrents shaula discountenance ..It, Lord Londonderry will open the new build- ing (the Mltehe1 Wing) of the City of Lon- dan College on Friday. May 26. Tie Lord -vor v il preside, supported by1 the sheriffs, The extendcn has involved an expenditure of £ 30.000.