The Cardiff Times

"fW KWVDRwyRD 7 CTMBST. ✓ SUPPORT OUR WEUi. INDUSTRIES. S USE PARRY & EOCKK'S v\V Made from (SWANSEA) T>V/ PUKE WOOL ONLY. Goods Manufactured by them have their NAME and Trade Mark Label Attached- X NONE GENUINE WITHOUT THIS. 12809c

SKETCHES OF WALES V AND WELSHMEN. i By J. Kilsby Jones. Q Dumb Ministers and the Perils of Printing. Penry closes his supplication to Parliament 111 this impressive strain:—"Thus I have Performed a duty towards the Lord, His Church, my country, and you of this High Court, which I would do if it were to be done again, though I were assured to fcudanger my life thereby. And be it known that in this cause I am not afraid of earth. If I perish, I perish. My comfort is, that I know whither to go and in that day wherein the secrets of all hearts shall be revealed, the sincerity of my cause shall appear. It is enough for me, howsoever, I be miserable in regard of my sins, that yet unto Christ I both live and die; and I purpose, by His grace, if toy life should be prolonged, to live hereafter. not unto myself, but unto Him and His church, otherwise than n cl hitherto I have done. The Lord is able to ftime up those that are of purer hands and lips than 1 am, to write and speak in the cause of His honour in Wales. And the Lord make t £ em, whosoever they shall be, never to be wanting unto so good a cause, the which, because it may be the Lord's pleasure that I shall leave them behind me in the world, I earnestly and vehemently commend unto them, as by this last will and testamen n We you. right honourable »nd worsh.pful -nf this Parliament, poor Wales in remem- krance, that the blessings of many a saved therein may follow her Majesty, your honours and worships, overtake you, light upon you, and stick unto you for ever. The eternal God give her Ma- jesty and you the honour of building His Church in Wales. Multiply the days of her peace over us, bless her and you so in this life, that, in the life to come, the inheritance of the Kingdom of Heaven may be her and your portion. So be it, good Lord. By him that hath bound himself con- tinually to pray for your honours and wor- ships, t ,J(I]Rlf PFNIIY." This earnest address was immediately fol- Jowedbyan Exhortation unto the governors a.nd people of her Majesty's country of Wales, to labour earnestly to have the preach- ing of the Gospel planted among them." !n this monitory appeal, Penry warns his countrymen against self deception, and solemnly rebukes them for their apathy in not seeking a faithful ministry. You are in the shadows of death!" he exclaims, "Come out, that the Sun of Righteousness may shme upon you." an is the persecuting prelates, his censures are directed against all negligent and ungodly ministers; and it must be admitted, by all conversant with the state of many parishes at that period, these rebukes were too well justified. Even the Lords of the Council complain to Whitgift that great Ilunibers of zealous ministers were suspended from their cures, and there was no preaching, prayers, or sacraments in vacant places." ] n some places they state that the persons appointed to succeed them had neither good learning nor good name, but 'Were drunkards and of filthy life." The terms in which Penry denounces the conduct of such ignorant and immoral men are 1. severe, but not unwarranted. To the dumb ministers" he says "I know you, for the most part, to be siily men—poor souls that make a means to in the world. What should I say unto you, who may say of yourselves, as did the foolish prophets, I will cause the prophets and the unclean spirits to pass out of the land ( Though we wear a surplice and black garments to deceive, yet are we but plain husbandmen. Surely the people may as "VeU ask counsel of their thresholds, or desire their staffs to teach them knowledge, M come unto you for any instruction. You ara no ministers, as I have proved—and again will prove. You do most villainously Profane the sacraments, and call for the ^rath and vengeance of God to be poured upon you. Give over your places, or surely I see not how it is possible you should be paved. Better were it to live poorly here for a time than to be undone for ever." It is reason," the considerate reformer adds, ''that your outward estates should be considered. The Lord will provide for you, your wives, and children, if, of conscience you leave the ministry and the magistrate is bound not to see you want. You live (now) on stealth, sacrilege, and the spoil of souls." In mercy to themselves, as well in com- passion to the people, Penry laboured for their removal from a work for which they had no moral titness. It is certain, that, by a ministry without a vocation exactly sp much evil is done to himself by the man who .presumes to exercise it, as good is done to himself by the man who exercises a ministry to which he has been called that whatsoever impresses and edifies the true pastor pro- portionately hardens the false one; that every word of truth which he utters, closes his mind yet more to the feeling of truth, and that he perishes by means of that which quickens others "Woe to the idle shepherd that leaveth his flock his arm shall be clean dried up, and his right eye shall be utterly darkened." But the insensible and corrupt minister is least concerned for the injury he inflicts, and the last to see his own guilt and danger. Armed with parochial authority, tne profligate clergyman, in the times now under review, could make a havoc of souls not oniy with impunity, but with encouragement and sanction, so long as he stood by his order. Penry felt this, and turning from the idol pastors" to the people, he continues-" Let no man do me the injury to report that I deny any members of Christ to be in Wales. I protest I have no such meaning, and would die upon the persuasion that the Lord hath his chosen in my dear country and I trust the number of them will be duly increased But having made this concession, he warns them not to mistake the "hireling" for the real shepherd. The outward calling of these dumb ministers," he tells them by all the presbyteries in the world is but a seal impressed upon water, which will receive no impression." "LabourtheD, to have true pastors over you, and rest not until you have brought this to pass. In the meantime, carry your children a thousand miles to a trre minister of God to be baptized than offer them to your hire. lings. The Word preached, you see, you must have. Live according to it, you must. Serve the Lord, do His will, in every point, you niugt—or so be for ever in your confusion. Difficulties in this case not be alleged, toe if you seek th I Lord with a sure purpose to serve Him, He hath madeapromise to be fond of you. Away," then, with these speeches. How can we be provided with preaching ? Our livings are impropriated—possessed by non-residents. Is there no way to remove these dumb ministers but by supplication to her Majesty, and to plant better in their stead 1 Indeed you will seek none-bet it you can- not remove them. Can you bestow no more to be instructed in the way of life than that which law hath already alienated from your possessions ? You never made account of your tithes as of your own. For shame bestow something that is yours, to. have salvation made known unto you." This is the first glimpse we end in Penry's writings of the spontaneous method of supporting the Gospel. A Church to be pure must be free; and to be free it must be voluntary. It is a congregation of faith- ful men. All faithful men are of one accord. They are not compelled by law but are constrained by lova Love with them is the fulfilling of the law. There is no Christian obedience of which it is not the spring. This was Penry's final appeal, and he left it to his countrymen as a parting legaey. The inhabitants of the city of Thasus being besieged by the Athenians," he says, "made a law that whosoever would motion a peace to be concluded with the enemy should die the death. Their city began to be distressed, and the people to perish with the sword and famine. Hegetorides, a citizen, pitying the estate of his country, took a halter about his neck, came into the judgment place, and spake ( My masters, deal with me as you will, but in auy case make peace with the Athenians, that my country may be saved by my death.' fy case is like this mah's. I know not my danger in these things. I see you, my dear and native country, perish—it pitieth me. I come with the rope round my rutck to save you. Howsoever itgoeth with me, I labour that you may have the Gospel preached among you. T'hough it cost my life, I think it well bestowed. To end, commending you all, both honourable, worshipful ministers and people, unto the Lord and the word of His grace, I take my leave of you in that exhortation of Job Acquaint yourselves, I pray you, with the Almighty, and make your peace with Him, whereby it shall go well with you. Receive, I pray you, the law of His mouth, and lay up His word in your hearts. If you return unto Him, you shall be built up. If you put iniquity far from your tabernacle, the Almighty shall be your defence. You shall make your prayer unto Him, and He will hear you. Christ Jesus, give them a heart to return unto Thee, and be Thou found of them, for Thy mercies' sake. Amen, Amen, Amen. Yea, come quickly, Lord Jesus. Your poor countrymen, who, in all dutiful good will, hath wholly dedicated himself to do you good in the Lord. JOHN PENKV." It is worthy of remark, that with a certain nobleness, almost peculiar at this crisis, Penry always subscribes his name. Trans- parent and honest, he was neither ashamed nor afraid to avow his sentiments. This circumstance, apart from the fact of his incessant labour in preparing his avowed writings, and their uniform gravity and earnestness, afford strong presumptive evi- dence that he was not the author of the pamphlets, differing totally in style and temper, so freely, and as the sequel of the narrative will show, so unjustly attributed to him. The various publications of Penry were brought out in haste and with considerable difficulty. They are badly printed on poor paper, and the wonder is that any copies of them remain. He could not monopolise the press at Moulsey, though he was chiefly re- sponsible for its management. To his great inconvenience, and sometimes in direct opposition to his remonstrances, Waldegrave pushed the anonymous Mar-prelate tracts into circulation. The first of these notorious pamphlets, was printed in 1588 at Kingston, in the same neigh- bourhood, The demand r them was extensive, and they were read with great avidity; so much so, that the binder said, "he worked as if in prison, and that many persons asked him what made him look so pale." As might have been anticipated, the attention of Whitgift was soon directed to these offensive writings, and an active search was made for the printer's hiding- place. Mrs Crome told Penry, on receiving "a load of stuff" at Christmas, that she feared that it would lead to their being discovered. He advised that it should be sent back at once to Northampton. A journey with a well-laden cart from Surrey to Northampton in those days was attended with no small trouble and expense. The countryman who had charge of the stuff," curious, it would appear, to examine the little pieces of iron with letters at the end," was careless in driving, and the roads being in bad condition, he let the wheel of the cart run into a deep rut, and was hindered for some time on the way, in imminent danger of detection. He reached home, however, safely. The type, contained in baskets, together with a black stone," were bestowed in the nursery of Fawsley Manor, and from thence were removed to a room in another part of the town, approached by a winding staircase. During these important movements, Penry might be seen walking through the park, disguised in a long sky coloured cloak of light-colour, and the collar of the said cloak edged with gold and silver 'lace, and a light-coloured hat, with an arming sword by his side." Humphery Newman, "a secret disposer of the books, came first, in a great coat and a green hat, and within a short time after he, wore Sir Richard Knightley's mg ey s livery.' The printers also went about in the same uniform. But this large retinue excited too much notice, and things were no better when the press was taken to an unoccupied farm-house at Norton. Waldegrave was well-known to the pursuivants, having a printing press of his own broken up but a few months before. It was thought best therefore, to make a contribution for hi, and to send him away to Scotland, where he soon obtained employment as King's printer at Edinburgh.

A PREHISTORIC CANOE. —A large canoe, be- longing to prehistoric times, was lately dragged from the bottom of the river Cher, near Vierzon, and is now in the Museum of the Society of Auti- quaries at Bourses. A part of it had been visible for many years at low water, but no one understood what it was until it hap- pened to be seen by M. Beaucbard, who at once perceived its real character. When it was brought to land, fragments which had been torn or cut off by peasants were recovered and pieced together. The canoe is in the form ot a trough, and is said to have a general resemblance to tbe ancient boat found some time ago at Brigg, in Lincolnshire. The present specimen has the special characteristic of being closed at both ends by pieces of wood fixed in vertical grooves. This device seems to have been adopted in consequence of the boat having been iu j ureal by æme accident I

WORKMEN'S I UPIU. BY W. Abraham, M.P., Mabon. THE ANNUAL REPORTS ON MINES. Allow me to call the earnest attention of my fellow-workmen,the miners,to the annual report of our Mines' Inspector! just issued, with respect to the number of persons employed in and about the mines, the mineral wrought, and the number of accidents (fatal and otherwise), with the number of lives lost. Especially would I point out certain salient points affecting the dangerous conditions of employment in our times as compared with our tellow workmen in some other parts of the country. Summary No. 1, which deals with the whole of the mines in Great Britain and Ireland, shows that during the year 1886 the aggregate number of persons employed in and about the mines of the United Kingdom amounted to 561,092, of whom 5,568 were females above ground. The total number of fatal accidents was 869, and the total number of deaths occasioned thereby 1,018, an increase of "3 in the number of fatal accidents, and a diminution of 196 in the number of lives lost, compared with the total for the preceding year. The report also shows the ratio of fatal accidents and deaths to persons employed, the general death-rate being lower than during the preceding year, and lower than the average ot the preceding twelve years. Summary No. 2 deals with mines under the Coal Mines Regulation Act only. The total number of persons employed in and about the mines under this Act was 519,970, of whom 4,131 were females working above ground. Secondly there were 807 fatal accidents and 953 deaths the number of accidents being the same as in the preceding year, but the number of deaths 197 less. Thirdly, there was one fatal accident for every 644 persons employed, and one death for every 545 persons employed. It is alleged that these figures compare favourably with the correspond- ing averages for the ten years 1874-1883, which were 587 and 446 persons respectively. Summary No. 4 gives the quantities and kind f minerals raised in the different districts, the total quantity being 170,000,959 tons, of which 157,518,432 were coal, and 8,862,648 ironstone, the remainder being fireclay, oil shale, and other minerals. There is a total decrease of 3,217,001 tons compared with 1885, the decreasa of coal being 1,832,936, and of ironstone 1,245,964 tons. Summary No. 6 shows the ratio of the fatal accidents and deaths to the number of persons employed in and about the. mines under present and former acts, and it appears that the coal miner's occupation, on the whole, is now fully twice as safe as it was 30 years ago,: while sum. mary No. 7 sht-ws that 210,665 tons of mineral were wrought tor every fatal accident, and 178,391 tons for every death, as compared with 214,651 and 150,629 tons respectively in the preceding year. The present reports demonstrate that South Wales has shared, in some degree, the diminution of accidents and loss of life during last year. The loss of life through explosions of firedamp was reduced from 86 in the previous year to 11 last year; that caused by falls of roof and sides by 17, falling from 81 to 64, though the fatalities caused in shafts were increased from 12 to 16. Strange to say, the loss from miscellaneous causes was the same last year as in 1885-32 in each. But in the gross total the loss of life was reduced by 65-from 224 in 1885 to 159 in the year 1886. This is very satisfactory as far as it goes, but a comparison with other districts would at once shew that the number of accidents and the loss of life therefrom are far more numerous than in other large mining centres. This fact will be more clearly understood by the aid of the following tabular form:— 3> • >T3 y* o c = a • a 3 s 2 _s Districts. H |l IlitJ2111:11-1 Northumber- land, Cum- berland, & North l)ur- „ land, Cum- berland, & North l)ur- „ ham 16,732,5S252.W8 25 5 14 7 56 South WaleSk I7,32l.524|62,209 11 64 11 18 159 Thus it will be seen that while in the South Wales district we only produced last year about half-a-million tons of mineral more than our northern friends and co-sfceam coal workers, there is an almost incredible difference in the number of accidents occuring in the two districts. Our explosions of fire-damp numbered eleven, while they had none in falls of roofs and sides we ex- ceeded them by over 100 per cent., while in the number of miscellaneous accidents we exceeded them by more than 200 per cent. In the total number of accidents for the year we went beyond them by nearly 150 per cent. If we further compare the number of accidents and lives lost with the tons of mineral produced, the difference is more startling still. Here you have only 108,940 tons produced for each life lost during the year, while in the northern districts you have 298,783 tons produced for each life lost during the same period. Why is this so ? is a fair matter for inquiry. Its being so beyond the remotest doubt justifies such an inquiry being instituted. In that inquiry it is obvious to my mind that both employers and workmen would be found parties to the cause. On the one hand, a fair ground to proceed upon would be to try and find out honestly how far this state of things is due to inexperience, incom. petency, laxity, and in some cases over. confidence on the part of the manage- ment. And on the other hand, bow far it is due to inexperience, incompetency, and care- lessness on the part of the workmen. A catas- trophe occurring from over confidence on the part of the management is sad enough. But it has its severe lesson, and being thoroughly experienced and competent, the manager may be fairly trusted not to err from the same cause a second time. A calamity resulting from inexperienced and incapable management is even more sorrowful and serious, for, being inexperienced, the manager cannot benefit from it, and it would be a relief to all parties concerned were he to place himself, for a time at least, under the care and instruction of a more experienced man. South Wales is far too dangerous a coalfield for collieries to be under inexperienced management. On the other band, South Wales collieries and the colliers' avocation are far too dangerous to allow inexperienced workmen to work alone to gain experience without being under the strict charge of some experienced and competent work- man. The Royal Commission on Accidents in Mines found from evidence brought before them from various sources that 41 per cent. of the tot.-I deaths in mices were due to falls of roof and sides. In the case of S-.iuth Wales, as is now proved by the inspector's report, deaths from that source are far above 50 per ceut. of the whole number. In order to reduce the number of accidents from falls, the Royal Commissioners recommend strict observance of; tbe following:—(a) The mainten- ance of ample supplies of timber in localities convenient to workmen. (b) The proper training of each miner to the best modes of timbering and of otherwise protecting his working place, (c) The exercise of increased care on the part of workmen in watching the roof,sides, and face, and protecting themselves in time. Every man of common sense will see at once that it would be ridiculous to expect a man to exercise the recommendation in the third of these provisions unless he were up to the requirements of the second. Hence proper training is the primary requirement of a suitable collier for these mines, and is indispensable to all if due regard is to paid to life and limb in the mines, and to the mines themselves as the property of the employers. Moreover, special rule 270 of those now en- forcediuthe collieries ofMonmouthshireand Ssuth Walesreads as follows:—"No unskilled or inexperi- enced workmen or careless person shall work alone, or at auy operation ifi which there is risk." Little regard has hitherto been paid to this special rule. Nor is it exactly what we think it should be; but with a litcle alteration, and being placed among the general rules of the mines, it I will become not only a serviceable but important factor in future mining operations. The miners' representatives on the sliding-scale comviittee have already memorialised the Home Secretary upon the point, and pressing upon him the importance of making a prevision in hie new Mine* Ciil to prevent inexperienced and un SKinea men wonting aione ac any operation wuere there may be risic in connection with it without being under the care of a trained practical collier. Should he turn a deaf ear to this suppli cation of ours, we shall want and expect the work- men of the various districts to request their members to aid the miners' representatives in obtaining such a c1 au.e as we need inserted in the bill whenever it comes before the House, unless the measure is doomed to be slaughtered with the innocents. There is one thing almost certain—that unless the provision be struck out that the checLweigher is to do nothing but that which tbomes within the quasi-judicial imits of his office, or some assurance be given that it will be erased afterwards, the bill will meet with the fate of many an unfortunate con- temporary, finding, like many other measures, that Ireland blocks the way." There is one other matter that needs attention. Northumberland representatives have been in the vicinity-they need and ask for support. I have no desire to enter into the merits of the dispute between them and their employers further than saying that these men believe the claim of 125 per cent. reduction made by the employers is un warrantable, and, therefore, are resisting it. The Northumberland miners have helped others when in need with no niggard hand. Now these men themselves are in difficulties it is our duty to aid them.

lALL BIGHTS BKSERVKD BY THE AUTHOR. 1 u WELSH NATIONAL STORY. Llewelyn; Or, The Last of the Welsh Princes. An Historical Romance. BY BERIAH GWYNFE EVANS, Author of JBronwen," "Roundhead and Cavalier," "Owelb Hughes, The Heir of Glynafon," &c. d,-c. CHAPTER XXXII.—A TREACHEROUS ACT. Without doing more than simply informing Gwen that he was called away for some days on duty, Meredydd made his preparations for the journey which he felt was of so much importance. He had thought it best to kept Gwen in utter ignerance of his destination and of the object of his journey, lest her fears might be aroused, and her anxiety for his safety be unnecessarily increased. Feeling, too, the importance of making all possible speed, he did not even wait for Gwen's audience with the Prince, but hastened away with his half a dozen companions as soon as he had obtained the necessary documents from Llewelyn. The adventures he met on his road to Castell Tre'r Llyn were only such as were in- cident to the state of the country and the customs of the age. Such was the speed with which he and his party travelled that they arrived at Ap Gwenwynwyn's strong- hold almost simultaneously with the fugitive chieftain himself. The meeting between the successful and the defeated rivals would have been, to most men, embarrassing. But whether it was that Gruffydd ap Gwenwynwyn had indeed at last seen the error of his ways, or that his powers of dissimulation were of an exceptionally high order, lie, in a way, threw himself so entirely upon the generosity of his more fortunate rival that Meredydd felt be could not but meet the advances of bis late oppo- nent. Meredydd was, in the first instance, ushered -d I alone into the presence of Ap Gwenwynwyn. The latter advanced with outstretched hand, and with no traces oi the fury which had possessed him at their last interview, saying Meredydd I have to ask thy pardon for my late folly. Put thyself for a moment in my place. Think that I had loved Gwen from our childhood upward, ay, with a love as warm and honest as thine own, and then thiuk what it was to bear her confess that she loved thee and disdained me. That were surely sufficient excuse for the folly I was guilty of in endeavouring to carry her away, and for the fury I showed when thou didst oppose nle. I think thou can'st well afford to forgive me now." Meredydd was doubtful how to regard this apology, whether as an expression of honest feeling or as a mere blind to throw him off the scent of Gwenwynwyn's real feelings. "Even," said be, disregarding the still out- stretched hand of the other, even it thy love for Gwen could excuse thy endeavour to carry her away against her will, how can it justify thy treachery to the Lady Eleanor?" Gwenwynwyn flushed to the temples, and paused a moment ere be replied. It should be some proof to thee how anxious I am to retrieve my past follies that I place this restraint upon myself now, and do not strike thee as thou standest for speaking thus to me." Methinks thou hast bad too rough an expe- rience alieady of the fruits of striking me to feel wishful to repeat the experiment," said Meredyd bluntly. Tnat was not spoken like a generous foe to remind me of my sorry defeat, nor was i4 epoken like a wise man, standing alone within the wallIS of my castle, where the slightest signal from me would bring a. score of men upon thee. No stop!" he said, as Meredydd was about to in- terrupt bim, and proceeding with greater dignity than be had yet exhibited; I wish not to bandy words with thee. Thou hast asked for an explanation, and I am ready to give it. And I tell thee plainly, I give it more as a token of my desire to repair the wrong I have been guilty of than because I admit thy right to a k me. Now, hadst thou not been to the Court of France before we ? Hadst thou not seen and spoken to Gwen ? Hadst thou not bad cause to think she cared for thee ? -These things I soon found out. Now I ask thee again-what chance would there have been for me as agaiuet thee had I allowed her to return to Wales? Did not my sole chance of winning her rest and depend upon keeping her from tbee? And how else could I have done this than by consenting to the proposal of the King ot England? Tell me not that my duty to my prince should have led me to do otherwise. Love such as mtne was knows no duty but that of attaining its end. Hadst thou loved as I did thou wouldst have been better able to sympathise with the passion which led me to forget all save Gwen." He paused, and then proceeded. "Up to the last moment I fondly believed I might win her over. At the English Court I thought I saw signs which I might iuterpret as being in my favour." Meredydd winced, but Gwenwynwyn proceeded as though he had not observed it. These tokens of her favour led me on to hope that I might ultimately succeed if only I could keep her long enough from thee. This eased my conscience, which at times troubled me, and made me satisfied withthecourselhad taken. Her arrival in Wales, and thy meeting with her, however, not only upset all my plans, but also opened my eyes to the self-deceit I had practised in believing she could care for me. Ouce my calm judgment fully convinced me that she cared only for thee, my reason regained its ascendancy over my passion, and I have given the best proofs of it. To Llewelyn I have proved it by the offer I have made him. To thee, Meredydd, have I proved it by giving thee this explanation. Thou knowest my temper and my pride, and must know too what it costs me to say this. However, I do say it, and thou art not the generous, open-hearted Meredydd ap Ednyfed I once knew if thou refusest now to clasp the haud I over thee in friendship." Carried away by the earnestness of his rival, Meredydd took the proffered hand, saying, I take thy hand, Ap Gwenwynwyn, as much in proof of renewed faith and friendship in thee as of gauge of my determination never to believe thee more shouldst thou to thine own eternal shame now deceive me or Llewelyn, our Prince." That then is enough," said Ap Gwenwynwyn, with more approach to gaiety than he bad yet shown. And now to business. Thou art come, I suppose, from Llewelyn ?" Yes. He reoeived thy message, and sent me to answer it. I have here the authority to receive the papers to which thou dost refer." And the safeguard ?" "That also have 1, and herewith I band it thee." That is well," replied the other, taking the documents from Meredydd's hand; and now to uauu uver 10 my Keeping me papers i promisea. Come with me." Calling for a torch to light them, and carrying it himself, he led Meredydd from the apartment through numerous narrow and tortuous passages. Soon their path led them downwards, evidently to the neighbourhood of the dungeons. "Art afraid to follow me?" asked Ap Gwenwynwyn, turning round with the torch in his hand. "I am afraid of nothing," was the reply, but it strikes me thou dost keep thy deeds and docu- ments in a strange strong room." The deeds and documents, as thou knowest, were not of a nature to bear the light of day," laughed Gruffydd, and, certes, badat thou as much cause to hide them as I had, thou wouldst admit that I acted with great wisdom in placing them where I have. But here we are. Wilt thou hold the torch while I unloose these bolts and bars ?" Meredydd took the torch while his companion proceeded to undo the numerous fastenings which secured the door. At last he opened it. "There," said he, in this room thou shalt I learn more than thou ever didst before. Mmd the steps as thou goest down, and light me to follow thee." Meredydd proceeded cautiously to descend the broken steps, and having reached the bottom turned to light his companion. What, however, was his surprise, and indeed his dismay, to see the ponderous door swinging too and closing with a clang. The truth flashed upon him in a moment. He bad been duped, and led with his eyes open into a trap skilfully laid for him, and was now a prisoner in the hands of his most bitter enemy. With a cry of rage he rushed up the steps to the door, which he endeavoured in vain to open. The clanging of bolts drawn and bars falling, accompanied by his rival's mocking laugh, all too plainly indicated how futile would be his attempts. Unfortunately, too, in his frantic rage he bad struck the torch against the door, and extin- guished it, thus leaving him in total darkness, and unable to make any examination of the cell in which he found himself imprisoned.. At first it seemed to him that he was enveloped in total darkness. Not a ray of light could be discovered. As his eyes became more accustomed to the gloom, he found that though no direct ray of light fell into his cell, yet that there was a faiut reflection of light. This, howevei, tended rather to make the darkness visible than to dispel it. Overcome by his feelings, he sat down on the bottom step of the broken stairs, which he had again descended, and bowed his head between his hands. How bitterly did he repent now, when it Was too late, that he bad not informed the Prince of the occurrances of the evening of Ap Gwenwyn- wyn s flight Had he done so. some precautions might possibly have been taken. A mocking laugh above his bead at length aroused him, and, looking up, he discovered his enemy peering at him through a grating in the wall far beyond Meredydd's reach. And how dost thou like thy new quarters ?" asked Go uffydd. My hospitality exceeds they expectations, does it not ?" Meredydd disdained replying, but perceiving by the light of the lamp which his captor held in his hand that a rough stone bench ran along the far side of his cell, he went and sat down there, apparently heedless of his enemy's words. "That is right," said Ap Gwenwynwyn U I prithee make thyself at hume. There is none to Sa J iu6 nay" bench is thy table, thy seat, and t y couch, and thus thou see6t thy apartment is well furnished. I daresay thau wouldst desire company. Mayhaptherats which generally visit this place will hardly be to thy taste, and yet they will I not be said nay to. Gwen wculd doubtless be more welcome company, but I can hardly promise tbee that she shall come there. however, I am not without hope of being able 00 show her thee at this grating shortly, and she will doubtless enjoy with me the sight of her would-be lover m this plight." Even this taunt failed to move Meredydd, and the other continued Well, I never saw thee pout like a spoilt child before. I begin to regret that I have given thee such welcome. Harder fare and worse lodg- ing would, mayhap, bring thy tongue loose once more. It did not use to be so rusty as it seems to-day But the best of friends must part, and I must leave thee. I have business elsewhere, and seeing thou hast ever been so warm a friend of mine I shall favour thee with the secret of it. Thanks to the safeguard thou didst give me but a while since, I am free to come and go among Llewelyn's men -is among my 7°: f.Tw,as k,nd ofLth^ thus to think of me. I shall therefore, in the first pl endeavour to make good my promise to let thee see Gwen here. Methink, I have a bait x L rnu i U • I Wherewith I can catch her. That being done, I make my way to London, where I shall complete those arrangemexkts, which I have as yet only begnn, to secure the downfall of Llewelyn. Finding that nothing eould rouse Meredydd to rmffS Tar6nt aUentlon to his taunts, SrnS wrfnWynWyn,with a m*ttered curse, turned and left his prisoner once more alone. Had he seen him shortly afterwards-seen first iw, t 6 0UtbUr8t of furious anger to which he gave way, and then the despondency which succeeded it when he saw how utterly hopelass his condition was-even Ap Gwen- wynwyns malice would have been satisfied. As it happened, however, this pleasure was denied him. Meredydd remained impassive until the sound of his enemy's footsteps had died away in the distance, and he was satisfied that whatever display of feeling he might indulge in would not be seen by any human eyes. While thus Meredydd gave rein to his eelingu, Ap Gwenwynwyn was busy making his arrangements. His first care was to secure the followers of Meredydd. This was easily done, for in an enemy's stronghold the opposition of the half. dozen men who had accompanied Meredydd would have availed but little even bad they known what to expect. They were, however, seized singly and disarmed before they even doubted the genuine- ness of the hospitality extended them. Ap Gwenwynwyn rightly conjectured that Llewelyn would take steps to search for his am- bassador when he found he did not return. The wily chieftain had therefore taken measures to stock his castle and to garrison it strongly to withstand any ordinary attack which might be made upon it. Having done this, be Rave strict orders that upon no account was the castle to be purreudered, whatever tnight happen, and directed the commandant whom he left in charge to put Meredydd to death if it became evident that the caatle must fall. But of that," said he, there is little fear. My men are numerous enough and brave enough, and thou art sufficiently well provided with tood to withstand a twelve weeks' aiege. Long ere that I shall have returned to Wales at the head of an English army, and then we shall see whose head will be highest in Wales." (To be continued.)

HOLIDAY PLEASURES. I I like to take my charmer to the sea, I like to have t.he breezes there blow free, I l'ke to hear the musio of the band, I like to see the fireworks quite gvand. And watch the Rt>man-&widle and the rocket I like to treat my darling to bard clams, I like to watch her as roast-beef she craml. I I ke to trive her plenty of ice-cream, I like a very liberal chap to seem, But oh, it's dreadful trying to my pocket.

In the dark cloud of a great sorrow the beautiful bow of God's promise it often seen as we look up.

WELSH GLEANINGS. (By Lloffwr.) Does anyone know whether the editor of the "Street Railway Gazette" (Wright, Monroe, and Co., Chicago, New York, and Boston) is a Welsh- man ? His name, William Hughes, seems to suggest this. His work suggests it still more strongly. His paper is much exercised just now as to the origin of the word "tramway." In a recent article thereon the derivations of the word given by different authorities are considered, beginning with the well-known one of Outram's road. Then are considered the claims of the Scotch to the word. In Lowland Scotch tram means (1) the shaft of a cart or car- riage of any kind and (2) a beam. or bar. Finally, the article suggests the claims of the Welsh to the origin of the word. The editor says thus :—" It may not be out of place, perhaps, to suggest another probable origin whence the word tramway may have been de- rived. Dr. Win. Owen Pughe, in his Welsh dictionary (published 1832), defiiie,Trarn, s. m. (tra-am) — An extreme range round. Tramwy, s. m. (tram)—A. transit; a going about. Tramwy, v. a. (tram,)—Ho go about to go often to fre- quent to pass over to traverse. These defini- tions are given without any reference to our modern tramways-they simply convey the sense of the Welsh words tram and tramivy and the verb tramwy means to pass regularly over the same path or way—backwards and forwards." So much for the Cymro, William Huws. If any of my readers can set his mind at rest by proving whether his idea is right or not, I shall be ready to forward to him any articles which reach me on the subject which may appear of any value. A paper mentions as fin item of interest that one of the jewels in the Queen's crown is a pearl from the river Conway, in North WaleR. She has a far more precious jewel under her crown, the purest gem in all her wide empire, and that is poor little Wales herself! I wonder if she values the latter as much as she does the former? 4r The efforts of the Welsh poet Lewis Morris to do honour to the Jubilee seem to have been almost as great a failure as the Laureate's. Evi- dently the Welsh muse won't be bought in this way more than her less lively and imaginative English sister. It is to be hoped that the same weight will not hang to the pinions of the awen of the bards who compete for the chair at the Lon- don Eisteddfod. Possibly writing in the vernacular will enable them to escape the danger into which the English poets appear to have fallen. Y jprych for March 12th says that if the com- mittee of tho National Eisteddfod are farseeing, they have doubtless before this invited the Prince of Wales to preside at one of the meetings. They can point out to him the value of this as an advertisement for his mother's jubilee. And besides this, it is one of the fixed laws pertaining to the National Eisteddfod that every committee must degrade itself and Wales by begging of the Prince of Wales to give the Welsh nation a slap in the face once every year." Those who have read theie gleanings will not fail to be struck by the association of ideas. .p:r :< The Christian World has a column every week under the title" Notes from Wales." I under- stand the writer is the Congregational minister at Rhyl, the Rev. D. 13. Hooke. Among his notes this week I find that tho "bilingual difficulty" in Lower Montgomeryshire had become so pro- nounced that a special effort had been made to meet it by having a purely Welsh service in the morning, and a purely English one in the eveniug. When Wales becomes really bilingual, the bi- lingual difficulty" will give place to the bilingual advantage." « I notice that among the arrangements already made for the great May meetings in London, the Rev. T. Eynon Davies is to speak at the Libera- tion Society's meeting in Spurgeon's chapel, and that Mr T. E, Ellis, M.P., is to speak ou the political phase of the question at the same meeting. # Principal Michael D. Jonfs, Bala, has been trotting out his pet hobby of Welsh emigration before the Brythonwys Society in London. His address seems to have left a deep and favourable impression. A practical suggestion was made that a skilled scientist and an experien ed agriculturist should be sent as a commission to inspect and report upon the capabilities of Patagonia as a field for general Welsh emigration. The patriotic Principal of Bala College has acted the part of dry nurse to the infant colony at Chupat Valley, Patagonia, since its first settlement. He could well slng;- "Myft sy'n m"gu'r baban." dre. It is doubtless very gratifying to him to see signs that the baby, after a somewhat puny babyhood, and after requiring the most tender nursing to help it get over its infant ailments, should now be showing 3igns of increased vitality and vigour. Michael"—as the principal is familiarly known-has ever been confident of the ultimate success of his colonizing scheme, and certainly the signs of the times seem to justify that conviction. This is how Welshmen abroad keep green the memory of Gwyllt Walia :—" A Californian paper gives an account of a Welsh eisteddfod held at Hamilton Hall, O,'klaud, California, under the auspices of the Oakland Society of Cymmrodorion presided over by Mr Richard Jones, president of the society. A large number of prizes were given for the singing of Welsh songs, &c. Several bardic addresses were given in Welsh. A prize of 100 dollars (about £ 25) was awarded to the Oak- land choir for the singing of Y Blodeuyn O'.af," by J. A. Lloyd, and Let the hills resound, by Brinley Richands. The gold medal for the best Welsh essay, on The Advantages of California to Immigrant g, was awarded by Professor Thos. Price, the adjudicator, to Taliesin Evans, and its publication by the society, for sale in Wales, was recommended. It was announced that next year another festival would be held, at which a prize of 250 dollars, and a gold badge worth 50 dollars, would be given for the best choral eiuging, the competiiou open to all nationalities on the Pacific Coast, and the subject to be announced within thirty days. The London Echo is responsible for the follow. ing: Au irate Welsh correspondent is very angry because we dropped a tear of sympathy over the children of the Marquis of Bute, who are to be taught Welsh. He thinks that we show a marked want of respect for the Welsh languit" we can assure him that we should as soon think of speaking with contumely of the axis of the earth, or of the meridian of Greenwich. We are quite aware that when Adam named the animals in Eden he spoke pure Welsh, and we have reason to believe that Welsh is the only language in use in Heaven. To go a step further; our veneration for the Welsh language is so profound that we once tried to learn it, encouraged by the fact that Lewis Morris describes it as being as musical as Greek." But we stopped short at the mutations. What can a stranger do with a language in whioh head" is sometimes "ben," sometimes "pen," sometimes "mhen," sometimes "phen;" or in which a cow is sometimes buwch," some- times "fuweh," and sometimes "mnwch?" Such a language requires a dictionary constructed on a novel principle; the words should be arranged so that the learner would look for the last letter in a word instead of' the first. Wt hope our correspondent will be satisfied by the expres- sion of our belief that, as Welsh is the language of the hearth and the sanctuary, it will live for a few centuries to come. He has a little girl of three who can speak it fluently. We can only say in all humility, such knowledge is too wonderful for u; it is too high we cannot attain unto it." Is there not a proverb which aaith that a one-eyed man is regarded as a king in the country of the blind? I wonder if this accounts for the fact that the writer of the foregoing paragraph considers the attainment of Welsh to be beyond his powers. < >• He is not the only Englishman who holds wrong views of Wales and Welshmen. The Liverpool Review is publishing a series of articles on Men of the People." I glean the following from the report of an interview its special representative recently bad with Mr Wm. Matkin, secretary of the General Union of Operative Carpenters and Joiners "In Liverpool we generally believe that the great colony of Welshmen is the cause of jerry building, and that jerry building and Welshmen are inseparable," I observed. Mr Matkin smiled at my ignorance, and replied, "About Liverpool, Welshmen certainly have somehow got mixed up with jerry building, but it is not so elsewhere. In London and throughout the country you do not find it the case. Jerry building is quite a distinct system,and has no con- nection with the Welsh that I know of." This is a variation of the tune, "Taffy was a Welshman," &c. I am glad to learn that a movement, which has already received considerable support, has been initiated in Bangor for the cultivation of the neglected artistic tastes of the Welsh people and tho gradual restoration of what may be regarded as the lost home arts and industries of the principality. Col. the Hon. W. E. Sackville West is tho chairman of the committee, which includes Mr D. Griffith Davies, B.A., the Rev. R. W. Griffith, Professors Gray and Henry Jones, and several working men. Dr. Price has accepted the honorary secretaryship for Bangor, and Messrs Munro Hughes and J. Mostyn Jones have agreed to act in the like capacity for the Bethesda district. About 50 artizans and apprentices have already enrolled themselves as members of the classes and have volunteered to suppiy free of cost the labour necessary for the fitting up of the rooms, the branches of industrial art it is intended to include being clav-modelling, stone and wood carving, and artistic metal work. Among the forthcoming issues from the Welsh press, few will be more generally welcomed than the poetical works of Williams of Pantycelyn, "The sweet singer of Wales." It is expected to appear before the end of this month, and the number of subscribers to it is already said to be large.

LIKE IT VHAS IN SHERMAN. Br CARL DCSDER. Der poor house vhas full of peoples who pelief dot to-morrow vhill bring 'em luck. No man can buy der constitutional rights of another, but maype you can lick him und make him afraid to exercise 'em. Der older I vhas der more I pelief dot young folks vbas pecoming wery foolish und doan' appre- ciate sometings. r Jf 1 !*e t0 g6t °°P a <luarrel between neighbors I doan hint aboundt riches or greatness or intelli- genoe. Ishust make oudt dat one woman s bonnet cost der most. If somebody vhas porn mit der feeling dot dis world vhas created for him he vhill sblip oop al- most eafery day. Xo man takes oop more space as four cabbages. It vhas awful good if you can forgif your enemies, but some mans haf a great deal more respect for you if you vhas a hardt kicker. Charity vnas a great and good thing, but vhen we make oafercoats for der shildren of Africa and doan' buy buy some flannels for our own family maype we hadn't better shtop a leedle. When a poy vhas whistling be can't fix oop some Thay to sbteal my grapes or carry off my gate. It has taken soma men fifty years of hardt work to reach a position in which dey shall haf der abuse of der public for der remainder of deir dav- I "CARL DRN-NIRA MEDITATES." I People should cultivate a happy expression of countenance. If you meet a man mit a grin on 'his face you doan' suspect dot he hadt a fight mit his wife only fife minutes pefore. or dot his furni. ture vhas to be sold py a shattel mortgage. Go a leetle slow. Nobody can boil eggs in cold water. It vhas petter to be at der tail-end of der procession dan to shlip down at der front und let somepody vhalk all oafer you. I vhas took notice dot eaferr mans haf his weak. ness. Before we pitch into him pecause be falls let us consider how it vhas dot we shtand up. I doan' pring oop some shildren myself, but I can tell my friends exactly how dey should pring oop deir*. It I want some advice I go mit a lawyer und pay for it, und the more he sharges me for it, der more apt I vhas to pelief it vhas good. more apt I vhas to pelief it vhas good.

ATTACHMENT OF AN ARAB HORSE. An Arab and his tribe had attacked in the desert the Damascus enravan. The victory was complete; and the Arabs were already busy in packing their rich booty, when the cavalry of the Pastiaof Acre, who hvd started to meet this caravan, suddenly poured down upon the victo- rious Arabs, killed a great number, and took others prisoners, and, having bound them witil ropes, led them tn Acre to present them to- the Pasha. Abou-el-Marsch, the leader ot this plun- dering expedition, had received a ball in his arm during tiie skirmish. The wound not being mortal, the Turks had tied him upon a camel and taking possession of his Arab chareer, led away both the horse and his rider. Irie night before the day ou which they were to enter Acre, they encamped with their pri- soners in the mountains of Saphadt. The wounderl Arab had his legs tied together with a thong of leather, and was stretched near the tent in which the Turks were sleeping. During the night the pain of his wound kept him awake, and he heard his own horse neigh amongst the other horses, which according to oriental custom, were shackled around the tents. He recognised its voice; and could not resist the desire he felt to speak once more to the companion of bis life. He dragged himself painfully along tiae ground by the aid of his hands êIolId knees, and at last managed to reach his courser. My poor friend," he said, what wilt thuu do amongst the Turki ? Thou wilt be imprisoned beneath the vaults of a khan, along with the horses of an uga or pasha. The women and the children will no longer feteh the camel's milk, or barley and doura in the hollow of the hand. Thou wilt no more range freely through the desert like the Egyptian wind nor will thy breast ever more cleave the waters of the Jordan. If I am to live in slavery, do thou at least be free! There go, return to the well- known tent. Tell my wife that Abou-el-Marsch will never return more and thrust thy head through the curtains of my tent to lick the hands of my little children." While speaking thus, Abou-el-Marsch had gnawed with his teeth the gnatVhair rope with which Arabian horses are shackled, and the unimal was free. But on be- holding his matter bound and wounded at bis feet, the faithful and intelligent courser instinctively understood what no language would have been able to explain to him. He lowered his head, snorted ever his master, aud then, seizing in bis teeth tbe leathern girdle which encircled his waist be started off at full gallop, and carried him as far as his own tent. The moment after the noble horse had arrived, and had deposited his master on tbe sand at tbe feet ot his wife and children he expired with fatigue. The whole tribe bewafled him; the poets sung his praise: and hit name is constantly uttered by the mouth ot the Aryfo of Jericho.

Spend not all that you have; believe net all that you bear; tell not all that you know.

TALK OF THE TOWN. MOSTLY FOOLS—BUFFALO BILL-A FINE LINZ WHAT POINT OF VIEW DOES—A SOLEMN FBItAJt- THK ABBE PtJl'S HIS FOOT DOW.V—EASTER CICLE. BRATIONS SWORD AND GUN TRAnITIOS-Á UNIQUIC INDUSTRY FATHER KELLEfiltR THE STAGE INDIGNANT-COL. MAPLESON—ENGLISH OPERA LIMITED—DISHES SET BEFORE THE QUEEN. The percentage of remarkable persons in the world is very a-rall-in ifr i te-siinal, in fact. Fifty millions, mostly fools," said Oariyle, of Britishers and Celts—a dictum, from his point of view, more sound than polite. Every man judges his fellow from bis own specialty—I may be learned in all the learning of the Egyptians, but if 1 know nothing of the fiddle, I am a very ignoramus in the eyes of the violinist-and therefore it comes naturally that only a very small number achieve acknowledged pre-eminence in the world, and BUFFALO BILL is one such. How he came by his sobriquet is interesting, as set forth in an interview. debited by a contemporary. His correct name is the Hon, W. F. Cody, of Scott County, Iowa. Cody's youth was cue of thrilling adventure. He was a born horseman. He earned his ahas from bis skill in killing buffaloes. In 1867, a dozen of these animals a day were required to feed the employes on the new Kansas Pacific Railroad, and his skill was such that he killed, in seventeen months, 4,280 buffaloes—besides a number of Indians, who made the work perilous. The interview m question is full of stirring inci- dents one, in particular, narrates bow. when acting as scout for General Ivlerritt, during the Sioux War, in 1876, he fought on challenge, hand- to-hand, the famous chief, Yelluw Hand, a great fplllow, gorgeously attired in top plumes and royal paraphernalia, and scalped him. Yellow Hand's father, Cut Nose, offered four mules for his son's scalp, war bonnet, and arm% but Cody refused. He has the trophies, which will, doubtless, accom- pany him to this country, where, in May, at the American Exhibition, be will appear, bringing with him a portion of the Wild West of America, to constitute a mar- vellous and unique show. Buffalo Bill is still young, is remarkably handsome, with brilliant black eyes, flowing raven hair, great moustache and imperial, is straight as a dart, and strong as Hercules-a splendid specimen of grand man- hood. What will this Western god think of Great Babylon ? He will feel stifled, to begin with. I wouid he were here this Passion week, and I would ask him to give me his untutored opinion of the relative iniquities of public-houses and theatres. You may get drunk, if you like, on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday-you see malt yields the Imperial Exchequer a revenue, and must be encouraged—but you must not pay to be amused. Theatres are private enterprise, and when this is the case THE STATE CAN AFFORD TO BE RELIGIOUS. After all, it is only point of view, a focus which is subject to manipulation. Point of view hangs a good many men every year-" Girix's Babies." I read that a number of very chic dames of the Parisian aristocracy have been doing Lent accord- ing to their point of view. This enables them to combine merriment with douleur. Once a week during the solemn season they give-a Dinner cf the mourner?," at which they (twelve in number) appear in the deepest black. The dining-room is hung in black, the table is black so are the chairs, relieved with silver ornamentation. The cham- pagne glasses are made in the form of skulls, and the dishes are ornamented with designs of immortelles, death's bead, etc. The footmen are dressed as mutes: an invisible organ di-courses sad music. The Abbe DiAvin, the favourite father confessor of the faxbionable world, has eiven out, in his sermon, that be will refuse absolution to any person who "persists in this frivolous and criminal folly"—a folly which is an epidemic in the gay city. I wonder-I am always wondering—if his Reverence approves of Miracle Piays more than likely. So you see point of view is everything. Easter is the day on which the Great Messenger of peace and goodwill to man rose from the grave. It is a chief day in the Church Rubric. The State annroves of it. and celebrates it. appropriately,by A DISPLAY OF ARMS p-erhaps in the interests of temporal pexce-that the natives abroad may bear and tremble. The word itself is a corruption of Ostermonah, the month of the Ost-end wind (wind from the east). It was formerly a common belief that the ran danced on Easter Day; perhaps he does, only we islanders of the fog and the mist cannot always see him perfonn his pas scul. There is a tradi- tion that the world was "hatched" or created at Eastertide-hence the far-away ongin of Easter eggs. Of all curious callings in this frlobe, that of monstrosity-manufacturing is the most ourious- and ingenious. It seems that, after all, Dame Nature is not responsible fnr all the eccentricities exhibited as her productions—most of them are works of art. The Pen ifall GAZETTE has been interviewing the professor of the only monstrosity manufactory in Europe-in London. Sometimes the professor does get real models. One, for instance, was a sheep with a human arm growing from its shoulder one, not real — the distorted conception of the professor — was a little nigger, with two heads and f"l1r arms. This gem was inclosed in an air-tight glass caase, and on the pedestal was the announcement that the child had been embalmed by the dynanua embalming system of Dr. Cxfferari. A remark was hazarded that the process of embalming set forth on the pedestal seemed peculiar, to which the Professor replied that they always put some- thing of that kind, as it gave a kind of scientific air to the curios. Here are a few, copied from the real subjects at present in various musaurus in England a woman's skull with sta'1! horns growing out of the forehead, a baby with wings, a two-faced baby, a half-monkey child, an infant with an eye in the centre of the forehead, and a one-bodied child with two perfect head,. The Siamese-twin conjunction is comparatively common, but a tw-headed body rare. The two-headed nigger, in cae complete, is 220 it is to be ehjwn with a Zulu woman wll(-Lile public are to be invited to believe -waz its mother. The said public more readily credit a negro monstrosity, and as it is more easy to imitate a black skin than a white one, this in- clination is to the advautage of the industry. A good Chinese trade is done by the Professor, the Chinese being, in monstrosities, easily imposed upon. They have a weakness for freaks of nature, or, rather, art. Genuine iu."«ustro«iues ace difficult to obtain families in whioh they occur are averse to publicity, uaturaliy. Ouiya. few years ago, a. monster in a noble family died, aged 100 years. The particular form this semi- human creature took was a toad—that i" it had a toad's head. It was said to be the head of the bouse, but was kept in camera through the suc- cessive generations it saw, and that, in conse- quence, three earls sat in the Upper House illegally. The means necessitated to keep this skeleton in the cupboard hidden, gave rise to wild ghost tactions. To those who assert that the popularity of the priesthood is no longer what it was in Ireland, tbe agitation caused by the arrest of priesthood is no longer what it was in Ireland, the agitation caused by the arrest of I FA I RE U KELLKEEE is sufficient answer. Father Kelleher is re- spected by all classes.and creeds in the troublous country. Nothing helps a cause so much ¡¡.¡; a martyr. The profession are scornfully indigaant at the patronage bestowed upon the latest poacher Ull their preserves, Mrs Brown-Potter, wh"se pretty face I gave last week. Expectation was at its height when that lady made bar bow to the public before the footlights <&$»e"Ha"y. market. I had a prior engagenxMlt*' ae 4Id jprit see the debut, but. except for the r-igfit of a wry distinguished audience, I fancy I bad (she best <4 it in absence, being in the tine galleries ot the Nineteenth Century Art Giillm-i-es in Conduit- street, at a brilliant convertksutwc given by the Salon. At a little after eleven, some of the Hay- market audien'-e dropped in, with Oh, such a stupid affair," Can't act a bit," This sort of thing ought to be stopped," All patronage." and so on. The patronage was Royalty. The Prince of Wales went to three rehearsals, and his blooming protegee had the honour of being entertained at Marlborough House several time. Mrs Bancroft did the coaching, and took part in the piece. Almost every theatre, concert-hali, and nilLi!Ric- hall in London is doing good business. Th@v have even stood the strain of Oiympia. now finished. No fewer than half a-million of persons passed the turnstile of the great hippodrome. Opera, too, is full every night. If ever any one deserved well at the hands of a British inuc-k* -(jvin company, it is I COL. MAPLSSON, and his well-earned success is a source of con- gratulation to his numerous friends. Thir popular impresario started under great dis- advantages and discouragement he lim mastered all, and now reaps bis reward. "I Carti)en:' hitherto has been the favourite, I recommend country cousins to hurry up for the treat ere tbe house is closed. English opera is now in the hands of a limitec1 company, under the styie of the Carl Rosa Company, Limited-a little p e in which, I fancy, Mr Augustus Harris has his lucky finper. Wili it interest my readers to hear that her Majesty was in very good appptitÆ at 13irmina. ham, and at the grand luncheon did ample justice to the inenu., particularly to a bakpd tapioca pudding, of which she enjoyed a liberal Uelubig* This was pr^p red by hpr special command, and also included cinnamon fhvourin, of which the. Q'teen is very fond. Ground cinnamon was handed round with every dish, even with truit. Hpr Majesty absorbed seltzer and whiskey, ordered by tbe faculty. The strawberries Herved ..t the dessert cost 26, per lb., the asparagn- 30.. per lb. also. Tnese items I gather from Mrs A. B. Marshall's (School of Cookery) The Table, the best by far away of our culinarv journals. Ita information on gastronnmieal subjects is special. At Balmoral, Her Majesty used to visit an old woman in a cot, who always baked her august visitor a scone on the hob, which the latter ate with great relibh. ZINCO.

THE CAUSE OF THE DIFFERENT. Poor Young Artist. That is an ex.f.,tc-Pyof one of Raphael's works, madam. An Art dealer in Bond-wreet wants twenty-five thoaeand pounds for the original. You oan have this for two pOUQdlJ ten. Madam That seems to be a wide difference in prioe." Poor Young Artist: "Yes, bat I don't have to pay Bond street rei)t4 von tnowu