The Cardiff Times

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WORKMEN'S TOPICS. <> BY W. ABRAHAM, M.P. (MABON). RESTRICTIVE LEGISLATION. The Statute of Labourers, 4s was stated in tbe article of last week, the I of fixing tbe rate of wages by statute cOQ)tn6nced in the year 1350." Preceding the of this statute occuned the "Great kfche," by which it was computed that one- third of the whole population of the Kingdom Wished. The mortality, by the most reliable 8cCounts, was enormous and appalling. It was 80 described as having been peculiarly deadly to Persons in the vigour of life, and it is certain that the immediate consequence of the plague was a Dearth of labour, an excessive enhancement of I ^ages, and a serious difficulty in collecting the harvest of those landlords and landowners "ho depended on a supply of hired labour for the POfpose of getting in crops. We are told that the dearth of labour was so great that the crops in aiany places were suffered to rot in the fields for the want of hands to gather them in that cattle cheep roamed at large over the country for '•ck of herdsmen that land went out of cultiva- hon; and that the grandees were utterly im- poverished. One of the effects of this great and bidden scarcity of labour was. Parliament h aving broken up when the plague was ragin g, the issued a proclamation, which he addressed to "illiams, the Primate, and circulated among the sheriffs of the different counties, in which he directed all officials that no higher wages than "hat was customary previously shoald be paid, "Oder the penalties of fines inflicted by the discre- tion of the court; and thus labourers were placed the mercy of the court, as it were. However, at appears that the king's mandate was almost QIUversally disobeyed, for the farmers were com- pelled to leave their crops ungathered, unless they complied with the demands of the labourers. Seeing chat his proclamation failed, the king tried another scheme, and had recourse to fining those who paid higher rates than was customary. But the labourers remained the masters of the situa- tion. THE PROVISIONS OF THE ACT. As soon as Parliament coald meet in 1350, the Proclamation was reduced to the form of a statute Jailed the Statute of Labourers, which contained clauses, as follows:— I I, No person under 60 years of age, whether 'erf or free, shall decline to undertake farm labour at the wages which had been S'Jstomary in the king's 20th year (1347), lXeept they lived by merchandise, were regularly tagaged in some mechanical craft, were possessed M private means, or were occupiers of, land. The (old was to have the first claim to the labour of Jerfs, and those who declined to work for him or lot others were to be sent to the common gaol. 2, Imprisonment is decreed against all persona "ho may quit service before the time which is Sxed in their agreements. 3. No other than the old wages to be given, and 'he remedy against those who seek to get more is to be sought in ths Lord's Court. 4. Lords of manors paying more than the sostomary amounts are to be liable to treble damages. S. Artificers are to liable to the same condi- tions; the artificers enumerated being saddlers, doners, farriers, shoemakers, tailors, smiths, Carpentera, masons, tillers, pargeters, carters, and others. 6. Food must be sold at reasonable prices. 7. Alms are strictly forbidden to able-bodied labourers, 8. Any excess of wages taken or paid can be Seized for the king's use towards the payment of fifteenth or tenth lately granted. The statute also provided for the difference iu Bummer and winter waees, and guarded •gainst the emigration of the town population to Country places in the summer. In consequence of this statute many workman of all grades and arafta were said to have been thrown into prison for disobedience. Many to avoid punishment or restraint fled into forests, where they were occa- sionally captured. The captives were fined, and obliged to disavow under oath that they would take any higher wages than was customary for 'he future. And in answer to the complaints frcJlO the employers of labour, the Statute of I Labourers was constantly re-enacted. with accumu- lating penalties aad precautions, penalties some- times laid on the labourer only, sometimes on the Employer, and sometimes on both. THE ACT INOPERATIVE. Though the statute may have at the time had alight effect on the wages-of, farm labourers, to provisions in a very short time were evaded— labour remained scarce, during which' period tbe labourers had things much their own way. If they did nob receive their wages in full, they were Compensated in various ways, and the employer "00 paid best had the most men. Besides, there "ere many kinds of labourers whose callings were Numerated in the statute, but their wages were not affected by the law at all. These men *°ok their full increase, and it was no ^rvel that Parliament constantly complained. that time also we find that there were two *loda of carpenters regularly employed. The ^t8t» and the best of the two, was engaged in housebuilding and the more delicate business of joinery, for which there was plenty of work 10 the domestic buildings of the opulent classes. The other. or the second-class workman, was engaged OQ the more ordinary farm works, and was in frequent requisition. The best carpenters got in "ages about 25 per cent. above the average paid to the common carpenters, although, in the advances that took place then and in the following years, the commonest kind of car- penters got advanced by 48 per cent., while the best class only got a rise of 42 per cent. Masons, however, were much mora fortunate. The rise in their wages was 60 per cent., and it is ^ore than probable that the combination which these artisans were able to effect, the regulations by which they governed their trade, and the man- tler ill which they were certainly associated together under the title of freemasons, would, and doubtless did, enable them to take full advan- ce of the situation. This speaks volumes for the good effect that combinations among workmen bad upon the wages paid to the workmen 110 combined even in those early days. lhave said that the Statute of Labourers was ?°t kept. The marvel is that those who enacted 4 did not see that it could not possibly be kept. 4.ud. notwithstanding the efforts put forward to !a*ry out this act, the rise of wages effected -Q agricultural labour, all kinds of men's labour oÔeibR taken together, was about 50 per cent., and ft women's labour fully 100 per cent. When ;aken together, the advauce in the wages of Artisans was almost exactly the same as that effected in the case of the husbandmen. The Result, it appears, was marked, universal, per- manent, and conclusive, even if the complaint of ^be landowners an Parliament were not on record, •"■that the Statute of Labourers was entirely in- operative, TBE LABOURERS' OPPORTUNITY. A very peouhar state of thiogs then existed, lor while every kind of agricultural produce experienced no rise on the one hand, still, on the other, everything t6 which labour added its Principal item was exalted proportionately. This *a8 so in all directions. Still, in the face of the serious changes in the value of articles made and tended by labour, there was no corresponding 1118. In the price of provisions. In fact, a .tremendous change or transformation took place lit consequence of the great plague. All at once, N..n. Just by a stroke of the hand, the labourer, botb peasant and artizan, became the master of *he situation in England. It appears that the change was as universal as it was sudden. The landlord and the laree formers found on all sides a stationary or retro- market for every kind of produce in which they dealt as sellers, and a rapidly advancing Market for everything tbey needed as buyers. The surviving peasant fanners also shared the ne1!lr charges that were put on, but not to the f*me degree. They were spared the enormous Increase to the first in harvest costs, for they found their own labour on their own holdings and hired none. Besides, they, after doing their work, lllred themselves and then their children out *t the advanced rates; or, if they had thriven and *ed, they could double their own holdings, and easy terms, for the owners then were seeking ■*°r thanes, and not tenant seeking for landlords. Tiiff cree labourers, and for that matter the were in their way btill better off. j*VH"ytbiug tbey needed was as cheap as ever, and mbonc waa continually rising in value. They bad bargained for a higher rate of wages, and were free to seek their markets. If the farm bailiffs refused to give them their price, there were plenty of hands wanted in the next village, or a short distance off. If an attempt were made to restrain them, the Cbiltern Hills and the woods were near, and by their means they could soon get into another county. There was no fear in those times that the owners and masters could spare men to follow them, or that they who wanted their services would freely give them up. They had starved and laboured at the farms, and then their chance came, and they used it without scruple. Then the peasant farmers and the farm labourers, in the natural course -of events, were to try conclusions with the landlords. The machinery which the former used bad been long in preparation, though no one guessed its efficiency. And we shall see as we go on how the struggle was fought out and how it ended.

THE MILLIONAIRES OF AMERICA. It is a singular fact that most of Americas millionaires began their business without a dollar of money. According to the statistics of the last National census 75 per cent. of the millionaires of America were poor men's sons. These are rather startling figures, but they can be regarded as incontrovertible. Here are a few instances of men made rich through their own efforts :— O. O. Mills, who amassed his 25,000,000 dollars in the Western Railroads and mines, was once a clerk in a grocery store. His son-in-law, the owner of the New York Tribune, is the present Minister of the United States to France. Cyrus W. F)eld, the proprietor of the Atlantic cable, was once a clerk in Art. Stewart's Store at at one dollar a week. He was afterwards a suc- cessful junk dealer. C. P. Huntington, one of the railroad 'kings of the Pacific slope, now a resident of this city, has made his 50,000,000 dollars since he gave up his butter and egg business. John D. Rockafeller president of the Standard Oil Company, is worth 70,000,000 dollars, and has an income of 10,000,000 dollars a year. He began ife a poor boy. Mr Rockafeller differs from Russell Sage in his generosity. He recently allowed his daughter to marry a poor young Baptist preacher, and gave the couple a cheque for 1,000,000 dollars as a wedding gift. Joseph Pulitzer, the owner of the New York World which brings him an income of nearly 1,000,000 dollars a year, was a coachman in St. Louis less than 25 years ago. Charles Crocker, another California railroad magnate, who now lives in New York, gathered together 40,000,000 dollars since he has attained manhood, and with no capital save his own brains and:pluck. John W. Mackay, the Bonanza king, was a poor miner 20 odd years ago. He is now worth from 28,000,000 dollars to 50,000,000 dollars, and is the chief owner of the Mackay and Bennett Atlantic Cable. P. T. Barnum, the king of showmen, was once a barkecher in the Metropolitan Hotel. He is worth 10,000,000 dollars, and has been a total abstainer for 30 years or more. Among the other self-made millionaires who have large business interests in New York, but made their names in other cities, are Senator Leland Stanford, of California, who is worth 40,000,000 dollars. He gave 20,000,000 to found a University in memory of his dead son. He was once a penniless lawyer in Wisconsin and went to California, because his law library had been destroyed by fire, and he had no money to replace it. Mr Marguirs George Pullman, the 20,000,000 dollar sleeping and palace car manufacturer, was once a clerk in a furniture shop. George W. Childs, owner of the Philadelphia Ledger, wMtn errand boy before he made up bis mind to ne a millionaire. He is now worth 41,000,000 dollars, and givoa away half of his income in charities. John Wannamaker, the Postmaster-General in 'President Harrison's Cabinet, has the largest store in the United States in Philadelphia. He is the son of brickmaker, and worked ia a book store at 1 dollar 25 cents a week. Andrew Carnegie came here from Scotland without a dollar. He now pays the foreman of his Pittsberg iron mills 25,000 dollars a year, and he is worth not less than 15,000,000 dollars. Senator Phiietus Sawyer, of Michigan, made his 10,000,000 dollars after he had grown to be a man. He now owns millions of ^eres of pine land in Michigan, and it takes 75 miles of fencing to surround his ranch in Texas. Mark Hopkins was a hardware merchant in Sacramento, California, when the Pacific Railroad was projected. He left his widow 40,000,000 dol- lars. Philip Armour, the great pork-packer of Chicago, is worth 20,000,000 dollars, all made by himself. He is at his office at seven o'clock every morning, and does not leave his desk until six in the evening. These are among the most prominent living millionaires. The roll of the dead would require double the space. But enough names have been given to bear out the statement made in a previous letter that America offers its poor man au equal chance with its rich and if the statistics of the past afford any rule for the future, the poor boy of to-day has a better chance now to be a mil- lionaire of the next generation than the son of a millionaire of the past.

UNPUBLISHED BALLADS OF LORD MACAULAY. It is not, I think, generally known (writes Mr J. J. Britton in the Academy) that there exists some unpublished ballads by Lord Macaulay. An old friend of mine was allowed to see the%MSS., which were in the possession of Lord Macaulay's executors. They were not allowed to copy the ballads, as it was Lord Macaulay's wish that they should not be published. I have, however, heard portions ot them recited by my friend and as they are very tine and stirring poems, it seems a pity that the public should be deprived of the pleasure of reading them. The one on the battle of Bosworth JTieJd especially took my fancy but of this I can only, alas, quote the lines in which Richmond, rebuking his followers for indignities offered to the brave king and soldier lying dead, says — And for that back at which ye flout, It is a back I ween, That Lancaster on roughen field, Till now had never seen. And the concluding line of his spoken epitaph oh his dead rival For, though he ruled as tyrants rule, He died as soldiers die. Is there no means of inducing Lord Macaulay's representatives to allow the national ballad which contains these lines and other unpublished poems to see the light of day!

A PENAL KISS BRINGS LUCK. A report comes from Sydney that a man named George Winch has just come into a considerable amount of property in a somewhat remarkable manner. He has been following the occupation of a butcher for some time, and it appears he recently took the liberty of kissing one of his customers-a, good-looking girl who dealt at his shop. She resented the affront, and had Winch prosecuted for assault. He was fined heavily by the local magistrates, and the case attracted much attention from the Press. The publicity given to the proceedings happened to arrest the notice of a firm ot solicitors in Sydney who bad been appointed trustees of certain property which had been left to Winch by a distant relative some nineteen years ago, and the solicitors were unable to find any trace of the heir. Winch was communicated with by the firm, and he has now furnished the history of his antecedents and established his identity beyond a doubt.

A COMPREHENSIVE ORDER. Mr Hyde (of Hyde and Tallow, Chicago)'; Waiter, I want a dinner. Waiter: Will ia gentlemen baftable d'hdte, or a la carte! Mr Hyde: Bring me alifctle ofbotb,andbave 'em put of gravy on it.

Your brother ought to marry. Heiwtoo-good a man to be WMted," "Bat he thinks he ourbtult to, you know, because he is a minister." And wby shouldn't a minister marry if he wants to ?" I suppose it is because h& omy have a son, and you know what a minister's eoa aruallr is."

Current Notes on Agriculture. By a Practical Farmer. AGRICULTURAL APPLIANOES. Farmers are often charged with being behind the age, andas,aproof is adduced their slowness in adopting improved appliances, etc., in connec- tion with farm work. This charge, I think, is withoutany real ground. When any new inven- tion of-any caal value is brought out and stands the test, it ia at once adopted. Take, for instance, our dairies, the-separators, coolers, and a host-of other artrclesin present use in them, which contrast greatly with what was in use some years ago. Again, in the various different kinds of machinery on the farm these are all very modern. Take the powerful steam threshing and winnowing machine, which does its work so efficiently, and with such despatch. This machine not only thzeshes-and cleans the corn, but also ties up the straw; it has superseded horse-power, which had in its day 6uperseded" manual labour as represented by the flail as a thresher and the wind as a cleaner; tbe latter many of us remember to be the general mode, and not the exception as at present. A few here and there in the most hilly districts do stiltcling to this old and primitive method, but they are very few and far between, and these have but little corn at most. But even these are marvels of civilized progress when compared with tbe appliances in use in other countries which produce a vast quantity of corn. PRIMITIVE APPLIANCES. For a country which exports a large quantity of corn, no doubt the "ryot "or land cultivator in India holds the palm for primitiveness. On the question of wheat growing, threshing, cleaning, and storing, Mr Gallon, when writing on impuri- ties in Indian wheat, says on the above matter; SOWING. The "Ryot,"—la order to ensure a crop of some description, he deliberately sows a mixture of wheat, grain, and perhaps several other kinds of seeds, in the hope and belief that if the season should turn out unfavourable to wheat growing, ifc may be favourable to some one or other of the mixture of seeds sown. The mixed seeds grow up, ripen, and are gathered and threshed together. THRESHING. A fiat space is chosen for a threshing floor" in the vicinity of the gathered and stacked grain this selected area is plastered over mud, which is trodden and beaten, and then dried by the sun to a tolerably hard, even surface. A stake is driven into the ground in the centre of the prepared floor, round the stake on a circular area, varying in diameter with the number of bullocks employed, the wheat as taken from the fields is spread to a depth of about two feet; three, four, or more bullocks connected to each other are driven abreast in a circle over the wheat so spread, the inner bullock being usually attached by a rope to a ring or noose, which revolves on the stake. In this way the grain is released from the ear without being damaged, and tbe straw is crushed, or bruised and broken, into what is called "bhusa" or into what the ".ryot" believes to be the only con- dition in which it is fit to be given to bis bullocks to eat. In winnowing they have few mechanical appliances, the method being the primitive one of letting the grain and chaff fall from a sieve in the wind, but this fails to remove and separate the grain and other foreign seeds from the wheat. HOW FOBBIGN WHEAT IS STORED. Again,in the matter of storage, their methods are equally primitive. When prices are low, the "zemindars" who can afford to waifc for a probable rise in the market may decide to store their wheat for a time, and this is done in the following way :— A bole eight or ten feet deep, and about five or six in diameter, is dag in a carefully selected and suitable place. This is lined with chaff or "bhusa*' and the wheat put into it and covered up, first with chaff or'"bhusa" and then with earth; .:he manner of storing is, in fact, almost precisely similar to the way in which potatoes are stored in this country, only the pits are deeper. By this primitive mode of threshing and storing, a good deal of dirt and impurities become mixed with the wheat. From the process of threshing described above, it becomes necessary to wash the wheat because of the possible defilement from the urine and droppings of the cattle employed in threshing, or, more correctly, treading it out. In storing, too, it is of course impossible to remove the grain from a pit of the above description without some earthy impurities being added to it, and it is chiefly while stored in the manner described that Indian wheat get damaged by insects and become wenjJIed. The Weather and the Crops. The Mark-lane Express of Monday says The rainfall of the past week has not been un- welcome, and the land is now in a better state for wheat sowing than it was at tbe end of Sap. tember. With regard to trade. English wheat has picked up a bit in London, but the sales in tbe country have not been equally encouraging, though on Friday and Saturday there was more firmness in holding than during the earlier part of the week. Flour at London and Liverpool has been the subject of an improved retail demand, and Belfast, Shrewsbury, and York are among the second list of exchanges which have followed the lead of the two principal markets. Glasgow, however—and Glasgow ranks with London and Liverpool in influence in the flour trade—has been dull, and Edinburgh and Newcastle have been dull too. America is not shipping flour heavily, but prices are rather lower on the week at New York, a fact which takes the energy out of buyers here. Forego wheat has lost strength during the past few days, and the spring corn trade of the week shows the markets somewhat lower for maize. Barley has been in sellers' favour, but the market for oats is not so good. Beans and peas unchanged.

MAN-EATING TIGERS. At the last meeting the Bombay Natural History Society. Mr Gilbert, a well-known shikaree, read a paper on man-eating tigers. He says tbat the popular idea of the man-eater is wholly incorrect he is commonly supposed to be an old brute, mora often decrepit than otherwise, perhaps lamed from Bome former wound, with his teeth broken and his ekin always mangy, unable from his infirmities to kill game, but obliged to conceal himself wear a village path and then to pounce on some solitary human being and devour him, never attacking where there are more than two or threa persona together, and always dis- playing great cunning." Sir William Hunter takes this view, and describes tbe man-eater as generally an old beast disabled from overtaking his usual prey, and who seems to accumulate his tale of vic- tims in sheer cruelty rather than for food. Sir W. Hunter mentions a man-eater who was known to have lULLED 108 PEOPLE IN THBBB YEARS, and another which killed an average ot 80 persons a year for the same period. A third caused 13 villages to be abandoned, and 250 square miles of land to be thrown out of cultivation. A fourth killed 127 persons in a year, and stopped a public road for many weeks. Mr Gilbert, however, says that these views as to the man-eater are quite erroneous. They are not different from the ordinary tiger, which hves on game and bullocks, but he does not say why tbey be- come man-eaters. Sir Joseph Fayrer suggests that it is by the accident of having once tasted human flesh and then finding all other flesh insipid. Mr Gilbert mentions certain famous man-eaters. One, a tigress, in the Nagpur dis- trict, has a fondness for the employes of the Bengal-Nagpur Railway, frequents a tract of country only about nine square miles in area, and is possessed of EXTRAORDINARY CONNING AND ADDACrTT. This year, up to June, she had killed seven people, besides wounding others. She hves in a rocky and precipitous spur, ID which there is a heavy bamboo and other jungle. Several springs of water rise at the foot of the scarps, and there is a cave which shows many signs of being used by her and her family. A big stone just outside the entrance ia scored deep and long with many scratchea of their claws. In February last, in • broad daylight, she carried off one of a gang of per- manent-way men from under the eyes of his com- panions. She baa been shot at many timea and her cubs killed, but she has got off scatheless. Sometimes the man-eater traverses very long distances. Thus the Jaunsar man-eater, which was killed by an officer of the Forest Department, after killing a man in one place, would kill another 20 miles off the next night. This one, also a tigressv frequented a belt of the Himalayas, 5,000 to mOOOf thigh, and was eventually killed 8,000ft above the sea. But none of the man-eaters recorded by Mr Gilbert were decrepit or worn out. They, were atrong. handsome beasts in their prime,

The* late John Edward Redmond^MiP. for Wexford, a gceat-unole ,ot the present Parnellite member of Parliament, asked a gentleman named Davereaux for bis vote and interest. "I bad rather vote'for the devil," was tbeindtgnantreply. But in the event of your friend declining to stand," suggested Mr Raumond, "may I count ou your support ?"

WELSH GLEANINGS I By Lloffwr. (E he Queen's visit to North Wales has revived the old story of Derfel Gadarn, in whose honour Llandderfel Church is supposed to have been erected. The church, of course, has been re- stored, but it is remarkable for its curious relics, which are reverenced, a wooden stag and crosier, and the story attached to them, which is told in the "Gossiping Guide to Wales ":—"The tra- dition is that Saint Derfel Gadarn, or Derfel the Mighty (a son of Emyr Llydaw), a saint of the 6th century, was the patron of tbe church, and a great wooden image of him was set up, and pilgrimages were made to it from all parts of Wales, and Elis Price,, the Commissary-General of the diocese of St Asaph in the time of Henry the Eighth, reported that be was supposed to have power to fetch people out of hell I Some say the image was placed astride the 'stag,' and the story goes that it bad been predicted of this image that it would one day set a forest on fire." • This is how the Welshman replies to a critic who would restore Welsh orthography to its purity in accordance with the most classical of our authors: Does he know what the result would be ? For his especial benefit we will here try a little experiment in the direction be suggests. Here is an example of classical Welsh from the Black Book of Carmarthen: Dricun i mynit avonit igniw 'Gulichid lliw llaur trewit 'Neufc gueilgi gveled ir elvit.' Would our instructor prefer the spelling mynit' to 'mynydd,' and so on, for fear of improving in an Anglicised direction Let us come down to the twelfth century, as it was about that period that several of our best classical authors flour- ished. Here is a passage in the ordinary ortho- graphy from the end of a MSS. copy of "Welsh Laws (12th century):— Mae y le y til estrawn o alanas cymaint a brawd yn y lie cynnygier ar dad alanas mib a ddyco ei fam yn nghenedyl arail can y neb A feichws drosto.' Here is how it reads in the original: Mae elle etal etraun o alanas cemeint abrant enelle cinicier ar dat alanas maab at dyco iuam ikenedel arall kan eneb aueicus drostau.' Here is genuine classical Welsh, having fewer peculiarities in its spelling than were used by most bards of those ancient times. Probably, if the writer of the article referred to had Mad the most classical of our authors' he would not object so strongly to improvements in an Anglicised direction. Mayhap he wrote to illustrate A. Ward's dictum • That a fellow hez no bizaes to rite literatoor ef he can t spell. • « 0 Mr T. Morgan Owen, in his address at the Colonial-hall on Friday, said that the Welsh of South Wales was half English. Had he listened to an address delivered at the Welsh Baptist Union on Wednesday last, he would have been convinced that his statement was justified. For his benefit I give the address verbatim et literatim Yr wyf i yn supposo mai peth da i authorities yr undeb fyddai arraugo beforehand pwy sydd i broposo, secondo, a supportio y resolutions Pe gwnelid felly feallai y cawsem multum in parvo a byddai y resolutions hwyracb dipyu yn more important 1 Nid ydyw yn usual, ond credaf mai grand improvement fuasai byny. Nis gwo pwy fydd yn objecto nac yn protestio yu erbyn hyn, ond tybiaf uad dibroffit i ni fel Bedyddwyr, neu i gommitti yr undeb, fuasai discusso ac adoptio y suggestion. Nid wyf yn leicio expressio fy ideas yn rhy roagb, ac nid wyf yn usio gwneuthur felly; ond yr wyf yn trustio y bydd i byn gyfro'r grounds sydd genyf mewn view? Yr wyf mewn earnest wrth bresentid hyn i chwi, a gwn yr excnsiwch fi am beidio developio y question. Yr ym i gyd yn cymeryd interest yuddo to a greater or less degree a gobeithnf na wna neb shifto yn ei farn pan arrivio y voting-time, hyny yw, os ceir vote arno at all. Wrth derfynu, pity mawr os bydd i neb brotestio yn erbyn adoptio y suggestion bwn, mae yn ddigon innocent, o herwydd gwir hyn i'r cyfryw ag ydynt yn waitio ac ya watcho ddes- pondia a mawr, yn brokenhearted Cofiid pawb all round nad fy object yw offeodo neb, yn bytrach improvio pethan I" But lest Mr Morgan Owen or any others of my readers should be misled, I should add that the speaker was Mr Iwan Jenkyn, F.R.H.S., wh purposely put together this hotchpotch to ridicule the custom which certainly obtains to too great an extent with some speakers, of unnecessarily intro- ducing English words into their Welsh addresses. Though it does not prevail to so great an extent as Mr T. M. Owen stated, it is certainly too prevalent, and needlessly so. A few such sarcastic lessons as Mr Iwan Jeukyn gave at Llandudno will do good. Mr T. Morgan Owen fell into another, and equally grievous error, when he said that the Welsh language was not adapted for the purposes of science and commerce, and that its vocabulary is so limited that it is a matter of difficulty to translate the English into Welsh, He adduced as a proof the fact that English words appear in Welsh print, and are heard in Welsh addresses. This reply to this is simple. lo is not the language which is at fault the fault lies with the writer or the speaker for not having properly studied the language." There is no such inherent defect in Welsh as there is in English. For nearly all scientific terms English scholars are compelled to go to other languages for the material with which to build these terms. In Welsh this difficulty would not apply. It possesses in itself such a wealth of simple roots as would enable a man with any pre- tence of Welsh scholarship to manufacture a purely Welsh term which would be not only descriptive of the idea intended to be conveyed, but would also be self- explanatory. Take, for instance, the words tele- scope, telegraph, and telephone. These are not English words, and their meanings have to be explained to any person who has beard nothing but English. In Welsh we have the necessary roots in pell, far; gr, an instrument; gwdtd (gwd-wel), to see; eb, to say; and sain, a sound. Thus we form Pell-wol-yr—an instrument to see afar—telescope. Pell-eb-yr—an instrument to say afar—telegraph. Pell-sein-yr-an instrument to sound afar—tele- phone. The Welsh language may not have been developed in the direction of scientific terms; but this is not the fault of the language but of. its students. « • Numerous and strange are the superstitions which in some parts of the country still attaoh to the circumstances attending the birth of a child. It is believed by many that if a child cries at its birth, and lifts up only one band, it is born to command. It is considered very unlucky not to weigh the baby before it is dressed. When first dressed the clothes should not bo put on over the head, but drawn on over the feet, for luck. When first taken from the room in which it was born, it must be carried upstairs before going down, so that it will rise in the world. In any case, it must be carried upstairs or up the street, not downstairs or down the street, the first time it is taken out. It is also considered unlucky to cut the baby's nails or bair before it is twelve months old. Born on Monday, fair in the face; Born on Tuesday, full of God's grace; Born on Wednesday, the best to be had Born on Thursday, merry and glad; Born on Friday, worthily given; Born on Saturday, work hard for living; Born on Sunday, shall never know want, is known with very few changes all over the, Christian world one deviation makea Friday's obild free in giving." Thursday baB one very lucky hour juat before sunrise. The child that is born cn the Sabbatb1 day Is bonny and good, and blytbe and gay, While „ He who is born on New Year's mora Will have his own way as sura asryou're born. And He who is born on an Eaeter morn Shall never know care or want or harm. It would be interesting to know the^yartkmlar superstitions attaobed. to tho !-ev9Qt''in vaHous parts of Wales.

From a MedioaraKt of View. BY DR. RHYSpaFFITHS, CAR(#& [FOURTH Afeoti.] TIGHT LAClNG^Continued). I1 shall in the present a*tj$te endeavour to show how the custom of tight i^jtfng affects different organs in the human bf^yf The liver is the greatest victim of all the ^^ans. This organ in its natural condition liaa b^ ind tbe ribs, and its lower edge should only h ( project below the line of the right ribs. I< relation to the liver on the left side and partlpfeovgred by it is the stomach. Below and iMMewhat behind the stomach is the spleen. Fif&i^np tbe rest of the cavity are the intestines, {4p||&as, kidneys, &a. All these organs are more dffess affected by tight lacing. The organs beloiy Afae diaphragm suffer the most. All thei^Mrgans fit in so closely and so accurateipjbat any alteration in the position of one all the others. You must not run away i. the notion, as many have done, that there is 'vnty of superfluous space in the body. Ther= ija not a single square iuch of unappropriated rj^tn. You can now easily understand that narrowing of tbe waist is affected mainly at sbts expense of the in- ternal organs, It is not a ij^ieftion of squeezing the skin, the muscles, and t}j|i b £ j$fts( as some sup- pose. But in tight lacing yot-ii^irioualy compress the vital organs of the body, Jtegs, heart, liver, and stomach. the Jtr^ Tie a piece of cord tight! around yoar finger, in the course of time the. tc fall off. If you did the same with the uverj precisely the same thing would haprf^ and this, to a slight extent, ia the process to which tbe liver is subjected in the |ight-lacin6r woman. Now the liver is an organ great and most essential importance to the oWnxap. Through it passes the blood concerned jtt the processes of digestion further than this L-ijllter plays a pro- minent part in the actual oefymqg*. of digestion. If tbe circulation is imped* ^l&ikfcestion of this organ is produced, ano|its fuft&ons is disturbed. In this way we get «!%any^$iipeptic and other troubles. It iB a wetl-knowif that gall-stones are found more often in the <&-•*»«> than the male, also that ulcers in the stoniaci jtu moro common in the female sex, and some anr^ have gone so far as to state that this is dxi ^aai often to the injurious practice of tlght-I < THE HEArff. The tapering waist has a jurions effect upon the breathing and u^^opaction of the heart. The diaphragm, whicZ^yp^s such an im- portant part in the act ow^te^hing, is not. allowed to work properly. TH ribs gripped often in bands of iron are not allotted to move freely the lungs themselvelS are cotajjk'tossed. It is abso- lutely essential to the maJn'^aance of a proper standard of health that ai^abould be breathed freely and fully. THE HJNGSk v, It is probably weil-kfiojirii tjr my readers that the breathing in woman ia in; ^reat part chest breathing. Is it not, then, of greatest import- ance that the walls of the chesahould be allowed free play? Have yon ever noticed the condition of a tight-laced lady after evecltbe smallest exer- tion t The amount of pacticg Ja often most dis- tressing. Nature, in its" effor^^ secure a proper supply of air, produces the md.-t Exaggerated and often unsightly heavipgs of thi opyer part of the chest. She is in the position 4* person starving in the midst of plerity^. |S Mr Trevers puts it. What -is toe upon tbe health? The lungs ia dnPesa throw > out of gear the heart and iattea»frotif work. Tbe lower parts of the lungs colipresaed, the upper parts expand to compensate ft • them, producing a diseased condititn, known | } iimUy^euia. Ii is well known thaS^ seiiou^ of the lungs, e.g., consumption, first attacks those parts of the lungs which move the least. In deli, cate ladies, with a predisposition to lung disease, does not tight-lacing produce the very exact con- ditions which favour the development of con- sumption ? In addition to these are the sensations of lassitude, the inability to take exercise, the unfitness for vigorous exertion. THR CFLROUTATION. Upon the circulation tight-lacing may produce the most serious results. I have already stated that increased work is thrown upon the heart, with the effect of embarrassing its action. The lieartbeing the machine which keeps the blood in motion, it follows naturally that if its action be impeded the circulation mast likewise be in- juriously affected. And this we find to be the case—palpitation, faintiogs, chilblains, cold feet, and even apoplexy, are some of the .results. You have probably heard the remark made of a very tight-laced woman, "that her corset is too tight to allow her to Bit down without her nose becom- ing red."

Will MERTHYR VALE WORK- MEN HELP THE COLLEGE? THE workmen of Merthyr Vale, who assembled on Monday under the presidency of the colliery manager, Mr Snape, a member of the Mertbyr School Board, listened very attentively to the exhaustive statement of the deputation from the College respecting the character of the South Wales University College at Cardiff, its financial position, and general opportunities and aspira- tions, and I shall be surprised if the outcome is not a substantial scholarship founded by the workmen of the locality. Before that result can come about, however, the working men must doubtless meet in larger numbers and discuss the responsibilities involved. They will not have much difficulty in deciding iu their own minds that the college at Cardiff can become a means of cultivating and developing talented sons of poor penons, and they may possibly conclude that as Government and private subscribers have done much for the college, they also may very naturally embark upon the course of doing something for the college, and for their own children as well, by founding a Working Men's Scholarship."

HOW FORTUNES ARE MADE. I HAVE often wondered bow it is that the pro- prietors of patent medines make such large fortunes in a comparatively short time. If Mr Samuel Jessup, who died 17th May, 1817, at Heckington. has many imitators, our wonder will be transferred from the vendor to the consumer. Ms Jessup, as appears from an old chronicle. was defendant in a trial for the amount of an apothecary's bill at the Lincoln assizes. Theevi- dance at the trial gives the following details: In 21 years (from 1794 to 1816) he took 226,934 pills, supplied by a respectable apothecary in Bottes- ford, which gives an average of 10,806 pills a. year, or 29 each day. In the last five years preceding 1816 be took the pills at the rate of 18 a day, and in the year 1814 swallowsd not lesa than 51.590. Nothwithstandinp this, and the addition of 40,000 bottles of mixture, besides juleps and electuaries, set out in 55 closely-written columns of the apothecary's bill, he lived to the age of 65 years.

SAVING OF £10,1)00 A YEAR BY THE GOVERNMENT. Hitherto only hemp twice baa been employed by the Post Office in making up bags and parcels, but experiments witb: jnte cord .were carried.out in Dundee some time ago, which having proved successful, it. was resolved to extend the use of jute throughout the country. Several of, the post- j masters in England* objected to the change, on the ground that jute gave way when tied the same way as hemp; but two members of the Dundee >•8tuff were despatched to several of the.principal centres in England add Ireland in order to in- struct the postmen in them how properly to use the new-Tnaterial, with fte result that it has now been generally introduced. The hemp twine cost from ftid to la per lb* whereas the jute is being '(Purchased,at 3&d, and it is computed that by the ^change the Government-will save about: £ 10,000 ^annually,

A- merchant, engaged in an attempt *ggH^ wooden refrigerator lady, boasted of "the*vari- > oua goo&qualities of the,article. "But I am mucb /afraid,said theladF» that these refrigerators' will taste tbe food' Bless ye, ma'^m taste the j'food? Wfay^tbey'li take the taste all out-oHbe food, ma'am* every bit of it.'

MUSICAL AND EISTEDDVOD NOTES. By Maelgwyn. NEXT YEAR'S^ilSTEDDVOD. There seems to be a more or less widespread impression that tbe people of Bangor, or at least the gentry of that town and neighbourhood, are holding aloof from the business of the eisteddvod. which is to bebeid there next year. In short, it is even said that tbe eisteddvod is being boycotted by all but a very few of the influential. The list of subjects for competition, which was issued during the Brecon Eisteddvod Wéek, has also come in for a good share of adverse criticism. For the first statement there is not an atom of truth. I am informed by Mr Griffiths, the secretary, that from the first the eisteddvod committee has received tbe cordial support of all classes in the neighbourhood. Tbe people of all grades seem to be equally enthusiastic over the affair, and there need therefore be no further anxiety on the point. Concerning the list of subjects, it must be remem- bered that it is not by any means complete in its present form. Another edition will probably be ready about Christmas time,and several additional subjects will then be announced. In its present form the programme is not by any means so poor as some people would have us believe. The most notable feature in the literary department is the absence of the "arwrgerdd" ("heroic poem "),bui it may safely be said that the next edition of the programme will contain this very important subject of bardic competition. The musical competitions are good almost without exception. There are two quar. tette and four duet competitions. Three soprano, two alto, two tenor, and two bass subjects make a very good list of competitions for solo singers. In the orchestral band competition the prize will be £30, a splendid sum, as all will allow. In the section allotted to arts and industries, the list of subjects is very good indeed, but the same cannot be said for the prizes. The very first item will cause many people to open their eyes in wonder. It run3 thusly Original oil painting, not previously exhibited. 'A Welsh historical eventprize, a gold medal." Surely there must be some mistake here. Even an eisteddvod committee can hardly hope to get a good picture for so small a p:ize. Then we have a landscape painting in oil to measure three feet by two feet. The prize is J310. More money will have to be added to those prizes, or the work sent in will scarcely come up to the mark. So far as the conditions and rules ara concerned, the committee will do well to rescind No. < of the special conditions relating to musical competitions. This rule runs as followsShould the number of choirs competing in any of the choral competi- tions be large, the adjudicators shall have power to select one or more pieces from those named in the list." This won't do at all, and if there should be an attempt to put the rule in force a good deal of ill-feeling will be aroused. It is not fair to set a programme before choirs and then to take away at least a third of it. Defeated choirs will certainly say that tbe piece which was omitted was their best one, and there will be no end oi disappointment. A much better plan to adopt ia case of a large number of competing choirs coming forward is, in my opinion, a preliminary contest, at which the poorest choirs might be weeded out, jast as soloists are weeded out now. The orchestral baud competi- tion and the composition of works for stringed instruments ought to be confined to Welsh musicians. Examinations in theory will most likely be held in connection with the eisteddvod, and Dr Rogers says that a rule will be added pro- hibiting those who have obtained musical degrees from appearing at these contests. All informa- tion connected with the eisteddvod can be obtained of the secretary, Mr G. Griffiths, tbe Music Warehouse, Bangor. HONOUR TO WFC JT IS DO*. That excellent little periodical the "Musical ] Herald" (our oid friend the "Tonic Sol-fa Re- porter in its new attire) has a very appreciative article on the National Eisteddvod at Brecon. I may, perhaps, quote the article next week. Mean- while, one little paragraph In speaking of the chief choral competition it says, "In the principal choral contest, however, it is remarkable that the marks obtained (out of the possible 60) by the best choirs were 55, 54, 53, and 53 respectively. The advantage of aunouncing the judges' figures was seen in tbs tremendous enthusiasm of the audience,and the defeated choirs will not fail to show fight again after such a close distinction." The judges' figures, the Herald, will permit me to say, were not announced before the audience at all, although it certainly would have been an advan- tage to do so. The figures were given to me and to me only, and I am responsible for having given them to the world. LLANDUDNO. The musical season at Llandudno is now about over, and its success has been unprecedented in the annals of the town. In addition to the numerous miscellaneous concerts, three operas have been performed, namely, Dr Parry's Bioi- wen and Sullivan's Patience and H.M.S. Pinafore. All three works were performed by tbe Llandudno Choral Union, in conjunction with ,M. Jules Riviere's famous orchestra. The celebrated Tanygrisiau Choir, conducted by Mr Cadwaladr Robert?, was engaged to give one concert at the Pavilion, and the result was most successful. HIt TOM PRICE, A.C. Mr Tom Price, A.C., with his fins body of singers, are doing an immensa amount of good in the Merthyr district. The name of the Mertbyr Orpheus Society is known all over Wales as that of an excellent choir. During the past month they have given one or two concerts for the benefit of local objects, and they are now busily engaged in the rehearsal of Mozart's Twelfth Mass. The first performance will be given on the 7th of November, for the benefit of a disabled workman; and a second performance will be given subse- quently for the society's own benefit. Mr Price deserves great credit for having brought the choir to such a high state of efficiency—a task which must have cost him no small amount of) trouble when it is remembered that he has an unlimited number of other duties to perform. He.is now engaged in preparing a number of candidates for the higher examinations in connection witb the tonic Sol-fa College. Mr Price himself is an examiner for tbe college. NEW nuaio. Messrs Orsborn and Tuck wood, 64, Berners- street, W., have just issued some good thinga for the winter season. The Cathedral March Album," No. 4,contains five marchesfor the organ or harmomium. The marches are easy, but effective, and as a book of voluntaries this will be warmly appreciated (Is). Rather more difficult is No. 24 of the Vesper voluntaries, which contains 12 short pieces (Is). Musical Frag- ments is a wonderfully cheap book, No. 31 contains five splendid waltzes (copyright), which, in the ordinary way of business, would cost 10s. The book is beautifully printed on good stout paper, full music size (Is). Another capital book is Minster Echoes;" No. 13 contains six voluntaries for organ, with pedal part to each. The pieces are very pleasing and not too difficult (Is, full music size.) Beginners on the cornet will find more useful hints in the National Cornet Tutor" than in many high-priced instruction books-the general directions being particularly clear, and the fingering excellent (Is). To-morrow Will Do" is one of the semi-humoroos little ditties which are associated with the name of Henry Pontot (2s). U Saha noa Domine" is a- beautiful and impressive song of the style of Ora Pro Nobis"—very easy, and with a vein of deep religious feeling in every bar (2s). "The Trooper's Vision." is very original, and has a capital accom- paniment. The melody throughout is sweet.and tuneful, and the refrain martial and striking, but not boiaterous (2s). "Imps' Revels," Harle- quinette," and "DaDse Majeatique" Me three piano pieces, the first of which is the easiest and the' most tunefnl. The others are bright and sparkling, and are well fingered throughout. They will be found suitable for practioe by pupils or as drawing-room pieces (Is 6d each).

GASTBONOKIOAL ITEM.—Lady of the bonse During the past week you bave had three different .policemen visiting yon..I don't propose to put up with any such conduct. New cook It is not my fault, mam. The bill of fasre in this house is so poor that no policeman can stand it more than two 'days. That's why you see a fresh one here almost every day. The fly-wheel is tbe anarchist of, mechanics, -■ It is always engaged in revolutions,

Ritualism at Cardiff. A VISIT TO ST. MARVS. [Bv ECLECTICCS. 1 The outcry which has been raised by the Church press led me to pay a visit, on Sunday morning to St. Mary's, in expectation of witnessing something of the terrible things which Evangelical writers denonnced, or of the things excellent which High Churchmen approved. In the course of« career of observation which, in matters religious, has ranged from Cardinal Manning to Mother Girling, General Booth to the Quaker meeting-bouse, one has inevitably be- cume tolerant of variety in modes of worship. It was, therefore, with the proverbial open miud that I attended .service at St. Mary's, The seats were all free, but apparently the second article ia Lord Nelson's creed was uot observud, they oot being "unappropriated," inasmuch as a late comer walked up with the intention of taking tbe-seat I had secured. Right in front was the altar, with a brass cross, flowers, and lighted candles upon it. Over the altar was a beautiful picture representing the angels making anuonnce- meut to the shepherds of the birth of the Saviour. Life-size figures of saints and apostles stood midway between the floor and ceiling. The rich drapery of the altar, the lights and flowers, the blaze of the brass cross and other vessels, and the hangings around the walls made up a charming scene. On the side walls of the.cburch were pictures of "The Stations of the.Cross," and over the pulpit hung a representation of tbe crucifixion. Tbe organ was at the left; and behind a screen-at the right eat the orchestra— stringed instruments and a cornet, so far as could be perceived. In his overture to the service, tbe organist was accompanied by one violin; or, rather, the violinist was accompanied by tbe organ. A choral "Amen" heralded the entrance of the choir aud clergy, who walked in procession after a gilt cross carried aloft by one of their number. The choir were habited in the customary surplice, but halt-a- dozen of tha processionists had red vestments, over which they wore a white upper garment. It would be useless to name the vestments, even it there were no danger of my doing so incorrectly, for the name conveys no idea to the mind ui those—and they are the great: majority— who are unlearned in stole, cuasuole, alb, and the like. Bringing up the rear of the procession were four clergymen, three being gorgeously attired. A black cap, oi cruciform shape, was worn by three of the clergymen and it would seem as if the chiet use of this biretta is to be taken off in salute at certain points of the service. Ail three removed their head-gear when, the choir having filbJ to their seats right and left, they stooa in front 01 the altar. Two of the three had vestments differ- ing in pattern of ornamentation from the third, the latter being chief performer. After each bad gone through his salutation to the brass cross, the service commenced. What it was all about I have a faint idea, but nothing more. Without much trouble I can follow the service of the Church of England, and dodge around the prayer book at speed sufficient to keep pace with old stagers. But whilst the three clergymen and the half-dozen individuals in red and white were posturing and genufiexing, formiug in rank or in lice, breaking into detachments, and then re-forming for posturing in unison, aii my past experiences m.ecciesiasticai exhibitions failed to keep me up to time. There were crossiugi and turnings, right man to left, ieft man to right, Nu- 1 being in the middle; ana one gentleman appeared to have for his peculiar function the duty of holding the dress of the chief celebrant. Incenae was wafted over the alcar and its appurtenance*, and the celebrauu courteously swung the censor iu turn, each at the other, as though soma mortally dangerous case were to be opened and a poisonous effluvium about to burst forth. At the reading of the epistle an aeoJyte held the bs-ok while the minister read. The ceremony utt octant na reading tha guapei would have b&en iu^rooa bad not oesn pitiable. No. 1 took the hookau his hands, and No. 2 knelt betore him to receive at. No. 1 placed his hands in benediction upon the head of the kneeler, and then held him the book to be kissed. More candles were brought, and held beside the book, and incense was waved around it as though some prccess of disinfection were an absolute pre- requisite of its being read from. After all this, suggestive of the street coujuror who has very few tricks, and makes up with an immensity of preparatory demonstration, the story of the raising of the widow's son was read. The book was returned to the altar with similar cere- monial. The reader held it open to No. 1 he reverently kissed, then took it and placed it on the table. Left wheel for the candle-bearers, rear rank for other of the satellites; and the service proceeded. Those performers at St. Mary's require more drilling, and a Cowley Father or some expert in ecciasiastical evolutions should at once be brought in. At one stage the chief celebrant had to call for more incense the indi- vidual in charge of the censer had waved him a wave too few. But no shortcoming could be alleged against celebrant No. 2, for after duly throwing the smoke at all and suudry, he retired to one stde,and waved^three times three in evident enjoyment of the process. When the public announcements had to be made, prayers were aeked "for the repose of the soul vi" several ueceased persons. During the sermon, which was preached by » clergyman who till then bad occupied a plaoe in the choir, aud who put on a special scarf for the due performance ot his work, the three other clergymen sat between the choir and congrega- tion, wearing their birettas. Each time the word "Jesus" was mentioned tbe black cap was lifted—or was supposed to be, but it was a per- functory lift—and occasionally one, who bad his eyes on the naughty little choir boys, was a bit late iu the lifting operation. Why the hats should be raised when the name" Jesus is pro- nounced, aud yet remain uutouched at Christ or "Saviour," puzzles an ignoramus. Why should not the hata be hung up, and "taken as lifted" once for all? Thesarmou was an extempore one, with some good common-sense in it, and a little non- sense-as, for instance, tbe following :— "A moment without sorrows would be a moment without victory, and a moment without victory would be a moment in which some eternal glory had been forfeited." Christians were to be sor- rowfui because Christ was the" Man of Sorrows a conception of truth as muddled as it ia possible to be; seeing that" He hath borne our griefs and carried our sorrows." One must not risk polemics with a parson; yet it is an irresistible temptation to point oat tbat within six lines of tbe place whence tbe preacher got his quotation, "Man of Sorrows," is a contradiction, direct and specific, of the inference be drew from that title. After the sermon came the Communion Service. The pro- ceedings therein were ridiculous, and tbe service as a whole found its condemnation at this point. Several "sisters" in conventual garb formed part of the congregation, and the church was about balf full, the side galleries being unoocupied. Yet, of all the congregation present, only three were communicants. To one of these, an old lady in a front seat, the elamenta were brought, and ware banded with the sign of the cross. At their consecration the scene might have been impressive. But there is a wearisome aspect about elevation of the cup and cross signing, prostration of the celebrants, and the rest. In a Roman Catholic Church, instinct with tbe traditions of a great history and with > clergy whose ■- isolation to tbeu great doty most in itself command respect, there is an incentive to reverence which is entirely abeent from high celebrations in an English church, with the incidents of illegality and ineffec- tive innovation, On the one hand, aq observer needs tbe strong antipathy of an Evangehcal Churchman to be able to discover: reasons for condemning utterly such services as that at St. Mary's. On.the other hand, except to those whose tastes lie in the direc- tion of ecclesiastical millinery, such services are poor spectacles. They may make Churchmen of a sort; but the weariness they induce in a casual spectator is fairly indicative of their value in making good men and women, and itbat is the sole end of religions services.

Ainanghty little boy one day eluded punish- ment by creeping under atable, where hia mother could not reach him. gaortlyafterhia father came in, and when told the state of affairs, crawled on bis hands and knees in search ot his son and heir, when to his astonishment he was greeted with this inquiry: H 18 she after you, too, papa?"

WELSH NOTES. WALES FOB THE WELSH." This is bow Conservatives argue against the growing Nationalist feeling in Wales. If the words Nonconformist and Church and Liberal and Tory were transposed tbe following would be a typical leading article for the Conservative press of the day :—It would be well for the Non- conformists and Liberals to watch with a jealous eye the tendency and action of the Church and Conservative party in the principality. Not only are the principles embodied in the narrow-minded cry of "Wales for the Welsh" persistently advocated by the party referred to, and sedulously if secretly promulgated, but signs are not wanting to prove that they are prepared, when the right moment comes, to adopt this phrase as their watchword and battle cry, probably at the coming general election. We ure quite aware that this statement will be openly denied by the organs of tbe com- bined Church and Conservative party, whose policy it is to keep English readers in the dark as to their ultimate aim. Such a denial will only be in harmony with the tactics adopted by the present Conservative Government, and success- fully adopted until Mr Parnell and Mr T. E. Ellis tore away the plausible veil which covered the bidden Machiavellian t scheme. Indeed we believe that were it not tbat we have from time to time ourselves given Englishmen a slight peep behind the scenes by reproducing in English some of the revolutionary i suggestions contained in the vernacular Church and Tory organs, we have little doubt the party would already have mustered sufficient courage to eive I public expression to their hitherto secret schemes. THE PROOFS PRODUCED. I We know that in making this bold announce- ment we are laying ourselves open not only to the most unrelenting persecution at the hands of our I unprincipled political enemies, but that we are 8training the confidence of our Nonconformist friends in our integrity and truthfulness. We i are, however, in a position to prove our assertion. I Let then our readers carefully consider and duly weigh the foilowfbg facts :— The Church and Conservative party, knowing that their only hope of retaining their hold upon the Welsh people is to preserve intact the bulwark of the native language behind which they .68t in the security of ignorance, safe from the light which might be thrown into their II dwarfed intellectual faculties by tbe influence of English literature, endeavour to foster the verna- cular by every possible means. In a large number of churches the servicss are still conducted in Welsh. The language is sedulously taught in I the Church Sunday Schools. The Bishop cf Liandaff has actuidiy refused to institute a clergyman to a benefice in his diocese be- cause be was ignorant of Welsh The latest addition to the Welsh bishops was raised to the Episcopal bench purely and simply because of his thorough acquaintance with that language. The Church and Tory organs are published in the vernacular, and even tbe titles given to them indicate the policy the party pursues, and the influence they seek to obtain. Their monthly magazine is called Fr Haul (" The Sun") to indicate that all other publications dwindle into insignificance compared with its refulgence. One of their weekly organs is called Gwalia ("Wales,") plainly suggesting that I it, and it alone, is worthy of being the exponent of the principle of Wales for the Welsh." Yet I another weekly organ, aleo in the vernacular, is styled YLlan, or "The Church." But note that even hbre the Latinized form of the word adopted by scholars and educated men, namely, i Yr Eglwys, has been discarded, and the old I British form, Y Llan, with all ita associations, with the traditions of the British heroes and saints, has been adopted plainly with the j object of rekindling in the breasts of the people a love for their ancient Church, and to arouse and excite a desire to seo the day when that Church, j with its old Welsh ritual, shall onca more bold I sway from Caergybi tj Caerdydd. Ill titration I attar ill.iatration mig>2t be tdchtMtt, htit enongto has, we hope, been sua to place English Noncon- formists ind Liberia on their guard agaivst this wretched spirit of narrow exclusiveness which is abroad in Church circles in Wales, and to induce them, we trust, to use every effort to counteract its baneful influence. A TRUE STORY BY A MERTHYR GUARDIAN. Long stories are not always good onei;. Here is a short but true narrative by Mr D. Davies. M.B.G.: —A woman weut to the Merthyr police and com- plained that there was a burglar in the house. The burglar was her husband. Mr Davies is not given to "romancing," and in this instance he I made the announcement at the meeting of the board of guardians with a good—and I was almiwt going to say solemn "—motive. I reco- lect a somewhat similar case five or six years ago at Cardiff. An engine-driver of a practical joke turn of mind shaved off his busby whiskers, and returned bome whilst his wife was yet in the arms of Morpheus. When she awoke she was startled at finding a smooth-visaged gentleman at her side. She did not stop to take a second glance, but escaped into the street, and returned bome with the first policeman she could find to appre- hend the intruder. COALS OF FIBE AT MERTHYB. I will hoc say that Mr D. E. Williams has fetched blood by the hard knocks he gave at the meeting on Saturday at the Merthyr Guardians. Perhaps it would be more correct to say he struck 'ile." But the oil, denoted by the observations of the observaut chairmau of the assessment committee, has yet to come in reality. In other words, it remains for the assessment committee to put into operation the promises of Mr Rbys. The latter-named gentleman has simply out- heroded Herod, for although Mr Williams has repeatedly attempted, or announced bis intention of moving, to obtain a legitimate increase in the rate of colliery assessments in the union, Mr Rhys, who adopted no practical sleps, I beiieve, in the matter, now points to the initiative he took in a similar business a few years ago, and accuses his Hirwaia neighbour of snatching from him the opportunity of repeating the process this year. Further, he heaps coals of fire upon Mr Williams's astonished head. Instead of being resentful, lie promises not only that tbe assessment committee shall pay a most deferential respect to Mr Williams's wishes, but intimates bis own opinion that the advance should be greater than 15 per cent, the amount which Mr Williams has favoured. Now this is all very promising, and everybody except the colliery owner is supposed to be in good heart. I agree with the liberal sentiment of Mr Davies tbat colliery owners, because they are such, should not be made a financial butt of, but (and this H but" often has a way of creeping into my notes) I shall await practical issues with a deep interest. The Hirwain J.P. no doubt experienced « feeling of satisfaction at the close of the week. His resolution (latest edition) not only found a seconder, but was carried unanimously. Yet, as poets sometimes tell us, there is an alloy to many a joy, and with the sense of satisfaction which Mr Williams carried home with him, must have mingled the bitter thought that he had all unconsciously been the innocent, yet resolute, means of preventing Mr Rhys doing a good thing for the groaning ratepayers. ARTISTIC SIGN-BOARDS. Should sign-boards be painted by artiste? Mr Firth thinks they should. 10 an article in the current Magazine of Art he says:—" I am asked if I have any idea ot the men who have been willing to paint sign-boards, pictorial advertise- ments devised not for the beneficial aelling of soap, but chiefly for the baneful retailing of bad liquor in low grog-shops.' Yes, I have a clear idea on tbe snbject. I painte one myself for an inn in Lancashire called the Pilgrim; my friend Augustus Egg, R.A., painted one aide of the sign, and I the other. Egg's pilgrim, not & bit like mine (the, ought to have resembled each other, for the pictures were intended to represent the same pilgrim), was knock- ing at one side of the sign, on which a door waa limned; on the reverse, my pilgrim was leaving the hostelry refreshed, and thank- folly casting his eyes heavenward. The inn called the Pilgrim was, and perhaps still is, a most respectable, modest hotel, a very necessary establishment, as useful in its way as soap so I think I may aver that, so far as I am concerned, I did not advertise'bad liquor in a low grog- shop.' The Oak, at Bettws-y-coed, is a large hotel, in great favour with artists and tourists, where excellent 'grog' can be obtained, no I doubt-; and where David Cox's sign of an oak tree is a'l? to be 6,1

A SELF-TAUGHT WELSHMAN. I think that sufficient ere jit is not generally given to the efforts of Welshmen in the direction of self-culture. The position some of the Welsh literati of the age have attained, not only with- out any special advantages, but in the face of evident disadvantages, reflects the highest credit npon their perseverance and genius. One such prominent figure has just passed away in the person of Gweirydd ap Rhys, one of the most voluminous authors, and whose writings in Welsh and English have obtained a well-deserved celebrity. Gweirydd ap Rbya was born in the parish of Lianrhyddlad, Angle- sey, i; the year 1807, and consequently attained the ripe age of 82. He traced his descent from Dr John Davydd Rhys, the learned author of a Latin grammar of the Welsh language, and who was bora in the adjoining parish of Llaafaethlu in the year 1534. Like many more of his countrymen ot whom the annale of the Principality furnish so many instances as having attained honourable positions in the world of letters, Gweirydd was entirely self-taught^ having had, we believe, not one day's schooling in his life. However, by his undaunted persever- ance, which indeed was one of the principal traifo of his character during bis whole life, he succeeded in acquiring a large amount of knowledge, whicfr. be utilised for the benefit of his feilow-ceaatry- men, and, by means of his numerous writings, "although dead he still fipeaketh to them/ His mother tongue naturally engaged his attention in bis early years, and fat. the last forty years he was considere4 an authority in everything connected with ita grammar, orthography, & He was also a fail. English scholar, and had made some progress ir. the study of Latin and Greek. At one vime alga the science of music had its charms for him, and we believe he composed a few pieces, ciiieflj, Congregational tunes, and also wrote several articles on the theory of music to some of the old magazines. His favourite pursuits, however, wen. grammar and history, and his contributions tt. Welsh literature in those departments were very numerous and highly appreciated, and certainly most creditable to him. The time at his disposaf for literary labour was very ;:mited, we catf well imagine, having to work hard at his trade ot weaving and bring up a large family of children, whom be educated with much care and at no little sacrifice. One of his sons, Goiyddan, cut off at the early age of 22 years, was undoubtedly ntnon* the brightest geniuses Wales ever produced. By the way, we may notice that some of those who attained the highest literary distinctions in Walw were weavers by trade. Among those we mai name Ebeu Fardd and Caledfryn, and the prince of orators, John Eiias. worked rt this humble occupation for several years. Gweirydd's first- Eisteddvodic honour was gained at the Abetffraw Royal liiisteadvod, 1849. when he succeeded in obtaining the prize lor an essay on the best methods of teaching English to a Welshman. For the last forty years his name has been iden- tified with most of the great eisteddvodau either as adjudicator or competitor. In the iattet capacity we find him again sharing a priae at the Ruthin Eisteddvod, 1368, with the late loan Pedr, for an essay on me Welsh language. We should also state that at the great Llangollen Eisteddvod of 1858 be, in conjunction with the late Thomas Stephens, of Merthyr, was ap- pointed by a committee of literati to decide upon a system cf Welsh orthography. Unfortunately, however, that question seems as far from solution as ever. Some time after this he removed to Denbigh, to Mr Gee'* office, wbere he was employed in writing for toe Gwyddoniadur. to which he contributed more tUan six hundred articles, and in preparing other works for the press. Thence he removed to Bangor, where for a shore time he edited a newspaper, vie., Papyr r Boll (1865). About the same time he prepared lor the JL.T6S« the work of his son Goiyddan, who died in 1863, the cutting off of whose bright career so pramaturely was a severe blow to bis kiad patent and friend-. Only one number of the work, however, appeared. Afterwards, Gweirydd was engaged by tile Messrs Mackenzie, publishers, to write Hanes y Brytaniaid ur Cymry," which was-published in two large volumes. He also edited Eawogion y Ffydd," commenced by loan Pedr, and this work was also published iQ two volumes. Of his other literary efforts we may refer to his "History of Welsh Literature from 1300 to 1650, which was intended as continuation of Stephens' celebrated work, The Literature of the Kymry.' A prize of £ 100 offered by the Eisteddvod Association at the Cardiff Eisteddvod was awarded to the author of this essay. At the London Eisten d vod we find him again sharing the prize of JEM for the essay, A Critical History of the Welsh Poetry of the 18tb Century," with tbs Rev Elves Lewis, of Hull. At tbe tUBe of his death he was busily engaged upou too essays of great historical interest. Iadeed, 1 whole life was one of continued application aod devctedness to tbe history and literature of hi« native country. There is scarcely a newspaper or raagazinejpublished in the vernacular which did not at some time or other publish contributroDt from h's prolific pen. In 1882 an application was made on Gweirydd's behalf, he being then considerably more than 70 vsars of age, to be allowed a civil list pensioc in acknowledgment of his services to Welsh literature, but owing to a lack of proper support nothing came of the movement. Relatives ot deceased literary Welshmen had previously received such recognition, namely, the widow o! the Rev J. Williams (Aplthel); the widow of the Kev Morris Williams (Nicander); and the widow of the Rev J. Oemlyn Jones, as well at the Rev John Jonas (Idrisyn). In tbe following year, 1383, a second and successful attempt waa made to have Gweirydd's labours recognised. The application w.is suppotted by fifteeu Weisfc members of Parliament, 28 justices of the peace 79 clergymen and ministers. 28 professional gentlemen, 32 public officers, 8 newspaper proprietors, 43 literary men, and 140 influential electors—aii residing in Wales or having more or less connection with the Principality, It wat felt that Gweirydd ap Rhys was really worthy of the patronage, for it- was freely acknowiedged that few Welshmen in our times had done more by his writings to educate and stimulate the working classes in matters literary, antiquarian, historical, philological, etc. The result uf this application was a grant of JB150 from the Royal Bounty Fund. TÍJe latter years of his life were spent at Holyhead with his daughter "buddug," who, by the way, is well known in Bardic circles, and it waR here be lost his affectionate and estimable wife, with whom he had iiappiiy lived for such a number oi years. He then removed to his grand- daughter at Bethesda, where he expired on Wednesday morning. By his death Wales loses one more of those seif-taught men whose career illustrates tbe success which never fails to attend great perseverance, ftcd :.u infl-ucible determina* tiou to conquer difficulties.

WHO OWNS THE COUNTRY. From the published results of an enquiry made by Mr T. J. Shearman, it appears that Great Britain is not the only country where the people do not own the land. The results of Mr Shear- mac's investigatIons in the United States, in- volving much statistical research, are most startling. Briefly stated, Mr Shearman shows that there are 31,000 persons in the ^ate» each owning over 500.OCX) dols., whose ^Bftunes aggregate$36,250,009,000* leaving to the other 64,969,000 persons who hve in that country only $23,750,000,000 to divide among them. Ia other words, two-thirds of the country's wealth is in the bands of one two-thousandth part of ita population. Forty-two years ago there was bat one man in the United States worth as much M $5,000,000, but now there are 1,600 persons whose possessions severally are equal to or greater than that. This concentration of wealth, to which the Civil War gave rise, and which railway building and speculation have accelerated, is, moreovert going on rapidly at the present time. Worse still, there seems to be no means at band for oheclålw it, as the success of the trmta and financial monopolies attest. But we may be sure that something will be attempted before loner by tfet Americans to counteract the growing avil,

NOT HIS FAULT. Head of the House: Well, young man, I have received another note from your teacher stating that yon are at the foot of your class again. Now this won't do. I shall bave to pwah you it you do not get along better. Young Hopeful: Weil, it ain't my fault, pogb I was way up second from last, and now the lot boy left school, and I have to get put back jolt for that.

The man who believes in nothing is M big a foj M he who believes in everything.