The Cardiff Times

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WORKMEN'S TOPICS. i i By MABON, M.P. MINING INDUSTRY OF GREAT BRITAIN. The Report by C. le Neue Foster, D.Sc., F.R.S. This report for the 60th year of her Majesty's feign is most important and useful to make con- prison between the state of the mining industry 1I.0w and when her Majesty came to the Thorne, 48 well as intervening years. Though not many iltact statistics relating to mining in the year 1837 are now obtainable, there were, all told, 04uple evidence to prove that immense advance ^ve been made as regards the number of Arsons employed at the mines, the development Of the coal resources of the kingdom, and the ^fcty and condition of the workers. From the eelisus of 1841 we learn that 11,133 persons were Itnployed in coal mining, 55 years later we find te number to be 692,684, an increase which is Nearly sixtyfold. According to Professor ^cCulloch, the output of coal in 1839 was Estimated to be 31,000,000 tons: last year the ^Hieries of the United Kingdom produced *95,000,000 tons, more than sixfold increase in f1 years. The export of coal also has increased Itormously. Last year 44,500,000 tons of coal "ere shipped to our Colonies and foreign coun- ties. This we find to be about one and a half I ^hes as much as the total production of the kingdom 60 years ago. Mining Laws. The statutes passed in her Majesty's reign with view of lessening the dangers pertaining to **iaing and of improving the condition of the Olsons employed have been numerous. Begin- ning with the year 1842, an Act of Parliament was &*ssed prohibiting female labour underground. T^dence goes very far to prove that the condi- •tons of the young girls and women that were lkployed underground previous to that date ^e*e degrading and inhuman. The Act of 1842 was followed by another in 1^0, and which was the first statute providing the inspection of mines, and since that year ibe regulations affecting mines have been consid- k%biy extended by legislative enactments, espe- J^y by the Acts of 1855,1860,1862,1872,1887, and Mr Foster says that, in addition to this, Je workpeople have derived enormous benefits *°ttt various other statutes too numerous to Nation, whilst sufferers from accidents will 4"e their lot alleviated by the Workmen's Com- tnsation Act. which comes into operation this July. Also, that statutory regulations r the general advancement of technical knovv- *%e have had the effect of considerably re- tjjg mortality from mine accidents, the suits of which conld be summed up as follows a 'he five years, 1851-5, the average death-rate 1 £ accidents in and about coal mines was 4"3 per co° employed and the five years, 1891-5, the death-rate was 1-5, or in other words to of coal mining have been reduced one tllira to what they were lug; •Pefc*s ago. And not only this, but that hern vastly benefited ajtoagardii to life and. also trt mftubi- I!ty to a certain extent has relieved bUn fro1n •Xftllnaj drudgery, and the general condition of ^Ks have been vastly improved. Seven hundred and twenty-five thousand eight "Unclred and three persons were employed in our ^es during the year 1895, of which 149,478 °tked above ground, and of the latter there were females. Thus there was a decrease of 7,973 Wring below ground, and an increase of 641 s and a decrease of 522 females working Ve ground as compared with the previous s making a net decrease of 13,294 per- ba ? ^ur^nS the same period. And if we went °k two years instead of one we would find a JJ1* decrease of 13,294 persons under that of 1895. •I he first table produced tells the same tale as done last year, viz., that the collieries of the waited Kingdom employ nearly 15 times as many as all the other mines put together. With i&fthe number of persons employed in tho ^y*ediate coalfields, Mr Martin's figures (South ^eatern district) show a slight increase the ^ber of persons employed, due, in his opiiion, In a. Clore satisfactory condition of the coal trade. tb the South Wales district Mr Robinson reports there was a decrease of 1*7 per cent, in the jj^ber of persons employed, the proportion of ij, to men being gradually on the decrease. J* years ago he says that the boys formed 11*9 v^Cent. of the pits workers, but last year the pro- was only 9 9 per cent. The proportion of *&en employed are also on the decrease. hiay not be amiss to mention here that the decreases so noticeable in this report have "cCIl a great deal of the debate between the P1°yers and workmen's representatives in the 6fnSer"i attempt to revise the Sliding Scale, the hi P'°yer strongly urging that sincc the decrease risk to underground employment has been v^ght about through increased statutory filiations, and at the expense of the employers, should now take that into their l0u3 consideration and allow the em- ^°yera to recoup themselves by taking less t-aSes. No one will care to deny that 3 e mortality from mine accidents has ee t^cfeased, but that the workmen should pay for increased safety by accepting a reduction wages is a proposition so novel, if not prepos- to jj °^3, that it was not to be greatly wondered at °ne were to b6 found to believe that those 0 *»ade such could ever have been very serious j^t it. Still, the discussion upon the point 5^pied a considerable time. g. **e other, though not so extreme in itself, can lj?cely bear out the contention based upon it. alleged that the decrease in the number of employed underground has also been to the Moment of the employer. Consequently this fcjj inasmuch as it has been one of j}^ causes of the increased cost of pro- should be taken into account revision as against the colliers' claims and VJh?VOur o £ the employers, and again we must jj^t that it is a fact that for some time a steady 6lfcC*ease has taken plaee in the number of boys ^°yed underground. But that workmen are tojy Way responsible for this is not easily com- ^ot F°ri in fact, not only the men are Operable ^or but the men in most cases been losers thereby, and the company ^Patently ought to have benefited especially fc. 6*e the doorboys' and hauliers' help have c°Qsiderably reduced. In this case, gener- sPeaking, doorboys have "been taken away ii^lllst the wishes of the hauliers, and often- gainst the protestations of the colliers— 's calculated that where the haulier receives average only about sixpence per day extra 'Qg the work of both, the companies there- on aQ average about Is per day upon ^°orboy that is so taken away. Again, to the other class, the elder class of W, yonng men that colliers used to have 8 With them, the workmen themselves are -el1ItI any way directly responsible for this. It is ,Re,- Wn that this again has been done greatly at the wishes and interests of the good and C'ass colliery workmen. Since the man- et|t have forced the custom of putting two to work in a place on the plea that they l and must have, more coal during 4^ ea time out of these places than was *°&etK?lary whcn a man ana a boy worked et in them, the good, competent, able ^ave l°st the privilege and consequent tii a3 't was, of working with a boy, e employers have, on the other hand, lost bellefit of that one and only war of lbo.t boys to be practical colliers. The fact j. ls change, which was forced on the men by t<lsHta,lag6meat' ^as 'oronS^t about a different the cost of production to the one ex- II) clja' cannot in any way justify the employers '-Ore the men with the outcome. What is e evil results of this change of employing 91 UlMkWed woxtonen, aod destroying the old practical way of training competent colliers, is already beginning to be felt in more than one direction, and especially in places where it is necessary to carefully cleanse or screen the coal from dust, stones, etc., as well as in the hewing thereof, and as a rule this skilful hewing and careful handling are required together. And if close and careful inspection were allowed to be made as to the effect of the old collier and his boy working together com- pared with the two questionable (or so-called) colliers that have been employed by the dozens and scores of late years, one would venture to assert that the gobbs of the new comers would tell very extraordinary tales, and, on the whole, that more real clean marketable coal would be got out of the former as well. A greater mistake never did take place than this discouraging of allowing good workmen to have the benefit of boys to work with them.

ASTOUNDING PRECOCITY. Mns WIFFLES What most surprised you when you arrived in Paris ? MRS JAUNTER Why, the fact that the little children of three or four years could talk French. It was perfectly amazing.

Andrew Fletcher of Saltonn, in a letter to tho Marquis of Montrose. wrote" I know a. very wise man that believed that if a man were permitted to make all the ballads he need not care who should make this laws of the nation."

UNWASTED DAYS. The longer on this earth we live And weigh the various qualities of men. Seeing how most are fugitive, Or fitful gifts at best, of now and then- Wind-wavered corpse-lights, daughters of the The more we feel the high, stern-featured beanty Of plain devotedness to duty, Steadfast and still, nor paid with mortal praise, But finding amplest recompense For life's ungarlanded expense In work done squarely and unwasted days. JAMES RUSSELL LOWELL.

NOT ."DEAD. Thou art not dead thou art not gone to dust No line of all thy loveliness shall fall To formless ruin, smote by Time, and thrust Into the solemn gulf that covers all. Thou canst not wholly perish, though the sod Sinli with its violets closer to thy breast; Though, by the feet of generations trod, Tint liiiwlnliiini inn I *n from thy place of rest. The marVel of thy be»nty <s»»aot -die • The sweetness of thy presence shall not fade; Earth gave not all the glory of thine eye,— Death may not keep what Death has never made. It was not thine, that forehead strange and cold, Nor those dumb lips, they hid beneath the snow, Thy heart would throb beneath that passive fold, ihv hands for me that stony clasp forego, But thou hast gone—gone from the dreary land, Gone from the storms let loose on every hill; Lured by the sweet persuasion of a hand Which leads thee somewhere in the distance still. Where'er thou art I know thou wearest yet The same bewildering beauty, sanctified By calmer joy, and touched with soft regret For him who seeks but cannot reach thy side. BAYARD TAYLOB.

A BROAD HINT. VISITOR Is Miss Rose at home. SERVANT No, sir. VISITOR Why, she has just come in I saw her. SERVANT Yes, sir; and she saw you, too

And Escaped. He was a, young man from the country, evi- dently. He had an innocent air, and-what WILS infinitely more satisfactory to the smart gen. try following a few paces in the rear-he had mAll7day long the hawks had with the exception of this solitary pigeon they had sighted nothing. Now, nowever, with the quarry in full view, they chuckled contentedly to themselves.. Got 'im, Bill," grinned one of the prey. As soon as ne turns the one on the nut with the cudgel, an' leave the rest ter me." Suddenlv, however, the '• pigeon" stopp » P duced a match, struck it, and proceeded to diligently among the mud in the gutter. vVhat is it?1' asked Bill eagerly. Wot yer lookin' for, matey ?" 'Arf-a-sovereign," was the reply.. Bill winked at his confederate and the pair joined in the search. Others came and followea suit. Soon there was a crowd, and anoB a police. man. "Now then, demanded the man in blu what's all this about, eh ? Move on there?" This/ere young feller's lorst 'arf-a-sov., an' we're a-lookin' for it," explained Bill. I ain't lorst no 'arf-sov. chimed in the sup- posed greenhorn; I thought there might be one knocking about, that's all t" Bill gazed at his friend and gasped, while the pigeon slipped through the crowd and was lost to sight.

Mabel: You should see the French Count who is dancing attendance upon me.—Snsie Ah, a French dancing master, dear ? Invited Guest (trudging through the snow) Onch my shoe has slipped off.—Friend Oh, come along, my dear fellow, and don't mind a little thing like that. Another hour and we'll be at the house., where a pair of slippers and a horn of whisky will set you all right. Ted was invited out to tea with his mother one day, and among other delicacies a saucer of orange-gelatine was set before him. It was a new difih to the little fellow, and he eyed it dis- paragingly a minute, then said, very politely, If you please, 'am, thank you, I rather guess you can have it back—it keeps waggin' so." One oratorical candidate for a Melbonrne con- stituency, in a fine burst of eloquence, asked the question, What is it that has made England what she is-mighty, revered, feared, and respected ?" "Oireland," was the prompt and unexpected reply in a racy jfcpgQQ £ t9B* the reat of the hall.

WELSH GLEANINGS. .a Old Normalites "—former students of the Ban- gor Normal College—are arranging for a reunion to be held at Bangor on Good Friday. Many of the students trained for the teaching profession at the College will no doubt take advantage of this opportunity to renew old friendships. The list of former students includes the names of Principal John Rhys, M.A., of Jesus College, Oxford Pro- fessor Henry Jones, M.A., of Glasgow; Prin cipal Owen Prys, M.A., of Trevecca College; Mr T. Marchant Wiliams, B.A. and the Revs. David Adams, B.A., of Liverpool; and Pro- fessor Thomas Rhys, B.A., of the North Wales Congregational College. In No. S of Enterprise, the appropriately named journal of the Cardiff branch of the Y.M.C.A., interesting reminiscences of the early days of the branch appear, the writer being Mr Robinson Souttar, M.A., B.C.L., and M.P. Mr Souttar, who was engaged as an engineer on the Rhymney Railway under Mr Cornelius Lundie, became the hon. sec. at a. period of revival towards the end of 1869. The article teems with references to the leading men of the movement in those days, and the suggestion that Mr Thomas Webber, who was hon. secretary at the time Mr Souttar left the district in 1871, should continue the narrative is one which will be generally en- dorsed. It ia a. characteristic of the older Noncon- formists in Wales that they cling with great tena- city to the original texts of their hymns, even when the hymns themselves are clearly inac- curate in metaphor. It was pointed out to one old pilgrim that the well-known lines, Rwyf yma dan y tonau Yn gruddfan lawer awr. could not possibly be accepted as a correct ex- pression, seeing that if, as implied in the words, a man were under the waves for many hours he would be incapable of groaning or doing anything else, but the old fellow was not long in telling the critic that if the writer of the hymn did not know what he was saying he was sure the objector did not, and his defence of the words as they stood in the book was generally ao energetic that the re- viler had to depart a sadder man, to say the least. On the arrival of the registrar a.nd his officials at the Town Hall, Mountain Ash, on Wednesday morning they found the building in a state of general upset, the officials having apparently for- gotten the date of the County Court. As a number of the plaintiffs and other litigants had then arrived, considerable commotion ensued, and it took the bailiffs and the court functionaries some three- quarters of an hour to get the room into some- thing like a state of readiness. Fortunately the list happened to be a short one, and the registrar managed to finish in ample time to enable his Honour Judge Gwilym Williams to sit at the ap- pointed time. Even the Daily Chronicle has caught the contagion, and is now initiating its readers into the mysteries of Welsh. The other day it gave a lengthy report of the Eisteddfod at the Queen's Hall, and from that report we cull the following gem :—" There were forty-eight lines in the poem selected for the recitation con- test. It is by Iorwerth Glan Aled, and is euphoniously entitled, I'r goreu a adroddo y canlynol o waith." Our English readers will appreciate the joke when we explain that this euphonious title when rendered in the Saxon tongue reads, To the best who will recite the following from the works of." Mrs Lloyd Harries, of Cardiff, who, as the special commissioner of the Craftsman, accom- panied a party of English Freemasons last month on their visit to the Holy Land, where they held a lodge in King Solomon's Quarries, is contributing to that journal a. series of interest- ing illustrated articles descriptive of the journey a.n.ci.üaiacidents. Being a. lady, the commis- aioner, of ootttsa, was unable to wite* itself b1!tthe brethren were sufficiently com- municative when they emerged to enable her t, compile a very readable account of this historic event. We heartily congratulate the Craftsman upon its enterprise, for we note with interest that the Masonic organ of Wales was the only journal thus represented on the occasion. A Cardigan clog-maker, evidently disgusted with the evils of the credit system, has had the following gentle hint to customers printed in large letters and exhibited over the doors of his establishment:— Gwaith rhyfedd iawn yw (rusto, Ie'n wir Rhaid rhodddi terfy arno, Rhaid yn wir! Am hyny o hyn allan Yn bendant 'rwyf yn datgan, Wrth blant a rhai mewn oedran, Ydw' wir 1 Pim clogsen hob yr arian, Dim yn wir! How many of our readers could say off-hand what is a "brechdan deiliwr?" Mr Palmer speaks of it in his new novel Owen Tanat," but is unable to say why it ia so called. The Car- narvon Herald offers the following suggestion Mr Palmer, of course, knows that the rural tailor used to perform his onerous duties not on his own table but on that of his customer. It was also the tailor's privilege to have the best fare the farmhouse provided, and thus feasted-though he seldom grew fat—upon the white wheaten bread while the servants had to be content with the brown barley loaf. Hence, possibly, in a genera- tion now gone by the brechdan deiliwr' possessed to the bucolic mind a suggestiveness which would hardly present itself to-day." The newly-formed Sanitary Inspectors' Asso- ciation for South Wales and Monmouthshire is getting about its work in a very practical and businesslike fashion, for though formed only in October last it has already enrolled as members as many as 78 out of a total number of 142 sanitary inspectors in the district named. Another pleasing evidence of the go-aheaded- ness of this young society is the fact that it already publishes a Journal of its transac- tions, and the first quarterly number, which is now to hand, consists of 27 pages of readable and instructive matter which all interested in public health would do well to peruse. Mr Towy Thomas has early justified his selection as secretary, and the acceptance of the presidency by Dr. W. Williams, the Glamorgan Medical Officer of Health, will do much to secure the society a still greater measure of success. Last week's issue of the Christian Pictorial has several features of interest to Wales. Much is made of the visit of the Rhondda Glee Society to Windsor, and a special article by One Who was With Them" is illustrated with an excellent portrait of the choir. Writing of the visit, the author of the article states :—" The dummies' came in for a good deal of banter. Our readers might not understand the term until it is explained that when a choir has the honour of appearing before her Majesty one or two gentlemen have been known who suddenly discover that they have musical gifts, or at least tendencies, and are found, to the surprise of all, for the nonce among the musicians like Saul of old among the prophets. As the result one or two of those who appeared a.t St. George's Hall came away, and are likely to die I with all their music in them.' Perhaps it is well for the annals of the choir that none of the music escaped those worthies. We cannot tell what might have happened if it had I" Another illustrated article in the same number depicts the recent Welsh services at St. Paul's Cathedral a.nd the City Temple. <( ^ames A. Magure, of Carmarthen, writes: "Apropos of your note in Friday's issue re the Carmarthenshire Lake, called Llyn Llech Owain, and its legend, I would draw attention to the fact that an almost similar story is attached to Lough Neagh, in Ulster, which has an area of 153 square miles. According to this legend, the well was closed by a stone, which some immortalised woman called 'Neagh* did not replace as she hurried away in obedience to the cry of her child. Hence the lake Possibly the story could be found localised in many other districts and it may be one of these remnants of primeval Celtic lore which have travelled but little changed from beyond the Hindoo Koosh to the shores of the Atlantic. The tales of sub* merged cities seen at the bottom of lakes are possibly offshoots of the same myth. Once as I passed the lake near Talley Abbey, in Carmar- thenshire, I was told by a parishioner that the spires of a church and the roofs of houses had been seen below the waters. Compare Moore's "round towerg other days-in thewaves beneath him shining."

Illustrated Fashions, Never were gaily'-caparisoned horses more wonderfully decorated with rosettes than are some of the hats with which the modern maid is adorning her head. There is something pecu- liarly uncompromising in the hat rosette just now. It is exactly round, it is thick, and its centre con- trasts with the outside much as does the middle of a daisy or sunflower with the petals. Two rossttes, one of white satin and one of black, are placed after the fashion shown in my sketch on the inside of the upturned brim of, in this case, a soft, velvety felt in a deep shade of heliotrope. Perhaps the blsck rosette is a kind of protective measure in case the wearer should be thought to possess a Jacobitian tendency for there are romantic stories enough connected with the wearer of white cockades. Another new depar- ture is a toque composed entirely of one inch to an inch and a half wide plaid ribbons sewn on fairly fully or in box pleats, but falling one above another, in fact very closely upon each other, until the whole crown is formed of broken-up, curved lines and fluffiness. The toque founda- tion must be of the kind that is considerably raised on one side. Underneath this is placed a large Cairngorn brooch, of the kind with which SOMETHING NOVEL IN MILLINERY. a plaid is fastened on the shoulder and out of it rise two hawk's plumes. This is an excellent kind of headgear for travelling purposes. Wet does not injnre it. All it requires is a good brush- ing now and again and it will go with any costume. For those who axe lucky enough to be wending their way to the sunny South, toques and hats are prepared of a much lighter descrip- tion. Black chip, white satin, and pale pink roses, mingled with wings of finely-spangled jet and lace, is one successful combination. Another, made of shaded tulips laid on a foundation con- sisting of tiny tucks of reddish silk shot with gold, has upstanding wings made of puckered chiffon of the various shades of the toque. These wings, though not really difficult, require very careful making, but are very effective when com- pleted. Do not let any of my facetious readers imagine that I am urging upon them the claims of a new chest-protector. Nevertheless, though it does not come under this heading, the ornamental little fur collarjshown in my illustration is practi- cally the same thing, and in these chilly, treacherous days of early spring, when one likes to look as festive and smart as possible, and yet be protected from inclement winds, it is an admir- able mode in which to have: any superfluous fur arranged. The remnants of a sealskin jacket, the good pieces taken out of a well-worn Chin- chilla cape, moufflon, and astrachan are all suitable for the purpose. It is easily carried, too -much more easily, in fact, than the once fashionable boa.—ajid can be jiut on without WHEN UNKIND WINDS DO BLOW. I adding to the width of the shoulders, which is more than can be said for the small shoulder cape that is by no means a, becoming addition to the figure. The little blouse is made of brightly- coloured striped silk, the rest of the dress being of dark blue serge, just that dark purple blue so difficult to distingnish from the bluer shades of violet that are so fashionable this spring. Writing of blouses, the majority of those made to finish off the demi-saison possess large Directoire revers, and finish at the waist with a long scarf or ribbon passed twice round the waist and tied in a windmill bow at the side, one end falling almost to the hem of the dress, and the other half-way down. These scarves are made of fino crepe-de-chine and heavy netted silk fringes. They cling so closely to the figure that when tied tightly they are extremely becoming. I give here a completely new and original design for a ball-gown suitable for a young matron, having just that degose of flimsiness introduced which dancing somehow or other requires, and a sufficiency of solid material to make the dress a little more elaborate than would be chosen by quite young girls. The front and back wdths are composed of rich turquoise blue poult-de-soie, the side pleatings and the bodice being of white chiffon, accordeon pleated, and falling in straight close lines over a mauve silk foundation. The bands which pass over this, terminating in the front in the form of shamrocks, are of dark green I NEW DESIGN FOR BALL-GOWN. velvet closely studded with emerald jewel trim- ming. Exactly the same sort of garniture out- lines the bodice, somewhat in the fashion of a Swiss belt, the same kind of loops of green vel- vet being formed on either side over the white chiffon pleatings and frills which edge the decoll- ete. This costume, carried out entirely in black, the trmmiings being of black jet laid on to black velvet, would alsp be exxceedingly pretty. COQTJZTTS.

At thirty marriage is the wine of life at forty it's the morning after.-A man is quiet when he's dead a. woman is dead when she's quiet.-Every woman is a mirror of her bosom-friend to her husband, and a. minQr ;of:.her husband t^her.. bgsom. friend. >

[ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.] GARDEN AND FIELD. It With Hints on Poultry and Stock. BY "COUNTRY COUSIN." Tuberous Troposolums. Tuberous tropceolums are a. very handsome class of plants and of very early cultivation, and all amateurs having a frame or small greenhouse at disposal should grow them, as at least three or four species are hardy and admit of being easily grown, especially where aspect and soil are suit- able. For hanging baskets they are especially suitable, as they quickly clothe the sides, and the shoots drooping down for several feet, and laden with brilliant flowers, create a very pleasing ap- pearance, but there is no reason why every one of them should not be grown to perfection by all. T. Azureum or the blue flowered tropceolum has slightly scented flowers of a beautiful azure blue. This variety if kept in a cool house or frame will bloom in February or March, but if kept warmer it will flower in mid-winter. Pot the tubers in leaf mould or a light loamy soil as soon as they show signs of growth, keep moderately moist and support the 6tems by putting three sticks in each pot. i^fter flowering and when showing signs of decay water mast be entirely withheld, the tubers being either still retained in the pots or shaken out and laid in sand. Repot when the tubers show signs of growth. Another form of this T. -azureum grandiflorium requires treating in exactly the same manner. The horned Tropceo- lum, T. brachyceras, is somewhat similar in growth to the former. It produces a number of yellow flowers from February to April. This is much hardier than T. azureum and might if -given a slight protection be grown outdoors. Culture as described for T. azureum. T. Jarratti or Jarratt's troposolum, is a very handsome spe- cies, with blooms of scarlet and yellow. This requires the protection of a greenhonse or a frame, either as a pot plant or planted out. Cul- ture same for T. azureum. A species closely allied to T. Jarratti is T. tricolorum. This is an extremely pretty plant, bearing abundance of scar- let and yellow flowers. We are enabled to give an illustration of this species by the kindness of Messrs J. Carter and Co.. of High Holborn, London. A species that is very seldom seen is Beuth's tropoeolum—T. Beuthi-this has yellow flowers. A kind often sold for T. azureum is T. TUBEROUS TROPCEOLUMS (T. TRICOLORUM). I violoefolium. Flowers of this apccies are azure blue, and the points of the petals are whitish. T. pentaphyllum, the five-leaved tropoeolum, has orange yellow flowers. If kept in a greenhouse this will bloom in winter, but outdoors, where shelter should be given, it will flower in spring. This is a vigorous growing species and well worth cultivating. The culture foi 801 the above is the same as for T. azureum. T. tuberdrosum has small but pretty flowers of yellow and red during September and October. Keep the tubers in a cool place during the winter, free from frost, and plant in the open ground ii May, and treat as potatoes. *'V- j The Apiary: Purchasing Bses. The present is the best time to buy established colonies with a view of securing returns in honey and increase the same season. Towards the end of the month bees will travel long distances on combs with less risv of breakage or injury than at any other seasons of the year, The reasons are there is little brood to run the danger of getting chilled, the hive is not so thickly popu- lated, nor is the weather likely to be sufficiently warm to cause suffocation, and lastly, there is not enough honey remaining in the cells to cause the combs by their weight to break away from their attachment. The price for an established stock in a second-hand frame hive at this season is about 25s, and frequently they are to be seen advertised at this figure. There is a. disadvan- w"' tage, however, in getting them in. this manner, for only too often the hive turns out to be of an old or obsolete pattern, and therefore is, next to useless. Then the bees come dear, especially if the hive is extra heavy, and additional carriage has to be paid in consequence. In cases where the hive cannot be examined.a stipulation should be made that the stock is healthy, that it is strong, and that it contains a fertile queen. In March the bees of a strong stock should cover six or eight frames of comb, and by May should have increased so that ten combs are not only covered but crowded with bees. About the most reliable way to buy bees is from a nerson who makes a business of selling them. In this way there is little fear of foul breed being imported. the bees being had simply on frames, without hives. They are sure to be properly packed, and usually the combs are wired, so that it is pretty well an impossibility for the slightest breakage to occur while travelling. Bought in this way a six- framed stock of nathe bees with a fertile queen, would cost about 17s 6d, an eight-framed stock about 20s. As soon as the bees are received, plac3 them outdoors in the position they are to occupy permanently, and the entrance may be opened after dark. In the course of a few days, after they have settled down and become used to their surroundings, they may, if it is fine and warm, be transferred from the travelling box to the hive, by gently lifting out the frames with the bees on them, and placing them therein, care being taken that they are kept in the same order, so that the brood nest remains intact in the centre. Tomato Growing Indoors. The tomato is eminently a heat, light, and air loving plant, as well as a hungry one, especially when two or three trusses have set and begun to swell up. To do tomatoes justice the house for them cannot be,tpo light, too roomy, or on too open and sunny a side, and abundant provision should be made for admitting air, both at the sides and at the top of the roof during warm weather and although a good crop may be had in an ordinarily favourable season without the assistance of artificial heat, yet the assistance of a few rows of hot-water piping will enable the plants to be set out considerably earlier, and therefore cause them to fruit at an earlier date. The heating, again,will be of considerable advan- tage in dull, cold, or wet weather, and will also prolong the season of fruiting. Some growers use pots, others boxes, and others again grow in ridces or mounds of soil on a stage, but perhaps the best method is to plant in a solid bed of good soil. "Where the soil constituting the floor of the house is of a suitable description, the plants may be set out directlv in this, but if from any cause this cannot be done, the next best plan is to make up a bed of good material about two feet in depth and well drained, and set out the plants therein at a distanea-if more than a single row is made use of—of from eighteen mche3 to two feet apart. If only a single line along the front of a lean-to, or sides of a spau-roofed house is grown, the plants may be set but one foot apart. Other things being equal, a spau-roofed building will suit tomatoes better than a lean-to. The soil should be sound and good, but not over rich in the first place good turfy or fibrous loam, with a fourth part of well-decayed manure, and a sprinkling of soot is about the best material. Use it in rather a rough state, and plant firmly. The single stem system of growing is superior to all others. Cer- tainly a plant with three or four stems will pro- ducc a greater weight of frnit, but it takes up equally as much room as three or four single-stem plants, and these would not only boar sooner, but afford more and finer fruit. Ventilate and water rather cautiously at first, until the first truss or two has set, then more freely, and when in full bearing give a good soaking as often as the soil shows signs of dryness, with a dose of any kind shows signs of dryness, with a dose of any kind of liquid manure once a week. Op«n the roof ventilators more or less except when the outside temperature falls below 50deg., and during warm weather admit air freely at the sides during the day, and leave some top air on all night as weli. During hot, dry weather, syringing will assist the blooms to set with more certainty. Sow the seed in February or March, in light sandy soil and Elace in a heat of about60deg.; it will germinate, ut much slower in a temperature 5 dtg. or ev<sn 10 deg. less. When up kezp near the glass to prevent drawing, and treat as described above. Regarding varieties for all ordinary purposes, the choice may be said to lie between the old large red and perfection, the latter if quality of fruit is desired, and the former when quantity is wished for. A variety very much needed in the market being very early, of medium size, and of good shape and colour is Carter's Market Favourite. This is a remarkably free, setting variety. One of the best favoured varieties ever raised is Car- ter's Blenheim Orange, which has been termed this Queen of Tomatoes." Golden Gem is an excep- tionally yellow-fruited kind, while for pot work Horsford's Prelnde and Early Tennis Ball are 'very; dwwd and prolific kinds, with small scarlet fruit. Dedham Favourite is another well-known and deservedly popular variety. The Berkshire Pig. There are two varieties of the Berkshire pig— those principally black, with white down to the nose, on the end of the tail, and on the feet, and those wholly white. Of the two the blacks are the more numerous variety. As to the usefnl- ness of the Berkshires there can be but little doubt, for there is perhaps no other breed so largely bred this may be accepted as proof that they are found a profitable kind, because pig- keepers would not continue to make use of an inferior animal. A pig of this breed is not a very large animal; the head is moderately short, wide forehead, the nose straight at the end, chaps full, and ears slightly projecting, some- times covering the eyes. The pig stands on short legs, and the bone is well proportioned. The colour, as stated above, is either all white, or black, with a whits star on forehead, or white blaze down the nose. One of the great merits of this breed is the large proportion of lean meat which it gives, and the nice disposition of fat and lean. From fifteen to sixteen score is about the average of a year's growth with ordi- nary feeding The Berkshires are especally suited for bacon, for consumers do not want the huge lumps of fat which sold very well in former years. A cottager having the accommodation for a pig, and with garden refuse to spare, would certainly find it to pay to keep a pig of this breed. The black* or black and white breeds of medium size are perhaps the best stock that CQJl be kept. They are very hardy, not susceptible to changes of the weather, as some of the more delicate breeds of pigs are, will eat almost anything, and do well upon rough fare—a most important con- sideration in pig-keeping, especially in the case ofjjthe cottager and allotment holder—and will fatten quickly when placed upon good food. They are fairly prolific, although at the same time they will not bring such large litters as some other breeds that might be mentioned. Perhaps the breed has been too mucn in-selected to suit some tastes, and a few of the more refined strains may lack the size deemed desirable but after all size is easily attained, while guality takes more time. The improvement of the Berkshires has been due more to careful selection than to crossing, though undoubtedly fresh blood hat- been occasionally brought to the breed. If the Berkshires ever want size they will not be long in wanting it, but for all ordinary purposes, however, they do not want it. It is difficult to find a better porker at from 8 to lOst., or a more economical general purpose pig at 10 to 15st.; while they are bacon anywhere from 15 to 40st., as fancy may dictate. The breed is well suited to the farmyard, and turns to good account any food it receives. Pruning Roses. At the present season it is very rarely that a day goes by without a question being asked as to rose pruning, and as each year adds to thejnumber of amateur growers a few hints will no doubt be found useful. One object in pruning is to cut away wood directly it has passed its best, instead of leaving it to decteriorate gradually. At the same time the whole energy of the plant is being conserved for younger and better growth, thus obtaining the best possible show of blossom, and not exhausting the plant with the support of com- paratively useless growth. There is also an- other important reason foi pruning. If the whole of the shoots are left intact, especially upon normal growers, such as Mrs John Laing, La France, and General Jacqueminot, W3 should not get nearly so good flowers as would result from the lower and better matured buds, which would break into new growth of better vigour than could be the case with immaturcd buds at the tips of shoots. An- other advantage is that we get a better shaped flower and one that needs, scarcely any support. Th^n, again, we may want our plants to give a larger quantity of flowers, or only a few of the very best quality, and each of these objects are mainly dependent upon pruning. From this it will be seen that how to prune depends upon the object in view- To make this more clear, a few varieties are named below without respect to class, these varieties being representatives of roses with similar growth but even then there is no hard and fast rule, that all of each section shall be pruned alike, and the operator must judge a little forhimssif according to the size and strength of each individual plant. All that can be done here is to point out the lines upon which to work. Roses upon houses, walls, and fences are generally selected from the strongest growers, i.e., those producing a succession of long shoots. As examples of this class we may take W. A. Richardson, Celine Forestier, Cheshunt Hybrid, Reine Marie Henriette, MarechalNiel, Biarii No. 2, Madame Berard, and Grtoire da Dijon. Now, with these roses the object is twofold, to cover space, and at the same time secure a quantity of bloom. The first year after planting cut them down almost to their base, the result will be long shoots upon established roots. Secure these to the fence or wall, and do hot check them in any way. Scarce one will flower the first summer, but do not cut away such wood on that account. Next spring there should be from two to six shoots which will give a good show of blossom. Hardly any pruning is required. Simply cut away the tips of growth and any affected by frost, fasten the rest to the fence or wall after the style of fan- shaped fruit trees, and they will bloom from almost every eye. Blooming over, more young growths will push out from near the bottom. If a high wall has to be covered do not cut down growth that has flowered too hard, but leave as many of the most promising young shoots as pos- sible and carry them higher up the wall. In this manner a high space can soon be covered, but care must be taken to avoid a bare or naked bottom. Should the wall or fence be only four to six feet high it will be better to cut down the long rods or climbers as soon as they have blossomed, and reclothe the wall with the summer growth. It a good plan to remove all of the older wood possible from wall roses year by year, and lay in the past season's growth. ( To be continued.) Ibiary of Garden Work. WEEK ENDING MARCH 19th. Flower Garden.—Roses may be pruned about the end of the month. It is always a safe practice to cut hard back first, soon after planting this will give the rose a little breathing time to make roots and get strong. Amateurs generally leave prettv well all the wood the first season, conse- quently the bottom buds never break at all, and the plants have a ragged, stalky appearance. It is true they will flower freely, but the flowers arc not so fine as when the shoots are cut back to three or four buds. All kinds of hardy annuals • may be sown now. The annual chrysanthemums are very useful for cutting. If thinned out to four inches apart they will last all the season, and the more they are cut the better they will bloom. Sow sweet peas at once, they fjce among the most beautiful things for cutting. Do not crowd them, half a dozen plants are ample for a group. Dianthus Heddewigii is another useful plant for cutting. Astors, stocks, marigolds, phlox, Drummondi. and salpiglossis must be sown in thj greenhouse or frame early in April will be time enough. Shrubs and creepers damaged by frost should be cut down to sound wood. Plant ranunculuses in well-prepared ground; they must not come into contact with fresh manure. Fruit Garden.—Peaches and apricots will soon be showing colour on south walls. All training and pruning not yet complete should be seen to at once. As a. rule he young wood of the majority of these trees is left in far too crowded a condi- tion, and consequently the trees are more liable to ataek of insects, and here is a much greater temptation to over-crop. Those who are wishing to plant fruit trees may yet do so with perfect safety, but it will be better to puddle them In and well mulsh with manure immediately after plant- ing. Trees planted so late as this should not be cut back. Strawberries will go in well now, pro- vided the land was trenched and prepared some little while ago. Plant while the surface is dry, and if the land is light run the roller over it. Vegetable Garden.—No time should be lost now in getting in the vegetable crops. Of course the earliest crops are all in, but the main crops of peas and potatoes must be got in soon. Plant peas in succession according to the demand. To ensure a good supply all through the season with- out a break it is a safe rule to sow the succession crops as soon as the previous one is through the ground but for main crops several kinds of marrow peas are usually sown. Those who have no special favourite would do well in making a sowing as follows :—Carter's Lightning, Early Morn, Daisy, Danby Stratagem, Model Tele- graph, and Michaelmas. Commence with the Lightning and follow on with the others. ^Precise dates for sowing cannot well be given, so much depending on soil and situation. In any case it will be as well not to make the last sowing later than the 20th of June. Anything and everything may be sown or planted now except scarlet run- ners and French beans, the former of these being left till May and the latter till April. Greenhouse.—About now there is likely to be insects on roses, pelargoniums, etc., and some means should be taken to destroy them. In many places vaporising is taking the place of fumigating, and after the first cost of purchasing utensils there is economy in this method, as the liquid used for vaporising is cheap. For fumi- gating small houses—if fumigating is the plan adopted—tobacco sheets are the best, and these can be obtained from any seedsman. There is always a danger of overcrowding the greenhouse at this season, and considerable damage is often done thereby. The temptation to crowd is great, but it should be strongly resisted. Warm Frames.—These are exceedingly useful now for striking cuttings and raising seedlings. The following should be sown now :—Single dahlias, verbenas, petunias, salpiglossis, castor oils, tuberous and other begonias, acacias, melons, cucumbers, celery, white and red, and tomatoes. Answers to Correspondents. Pruning Roses (J.E.L.).-See note above on this subject. We have not illustrated the article as one sketch could not by any possibility show the method of pruning in all cases. There are two or three more notes on the subject to appear, and we will endeavour to make them as clear as possible. Your request for an article on Roses I in Pots shal receive attention. ggTomato Growing (Byehgyr dyheol).—A note on tomatoes appears this week. Your other query has been replied to through the post.

THE HOUSEHOLD. DW often it happens that we possess one or two dearly treasured little books, the covers of which have grown shabby and worn during the yeaxs they havebeen on active service." Sometimes we prize such volumes for the sake of their former owner; some- times for the sweet associations they re- call to our minds, and occasionally for the real value of their contents. Whatever the sentiment, a large percentage of the in- dividual families in England have at least one book which they cherish with loving careand they would-fain make a beautiful cover for it— not to hide its sbabbiness from the world so much as to keep it from travelling further on the deca- dent road. But a cover of this description must be adequate, inasmuch ae it should give evidence of mucn care having been bestowed on its design and ornamentation. Again, the material ought to be good, and nothing clumsy can be used for such a purpose. Art serge and thick cloth are ad- mirable for covering booKs that are in everyday use, but when we come to consider the possible gown of one of the household gods we feel that it must be of the finest and most delicate kind. In my sketch I give a very beautiful design for such a book cover which I saw in Paris not long ago, and which was designated as Couvre- livre Ossian and dated 1618. Thick Roman AN ATTSACTni BOOK COVER. satin in a delicious tint of terra-cotta formed the background, and this was embroidered with the conventional pattern as seen in the illustration. First of all horizontal bars of chenille were stretched across to mark out the position of the back of the book. and then both front and back were divided into equal divisions by this means, only in this case double lines were put. This chenille was of a lovely turquoise blue, and was couched on with filoselle silk of a lighter tint. These divisions however diet-not quite reach the edge of the cover, but ran into the scollops of the design, thus making a pretty break in what other- wise might have been a too formal pattern. The main portion of the pointed leaves wis worked in close silk stitching secured at the back, and then snipped into fluffiness in front; this was in ivory white, and gave a deliciqms softness to the general effect of the embroidery: It is quite difficult to decide what to do with all the photographs that are given to us. Albums are a thingot the past, and the fashion now is to show these photos, thrust in confusion between slats of ribbon, on our walls. Regularitv or method in their arrangement would not be la mode. But it is not always convenient to have a large flat board that takes up space on our walls. Then comes the question of what sort of thing to use as a photo stand which will look nice on the end of the piano or on a small table. My illus- tration gives a very good idea of a charming little article for such a purpose. It is of Parisian origin, and when completed is both dainty and useful. The arch is made of very firm mill board, A NEW fnolO SMttD. which must be damped and bent to the desired shape. The legs must then be cut out evenly on either side, and when this is done satisfactorily the whole thing should be covered tightly and neatly with brocade. Now cut two pieces of card- board to fit exactly either side of the arch. Slats of fancy galloon must be stretched across, the junctions being fastened by means of small brass- headed nails,, or a rosette of bebe ribbon, as seen in the sketch. The little side pockets are ex- tremely useful for keeping photographs in which we wish to have near at hand ana yet cannot find room for showing. These pockets are made of cardboard cut to the shape, and covered with silk or embroidery, and then sewn on to the outside of the arch. This is not nearly so difficult a task as might be imagined, as both being covered only with silk, are comparatively easy for the needle to pierce. The little arch that I saw was covered with plain silk, on which had been embroidered sprays of flowers in natural colourings. The side pockets were partially covered with a deep purple plush and a strip of embroidery ornamented the centre. All the edges were bound with galloon that toned nicely with the rest of the colourings used. It is quite a delightfully novel idea for a standard photograph holder, and is not at all difficult to make. Pretty white linen table accessories are nearly always welcomed by a house mistress, and I show here one of the latst inventions for keeping our breakfast rolls in the happy state of warmth that HOT ROLL CASE, WITH DETAIL OF IMBR6IDEST. makes them so palatable, if indigestible. The little case is made of white Irish linen, and is cut square about the size of an ordinary serviette. It should be hem-stitched on all the four sides and bordered with narrow torchon lace. When this is finished, fold the four corners into the middle, taking care to crease them evenly. I give the detail of a pretty and suitable design for the embroidery, but any light spray of flowers would do in its place. All the heavy leaves and flowers must be padded with white flax thread, and this is worked over in satin stitch with white washing silk. A very handsome appearance is thus gained, and the case will wash and iron without losing any of its beauty. The design may be different on each of the four flaps, or initials or monogram may be worked on one. Sometimes I have seen a motto embroidered on the flaps, but perhaps the daintiest method for ornamenting these little doilies is by drawn thread work, which gives a very lacey appear- ance. ETHEL.

Was Top of the Heap. I Florida is a land of nobility, if we may judge from the titled inhabitants. General," Cap- tain," and "Colonel" are common appellations all through the State. To the negro we may give the credit of this. When the dusky southerner meets wealth or celebrity he immediately titles him. A plain but jovial millionaire, of Pittsburg, A plain but jovial millionaire, of Pittsburg, Penn.—the name, well, no matter—was taking dinner last winter at a hotel in this city, where the coloured waiter, who was very attentive, greeted him with— Pleasant day, governor." Yes, nice day, old man; but I am not a governor." "After a while the waiter remarked, "Make, a long stay, general ?" 0, no only a few days; but then I am not a general." I' Soon again ventured Sambo: Splendid coun- try this, commodore, don't you think no ?" O, ^es; but I am not a commodore, either." Brsss de Lord, master, what is you ?" I pin only a plain American citizen Mr of the great gassy city of Pennsylvania." Couldn't spot you 'zactly, sir; but I knew you was top of the pilo, somewhere, sir."

A fihoolbsy was asked to explain the formation of dew. His answer was The earth revolves on an a.xis every twenty-four hours, and in conse- quence of the tremendous pace at which it travels it perspires freely."

Welsh Tit-Bits. Neu Wreichion#Oddiar yr Eingion. By CADRAWD. I The Principal Eisteddfodau. [CONTINUED,] 1838. Abergavenny. Elegy on Joseph Harris (Gomer). Successful bard, Caledfryn. This was the fifth anniversary of the Abergavenny Cymreigyddion, and much more important than any held at the same town before. There were at this Eisteddfod a number of distinguished Frenchmen, and Le Comte Hersart had attended at the command of the King, Louis Philippe. The order of the procession which met the Pre- sident, Sir Charles Morgan, and preceded him to the pavilion was very impressive, something in the following order:—The erown and sceptre, on a cushion of purple silk fixed on a golden stand, and banners with V.R." and other mottoes, leading. Then came the adjudicators, each one carrying a golden axe; then were carried two large leeks, supported by roses and thistlee banners, with the red dragon of Wales and mottoes; the Welsh harp, members of the society carrying banners. Next came a car drawn by four greys, decorated with laurel, &c., carrying twelve harpers playing Welsh strains, and two archdruids dressed in their official robes; then a great number of gentry followed in their carriages and on horses, among whom may be mentiened the Lord Bishop of Gloucester, Lord Rodney, Ipord Bateman, Sir Benjamin Hall, Sir Samuel Meyrick, Mons; IT Rio, the gentlemen I from Gaul, etc. Carnhuanawe congratulated the 1 Eisteddfod on being honoured with representa- I tiyes from the King of France, and alluded to the Talnable service rendered to Welsh literature by a branch of this Cymreigyddion Society in publishing old Welsh manuscripts, the first volume of the Mabinogion" having been issued from the press. Two of the French visitors I addressed the assembly in their own language but few, it is said, were present who could under- stand them. Mr John Dorney Harding took the prize of fifty guineas and a gold medal value ten for the best essay on The Effect of Welsh Traditions on the Literature of Europe." Mr Harding resided at one time at Glanogwr, near Bridgend. It was at this Eisteddfod Taliesin ab Iolo took the prize for his essay on the Authenticity and Antiquity of Coelbren y Beirdd." Miss Jane Williams, of Aberpergwm, obtained I the prize at this Eisteddfod for the best Collec- tion of the unpublished original Airs of Gwent and Morganwg, with the words &I sung by the peasantry of Wales. The prize was given by I Lady Greely. This valuable collection was pub- lished at the Llandovery Press in 1844, and dedi- cated to her Majesty the Queen. It was in this collection The Bells of Aberdovey" appeared for the first time, and the Fwyalchen." It was at this Eisteddfod, at Abergavenny, Mr John Thomas (Pencerdd Gwalia) won his first prize for playing on the triple harp, when he was about eight years of age. A few years ago his father related to me how he got him prepared for the competition. The prize was a harp, value JE26 5s; but he succeeded, by this victory while so young, in securing the patronage of Sir Charles Morgan, who paved the way for the promising young musician to enter the Royal Academy of Music, where he again distinguished himself, and for many years he has been ap- pointed harpist to the Queen, and credited the first harpist of the age. A brilliant son of Gwyllt Walia, who has served his country well, and is beloved by every Welshman. Ancient Cymric Dresses. Mr T. Stephens is of opinion that a decided change in the style of dresses among Welsh noblemen took place between the reign of Owain Gwynedd and Llewelyn, the last Prince. Lady Charlote Guest tells us, on the authority of St. Pelagie, that the best garments of the Welsh Knights, in the 12th century, were of red velvet. It is stated in the Mahinogion" that King Arthur slept upon a bed of red satin and velvet. From the works of the Welsh poets of the 13th century it can be gathered that red was the most honoured and fashionable. Surnames. Since my notes appeared on Welsh surnames, I have received the following further remarks on the subject:—" The origin of the second or surname is not of the greatest antiquity. It is agreed upon by the best authors that surnames or double names of families in this country before the year 1000 were not known, any more than the armories of houses. Both took their I rise and origin much about the same time, and I that in France, from whence this custom or fashion was by the Conqueror and his associates brought over to England. Men had surnames before this, but such as never descended heredi- tarily on a family from father to son, but dying I always with the owners, whose heir, of conse- quence, were to seek out new ones for themselves. I Before surnames were settled in families and beoame hereditary, men had theirs from some heroic actions and extensive dominions, as Charles the First of Germany and Henry the Fourth of France, the first surnamed Lemaigne and the second Le Grand, both of which signifying • The Great.' The Welsh had a peculiar way of forming surnames before they were in imitation of the English. After Wales had been subdued and made subject to the Crown of England, their Princes were Grnffydd ab Rhys ab Tewdwr, See., ad infinitum. When the custom of fixing immut- able surnames in families universally prevailed, the Welsh formed theirs either by rejecting the particle ab, or taking the Christian name of their fathers for a settled and unalterable family sur- name or, otherwise, by omitting the letter a in the particle ab and prefixing the letter 6 to the father's Christian name, if it began with either a vowel, an H, or an R; for example:—Dafydd ab Morgan by this rule came to be David Morgan; Dafycid ab Owen, David Bowen Dafydd ab Hugh to be David Pagh Dafydd ab Rhys to be David 5 Prys alias Price, &c. When the particle ab was followed by a vowel, the B was retained, as in I "Bowen; bnt if the name following 4b began with an H or Ii, then the B changed into P, in the pronouncing of which by the Welsh there is always heard the aspiring sound of the h at its heels. The Welsh Emblem. There has been lately a good deal of writing with regard to the origin of the Welsh custom of wearing the leek on St. David's Day. Manby quotes the following lines from what appears to be a very old manuscript in the Bodleian Library, as the origin of wearing the leek:— Where in in agede cell with moss and iveye growne, In which nor to this daye the sunn had ever showne, Their reverend British Saints, in zealous agefc paste, To contemplation lived, and so did truly faste; As he did onlie drink what chrystal (rivers) yields, And fed upon the leakes he gathered in the fields, In memory of whom, in the revolving yeare, The Welchman on that daye that sacred herb doth weare. Dr. Wm. O. Paghe, in the Cambrian Bio- I graphy," tells us that the practice originated with the custom of Cymhortha, a practice among neighbouring farmers in South Wales of assisting small holders to plough their land. The day was appointed, aud it was customary for each individual to bring his portion of leeks to be used in making broth for the whole company. Iolo Morganwg would hear of no other origin but that in 1346, at the Battle of Cressy, the Welsh acquired great fame for their brave achievements in support of Edward the Black Prince. It was at this time that Cadwgan Voel called to his men desiring them to put leeks in I their helmets, the battle there being in a field of leeks, and when they looked about, they were all Welshmen in that locality, except thirty, and I it was from this circumstance that the Welsh I took to wearing leeks. Nora.—I am obliged to my friend. Dafydd Morganwg, for correcting me when I said in last week's "Tit Bite" that Gwalchmai was the only Welsh bard who had won two bardic chairs in succession. I am reminded that the late Rev. I Watkin Joseph "YMyfyr," who died at Utica America, won the chair at Conway in 1879, and again at Carnarvon in 1880.

Nobody but a woman would get up and read a paper upon The moral support of mental dis- cipline as applied to club life," and all the while that the only moral support enabling her to survive the reading of the paper was the fact that her frock was silk-lined.

GOSSIPS' CORNER. Mr W. Goscombe John has nearly finished tilt Hirlas Horn," which is to be presented to tht Gorsedd by Lord Tredegar. In his series of Penny Books of Standard Works for Children Mr Stead has now mcludec the Welsh version of Bunyan's Pilgrim" Progress." Monday was the ninety-fourth anniversary of the establishment of the Bible Society, in the founding of which Charles o'r Bala took such a prominent share. The Welshmen on the Rand were not forgetful of St. David's Day, and celebrated the ancient festival in a manner which for true patriotism will vie with any similar gathering in Wales. The list of the adjudicators chosen by the Festiniog Eisteddfod Committee for the art and science sections includes the names 01 Sir E. Bume-Jcnes, Bart., Mr W. Goscombe John, and Mr Thomas E. Ellis M.P. Lord Aberdare appeared on Wednesday last fot the first time in his life at the Mountain Aei County Court. To prevent any misconceptior it should be explained that his Lordship was present merely aa a spectator. Mr Charles Morley, M.P. for the county oi Brecon, has just been unanimously elected presi. dent of the Brecknockshire Agricultural Society, a. society established in 1755, and including among its founders the celebrated Howel Harris, of Trevecca. For the quarter ending December 31st last there was in the Pontypridd and Rhondda poliet district not a single prosecution of any kind for offences against the Sunday Closing Act. By the way, isn't it time for another declaration that Sunday-closing is a failure ? Readers who remember the experiments made between Lavernock and the Flat Holm by Signal Marconi will be interested in the statement which the Electrical Engineer of this week pub- lishes concerning the wireless telegraph. Th# Italian Government, it reports, have ordered < Marconi plant to be used as an experiment on the warship Messagero. The Rev. Father Jones, of Carnarvon, who it preparing for the Roman Catholic Church a nan Welsh version of the New Testament, has long passed middle age, but—so he informed the Car- narvon people last week-he yet hopes to livt to see the day when the Welsh harp would be in general use in every Elementary school in the Principality! The editor of the Shop Assistant in the current issue of that periodical mentions the necessity of a shop assistants' club and institute in Cardiff. It is suggested that a capital of JE250 would be ample to form an institution worthy of the assistants of the town, and that 250 ii sharet could be easily disposed of amongst the 501 members of the local branch. Of all the compliments paid to the immortal memory of St. David, surely the most strikiiii was that paid by the Carnarvon Town Council The ordinary monthly meeting of this body fell on St. David s Day, but rather than desecrate, it by any other than purely gastronomical busi- ness, the Council simply contented itself with reading the minutes, and then promptly adjourn- ing for a week. The Nonconformist conscience seems to be waking up all over the country. The example set by Carnarvon is being generally followed elsewhere, Bangor, Conway, Rhyl, and othej North Wales towns now having their local Non. conformist Councils. So general indeed has been the movement that it has been deemed advisable to unite these various local bodies into one nnioa for North Wales. One of the leading articles in the March num- ber of the Troethodydd is from the pen of Alderman J. Jones-Griffiths, Penygraig, who deals exhaustively and critically with the pro- ceedings of the Royal Commission on Licensing The alderman declares that as a result of recent efforts on the part of police and magistrates ta enforce the Sunday Closing Let it is rarely a drunken man can be seen on the Sabbath now-a- days even in the Rhondda, with its 120,000 inhabitants. At a Welsh prayer meeting a, few years ago one of the brethren who usually took no public part in the services was pressed to do so in view of the small attendance of men accustomed to the t&sk. He, however, resolutely declined. At last he was asked why, and to the intense amusement of the younger people and to the disgust of the more responsible section of the gathering he coolly replied, Dim delight, spo." (" No delight foi it, I suppose.") Judge Gwilym Williams's knowledge of WaJe: and the Welsh, especially of the Welsh workmen and their means, is extensive. On Wednesday a.t Aberdare he WM asked to commit a collier fat non-payment of an instalment, but when hefouna that the defendant only earned 14s 5d a week hit promptly refused, adding, It is only in Dowlait that such certificates as these come before me, It is only in Dowlais that workmen seem to b< able to keep body and soul together for 14s S4 ( week." Mr Tom Stephens, or as he is now known in th( Rhondda, Our Royal Tom," was exhibiting bit Royal scarfpin and other gold trophies to a grave looking Calvinistic Methodist minister the othei day. The rev. gentleman, drawing a deep sigh, exclaimed, Ah, Mr Stephens? undoubtedly they are beautiful and valuable teasures, but a day will come when you must part with them all." Oh. yes," said Tom, I am fully conscious of that fact, but I hope to exchange them for golden harp." Johannesburg was represented at the annuaJ South African Congress of Y.M.C. Association* held in Cape Town February 9th. 10th, and 11th, by Mr J. E. Jones, a young Welshman who it coming to the front on the Rand, and is as well. known in Wales as the secretary of the Wit- watersrand Eisteddfod as he was when secretary of the'Wrexham Liberal Association. Mr Jonet was appointed assistant to Mr Sprigg, tht secretary, at the Srst sitting of the Congress, and the Cape Town papers speak of his work in very flattering terms. Literature states that Professor Hugh Walker of St. David's College, Lampeter, has arranged with Messrs Bell and Sons to write a history of recent English literature. This has been sug- gested by the Professor's book The Age oi Tennyson." Professor Walker starts at about 1830, and endeavours to illustrate the relations between literature and national life and alsc to utilise such incidents in the lives and such traits in the characters of the writers as can be made really illustrative of their works. Literaturt also states that Mr Ernest Rhys is compiling a volume of "Welsh Sallads." As a matter of fact, Mr Nutt, the London publisher of the work, issued the review copies of Mr Rhys's book somi days ago.

A SATURDAY SERMON. The great angel of the sea—rain the angel; observe, the messenger sent to a special place on a special errand. Not the diffused perpetual presence of the burden of mist, but the going and returning of the intermittent cloud. All turns upon that intermittence. Soft moss or stone and rock, cave fern of tangled glen, way- side well—perennial, patient, silent, clear, steal- ing through its square font of rough-hewn stone, ever thus deep, no more-which the winter wreck sullies not, the summer thirst wa-stes not, incapable of stain as of de- cline, where the fallen leaf falls undecayed. and the insect darts undefiling cressed brook and evt-r-eddying river, lifted even in flood scarcely over its stepping-stones—but through all sweet summer keeping tremulous music with harp-strings of dark water among the silvery fingering of the pebbles. Far away in the south the strong river gods have all hasted and gone down to the sea. Wasted and burning white furnaces of blasted sand, their broad bed lie? ghastly and bare, but here in thp. moss lands, the soft wings of the sea angel droop still with dew, and the shadow of their plumes falter on the hills, strange landings and glitterings of silvsx streamlets, born suddenly, and twined abou4 the mossy heights in trickling tinsel' answering tc l them as theywave. RUSIOK.