The Cardiff Times

WHEELERS 1 4lTi;iX CATALOGUE TRCLT TREES, ROSES, CLIMDEGII)U0US TREES & SHRUBS. AND OTHER PLANTS, AND FLOWERING BULBS. LIMBfNG AND OTHER PLAN"TS, POST free on APPLICATION. ^RSELER AND GON., T TD., NURSERYMEN. LQUCESTER, I.

BY MABON, M.P. SHORTER SHOP HOURS. 4a, Herbert Gladstone's Promise. from tbe National Amalga- tt>8tJ ^O'on of Shop Assistants. Warehouse* ^ctel ^'erks waited upon the Home &a on Thursday of last week of e subject/of improving the hours relle, ihopassistants. Mr Macpherson. ''Cre^ Sec,'°tar v, -ml Mr Turner, organising "ours v^\ar?rued in favour of the reduction of "scribed the difficulties in the JjM,0 l0n of the Act of 1904 owing to its ^iractrr. iijjj ac*s!oae. replying, poirjted out also the fW's massing legislation of a compulsory Pr- a a said there was a great pressure I W. "Pon the Government in the near ,I" is was nn important matter, and &h, V:elie %vould watch very closely, with c'* seeing m what way the machinery '^Proved. It would bo idle to say ley vrould bring in a Bill next Session, °f the ext. aordmarv amount; of work ?'r ''ands already. But at any rate he p &f Jlndertake to ciosely watch the working bri^ P &w as it now stood, with tbe view of 'lie "8 i»i some satisfactory condition to meet «i £ r-L es and hardships of the case as Now, without offering any com- ^wP°n what appears to be the sympathetic «i £ r-L es and hardships of the case as ltIelkt 1m. Now, without offering any com. 40 UPon what appears to be the sympathetic toCjj.6r °f Mr Gladstone, I may he allowed i^3Q #r s°oie remarks on the shop assistants' Wfcn ^eariy twenty years ago I had the re attending with a deputation of shop atl*8 to {^ie t'i:en Home Secretary—Sir %ey Y Matthews, now Lord Lacdaff—when ite 0^ete D°t organised pearly so well as they It u i" 00 true that the 'ot of the average shop 1,1 's not a particularly happy one. He as to work many houra indoors, some- 1,4 a close atmospiiere, while at the same rae W, *he remuneration is not on too ^H<J SOttle a scale. What, however, if I '^anel their case aright, the assistants 'Mil ,Q of 13 n°t so much the scale of tliough they would, of course, like to 'ttiprovoment io I his respect—as the long to "g (iav imposed upon them. While more ftee natt- Members of t!.e community are set 8a?> at five or six o'clock, they have to Df *lli their posts till seven or eight o'clock. aps later, as is often the case The i« young girls so largely engaged in shops, th "'lrlicul-iriv hard. for they have to be on "it I th"ewith but few chances of rest, tliesniRk°ut the greater part of the day. And to tvT icm^ hours cannot help being detrimental ti G'r ^ea'th, and in Iheir interest any step le diiection <3! earlier closing 13 to be wel- ^'l0 ^0Putation referred to above. Which waited upoa the Home Secretary. t, ar tt,e SCoPe °f any Bill which the j^ e^nBaftn^'may'ntiodnce dealing with Sun- IIuj0 °SInS should be extended so as to in- j |^e ^'9 genera! question of reducing tbe 1^5* worked in shops by giviatr local 1 ^th^1^168 conaPulsory power to fix unj- ^Our3 of closing for alt trade* -within il) 'Respective areas, to secure a half-holiday week, and to limit the number of boars in shops to 60 per week, including meal Thai, indeed, is not by any means | av»gant. in view of the number of hours ?rk<?d by other class* s of the community. London the p: esent Act. according to Mr to Q,dstone. hILS been a failure. But others e that it is owing tothe fact that the power ^een placed, not in the hands of a central Wity Jike the London County Council, but t,j °8e of the Borough Councils. And there- tb .s not likely, under such circumstances, unfforroity of action necessary for can obtained- One Borough Council Cq decide for earlier closing, but another "ght refuse to fall inta line, and this bj nPerate detrimentally to the shopkeepers 6 'orrner borough. IQ the provincial towns ^sk would be easier, for t he order of tbe ,antl\ority would apply to the whole eom- 'J'y, and would therefore operate equally 8f strict^ The great majority of the c«Jn- ers made apply to the provinces, Progr<:ss in the direction of the desired 'a still slow certainly too slow to l8^ the hard -worked shop assistants- I Grandmotherly Legislation. ti'Nov-legislation of this character is some- jjjj sneered at as grandmotherly and as j t er-lbrtug with the liberty of the individual. jt Ii the ca-e is examined on its m rits there l^ally nothing in the cot;!entioa. The authority is already charged with the ^Qf safeguarding the public health of the tQs.And since excessively long hours are b6 ^'Hcial (o health any action promoting gjj can be amply justified. And if all the tl::8 In any given city. tuwn. or village were h* 6l' at *le sai:-le hour, there would he no '"P to any individual shopkeeper. Every- iu ^'Uld be on the same level as all his rivals le kusiaes8. At present, owing to the lack uniform regulation in the business, one tI:I., ."srnlu1, by keeping open to a late hour, J compete uiiiairiy with another who closes ^j j ^as.inahlb hour. an>l srnany a tradesman numerous and onerous excuses for not a.t >4, re^sonaoie time, unless he is com- *i "eii lo do so This clasi of tradesmen have j" bl"{:.TI t e strong opponents of the early r na-jveucent I well remember, many aITr», otm trade-man, and th most highiy .Samaritan in a! 1 other directions in »], r'e'ghbourhood. refusing to close bis draper's tl.°P Xlnl o'cicck on Saturday nights, under t>ti> Pret:ence that he le:t it his duty to the poor 'lc to ewe the last, chance possible of pur- some little tilings that may help them *n|enir'V the keeping of the Sabbath, while W Ir"ly disregarding the other tact that kee,:>ing a number of the poor men .ar4<l young women assistants from tlt ^^g the Sabbath at all, because by bim I ^ere kept till pa3t 1 o'clock on the same I \1d.Qdi\y mc,rning to clear up the counters and J lip the shop. 'he other hand, the public themselves i, *b something to aid the assistants by II earlier, and not leaving their doinettic I °tl,er purchase? over till the last moment. sake of-argument it may be admitted tt«'ght be some difficulty as regards this ol amontr the working class and the poorer but. that might be met and »ur- »u ^1 by an arrangement on tbe part of CeefVErs to keep epen later on one or two ,J> on which their customers may, from »^e Circumsiance8. custom, or some tangible require to have late shopping. But ^'eaoe has demonstrated over and over that whi;e there are, and will be, shops to a late hour, there will alto be some one 144t who will leave their shopping till the q f'°3sible and available moment. ally .speaking, there should be no great in the way of the adoption of a,simul e°th 0113 ^°ur lor the clos ng of shops in any nity. And there cannot be the slightest V/jr ^ut that shorter shop hours, or, in other i s> a compulsory early closing of shops nt I re:lsonahle hours than is at present Hu^ry would make for the greater health hiQv nPiness of a hard-worked class, and the lrtlent in this direction is deserving of all ligL^b'ic sympathy and support that an en- ] Qed age and a Christian land can give it. Children's Courts. vVh'i Off,"e at Nottingham addressing t'ie miners \1) litt district at a public meeting assembled ritai ^r<>ach Unionism and cohdemn non- t4,, 0l,isnl-a movement that .s taking im- "sely *t)0 e y hi al! mining districts at the present found that for Nottingham and efti ( ( toe eld cities there had been newlv establifhed 1 couits for the purpose of hearing t 8 children- And is there not very j to said m favour oi this good example ==_=..===.—-——===== set to U8 by those two immense industrial centres 1 As arule. the offences w»h which children are charged are of a trivial Iharact er, yet the youngsters are brought before the police courts as if they were old offenders, and there is & danger that they might be brought into contact with criminals, and thus become themselves hardened and embark on a career of crime. But if they were tried in a special court they would be safer from any contaminating influence. This Cbristiau country is gradually getting rid of the idea that the best way to deal with offenders is to punish them as severely aa possible, and tbat by far the better way is to have justice tempered with mercy. This should be part'culaily the case with juvenile offenders. Afiim but kindly admoni- tion from the magistrate may have an effect upon the youth brought up for the Grst offence, and he can leave the special court without any of the degi adation that is attached to an appearance in the dock of a police court And let me express the hope that at no distant date children's courts will be the rule and not the exception ail over the country.

TALKS ON HEAL TH. By DR. ANDREW WILSON. Excessive Thinness. Occasionally one receives requests to give in- form »tion regarding the diet which is adap ed for cases of extreme iainess, or obesity, as this condition is aiso named. Undoubtedly the man who groa&s bene&th what Shakespeare terms "this too, too solid flesh" condition is not to be envied. His movements are largely restricted by his great bulk, and il his case is a typical one, the aceutnul 1 tion of fat may affect the internal organs of h's body, and most not- ably the heart. giving r,se to brea tblesSD esson the slightest exertion. The opposite condition, that of excessive thinm ss or leanness, is not one which frequently calls for medical aid, but at the same time there are certain aspects of this condition which render it a suitable topic for consideration in this column. Some Cautions. One of the first, points to be noted in dealing witii this tonic is that which refers to what 1 may call the'family history o the subject, and this. moreover, is a point wbicu concerns n'.t theover-thtn person only, but his over-stout neighbour "tso. I 1*7 stress on this point, be- cause if a man comes of a stout bod ly SIOCK. he wIn have probably inherited his corpulence as he may reproduce other likenesses to his parent*. It is the same with the lean man. He may be found to be a member of a iamily whose physical tendencies are all in the direc- tion of sparenes* of body. Now it 13 imposs b;e to do more than modify in some deriee the personal build. so to speak of either the over-stout man in the one case. or of the lean man in the other. In other words, medical treatment ran only operate upon what it. finds in the bodily constitution, so that it may be utterly impos- sible to reduce the stout man t& a state of tllin. ncs3 without injuiing bis heatth and, in the same way the body of bis lean neighbour may refuse to ha enlarged by any mode of feedi gor other treatment. A very great deal of harm is dote I am convinced, to people of both classes by adopting rigorous means of t educing the weight in tue one case and of increasing it in the other At the same tirae. within limits, it is often possible to effect some alteration and change in the history of both case; Ourcuide here should be. that if the treatment produces diSllrbance3 ot health, it must, be discontinued as interfering with ihe natuial and normal constitution of the patient. Spareness and Health. While excessive stoutness, aswehavepeen, is a condition very apt to interfere with the health and comlort of a man, the same thing cannot be said 01 excessive thinness Mctny persons who are naturally thin exhibit a hisrti degree of vitality. We see tins illustrated when illness attacks them. They mav, and do, go through ph-ylcal trials and troubles of a tterious kind successfully, when similar ail- meata would causR the collapse of t heir s.out neighbours. Spareness of body ie verv often associated With a higrh desree of intellectual and mental vigour. It wnl here be de" ly underslood that I am talking of those 1 ersons who enjoy good health. I am merely anxious to enforce ihe idea that spareness of body is of itself neither inconsistent with the enjoy* qICDt of good health nor with the development of high qualities of mind It is, however, when the thinness becomes excessive, and when the health declines that means require to be taken for the building up of the frame to its normal standard. Hints for Treatment. Extreme thinness of body is a condition we are only too familiar with in cases of recovery from many forms of illness In such a ca^e tbo fat of the body has been so far consumed and reauires, along with other bodily structures, to be r.»new*d. A stimulus is givfn to the orocess of repair by means which are well known to ail my leaders, such as change of air, to a suitable climate, caiefully regulate exercise (avoiding all excesses in this direc- tion) with nourishing food ab large, are the chief means whereby the exhausted frame is Wt up Very much the same treatment, is that which must be adopted where a naturally spare person exhibits a degree of thinness beyond his natural limits It is chu-fly the nourishment of ihe body which requires atten- tion The foods which may be partaken of consist of farinaceous looas, represented by bread itself, biscuits tapioca, and the like. Sweet foods in so far as they can be borne; are also of jmpoHance. But there is no tood better adapted f the over tbm paan than milk It. i« a mistake to consider that milk is T food typically adapted for the adult. It is so it's great, use being found in Ihe early ™ gcs of human i-xistence, when the buddmg ol the young body is going on. At the same -il, maw [}q rPffHrd^d sls & ▼{ilu.Q-luo food. STtaSle case7oT\h<fadu!t, and cannot, there- for* be neglected in cases where the res, ora- tl u of the body is the point to be kept 1* view Fat Itself is also another food of ex- 7 ,„t»mcin what we may call run doTn bodii'y conditions. Many an "ver tliin down Douiiy „pa.-0u of the vear would bene- Tg^tWby takingafat food.*ucb as virol,or cod liver oil emuls on- Some Other Hints. It is necessary tha? all over escort-on should u isnecei .Aij 0Ujte who are on the tbm be avoided by p^ £ deser side of things. Ther- u J of alcoho, £ ot notrce in resp«?t lh Alcohol the cases we have been I"™ ? it ssibtottUVS-. 7 •» rf,rmf»K?vy taken once or twice a day w> y, ai is very much t ,e rc cuperat.on of the frame. Also we mav bear in mm that iron i» a tonic 1 1 fitiv to tue .lstut such as may be very tUiy ao lofu1> it ems in the over sp&re irJcin 7^ f 4 he may take a Vab espoonfu) of aimxdiie made by adding one drachm of the amnonio citrate of iron to six ounces of water, ft Ilttle water 1 eing added additiona.ly to the table- spoonlul dose Stitch in the Side. On the approach of autumn, many persons, through exposure to cold and chi.l, suffer from what is popularly known as stitch m the side." Of this ailment the chief symptom is a sharp acute pain, which becomes increased on the patient taking a deep breath. Some- times it is associated with an irritating cough, but this last condition, of course, is purely accidental and is not necessarily connected with the pain. Many persons suffering from stitch in the side become alarmed at the idea that they may be attacked with pleurisy. Needless to say the two ailments are quite different, and that we are considering is happily a trivial complaint, painful though itmay be when com- pared with pleurisy itself. The best way to make clear to oneself whether the case is one of pleurisy, or simpb- stitch in the side. is to take the temperature of the body- If pleurisy be present '.he temperature will rise above the na ural point, and there will be a certain degree of fever associated with this rise of bodily lieat. and the puJse will be quick and the skin dry- On the oiher hand, stitch in the side may bo described as consisting of a rheumatic or neural gic conditionof the muscles vrbich liebet ween the ribs. There '8 no rise of temperature here, and a little treatment of the proper kind suffices to cure the condition in a few dnvs. A Turkish bath will very often relieve the pain, more especially if after the bath a little massage is practised on the chest. After the bath it is recommended that fifteen grains 01 salicylate of soda be taken, or three five grain tabloids of that sub- stance, the last being a convenient way of taking it. Rubbing menthol over the painful part. and covering it thereaiter with a piecn of dry flannel will often abolish the pain. If the patient has to move about much, it is recom- mended that as much rea: as possible be given to the affected side byptacing pieces of sticking plaster al Jnl{ the course of the ribs, so as to limit the movements of the chest

Calming Them. In the midst of the aud'ence there begins a subdued murmur winch gi adually sw< lis to a si ene of wild excitement People begin rising lU their seats, and a few -tep to the alsleq and urry out Not ng the disturbance, tile" star steps to t» e front of the stage and raises his hand saying,— Ladies and gentlemen, there is not the slightest d.-nger There is no fire. The excite- ment his been cauaed by a lady in the fourth row from the front who took off her hat with- out being asked*"

MUSIC IN WALES. I By D. EMLYN EVANS. CARNARVON NATIONAL EISTEDDFOD. Anthem Composition Psalm xxxiv., 1,2,3. Aa regards the number of compositions, at least, this is the most satisfactory competition of all, nineteen works having been received for the prize of five guineas offered, the anthems to be congregational in fOfm. and within certain specified limits as to length. "NidyGoreu" adopts a modest, and not inappropriate nom de plume-" Not the best." He writes in tonic sol-fa; and to try and deci- pher bis hieroglyphics or their meaning wouid be a hopeless task. Jeduthum has a number of technical errors, and his accent is often greatly at fault. Repeat such incomplete phrases as in the Lord," and all with me," three times consecutively. While the words are muddled up in this wise :—"In the Lord contin- ually for ev-ever mo e in the L rd my boast shall be in the Lord," &c., &c. These two form tbe third class, In the second class are Cerddor." who has attempted the aU but impossible task—like others in tbe competition-to make a musical setting tbt-t will fit tbe liIeral vereion of the text in both English and Welsh. The condi- tions—as we may repeat once more—are that the English is to be Adapted in each of the six subjects in original composition. The doubl»-read ngs. which are necessary here make the thing not only highly troublesome 10 the reader, but more or less impracticable Furthermore, the music is also involved and given to scrappiness. The opening would not be effective "a capella" —unaccompanied— if at all and the general form and construction (some high notes) is not what is meant by a congregational anthem," Caleb attempts the same dual arrange. ment of English and Welsh words, but is cruder. and, a* a musician, considerably less able than Cerddor." "Musical" is more lucid, but is also com- mon-place as a rule Has too much of one set rhythm, and is inclined as to such repetitions as Bendithiaf, benditbiaf, bendithiaf yr Arglwydd" (I will bless, I will bless, I will bless the Lord), &c., &c. He sbould also use black ink, and no other, throughout bis copy. S.E. W." is Melodious but fails in work manship, and is faulty in various technical matters. The second movement is in four- four, not in two-four time as marked. The opening melody is tuneful, but reminiscent. and rather too elaborate for congregational use, Soli parts are also quite out of place in a congregational anthem and the piece is too long for the conditions, while its interest decreases rather than otherwise towards the end. Maestoso is more ambitious and more able, but his production is too florid and flighty, particularly for congregational purposes elaborate fiaures and extremely figured accom paniment are palpably ^out of place here If this writer learns to be more finished and accu- rate, and to restrain his fancy, he should produce some useful music. Hogyn has a considerable amount of go." but he has quite misconceived the con- ditions, having included a trio as one of the movements, lie aiso presents us with a figure, with very florid part-writing and accompani- ment. and make- his soprano sing from low C to top A flat. Thsre are a few faulty progres- sions besides. See copy. Ivor submits a neat composition, some what in the simple part- song or harmonised Air style, which is singable and useful, hut rather commonplace and superficial. Nil Desperaudnm." like Ivor and a number of qtbér competitors, makes the mis- take of end ice the firs' movement with a full tonic cadence. The broken rhythm freely used in the piece gives it a rather catchy and spas, modic effect; and. judging from his one or two attempts at independent part-writing, the writer is evidently nob much of a contrapun- tist. Sebastian opens promisingly, but does rot improve as he proceeds; getting more abstruse, and entering into more elaborate combinations and progressions as he goes on. Both the harmony ana modulations are often forced, and if more simple and natural would be all the more effective. This completes class two. In tbe first and highest class we place Tristan." who opens somewhat oddly, with the same strain, practicallv, as is used by I Sebastian" in the course of his work, though with slightly altered rhythm. Rossini, however, bad already utilised it in the prayer in his 4 Mose in Egiito," and it is quite pos- sible that that great master of melody had but annexed it from the well-known tune" Leoni." so that it may be claimed by this time as public property. By crossing his parts. Tristan falis once or twice into bad progressions and by too Areat a leaning to rosalias, he does not add to the freshness of nis work. Lux Benigna has too much repetition of words for instance, Lord at all tunes is iepeated seven times consecutively, and "let us exalt Dim" four times. We also have contin'ally (continually), and let us exalt Him" followed by Let us exalt His holy Name." The invitatory phrases in the first page are overdone-Live times; and at the expense ot some mixed tonality and unsatislactory nio.;ulaii«iis. "Lux Benigna'"s division of movements is correcL, but the middle part. of sixteen bars is tuo brief, and uneaual to the first and the last. "LM.N.O.RQ." — Notwithstanding the nom de plume, tuere is nothing light or frivo- lous in this piece, wh;ch is soberiy, and on the whole very fairly written the caiigrapby, at least, leaving nothing to be desired. A few chromatic passages nfight have beeu better written, also some moumauona, combinations, and second inversions of triads, but. on the whole tbis anthem, although it fnits to carry us with it much, is a very respectable composi- tion. Huben writes fluently, and not ineffect- ively. He again is rather inclined to overdo imitations, and some of the caliential move- ments could be advantageously improved. The writer is a litUe careless and slovenly with his harmony—passing notes, organ pedaL,&c.,also. And his last movement is not equal to the first two—more patchy and lacking in climax. Vox Humana has a cleverly written work. but it is too difficult and laboured for ordinary congregational usefulness, some of the modulations and changes of key, though correct enough, being too extreme for that purpose. The piece is also considerably beyond the stipulated length, a fact that of itself places it outside the competition Ap Lyn" is simp e, me odious, and effect. ive as well as congregational but is rather stereotyped and lacking in freshness. Luther writes in short score, and writes veiywell often; at oth-n* times in a ragged manner, and makes one feel that on the whole he does not put forth his best efforts. Hit knowledge of modern harmony is in advance of most of his fellow-competitors. That know. ledge is not exactly obtruded, although at times it might have been better utilised. The rhythm is occasionally somewhat awkward — jerky, and lacking swing to a certain extent; not so much because it is more or less abstruse, but because the arrangement and balance leave something to be desired. Although tbislittle work fails to quite satisfy us, it improves on acquaintance. Glan Ystwy th.'—One cannot help thinking that this writer should have placed himself at the head of the present class, and that an expert and cunning hand could have used the material here presented to a much better urpose. "Glan Ystwyth" does not err so much from lack of knowledge as from an appa- rent disposition to be angular and odd. Reviewing the compositions, no doubt the ablest is that signed "Vox Humana," but it iu not adapted for congregational use nor within the limits laid down. Of the remainder, the two best upon the whole are those of Luther and Ruben," and we think justice will be done by declaring these two co- equal.

Henry," said his employer sharply, didn't you return from your vacation a day or two ago?" Yes, sir," answered the office boy. Well, then, yo i left it behind you, Get to work. and straighten tbia room."

Illustrated Humour. A Dutiful Son. Father, you have frequently adrised me to emulate the busy bee." Yes, my son." Well, I ve concluded to follow your advice. I have just read here, from one of the most distinguished scientists of the age, that the busy bee nevef worka more than three hours a day." A Master of Languages. "Ah, Mister McGuire. I hear you have a very clever son. Is that true?" Faith, it is." That's good. Is he able to speak many lanenages?" He is; he speaks six — Oirisb, French. Arithmetic, English, Scotch, and Shorthand t" Would Only Increase It. Mrs Miggins (to the Beery-one): And do you think for one moment, my friend, that stuff is going to quench your thirst? ¡ Old Toper: Saints forbid. The Folly ot Timidity- Molly: He's very timid, isn't be? Polly: Terribly so. He's go afraid that she'll say no that he wont give her a chance to say yes. Have You Noticed Itt An archdeacon (such respectable origin is necessary to warrant its circulation), speaking in Yorkshire the other day, invented the fol- lowing conundrum Why is a parson like a camel?" Because he can go on and on, and never know how dry he is." No Need For a Long Search. He No. I shall never marry until I meet a woman who is my direct oppoe-te. She: Well, (here are numbers of bright intelligent girls about. Li(n)es For the Angler. The angler saliies forth aga.in, And by the brooklet's shore Doth idly lie and fish, anrl the. Goes home and lies some more. Mean of Him. Geraldine I'll be a sister to you. Gerald That will be nice Geraldine What do you mean? Gerald My shter loves me, but she doesn't expect me to take her anywhere. Gone, And Forgotten I suppose," said a sympathising neigh boar, that jou will erect a handsome monu- ment to your husband's memory V To his memory?" echoed the tearful widow Why. poor John iiadl. any. I was sortiu' over some of his clothes to-day. and found the pockets full of letters I ha.d givea him to post." Quite Sufficient. Mistress: Didn't the ladies who called le i-vt- cards? Bridget: They wanted to. ma'am, but I towld thim ye had plenty of yer own. Time Bring' Changes. Castomer Are you the waiter who took my order for that chop ? Wtnter Yes, sir. C ist«mer Bless me, how have you grown I Advising Impossibilities. You should sleep on your right side, madam." 1 really can't do it, doctor. My husband talks in his sleep, and I can't hear a thing with my left ear." Which Are? Morning, Mr Byem. 'ow's things doip ? B&d, very bad. The horse got skeered this mornin', and upset the cart with my boy and the eggu." Ah and broke the esrgs?" Yes, broke the eggs and the boy's lee, and they're worth at least two shillings a dozen just now," Well. I secured an otder all right," said the new salesman, glowing with pride and smiling contentedly. But vou lied to hef," protested the proprietor. You told her they were genuine old Irish lare No, 1 didn't. Hhe simply sail she didn't want any bogus imitations,' and I assured her ours were genuine."

Welsh Tit-Bits. Neu Wreichion Oddiar yr Einglon. By CADRAWD. REPLIES TO CORRESPONDENTS. I have received several letters lately asking me if I intend publishing Welsh Tit-bits ia book form, and if so. they would be very pleased to become subscribers for the volume. I have no intention of doing anything of the kind, as the risk wouid b3 too great, tor very lew books published in Wales have ever paid. Welsh Tit-bits in the Cardiff Times have been supplied from the anvil at Llan- gynwyd for over fourteen years, without u. break, and during that time a good deal of valuable information pertaining to the history of Wales and the .Velsh have appeared, parti. cularly the history and folk lore of Glamorgan- shire and much interesting information con- cerning the old lamiliea of Morgan wg, of whom there are a great number of their descendants through minor branches still amor g us. To many, "Welsb Tit-bits" have been of double interest, and it is a pleasure to me to find that so many of my readers appreciate the weekly contribution to ihe extent that they make it a practice of cutting Welsh Tit bits out and pasting it into a scrap book, The column ] is also of interest to our brethren across the great seas—those who have emigrated to distant lands. I have often been told tbat nothing is more acceptable to them in the wilds ] of Canada, South Africa, and Australia, than the Cardiff Times," always loaded with home news of the most agreeable nature with columns full of topics of every variety, and not the least appreciated is the Gwreichion oddiar yr Eingion." I have to thank a Llantwit correspondent. ] who is also a constant reader of the Cardiff Times," for the offer of information re the establishment of a University at Neath for the Welsh, by Henry VII. He tells me that the account is given in all old Welsh magazine, published monthly in 1826, called Yr Oes," which he has inherited after the celebrated hymnologist. xhomas Williams, Bethesda'r Fro. I am much obliged to my friend for his kindness, and appreciate his interest in Welsh Tit-bits," but the very story has alieady appeared in this column from the source which supplied the Oes." There is no doubt that a great effort was made in the reign of the Tudor King to secure for Wales an institution tor learning, and they bad succeeded so far as to have the charter pre pared, but the King died before it was signed. The subversion of the monasteries under Henry vur. and his worthless free booters, came in the way of the Welsh having this prerogative, a.nd the disappointment was a severe one to the people of Wales, for the bards bad commenced to describe the pleasures of a high class education. This is how Lewys Mor- gan wg sang :— YtlgoI hygyrch ysgolheigion, I bob syw fel pe bai Seion 'Bithmatic, music, grymusion, safant, Rbetric, sufi" chanon I gae! jkldysg a byw'n y gwleddoedd, 0 dir a moroedd y daw mawrion Cawell gweiciaid. celt i gnwr, Caer uwch y dw'r lie us cyrch y don." Christian Consistency. Here is a giorious example of the transparent consistency (save the mark !) of our Christian Britain. On one "ide of our penny (" show me a penny ") ire have the words Fidei Defen flor; on the other the figure of Britannia. All know the origin and meaning of the former, but few, I trow, know anything about the latter. In 1662. John Etoetbiers, a Fleming wastppoicied to the office of chief graver to the Mint, under the direction of Slingsby. In the same year were cast the new coin for King Charles II That were made for the King by Bloudeau's way (Pepys), and the im- proved figure of Britannia appeared for the first time on the reverse side of the copper coinage. The model for thi* same figure of Britannia, on the copper coinage of Christian Britain was Frances Tersa Stuart (1647-1702)—' La. Belle Stuart," as she was called-one of the many mistresses of King Chartt-s And yet, they who sit in high places talk of pulling down the statue of that noble hater of sham, and consci- entious iconoclast. Oliver Cromwell Breuddwyd Mair. Religion in the home has been a character- istic of our beloved Wales for many years past. A fact which is most interesting even in these da..s i* that a certain kind of homage to the blessed Virgin has Irncered n certain locaiit-es in North Wales even to our own time. There are people still living who were taught what was known aq "Breuddwyd Fa;r"—the Virgin's Dream—in their chttdhood and though strictly Protestant in their convic- tions, kept using this form of prayer all their life-time as an act of evening devotion It is not as much an invocation as a dialogue between mother and son: and it is most signi- ficant. that this quaint formulary should have survived through all the changes and vicissitudes of over three centuries. This babiti of domestic p:ety and devotion among the Welsh people is a clear proof that they weredevoat worshippers, even In the days of mediaeval darkness and superstition. In the Cymrodor there are several version? of the Virgins Dream, which formed part of the evening devotion of the peasantry in out of the way paits in North Wa es down to living memory, and we are told that if the school children in the neighbourhood of Towyn. Merionethshire, fifty years ajo, were asked whether they knew" Gweddi'r Forwyn," something like half the number in the upper classes would probably hold up their hands. We are informed in that excellent and exhaustive treatise, Private Devotions ot the Welsh in days gone by," by the Rev J. Fisher, B.D., Ruthin, that in all there are ten versions of the Dream recorded aa having been current in North Wales, but not a single trace of it has been found, or even beard of, in South Wales The Dream is not long, so we append Mr Fisher's literal trans- lation of one of the versions. This same Dream is referred to in Paxton Hood's His- tory of Christmas Evans. with a metrical translation. Versions are to be found also in Archaeologia Cambrensis, The Cymrodor, and Revue Celt) quo. Mary's Dream. Blessed mother Mary, art thou awake? I'm not, I'm not, my dear Son, I am sleeping and dreaming. Blessed mother Mary, what seest thou In tbv dream concern ng me? I see thee followed, taken, Placed upon the Cross, and the white wand In Thy hand, and a crown of thorns upon Thy head, After the great Evil One hath deceived Thee, And struck with a spear under Thy breast. Thy blessed, innocent blood is being shed. Whoever acquires this And repeats it Thrice ere he sleeps Twice ere he rises, A bad dream shall never trouble him, The land of Hell shall never e tread. True is the word. Amen, and Amen. And so shad it be. This form of private devotion was, it is said. considered by many to be the most important of aU. In South Wales, the Paider (Lord's Prayer) and the creed, formed, up to recent year;: the staple of the peasants' private devotion. Old ideas have found a hard death in Wale and though the Roman Church system ol devotien has been renounced for more than three hundred years in Wales there are still to be found traces of the mediaeval creed, a distinct echo of the religious life of Wales in the dark ages. The following form of a verj interesting prayer is given in Methodistiaid Cymru," by the Rev John Hughes. Liverpool It was u<ied for years by an old dame he knew every night before retiring to sleep. > Pedwar post fy ngwely im cynal, I'edwar angel fvddo i'm gwarchod Yma y gorweddaf heno, Ac y cysgaf tan y bore. Amen

1 Mra Simpkins went the other day., accom panied by.her husband, to buy a new summei j iiat She tried on one marked five guineas I an i another marked two guineas Which d< i you like best, my clear f' she asked her hus ) band. Oh. well" replied that gentleman the five guinea one is certainly the hand 9 somer, but the two-guinea one makes you lool » t«»n years younger." She took the two-guinei t ona.

Fashions and Things Feminine. By MISS IDA MELLER. A Smart Velvet Hat. While fashions in costumes are distinguished by moderateness of character, tbe same cannot be said of millinery Fashion makers, it seems, find it impossible to avoid breaking out into extremes here and there, and this season it is tsats tbat are the targets for tbe'r arrows cf Eccentricity. Extravagances of fancy are her ally expressed in the new millinery, sometimes taking the form of extreme size, sometimes of unusual dimunitiveness, while the beight and trimming of the bandeau also offer opportuni- ties for originality and daring idea*, and vul- ture and oiher feathers new to the millinery wortd are used in various showy ways, to say nol hin, of the novel methods adopled is tbe disposing of long ostrich plumes of mixed colouring. Originality of idea. has no limit, apparently, in the placing of feathers or tying of bows and there is much art in tying a bo JV smartly and well. It is, in fact, one of the most difficult things to accomplish without proper training. It is worth while for any girt who trims her own hats to have a few lessons in millinery-making—especially in the matter of bow-tymg and adjustment ox feathers Velvet hats with straight or mushroom brims take an important part in fashions of the day, and .< touch of gold gaton, tissue, 01 braid iq consiiered very smart, and is igniftcant ot the last word It is especially effective on a biack velvet hat. Plaid ribbons and g-.lons also distinguish the latest millinery, and a handlul of uncurled feathers is apt to take the place of the usual aig ette. The hat sketched represents a typical mode of the moment. Carried out in blark velvet, bound with dull gold ga'on, and having 1 band of the same round tiie crown, tied in a bow at the left side, wbt-BCti- '!pr!OjE a bunch of uncurled feathers in emerald-green and a stiff made-up feather. ornament. in black and white or b!ack and green it is useful and smart The crown, it wi!l be observed, is high, and the brim is tilted by s bandeau trimmed with tulle Green pUid ribbon might replace geld gal on in the event of the hat being 01 green veivet. The tulle used on bandeaus is yery often brown to match the hair (when the latter happens to be brown) no matter woat the colour of tbe hat might be. On the other band, it is usual fir the tulle to agree with the tint of the hat or its trimming. a royal blue bat being allied to biue tulle, and to on. A Blouse of Sevres-Blue Taffetas. A though b oases of white, cream and various co oufs continue to be worn with black skirts. tbe correct mode ordains that blouse aDd skirt shall agree in colour if not in material The except iotti-) in the case of the lace or "potted net blouse, wnich, usually cream, may ally it sell in ail good taste with a skirt of any colour Late is a privileged fat ric, and one wbich takes a more and more prominent place in the world of dress as seasons go by. So, t taffetas silk and the uew satin, tnin in substance but bearing a wonderful milegs, are among the most fashionable materials for smart blouses. Some oi the new models are tailor made" in effect -these mostly being of taffetas or fine cloth. strapped or pleated and stitched and trimmed w th buttons. The tailor-made blouse of pale Sevres-blue taffetas, sketched has a band of silk bordering the round ceck. and a wide, stitched box pleat :n front, tiiU and the Land of silk above being Irimmed with small btack velvet buttons, wtiich likewise decorate the turned ba.ck cuffs to the etbow sleeves, cuffs and neck-band having pIpings of veiveL On either side of the box pieated tront is a wide, SilJgt: tuck, neat y stitched along the edge A jabot ol [>ice soften-, the ceutie box-pleat and lIS ot the same tine character as the lace of !he round) oka and long tiglit-fitt-ng under- sleeves and a blue silk 01 kid belt, buckled witu enamel to match, trims the waist. Ft.e sk rt, 1. of cashmere or cloth to match the blouse 1 :ight lie trimmed above the hem with a few rows of Sevies blue ribbon, or finished with folds ot its own material The New Knitted Silk Scarf. With the approach of winter, the subject of a warm neck wrap gains in importance, i uose who can afford good fur-s-wiiieh, by the way, at 11 continue very high m price—can easily settle the matter by procuring one of the new tes or stoles of handsome looking fur but others are more limited in their choice by the pounds, shillings, and pence question. As a substitute for fur, the silk scarf wtound once round the neck and the ends lett loose in front ,s worth considering, seeing that it is among inexpensive fashionable trifles and the new wide scatf of knitted silk, in the prettiest coiour jjf tbe season. is aiso at our service, It IS much worn by motorists and golf players, and is one of the newest and most comfortable oi iheck wraps, and. of course, washes easily and well. A Hair-Lotion. A nice toilet lotion that suits specially well hair inclined to be greasy, is made in the fol- lowing way :—Take one pint of orange flower water or any distilled water—elder flower, rose- mary or rose-waler-one ounce of sassafras chips, one-eighth of an ounce of carbonate of potash, and one gill of alcohol. Let the ingre- dients stand in a closed jar for a fortnight. then strain and, bottle the lotion, ffhich is tonic in its effect. If it proves to bp of too dry ing a nature, a good pomade of hair-oil hould he used in conjunction this might be pptied at night and the lotion in the morning. or a small quantity of pomade might be rubbed into the head as soon as the hair is dry from the effect of the letion. The latter clears the head oi dandruif as well as acting as a stimu- lant. Sick-Room Hints. The nurse should lightly go over the floor of L a sick-room with a damp leatner or flannel daily. It wili keop the room iresh. If only a r dry duster Is used, the dust flies up and settles dowa again at once. All vessels that are brought up to the sick- room from ihe kitchen should be washed, and r if necessary, disinfected when the illness is grave, before being sent down again. 1 he invalid shoula never be given anything to drink in a cup that has been used before, and ha* not been washed since. In inlectious cases, the nurse must be care ful before passing throueb the house to wrap herself in a mackintosh or to change tier dress It is imnussible to exercise too rau, I, cautioa n seek ng to avert tte spread of infectious disease. 'Disinfectants should be freely used about the house and clothing where there is 5 sickness 01 an infectious nature.

Mrs Suburbs (after the crash) There is another of my chim dishes gone.—Suburbs «.. evei mind, dear it has stopped the cook's t cutitnns.

WELSH GLEANINGS. News and Views in Lighter Vein. OmtBoes The Cardiff Church Defence offiee is sttuateJ above an undertaker's shop. The Rev. W. R. Williams, rector of Port- skewett, has baptised over 20 cnildren for a married couple residwg in the village. The Three Tuns Inn. Newport, associated with the memory of John Frost, the famous Chartist, has been taken down to make room for the Newport Post Office extensions. There is a dearth of candidates for the Cardiff and Barrv Truant School at Diaas Powis. Is this due to the increased vigilance of the educational authorities, or are the chil- dren of this generation getting to like school" better ? Little pigs of lead bearing the effigies of the Caesars have been found in the bed of the River Ebbw at riisca. Lead was smelted in the district in the days of the Romans, and the remains of 1 he old lead mines are still to be seen oa the Macben Hill. Mr R. J. Parker, who has now been raised to succeed Mr Justice Buukley as Judge of the Chancery Division, has appeared as counsel in severai :outb Wales equity actions in the High Courts, among the most recent being the Swansea Municipal Telephone case. The Duke of Westminster is distributing to Chester and other charities £1.010 representing the fees paid by visitors for the privilege of viewing the house and garden at Eaton Hall, near Chester, one ot the residences of the Duke of Westminster. To-morrow (Thursday) the veteran Non- conformist leader, Dr. Guinness Rogers, will deliver a mid-day addres in the Gammon Hall, Hacking Hey, Liverpool, more especially to business men, on Dr. Griffith John, the missionary in missionary enterprise." Owen Rhoscomyl's (Captain A. O. Vaughan) new work, entitled Old Fireproof, being the Chaplain's Story,' is just out, and is described by tbe publishers (Messrs Duckworth and Co., London) as something uncommon in fiction, and a genuine story of real soldiering." Floreat Celtia Visitors to Brittany can bear testimony to the excellence of Breton butter, and it has joat found its way to tbe London marker. Expefts declare it to be superior to Danish butter, and it readily com- mands a oenay per pound more in price. Co- operative dairies are run on satisfactory lines. Wales can well take a lesson in this ma. ter from her sister country across the sea. Everybody, of course, knows that George Eliot," the novelist, was a Welshwoman, and that her real maiden name was Marian (? Mary A.nn) Evans. Now that Mr Frederic Harrison has published his Memories and Thoughts," it is interesting to read ia them his portrayal of her as the most courteous and considerate of friends, delighting in lively conversation and good-natured gossip—an excellent housewife and considerate mistress. So like a Welshwoman I" The county authorities of Wales ought to make a note of tbe fact that English munici- palities are dea;ilog. prodigally with their surplus water. The Water Committee of the Birmingham City Council has reported in favour of an agreement for handing over part of the water juppiy to Coventry. Siuce the Welsh water supply was obtained Birmingham has bad much more than sufficient for the severest drought. It is now proposed to supply 100.000,000 gallons annually at 4d per 100 gallons, with a minimum payment of £5,000. This is sending Welsh water to Coventry with a vengeance. Justice Romer and Cardiff. The retirement of J ustice Rome" reealls the fact that he presided in the Court of Chancery wbrn certain members of tbe Cardiff Corpora- tion instituted a suit in that Court against the said Corporation for illegally adding to the Mayor's salary. It is interesting to remember also that the leading counsel Cor the malcon- tents was the present Minister for War. Mr R. B. Haldane, M.P., who had then only just been d'scovercd as a Chancery practitioner of the first, rank. Mr Haldane won a victory against indiscriminate additions to mayors' sal a' ies, and Justice Romer's decision on that occasion has remained tb? ruling case upon the point to this day This was twelve years .0. and it causc-d the bitterest internal wrangle in the Cardiff Corporation within the memory of the then generation of aldermen and council* lors The Hardwick Court Bible Collection. The collection of Bibles made by Dc. Copin- ger for the purpose of his work, The Bible and its Transmission," has passed into the hands of Mr E Hartland. of Hardwick Court, Chepstow. This collection is probably one of the finest. in the world relating to the text of the Bible in every language, atreast in private bands—and had been specially formed to illus' trate the progress and development of the text. It consists of nearly 1,500 editions in I about 350 different languages and dialects. The collectian is not merely bibliographical or curious, but also of practical value to the student of Biblical literature. Of the Greek Testament alone there are over 300 editions. Mr H. trttand has already a fine collection of La in Bibles of the fifteenth century and an extensive private library at Hardwick Court. American Welshmen. It was ao great sbock. to many of us (writes the Rev. L. Ton Evans) who knew Dr. Richaids. tbe well known pastor of the Welsh C, ngreara- Lonal Church. Wilkesbarre, Pa., to hear of his sudden demise. Bro. Rschards was very highly esteemed, not oniy by his own church and denomination, ot which he was a prominent leader, but by Baptists, Methodists, and others with whom he came into contact. Dr. Richards did not confine his Christian activities to his church and denomination, but extended his efforts and energies among the community at large, and for the social as well as religious ap. lift of the people. He was a member of out County Anti-Saloon League, and closely asso- ciated with the writer on tbe occasion ol remonstrations against old and new iiceneei last February. The brethren in Wiikesbarrf and vicinity will miss his genial presence, etcok for many years to come.

Advised. The negro prisoner was charged in an Ameri- caD court with robbinsr s hen-house. Alter pronouncing sentence the juds^e said to tht culprit,— But I do not see how it was possible fat you to steal those chickens when they were roosting right under the owner's window, and there were also two vicieus do»? in the yard." "It wouldn't do you a bit o good, sir, for me to explain bow I did it," was the reply. You couldn't do it if yer tried forty times, and yer might get full up of shot the first time yer climbed the feace Ye'd better buy chickens in the maiket, sir." The Mystic Sign. The shades of night were falling fast, when through the park a traveller passed, who read a sign upon the ground that did his senses much confound—" Keepoffthegras* No grass was there to greet his eye, the snow was piled up mountains high yet from the drift the sign stuck out, on it appeared with nary doubt—" Keepoffthegrass." "Try not the drift," the park guard said; oplitted was his haughty head. Try not the drift, for sure IlS sin if you do that .1 Jl run you I in—Keepoffthegrass Across the path the drift was blown, there's no way out you'll surely own, in whic% the risk will not be found, of treading on tlui sacred qrourd—Keepoffthegrass." What's that to me ?" the guard replied, as. swelling wHh «. conscious pride, he swung hit club with bideous grin Step on the Era.ss- I'll run you in- Keepoffthegrass." The traveller knew the dangerous pass waf lined on either side with grass but both wert covered with the snow; be knew not the: which way to go— Keepoffth'-grass." j The air grew icy cold and chill the staw came out and all was still the guard retired to his box and combed icicles from bis locks- Keepoffthegrass." And when the morning light came round the traveller in the drill was fouad; and o'e» i hi* 9now> grave there 3tood that sign, madf 1 out of old boxwood