The Cardiff Times

SUNCLAD TOBACCO IS the Best. Try It.

g. /A#0%4 1% 17 "W W"l 6 -N I T & & m I" QQAIT: ;CII2ISTMAS. I ,Sorno quaint old Christmas customs still snr- rive, and are duly carried out each recurring festival of the Nativity. With the increased reverence for antiquitv which now I revaifs. it Is probable that their continued existence for another century or two is now assured. Any- thing which could survive the vandalism, irre- verence, and disregard of tradition that characterised the Georgian era is not likely nowadays to fail into desuetude. The old Christmas ceremony of bringing In the boar 6 head at Queen's College, Oxford, seems to lose none of its attractions, to judge from hc numbers who seek to he present. The head usually about, seventy -five pound?- The procession is headed by two of the servants of che College, bearing on their shoulders a mas- jive silver dish, weighing 220 ounces, on which .$ placed the head. berlecki d with bays and rosemary. They are followed by a taberdar of •he College, who sings th2 solo part -n the "BOAR'S HEAD CAROL," the College choir, assisted by others, taking up t.hc chorus. The head being placed on tht high table, the Senior Bursar distributes the decor- ations amongst the spectators, by whom they ire eagerly struggled for. The orange from the mouth Is reserved for the soloist. Of all the people who eat turkey at Christ mas, few, probably, know that it was first Introduced into England in Henry VIJI.'s time, and that the expedition which brought the bird to England cost that parsimonious monarch £ 14,000. We have hardly been just to the first Tudor king in the part that ne had in the discovery of America. Columbus sent his brother to Henry who t-ave a favourable t ply to his request for aid, but the brother was shipwrecked on his return to Spain. and never delivered his message, and so Christopher was driven to apply again to Ferdinand and Isa- bella, who gave him the aid he asked, with the r salt which all the world knows. Henry, on bis own account, sent out an expedition of discovery in 1502. The lieutenant nf the ex- pedition which Henry "1f out. and which was ander t?h<^ -ofmanaMuL. ol Sebastian was one WOITam ^c6naTa«it\«Sn f of bis services, had a grant of new armorial bearings by the style and titie of Strickland of Boyuton, on the Wolds of Yorkshire. He it was who introduced the turkey, and that bird surmounts the coat of aims of the Stricklands I t to this day, Why this bird was called tur- key," when it came from America, is explained by the fact that Turk was the ordinary Dame for all unspecified foreign things and foreigners at that time. The Prayer Book, vvishing o embrace oil heathens in its prayers, says. all Jews. Turks, infidels, and heretics." < But the mosr popular of all birds at the Christmas feast, in ancient times was undoubt- edly the peacock, Jeaffreson tells us, m his entertaining book, that Q: aitus Hortensius, is credited with the honour of introducing the peacock to the banquet-hall, possibly attracted by the costly value of the bird and the mag- nificence ot its plumage, for those worthy Roman voluptuaries allowed their tastes to be governed rather by commercial value than epicurean teste- We are told of a certain Roman orator who. loving peacock's flesh," liked also peahen's eggs to such a degree that when they were scarce ho would buy them at twenty pence a piece." a sum that was equal in those days to almost as many sovereigns of I our money. A dish of peacock's brains was about the height of this money-eating foJly. ¡ and was quite ag absurd as making osyter patties in tins nge ot refinement. which cost five or si* shillings a-piece, I Peacocks were usually serred whole, or with the appearance of wholeness, that is, in their hackle. The food of lovers and the meat. of lords," as the bird was fancifully styled, some. times appeared at table covered with gold-leaf instead of teathr-M. Stuffed with spices, and served on a, lordly charger, often of gold and silver, it held in its beak a piece of blazing camphor, and was generally brought to the board Kv a gentlewoman of high dcec- At the banquet, after a jousting in the lists, it was sometimes borne to the feast by the Queen Of the Tournament, who placed ft before the knight c f brightest valour and exploits. On •ach occasions the distinguished knight, before carving the bird, renewed, orer its audy plum- or gilt- surface, his oath or chivalric devo. tion. To this knigiitly practice of swearing toys' I over th,- luwkfe. which in Elizabethan l:dàJvl contained a mince stuffing like that of fT'i-o- morv often than the flesh of the bird. J 1:64 ire 8t»Atlow wtj-s indebted for his oath By fcoct pie •" rt the thirteenth century a J.1k. vwi u-Kinied an appropriate prize for bo t tain-a pecuiia, game that t«aK>OM for its folly than 4s skill. Of CSiruim*» drink. THE V/ASSAIL BOWL h 1,7 frr ancient. When made with I sin V '.):q,¿ a3 foliovs :-Put a pint of good ale "I ia a pAu with half a pound of sugar, | half a grated nutmeg, a pennyweignt or pow- dered ginger, and rather■less powuered cinna- mon; bring it all just to tbeboil, then pour in (still stirring) about one and a half pints of ale or beer and h >1i a bottle of sherry, to. eether with a good lump of loaf sugar on to which vou have rubbed off the yellow part of a Vernon 7 let it all get quite hot, though not at-tuallv boiling then pour it into a bowl. o'ace some baked apples on the top, and serve. Tn feudal times the bringing honeof the Yule. log was a joyous ceremony, and as it was drawn along from the wood. each wayfarer who en- "oun' prp, I the merry procession raised his hat. ,,1n, Devonshire tne Yuielog was called the Ashtcra faggot, and was composed of a* bundle of ash-sticks bound together with nine bands, no more and no less. The farm labourers and a couple of horses draggd it home in t-riump h, and then began all kinds of sports. While the noble Ashton faggot burned on the great hearth there was jumping in sacks and duck- irTth'e head in a tub of water for apples that hr h'ip l out of reach in a most provoking man- ner. TherO was also a sticky game which con- ?-e*' a iumping, \our hands tied behiud your h i for a cake* spread with treacle. The \«tnr had to seize this dehcacv with his compete' now and then a crackling ^.rn? was beak, followed by a shout. One of thl iino bands that bound the faggot had and every time this happened the master 'was called upon to furnish a bowl of egg-flip. In the fourth year ot Tiie reign or w.uc-ett Elizabeth a. magnificent Christmas was kept at the inner Temple, in which Lord Robert Dudley. afterwards Earl of Leicester, was chief, under the title of Palaphitos, Prince of Sophie, High Constable Marshal of the Knights Templars, and Patron of the Honourable Order of Pegasus. Christopher Hatton. afterwards Lord Chancellor of England, was master of the game, with four masters of the revels, besides other officers to conduct the burlesque, and four score persons forming a guard. Gerard Leigh, who was present, and was created a Knight of Pegasus, describes in his "Accidence ot Amorie the mock solemnity Within the Halkand the public firing of double cannons" in so great number and so terrible that it darkened the whole air." Dugdale sets forth the orders for making a LORD OF MISRULE, with feasting and dancing round about the ( coal fire, and hunting in the Hall with nine or ten couples of hounds, a fox and a cat, both tied at the end of a pole, until they were killed beneath the fire. The practice of mumming" is not yet quite extinct. In some I arts of Scotland, and also in Berkshire and other places, a sort of play is enacted from house to house by boys dressed up in grotesque garb. The principal character throws down a challenge, saying :— Goloshans. Goloshans, Goloshans is my name! With sword and pistol by my side I hope to win the game." To which his adversary retorts :— The game, sir, the game, sir it's not within your power, I'll cut you up in inches in less than half-an- hour A fierce broad -sword combat then ensues, and one of the combatants falls dead. A doctor is then summoned, who "ays :— Here come r. old Doctor Brown, The best old Doctor in the town I have pills to cure all ills- The itch, the stitch, the palsy and the gout." He administers a pill to the fallen victim, who is immediately restored to life, and the battle is renewed with great vigour. Other characters are Jack Dmny, a jester Molly, a boy disguised as a woman: and Happy Jack," who goes round with the hat. Under the Mistletoe.—The story runs that kissing was introduced into England by Rowena, the daughter of Hengist, the Saxcjn. At a ban- quet which was given by the British monarch in honour of his allies, the princess after press- ing the brimming beaker to her lips, saluted the astonished and delighted Vortigern with a little kiss after the manner of her own people So well did the kiss thrive in the genial climate of England that, from being an occasional luxury, it became an everyday enjoyment, and the i nglish soon became celebrated far and near as a kissing people. In fact, so far had their celebrity spread in this respect that when Cavendish, the biographer of the great child of honour, Cardinal Wolsey," visited a French nobleman at his chateau, the lady of the house, on enteri g the room with her train of atten- dant maidens for the purpose of welcoming the guest of her husband, thus accosted him Forasmuch as ye be an Englishman, whose custom it is in your country to kiss all ladies a nd gentlewomen without offence, and although it be not so here in this redm, yet will I be so bold as to kiss you, and so shall all my maidens." Whereupon the rafters of the chateau rang with the heartiness of the oscu- lation.

Thrust Back, It f- tl.e rtiiorn of a well-known vicar to point his sermons with either Daarly- Iwloved brethren," or Now, my brothers." One day a lady member of his congregation One day a lady member of his congregation took exception to this. Why do you always preach to the gentle- Traao aod never to the ladies ?" she asked. My 0ft:tr lady," said the beaming vicar *• one embraces the other." But not in the church was the instant wpijr. Sttj- :JU has his faults, but no man has as many as hia wife thinks he has. Making Certain. I A lady, entertaining an mportant guest, was eiving final mstructions to her new maid, just arrived from the country. Now, Po ly." she said, in the morning take a jug of hot water up to Mr X.'s room. Be sure not to forget this." No'ra, Poliv a tiswered. The lady thought no more of the matter until the next day, when at noon she remarked casually— Of course, Polly, you carried that hot water up to Mr X.'s room this morning?" Polly beamed. Why, yes'm. I was so frightened I'd for- get it, I took it up overnight," I Making a Start. Jackson and Hughes were old friends. The former, by shrewdness and industry, earned a good income, but Hughes was not so fortunate. One day he nsked his successful friend the secret of his prosperity. Well," replied Jackson, I'll fell it to you for X5. Be saving, of course, and when you do make a bargain with anyone, be sure nc one hears you, and then if you get the worst of it or want to back out you can. Hughes thought a second, and then said— Did anyone hear you make this bargain ?" Not a soul." replied Jackson. Well, then," was the prompt answer, I think I'll begin on you,

WORKMEN'S TOPICS. -4 BY MABON, M.P. TARIFF REFORMERS' CHANGE OF FRONT. The booming trade recorded in the Board of Trade returns is once more responsible for the change of front in the arguments of Tariff Reformers. Mr Chamberlain's case when he started his campaign for Tariff Reform was that the trade of the country was "to be mainly measured by exports, and that exports have been practically stationary for the last twenty or thirty years. The test was to be independent of inlated values or abnormal variations of any kind. for he pitched upon, did he not, the year 1872-the time when the German-Franco War took place-as his favour- ite year, a year in which a fictitious value of something like fifty millions was put upon our exports by war prices. Still, as to the stationary character of our exports. even when they are compared with 1872, there can be nothing more consoling th?n a comparison based on the latest returns. Leaving December out of the reckon- ing, the position has been so little stationary that the comparison reads :— Exports, 1872 £ 256,00j,000 Exports, 1906.(11 months) £ 344,000,000 The progress that is now being made has many effective points of llustration. The exports of November are nearly three and a half millions better than November, 1904. Over the eleven months, 1906 is overJE71,000,000 better than 19 4. Still more to the purpose, from Mr Chamber- lain's standpoint, five.sixths of the two years' increase, or 6J millions, has been built by manu factured exports. These records do not please the Tariff Reformers half so much as they ought to do in the light of their own earlier arguments. Instead of admitting that things' after all, are not so bad as Mr Chamberlain feared they would be, and instead of rejoicing t'iat the hour of national bankruptcy is, at any rate, postponed, they are now beginning to find doleful qualifications to bolster up the theory that Things are not what they seem." The favourite one is that all our great rivals are so busy that they have had to call upon this poor old country that, according to the Prophet Joseph, was going to ruin so fast, to oblige them in meeting their demands. It is quite true that there is commercial activity all the world over. But the essential and gratifying fact is that "Te are sharing in it, and that Free Trade, instead of being a drawback, is one of the prime reason5 why we are in that happy position of,being able to do so. The Tariff Reform idea that the sixty millions in- crease in our manufactured exports recorded in two years is merely an accidental gain -does more credit to the ingenuity than the common- sense of the Tariff Reformers' method of argu- ment. Heading an ari icle, that appeared in the National Heview" by Mr Garvin, the journal- istic champion of Tariff Jteform, he, one pre. sumes. thinks that he has disposed of the point when he says, apparently vith great flourish, Being on the top of the |&IApw in the early seventies did not prevent from coming to the tro'cgu. No wat a Tarif fReformer could forget that trade ig a world's matter, and that tho ebb and flow of prosperity in individ ual nations arc a general reflet of the state of industry in other nations, and as a manufac- turing nation this is a condition of things that especially governs our exports. Moreover, it can be said for Free Trade, that when the world's demand is low we continue to get our share unstintingly, and if anything we, not- withstanding the immeQsjty of that trade. prosper proportionately at the present moment in accord with the world's prosperity. Another thing to be observed in the recent Tariff Reform propoganda is that imports, as well as exports, have at last begun to enter in the thoughts of Mr Chamberlain's friends. Mr Garvin points to a recent increase of German exports in the shape of raw materials as a proof of the soundness of the condition of German industries. But is not a normal condition of things in our iQ(iustries that we are always receiving raw materials as the great bulk of our imports yet when- ever has a Tariff Reformer admitted, as Mr Garvin hastens to admit in the case of Germany, that such a Condition of things is advantageous ? The truth is, of course, that. cOnfronted with the difficulty of discounting the growing signs of national prosperity, as shown in the Board of Trade returns, the Tariff Reformers are obliged tQ double back on their old arguments. The broad fact is that the trade of the country has prog: Cssed and is pro- gressing rapidly, both in character and volume, and that in a way that falsifies all the specula. tive forebodings on which Mr Chamberlain and his friends based their «« Qoing, going, go::e campaign. We can now hardly expect the hardened Tariff Reforiners to admit as much, but it is somewhat surpi>isjBg that instead of lying low they should ]:,e so indiscreet as to seek to explain away nie Board of Trade returns, when those retnras have reached the most abounding pitch of national prosperity ever recoried. The Lords and Labour. Many people interested in Labour matters, like oneself, were of the opinio11 that the Lords would not bring their wreckiDg tactics to hear upon any of the direct labour measures that the House of Commons would send them to consider. We < re somewhat disappointed, though not dismayed, fOT, we have not yet heard the last of either th.e Trades Dsputes Bill or the Workmen's Compensation Act as amended by the Lower House. But the bulk of them revolted even against the leader cf the House, Lord Lansdowne, and have endeavoured to seriously damage the clause respecting picketting by restricting operation. But there need be no alarm -with regard to this, for the Government have backed up the Labour members' protest, and the nicasm-e goes back to the Lords exactly as i^ waS in its original form. That, with the strong protest that is known to have been inacle by some of the most prominent Conservative leaders in the Commons, will, I am pretty sure, secure that Bill a safe ending in the way asked for by the Labour leaders. The Workmen's Compensation Bill, in its amended form, had a most peaceful passage on its third reading in the Commons last week. and as Mr Akers Douglas, Home Secretary in the last, Administration, gave the measure his benediction t it is not likely that the Lords will interfere with it very much. This new charter, and the greatest of all charters that injured workmen have ever seen in this or any other countrv, applies to an army of small employers, and jome scheme of com- pulsory national ins,uraQC see!DS to be inevit- able towards securing to the working people the compensation due to them accord- ing to the newly-amended measure, and one is glad to find that IVII. Herbert Gladstone. who, with Mr Herbert Samuel, deserves great credit for the successful Con(j,jCt of the Com- pensation Bill, foreshadowed a Bill next Session to impose a test of solvency on insurance com- panies which will deal with cases arising out of the Compensation Act. Sjr Charles Dilke and Mr Tenn-*nt pleaded for the out-workers, who are not included in the This omission are not included in the Hill. This omission would seem to be the only blot in a measure that will prove of so great advantage to the working classes, should it, be successful enough to eocane mutilation at the hands of the House of Lords.

The End Had Come. Ab, yes," sighed the young lady, sadly, no more will I hear his footsteps on the gar- den path just as the clock strikes the hour of eight." Why, Edie ?" gasped her friend. And the parlour light will never burn low for him again." You don't mean it?" I do. and furthermore, he will never sit on this sofa three nights a week and call me sweet names, as he has been doing for two years." I am astonished." And to-night I am going to burn all the old love-letters inthattrunk in mv room upstairs." B—but why are you going to throw him over ?" Throw him over ? Why, my dear girl, I'm going to marry Him And now," whispered the lover as lie caught her in his arms, what shall we do about the ladder ? We shouldn't leave it hanging there." Don't worry about it," replied the damsel. Papa said he would pull it up again, so he couldn't get back."

MUSIC IN WALES. By D. EMLYN EVANS. THE LATE TALlESIN HOPKIN. It was with deep-felt sorrow that musical Wales learnt of the passing away of Mr Taliesin Hopkin, at the house of his sister, Cymmer, Porth, on Sunday evening, Decembergth, while yet in his prime, humanly speaking, he having been bom at Mountain Ash, in 1859. The love of song—the hen dragwyddol gan"—is evidently more or less inherent in the stock from which he sprang and those who had the plea- sure of being acquainted with his brother, William Hopkin, have not ceased to regret his eariy and calamitous death by drowning, while a most promising musical student at the Uni- versity College of Wales, Aberystwyth a sister also being highly esteemed as a talented soprano singer. Taliesin Hopkin's career may be taken as largely typical of our amateur Welsh conductors as a class. A child of the Dissenting Chapel and the Sunday school, of the tonic sol-la singing class, and the Eisteddfod, he grew little by little, and ultimately advanced o as to be able to wield the baton effectively himself- to be a leader in a higher sense than that of merely beating time and waving a stick. His fidelity as leader of the singing at the Congre- gational church with which he was connected for so many years the successes which the United Porth and Cymmer Choir and the Male Voice Choir, under his conductorship, have to their record, at leading local; provincial, and National Eist-eddfodau the oratorio and other performances by the choir, supported by or- chestral accompaniment—largely due to his initiative and effort; and his acknowledged talent as a Cymanfa conductor, do not need to be mentioned in detail here. Wales is the poorer to-day for having lost Taliesin Hopkin, but is the richer for having possessed him, for the work he accomplished within his sphere, and for the example which hehaa left to those who may foflow. Madame Patti's Farewell. Although the prima donna, who for so many years has made her home amongst us at Castell Craig-y-Nos, did bid her formal farewell to the London musical public at the concert which she gave at the Royal Albert Hall on the 1st of this month, her numerous admirers in the more important provincial towns and cities may take heart of grace until the autumn of nest year, for which period the Queen of Song has, as we understand, made arrangements to de. light them once more, and for the last time, with those favourite songs and ariao that ap- parently never fail, butare possessed of perennial freshness—when sung so. Certainly, no singer of our time has succeeded in preserving her voice, and in maintaining her position as fil-st favourite with a large section of the British public, as has been accomplished by Madame Patti. To contend that a human voice can at the age of sixty-three display the same rich. ness and flexibility of tone as it did forty-five years ago., is, of course, folly; but we have here, nevertheless, a striking example of what can be effected in the way of voice preservation by taking due care of the delicate vocal organ, and of the bodily health generally-the latter a matter of first importance to the professional singer. It is forty-five ysars to last May since Adelina Patti made her first appearance in this country. Her first public appearance proper, however, took place in Novem- ber. 1&59, at New York—we say "public appearance proper" because the future prima donna had previously sung in public when quite young, but was most pru- denfily withdrawn with the view of further study and preparation for the higher demands of the lyric vocal art. It may interest the musical reader to peruse a copy of the pro- gramme of that first appearance at Covant Garden and which now lies before us :— Royal Italian Opera, Covent Garden. Debut. of Mdlle. Patti, 14th May, 1861. La Sonnambula Amina Mdlle. Patti. Liza Mdme. Tagliafico. Teresa Mdrpe. Leva. Notaro. Signor Tagliafico. Alfesio Signor Polonini. Elvino Signor Tiberini. Conductor—Mr Costa. We read that on that night, apart from the subscription, there was barely £50 in the house <* and that when Amina came on the huge Covent Garden stage, a slender, sallow, dark-eyed girl, displaying a slight childish stiffness of gait, and formality of manner;" only a favoured number to whom Mr Frederick Gve, the lesser, had confided his own opinion of the little American girl's merits, had any conception of what was in store for them. Mr Gye had unmis- takably struck oil that time, and on the fol- lowing. morning the box offce was beseiged." Madame Patti's gratuitous services in the cause of charity and the aid of hospitals are too well. known in South Wales, especially in her own neighbourhood, and in Swansea. Neath, and Brecon, to need enumerating in this place. It is possible—nay probable, as we understand, that, notwithstanding the distinguished can- tatrice s retirement from the professional stage, similar beneficent aid may again be extended to such objects, and which will deepen the gratitude already due to the lady of Craig-y Nos. Another Welsh Mus. Doc. From Band Boy to Mus. Doc," was the appropriate title of an article which appeared lately in the daily issue of this journal and which related to Mr Albert Williams, bandmaster of the Grena- dier Guards, who received the degree of Doctor of Music at the University of Oxford recently. Mr Williams is a native of Newport, Monmouthshire, where he was born in 1863, and losing both his parents when a child, he has had to work his way up step by step from the very bottom of the ladder. From the bandmaster- l'hip of the 10th Prince of Wales' Own Royal Hussars, he succeeded Mr Winterbottom in the -Royal Marine Artillery and Lieutenant Dan Godfrey senior, in the Grenadier Guards—ac- knowledged to be the blue ribbon of theBritish Army in that connection. He has adjudicated more than once at our Eisteddfodau, the latest occasion being this year's National at Car- narvon. Dr Williams is as genial and unaas- suming as he is thorough and capable and Welsh musicians will wish him a long and suc- cessful career—for his own merits, and er mwyn yr hen wlad."

Take It Away." A most successful tradesman, retiring from business at the age of sixty, thought he would set up a racing stable. Having practically no knowledge of horseflesh, he decided he would take a little expert advice. He knew a livery stable keeper, and he went to see the man. Thompson," he said, I am going to buy a stable of horses. Now, when they are trotted out for my inspection, how will I tell how old they are ? I don't want to buy a lot of anti- quated nags, you know," The liveryman said it was by their teeth that horses' ages were told. He intended to go into the matter a little further, but the millionaire, satisfied, hurried off. The next day a fine coachhorse was sub. mitted to him by a dealer. How much do you want for this animal 2" he asked. About £ 200," the dealer answered. The millionaire opened the horse's mouth and studied its teeth with slow care. Then wiping his hands he laughed harshly. Take it away." he said it's thirty-two years old." Appreciated. A gentleman who, on account of his learning, often speaks in public, causes his wife much anxiety. He is very absent-minded. If she succeed in starting him for the platform pro. perly clothed, and with his notes in his hand, part of her cares vanish but not all of them. At one meeting, however, he was exception- ally successful. His speech was free from the absent-minded murmurs which sometimes interspersed his discourse, and as he seated himself his wife felt that he had fully earned the hurst of applause-and then her cheeks crimsoned. Did you see anything amusing about the close of my address, my dear ?" he asked as they journeyed home. It seemed as if I heard sounds suggestive of merriment about me." I don't wonder," was the weary reply, for of all the people who applauded your address, you clapped the loudest and longest 1" You entertain a great, deal more than you did formerly, I notice.' Yes, indeed. This is the first hospitable cook we ever had."

Illustrated Humour. A Tragedy for Tears. She purchased a beautiful trousseau, 'Twas hasty and foolish to dousseau, For the man she would wed, Has gone clean off his head, That's why the poor maiden boo-booaseau. A Youthful Naturalist. A schoolmaster who happened to have red hair was giving an object-lesson to a class on a nut. In his endeavour to draw a distinction between a hazel nut and other nuts, he held one up to view, asking What kind of a nut is this ? at the same time without a thought putting his pencil to his head while waiting for an answer. Suddenly a young chap, who was noted for his witty answers, replied A ginger-nut, sir I « Persuasive Arguments. Desperate-looking Tramp (overtaking young Jones on a lonely road): "1 say, young sir, can yer 'elp a poor feller wot's 'ard up ? All I 'as in the wurld is this stick an* this loaded re- volver." Visible Reasons. Tom Mabel says she has insuperable rea- sons for remaining single." Willie 1"e" I know what they are." Tom Then she has told you ? Willie "No, but I have seen her. A Wise Husband. Meek My wife and J never quarrel. She does as she pleases, and I do, too." Peek I see-as she pleases. Meek: Of course. I'm not looking for trouble." I Not at All. 3irs O'Rooke I hear there was a disturb- ance at th' meet-in' last night." Pat: Ye heard wrong, tbin; for when M'Go wan liit th' chairman we threw him out o' th' wmdy, an' that stepped aU trouble. Oh, no, everything was harmonyus an quiet." 'Twas Ever Thus. Newly-cd (proudly): I always make it a point to tell my wife evervthing that happens,, Oldwed That's nothing. I tell my wife lots of things that never happen at aJI." The Same with a Difference. Is it true that Maude and Charlie had a quarrel last night ? X 0, just a falling out. The hammock rope broke." More Advice Gratis. Johnson Junior He said J was an addle- pated jackass. What do you advise me to do about it ?" Jackson Senior See a good veterinary sur- geon." One Advantage. I don't see that there is any advantage in those clay pipes which yon always seem to pre- fer," said Weary Willie in perfect English. Oh, but there is," replied Tired Tim, tes. tily. When they drop on the ground, for in- stance, youh&ven't to stoop and pick them up." A Sharp Retort. Brown: Taking music lessons, are you, W illie t Well, do you know what a fiat is Smith, junior Yes, sir, three rooms and a bath." Quite Right. Master: Now tell me what the highest form of animal life is ?" Boy: "The highest form of animal life is a giraffe." Birds of a Feather. Suitor I cannot boast of wealth, but I have brains, sir, I have, brains. The members of my literary club will tell you that you'd have the greatest debater in town for a son-in-law." Fat her: "And I can assure you, my dear fellow, that you'd have the greatest lecturer in the town for a mother-in-law. Your request is granted, and heaven help-I mean bless- you." It takes him a painfully long time to write a letter." "Yes. he's trying to use as many simplified words as possible." There's a coloured man and his wife at the door looking for work." "But I only adver. tised for laundress." Yes, they are her." Mrs Style Mrs Cashe has a great deal of em- bonpoint.—Mrs Parvenu Then, if she has a good deal of it, I know she got it c", p.

WELSH GLEANINGS. News and Views in Lighter Vein. Only two judgment cases were before ht Honour Judge William Evans at Fhayade; County Court last week. There are about 300 inhabitants in the parish of Gwerddwr, Brsconshire. Not a single burial has aken place there for 17 months. On completing 25 years' pulpit work Rer. William Marwood, Hay, Breconshire, Ccngre" gational minister, has been made the recipient of a substantial recognition gift. Two new day schools, with houses are to be built at Norton (Presteign) and Nantgwyn. in Radnorshire, at a cost of £ 1,350 and £1.493 respectively. A coming improvement at Llandrindod Wells is an elegant and artistic bridge over the ravine at the end of Park-terrace. Preliminary steps are being taken Can any of the readers of "Welsh Gossip" give the author of the following verse ?— "Roedd glo ar gwmin Hirwain Cyn gosod Adda 'n Eden; g Dywedwch i'm pwy ddaeth a'r plan 1 w landio lan yn Llundain ? Reference has been made in this column to the two full moons that occurred last Novem. ber. A correspondent of Y Genedl pointa out that a similar record is available for October, 1887 July, 1890; April, 1893; December, 1895; August, 1898 and Mar=h. 1904. In the face of this evidence some of the stele jokes that refer to seeing two full moons where there was but one should be cancelled forthwith. A professor at each of the Welsh University colleges has written a volume of memoirs of an eminent preacher. Two of the works relate to Independent ministers. Two are written bv sons. Thus Principal Reichel, Bangor, has written on his father. Bishop Reichel ■ Profes sor Morgan Lewis, Aberystwyth, on his father, the Rev. Evan Lewis, Brynberian. and the SfiTu Evans on the Rev- Caleb Morris. Both the last were North Pembrokeshire men. It is a long lane that has no tannine- A rumour has reached Bangor that a large order has been obtained for Bethesda slates to be U3ef the re construction of San Francisco, and that another thousand workmen will be re- quired to cope with this new demand. Bethesda has not recovered from the set-back in trade that resulted from the historic strike. It is an ill wind that does not do some one good. Which was the abode of David Morgan, the "J13?,beea dedared that he resided vl^n tlynWent y Crynwyr (Quaker's J? °f Treliari'is. has another view. Tne house in which he lived when arrested," he writes. was Pen Craig Daf, the adjoining farm house, now owne by Colonel Lockwood. The particular room-a small loft over the porch-in which Morgan was caught can be seen to-day, the other part of the house having been altered." •• G.M P." is the fortu- nate possessor of a photograph of the house as it originally stood. Sir Edward Elgar. Sir Edward W. Elgar, the distinguished com. poser, together with Lady Eigar, has been staying at The Gwalia, Llandrindod WelJs. He was somewhat out of health, but his visit to the popular inland spa has proved beneficial Sir Edward is well known as the composer oi Gerontius," Caractacus, and The Kingdom." French Prisoners of War 4n Wales. During the Peninsular War many French- men spent years of captivity in this country. Old Wales states that in the Priory Church, Brecon, there is a monument with the follow- ing pathetic inscription Ci Git. Francois Husson, prisonnier de guerre Francais. Capne, au 4me Regt. D'artillerie de Marine, Decede le 27 Avril, 1810, age de 48 Ans. By foreign hands his humble grave adorned. By strangers honour'd and by straneera moumed." Evidently this son of France had succeeded in establishing an entente cordiale on his own account at Brecon. Welsh Clockmakers. A correspondent in Old Wales is making enquiries concerning clockmakers. At one time clockmakmg was a cottage industry in Wales, two of whom are named by Collector in the magazine beforemectioned, viz., I. B. Jenkins, Crickhowel, and Dd. Richards, Pontllanfraith, Another maker whose name is pretty fre- quently seen on grandfather clocks is that oi David Evans, Llangynwyd- Alas these village industries are rapidly vanishing, and the advent of machine-made watches has made thG recovery of clockmaking as a cottage industry impossible. The great authority on clocks and clockmakers was the late Octa-vius Morgan, and. he published a good deal of information upon both subjects. He was a frequent contributor to Notes and Queries," and there ought to be. in our public libraries in South Wales some books written by him upon this industry. Judge Gwilym Williams Memorial. A strong feeling prevails in the Aberdare dis- trict that the Judge Gwilym Williams Memorial should be located in that town, where the patriotic Welshman was born, and where his father, Alaw Goch. lies buried. His Honour was ever partial to Aberdare, and many a time in conversation, when the name of Sweet 'Berdar was referred to, he would repeat the old line- Pentref Aberdar, Lie gore a car fy nghalon. These lines are portions of the following couplets written by one of the bards who were such frequent visitors to Ynvscynon when the late Judge's father dispensed such opgn-handed hospitality to the fraternity there :— Beth gaf ar lan yr afon, Beth gaf yn Ynyscynon. Beth gaf yn Mhentref Aberdar, Lie gore a gar fy nghaion Cei ddwfr ar lan yr afon, Cei laeth yn Ynyscynon, Cei gwrw yn Mhentref Aberdar, Lie gore a gar fy nghalon. The Steel Industry and Wales. Statistics show that 1905 was a record year in the iron and steel production, not only of Great Britain, but of the world. In Great Britain it was 9,592,000 tons, or 1X100,000 in excess of 1904. In this enormous yield Walft paid no insignificant part. With mills, as at Dowlais, turning out 3,000 and even 4.000 tons of rails per week, and a furnace in the same locality which in another year will double the yield of the largest in the country, one is re- minded of those early days when furnaces made 50 tons a Pmel- only. Even in 1819 the average yield of Dig iron at Cytart hfa was only 65 tons per furnace. In 1857 this had been increased ta 170 tons per furnace, and the output at all works has been progressing ever since. It is under consideration by ironmasters that tho largel-y increased use of girders, which Germany has been quick to foresee, will be followed by a similar expansion in this country, and that aa the wood supplies are shrinking, and there is a likelihood of a scarcity of pitwood, steel will before long come into use as a substitute. Re. ports from Staffordshire, where it has been tried with success, ape promising.

Let me see. What are Senator Smugg's ini. tials ? I have forgotten what they are, but I know that one of them is very likely to be « Ex in the near future." Wigg A bad memory gets a fellow into lote of trouble.—Wagg Yes, it's always springing things on you that you thought you had forgot, ten. Art Student (engaging rooms) What it that ?—Landlady That is a picture of out church done in wool by my daughter, sir. She's subject to art. too., Very well, sir." cried Dr. Kwack, after hit quarrel with the undertaker," I'll make yoq sorry for this." What are vou going to do sneered the undertaker. Retire from prac* tice 2" Pedestrian Madam, a boy who I am told m your son has just thrown a stone at me, caus. ing a wound that is very painful. What art you going to do about it ?—Mother I don' I know. Have you tried arnica J.