The Cardiff Times

FACTS FOR FARMERS. -+" BY A PRACTICAL AGRICULTURIST. ENSILAGE. Welsh farmers have this year realised the truth of the old proverb, That necessity is the mother of invention." Necessity, no doubt, has caused many this year to try ensilage making. Many farmers have attempted it, who, had they more favourable weathor for hay-making, would not have thought about it at all; but seeing that, by the ordinary method their crops would be ruined, they determined to taka their chance and risk it. With most, the orthodox silos were out of the question as beiog.to the majority of Welsh farmers, at once too expensive and un- knov n; for, although a great deal has been written on the matter, yet the ordinary Welsh farmer has but very little conception how it is done. A few here and there have attempted • it, and that with success. One dairy farmer in my neighbourhood tried it last year, and his experience was that on giving the ensilage to his milch cows the result was much better than if he had turned it into hay, the cows giving more miik although allowed but half the usual quantify of meal. A few more this year have attempted it, partly for the above reason, What trsuble most farmers is the weightage or pressure. When practical men cannot hgree on this head it is very little wonder that beginners should be rather hazy about it. A SIMPLE WAY OF STACKING.. I had the pleasure last week of seeing the con- trivance of one farmer in bis first attempt at making a stack ot ensilage. He happens to be of a mechanical turn of mind, and his mode was simple and inexpensive, yet effectual, and an- swered the purpose very well, and it struck me as being worth emulating alike for its simplicity and cheapness. The foundation consisted of two powerful beams laid lengthwise, the distance between them depended entirely ou the width of the stack across and with the ends resting on these were thrown strong slabs of timber. On this rectangular foundation the stack was built, when completed he again placed crosswise some slabs of timber, over which were laid two beams lengthwise, corresponding to and directly above those under the stack. I should have mentioned that the ends of tbe lower as well as of the upper beams projected a foot or eighteen inches beyond the stack. To obtain the necessary pressure he now required tour strong chains and four long poles. The lengths of the chains depended on the height of the stack, and as to the poie. the longer the better. As the four chains and poles are used precisely in the same manner, I shall only deal with one of such in order to render my article as easily understood as possible. The chain is first fastened to the projecting part of the upper beam, i.e., the beam on the stack, while the other end is fastened about four or five feet from the end of the pole. This end of the pole is afterwards placed uuder the corresponding projecting part of the lower beam, thus acting as a lever when sufficient weight is added to tho other end of the ple) Ths other three chains and poles, as I hare mentioned, were similarly placed at tach of the remaining corners, and weights as in the first instance added to the poles. The poles used in the contrivance which I witnessed were very long, about 19 feet or 20 feet each; and it is quite astonishing what "pulling," or pressing force could be applied if the appliance held by only increasing the weights at the euds of the poles. ITS ADVANTAGES. The foregoing simple method is, I think, preferable to the common mode of obtain- ing weigutage by means of piling stoneu, earth, &c., as it entails much less labour. By this plan the stack does not require to be built by stages, each stago requiring the labour of carrying these weilflülI up and tak¡ down tin the final stage is reached. Every year now finds ensilage gaining favour with farmers, and in a few years we shall sea it very general. Eusilage increases the nutritive pewers of green forage, and makes it more digestible it saves the crop from de- terioration by exposure to the weather; is less ex- pensive than haymaking, unless the latter is done under exceptionally favourable weather and, more important than all, ensilage can be made in wet as well as dry weather. VALUK OF ENSILAGE. Mr John Bagnail, Bdlington New Farm, near Stafford, writing last weak in reply to a Question in Farm and Home, said: "I have made silage in very wet weather, and to my great satisfaction I have stacked the grass in dry weather, but I prefer that made in the wet. Newly-calved cows and young calves and horses do well on it. I prefer grass to vetches or clover for siiage. There is something very strong in silage made of vetches, and in some cases it tastes the milk aud butter. My butt-erman said the butter made while the cows were eating silage was the best he over had from me. He has had the butter for over 30 years. I have made silage eight yesrs in sta-k-i and siloe. My silo is built on the ground and well camented. I have made this season 20 tons, and should the wet weather continue shall make a stock. Also there is very little more loss in a silage stack than in a hay-rick. You have top and bottoms and sides of a bay-rick damaged. The silage stacks are good to the ground. A friend of mine is so satisfied with 1 wet made silage that ho would wet the gmss wbeu stackiug in dry weather. He has a stack and half another left from last season. He milks between fifty and sixty cows, and is much pieased with siloge." Forage for Horses, In the article on "Cavalry Foiagp," in tho Neite Militarische JBlalicr, some highly interesting details are given of the results of a bag series of experiments carried out with Franeh cavalry horses fed on different proportions of fodder. The experiments show conclusively bow the working condition of cavalry horses is affected by the fodder ration. Contrary to what might ba sup- posed, it was found that hay was of much less value than straw. When tbe ration of bay was increased at the expense of the straw, it made the horsas indolent and liable to sweat with the slightest exertion whereas, when the straw ration was increased and the hay diminished, the horses were full of strength, sweated less, and returned to stables after the exercises were over without having turned a hair. The same good results were obtained by increasing the propor- tion of oats and diminishing the hay. As a con- sequence of these experiments, it was decided to vpry materially reduce the amount of hay issued and to increase the proportion of oats served out. In our own service the amount of hay issued is far in excess of that served out to French horses, whilst the allowauca of straw is considerably less, These exhaustive experiments, therefore, should serve to emphasise tbe necessity which exists?, according to that well-known authority on horses Principal Veterinary-Surgeon Fleming, C.B.' for a thorough investigation into the whole sub- ject of foraga for our troop-horsee. The Weather and the Crops. Monday's Mark Lane Express says :— The expectations of ever an average crop of wheat have now completely disappeared. Per- haps the best current opinion is that, whereas at the end of May a yield of 5 per cent, over the average was promised, now at the end of July a yield of 5 par cent. under average is likely. Barley, outs, and beans have suffered less than wheat, but the yieid of quality barley is not expested to be la.rff?< The exhaustion of the English wheat crop oE 1839 is so patent at all markets that faacy rates are now quoted for good to 4 for heavy white, and 32i to 38i for reo. Tha Imperial average is 35s, as compared with 30d in the last week of Juiy, 1889. The trade in foreign wheat has been kept froin advancing by heavy imports. The week's markets showed a strong natural up. ward tendency. The spring corn trade has been firm. Barley has advanced 3d per qr. Oata were rather against buyers. Maize has been in large supply, but, owing to combined retail and specu- lative demand, Id per peotal advance was obtained at the northern markets, including Liverpool, and 3d per qr. improveJQeut at southern markets, including London,^ :11"

Thousands go down and disapppear forwant of the pjwec 'jf physical Endurance quite as-many thousands fail for lack of steadily-improving brain capacity but perhaps most of all are smitten, crushed, and routed iwuiause of their poverty of clear and steadfast moral purpose. The real strength of mantis hia fceaUb, mental and physical, and, without this, no start, however good, no ad- vantages of the way, however great, no stroke of luck, however wonderful, can save him from de- feat. Like all other creatures, his means of defence must be commensurate with every possible occasion, or final, viotory can never crows bis

WELSH GLEANINGS. I By Lloffwr. From time to time some tragic incident in connection with the administration of the law brings out in a clear light the injustice of conducting legal proceedings in Welsh- speaking districts in English. Hardly less convincing than these as proofs of the need for a change are the instances which are now and again brought to light of mistakes on the part of the interpreters. Several such instances appear to have occurred during the recent assize trials in Merionethshire—one of the most purely Welsh of the counties of Wales. An example of the kind of error is given by a correspondent in the Celt. "The child could not have been begotten" was inter- preted as N is gallai y plentyn gael ei eni." In another case "llwyd" was translated into" brown," and objection was raised to the evidence of one witness who had de. scribed a man of thirty-two years as "hen ddyn." # In the latter case, however, the judge, Lord Chief Justice Coleridge, interposed, and pointed out that the phrase old man in English had a variety of meanings, and there was no reason why" hen ddyn in Welsh should not be equally elastic. His lordship further remarked that when at school many a playmate, who was young enough in all conscience, was designated as an "old boy." I wonder whether his lord- ship fully realised all that the expression hen ddyn means in Welsh I am told that the Lord Chief Justice on this occasion lent the full weight of his authority to the growing demand for per- mitting Welsh-speaking witnesses, even if they know English, to tender their evidence in Welsh. He pointed out that to know a language was one thing, but that to be able to express oneself correctly in that lan- guage, with due regard to the varying shades of meaning, was a very different matter. I," said the Lord Chief Justice, know French, and am able to converse with comparative fluency in that language, but I should certainly hesitate to tender evidence and to be submitted to cross- examination in that tongue. I should decidedly desire to give my evidence in the more familiar English. So is it with Welsh- speaking witnesses, to whom Welsh is neces- sarily more familiar than English." «r All praise to Lord Chief Justice Coleridge for these honest expressions of his views. And surely the case is even stronger than he puts it. If he, a man who has enjoyed all the advantages of a liberal education and of a legal training, felt that he would be suffering under a disability in being asked to give evidence in French, with which ho is so well acquainted, how much greater 'must be the injustice to compel a Welsh- man, who has, perhaps, never before been in a court of justice, and who is a perfect stranger to legal forms and phraseology, and who has enjoyed none of the educa- tional advantages which have fallen to his lordship's lot, to give his evidence in Eng- lish, a language as foreign to him as French is to Lord Coleridge. Welshmen should take note of this, and should insist upon their right to tender evidence in Welsh. This reminds me that there is some danger of Mr S. T. Evans's well- intended efforts on behalf of the Welsh speaking population leading to error. The member for Mid-Glamorgan has secured the consent of the Government to insert among the questions at the next year's census, queries intended to elicit information as to the number of Welsh- speaking inhabitants. The questions, I believe, will be two in number, one being intended to discover whether the persons enumerated can speak Welsh, and the other whether they can speak Welsh and English. ') he danger is that a large number of people whose knowledge of English is of the most meagre kind will describe themselves as bi-linguists, and that thus a false and misleading conception of the actual linguistic condition of the Principality will be arrived at. In this connection I would direct atten- tion to a statement which appears in the papers that there are tfhole districts where, with the exception of some half-a-dozen persons, the inhabitants are to all intents and purposes purely monoglot Welsh. And yet even in these districts the census re- turns will probably describe ninety percent. of the people as able to speak Welsh and English. I find that the Rev R. S. Short, in his 4 £ Visitor's Guide" now appearing in the Aberystwyth Observer, estimates the number of Welsh-speaking people in the Principality at one million. 1 shall be greatly mistaken if when the census returns are published it does not appear that an even larger number than this claim acquaintance with the language which Taliesin centuries ago pro- phesied should never die. From the article to which I have just referred I quote the following acrostic on the queen of Welsh watering places :— [ACHOSTIC, As tho fair "sea queen of Cambria's land, Beautiful, bright, and yet pleasingly grand, E'en as thy fvrffi now so graceful we view- Robed in rich vesture both ancient and new- Yes, as around thy rude Castle we stray, See we old times-in thy Pier see to-day Thought, aye, and learning, here find their full, sway Wend we our way up that steep rugged height Yonder uprising we view with delight Theuce the wide prosl)ect-tliere -sparkling the sea, Here vales and mountains, where oft we would be.

MR WILSON BARRETT)ON A RUNAWAY TRAIN! ¿ Mr Wilson Barrett, who came over from America in the City of New York, brings with him the details of a thrilling trip over the RJcky Mountains, which might have had the. effect of postponing for an indefinite period his appearance at the new Olympic. On the 5th of the present month he was on board a train bound for Lead- ville, when by some means or other it broke in two on the steep down grade, which doei not change for scores of miles. The engineer dared not stop, as a collision and loss of lifowould have been the inevitable result. So he ran a race for life with the rear end of his train. No one knows bow, faat that train ran, but Mr Barrett says it is a faefc-that although it was three hours behind time when the accident occurred, it got into Leadville station-three hours before it was ex. pected,^ and\he was on the stuge at the appointed time.,

FULLER BIRTILL AND COMPANY, CARRIAGW BUILDERS. CUSTOM HOUSE-STREET, CARDIFF INVITE INSPECTION OF THEIR LARGE AND VARIED COLLECTION OF CARRIAGES, LIGHT, STYLISH, AND DURABLE. A large number of good Second-band Carriages Always on Sale. Inspection made and Estimates gilvee-n for Repairs free. CARRIAGES SOLly ON COMMISSION OR 14044 TAKEN IN EXCHANGE. TELEGRAMS CARRIAGES, CARDIFF."4098

FURNISH THROUGHOUT IRRSDT OETZMAM&CO. 67, 69, 71, 73, 76, 77, & 79, IIAMPSTEAD-EOAD, IONDOX (Near Tottenham Court-roa i). BEDROOM FURNISHED COMPi.KTK f-> Illustration and Full Particular; p Fre" The WALTHAM" ASH BBDROOM STITE £ 5 !'■ Illustration and Full Particulars Post Fr.-„ BEDROOM FURNISHED COMPLETE for £8 18s &d Illustration and fall Particulars Post Free. The "LYNTON" DRAWING-ROOM SUIIE (Settee and i Easy Chairs) for £ 0 Lis (-,I. ORDKES PER POST RECEIVE PROMPT ANt CAREFUL ATTENTION. 4100 ILLUSTRATED CATALOGUE POST FREE

WORKMEN'S TOPICS. IS J BY MABON, M.P. tfHE TIME OF BILLY FAIRPLAY AND ITS LESSONS. At Newport on Friday, the 18th.)nst.. •fudge Owen gave his decision in the Billy .Fairplay" test case tried before him 011 June the 18th in the same court. It will be remembered that the cases were brought on by two colliers of the names of Hugginsnd Bruce against the Abercarn and South Wales Colliery Companies to test the legality of the deductions for small coal toade by the" Billy not only at those col- lieries, but at all the collieries in Monmouth "hire and South Wales. The case was freally a test case of the legality, or other- wise, of the practice so widespread at the collieries of making deductions from the lien's wages in lieu of the small coal which faay be found in emptying out by their and weighed by "Billy Fairplay." In fact, the case, though breught on for trial by two men working at the colliery fcbove named, was conducted under the auspices of the Monmouthshire and South Wales Miners' Federation, and consequently the decision is of the greatest importance and of widespread effect, WHAT THE MINES ACT PROVIDES. In considering this decision and its im- portant effect, it will be necessary to recapitulate. here the substance r of the clause of the Mines Act under which the decision is given. The Jtersons employed in a mine, and paid According to the weight of the mineral gotten by them, may at their own cost station a checkweigher at each place ap- pointed for the weighing of the mineral, at each place appointed for determining the deductions, in order that he may, on behalf of the persona by whom he is so •tationed.—(1.) Take a correct account of the weight of the mineral, or (2) determine correctly the deductions, as the case may be. The checkweigher is to have every facility afforded him for enabling him to fulfil the duties for which he is stationed, including facilities for examining and test- ing the weighing machine, and checking and tareing of tubs and trams where necessary nd if at any time proper facilities are not afforded to the checkweigher, the owner, *gent, and manager of the mine is to be guilty of an offence against the act, unless 11e proves that he has taken all reasonable jneans to enforce to the best of his power the requirements of the section. JUDGE OWEN'S OPINION. Judge Owen, after recapitulating the facts the case, which have already appeared, <*ealt with the phraseology of section 12 of the Mines Regulation Act (the section I have quoted above), which speaks of the numeral contracted to be gotten, and also of the mineral gotten, and quoted Lord Herschell and the present Lord Chan- cellor (Lord Halsbury) to the effect that all the coal, small as well as large, which naturally and unavoidably neces- sarily arises in the operation of hewing and riQgirig it to bank, must be construed to 5jean the mineral contracted, to be gotten. Honour went on to say that it was certainly difficult to see how the small coal caused by putting the coal into the trams, ln the transit to the pit's mouth, and by be breaking of the large pieces of coal, or Bhooting it on to the 'Billy Fairplay,' Was not part of the mineral contracted to gotten. Therefore the plaintiffs were entitled to be paid for the actual weight of oal gotten by them as ascertained by the checkweigher." .item him Honour takoa arery practical "lew of the matter. In fact, in almost the 8a.Ine words as were used by the workmen's Representatives when discussing with the e*nployers' representatives on the sliding- scale committee, the right of being paid for the small that was unavoidably made in hlliog of the coal into the trams, in the £ ansit of it to the weighing machine, and he breaking of the same in the tipping ereof on to the screens. The workmen's Representatives here, in consideration of the general understanding that the coal contracted to be gotten is meant to be clean and large coal, did not argue that they had any right to be paid for any small coal that Was wilfully or carelessly put in the tram the face of the workings. But having .ulfilled their contract in tilling or putting tnto the tram large coal, marketable as such, ^nly that the men were entitled to be paid Small made from there till it went to Billy's'' belly at a trifling less rate than was Pftid for" large coal." THE COALMASTERS' HOPE. In this view, that the coal gotten and the coal contracted to be gotten is one and the aae, his Honour is already upheld by a J^ajority of the justices and chief justices in he higher courts, though it must not be forgotten that there are a minority who do not agree with him. And I have gleanerl hat it is on the fact that all the judges in he superior courts are not of the same opinion, and that they alleged that the opinion, and that they alleged that the j^ercarn case is not exactly on fours with the English and Scotch that have already been before the *JpU3e of Lords, the employers of the dis* ^lct have based their hopes of having Judge wen's decision over-ruled. That being so, will be very interesting, while awaiting the result of the present appeal, to know hat has been said and decided in the few Cases that have already been heard on ap- Peal; and, further, it will be very en- couraging to learn that the Lords of the 'ghest Court of Appeal in the kingdom 'ave, both in the English and Scotch cases, decided in the same way. FURTHER CONSIDERATIONS. However, before quoting from the higher Courts, I must be allowed to quote some- hing more from his Honour Judge Owen. A-he learned Judge further says :—" The- Proviso to section 12 provided three modes 111 which any deductions which had been ftgreed to could be made." (a) By such special mode as might be Agreed upon. (b) By some person appointed in that ehalf by the employers (c) By a checkweigher and a person ap- pointed by the owners. (c) By a checkweigher and a person ap- pointed by the owners. h The powers to determine the deductions y a special mode was a new proviso but v never alleged nor proved that any Xpress agreement was entered into between o e defendants and their workmen that "ere should be any deductions, or that the here should be any deductions, or that the eductions should be determined by Billy ^rPlay." y | Much of this was taken for granted by the Parties involved, and I must say that the Parties involved, and I must say that the e "d 'idence given by some of the Monmouth- t lfe employers themselves tended strongly 0 strengthen the men's case. The judge Moes on to say, Billy Fairplay was, how- t.Ver, in operation at both collieries for some, li*6 ^e^ore the (new) act came into opera- »0I1> but no agreement within the meaning th th act was be implied from the fact Irs at It w¡¡S sound, Besides, the provision j ^nat such deductions should be deter- by agreement but those deductions s those mentioned in the first part of the toot 1n 38 bein £ a character that could ection as being of a character that could « tj. e determined by such a machine as lly Fairplay.' d Wlth reganl to the second mode of terrnining the deductions, it was thar Honour's mind that ch* conditions with regard to the eckweigher at the pit's mouth had nbt tied" °°mPlied with, because the act said the auctions were to be determined "by a (iejSan,aPP°inted in that behalf," whereas tlie its«uCtlons were ascertained by the machine*- ^uty of the Billy-boy being to » plate y weights as *bown on the dial tiof'e mode of determining the deduc- deflS raS clearly riot made use of at the pits, and were decided to be IStRM ln ^he decided case of Bourne v. the ,V;Un'.land Colliery. Honour t-lierefore held that eren if the deductions for small were legal, they were not determined by either modes pro- vided by Section 12.D BILLY IN ANY CASE ILLEGAL. Hence the workmen's case as it comes from under his Honour's hands is double- stinged. Not only does he confirm some opinions that have gone before that deduc- tion for small coal is illegal, but could not by any chance be made legal. He not only condemns Billy's work as being illegal, but condemns "Biliy" himself in doing such work. "Clywch, clywch." WHAT CAN BE DONE ? The importance of this decision, if up- held by the superior court, as doubtless it will be, for the Monmouthshire and South Wales coal field, where deductions for small is so general and the Billy in use so universal, can scarcely yet be comprehended. Evidently the deductions as at present made are illegal, and it will be found that any contracting out of special mode of deduct- ing named in the act will be illegal also. Hence comes the difficulty of finding another mode that will be both effective as for making the coal saleable and at the same time facilitate the dealing or handling of the same at the top of onr pits in these days of enormous productions. Still, nothing is im- possible.

WELSH NOTES. 4/111 EDUCATING THE TEACHERS. WALES is a nation ot song, and consequently it is somewhat strange to discover that the students at the Carnarvon Training College, as a rule, are not endowed with musical gifts. On the other hand, Sir John Stainer, the examiner, speaks very highly of the musical calibre of the Bangor students, praises Carmarthen, and says of the Swansea students-Ie I never heard better voices than those I heard in this college. Amongst both seniors and juniors there were many so sonorous and rich that the effect pro- duced in a good selection of part songa was quite charming." SAVINGS BANK BILL. IT is rather late in the day to bring in a bill to amend the law relating to Savings Banks, but perhaps it is better late than never. The principle clauses of the measure relate to the establishment of a committee of inspection which may appoint persons to inspect the books and accounts, and examine and ascertain and report to the committee with respect to each bank, whether the bank has complied with the requirements of the Acts and rules relating to the bank as to the accounts of the bank and the conduot of its busi- ness, and whether any portion of the ex- penditure is unnecessary. If on the report it appears that any bank has made default, or that any portion of the expenditure of the bank is unnecessary,the Committee may call upon the bank to remedy the default, or, as the case may be, to re- duce the expenditure within a specified time, and if the default is not remedied or the expenditure is not reduced within that time, the committee shall report the matter to the National Debt Commissioners. Thereupon the National Debt Commis- sioners may in their discretion close the account of the trustees of the bank. Whether this committee of inspection or the persn they appoint will be more detective than auditors have been in the past re- mains to be seen, but it has been proved over and over again that a skilful rogue who has the manipulation can for a long period defy almost the closest scrutiny. IS IT A TRAVELLER'S TALE ? IN Mr Stanley's book mention is made, upon the authority of Emin Pasha, of an extraordinary race of chimpanzees, and the statement is rendered in his own words :— "The forest of Msonga is infested with a large tribe of chimpanzees. In summer time, at night, they frequently visit the plantations at Mwsa station to steal the fruit. But what is remarkable about this is that they have torches to light the way Had I not witnessed this extraor- dinary spectacle personally, I should never have credited that any of the Simians under- stood the art of making fire." The savants in England are disposed to doubt this story. Professor Q. J. Romanes has taken the trouble to express in print his unbelief. He remarks :—" But as Kmin himself allows that he would never have credited the fact alleged had he not witnessed it personally, we may, perhaps, without discourtesy, re- fuse to accept so bald a statement of this extraordinary spectacle. J Of what were the torches constructed ? How do these Simians practise 4 the art of making fire V Having once acquired the art, do they use it only for the purpose of making torches to light the way ?' Speaking for myself, and not without some knowledge of the intelli- gence of a chimpanzee, I confess that, until at least these details' are supplied, I do doubt the trustworthiness of fdnin's obser- vation,' and I shall be satisfied to suppose that, owing to a shortsightedness of which we have heard so much, the Pasha has mis- taken a band of native children for hia large tribe of chimpanzees.

A S1EAM LIFEBOAT. Tha first steam lifeboat has been built by Messrs Green, of Biackwall, and had a three hours' trial trip on Thursday on the Tho new craft is designed on a sirril,-ir plan to the ordinary boats of the lioyiil National Lifeboat Institution, and is built of steul, with 15 water- tight compartments. The boiler and edgiiie- rooms are brought up about three feet above the main deck, an-i are closed by iron covers to the stiau-bolee, air being supplied by forced draught. The passengers' space is a squara spac- abaft the engines, seated all round, aud will hold about iC persons. The mode of propulsion adopted is a turbine, taking in wat*r through the bottom of tha boat at it* apex, and discharging the water when it ha3 attained its maximum velocity through tubular orifices on each side. About a ton of water per second is discharged. The spead at which the vessel ran yesterday was over eight knots, and her hydraulic management, com- bined with steering power, is so rapid and etiicient that when the pilot's cap blew off into the river, she was immediately turned about, reverse.1, and m&coeavred, anri the cap hooke-i out of the water by a boat-hook 1\3 the vessel was brought t'l a standstill alongsido it, ttm euginc:, running at full ajrsed the whole ti m' From full speed ahead the vessel can be brought up in 32 seconds and way can be got on her again in four seconds. She carries a mast with some sail power forward, the mast being lowered when needful. The new life-boat has been named after the president of the institution, "The Dilic, f Northumberland," and will be stationed at Har- wich.

AN OPENING FOR A YOUNG MAN.

STRANGE. Newly Accepted Suitor: Well, Bobby, yon will have a new uncle soon. I am your Aunt Mary's choice for a husband. Bobby (surprised): Well; that's strange. 4 heard her tell mamma, only yesterday, that you wero Hobson's choice.

SAD AOOIDKNT.—Mrs O'goork Arra.worra, an' so poor little Teddy to be dead. Phat happened him ?" MM McQuirk Poor angel J It wor an accldlnt. You know the broth av a bye wud amnse bisself breakin' Chiaymin's windies, an' trowin' bricks at the ha/then ?" Mrs 0 Oocrk: "Y 18; blibs th' dear choild"a sowl." Mrs McGuirk "Well, this avenin' be t'rew a brick at a Chinymin,but he made a bit aD Olr¡ltblaad" bŸr t

IS ITS RETENTION DESIRABLE? By the-fiev d. A. denkins, B.A., Cardiff, II.—EDUCATIONAL AND INTELLEC- TUAL INT|JYT5. The educational aspect qfc this question has been brought notice by the Society for Utilizing the afrelsh Language. Many of the most cufured of living Welshmen, after careful study of the educa- tional effect upon the couniry of the reten- tion of the Welsh laugiSsge as a living speech, combined te form ^society for the utilization of the Welsh language in the acquirement of English, Their object was thus defined in the memorial presented by the, council to the Royal Commission on Elementary Educahon-" Nothing is farther from our intention or wishes, than to hinder the spread of a knowledge of English among the Welsh people, or to perpetuate the use of Welsh as their sole language. On the contrary, one of the express objects of this society is to secure the more thorough ac- quirement of English by the children in all parts of Wales." The Government has just conceded them their demands. It is clear to all that the English language must be taught to the Welsh, in order thut t'hey may enjoy their share of the educational advantages of the age. All the classical works of ancient Greece and Home and of foreign nations in all times are studied in our schools and colleges in the English language, and have been translated into that language. We find also in the English language all the scientific works of all times and nations. Its own literature is also one of the worthiest objects of England's pride. No man in the United Kingdom can be said to beducated, unless he is well acquainted with the English lan- guage. It is the language of all our schools, colleges, and universities. It would be unreasonable far anyone to attempt to main- tain that the Welsh people would be bene- fitted educationally by continued ignorance of the English language. A HELP TO LEARN ENGLISH. But the question is this—Is it necessary • that the retention of the Welsh language as a living speech should injure the Welsh people educationally ? I do not believe that it is necessary but to the contrary, it can be so used as to be of great educational service to the people. They can make use of their own language to acquire English— they can learn English through Welsh. Until a few years ago many Welsh people believed that the total exclusion of Welsh from the elementary schools would enable the children to acquire English the better and the more rapidly. This, however, has been proved by experience not to be the case. In the memorial presented to the Royal Commission already referred to, we read the following words:—"It would appear that the English' lessons in Welsh- speaking districts are of far less profit than has been complacently assumed, and that even then, as in many cases, they seem to be glibly learned, they are to a great extent acquired merely by note, in a parrot-like fashion, without real comprehension of thdr meaning. So that, in effect, the child who at the age of thirteen leaves school possessed, so far as the official tests can certify, of a very fair knowledge of "EKglish," is found a few years later to be unable to read a simple book, or to hold an ordinary conver- sation in that language." The opinion has prevailed n\1W for some time, that the Eng- lish language ought to be taught to the Welsh children through their mother tongue. In the years 1884 and 1885, the Society of Cymmrodorion instituted an inquiry on this subject, and found that this view largely prevailed among official inspectors, and members of school boards, and was also held by a large majority of elementary school teachers. Public meetings were held in various parts of the country, and in each meeting an expression of opinion to the above effect was given. Lord Aberdare gave expression to the opinions of the most thoughtful and the most experienced among the Welsh people in the words uttered by him in the National Eisteddvod held in 1885. My own belief is that the children who are systematically taught Welsh, would learn English aud other subjects fully as fast, if not faster, than if they were not taught Welsh. ADVANTAGES OF A BILINGUAL TRAINING. To carry these views into operation, the Society fer the Utilization ot the Welsh Language, was formed in Aberdare on the 27th August, 1885, The chief objects of the society were thus definecl-" To permit the reading and writing of the Welsh language to be taught side by side with that of English, and the childrens' parallel knowledge of the two languages to be utilized as a means of mental discipline." The advantages which they anticipated from the attainment of tlitse objects were thus enumerated. We believe that English will; be more generally, and more soundly acquired than at present. We hold that even in cases where English is not successfully acquired, or is subse- quently lost, the pupil will have gained something of value his school attend- ance, being at least, able to read and write in Welsh. We are 6f! opinion that the habitual practice, which the new system would involve, of comparing the words, idioms, and phrases of one language with those of another, will tend powerfully to awaken the intelligence of the children, and to place them in a favourable position for the acquisition of other subjects of learning. "We consider that the present practice is' not wholly free from the risk of damage to the morale of school children. It ia, we think, not an unfounded ap~rehenrion, that a certain loss of self-confidence and self- respect is often the result of sending children to schools where they find the language in which the associations of home and religion are bound up, treated with neglect and apparent contempt. This undesirable result, the proposed modifica- tions would offectually avert." The new code which is nGW in force as officially interpreted by Sir W. Hart- Dyke, vice-president of the Educa- tion Department, in a. letter to Sir J. Puleston, concedes, to all intents and purposes, the whole of the programme referred to above, which was put forward by the Welsh Utilization Society, in their memorial to the Royal Commission, Sir W. Hart-Dyke concluded his letter in these words-h I venture whole to plead that all legitimate demands of-those who are interested in Welsh education have been very fairly and completely mat." The elementary education of "ale at the present time can be bilingual according to the con- cessions of the Government. THE EDUCATIONAL THB LANGUAGE. Another important pQÍot must not be over- looked in this connection. The Welsh language, as a language, affords au educa- tional advantage to the mass of the people which the English language does not possess. The English language has st, to a great extent, the power of forming new words from roots, within itself to express scientific and abstract ideas, and almost all ita techni- cal and scientific terms are borrowed from the Greek. When thef>f £ inary Englishman comes across these technical terms such as "Geology" and "Astronomy," he passes them by without devoting any further attention to them, for they convey no mean- ing to him. The Welsh language, however, has retained its power..of ^forming scientific and abstract names own roots. "Geology" is "Daeareg and "Astro- nomy" is Leryddiaeth? The ordinary Welshman who is able to read his own language only, in ioeo^mS these terms, knows without making further inquiries that "Daeareg" or "Gcqjogy" has to do with daear or the earth, and that Leryddiaeth or "Astronomy has some connection with "Ler" or stars. His ,«fce$estj8 t ,on.ç _awn.e\1. and he seeks to know more concerning these and other sciences. There is another point which will shew that the retention of the Welsh language will enable the Welsh people the better to acquire English. A man, or a nation, can only know one language in reality, by having a knowledge of another language as well. The Englishman who only knows English, cannot appreciate its beauties and its force as well as the English- man who not only knows English, but is also acquainted with some other language. The ability to compare a foreign language with one's own language drives home the beauty and the force of both languages. From this we conclude that the Welshman who has learnt English through his own tongue, is better able to possess a true conception, and a firm grasp of the character, power, and beauty of the English language, than tho Englishman who has been confined to his own tongue. (To be continued.) I

How Stanley Wrote his Book. A Romance of the Press. One of the most interesting articles in this month s -.magazines is that which appears in "Scribner's Magazine" for August, from the pen of Mr Stanley's publisher, Mr Edward Marston.. The glimpses of the side-lights cf the great traveller's character are exquisite. Stanley had decided not to came on direct to England, where to write his great book in peace wo.uld have been almost impossible, and had resolved to stay in Cairo in comparative seclu- sion. Here, too, bo summoned bis publisher and friend, Mr Edward Marston, to meet him to discuss the forthcoming work. Mr Marston thus describes the progress of tbe work STANLEY'S WORKROOM IN CAIRC. It was in that part of the hotel farthest re moved from the street that Mr Stanley took up his abode. Here be had a fine suite of rooms ou the ground floor, very handsomely furnished in the Oriental style. A large, lofty reception-room and an equally large and handsome dining-room. In these he received some of the most important or most persistent of bis many callers; but as a rule be shut himself up in his bedroom, and there ho wrote from early morning till late at night, and woe betide anyone who ventured unasked into this sanctum. Ho very rarely went out, even I for a stroll round the garden. His whole heart Goalwere centred en bis work. He bad set h-imself a certain task, and he had determined to complete it to the exclusion of every other object incite. He said of himself, "I have so many panes to write. I knDW that if I do not complete thfu- work by a certain time, when other and imperative duties are imposed upon me, I shall never complete it at all. Whon my work is accomplished, then I will talk with you, laugh witU;you, and play with you, or ride with you to heart's content; but let me alone now, for heavs a's sake." 1 ':1 STANLKY AND AIITIHT EKLL. Mr; Joseph Bell (whom Mr Marston had taken out him, so as to benefit by personal inter- view vitb Stanley in preparing the illustrations) was an admirable sketcher, fertile iu suggestion, and quick at taking hints and notes, but soni"- how hoj always managed to irritate Stanley by what may be called his excessive verbosity, and the mischievous delight ha always took in eudea- vouriug^to land Stanley ou the horns of some dilemma. For example, he got him ta describe the metfyod of getting a donkey across a deep river. Stanley explained to him how the porter led the donkey into the stream, holding the bridle and keeping the donkey's head (which was aloM visible) out of tbe water, with oue band, a¡:1d swimming vigorously with the other hand. hY ee," said Bell; "did the porter cwry a rfta V "Of course," said Stanley. "Yet, ays Boll, "and in which hand did he carry tho ifle, seeing that one band is already engaged in guidiug helping the donkey, and the other in swimming for dear life S" This was the sort of fun whiebtSfanloy did not; appreciate. A WELSH SCHOOL-GIKLS LKTTBB. Stanle;rwa5 of course deluged with letters from all sorts aaid conditions of men. "Here," says Mr Maruton, "is a charmiog little letter from a small schoolgirl in Wales :— "Dear^Mr Stanley,—I have beau very much interesteaUn hearing about your travels in Africa, and should very much like to read your book, as I am sure it would be very interesting. I would much rather read about a geographical hero than an historic&vlone. It was very kind of you to go through such perils to rescue JEmin Pasha. I liked so mush to bear of your fighting against the dwarfs, and should liko to see one very much they must look so funny, being so small. I am a little schoolgirl at ————— School, and I am eleven years, old. I am veiy fond of goography, aud am always longing: to go found the world.—I remain, YOUl: little friend, G. E." STRANGE KKQOEST3. All of Stanley's correspondents wore not so unselfish as -ibis little Welsh correponde nt. An enthusiastic; bailing frem Atqerica asks for Mr Stanley's old ,cap :— "Right glad am I that you are once more iu a civilized country, I have carefully watched your proceed.sogs from tho time you discovered Livingstone. Y.t are a brick I Now, if you are inclined to sefl the cap you were through Africa, I am prepared-to gi va yon a fancy price for it. to add'to my collection of curiosities it shall be preserved in n glass case with your name on same." A firm of tobacconists make the following cool request Will you/kindly accord us your gracious per- mission to append your noble name, nnd your photograph (might we for your autograph ?) to a first-class quality of cigar and cigarette, made by ourselves from- the best audnaest to- bacco ? etc." _,v A photographer wriies: SIr: Pray excuse the libsrly taketr by a stranger ini approaching you at a tinae when your bands and mind mus-t be so full, but since to satisfy the'domands of an admiring public some oue must claim the proud position of performing tbe..ta8k I covet, that of executing a portrait," etc. A poetical soldier in Carro says:— I humbly beg you will kindly accept the en- closed few^aimple lines from a soldier. I am llo poet, but jb.ave expressed myself as well as pos- sible," etc. Mr S. repined kindly to this, and has made the. Cairo soldier very proud. The following letter is from an old acquaintance of the Pocock days :— "Dear Sirr-Please to excuse me for the liberty I have taken in writing ro you, but in knowing you, an' taking a very great interest in you treavels, I congrelatue you on you safe return, hoping you may long live to Injoy you ealth and hapness for your labours. 1 have always taken great, enterest in your travels ever since we meet at Zanzibar. I ham the man that don your boac when tbe Pocock Brothers was with you, and I should like a few lines from you, as I should like them put in our papers here," etc. STANLKY'S rAITH. Mr Stanley's mind is iiubued with a reverential belief in an over-ruling Providence is constantly exhibited in bis conversation. "I am not," said he, "what is caljedvsuper- stitious. I/believe in God,, the Creator of tbe U oi verse. Many forms of belief and curious ideas-respeefciug the great mystery of our being and'creationsbave b«ea,euggested to me daring my life and ^ts wanderings, but rafter weigh- ing each, rand attempting ts understand what must bo unsearchable, my greatest comfort has been in peacefully resting firm in the faitMof my sires. For alltheuman. glory that eucrounds the memory of Darwin and his wise. compeers throughout advanced Europe, I would^oot abate ,a, jut or tittle.of,my belief in the SupremetGod and that Divine Man.called HtsSon." ) SECURING THB TREASCB1. The'book being written in Egypt, and aavtng to*be printed in; England,iiow could the tisk of beimetrf This waa a question1 which Mr Marston set himself-abouttto. 6Qive. l £ aowfinjj," be ways, that. J' abcwld haveito convey with mec» manuecriptof very.p.&fuo. whicb. if lost in transit, would'not merely be losa. to myself*.but to a world of readers ,auxlousI, waiting for-:it»> I'determined to have a aecond copy made of-the whole. One copy I determined to carry with me» and the other to send forward registered to London in a separate-trunk. To accomplish this, I obtained and set up a copying |>resB in tbe secretary's room, but as much of Stanley's manuscript before I 'reachetwumrhad not-been- written in copying ink, that portion I copied out myself, and for the remainder I worked away several hours at the copyiDgjpress, antbobtaioecHn this way about 400 folios. Ibade. adieo:;to Mr Stanley on the 3rd of March, with my>r*>rtmanteau stuffed with manuscripts, glass negatives,-and.maps. I reached London on the 11th, and on*the 14th I was enabled, by the activity et:the printers to despatch to him first of the first volum»."

Amending the New Code. IMPORTANT ALTERATIONS. One of tbe defects ofrour educationaladminia- tration is that no sooner is one code passed than the officials of the Education Department supple- ment it with some rules of their own which very materially modify the original documeat. Oue such minute has jast been added to the laws and regulations, and the Times of Tuesday, referring to it, makes the following remarks;— An important minute baa/Just received. the sanction of Parliament modifying certain provi- sions of the now code of 1899; and as those modifications, together with the. code itself, will everywhere be in operation in September, it is desirable that they should be known and clearly understood during the little breathing space that still iutervenes. It may be premised generally that the alterations to be explained below are the outcome of friendly criticisms both within and without Parliament; and most of them, at one time or another, have been "distinctly promised by the parliamentary beads of the Education Dspartment in their place in Parliament. UNCERTIFICATED AND UNTRAINED TEACHKES. "The Code,in its attempt to secure eiffciency in the staff of assistant toachers, plainly intimated that only persons who had passad the Queen's Scholarship examination would be recognised as uncertificated assistants. But there are over 20,000 uncertificated assistants at the present moment at work in elementary schools, a large propor- tion of them never having passed the Queen's Scholarship examination. The new regulation, therefore, if interpreted retrospectively, would have sent many thousands of these very useful officers adrift or havo compelled them to qualify themselves afresh by special examination. Tbe minute now under review makes it perfectly plain that whilst no new assistant will be officially recognised as such until he has p*8?ed the requisite examination, all persona qualified under previous codes to fill the office will still have their present qualification allowed wherever they may go to exercise the duties of their calling. Again, there are over teachers who have never had the privilege of a regular course of training in a recognised training college, and who felt themselves aggrieved be- cause the code drew a somewhat invidious dis- tinction between them and their more favoured fellow-teachers who had spent one or two years 18 a training collegoe. For not only did the code, in onumerating the various descriptions of teachers, divide off "certificated teachers" into the two widely-separated classes of trained and to uutrained," but in the case of an untrained certificated teacher who had not yet reached the rank of head teacher, his staff "value" was set at a lewer figure than that of the trained certificated teacher, the latter count ing for 70 children and the former for no more than 60, The amended articles dealing with this matter now not only remove the complained-of invidious distinction, but they also clearly state that, in the case of every teacher already cer- tificated—uutrained as well as trained—his or her stoS value is to be reckoned at 70 children. This,"too, will be true of all trainod teachers who in the future may become certificated but any person not trained in a training college, who, January 1, 1891," shall be certificated will count only for ail attendance of 60 children. EXTRA GRANTS TO SBLL SCHOOLS. A still more important change is made in the article affecting the new £10 special grant to schools in populations below 500 people. Parlia- ment has now placed this new grant entirely beyond the influence of the 17 e4 limit; it is satisfactory, therefore, to find that tha words not exceeding £10" are, in the minute, to be replaoed with the very definite expression "a special grant to the amount cf It is thus absolutely clear that the managers ot a school fulfilling the conditions attached to the new grant will receive the whole £10, and may make their plans accord- ingly. But the article in question, by an evident oversight, ignored the circumstances under which many of the small schools concerned are, with the sanction of continued Code" regulations, carry- ing on their wOlk. To meet the case of schools of not more than 60 in average attendance, the Education Codes of the last 15 or 20 years have provided that certain of tbe best of tbe ex-pupil teachers may serve in them as head teachers under the title of "provisionally certificated teachers." Nearly 2bO such smali schools were last year taught liy this class of teacher; and articles E2 and 32 (a) of the present Code con- tinue to sanction the somewhat exceptional arrangement. The new form of the article in question makes it quite plain that as leng as | the average attendance in a school is not above 60, the head teacher may still be a "provisionally certificated teacher;" al- though, as principal teacher in a school accept- ing the new grant, such teacher can only count as riiifficient stpff for 49 children. Another very useful change in this article will enable managers to meet part of the staff requirements in these small schools by continuing the employment in them of the woman over 18," or the "additional female teacher," according to tho phraseology of the new Code. And it may be added that article 107, which now replaces the notorious 114th article of the old Code, categorically excludes the new special grant as well as the old special grant from the operation of the 17s 61 limit. Managers, therefore, have but to comply with the conditions pffectiug staff and school fees to make sure that where the population is between 300 and 500 they will receive £10 as special grant; where it is between 200 and 300, £29; and where it is balow 200, INCREASED FUKKDOM OF OLASSIFIOATION. Another very sensible set uf changes brought about by the new minute has to do with the scholars. The language of article 101 (a) (v.), whilst seeming to concede freedom of classifica- tion did in effect somewhat limit the concession it made. It stated that "as a rule" children1 would be examined in the classes in which they had been taught. But the words ci as a rule n gave power to the Inspector to examine some children otherwise than in tbe.olasses-in which they had been taught, and it was contended that so long as such a door of exception was left ojar freedom of classification might after all prove to be but a delusion and a snare. The minute boldiy strikes out the offending words; and now the inspector has no option but to take children in the classes in which they have been accustomed to have their lessons during the previous school year. In Che interest of weak, dull children, who need to he favoured a little in their wcrk, this change will prove to be a highly beneficial one. Another chauge is made in the interest of the brighter children. Some of these, as it is well known, find it easy to past the seventh standard in their thirteenth and even in their twelfth year. It is now provided that as long as a child is under 14 years of age, no matter how successful its career may bave been, it can still have its attendances counted like the other scholars; whereas if a child has failed to pass Standard VII., then its having arrived at tbe age of 14 will not disqualify it from continuing to earn grants for its school. DAY TRAININC COLLEGES. A further set of changes contained in tbe new Minute concerns the newly-created educational machinery of day training colleges. These colleges were the subject of a circular issued from the department on May 27th last. Under this circular it was provided, among other things, that whilst the students of day training colleges might reside in their own homes, or in approved lodgings, or in some sort of oollegiate building, they must devote their whole time t" study and to uormat-training. Duly qualified officers would have to instruot the students in their professional work. Other lectures on other rtudies must be provided for them, and their attendance at such lectures, under an approved time-table, would bave to be formally ^registered. The course of study, wbifat making obligatory sDch studies as reading, recitation, teaching, school management, and (for wemen) needlework and domestic economy, leaves a-good deal of freedom to the traininr college authorities, bat the programme adopted and tbe beoks selected for study must be eabmittod for the approval of the Department at the beginning of the academical year. The, examinations to be-passed will be those conducted by the University or college te which the training institution is attached, but the pnperB worked by the candidates will be reviewed at the Depart- ment for tbe purpose of adjusting the standard of marks adopted te the standard used in the classi- ficatioDofotber students at tho ond-of the year. Othendetails are set faw abow- ing how the case of day stqdtwts in residential colleges would be met. But th" most important point dealt with m be new Minute is that which concerns the beginning and end of the academical year. The academical year is to begin in Sep- tember or October and to end in Jane or Joly; and inasmuch as .in the residential .training wlleg^tha' s" adapted r coivwkiwlwith tfca civil year, it is evident that the times of the pay- ment of maintenance grants in the one kind of training; college cannot without hardship ba made to be the same as in the other kind of institution. To put this matter right the Minute specifies a particular set of dates for these payments suitable to the special academical year of the day training colleges, which therefore will spring into existence thisautumn unhampered with any conditions likely to hinder their rapid and successful development. One difficulty alone will seriously try their patience. Most of their expected students will, of course, be the Queen's scholars, whose names will appear in the lists of persons passing the examination which was held at a great many different centres on July 9 last and following days. But this list seldom appears till the autumn is somewhat advanced, and as the young people in question ought to be at their work in the day training colleges of their selection in September, or at the latest in October, they will prebably have to enter upon their studie. noine time before it is known for certain that they have been accepted as Qusen's scholars. PUBLISHING THK SCHOOL ACCOCXTS. "A last matter concerns school manager?. They are required by this year's Code immediately <ai the receipt of the annual report of the school's examisation to publish both the report and the school balance-sheet. A copy of the latter is to be posted on the school door or elsewhere, and to remain there 14 days a notica being posted with it telling all concerned at what hours the school report may be inspected at the school. The now Minute dispenses with the requirement that the school report shall be open to public inspection at the school itself provided that it is deposited for tbatpurpose *at any other convenient place.'

THE EISTEDDVOD AND OUR NATIONAL EMBLEMS. [NY CAEELUDDLANC. J The accounts given of the Gorscdd celebrations at Swansea must have been excaediugly interesting to a large number of readers. The meetings to which those accounts refer naturally remind us of the eisteddvod that is so near at band, and recalls the great national gatherings of last year at-Brecon. It also affords one a fitting oppor- tunity (were one disposed to embrace it) to criticise the latter and make suggestions as to the former. Although unable to attend all the meetings connected with the Brecon Eisteddvod, I read most of the speeches thereof that were recorded in the papers. Of none of those speeches am I going to find fault—indeed, the love of the major portion of them must have commended itself to the sympathy of the great bulk of the people who were privileged to hear them. Of one thing oniy will I adversely com- ment-the conspicuous absence trom last year's eisteddvodic public decorations of the emblems of our nationality. During the two days of my sojourn in Brecon, at that time I walked the length and breadth of the town, noticed the pro- lific quantity of fags and bunting which were here and there and aimost everywere displayed, pre- sumably in honour of the great Welsh national festival, and yet, strange to say, with two or three solitary exceptions, they contained nothing suggestive of Cymric nationality I can assure you, sir, it was a painful surprise to me and it almost seemed to uie as if somebody had success- fully managed to play off a hugf) joke at the expense of Welsh national sentiment. Of course, no such joke had been intended. What, then, was the reason .for this uon Cambrian manifestation ? I discovered at length that the local authorities, whose work it was to see to the decorating of the town in honour of the tvent gave the contrast to au Englishman whose subsequent purchases for the purpose evinced on his part pitiful ignorance of what, under the circumstances, was really required. I am not blaming that Englishman, but I must say that there was evident mismanagement some- where. But the absence of Welsh national em- blems and colours in the streets did not end time; it was almost as matked in the pavilion its-if- the very focus, for the time being, of Welsh thought and feeling This blunder, whether resulti'ug from ignorance of, or indifference to, certain matters associated with Welsh nationality, or whatever may have been the cause of it, could not have failed to attract the attention of all patriotic Welshmen within the bnilding and the gentle protest of Lord Tredegar called forth many a Clywch, clywch" ("bear, hear") from the assembled crowd when he remarked that he thoroughly expected to have found a Welsh banner placed in tiro eisteddvod buHding that morning bearing on it the Ddraig Goch," instead of the Union Jack. I trust his lordship's mild rebuke will bear practical results, and that at all future N-xtional eisteddvodau Ea Dragon banners and HUgs of white and green will ba in abundant evidence both within the pavilion and alocg the public thoroughfares. But how are we to insure anything like order and uniformity in a matter of this kind ? It has occurred to my mind, sir, that this might be effected by the establishing of a committee con- nected with the National eisteddvod,and entitled, say, The Natioual Eisteddfod Decoration Com- mittee," whose duty it would be to provide suitable decorations for the eisteddvod building, and, in order to an appropriate adornment of the streets, te iut themselves in timely communication with the local authorities of the town or city about to be visited by the eisteddvod. Might not the Cymmrodorion section of the eisteddvod take up this matterIt has done capital work already—it has largely helped to keep up the ancient institution, to mak", it more popular, and to enlarge its sphere of influence and it has been the means of giving ritio to a number of organisations associated with the eisteddvod, all of which bave, in spite of much opposition, gained signal triumphs for the cause of welfh nationality. Might not that society— the Cymmrodorion Society—whose resources are so vast, either establish a committee of the above nature, or at least devise some definite means for symbolizing, in tent and street, ou these special occasions, our distinct nationality, and thus render well-nigh impossible tor the future the un- satisfactory and, too often, unpatriotic system of garnishing that obtains at present

A TRAGEDY IN THE DESERT. That part of the sandy and sultry Sahara, near Biskra, has been the scene of a tragedy which was caused by the want of water. Some days ago a young soldier, named Frossard, was sent from a topographical station in Algeria to Biskra for victuals. He was accompanied by a mounted Spabi, and had two mules. By a strange inad- vertence, the little caravan rau short of water after it had been out in the desert for a short time. Frossard accordingly directed the Spabi to leave his horse and to take the mules with him to the uearest oasis for a supply of the necessary fluid. The Spahi journeyed on through the stjbrchiug sands fsr a night before he came to the Oatis of Gartha, but when setura- ing to where be left Frossard he lost his bearings, and had to go back to the Oasis. There a small expeditioii-whe fittedout by the local Sheik, and after a long search the dead body of the young seldier was found half-devoured by by«nas and jackals. The carcase of the Spain's horse was aiso discovered not far away. It appears that the soldier had killed the horse with his sword and then drank it3 blood. He had likewise cut out the animal's lungs and put them aside, but before be could use tbem as food he was either surprised by the beasts of the desert, or succumbed to the intense heat coupled with a raturn of thirst. -+-

THE VENGEANCE OF HAM. j Barber How will you nave it cut ? I Mr Do J ones: Quietly, sab

It is often more necessary to conceal contempt thiyj resentment, the former being never forgiven but the latter being sometimes forgot. First Nimrod Did you see the feathers fly when I Cred ?—Second Nimrod (sarcastically): Yes, saw the feathers flyfpff on the bjçj.

— n Samuel's Sentiments -4"' Samuel on Holidays and Hoi id ay. Makers. Where are you going for y,,iir hojjday, "Don't know haven't quite decided yat." This question and answer are, at this period of the year, heard almost every day, for it ;s at this time that people generally begin to wish for a changa and feel a desire fer fresh fields Hnd pastures new. They want to get away from the huudrum or exciting life they bave led since their last holiday, and to leave behind them their cares and their busiuess for such Ieugth of time as circumstances permit. They have come to tho end of their working tether, and want to enjoy the delicious luxury of perfect idleness. There are many people who have no idea of th-e rt»»! delights to be obtained from a state of delcc far niente. I once heard the head-master of a weU-kuowu grammar school say, iu reply to a question as to his idea of a perfect holiday, ihat he liked nothing better than to lie on his back and bask in the sunshine." And those who have in the summer- time tried the experiment will endorse bis opinion. To lie at ease and dream away the hours in an absolute state of laziness is far more of a holday than the regulation trips so popular with the masses, who, for the most part, knew nothing of the Elysmm of a summer madness," which (CLERICAL HOLIDAY MAKKR. resolves itself into weaving fancies in the sunlight, and stacking the pipe of peace, in an old and unweeded coun- try garden, when tho sweet glow throws it* rainbow tints ou the surrounding land- scape and glints on the spire of some old church whosti very appearance aud sur- roundings are redo- lent of peace and cuiet. There is a delightful drowsiness about the very atmo- sphere, the birds seem to rest mora frequently than else- where, and the bolls pealing over the lea as the cattle plod their homeward way seem laoeo with buggestions of perpetual relit. But whatever drtference of opinion may exist as to the best WHY to spend a holiday, there are few who do not share the belief that, to misquote the u<>et, There's nothing half so sweet iu life As a fortnight's rest. Let us take a brief survey of the manners and customs of the general run of humanity when it is out for its annual holiday. To befcin at the be- ginning of the alphabet, we find that the most caricatured and sneered at holiday makers are those residents of the great city popularly known as 'Arry and Arriet," who are generally sup- posed to revel in the delights of Appy Aro- steaJ or to find tbe perfection of enjoyment in a week at Margate. Whether they obtain rest from their stay at Margate or invigoration from Appy Amysteaa may be doubted, but that they obtain a certain kind of rough enjoyment is indis- putable. As beauty is sup- posed to be dependent on the eyes ot the beholder, so enjoyment is dependent on the constitution of the in- dividual. What is enjoy- meut to 'Arry would be purgatory t,) the scholar. Young people, whilst draw- ing the line at the boisterous enjoyment of 'Arry and 'Arriet,generally like to make their holidays as lively as they can, and sea-side resorts are their favourite hunting grounds. You find them in abundance at Bridlington, Blackpool, and tile Isle of Man. They go in for what; they call fun, and do as FKDMTRtAMSKR. much real hard work in a d;.y as they do in a week at home. After the day's enjoyment U over they repair to the va-rious boarding-houses and continue the fuu inside, with tho result that they retire to rest tired out. I have kuown eoeci- mens of tlm type of holiday-mr.V~ \I." to a favourite haunt for a fortnight, anri then com* in such a state as to necensitftta n tnrea weeks' recuperating trip to some loss lively district. Yet were you to insinuate that they did not know how to enjoy a holiday they would laugh at. you. If it be true that change is rest they ought to be thoroughly rested, for they not only get change of scene but they entirely alter-for a fortnight— their lives and habits. Aristocratic people choose their holiday haunts according to the caprice of fashion, one year perhaps going to Aberystwyth an; the next, to Llandudno or Ilfracombe, but wherever they pitch their tents their modus operandi is much the same. They are seldom to be seen at any resort that has not a saloon and a band, for it is upon this regulation promenade that they desport them- selves morning and evening. It is the saloon parade that enables the daughters of society aud their maternal relatives to show off their holiday frocks, bats, and sunshades to the delight o< themselves and the envy of their less fortunate staters. This process i.i carried on morning and evening, the afternoon being generally devoted to sleeping or-very occasionally—driving. Society has an objection to turning out in the afterntJou when away for its holiday. Sleep is necessary loh the preset vation of the, good looks of the ladiee -knocked up by a London season, and the male representatives find it "too much fag" to turn out. Thus they go the rounds day aftei day, and pull themselvee together for tht remainder of the y-n-, for holiday-making the TAKKS HIS HOLIDAYS ON WHUKLS. "ociety is ai often as not a pro- cess of repairing damaged consti- tutions. Those demznis ot the world where thi trtme de la crime reside who K abroud when their friends stay al home are iisually sup- posed to do mote from mo- tives of economy tbau choice. A holiday to them is a neoessi from other points of view than those of health and rest. Paterfamilias with a middle-class position and a sprinkling of olive branches usually hies him with his belongings to some quiet inexpensive seaside place where his youngsters can inhale an unlimited quantity of oi-inn, and Wh6 he can sit on the rocks and smoke while his lieti er-lialt does needlework or revoia in the contents of a railway novel. Theeeg-od people/are not, as a rule, folks of many ideas, and they get more retv. value out of their annual vacation than tkit racketing youngster or the Socipty swells. Some sprinkling there has bueu uf late from ar, the alp,.ve types who have gone in fnr » big tush to the Norwegian fjiords, which they explore at the most rapid rate possible. They come back with marvellous stories ot their experiences, and impress upon all their friends and acquaintances the vital importance f their starting for NVrway at the earliest possible moment. If you want hurrying out of your life, take, their advice; if you want a rest, do not. There are no people who 9 and enjt)v a holiday so thor- oughly as the tired brain-workers. They know the value of rebt to an extent uu- dreamed of by the ordinary o 1 i d a y- makers. They ao not go off on frisky ex. cursions, nor do they WI to tle latest fash- ionable resort of society. No, they P,'o to seme quiet spot far from the madding .;crowd, and tb..re amid .pleasant and peaceful -surroundings they re- vive their worn-out energies. To them the country in its summer garments is a perfect paradise—the flowers have a sweeter odour than elsewhere, and the atmosphere seems filled with a ■senseof repose. They return to their labours (end there is no such f tirinR labour as brain- work) like giants re- HOLIOAY TENNIS. freshed prepared to do their utmost to enlighten ur assist their fellowp. Now for a parting word to the holiday-makers generally. If you want to get some mtsed of value from your holidays do nofc select a spot where the genus racketer i« to be found. His presence mars tbs prettiest of scenery, and bis modus operandi is opposed to the rational method of taking a rest. If you are thoroughly tired out take my advice and select some quiet country village where tbe world you live in is a thing of hearsay only. Nature unadulterated is the best remedy for Clver. '»workmand the versifier who said- « To-the fields for nature presses On toiling foreheads a balmy klIS. There e nothing so sweat as her wild caresses, No love more tn.H to the lips than this." Knew the flu(\ Df the-rest and know wbere to fmd it. iSAMUSL, iiu SjSNiTMWTfS.