The Cardiff Times

FOR TRRE. What shall I ask for thee, wish for thee, sweet, Skies that are peaceful and calm ? Seas that are stormless and winds that aref soft As the low breath of a psalm ? No. as I love thee I ask not that life Be from nil bitterness free Something of sunshine and somethiog of strife, Dear one, is better for thee. Yet would I ask for thee, ont of my love, More of its sunshine than storm i with just enough of life's shadow and strife To keep thy heart tender and warm Grace to look upward in gladness or gloom, Hope, 'mid the direst defeat, Patience in trial, enduraace in pain,— These would I ask for thee, sweet. These, and yet more would I ask for thee, sweet, Faith to be patient and strong, Meekness to bear all thy crosses and care, Courage to battle with wrong; May the kind angels that watch o'er the good Guide thy dear feet as they roam. And in the land which is better than this, Give thee forever a home. It-must be a matter of regret to the nan who likes to hear himself talk to be told that h<t hae bee» taUciwrfa hv »lw»* }

FACTS FOR FARMERS. -4- BY A PRACTICAL AGRICULTURIST. THE FARMERS' HOLIDAYS. An agricultural paper says now is the time for a run round the country to see what other people ate after. The fields carry'the result of good and bad management. Having ourselves profited by visiting virioua districts in times past, we can recommend efrtmiogr toar a«$o eye-opener and brain expander. This, we thick, is Judicious advice, but the pity is that the general run of Welsh farmers have but little time for such holidays. If the farmer's wife can manage to take one or two, as may be, e! the ailing children for a week t^ the seaaide, well and good. Saehiis sum and substance of the ordinary Welsh farmwife's holidays. As to- the farmer himself, there are hundreds that have not taken a week's holiday in the course of the last Z9 years. In this matter two notable characteristics of the Wolsh farmer show themselves-unselfish- ness and tbriftiness. The former is illustrated by his unceasing labour year after year, without any relaxation, that be may meet every demand the latter, even when that is done, when his income exceeds his expenditure, this little is laid by to meet some extraordinary demand in some futnre time, such as starting the children in some busi- ness of their own, &c. WORTR TRTINO. Yet a week spent every year touring through the country would not be time lost, ueither would it be unprofitable. Different counties and locali- ties differ more or less in their modes of farming, as communication from one place to another is easy, expeditious, and cheap. Thus, for instance, a Glamorganshire farmer could, for a sovereign or leas, in train fare, take a journey to Pembrokeshire, up through the beautiful Vale of Towy in Carmar- thenshire, forward to Builtlr, and back through the heart of Breconshiro. A day spent here and there on the route would be both inter- esting'and instructive. Much might be learnt that would be useful for the future. Such a tourist would be welcomed to examine the stock and go over the farm of almost any farmer he cared to call upon, and most of them would also be willing to impart any information required. A chat on farming matters would mutually benefit both, and such a tourist would, by keeping his ears and eyes open, gain a few wrinkles in a week's time that would be useful in the future. ANOTHER CONSIDERATION. There is another aspect of the question besides the store of information gained, that of relaxation of the mind and body. When we or our labourers use the scythe in mowing, we believe, and in fact we perfectly understand, that it is impossible to perform that work efficiently without having that implement sharpened at intervals. There is no doubt that something similar is applicable to tfie human body,and that after a little relaxation work can be taken up with more energy and spirit^i&d that a man who has a little relaxation now imd then will do more woric than he who plod&t ou continually without any. Beer in Harvest, Tbe Agricultural Gazette discusses this fcopift. This eld practice is fast dying out, and is more honoured in the breach than in the observance. A correspondent from Shropshire asks what equi- valent ehould he offer for a customary two quarts a day of beer, extra beer on bay carting day?, and extra beer as well as food during harvest ? Let any man in middle life think for a moment what he would feel like, look like, and be like, if he drank two quarts of beer daiiy with extra beer in hay and corn harvest. The quantity is prepos- terously large, and it is only habit that can make the machine stand it. The difficulty is to persuade the pobc victims of this vicious system to accept money instead of beer, but an effort should be made in Shropshire and elsewhere where this custom prevails, to be done with it. The amounts which men will drink are truly marvellous. We have heard of 19, 20, and 21 quarts per day, and the record was reached in an alleged case in which a brewer's! drayman was stated to have drunk the whole of a nine-gallon cask in one day. If any of our readers can beat this record we shall be obliged for the information. A little beer in the harvest- field is not to be despised, but our own feeling is that the muscular power and the zest for work is diminished by even a small quantity. The difficulty is to had a substitute. Tea is not equally good except as a change, and water is a poor creature for a bard-working forking. Per- haps small beer or ciderkin are the best; weak beer has much to recommend it if it is sound. Depend upon it, the pitcher requires something better than water in the harvest field. OTHER views. These are the views of the Agricultural Gazette. Welsh farmers who advocate teonperancn principles would say that oatmeal water is a better thirst quencher than any of the specifics named above, We quite agree that water is not the requisite beverage for labourers working during harvest time with the heat that usually prevails during that period of the year; men exerting themselves in the broiling sun get heated and thirsty, and thoughtlessly drink too much at a time to allay this thirst. If water be the beverage drunk it will no doubt affect them before the day's work be finished. We have found it to be always the case. tSoma believe that bard work cannot be done without the help af beer, and with these any sort is passable so long as it is called beer. In many cases a. cask or two of this beer must be had before it would be possible to get the harvest finished, the men asserting that it -gives strength as well as allaying the^thirst. AN ILLUSTRATION. Some years ago we were ourselves inclined to the opinion that men could not bear a heavy day's work without a good supply of beer, but experience has proved otberwise, and that beer is neither strengthening nor the best drink for labourers during harvest time. The old custom compels many wha do not believe in its virtues to supply beer noj/v. Some 10 or 12 years ago, when we had our wheat-cutting day, er, as it is called, "Model Wenitb," and when, according to the custom in our part, some neighbours came to help during that day, amongst them was a Blue Ribbonite, whe was one of the reapers for the day. The crop waa very heavy, the day a broiling hot one, and everyone worked hard as they generally do on such an occasion. They were well supplied with beer, the Blue Ribbonite excepted, and his drink con- sisted of oatmeal and water. I was rather solici- tous about him, fearing he would not be able to bear up with the others on such drink, and told him BO. He only laughed, and said we should see in tbe evening. As the day wore on the exer- tion began to show itself on most of the reapers, and before the time to give up, witfe the exeeptionof one, they were all dead beat, and this one exception was the man who had for his drink tbe mixture of oatmeal and water. Since then I have often tried it, and find it every way by far a better drink than beer during harvest- ticce, though but few believe it till they have practically tested it themselves. But be must needs be a bold man who would venture, even in these days, to prohibit the use of beer on the harvest field, I know of one such, a large farmer in the Vale of Towy. Some two er three years ago he made it known that he was going to have a teetotal harvest. His neighbours warned him that,be would get no assistance outside his oWn family, that, in fact, he would be boycotted by the agricultural labouring popula- tion. But *ur friend was made of stern stuff. He found his neighbours' ferebodinga fnlly justi- fied, and not for love or money could he-get out- side help. Nothing daanted. bo andrhis>otdinary staff buckled bravely to the work,, and pofrthe whole of the harvest in, though somewhat later than usual. But by the next season public opinion changed, and be has now no difficulty in getting in bis hay and bis cornwitbout a drop of beer being drunk on hi. land.

Maude: "Why have you thrown Clarence overboard?" Madge 5 C0?]d.n,J £ arry *man with a broken nose. Maude. now did his nose get broken ?" Madge: U I struck him play- ing tennis. "Harry, if ■! should die .-would-you -marry again t" Harry Ob, bother! How do J Sow ? Tbe future will look out for itself." You mean, I think, the future will look out for herself." Farmer's Wife I must go home now, ma'am we are busy to-day—we ate: goiBg to kill an ox. S«h9oatustres" Whfttla«whoIe*ox.at. I ooMl

WELSH GLEANINGS. By Lloffwr. A knowledge of Welsh History is what we all lack. We have no standard works in this branch of literature, and the subject has never received the attention its importance I demands. Of late years there has been a distinct advance made, and the excellent lectures on Welsh History delivered by Professor Lloyd, of Aberystwyth, in various towns of the Principality has done some- thing to arouse public interest in a field of study with which we should all be familiar. I understand that Mr Owen M. Edwards has opw almost ready for the press a cheap series of, stories from Welsh History, which will be published in Welsh as part of the "Llyfrau'r Bala" stries. He has also in preparation some Welsh historical beoks in English for an eminent English firm of publishers. • » Nor is this all. Our talented young fellow- countryman is engaged to give, during the next term at Oxford, a series of lectures on Welsh History. This is the first occasion on which Welsh History,as a separate branch of study, has received attention at that university since the founding of the Oxford Historical School. All things considered we may reasonably hope to see the next genera- tion as familiar with Welsh History as the J ordinary educated man is with the history of the Norman Conquest. 111- There is one part ot Mr Gladstone's address to the Wesleyan Members of Parlia- ment last week which has not received the attention it deserves. He said, referring to the attempt now being made by the authori- ties to suppress the native language in Malta :—"There appears to be a 'deszre—I won't say the evidence is demonstrative, but still in the manner in which the question is brought forward there seems to be a desire —to a great extent to substitute the British for the Italian language in Malta. Well, I am opposed to any such substitution. My mind goes back to the case of Wales—and I think there is nothing in the world that the Welsh would so vividly resent as any officious attempt to change the language of their country. And they are perfectly right. The union between a nation and its lan- guage, the union between even a small people like Wales and its language, is a close and affectionate union. It is bound up with all its traditions, and when we went into Wales we engaged to respect their traditions. And we have evidence before us now which induces me to say that in my opinion tha Maltese have been sacredly prootjpMKthe preservation of their language .emd institutions, and are entitled to claim %pi<rag the very first elements of that 'promise that wo shall pay due respect ta the customs established among them and inherited from their forefathers, which are bound up with all their ideas, and which above all they wish to retain." 111- Englishmen who complain of the difficulty of pronouncing Welsh forget that Welshmen meet with similar difficulties in pronouncing English. The most common of these are the open "aw as in "bought" "call," and "sh" and "z which are sounds not found at all in Welsh. The nearest approach to aw is the long "o," so that the words given above are pronounced "boat," "coal." "Sh" and "z" becomes "s," and the Englishman is transformed into, an "Inglis- man," and his "zeal" is simply" seal." An attempt is now being made to enable Welsh boys to overcome this difficulty by means of a A Dozen Hints to Welsh Boys oil the Pronunciation of English," a little book which is prepared by Mr Glynn Williams, head-master of Friars School, Bangor, assisted by Mr J. Morris Jones, lecturer on Welsh at the University College of North Wales. The lessons here given supply a long-felt want, and Mr Williams's plan is well-con- ceived and very successfully carried out. It is the very thing that a Welsh boy, who would not speak English in a Welshy way, needs. For this purpose the book contains, besides the dozen rules on pronunciation, a number of admirably-framed exercises. The following example from the exercises illus- trates the treatment of the first difficulty I have mentioned above. The soldier bought a boat and on a raw day rowed into the broad ocean all alone; being bald, though bold, and with a torn coat, he caught cold, and now calls for coals." « Some time ago I gave a few particulars of eminent Welshmen from home. Here is another gleaning from a paper published in The Far West of America -John Lloyd Thomas, secretary of the national committee of the Prohibitionists, who has been having a wordy war with Funk and Wagnalls, pub- lishers of The Voice, the Prohibition organ, is from Maryland and is the son of a minister. In the campaign of 1884 he made such a record as district organizer in Vi-ginia and Maryland that he was marked for early promotion by his party managers. He went to New York more than two years ago and now keeps open house at Prohibi- tion-liall. The secretary of a national party which has almost everything to win is naturally a very busy man, and the Piohibi- tionists find in Thomas a genuine steam engine, whom his admirers may be excused for backing as a coming man in third party ranks. Mr Thomas is about 30, under medium size, active, nervous and ready as a speaker or a. manager. His parentage is Welsh. He is a good tenor and sings in the Oratorio society. 4- The English tourist in Wales has a griev- ance, but strange to say he does not get from the English press the sympathy he has been wont to get. The following remarks from the London Daily News will illustrate this .—A gentleman who happens to be spending a holiday with his family in one of the fairest and most secluded spots of North Wales" has written to make com- plaint of a curious drawback upen his felicity. The scenery is everything that could be desired. There is a fine view of the sea between lofty trees and over green fields whose hedgerows are lined with fuchsia bushes, crimson in the sunlight. Deep wooded glens disclose waterfalls of exceeding beauty massive headlands jut far out into the sea; mountains rise at the back, with their summits wreathed in clouds. The lanes—like those of Devonshire—are lined with ferns and wild flowers, and arched over by aisles of spreading branches. And yet this gentleman is not happy. No doubt the weather will at once strike many as the probable explanation. But no. It is simply his inability to read the awful Welsh local names." What occurs to most English visitors, says this dissatisfied holiday-maker, is the want of some carefully prepared hand- book that would show at a glance the phonetic pronunciation of these puzzling names. The hint will no doubt be taken by some publisher. Then perhaps the discovery will be made that there is nothing after all so "awful" in Welsh names. The notion of the unpronounceable nature of Welsh words is, we believe, due in no small degree tk> the fact that some of our consonants stand in Welsh for vowels. Guttural sounds no doubt there are in Welsh, as in other spoken tongues.; but no one who has heard a poetical recital at an eisteddvod is likely to charge the language of Wales with being unpleasing to the ear.

What a delightful world it would "be^if "every- body were as pslite as a parliamentry candidate. Once at Lord Lansdowne's country-house there was a large party, including Senior, the statisti- cian, and Thomas Moore, who was prevailed upon to sing. All prepared to listen t. the cbamuig performance, save Mr Senior, who sat down at a small writing-table and began to write with a quill penupon I*ori Lansdowne's very ribbed paper. He was compiling a paper on statistics, or some- thing of that sort. Moore began, but bis staging was rendered impossible by tbe persistent scratch, gcratcff. and he turned around to see who caused the odious noise. Mr Senior looked up and said, innocently M Oh, you don't disturb me, I assure you; pray gooiit I rather like it. This cansed an outburst of hmghter.jtbsolutely puzzling-to the; tnTOKWciotw etfttistieiMi^

Coaching on Exmoor. A TRIP WITH PEN AND PENCIL, (BPtOIAMY OONTBMCTZD.) To the man who is weariad and jaded by mental or commercial worry a coaching trip comes as a boou and a blessing." It is needless to enter in- to a discussion of the causes which have led to a resuscitation of the estimation in which coaching is held. Latter-day coaching has obtained a real hold upon all classes of the community, and it is well that there should be some set-off to the burry and rush which tbe iron horse has brought into being. Exmoor has a strange fascination for the busy man who has once come under its spell; the eagerness to visit the country once sacred to the banditti, which Mr Blackniore has induced by his famous book, is as nothing to the interest which is begot by a more or less lengthened tour in the" forest," which is no longer a forest, but which affords ample proof of the futility of man's endeavours to do away with those vast breathing spaces which Providence has so wondrously laid out for his recreation. As the tale of sperl; and of pleasure goes round, the jaded "dweller in cities" feels guiltily joyful that the many thousands of pounds which have been spent in improving'' the moor have been thrown away, and the immense waste still num- bers sheep and deer, salmon and grouse, trout and blackcock, as its chief commodities, "Three acres and a caw would not benefit the commu- nity greatly if selected from the rolling downs or deep combos of the Royal demesne over which Sir Frederick Knight still "lords it," while the enjoy- ment of the life-giving exercise which is now tree to all the world would be sadly curtailed. Pedes- trians have long revelled in the exquisite delights which every moorland district provides but Exmoor is even now at a disadvantage, inasmuch as while its central resort at the mouth of the Lynn is twenty miles from everywhere," there is no part of the Lake District which is ten miies from a railway station. In some respects this disadvantage is an advantage, but not all of us can afford in these days of hurry to seclude ourselves so effectually from the rest of the world, or have pockets deep enough to overcome with an oasy conscience the difficulty of distance. The opening of the railway to Mine- head gave an impetus to the coach traffic along the coast read to Lynton, and the entry from the west has long formed » complement for tourists who have bad their taste for circular tours properly cultivated. But it had long been felt that this was not all that was needed to introduce the beauties of Exmoor to the general public. For long vacation men it was wall enough, but for those who can afford only a few days' breathing space the inner beauties of the country side were hidden and unknown, and that difficulty has uow been over come. There.are two waysbywhicb this splendid district may be approached—by rail or Rea, and as the latter adds to the variety of onp'" holiday, wo choose to make our way to Lyamouth by boat from Cardiff, and make the delightful little town on the cliff our headquarters. Hence, the journey we have set out upon may be made in two directions, but we go inland, and after enjoying the Sunday quietude which is so refreshing to the dweller in towns, start from the Lyndale at balf- past ten on Monday for Dulverton, by the Tally- ho coach, uot without some misgivings as to the weather, which fortunately proved without foundation. Five horses had some steady collar- work" up the gloriouslY beautiful Lynn valley, but at the top of Breodon-hill wo sent back our leader and spun awayon to the breezy moor towards Exehead. The drive along the road skirt- ing the valley ofthe East Lyo needs no description here. The towering heights that have earned for thie locality the name of English Switzerland," the brawling waters of the Liyn and the pic- turesque meeting of the waters, need no eulegy, Ascending the hill, Exmoor is entered at Brendon Two Gates, aud a point is soon reached from which may be seeu the sources of the rivers Exe and Barle. Over to the right is Exmoor^s famous bog, Mole's Chamber, its name derived, it is said, from the fact that there a farmer named Mole lost his life. Not far from tbe road is the entrance to Badgery, as it" is e»He(1 fWe«t Somerset, or Badgworthy, as orthogrftP&'8ts apeU^ it, anfj trom here tbe tourist can easily explore the celebrated Doone Valley, and on oyery band were pointed ont the directions in which famous runs had been made, and the spots wber« Kins naa taken place, until everyone began to 1°?* *oc some evidence of the sport which *1? pone's mind. Proceeding out of Simonsbat^, we paes its little church and the vicarage of Exmoor. We now for some in th^ country of leafy hedges again, until we get on to the moorland and the road that leads to Winsford fidl. lhis is the highest point gained on tbe journey. view greets tbe traveller. From channel to channel the country lies before bim from Sidmoutb Gap, with the waters glinting in the the Welsh coast is the latitudinal ',in|t f from Castle Nerocbe, Wellington Monument*. Glastonbury Tor to Yes Tor, from ^bapman s Burrows to Dunkeryare the longitudinal landmarks } while nearer home were Exford Combes, the secluded vale ot the Bane and Wichypool and Tar's Steps, and many we"*known break in itbe lino of the to "drink m the beauties n8« An tony £ Huxtable came up with his splendid pack of stagbounds, exercising, iu view 0f the approach- ing season, which promises to be an exceedingly good one. We had seen game rising in all directions, we had seen the glint of ash in the streams-we only wanted one other item turned on to complete our round of amuse- ment, and that we did not suppose would be provided. We were, however, in luck's way a proposal that we should stop to view Tho Devil's punch-bowl "—a semi-circular amphi- theatre, about half a mile in diameter, and 500 or 600 feet deep was welcomed with enthusiasm. Searching for theSiag's Head moss, which grew somewhat profuseiy (and which is represented below the red deer in the engraving at the head of this sketch), we had scarcely got to the edge Wtlen a Tally-ho from a veteran stag-hunter told us we had completed our pro- gramme by rousing a warrantable deer." Horses we bad none, the hounds were gone, we were a long way off, and with a big bog in our way, so we were forced to be content with encouraging our graceful find to make her way to the nearest eo vet (Borough Wood). Proceeding on our journey, we soon notice uu- mistakable signs that we are quitting moorland regions. We pass through a broad beit of heather from which we raise a blackcock or two we pass a small herd .of the famous Exmoor ponies, grazing amidst the scanty herbago, and soon after commence the descent into the wooded country of Highercombe, the property of Sir Thomas Acland. The drive through the woods and along the banks of the Barle at this point is one of exceeding beauty and reminds one of the "Hobby" Road at Clovslly, substituting streamlet for the "glad waters of the dark blue sea." We now enter once more upon the border-land of civilization. Solitary cottages and hamlets, the usual outposLs of a country town, are passed, and now.driving through a by no means straight but exceeding narrow way, we enter Dulverton. The spin along the lovely glades between the station and the town, with the Barle brawling be low and the picturesque Somerset seat of Earl Carnarvon on the heights above, was but a fore- taste ef many of the "bits "to be seen later on the journey. This two miles of road and the avenue at Minehead are the only sections of the route which are doubled during the journey, eo that the circuit is absolutely new and varied throughout. A quick run through the quaint old town which overlooks the splendid amphi- theatre into which the Barle debouches, brought us to Hele Bridge, wheuca a run of exquisite .0 beauty up the Exe valley was enjoyed. The trout sparkling in the river suggest reminiscences of many pleasant hours with the rod, and the bosky woods on either side recall equally pleasant thoughts of the pursuit alike of leathered fowl and four-footed game. Ere long we pass the scanty remains of Barlynch Priory, of whoso bells and rood screen Dulverton church possesses relics. The site reminds one of many a similarly situated religious houte, and the thought finds expression that these old monks not only had an eye for beauty, but knew where good things pleasing to the palate were within easy reach the pampered indolence of which too many ot them were guilty scarcely excuses the vandalism which has left us nothing but ruius-beautiful in decay, certainly, but still only ruins. As we bowl along the well-made-road, wa have cause for some a;otoniabment that so fine a road, made for coach traffic in 1824- (as a date engraved in a rock cut- iug- near Exien Church informs us), should not have been utilised f"r that purpose until the year of grace 1890 After 55 minutes' run we pass Bridgtowi;, where all the population greeted us with dignified iuterest. as inaugurating a means of mild dissipation for the season. Here we arc in Quarme country, which Mr Chorley bas hunted for nearly a quarter of a century at his own cost. Your true West countryman is a born sportsman aud well he may be, for be is brought; up in the atmosphere of sport; and every mile of this coaching route is; redolent with hunting story. Passing the Qaarmewater, a steady climb brings us to Whebdou Cross, a breezy situation in Cut- sombe parish, with a line view of Dunkary. Here we laid to heart the injunction to "Rest and be thankful," for we bed reached the highest part of this stage, and our team well deserved the breather it got. The descent into Timberscombe Valley was full of beauty. The road is cut along the hillside, always, as before, covered with overhanging woods rising steep on the right and falling into a ravine hundreds of feet deep on the left, but the view on this side is always much mora extended, and for beauty defies description. The Wild West" rattles through Timberllcorobe village, making its sleepy inhabitants open their eyes in woader at such a dashing turn-out, the woods are left behind, and the route lies through one of the pleasantest and most fertile yales of WestSomerset, the vale of Avill. Knowle House, ou the left, is.a prominent and picturesque object in the scene, the steep heathery sides of Grabhurst bound the valley on the left, and the road lies through pleasant country lanes, which the Devonshire lanes, famous as they are, could hardly beat. Trees line the road side, and the hedges are in parts filled with honey-suckle and the gay dog- rose. 3Near Dunster, the road approaches the bill, and the stranger would wonder how on earth the coach is going to get over or through the vast rampart, as appears must be the case, till a sudden Hi miner nnmfls in viaw. and in a minute or two DonstM—the village or roses, as It has been aptly termed-is entered. There are some awkward turnings in the town, but the coach dashes on past the grand old church, tbe tine castle, the octagonal yarn market, and the com- fortable-looking Luttrell Arms Hotel, down Dunster Steep, past an uncommonly pretty police-station, through Alcome village, and Minehead is at last reached. At the Beach Hotel, the Wild West" is pulled up in style, and we prepare for the final stage of our journey -we may spend the night bere if we choose, but our time being limited we proceed by_he atter- noon coach, the "Lorna Doone. The mam highway leadiog from Mmehead station and beach to where we turn oil to the right into the Porlock Read is a miniature boulevard, in which the houses are tastefully designed, built of a warm coloured stone, and when the treea that are planted there grow up, will be nicely shaded. This drive is also ajimoscptctureeque one and at several points magnificent. Dunkery seems to be our pivot all the journey through. But a few hours ago the beacon dominated our north-western horizon; now to the-southward the sky-line is marked, by the pride^of Somer- set." Clouts bam and^Selwortby.come^in -for as share of attention, and soon the echoes of the peaceful vale of Porlock are wakened by the strident notes of our guard's horn. The dis- mantled church, the new hotels and bank call for but brief attention, and then the toilsome ascent of Porlock Hill commences. Every minute iucreases our grasp of the situation, and soon beyond Bossington Point the Welsh coast is visible, the Flat and Steep Holmes, with Weston, are distinguishable further east, and to the south-east are seen the Quantocks: abruptly ending with Cothelstone Hill. Then the" White Stones" (witb which his Satanic Majesty won a quoit match from Bossiugton Hill) are duly admired, and for the next hour we skim ,-iloug the top of the bills with ever-varying glimpses of the distant sea and the nearer combes, the rays of the evening sun bringing out the continually changing aspectof thowild country which is the main feature of this part of the route! The ascent is one of eleven hundred feet, and of a gradient which some of the learned arithmeticians have estimated at about 1 in 10. Here those who alight and walk up the hill could form an idea of what the cellar work for the horses must be. The road is now fairly level as far as Ceunty Gate, where we look down on Glenthorne, the residence ot Mr Halliday, appreached by a wind- ing road that we would rather descend than ascend. Here we leave Somersetshire and are once more in Devon. From Oldbarrow, which is 1,137 feet in height, it is a long, and from 0uuntillbury, a steep incline to Lynmouth. Wo look down on the blue waters of the Channel on whose bosom the passing vessels are dwarfed to toy boats. Carefully and smoothly we are piloted to the bottom of the hill and over the Lynbridge into Lynmouth, where the plashing waters are pouring over the boulders of that enchanting spot. Now we alight, some to ascend to Lynton by the modern lift, others by the more toilsome yet far more lovely paths of the Royal Castle and Cottage Hotel grounds.

WONDERFUL ESCAPE OF A SWISS GUIDE. The following account of the escape of Christian L'tida, a Lauterbrunnen guide, is sent to the Tivies by a correspondent at MurrenLinda, having accompanied a gentleman as second guide over the Tschmgsl glacier, was dismissed at the village of Ried, his services being no longer required. He left Ried on Sunday, the 27th inst., at daybreak, alone, with the object of returning to Lauterbrunnen. He croseed the Petersgrat, and instead of taking the route of the Tschingel Pass, he chose the shorter one across the glacier between the Muttorn and the Tschin- gelhorn, where he fell into a crevasse about seven or eight a.m. on Sunday. On Wednesday morning—that is, 72 hours later—a gentleman spending the summer here, in ascending the Tschingelhorn with Fritz Graf, ot Lauterbrunnen, as guide, passed the spot where Linda was engulphed, and noticing an ice-axe on the edge of the crevasse, peered down and saw Linda at the bottom. A rope was let down, which Linda was fortunately able to secure round his waist. With difficulty he was raised to the mouth of the crevasse, but being a very heavy man his two rescuers were not powerful enough to bring him to the surface. It was then decided that the gentle- man should remain on the glacier while Graf obtained the necessary tackle and assistance to rescue the ice-entombed man. These were obtained at the Steinberg but or chftlet, and when Linda was hauled up he was found to be nearly dead. He was carried to the Steinberg hut, and was removed to the hospital at Inter- laken, his recovery being doubtful. During the seventy-two hours Linda was in the crevasse he had no food, for be was so tightly jammed between the walls of ice he could not get at the provisions he carried in a bag on his back. He was, however, able to lick the ice with bis tongue. It is estimated that he was found at a depth of 50ft. No one will be surprised to bear that bis hands and feet are terribly frost-bitten the marvel is that, situated as he was for so many hours without food to sustain animal heat, he was not frozen to death. Again, it is remarkable that the rescuers should have passed over not only the exact spot where Linda fell in, but just in time to save him. Linda is fifty-three years of age. A telegram from Lauterbroonen states that a guide has been found in a crevice of the glaciers on Mount Tschingelfeld, where be had remained in distress for three days.

COLD FOOD.—Eat all cold food slowly. Diges- tion will not begin till the temperature of the food has been raised by the heat of the stomach to ninety-eight degrees. Hence the more beat that be imparted to it by slow mastication, the better. The precipitation of a large quantity of cold food into the stomach by fast eating may, and often does, cause discomfort and indigestion, and every occasion of this kind results in a measnreable injury to the digestive function. Ice-water drunk with cold food of course increases the mischief. Hot drinks—hit water, weak tea, coffe6, choco- late, &c.-will on the contrary, belp to prevent it. But eat slowly,-fnjrwsy..

Samuel's Sentiments. SAMUEL ON THE WEATHER. There is something terribly aggravating about weather in general, and the weather in this country in particular. It is so unreliable. There is no placing the slightest confidence in it, and the way it ignores the barometers and the pro- phets is simply appalling. It seems to have lost all sense of the fitness of things of late years. In the good old days of which we bear so much, we are told" the weather was worth calling weather." In those much-vaunted days they had -so say the chroniclers-regular seasons, and spring, summer, autumn, and winter could be relied upon to turn up with the atmospheric sur- roundings expected in connection with them, We have no such thing*, now-a-davs, and IDOW. storms in July are as likely to be chronicled as the fact that there is not the slightest use for skates from Da- cember to March. The whole system is d i 8 a r r a nged, and the erratic movements ot the weather seem tst have been more pro- nounced since the Americans began to antici- pate it by their prior to date forecasts. When you come to look at it. the A SPRING REALITT. thing is hardly surprising, and tbe perverse way in which the weather upsets the tables of the prophets may be put down as its practical and peculiar method of telling interfering weather prophets to mind their own business, and not interfere with things they do not understand. I say this may be the case, but, whatever be the cause, there is a wide d fferenca between the prophets and the weather they predict. For the sake of suffariug humanity they really ought to try and conciliate the elements. The un- certainty of the elements is likely to result in an unlooked-for calamity, for it will, if it goes on put to rout a stock theme of conversation. For years the weather has been a stock theme for opening or helping on a conversation, and the salutation. Good morning, glorious morning isn t it?" has frequently led to many an interesting chat. Then how entertaining and interesting the discussions as to the probable weather the day would bring fortb. The man who foretold rain felt that if bis friend did not provide for the coming downpour he has not any confidence in his, the prophet's, acumen. And if it did rain, how self-satisfied be felt. Now this kind of conversation Is apt to be dangerous, for so erratic have the elements become that at the very moment you are stating A SUMMER COSTUME. it is a fine dayt it is as likely ar not that the rain will cornsi down in tor- rsnts, and the people to whont you bave ex- pressed your vpiuion will go away with the impression that you are not an observant per- son, which is, to say the least of it, annoying. A curious phase of remarks re- lating to the weather is that they are mostly bare statements offactwiticb must be palpa- ble to every on. they are made to. It has aiwAy* seemed to me to be an infer- ence that tiiere sume'uh'tig wantlDJe in m powers of perception to tell him in the midst of blue sky aud bright sunshine that it is a fine day, or to inform him when the rain is spoiling his best suit and getting through bis thin shoes that it is a wet day. Yet these absurd truisms are repeats^ by the hundred daily, whereas on any other subject than the weather people would as soon think of flying as of indulging in them. I suppose the fact is that weather has become such an anomaly that people do not consider it worth treating rationally. And then look at the way it treats the spring poets, who must be imbued with a faith only equalled by that of a Salvation Army soldier in his general. Season after season they try to convince the world that spring is all they paint it-" lovely seaeon where nature and the birds burst forth with equal success. But it won't do in the present state of affairs. Tbere is nothing poetic about catarrh, and very little sentiment attached to in Supnza. Bat they both come round with the spring. It things go on as they arn mucb longer the calendar-will have to re-arranged, and the position of the various seasons transposed, but even then there would be no certainty that the weather might not, just for spite, turn round altogether. It might be worth while to try tbtt experiment on the off chance. There is a keen sense of annoyance experienced when one looks at some of the old pictures deal* ing with picnics and other pleasures of th(,\ summer. Picnics, in the pictures, are depicted at taking place in tbe midst of the mofit delightfus weather and surroundings. The light, gauzj. frocks of the ladies flutter i, the breeze, and tht fl-innels of the gentlemen tell ot the lieat of f: glorious afternoon. This is in the pictures. No»-a-days the whole thing is changed and people go to picnics with a liberal supply of macintoshes and umbrellas, and have then pleasure largely spoiled by anticipations of » visit from Jupiter Plnvius. And yet we are living; in the much-praised nineteenth century. with its phonographs, its electric light, and itf scient f c research. The Aus- tralian prelate who refused to pray for rain on the ground that the people did not. give the rain a cbauce bad, in nil probability, other reasons for his non-compliance with his flock's request. He doubt- less knew bow unreliable the weather is, and he did not care to experiment where the prophets and the almanacks had failed. He was a WIse man. One thing that rt is always safe to do when dealing with the weather is to grumble at it ami fcneer at the weather fore- casts and their producers. Not only does this relieve you, but it coincides with the feelings of your friends who grumble with you in a sympathetic spirit. WINTJTB DELUSIONS. -It- the weather prophets would get within reasonable distance of the weather they might be tolerated, but when they prophesy storms they don't come, and when their prognostications point to delightful weather it is certain to rain. And yet there art people who daily turn to the forecasts in their morning papers with a firm belief that they are going to be informed with accuracy as to the kind of weather that will be around during the day. Poor deluded mortals. They are the people whom experienoo does not teach. They stow, up old almanacks, and when. by accident, a prophecy comet off they show it to thai. friends, and tell of the won- ders in store for them in tht, way of weather predictions far: the future. They are judi- ciously silent as to the failures of their pet prophets. These people live in toad anticipa- tion that some of these da", we shall again be favoured with that much-talked-of season, a good, old- fashioned Christmas." As it is no use cryine; over spilt milk (it only makes it more watery, as H. J. Byron said), so it, is but little use to shed tears about the failure of. the prophets and the state of the weather. Wt can only grawl snd bear it, and wait patiently until such times as it sees fit to leave eff fooling and stick to its business with Borne semblance of seriousness. It has got ro the loose, and, as if usual in such cases, it will have to have its own timeio come round in. So in the meantime we can only study tht almanacks, barometers, and forecasts in the hopt that one of these days things may get rigbted. At the same time let us get what consolation we can from the lines of that truthful idyll which says: Whether it's cold or whether it's hot, We've got to weather it, whether or not." SAMUEL: His SENTIMENTS. i

Bitrbars HuMa, that gentleman over yonder is my friend Mr Fioyd. JVay I present him?" Hulda: No you must excuse me. He is the very man who kept his seat in the car the other evening while I stood all the way. Barbara: Really « Why, I am shocked I If he didn't have any respect for our sex, he might at least bave sbowc some consideration for old age.

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WORKMEN'S TOPICS; BY MABON, M.P. THE TRIAL OF BILLY FAlRPLAY AND ITS LESSONS. Doubtlessly, because of its bearing on the wirriediate future of this vast and important fining district, no decision, legal or other- wise, was ever awaited with greater or more Serious anxiety than both employers and Workmen now await the result of the appeal Against Judge Owen's decision in the small toal test case. One can scarcely move from place to another without being asked Wherever he goes as to his opinion of the Result, and, though no one can speak with absolute certainty, still the decisions that wave already been given on two similar iasea in the House of Lards cannot fail to form precedents which, to a very great extent, taust influence this case. MR JUSTICE STEPHEN'S VIEWS. Mr Justice Stephen, in delivering judg- ment in the case of Bourne v. Netherwell Colliery Company, Limited, Queen's Bench Division, July 13th, 1887, said :—" I have Steady stated in very few words what is the *iew which I take of the case, and on which Say decision will turn, which is certainly that the 17th section (referring to theformer act), read with an earlier act, is sufficient to determing the case. The words of that Action are, that the miners are to be paid according to the weight of the mineral got- ten by them, and such mineral'shall be truly Weighed accordingly.' The Llynvi case holds that it may mean, or it may be agreed that it shall mean, effective mineml-round eoal as distinguished from slack. Then the proviso says that the slack may be deducted J"~it does not say that in so many words, it includes that among other meanings. *hen it says in case the baskets tire improperly filled, or in certain other cases, the deductions are to be determined 1 by the banksman or Weigher or checkweigher (if there be one) J* in case of difference, by a third party to mutually agreed on by the owner, agent, Or manager of the mine on the one hand, "nel the persons employed in the mine on the Other.' In this case there seems to have been a difference about these deductions — the deductions were not determined in the banner pointed out by the Act of Parlia- *ent. It is just the kind of question to ;hlch the Act of Parliament ought to apply. t does not seem to have been either the banksman or the checkweigher who made the deductions, but it was, in fact, the boy Who had the management of what is called the 'Billy Fairplay;' and, although it is e^id that the miners agreed that that mode °f settling the dispute should be adopted in- stead of the mode declared by the Act of ■Parliament, I think the Act of Parliament express, and that it is not com- petent to them to contract them- selves out of the Act by a contract t)f that nature therefore I think there will have to be judgment for the plaintiff for the amount clanned." :MR JUSTICE WILLS HAS A WORD TO SAY. Mr Justice Wills said "I am of the same opinion. The case is by no means free from difficulty, and, like my learned friend, I ^ake no complaints of the length to which t he discussion has proceeded. In his instance the plaintiffs claim to be paid °r the deductions which have been made, ia to say, they claim to be paid upon weight as ascertained by the only way in Which it was taken. The 17th section pro- ves that the wages should be paid Wording to the weight »f the mineral gotten by them, and such mineral," that is the mineral getters, gotten by them, fhall be truly weighed accordingly.' Then upon that is engrafted a proviso which Bays that nothing shall preclude the I oWner of the mine agreeing with the Workmen that deductions shall be made In. respect of materials other than ftiineral contracted to be gotten, The ex- pression in the second clause is 'mineral ^fttracted to be gotten,' the meaning of J Which is, if the parties have agreed that the mineral which is to be gotten is to be under- wood in another sense than the whole of the substance which is gotten. Now, in this Jnstance, considering the importance of it, 18.that an agreement which would be per- mitted by the Act of Parliament ? Is there anything in the Act of Parliament to inter- fere with it ? Of course, when such an •Mpeement has once been made, inasmuch as hey are to be paid, not under such circum- stances, but upon the weight of the effective and valuable mineral which they havegot,the Result of the second part of the section as ^grafted upon the first is that it reduces the mineral gotten' by them in the hrst to an equivalent to the mineral Contracted to be gotten by them in the Second part the clause. Then it seems to that this proviso, so far a3 it prevents 'he act from interfering with making agree- ments of that kind, ia satisfied, and that it Was not intended to say*- 'and they may agree that the amount of these deductions I shall be ascertained in any way that they chose, or that they may actually agree J*Pon because, if so, it either would not have referred to the method of ascertaining i'he deductions, or if it had referred to it, would have said, 'Beyond the method )1 Provided in such other manner, as they may Hgree upon but that being the obvious Way of dealing with the subject-matter, if What Mr MacClymont (counsel for the defendants) contends was really intended, Namely, that they should be able to make their agreement valid, the second goes on to say that the deductions should be betermined in a specific manner, namely, hy the banksman or weigher, that is the ¡' Person, either the one or the other, appointed hy the mine owner, and the checkweigher, if there be one. 1 Now, in this instance there was a check- weigher. I must say it seems to me that the Act of Parliament, in working out that Method, meant to prevent other methods, and one knows very well what the origin of this legislation was. It was that there were £ °Utinual quarrels between masters and men, which resulted in disastrous strikes, and in which the common and continual complaint was, that the thing which had been agreed ttPon between them was unsatisfactory be- Jause it was unjust in itself, and though the Parties had agreed upon it, it was one that Was capable of operating to the disadvantage of the men—that was the continual object of complaint. This enactment was intended to put a stop to all that, by saying, You 8h8ol1 not be free to make these Contracts, which are open to this difficulty and which produce such disastrous results ^pon the industry of the country at large, of this nature, and in order to prevent those mischiefs in the legislature, so that the amount of the deductions shall be deter- mined in this specific and particular manner, t is impossible not to see that the notion the persons who put those words into the that the amount should be determined "y the banksman or weigher and the check- weigher, and the person who at the same jme uBe(i the language in section 18 was, that one checkweigher could do whatever was necessary in order to ascertain both the gross weight and the deductions, and the ftct of Parliament is framed upon that scheme, I do not say that I make a ground of my decision in this case, because it opens tlp a larga and a difficult question, and it is bot necessary, I think, for the determination j?* tlie present case. This matter is per- clear where there is a check- weigher, which was undoubtedly the case here, and a checkweigher who Was supposed to be, by Section 18, a compe- tent man to do what is necessary in order to ascertain the weight upon which the men Were to be paid, there being this check- exgher. Now have the deductions in this ba.se been determined ? Why, they have ^eu.determined, not by the banksman at either in conjunction with the cheek- *2her, or without the checkweigher. If it be said that what was done at the second machine on the second weighing comes under the operation of the implied per- mission in Section 17, they show that the banksman has not done it. But how has it been done 1 It has been done by a boy who has recorded the weight shown by the automatic machine. It appears to me that this is contrary to the Act of Parliament, and that there have been no deductions ascertained in such way as ta entitle the mineowner to take the benefit of the deduc- tions. NATURAL DEDUCTIONS. It will be seen that this case, as the em- ployers contend, is not exactly on all-fours with the Abercarne case. In the Nether- saul case the weights upon the "Billy" were recorded by a boy independent of the checkweigher stationed in the weighing machine, but in the Abercarne case the weight from a similar automatic machine was recorded by the checkweigher himself. But in both cases it has not been done in conjunction with the banksmen, and hence is, according to these two learned judges in the Court of Queen's Bench, as well as Judge Owen, illegal.

WELSH NOTES. ANOTHER DIVINE AND AN AMERICAN DEGREE. IF it can be termed an honour, I am pleased to hear that the degree of Doctor of Divinity has been conferred on the Rev T. Levi, of Aberystwyth, by the Wisconsin University; America, because I am con- vinced that he deserves the title. There is a rumour that he will not accept it. Those who have followed his movements pretty closely for many years are astonished at the amount of work he has been able to accom- plish. For the first ten years of his public life he was pastor of the church at Ynys, Ystradgynlais, where he was bred and born. He then teok the charge of Philadelphia Church, Morriston, where he had been for 14 years, and for the last 15 years he has been in charge of the church at Tabernacle, Aberystwyth, the largest church of the con- nection in South Wales. And along with his ministerial and pastoral work, for more than 40 years his pen has been in constant work, and I think I may say that there are not many living Welshmen who have written so much for the press. The 29th yearly volume of the Trysorfa'r Plant (Children's Treasury) is nearly complete- one of the most popular magazines ever pub- lished in Wales, and which has been fluc- tuating from a few thousands above to a few thousands below forly thousand monthly for more than a quarter of a cen- tury, and which was not only edited from the commencement, but mostly written by Mr Levi himself. He wrote a commen- tary on one of the boeks of the New Testa- ment for Testament yr Ysgol Sabbothol (Sunday-school Testament), and numerous articles in the Traethodydd, Cymru, &c., the large Biographical-Geographical Dictionary, by Mackenzie. I cannot assume to give a complete list of the books he has written, but they comprise most branches of litera- ture, even including words fcr a cantata and school books. He has been for 15 or 20 years in connection with the ileligious Tract Society, London, and is still the association secretary for Wales, and I believe I am right in saying that all books, tracts, &c., on the present Welsh catalogue have been written, translated, or edited by him. MODIFICATIONS OF THE NEW CODE. IN the new educational code one of the clauses prescribes that in ordinary circum- stances a scholar should be advanced not less than one standard in a year. In a sup- plementary instruction which has been issued to inspectors it is stated that this rule is only to apply to children of ordinary capacity who have enjoyed ordinary opportunities of instruction. While under the former code a child presented a second timeinastandard was necessarily presented in all the elementary subjects in that standard, he may now be advanced in any one or more of the elementary subjects in which he is backward. It is laid down that arithmetic is not to be reported as well taught unless the greater part of the scholars examined work the problem. This rule has been modified by the statement that a correct solution is not necessarily required, merely an intelligent attempt at solution. When it can be conveniently managed, some part at least of the examina- tion in specific subjects, especially in the fifth standard, should ba oral, but the ques- tions should not be framed to require lengthy or elaborate answers.

NATIONAL UNION OF TEACHERS The executive of the National Union of Teachers, at their last meeting, determined t;> tftke dsiinite action in the mutter of school attendance. Tke position of the union on this point is that if the law were properly carried into effect there would be little to complain of, but that while parents, magistracy, and school authorities in many cases endeavour to evade the provisions of the law, the prevention of the present considerable irregularity is impossible. ^Several speakers at the meeting stated that the attendance at the present time is little better than it was 15 years ago, notwith- standing the .large expenditure of public money which has been made. The last report of the Education Department sbowa that while the average attendance in inspected schools; after making dun allowance f<>r proper causes of absence, should b« 4,835,935, the actual atten- dance is only 3,020,000. A careful inquiry will ba^made by the union through its various branches, 350 in number, in different parts of the country. The general secretary, Mc Heller collected special information on the subject, and a report will ultimately be prepared and issued to Members of Parliament, to the Education Department, and to the Press. The reoort will also indicate what steps should, in the.opinion of the union, be taken by the local school authori- ties and the magistrates to procure the more effective administration of thecompulsary clauses of the Education Aot. A suggestion made some time ago by Mr Heller, the secretary, for the appointment of special inspectors fo? Janre districts to supervise the work of the local authorities and to advise them, seemed to find favour at the meeting.

MUSIC IN WALES. BY DR. JOSEPH PARRY, UNIVERSITY COLLEGE, CARDIFF. TIME AND ITS CHANGES. Time, like a broad, deep, and silent flowing river, bears us along upon its flowing surface and the changes which time brings about and reveals to us surpass the expectations of tbe most learned. The "future ever doubt- ful," the "future ever changeful," are indeed texts for deep and intense meditation. The world and its inhabitants are like the mighty ocean itself—ever restless and ever varied. Tha assimilating tendency of all nations is sur- prising. In whatever direction any nation may pioneer, its influences are such that they draw other nations after their pattern. THE WORLD OF OPERATIC MUSIO. The artistic foliage of dramatic or operatic music, wkich is as a musical bud and flower sprouted out and developed from that wonderful sacred drama of the Passion Play, has founa much growth and favour among all the greatest music master-minds of all countries, and that irrespective of all Spurr-istic-mindod persons who err in their narrow zsal. The Italians, Germans, French, English, and other nations have long ere this brought fortb abundant results in the musical side of dramatic art. Yes, and that in tha higher forms of our art, such as the mass, the symphony, the oratorio, and the opara. Musically they are to the composer quite synonymous. From Mozart, Handel, Beethoven, and the composers of our own time, such as Gounod, Verdi, Sullivan, and others, all the masses, operas, oratorios, and symphonies have been composed by the very same men. WELSH OPERA. Who would have thought a few years ago that a Welsh opera, plot, music, and performer8 would bave toured Wales ? When it is stated that already a tour of nightly performances for six weeks has already been accomplished by a com- pany of 22 persons, and that to really enthusiastic audiences, much has been done to prove that it is equally as possible for Welsh musicians and audiences in Wales as in other countries. Other companies visit our country annually, and why should not our own native musicians bene6^ equally ? The reception has been such that before the Arianwen Opera Company visits new places they are to make return visits to where they have been. From Pembrokeshire they visited Neatb, Aberavon, and Llanelly, where they have met most enthusiastic and large audiences, and this week they visit Swansea, Llandilo, and Pontardulais, where no doubt large audiences will welcome them. Next week will find the company at Llanwrtyd, Monday night Builtb, Tuesday Brecon, Wednesday Porth, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Thus the present single-handed effort to plant Welsh opera in Wales will be a fair and honest effort in a new departure in and addition to the musical reper toire jf the music and musicians of Wales.

AN UNPARDONABLE OFFENCE. to-be expelled from the Messenger BoyaJ Labour Union." Secend M. B.: u What's he done 7" F. M. B. He was caught runnin."

THE LAUGHING JACKASS."—The so-called u laughing jackass "of Australia is not, as many people think, merely the low comedian of bird life; be is very useful, says a contemporary, as a destroysr of snakes- almost equal to the secretary hawk of South Africa. His mode if warfare is peculiar. He seizes the snake by the neck, and soars straight up into the air to a considerable height; he then lets his enemy fall, and, instantly returning to earth, seizes him again, and repeats this manssuvre until the serpent is too much injured to offer any further resistance. A few pecks on the bead ensures his death, when of course he is duly eaten. The utility of the "laughing jackass" is so fully known that the legislature of Queensland bas imposed a .penalty of £ 10 on killing one these.-useful birdtC

Musical and Eisteddvod Notes. m BY MIAELGWYN. THE NATIONAL EISTEDDVOD, (Jp to the present the people of South Wales have shown little ot no interest in the National Eisteddvod wbich: is to be beld at Bangor on September Had, and three following days. This is naturally- enough due to the fact that no choirs from Deheubarth will take part in the competitions. Nevertheless, the prospects of the eisteddvod do not look so gloomy as they did a few weeks ago. The committee, having seen the foolishness of wasting their time in hunting after the Stanleys and the other lions, are now buckling down to work. They have at last realised that there is such a thing as self-respect. I have not yet received the number of entries that the various musical competitions bave obtained, but it may be safely said that the chief choral contest is sure to the a big success. Choirs from Tanygrisian, Cat-narvonshire, Denbighshire and Birkenhead have,,I am informed, declared their iutention of taking part in the struggle. The prize— £ 130—was'not sufficiently large to tempt any choirs from South Wales. The entries in the literary com petitions are fairly large, the englyn as usual bnoging in more than a hundred entries. There ane fourteen candidates for the bardic chair prize, and sixteen have sent in a cywydd. There Tfill ba four evening concerts tollowing the eistaeklvod meetings, and the tol- lowing artists have been engaged Mrs Mary Davies, Miss Eleanor Rees, MirFfrangcon Davies, Eos Morlais, Mr Wu'Jiam Davies (Oxford), and Signor Foli. Other singers will, be engaged in the course of the next itew days. The band of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers bas been engaged to play at the eisteddvod meet ings and at the concerts. THE KISTEKDVOD OF 1892. Rhyl is to have the eisteddvod of 1892. I hope the bards of the Isleof Britain will forgive me for thus anticipating the decision which they will give in,tbe face of the sun.-tbe eye of light." But when a thing must go somewhere, and when only one town claims it, there is no option, and up to the present llbyl is the only town that has put for- word an application for the National Eisteddvod of 1892. A large and mfl uen tial meeting of the,towns- people was hold last weak, at which it was decided to make the application named above. A number of gentlemen were named as a deputa- tion to wait upomthe bards nt thegorsedd at the Bangor Eisteddvod, and to press the claims of Rhyl as the locale of the eistuddvod of 1892 upon them. The movetment is being earnestly and strongly supported by the town cummiseioners in a body and by the local gentry. I THE MAGAZINES. The Art Journal conclude(;?this month its excellent and deeply interesting survey of the summer exhibitions in London and Paris. The lover of history and topography will find much to interest him in a charmingly written paper on Boltgna," and those of a scientific turn of mind will like Electric Light Fittings at the Edin- burgh Exhibition." The papers on Scottish National Memorials and Dieppe," the latter by Lady Colin Campbell, are excellent in their way, but very abort. The frontispiece, A Coming Shower," will be welcomed as a fine study of tone in the representation of clouds. The Cerddor opens with a paper by Mr David Jenkins on Welsh Music; what is it ?" and the same gentleman continues his lessons in counter- point. But why are the examples not given in beth notations, as they axe by Mr Emlyn Evans in his papers on instrumentation ? Mr Evans has something to say to the Rev F. C. Spurr on the subject of the pulpit and the theatre. Short summaries of the events of the month and an anthem make up the rest of the contents of this magazine. Cerddw y Cymry is undoubtedly gaining in streagtb every mouth, its short notes being especially good. It ought to be in the bouse of every Welsh musician. AFRAID OF DYVED, I have received a most extraordinary letter, which will no doubt provoke a smile. Here it is Dear Maelgwyn,—I saw your notes or. the Swansea Eisteddvod in the South Wales Weekly News of Juiy 19, and I was disappointed because you had nothing to say about the poetry priz-jp. Are you keeping the subjects to yourself so that you can have a few weeks'start—that? is, if you are going to try ? I don't want to offend you, you see, but I should like you to let me know what is the subject for the testyn y gadair' and also for the eoglya;' and will you try and find out if that old Dyved is to be one of the adjudicators? Because, if he is, I am not going to try. He is sure to try himself, and he is a better bard than me. But, if be is an adjudicator of course he can't try himself, and I tbiuk I'll try for the awdl and englyn Try to give me an answer soon." "Tbe subject for the testyn y gadair "is not a bad sentence, and if our friend uses others of the same kind there is little wonder that "Dyved is better than me." 10 reply to the above extraordinary letter I beg to say :—(!) I did not keep back the information at all, because I did not know anything about the literary competitions when I last wrote. (2) I do not mean to try awdlau and englynion, these having no charm for me. (3) Dyved will be one of the adjudicators therefore, good friend, you need have no fear of him. (4) The subject in the chair competition is Yr Haul (The Sun), and the englyn must be on Ogof (Cave). Now that the chief cause of our friend's anxiety is removed, let us hope he will make his name famous at the Swansea Eisteddvod but at the same time it is net proper to refer to one whom he admits to be his superior as that old Dyved." NEW MUSIC. The London Music Publishing Company, Great Marlborough-street, W., send "The British Army," a vigorous, and in parts, somewhat diffi- cult march for the pianoforte (2s). "Harvest Home," is a charming little waltz, written in a manner likely to please even the merest tyro. The melody is sweet and fresh and the accompaniment remarkably simple (2i), "Under the Stars" is a really beautiful song. The composer bas written a song pure and simply, and not a technical study in disguise. The sweet melody is never made subservient to the accom- paniment, although the latter is more than usually graceful; altogether the song is a decided acquisi- tion. "The Warrior's Farewell and I Dream of Tbee are two very taking little songs, full of sweet tunefulness and very simple in their construction (2s each).

JUST TO SERVE HIM OUT. Young Wife; I am gbing to'maka* a nice caM for you to-night, Thomas. Young Husband twitb recollections-- of the last one): Ahem! I did intend-to bring a friend home to tea, Young Wife: Well, so much the better the more the merrier. Young Husband: All right; I will bring bim. Lie served me a mean trick himself once.