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[No title]
When Brooke Herford first arrived in Boston, several years ago, he was the guest of Edward Everett Hale over night. In the morning he came downstairs with a look of pleased surprise manifest on his face. "What a pleasing custom you have here," he said, of chiming the bells at midnight." His host and hostess looked at him in silent amazement, wondering if he had taken leave of his senses. "Yes," continued their guest, I got up and leaned out of the window to listen. It was a pretiy air they played, although I did not recognise it." This,' said Dr Hale, telling the story afterward, was tho first time that I ever heard of a fire-alarm being taken for a symphony." .„ t;¡.¡;
World's Fair Eisteddvod.
World's Fair Eisteddvod. By Dr Joseph Parry. I have just received some interesting details from my old friend Ap Madoc, the eisteddvod secretary, respecting the progress of the Welsh national week at tho World's Fair. Eight American choirs have entered the choral contest. from the following states and districts :— Schuylkill Co. United Choir, Penn. Wilkesbarre Society, Penn.; Scranton Cymmro- dorion, Penn.; Pittsburg United Choir, Penn.: Quany Choral Society, Vermont; Western Re- serve, Ohio; Minneapolis and St. Paul Society; Salt lAke Choral Society. Will there be no choir or even choirs from Gwlad y Gan ?" We shall wait, hope, and see. There are many male parties busy at work preparing for the male voice competition; and I hear that the Pontycyn mer Male Society have entered. There is a golden opportunity for us to show outside of our little country what we can do. National musicians from the various countries of Europe have for years been winning glory for their respective nations, and let us all contribute to make this eisteddvod such a success as will reflect credit on the sons and daughters of Cambria. The complete programme will be ready in a very short time. The secretary informs me that it is intended to engage six judges for music- three from America and three from Wales. The Eisteddvod Concerts will be a feature, and the first night's programme will be of a miscel- laneous character; the second, a new opera, Cefnydfa, by an old pupil of mine, Dr Mason the third, Saul of Tarsus, Dr Parry; and fourth, grand united choral display of national airs. Thus it will be observed that the whole is most enticing, and let us hope that it will be necessary to engage a fleet to convey the many thousands who will doubtless take the opportunity of visiting the W oot where they can meet face to face once more their friends who for years have been absent from the home of their childhood and the land which gave them birth.
Songs for the People. t
Songs for the People. t Andrew Fletcher, of Saltoun, in a letter to the Marquis of Montrose wrote :-1 know a very wise man that believed that if a man were permitted to make all the ballads he need not care who should make the laws of the nation."
WORKMEN'S TOPICS. 1
WORKMEN'S TOPICS. BY MABON, M.P. I The Coal Mines Regulation Act (1887) Amendment Bill. A most important meeting of the Joint Executive Council of the Miners' Federa- tion of Great Britain and ths National Union of Miners having been held in Lon- don last week, to which your humble ser- vant Mabon," was invited, to consider the proposed amended Bill of the Miners' and this meeting having decided to support the second reading of the Bill, justifies my calling the attention of your readers to the propositions made, especially as I was not able to attend that meeting officially on behalf of the miners of Monmouthshire and South Wales, and also as some of the pro- posed amendments cannot and do not meet With the approval of the Monmouthshire and South Wales miners. The third clause of the Bill, which origin- ally proposed to restrict the hours worked by all persons underground to eight during any consecutive 24 hours, applies at present to persons under the age of 21 years only. Parliamentary usages would not allow the general principle to be discussed the second time the same session,and the Bill proposing to limit all labour in mines to eight hours lD the same way will come before the House on the 23rd inst., which date precedes that ttpon which the Coal Mines Regulation Act Amended Bill will be discussed. And, moreover, it is the opinion of the leaders connected with this Bill that raising the age of young persons who are to be protected by the Mines Regulation Act to 21 years will meet with the approval of the miners of the North, including Durham, Northumberland, and Cleveland, and this move is calculated to meet with the general approval of many M.P.'s who cannot see their way clear to vote for the more drastic measure dealing with adult labour in mines in the same way. In the same clause it is also proposed that a book, to be called "The Honrs of Work Book," should be kept in the office at' each mine, such book to be open to the inspection of the mines inspector at all reasonable hours. The fourth clause prohibits young persons Under the age of 16 years working in a rain,e.. Clause 5 proposes to totally prohibit female employees in any manual labour even above ground at the mines. The foregoing are the only clauses in the Bill dealing with the prohibition of employ- ment. Still they propose to do it in a most decisive manner. Under the present Act Jtis possible for special purposes to employ boys at the age of 12 years for Underground work, and girls of the age 13 years above ground. But in the amended Bill, in addition to the total Prohibition of female employment and that of boys under 16 years of age, it is proposed also to apply the regulation clauses of the Present Act in a way as to prevent all young persons under the age of 21 from working more than eight hours a day in any con- Sfccntive 24. This, if ever carried into law, Mil go very far indeed to meet the necessi- ties of the case yea, pretty near as far as doing away with the 4 4 Mines Eight Hours ~111" now asked for. There is not the slightest doubt that as soon as this proposed is published and made known, this por- tion of it will from certain quarters be as strenuously opposed as is the Eight Hours laill. The ire of many parents will be l'aised and taken advantage of by our op- ponents in order to defeat the objects of the Bill. Wailing cries of what will become of young females and boys that are now finding employment in this way, and what Vrill become of those poor families that are and would be supported by that means if y°u prevent them being so employed in future, will be raised. Personally, how- ler, I am thoroughly convinced that as a result of such legislation, J^ere be any suffering at all, it cannot be out of a very temporary character. I was bever more convinced than at present of the evil results of female and boy labour on the wages of male adults. Nothing can ever be more strongly demonstrated than this was done during the investigation leading up to ."e recent Factory Amendment Act, where lt was found that whole families were working for wages which the head of these bught to be making personally, and what he would have earned had it not been for the evil results of the system that allowed father, mother, and children to work in support of the gam* family. The same thing turns up over and over again before the Labour Commission. Whatever else this Commission will be able to prove it will do this to the satisfaction of the whole world undoubtedly, that the Earnings of adult male labour are much "lgher where female and child labour is not employed than where it is. And I am one ° £ those who welcome the proposed with satisfaction, for it will not only Remove the obligation upon boys of tender age to enter our mines before their bone and muscles are properly set, and to inhale Ullwholesome and noxious gases before they 4te strong enough to withstand their evil effect, but in my opinion it will in the not very far distant future remove also the Necessity of their doing so, inasmuch as the ""ages of the adult male labourers will advance when the competition of female 4ud child labour is no more. Section 6 proposes that Section 9 of the Principal Act, which provides for penalties for the employment of persons in contraven- tion of that Act, shall also apply to the Contravention of the provisions of the new Act with respect to employment and the Hours of Work Book." „ Clause 7 deals with the removal of the cbeckweigher, and provides to substitute for Sub-section 4 of Section 13 of the Principal Act the following :— If. the owner, .rant,, or, manager qf a mine the removal of a checkweigher on the pWuad that the checkweigher has afc tho mine l0aPed|d og interrupted *he working of tho mine, 0r interfered with theweighing or with any of the Workmen, or with the management of the mine, or has at the mine, to the detriment of the owner, a&eot, or manager, done anything beyond taking 6V°h account, determining such deductions, or Diving such information as aforesaid, he may Cotnplain to a Court of Summary Jurisdiction, ^oo, if of opinion that the owner, agent, or manager shows sufficient prima facie ground for •he removal of the checkweigher, shall call on 'be checkweigher to show cause against his Removal. It will be observed by those acquainted ^ith the principal Act that the difference between the old and new clauses is that the "ords are written in italics in the new—or "Itterfet-ence with the weighing, or with any of the workmen-are left out in the amended clause. This improvement, if accepted, 1l1, however, make a material differenco in the position of the checkweigher, as the guardian of the interests of the men. Ac- Cording to the present Act, however grossly the workmen may be wrong, is by weight, "y tare, or by balance, the check- weigher has no right of interference that ould immediately convert that wrong *ttto right, but simply to record tho weight t*ken whether the machine, or anything else 1s right or not. He cannot interfere with the weighing, however much the interest of the man who employs him may suffer in the Meantime; and he has no right to interfere with the workman that he may find guilty of 4tlch wrong. Neither has he the right of eomraunieating with the workman or work- %,on, who suffer that wrong until he or they will have left their employment at the end of the turn, or of the day. The account of the weight that ht; has to give information with respect to the weighing, or weighing J machine, or the taring of the trams, or with respect to deductions or any other ) matter within the scope of his duties as checkweigher, all must be given by him to those who employ him in such a way and at such time that the working of the mine is not interrupted or impeded thereby. Know- ing this, it will be seen how absolutely necessary it is that the proposed amendment should be granted so as to prevent tliø per- petuation of some of the grossest of injus- tices that the collier has to suffer, and that the checkweigher at present is unable to prevent.
SMALL CULTURE. I 9
SMALL CULTURE. 9 No. 12.-POTATO & TOMATO CULTURE. By W. J. May, (Author of Vegetable Culture for Amateurs.") Where convenience already exists for dealing with tomatoes, a fair return can be had from them if managed as here described, but it is quite useless for unskilled persons to go in for forcing and other highly-skilled work, as in this they in all probability would only secure failures. Should glass structures already exist, they can be utilised, but it does not pay anyone to put them up unless they have both skill and capital. Potato growing can be made to pay very well without very much outlay or skill, but the earliest crops produce the highest prices, particularly when near towns of any size. At the same time, London is not a good market for this class of goods, owing to both home and foreign competition, and local sales will usually give most profit, especially as carriage is an item to be considered. POTATOES. These are only really profitable when wholly grown out of doors. The most profitable sale for potatoes is when they fetch about twopence per pound as new potatoes," and this can be done in most years, if the place where they are grown is a fairly warm and sheltered one. Main crops pay if rent is not too high, and good sorts are grown but it is useless to have poor sorts even when they crop heavily, as such only in- crease the cost of carriage, and the extra quantity sold does not make up for the loss of price per ton and the extra carriage. To grow potatoes well, deeply worked and fairly rich friable soil is needed, while as far as possible avoiding fresh manure. The earliest kinds should be "sprouted" before they are planted, which is best done by procuring some herring boxes or others of a similar light and handy make, and standing selected seed potatoes in these with the bunch eye uppermost, only having one layer in each box, and with herring boxes this means practically two boxes to the stone of seed. These boxes should be prepared in January and Febru. ary, and placed somewhere where a temperature of from 40 degrees to 45 degrees is maintained, and when they have produced shoots about half an inch in length they are ready for planting. According to the position of the beds and the season, the rows should be opened outin February or March, having trenches the width of the spade and three or four inches deep. For this work, Rivers' Royal Ashleaf, Myatt's Prolific, and Mona's Pride will be found good, but where they will sell, Golden Shaw is about the earliest of all for outdoor work. The, second early potatoes should be set at about thirty inches from row to row, and some fifteen inches apart in the rows, as the object is to have them fit for market as soon as possible. While the earliest potatoes will bring from 3d to l%d per lb., according to size and earliness, the second earlies will bring from 2d to Id for the best, while later they will gradually drop to just under a halfpenny per pound, but if of good quality, rising consebJy froijv Christmas onwards. Locally approved varieties are specially desirable for this later orop as only saleable stock should be grown. Late crops of potatoes are rarely of sufficient profit to make their cultivation desirable, as they do not permit of a following crop, while after second earlies, one can have various green crops, which often are as valuable as the potatoes. Inselectingthe varieties for planting, always have those which produce tubers of good form, for instance, using magnum bonum in preference to Champion or Imperator, as taken altogether magnums will sell better than the others, and there is also less waste. TOMATOES. Where a light glasshouse exists which is adequately warmed artificially, tomatoes can be profitably grown for mid-season work, but unless technical skill is possessed to some very consider- able extent, early work cannot be successfully attempted, and, speaking generally, it does not pay an unskilled person to erect houses specially for the work. Anything above 3d per pound for tomatoes from June till November pays fairly well, and,if sold at retail, more than half the fruit will realise 6d per pound, and the rest will average quite 4d or say 5d per pound all round. Good shapely varieties should be selected, but shy bearers should be avoided as far as possible. Out-door work can hardly be termed profitable, as the fruit rarely ripens. To grow tomatoes under glass a minimum temperature of 55 degrees must be available, and in the mode of cultivation described, sun heat is utilised as far as can be done profitably, In February or March seeds should be sown thinly, and placed on a slight bottom h-tif such can be commanded, or, failing this, in a warm part of the house. So soon as the young plants are in rough leaf they should be potted off into three-inch pots, where they will remain until the time for planting arrives; this may be in the end of March or early in April, as the case may be, but it is not too late to put them out until the end of May. During the whole of the time the plants are growing they must be kept; as sturdy as possible, and air must be given them at all times that such can be safely done. Unless a house specially built for this class of work, or a vinery which has been cleared of the vines is to be used, the following-is about the best method of working: boxes, such as spirit or wine boxes, are prepared by having holee Bored in the bottoms to let off superfluous water, or a bench is erected which will bold a foot or rather more of soil, and a layer of about three inches of pctsherds or broken bricks is put in to afford perfect drainage. On this lay some turfy loam to prevent the drainage becoming choked with fine soil, and then fill the boxes, etc., to withm an inch of the top at the sides, and^ rather higher in the centre, using fairly rich loamy soil, sufficiently friable not to become waterlogged or sour. When this has become of the temperature of the house, the plants should be put in, having them about 2 feet apart, unless they are to be Trained under the glass in the satoo,way as vines, in which case they should be in now and stand about 18 inches- apart. About two main stems should be trained up, and after each lateral has shown a bunch of flowors it should be pmched back to one joint beyond this bunch, and with ordinary care the whole plant will be covered with fruit from base to top. A free circulation of air must be provided at all times with a minimum temperature of 55 degrees, ant} full ex- posure to sun should at all times be allowed. Where proper bordtprs can be made up, as in a vinery, boxes will not be required, Dot ample provision must be made for draiipg^ Without exception tomatoes are the thirstiest plaints grown, ana in nbfc weather a thorough soaking with water mudt be given both morning and evening, while, when tho fruit is swelling, liquid manure should be given on alternate evenings. Good sorts for general use are Sutton's Main- crop, Hathaway s Excelsior, The Trophy, and Ea.rley 8 Defiance, while for cooking purposes the Dwarf Orangefield is very free beariue, but-the shape is not of the best.
NO TIME TO LOSE.
NO TIME TO LOSE. NEIGHBOUE,—I wuz S'prised to hear lately, Brudder Wampus, dat yOu's drinkin' hard. MR WAMPUB.-Ya.ssir. Dey's a man out West says de worl' am gwine to come to an end in 'bout two weeks, an' Fee bound I won't let die yerea bar'l o' cider gv to waste
WELSH GLEANINGS. ..
WELSH GLEANINGS. By Lloffwr. I Wales in Newcastle-on-Tyne. A correspondent writes:—The annual celebra- tion of the national festival of the Welsh residents of Tyneside district was begun on Saturday evening by a conversazione and dance at the Lovaine-hall, when there was a large gathering of the Cymru as well as many English friends. The arrangements were carried out by a committee of ladies, including Mrs Jenkins (Consett Hall), Mrs John Rees, Mrs Hugh Roberts, Mrs D. Davies, Mrs Ceiriog Hughes, and Mrs Taylor. When dancing was suspended at 11 p.m. the opinion was unanimous that a most enjoyable evening bad been spent, and general wishes wore expressed for a repetition of the same merry meeting next year. On St. David's Day the celebration was continued by the holding of the annual dinner at the Crown Hotel, Newcastle-on-Tyne. The company present was the largest that has assembled together on this occasion for some years. Mr Bagnal, bank manager, Sunderland, presided, and the vice- chair was filled by the Rev. J. Hushes, vicar of Howden. In addition to the usual loyal toasts, "The Bishop and Clergy and Ministers of all denominations" was proposed by Mr Francis, The Trade and Commerce of the District" by Mr Graveil, and the toast of the evening, "The Day we celebrate," in an excellent speech, by Mr John Rees. Both gatherings are much indebted to Mr O. D. J ones for his invaluable services as accompanist. With song and speech, in the ancient tongue, interspersed with English, a most harmonious and enthusiastic meeting was con- cluded with the usual patriotic fervour of Hen Wlad fy Nhadau." The late Gwilym Gwent." Welsh-Americans are overflowing with Cymric ardour which finds expression on all possible occasions. At present the project to erect a monument to Gwilym Gwent," the gifted com poser of that charming glee, Yr Haf," is receiv- ing their enthusiastic support. A working miner all his days. Gwilym Gwent" still found in a too scanty leisure opportunity for cultivating his love of the divine art, and he has enriched Welsh music by many valuable contributions, several of them studded with gems of melody and all characterised by great beauty of expression. The Scranton Blade declares that Welshmen witness with joy the steady progress made by the monu- ment fund. "No knee in free America," we are told, "would bow to inane Royal personages, but in no country under the sun is there such homage paid to genius. Gwilym Gwent' was a musical genius, who conferred greatest honour upon the Welsh nation, and we should as a people co- .opera.te in inscribing his name on marble, which may be read by our descendants of the third and fourth generation." Dr John Thomas's Illness. The students of the Bala-Bangor Independent College have received the following touching letter from Mr Josiah Thomas I am re- quested by my father, the Rev Dr Thomas, to acknowledge your favour of the 23rd in4, con* veying a resolution pf sympathy with him in his present severe and serious illness, from the students of the Bangor Independent College. He is much touched by the kind expression of condolence contained therein, and assures you of his continued interest in the spiritual welfare of all who are preparing for tho great work of the Christian ministry-a work with which the greater part of his life has been bound up, and a work to which, if restored to health and strength, he proposes devoting the few remaining years of life with deeper consecration than ever. From a bed of sickness his prayer is that the students of your college may abound in grace, and may God be merciful unto you, and bless you, and cause His face to shine upon you. The article on Mr Owen M. Edwards, M.A., which appears in the current number of the Welsh Weekly, is from the pen of an old fellow. student of the gifted Oxonian, viz., Rev J. A. Jenkins, B.A. Mr Jenkins closes an eloquent article in these words:—" David was taken from the sheep-fold to be the leader of his people Israel. Why should 'we not believe that Pro- vidence is calling Owen Edwards, who as a boy watched his father's sheep on the slopes of the mountains of Llanuwchllyn, to lead tho people of Wales, as the shepherd leadeth the sheep,into the fruitful pastures of historical research, and into the lovely meads of poetry and imagination ?" One of the Welsh-American journals contains a capital translation into English of Can y Melinydd," of which our old friend Dafydd Morganwg is the author. The first verse will convey an idea of' the fidelity of the translator In youder rocky hollow, g A crystal brooklet near, ;Jj? A miller's trade I follow, And wife and children cheer; The brooklet Rives its water gaily To turn the mill-stones ana the wheel, And pleased am I to see that daily From golden grain is ground the meaL The Hon. Arthur Howells. In the "Cambrian," a monthly journal, pub- lished in the United States, there is an admirable biographical sketch and portrait of the Hon. Anthony Howells, ex-treasurer and ex-senator of the State of Ohio. Mr Howells, it appears, was bom in Dowlais in 1832, the son of a working collier, who hailed from Llandilo. He himself worked for several years in the coal mines of South Wales, but emigrated to America in 1850. He is now one of the largest colliery proprietors in Ohio. In politics he is a Democrat, in religion a Baptist. An enthusiastic supporter of all Welsh movements, he is especially attached to the Eisteddvod. Mr Howells is now serving his second term as President cf the Ohio Insti- tute of Mining Engineers. Et Caetera. The Goleuad comments on Mr Balfour'srfaihire in his new post as leader of the House of Commons. In the Cerddor for March, Mr D. Emlyn Evans has a critical and appreciative sketch of Rubin- stein. The Baner lends all the-weight of its powerful s support te Mr Alfred Thomas's National Institu- tions (Wales) Bill. We have received the Diwyffvmr for March (B. R. Rees, Llanelly) and Y. tfaul (W. Spurrell and Son, Carmarthen). Unquestionably one of the most interesting magazines now published in WeJshis Ogfaill yr Advyyd (" Friend of the Hearth "), into which has recently been merged the. Frythones. The number for March is excellent in every way. Of the variety and character of its contents we can. not speak too highly. The magazine has, super- added to its literary excellence, the merit of "being typographically pleasing. The publishers ,are D. Williams and Son, Llanelly. The Tyst is not onamoured of the St David's Dayservice in St Paul's Cathedral, andcomplains that Nonconformists were excluded from all par- ticipation in the service, except as choristers. Having regard to the place where the service was held, its promoters were perhaps hardly to be blamed for this, and in these circumstances it would be better for Nonconformists and Church- men to meet together on such an occasion in a* place where both have the same privileges.
Members for Merthyr.
Members for Merthyr. iii [BY W, R. WILLIAMS, SOLICITOR, TALYBONT.] The Reform Act of 1867 gave an additional member to Merthyr, and also gave rise to a keen contest at the next general election, in Novem- ber, 1868. Mr Henry Richard and Mr Fother- gill came forward as additional candidates, and, in spite of his tried services, Mr Bruce was left at the bottom of the poll, the result being declared— Richard, 11,683 Fothergill, 7,439 Bruce, 5,776. All the three candidates were similar in politics. and, in fact, no Conservative has ever represented Merthyr. The enormous increase in the elec- torate will be at once seen when it is mentioned that in 1832 the registered number of electors was only 502, which in 1835 became 564, in 1837 became 582, by 1841 had risen to 760, to 842 in 1847, and 1,263 in 1858, and in 1874 had increased to 15,125. Mr Henry Richard was the son of Rev Ebenezer Richard, Calvinistic Methodist, of Tregaron, Cardiganshire, where he was born in 1812, and married, 1866, Augusta Matilda, third daughter of John Farley, of Kennington Park. road, London. He was educated at a private school in Wales (said Dod's Pari i amen try Coin- panion"), and subsequently at Highbury Con- gregational College, and was for several years minister at Marlborough (Independent) Chapel, Southwark, but in 1848 became secretary of the London Peace Society, a position which he re- tained till his death. Mr Richard was author of the Memoirs of Joseph Sturge," Social and Political Condition of the Principality of Wales," and The Present and Future of India." He was member for Merthyr from 1868 till bis death in 1888, having been re-elected 1874, 1880, 1885,, and 1886. Mr Richard Fothergill, of Abernant House, near Aberdare, was born at Caerleon, Mon„ 1822, the son of Richard Fothergill, of Lowbridge House, Westmoreland, his mother being Char- lotte, daughter of Charles Elderton, of London (Quaere related to the unsuccessful candidate, 1859). He was educated at the Military Academy, Edinburgh, married (1) 1848, Elizabeth, daughter of Edward Lewis, and (2) 1850. Mary, daughter of William Roden, and was proprietor and manager of the Aberdare Extension Ironworks and Collieries. Mr Fothergill was a J.P. for Pembrokeshire, and a J.P. and Deputy- Lieutenant for Glamorgan, and sat for Merthyr 1868-80. Feb.. 1874.—Richard (L.), 7,606; Fothergill (L.), 6,908; Thomas Halliday (L.), 4,912. April, 1880.—Mr Henry Richard (L.) and Mr Charles Herbert James, of Brynteg (L.), were returned, defeating Mr (now Sir) William Thomas Lewis, of The Mardy, Aberdare (Independent Conservative). Mr James was born in 1817, ad- mitted an attorney-at-law and solicitor in 1838, and, having attained an extensive practice at Merthyr, became its member 1880, was re-elected Nov., 1885, and July, 1886, and resigned his seat in Parliament 1888. 1888.-David Alfred Thomas, M.A. (R.), of Scuborwen, Aberdare, colliery proprietor, re- turned without opposition, vice C. H. James, re- signed. 1888.—William Pritchard Morgan (R.) vice Henry Richard, deceased. After a severe con- test. Mr Pritchard Morgan defeated his rival, Mr Foulkes Griffiths, who held similar views in politics. Having led an adventurous life in Australia, where he acquired a fortune, the "Gold King" camb to England, and in a few years' time became the junior representative of Merthyr. Ho is very popular in the con- stituency. In 1888, he presented the celebrated gold baton for competition at the National Eisteddvod of Wales, which was won by the Newtown Choir in that year at Wrexham, and by the Carnarvon Choir at Brecon, 1889, and Bangor, 1890, and thereupon became the property of the latter choir. He was one of the presidents of the Royal National Eisteddvod of Wales at Brecon September, 1889. [CONCLUDED.]
AnJILTED ARTIST'S SUICIDE.
AnJILTED ARTIST'S SUICIDE. Paul Canon, artist, journalist, member of a half-dozen clubs, and looked upon at St. Joseph, Mo., as a rival to James Whitcomb Riley, walked into Levin's gun store and asked to look at some revolvers. Selecting a weapon of 38-calibre, Canon inquired if the price included cartridges. On being told that it did, he requested the store- keeper to load it for him. Taking the weapon in his hand. Canon said,— Are you sure this gun will shoot straight ?" If it doesn't you needn't pay for it," replied the dealer. It looks like a good weapon," said Canon, but I'd like to bet you the cigars I couldn't hit a mark six inches away." I'll take you," quickly replied the dealer. All right here goes," said Cn, and before the horrified shopkeeper could interfere Canon had placed the pistol to' his temple and sent a bullet through his brain. On his person was found a note addressed simply to "Adelaide." It afwd II DEAR GmL-Yoû have wedded wealth and I am wedded to death. Which is the happier ? PAUL." It told the whole story. A short time ago the announcement of his engagement to one of the mobt beautiful girls in the city was made. A wealthier suitor appeared on the scene and she had heartlessly jilted him.
[No title]
kcerf;ain literary German, whose manner of speaking was extremely deliberate, and who dis- approved of impetuosity of any sort in any cir- cumstances, had an amusing experience in a res- taurant one day. He was a well-known figure among the patrons of thisparticularestablishment, as he seldom dined anywhere else, and he was generally served by a waiter who had become used to his way of speaking but one day a new waiter took his order, and brought his soup. I cannot eat this soup," said tho gentleman slowly, not looking up from his plate. The man seized the-soup plate before the customer could finish the sentence, and vanished with it. He reappeared in a momentwith another supply of the same soup, "which he placed before the gentleman, and then stood regarding him with an anxious face, wonder- ing what could be the reason for the soup remain- ing untasted. I cannot eat this soup," again slowly remarked the literary man. Why not, sir? What is the matter?' stammered the un- happy waiter, who had been told he was serving an important person. I cannot eat this soup," said the literary genius calmly, for the third time, because I have not as yet been provided with a spoon." You have got two sopranos in your choir, I believe ?" "Yes, and both fine vocalists." I You should have some good music with two such singers ? "Yes plenty of harmony when they are singing:, but lots of discord when they ainV
-FARM AND GARDEN. I
FARM AND GARDEN. I Work on the Farm. We have been in winter once more. These checks invariably occur ilt this time. Last year we bad it later, but it wibj short and severe, and the damage done to the theepfold in our western and southern counties wit; not soon be forgotten. A late spring is even mire trying than an early winter, but we may e^ilhe the former infliction yet. January and F&^nary were both dry months, and fairly opeajfor the time of year, sc. that a lot of arrears in wtlkwôr8 made up. Some had even begun to IS their Lent corn, and another week's grace would have seen thousands of acres of oats under the ground. But it WIt'3 not to be, and the drill and harrow must be temporarily laid aside. But we may yet overtake the season. There is plenty of work attending to the feeding of live stock, the sheep-fold, and lambing-pcns, arranging and putting inorder of implements for spring use, and other pressing work at the home- stead. Many farmers will not be sorry for the respite from field work for a week or so longer. I fear the crops of 1891 will not leave a larga surplus of corn or bay for sale this spring. Hay will probably advance in value- this month, as stocks are getting low. There have been rather more mouths to fill this winter, owing to the poor prices of live stock in the autumn. Implements and Machinery. The careful farmer will ere this have had most of his implements overhauled and repaired. Those who have neglected to do so should see to it at once, as blacksmiths and wheelwrights will be busy, and much delay may be caused. It is better to be over-stocked than under-stocked with ordinary farm implements, such as ploughs, harrows, seed-drills, &c., as well as the common manual appliances for field culture. The wear and tear will be far less, and the worry caused by waiting for repairs will be avoided. A spacious and convenient cart and tool shed is indispensable on a farm of any size, and there should be a place for every article, so that it may be found at or. c) when ..wanted. Those which are most <iten in request, such as carts, waggons, ploughs, &c., should occupy a front position in the shed, which should be arranged and put in order every month or two-on a wet day. An old barn or outhouse is a capital place for storing old implements, or such as are not in frequent use. The Board of Agriculture. The report of the Board of Agriculture for the year 1891 shows the proceedings under the Enclo- sure Acts, the Copyhold Acts, the Tithe Acts, and certain other Acts. During the year about 26,600 acres were authorised to be enclosed, and about 30,630 acres to be regulated. The total number of exchanges, partitions, and divi- sions of land was 7,332, comprising 7,050 exchanges of land and other here- ditaments, 240 partitions of land, and 42 divisions of intermixed land. Of this total, there were completed and confirmed 6,456 cases, viz. 6,232 exchanges, 190 partitions, and 34 divisions. Tho property dealt with in this manner during the last115 years has comprised 58,067 acres, of the estimated value of £ 3,358,134, giving a yearly average of £ 223,875. The ap- plication of compensation money paid for ex- tinction of commonable rights and certain minor purposes under the Acts shows that 51 cases were dealt with, and in 21 of these cases money to the amount of £ 18,448 eated, and the incoipe applied for the bene of persons interested under the Enclosure Alct, 1852. It 21 cases money to the .amount of £ 125,348 was apportioned aaon^, peirecms under the Enel os -4re Act, 1854. In nine cases money to the amount of JBo,665 was laid out under the Commonable Rights Compensation Act, 1882- The expenditure under the Drainage and Im- provement of Land Acts amounted to £ 124,595 19.3 lld in the year 1891, and the total amount expended since the commencement of the Acts is £ 16,115,500 16s 4d. The weather during the past week has been such as might have led to the expectation that the markets would strengthen. Why they have failed to do so is probably due to the fact that wheat growers do not think much of what their crops will be till May is past. With respect to spring corn, the growers of barley who have a fine malting sample to offer need never have any difficulty in getting a good price, while all other sorts depend on value upon cir- cumstances such as foreign harvests and home hay crops, which have not yet come fairly into view for the current season. There, has, indeed, been a small rise from 32s 8d to 33s 3d in the English average, but this is due to the improved condition of offerings. Foreign wheat has been disappointing, the prolongation of winter failing to stimulate sales. Oats, with small importation, ought to have advanced, but for the most part firmness, at unaltered prices, is all that has been reported. Maize has been firm beans neglected, and the demand for lentils is singularly inert. Linseed declined 6d on the increased shipments from India.—Mark Lane Express, Vegetable Garden. This is always a busy season in the kitchen garden, but at the time of writing the surface on heavy lands is yet too wet to plant or sow. Doubtless, we shall have March dust by- and-byc, and as soon as the surface is workable onions and parsnips should be got in. Sow asparagus to raise plants for forcing, and plant new bed. Small seakale is not of much value. If the, rows of seétkaJ6 in the open air are covered with burnt earth or ashes or covered with pots and surrounded with leaves and such like to blanch it thoroughly, it will come in after the last of the forced kale is gathered. Those who have no root-cuttings may get up a stock by sowing seeds, but cuttings make the strongest and best crowns, although by good cultivation seedling crowns may be had large enough to force in one season. The surface of asparagus-beds should be gently stirred with tho fork on a fine, sunny day and the rake used to make the beds level and smooth. Salt at the rate of half-a-pound to the yard will be beneficial. Prick cut Brussels sprouts raised under glass to get strong. Where straw is used to protect radishes it should bG lifted off ,.on sunny days and replaced at night. Small birds are often destructive to the early radishes, but if the seeds are slightly damped and a little red lead dusted over them just previous to sowing, the birds will not touch them. The same treatment will save all kinds of coeds from birds and mice. A very good method of killing moss is to sprinkle over it a little freshly slacked lime. Window Gardening. The outside window-boxestnay be kept very gay now with common t' flowers, such as snowdrops, primroses, wallflowers, &c., and when the meCOlDes for the "geraniums" the hardy things may go back to the borders again. Aspidistras may be divided now if more stock is wished for. Seeds of primul obconica and cycla- mens may be sown in sandy soil and covered with a bell-glass, or a square of glass laid on the top of the pot will do. Green-fly should be kept down by hand-picking. This is not at all a difficult busi- ness for the few plants usually grown in windows -five minutes a day devoted to the work of t'ectroying insects will keep them clean. "Gera- niums" requiric Large Pots Inus have attention nOW.
Advertising
The late Sir Thomas Chambers was not a wit, ( and laughter seldom entered the court over which ho presided so There is, how- evsr, one good story told ot him in the Temple. It is to the ertoct that a. prisoner, who was un- defended, pleaded gu" counsel having been instructed to defena "im at the last moment, withdrew the Plea aQd substituted that of "not guilty," with re?*ilfc that the jury acquitted him. In discharging the prisoner, Sir Thomas is said to have remarked •' Prisoner, I do not vnvy your feelings. 9n your own confes- sion you are a thief, and the jury have found that you are a liar." The following recently appeared in a matrimbnial pip01" A stamp collector, the possessor of a collection of ?2,544 stamps, wishes to marry a lady 1S an ardent collector and a possessor of the ™uo Penny stamp of Mauritius issued in 184J- *t appears in the Moniteur of the island .°V~*auritius, and the stamp which the young mu3t posaess is valued at about 1,000 i >p*rwnt of its rarity.
IV.-LABOUR.
IV.-LABOUR. Rank may boast from its lofty station, And flutter in gilded array; Rule and direct the men of a nation, But Labour produces the pay. Wealth may glitter in golden plumes, And its powcnul aid unfold; But while the control of man it assumes, 'Tis Labour that earns the gold. Learning may usefully lead the mind, And teach -Academicians' rules, But while it instructs in wisdom, we find 'Tis Labour that pays for the schools. The plough prepares the soil of the field, That grain may be strewn around, And the waving corn rich harvests yield, 'Tis Labour that tills the ground. The laden vessel may cross the main, While the billows her timbers lave; Britannia, the Queen of the Ocean, may reign, 'Tis Labour that conquers the wave. Good monarchs may rule o'er a people, that's true' While oppressors and tyrants shall fall; Then ever remember, ye arrogant few, Tis Labour that nurtures it alL WILL FLOYD.
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< To be Introduced to a Good Book is to make a Friendship."
THE BUCHANAN BALLADS.
THE BUCHANAN BALLADS. In issuing his works in a cheap form, Mr Robert Buchanan is setting a worthy example which many of the present day writers might well follow. I am Dunstan." There is such a true ring of manli- ness about these ballads, that to read them once is to make a life-long acquaintance with them. Many a politician and worker has received fresh inspiration and hope from reading Tom Dun- stan, or the Politician." smiling on me What matter if one be dead She's coming at last!' said he; Courage, boy wait and see Freedom's ahead 1 kow ()D How long, O Lord how long Must lhy Handmaid linger, She who shall right the wrong. Make the poor sufferer strong Sweet morrow, bring her H-tsten her over the sea, 0 Lord, ere Hope ba fied Send her to make men free V 0 Slave, pray still on thy knee, t REKDOM'S ahead/' Among the poets of the people none stand so high as Robert Buchanan. He is a poet, drama- tist, and novelist. Born in 1841 in Warwickshire, he was educated at Glasgow University. His father was a well-known Socialist lecturer and editor. He had for his college companion and J intimate friend the ill-fated David Gray. These friends and literary aspirants set out for London together without giving any warning to their friends. They shared a bankrupt garret in the New Cut until the consumption to which Grav at last succumbed made his return, to Sootland a necessity. Buchanan's first work was a success, for the humble life of London had rarely been so vividly, so humorously, and so pathetically described and painted as in the London Poems. Buchanan must have gained his knowledge of the inner life of the paor while he resided in the New Out. At any rate he was drawn to sympathise with the poor, and his interest in their lot has not declined with his success in life, but rather on the other hand as his position has improved his sympathy with and faith in tho people has correspondingly increased. He knows the people's joys and sorrows, their thoughts and feeling, and feels and thinks with and for them. His verses pulsate with life scorn for the bad, praise for the good that struggles against the surrounding evil, and withal their is always hope dominating all- Nought is so base that Nature cannot turn Its dross to shining gold, No lamb so lost that it may never learn Its footpath to the fold. Such a refrain is a splendid Venvoi of his new poem which appears in this volume, Hallelujah Jane," describing in "words that live and thoughts that burn a passage from the work and influence of the Salvation Army. The Buchanan Ballads close as they open with a hopeful strain:— I sing of hope, that all the lost may hear; I sing of Light, that all may feel its ray; I siug of Souls, that no one Soul may fear; I sing of God, that some perchanoo may pray. Angels in hosts have praised Him loud and long, But Man's shall be the last triumphal Song.
--------------THE HOUSEHOLD.
THE HOUSEHOLD. COOKING MEAT.—Meat, when used for soup, should be put on to cook 111 cold water, and so should any salted meat, like ham or corned beef, but when it is intended to bi used as boiled met it should be put on in boiling water, so as to harden the fibrine, and confine the juices of the meat. The meat should in all cases be kept under the water. Turn it frequently, so that it may cook on all sides. It should boil only gently, A pod of red pepper added to the pet will keep the odour of boiling from filling the house. Remove all scum as it rises. Allow twenty minutes to a pound. A SIMPLE SOUP.—To bones and scraps of meat, or%he remains of a roast, after thoroughly boil- ing, add one carrot, two onions, two potatoes, two tomatoes, a little parsley and celery. Cut the vegetables in small dice and add two tablc- spuonsfuls of rice. Season before serving. BARLEY SUGAR (WHITE).—Boil some loaf sugar until it is easy to crack, then pcur it upon a marble slab greased with oil of sweet almonds, and mould it into any desired figure. It must be kept frvm thr. air or it will become soft. CINNAMON WATKB.—Swep one pound of einna- mon bark for four or five days in a gallon of brandy and the same quantity of water, then distil off one gallon. IF SUIT SALT, TO PREPAJW^Ta^e TW^FL^KEES of |>i-carbonat« of soda, two .;tinces of tartaric acid, two ounces of cream of tartar, two ounces of mamesia citrate, one ounce of Epsom salts, and half a pound of loaf sugar dust. Dry tboioughly in the oven, mix, and put into stoppered bottles. Koen in tho dry. Dose A teaspoonful in a tumbler of water. SICE JELLY.—Mix one tablespoonful of rice Sane or ground rice in a little cold water, put in a pint of boiling water, let it boil, and swoeten with lump sugar. Put into a mould and set on ice. BtEf TRA ABBOWROOT.-Take a half-pint of beef tea and put in a saucepan with a teaspoonful of arrowroot, and stir till it boils season with pepper and salt. It has been found very .sttemgtheninc and nutritious. PLAIN PLUM: CAKE. — One pound of flour, quarter pound of butter, half pound of sugar, half pound of currants, two ounces of mixed peel, half pmt of milk, one egg, and one teaspoonful of ammonia. Mix the flour, sugar, peei, and currants well together. Beat the butter to a cream, add the milk, egg, and aftimonia. Mix all well together, put in buttered tin and bak-A two hours. The cost is only Is.
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If your mother had twenty yards of stuff, and made a dress requiring but eighteen yards, how much would she have left ?" asked the teacher. Mamma can't make her own dresses. She has tried often, and they are always either too-" Suppose," interrupted the teacher, she sent it to a dressmaker, how much would the dressmaker "Depends on which dressmaker she sent it to. Some wouldn't send back any," said the little girl. "Suppose she sent it to au honest one?" said the teacher, impatiently. Some of the honestest ones cut thmgs to waste ao that there is never anything left, .no matter j how much you send 'em.
1 ECHOES FROM THE CALENDAR.…
ECHOES FROM THE CALENDAR. I MARCH. 20. SUNDAY.—Palm Sunday. 21. MONDAY.—Pri cess Louise ma. ried, 1871. 22. TUESDAY.—Peter Cummin, centenarian, died. 23. WEDNESDAY.—E A. Proc or, astr nomer, born 1(37- 24. THURSDAY.—Longfe'low died 1832. 25. FRIDAY.—Lady Day. 26. SATURDAY.—Duke of Cambridge born 1806. Palm Sunday. The brief popularity which Jesus experienced on His last entry into Jerusalem, when the people took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet Him, crying Hosanna, &c. has been com- memorated from an early period in the history of the Church on the Sunday preceding Easter. which day was consequently called Palm Sunday. Throughout the greater part of Europe, in defect of the palm tree, branches of some other tree, as box, yew, or willow, were blessed by the priests after mass and distributed among the people, who forthwith carried them in a joyous procession, in memory of the Saviour's triumphant entry into the Holy City; after which they are usually' burnt, and the ashes laid aside, to be sprinkled on the heads of the congregation on the ensuing Ash Wednesday, with the priest's blessing. Peter Cummin, Centenarian. On March 22, 1724, was buried in Alnwick Churchyard, Peter Cummin, a day labourer, re- puted as upwards of 120 ye&rs old. His name could not be found in the parish register of baptisms, because all previous to 1645 were lost. In his latter years this venerable person used to live from house to house amongst the gentry of the district. It is related of him that, coming to the house of Mr Brown, of Shawdor, near Aln- wick, he looked round him and expressed wonder at the great change that had taken place since he was there last. He was asked how long that was ago, when, on a comparison of circumstances, the family found it was just 100 years. As a pendant to the case of Peter Cummins, it may be stated that a noted vagrant, named James Stuart, died at Tweedmouth April 11, 1844, aged 116, having been born in South Carolina on 25th December, 1728. A few charitable persons having combined to make the last days of this veteran comfortable, he naively remarked to an inquiring friend one day that he had na been sae weel off this hunder year." Swallowing a Pad look. Medical men see more strange things, perhaps, than any other persons. They are repeatedly called upon to grapple with difficulties, concern- ing which there is no definite line of treatment recognised; or to treat exceptional cases, in which the usual course of proceeding cannot with safety be adopted. If it were required to name the articles which a woman would not be likely to swallow, a brass padlock might certainly claim a placo in the list; and we can well imagine that a surgeon would find bis ingenuity taxed to grapple with such a case. An instance of this kind took place at Edinburgh in 1837; as recorded in the local journals. The particulars are as follow On the 23rd March the surgeons at the Royal Infirmary were called upon to attend a critical case. About the middle of February a woman, while engaged in some pleasantry, put into her mouth a, small brass padlock, about an inch and two thirds in length, and rather more than in inch in breadth. To her consternation, it slipped down her throat. Fear of distressing her friends led her to conceal the fact. She took an emetic without effect, and for 24 hours she was in great pain, with a sensation of suffocation in the throat. She then got better, and for more than a month suffered but little pain. Renewed symptoms of inconvenience led her tQ apply to the infirmary. One of the professors believed the qor- she told others deemed it incredible; and nothing immediately was done. When, however, pain, vomiting,, and sense of suffocation returned, Dr James Johnson, hospital-assistant to Professor Lizars, was called upon suddenly to attend her. He saw that either the padlock must be extracted or the woman would die. An instrument was devised for the purpose by Mr Macleod, a surgical instrument maker and, partly by the skill of the operator, partly by the ingenious formation of the instru- ment, the strange mouthful was extracted from the throat. The woman recovered. Longfellow. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, who died on the 24th. March, 1S82, is probably one of the best-known poets among the English-speaking peoples. He was born on the 27th of February, 1807, in the town of Portland Maine, of Puritan stock, and amid Puritan surroundings. He entered Harvard College in 1794-,and graduated with rank and honours in 1793. The house in which Henry Wadsworth Longfellow was born was situated within a stone's throw of the Slx>t where the first settlor built his cabin 1632 in Portland. Many of his poems are written in the hearts of the English people, and who that has read our literature at all is not familiar with "Evangeline," "The Golden Legend," "The Spauish Student," the "Psalm of Life," "The Courtship of Miles Standish," and that quaint song. Hiawatha."
AN ACCOMMODATING HUSBAND.
AN ACCOMMODATING HUSBAND. Gus De Smith has a young wife with whom a young man named Hostetter McGinnis has been fiirting pretty steadily for some months past. At last Gus callod Hostetter into his office, and the following conversation took place De Smith Mr McGinnis, I have evidence in my possession that justifies me in saying that you love my wife. Mr McGinnis I must admit that it is true. Do Smith I am satisfied that your affection for my wife is no passing whim, but is in the nature of ardent attachment. McGinnis Y un are right. I love her most devotedly. I adore her. De Smith After what you have said there can be but one result. McGinnis I know that. I am at your service at any time. All you have to do is to name the place, time, and weapons. De Smith (smiling) That is not what I mean. There is a much better way to arrange this matter. You say you cannot live without my wife, and your passion seems to be reciprocated. It woula be cruel for me to separate two snob loving hearts. I will procure a divorce, and then you can marry the object of your affections. You can then be united according to law. McGinnis disappears through the side door that leads to the street. r>e Smith (soliloquizing): He'll not show him- self around here again in a hurry. P.S.—Hostetter has left the town.
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FROM DESPAIR TO REJOICING. FDrroR.-Your manuscnptwas so badly spelled that we found it almost impossible to make out the sense of it, and- LIrlŒt.RY.A.sPmANT.-I-I'm very sorry, sir; 1- EDITOR—And-so we have decided to use it as a Welsh dialect story. Cheque will be sent on publication.
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SHORT RATIONS.—The Widow Flapjack keeps a boarding-house in Harlem, and we regret to say that she does not give her boarders as much as they can eat. Gus De Smith, in particular, is given to grumbling about the faro. A few morn- ings ago she gave him a very small piece of beek- steak. but instead of masticating it he merely folded his arms and looked at it—like Napoleon at St Helena. Why don't you eat your steak ?' asked the Widow Flapjack. It's too hot." Plow it, then." I am afraid to." Why f ,-r-'6r <*HHr it will blow away, itfs so small."
MEN AND MOVEMENTS OF THE DAY.…
MEN AND MOVEMENTS OF THE DAY. [BY ISALEX.) No. 5—TOM MANN and the New Trades Unionism. Unlike the prophets, 'lom Mann is not without honour in his own countiy, nor, indeed, have honours been tardily bestowed upon him, for he is yet a young man. From drawing coal in a mine like a beast of burden to an appointment on the Royal Commission of Labour-and the Commission appointed by a Tory Government, too-is a long step, for even so able a man as the president of the Dockers' Union. We shall be better able to understand Tom Mann's life work by first glancing at his personal history. He was born on April 15, 1856, at Foles- hill, near Coventry. His father was the chief clerk at the Vict-oria Colliery there, and at nine yea.rs of ageTom wen' tiworkon thefarmin can nation drag this along by j crawling on hands and toes. He had two long years of this child slavery, followed by two years' work on the pit bank. This brought him to the age of fourteen and a half, nù- fortunately for him a blessing cam? in the disguise of a tire at the colliery, which caused it to bs closed. The workmen left the district, and Mann, with his parents, left for Birmingham. Here he served a seven years' apprenticeship to an engineers' tool maker-seven years which proved very eventful. He regularly attended a night school, gaining seme acquaintance in the elements of knowledge, and afterwards occupied his spare time with the Science and Art Classes in connection with the Science and Art Department of South Ken- sington. Tom Mann's early struggles at self-improve- ment read strangely like those of many another reformer who has pushed his way through difficulty, and conquered obstacle after obstacle ill the endeavour to reach his idtal. He became a Sunday-school teacher and an advocate of teetotalism. Mutual Improvement Societies and Bible classes occupied a good deal of his attention, and every minute of his spare time was taken up with study or religious work. Up to this period in his career, he had been identified with the Church of England, though regularly attending the classes in connection with the Society of Friends :n Birmingham. During his last year in the Midland town he was much attracted by the Swedenborgians. At the age of twenty-oni he turned his face Londonwards, that Mecca of so many ardent young souls, taking the position of a clerk in a West End house. He continued his studies in theology, and at length severed his connection with the Established Church, and became identified with the New Church" or Swedenborgians. The work of a clerk did not prove very accept- able to the young engineer, and eleven years ago he again turned his attention to engineering, and .became a member of the Amalgamated Society of Engineers. This proved the turning point of his life, for since his initia- tion as a member of his Union he has given his whole thought and attention to Trades' Unionism. He found his social creed" iu the preface to the Rules" of his own Union. After urging the men to combine, the preface goes on, If we do this, we may leave to a future generation not only a trade, but the means of maintaining its best interests until some more general principles of co-operation shall be acknowledged in society, guaranteeing to every member the full enjoyment of the produce of his labour," And although Tom Mann has been denounced as agitator, firebrand, and Socialist- terms which are now becoming to be understood as synonymous for reformer"-he has never advocated anything more comprehensive than this. It should be stated in fairness to him that be uever uses the term new Trades Unionism, be- cause he is satisfied that the better section of the older trade unionists endorse the policy that has been specially set forth and defended by the younger school. Unionism, whether we call it new or old, means collective action for the com- mon interests of the warker, and it looks forward to the trade and commerce of the country being controlled and managed for the interest of all, and not specially for the benefit of the few. Tom Mann and his followers ask for no more than this, and they declare that they will be content with nothing less. The New Unionism has proved to be a great awakening of the people to their social condi- tion, and but for the movements of the past two years the Roval Commission on Labour would never have been appointed. The average Trade Unionist, until quite recently, had become ab- sorbed in making provision for monetary benefits —out of work pay, sick pay, accident, super- annuation, and funeral benefits—losing sight of the great social problem which Tom Mann de- clares it is the duty of Trades Unionism to solve. While be defends the provision of these benefits, he regards it as the beginning and not the end of Trades Unionism. The real work of the Unions to-day is to acquire and im- part the best possible knowledge of industrial economics, learning the causes of present indus- trial difficulties, and how to apply the remedies, and in this way doing what neither the Univer- sities, nor the elementary schools, nor the Church, nor the politicians are doing, viz., laying ourselves out to bring industrial order out of the present day industrial chaos." In Tom Man's own words, this is what he works for; and to quote again, "which is now my religion, and I am trying to make it other peoples." He is a born leader of men, has a clear head, and a keen eye for organisation. He was the steadying force among the leaders of the great Dock strike. He supplied an element which was needed in their councils, for he possesses the capacity for grasping the facts of a dispute and striking a fair balance, on which he bases his line of action and his demands. During the recent seamen's strike in Cardiff, by one temperate, firm, just. and yet conciliatory speech he won all sections to his side, and it is this capacity for calm judgment and his love of justice which has carried him to his present position. He is a good speaker and a clear and incisive writer. His memorandum on "The Regulation of Working Hours," which was submitted to the Royal Commission, is a lucid and comprehensive document showing a thorough grasp of the subject iq ,,11 its bearings, the facts being arranged in iitufforly style. Labour has a sturdy champion in the President of the Dockers' Union and the Labour Commis- sion. He has won his own spurs, and the honours which have fallen upon him have been well deserved. Tom Mann, like many of the leaders of labour, has bad the bitt-r txperience cf long hours and short pay. TLe memories of unregu- lated employment in tho colliery at Foloshill have burned themselves deeply into his mind, and to- day we find him a prominent figure in the eight hours' movement. NEXT WEEK :— REV J. PAGE HOPPS, and "OUT* FATHER'S CHURCH."
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LIGHTNING-PROOF SHIPS.—It is a curious fact that the iron ships of the present time are not damaged nearly so frequently as are wooden ships. The German Government has been col- lecting some statistics relating to the effect of lightning on ships and the reasons given by the commission appointed to collect the figures for the immuility of iron ships from damage f, that wire rope is used for rigging purposes and that the vessels are constructed either of iron or steel. In this way it is believed that the whole ship becomes a continuous conductor, leading the lightning to the soa before it can do much damage. The commission reports that no case has been recorded of a ship rigged with wire rigging sus- taining damage from lightning, except in a few instances wht re a continuous connection had not recorded of a ship rigged with wire rigging sus- taining damage from lightning, except in a few instances wht re a continuous connection had not been made with the hull. Wooden ships, on the aontrary, still show the percentage of casualties as formerly, when they are not fitted with lightning- rods.
GOSSIPS' CORNER. .-----
GOSSIPS' CORNER. Mr Ffrangcon Davies has been engaged for the Lincoln Triennial Musical Festival to be held during the present year. Mr Joseph Bennett will be one of the adjudi- cators cn music at the National Eisteddfod' at Rhyl. Alderman Thomas Williams, of Gwaelodygaxth, has subscribed £100 to the fund which is being raised to celebrate the jubilee of Rev Dr John Thomas, of Liverpool. Mr G. S. Warmington, cf London (brother of the member for West Monmouthshire), has been unanimously adopted as Gladstonian candidate for Stratford-on-Avon. According to a German expert, Dr Kolb, who has been making experiments with a delicate machine for measuring the beats of the pulse, cycling is much less exhausting to ordinary persons than running, which, he alleges, is the most exhausting of all physical exercises. Mr County Councillor John Morgan Smith, who was returned unopposed for the Aberavon electoral division of the Glamorgan County Council, has returned the expenses of his can- didature as Nil." Mr Smith did not even issue an address. Mr William Salmon, J.P., of Fenllyne Court, Cowb.idge, Glamorganshire, who is. the oldest living Freemason, and the oldest member on t)m roll of the College of Surgeons, attained the 102nd year of his age on Wednesday, having been born on March 16th, 1790, near Wickham Market, in Suffolk. Mr Salmon has living six grand- children, aud 14 great grand-children. A quantity of black snow has fallen in the neighbourhood of Dicken Peterzeil, in the Canton of Geneva. This curious colouring, as is BOW well known, is attributable to the presence in the snow of a fungus but once upon a time it was a very popular and widespread belief that the phenomenon heralded the black plague, and all sorts of public calamities. In connection with the launch of H.M.S. Repulse at Pembroke, a good deal of bitterness has (says the Observer] been caused by the exclu- sion from the ceremony of the dockyard officials in favour of outsiders and it is intended to ask the Admiralty to lay down rules for use on such occasions. It will be remembered that, on the occasion of the launch of H.M.S. Edgar at Devonport, a dispute on the same subject led to much unpleasantness. Charles J. Ap Griffith, a gentleman from Cardiff, S.W., is the proprietor of the Buffalo Evening News. He is a zealous Cymro and the organiser of the Cambrian Society of that city, who have taken in hand the work of supporting the international Eisteddvod of 1893. Bravo, Ap Griffith So says an American exchange of the erstwhile Cardiffian, who was associated with the Whip, a satirical journal which went through strange vicissitudes in ths Welsh metropolis. An eminent politician, during the course of a discussion as to the oratory of Mr Bright and Mr Gladstone, compared the styles of the two statesmen to the music of Mozart and Wagner respectively. The resemblance between Mr Gladstone and Wagner extends to other details. The latter was devoted to his dog Peps," and Mr Gladstone, we now learn, is hardly less at- tached to his black Pomeranian. Mr J. R. Dalziel, the- new M.P. for Kirk- caldy, is a native of Kircudbrightshire, haviag been born at Borgue in 1868 He joined the Scottish Leader, the Edinburgh Radical daily, upon its establishment, and some three years age was.appointed its London rpresentative. During the recent strike among the Scottish railway ser- vants he took a prominent part on behalf of tbe men, and for his services was presented with a gold medallion, and made an honorary member of the Society A French newspaper tells a touching etory of a patient's gratitude to her physician for his in- telligent and devoted care of her health. Thia grateful lady died at the ripe age of 83, and in order to testify to the value in which she held her doctor's services, she left to him in her will everything contained in her private cabinet. On opening this casket of treasures, the worthy doctor discovered that its only contents were boxes of pills and untouched mixtures which he had prescribed during the past 10 years for the deceased. Miss Lottie Collins says:—" Ta-ra-ra-boom-de- ay has been a popular Volkslied, or song of the people, in Europe for years. I did not pet it from the Continent, however, it was sent to me from America. I liked the air of the refrain, and I thought I would have the thing written up in my own style. I gave it to Mr Richard Morton, who wrote the toords, while Mr Asher, of the Tivoli, put the musio inlk shape. The chorus is, of course, the im- portant part of the piece, and I insisted strongly upon emphasising the 'boom. The Life of Sidney Gilchrist Thomas, recently published by Mr John Murray, ought to rtA considerable interest in South Wales and Mon- mouthshire. The discovery of the basic proceed of making steel by this gifted man iias not only revolutionised that industry, but jutny of his experiments were made at Blacnavon and Dowlais, and Mr Edward Martin will always be honourably remembered for the encouragement which he gave to the gifted young discoverer at a critical jnncture. Mr Thomas's unfortunate death, at the age of 35, followed so soon upon the completion of his discovery as to be almost tragic. Fraiilein Emma Muller, a young actress of Berlin, states that about 19 or 20 years ago her father took her to a tea-garden in Potsdam, and one of the great attractions was a comic singer, who was dressed up as a silly soldier. He bad a big drum, with two sticks, and his trousers behind were tremendously inflated. He sang Ta-ra-ra boom-de-la," and at the word boom he would give the drum a tremendous whack, and then jump up in the air, come down flop, and then spring up again, and so on. The Fraiilein and her father were much amused at the time. Professor Blackie is now 83, has nevbr worn • pair of spectacles in his life, and until very recently had needed no medical advice for ores- 30 years- He attributes his robust health to the fact that he has always worked and lived, read and thought, on a system. He rises at 7.30 and breakfasts. The morning is occupied in work and corre- spondence. The open air claims him every day for two hours before dinner, and Morpheus for an hour after the mid-day meal. No hard work after nine. Unless he has a lecture or other engagement, the oyening finds him playing a game of backgammon with his wife, and he open* the door cf his bedroom as the clock is chiming twelve." A singular foct not hitherto published con- cerning Mr Hastings, M.P., who has been sentenced to five years' penal servitude, is that during one of his secrt visits to this country from tho Continent, whilst a warrant was out against him, he called at the Home Office to see the Home Secretary with regard to an expected revision of the sentence which he had passed some months before in his magisterial capacity in Warwickshire. It is also worthy of note as a coincidence, in view of tbe fate of Mr Hastings, that, when president of the Social Science Association, one of his favourite topics of study and discourse was prison discipline and th e treat- ment cf criminals. In a reference to the death of Mr Daniel Howie, the captor of Shoni Skybor Fawr, of Rebeoot. Riots notoriety, Mr George Augustus Sala writes. —It was principally among toll-bar keepers anc farmers of turnpike trusts that Shoni Skyboi Fawr and his merry men inspired terror. Other wise they enjoyed the entire sympathy of th* majority of the peasants of South Wales "Rvbecca and her Daughters were simply bodies cf country people who, disguistd in female attire and masked, went about at midnight demolishing turnpike gates. Gallant littla Wales," in 1843, hated highway tolls quite as intensely as she hates tithes and a non- Welsh- speaking clergy of 1892. But she is having her revenges. Has there not been a Cymric service in St. Paul's I