The Cardiff Times

T RR TAnf4le4m TAUT FURNISHING ESTABLISHMENT IN THE WORLD. /SJ/ & 7 • ESTABT.rsiTED V/75, 77, and f» 1848 MAMpsrrks r<H» (Near Tottenham wV/ Court-rd.) LONDON rreae Charge, and when prepaid mat /Carriage Paid to any IWlwj XVV/ Station in England or Wales. O/ ———- 410t I ILLUSTRATED CATALOGUE POST WW

WORKMEN'S TOPICS BY MABON, M.P. EMPLOYERS' LIABILITY. The Government Bill to amend the law relating To the liability of employers for injuries to their workmen is one of the first Labour measures of khe session, and at the commencement we are constrained to say that on the face of it, although it contains two distinct improvements on its predecessor, it fails to give satisfaction. We should like to have seen the Act framed in a less complicate 1 manner. In matters affecting large classes of citizens the lav should not only be just, bat appear so also. The first clause, in dealing with the liability of employer for personal injury to workmen, says that "where, after the com- menoement of this Act, personal injury is caused to a workman by reason of the negligence of any person in the service of the workmen's employer, the workman-or, in case of death, his represent tatives—shall have the same right to compensa- tion and remedies against the employer as if the workman had not been a workmen of, nor in, the tervice of the employer, nor engaged in his work." Here we find two important subjects dealt with- that of "negligence" and "common employ- went." We should have been better pleased had this clause been more defined and distinct with regard to personal negligence, though by the light of sub-section 2 it is evident that no alteration of the Common Law is intended. By Common Law every person is liable for his own negligence. Roughly speaking, such legislation would mean failure in duty of an ordinary case, such as reasonably may be required Under the circumstances of the case and would, therefore, be especially relative to those eircumstances. Negligence is a general term not defined. It may have different degrees under diffarent circumstances. For instance, a different degree of care may be expected from an owner of premises or machinery, according to the character of the danger, and according as the person concerned is a stranger, a servant, a licensee, or a person invited. Common Employment. Very difficult questions arise as to the meaning of common employment," especially in under- takings which are infcer-connected, without being wholly united. The meaning attributed to it in law is very wide indeed. Workmen employed by a contractor and workmen employed by the contractor's employer have before now been held to in common employ. ment, and when applied to the same undertaking and the same employer the term has come by a series of decisions to be all-comprehensive all the servants, from the lowest to the highest in- cluding the vice-principal himself, has been held to be in common employment, the one excep- tion is that whereas to a stranger a master is liable for the negligence of a fellow-servant in common employment. Hence an employer when sued for damages for an injury which the negli- gence of one of his servants has caused another of them. had an additional defence, viz, that the Iplaintiff who suffered and the defendant s servant whose negligence caused the in. jury were in Common employment, under this doctrine legal decisions have been greatly strained, and in pntcfcic* led to gross anomalies and injustice. The little employer who worked himself was held responsible, where the larger employer by delegating authority escaped responsibitity. The stranger who was injured Igr the employers' servant had hisremedy, whereas the workman had none and the law, therefore, was, and for all that is, an unfair one, operating oppresively against workman as a class, and the general result is that under the common law a workman can but very seldom have a remedy against his employer for negligence. For these reasons, therefore, we hoped that tho present Bill would in direct terms specify that the defence of common employment should be t abolished. But instead of that it only proposes to enact that the workmen shall have the same remedy as if he were not a. workman m the employer's service-the same remedy as a stranger in common law. This is not pood enough now. The old formulas ought to be done away with and distinct terms used abolishing die doctrine and defence of common enip oyiyieiit, root aud branch. Hence at best we cannot but consider that the first creation of the bier through professing and undoubtedly aiming at abolishing the doctrine of "common employment," only it is in a very weak fashion 'ndeed. Moreover we are afraid that it will, if carried, as it is. greatly limit rather than extend, the present liability of employers. The wording of it only makes them liable for injuries caused by reason of the negligence of any person in their emp'oyment. It is very questionable whether the general words used will cover injuries caused by reason of any defect in the ways, works, machinery, or plant connected with or used in the business of the employer, when the defect arises from, or had not been discovered or remedied owing to the negligence of the employer or of some person or persons in his service, aud entrusted to him with the duty of seeing that the ways, work.?, etc., were in proper conditon. If care is not taken to introduce into this clause certain additions, the employers will have many loopholes to go through that he does not possess at present. True, an employer under common law is nominally responsible for his own negligence—but in this case, if he can show that he bought the machinery in the ordinary way, paying the ordinary price, or that he hired his servants in the ordinary way, there is an end to the charge of personal negligence against him. If the clause-is left as it is, the onous of proving that the machinery was defective or the delinquent servant incompetent, and that the employer has personally failed to take reasonable care that the machinery should be proper or his servants competent. And this is next to impossible to prove. For these reasons it would, in our opinion, be extremely unsafe to leave the extent of liability loosely defined, as it is in this section, and therefore we would suggest the following amendment :-When after the commencement of this Act, personal injury is caused to a work. man- (1) By reason of the negligence of any in the service of the employer of such wo .km (2) By reason of any defect in the condition^ the ways, works, machinery, or plant connecteu with or used in the business of the employer; or (8) By reason of the act, Qr omission of any per- son in the service of tjhe employer, done or made in obedience to particular IlIstruction "iven by any person, delegated with the authority of the employer in that bihalf. The workman, or in CMe the injury results in death, the legal personal representative of the workman, and any person entitled in the case death, shall have the same right of compensation and remedies against the employer as if the workman had not been a workman of, nor in the service of the employer, nor engaged in his works. These words, if introduced, no doubt, would takeaway that defence cf common employ- ment, to and would possibly do more, or as has been stated, the standard of case enforced by the law varies according as the person conoerne is a workman, a licensee, a person, s person invi a .atraiger, ko. «b*eofcion 2 distinctly Further, the proviso m wag* perpetuates in form tne 1 this section 1, by ^,rUlg mg]ig6ncl formation of the defect 0 » » be given by the workman having kno in» in order to qualify him to sue. flupt.rior to formation may be given to »ny p« ineans o{ himself, but this person may ha ,h. whk* » Side his department. Again, th workman inform may be dispensed with « .m»rior Jroew that the employer or the wol'adifficult to knew of the defect. But it is often d q th(J prove that the employer knew it; » that workman is dead, almost impossible to be informed the employer. -n(} Tow* restrictions may to tho unpractical in these matters seem insignificant and unimportant, but to the practical man, and from a practical point of view, are very important blots upon the face of this new Bill, and if allowed to temain will have a distinct tendency to make the Bill an abortive one. Workmen will not have any further sham btlls upon this most important question.

The Household. Tobacco and Drink. I want my readers to make good resolutions for the new year, says Dr Allinson. I want them to try to do right, because they will find it fit for their good and happiness. First, with regard to tobacco. This is a poison that we are all better and healthier without, and if man had never discovered it our race would have been all the stronger. It injures the sight, often causes blindness it deadens taste, and sets up a desire for strong drinks; it is the cause of nine-tenths of the cases of cancer of the lip that we doctors see. It leads to dyspepsia and stomach diseases; weakens the heart's action, and paralyses it is a strong poison to the nervous system, causing all kinds of nervous symptoms, low spirits, depression, miserableness, restlessness, sleeplessness, tremb- ling, indecision, etc. It stops growth in the young, blunts the senses of the middle aged, and brings on palsy and paralysis in the old. I want those of my readers who use tobacco to give it up, and then the coming year will find them with improved health. Secondly, with regard to in- toxicants. Those drmks. be they cider, beer, ale, porter, stout, claret, sherry, port, or spirits, are other curses that man uses for his bodily destruc- tion. They are never necessary in health or disease, while their use, even in small quantities daily, causes disease and premature death. Dyspepsia, flatulence, ulceration of the stomach, congestion of the liver, hardened and gin- drinker's liver, kidney disease, gout, rheumatism, hardening and softening of the brain, and apoplexy, are all brought on or made worse by their u"e. Those who desire to make the most of life, and to get health and strength, will never allow these poisonous fluids to pass their lips.- Echo. How to Fumigate a Room. The proper way to fumigate a room is to close the doors, windows, fireplace, &c., and paste strips of paper over all the crack3. Fumigation bv burning sulphur is most easily accomplished. Two pounds of sulphur should be allowed for every room from ten to twelve feet square. It is better to divide it up and put it in several pans, rather than burn the entire quantity of sulphur used in one pan. To avoid the danger of fire, these pans should be set on bricks, or in other and larger pans filled with water or with sand. After pouring a little alcohol on the sulphur, and properly placing the pans about the room, that which is furthest from the door of exit, should be lighted first; the othersm order. The operator will need to move quickly, for no one can breathe sulphurous fumes with safety. After closing the door the cracks around it should be pasted up, as was done within the room. Six hours, at least, are generally necessary to fumi- gate a room ppoperly at the end of that time it may be entered and the windows opened; and they should be left open as long as convenient, even for a week if possible. After fumigation a thorough process of cleansing should be insti- tuted. The walls and ceiling should, at least, be rubbed dry much the better way is to white- wash and repaper. The floor and the woodwork and the furniture should be scrubbed with a solution of carbolic acid, or some other disin- fectant. Hints. POTATO CROQUETTES —Potatoes neatly made into the shape of croquettes form a nice accompani- ment for chop", tongue, or any light dish of meat. If desired to serve alone, a little finely-chopped meat may be incorporated chicken or ham, or a mixture of both, is good. and a little fine corned- bet-fisbyanint-.atu.tobedefspi,ipd.. Mafh foiled potatoes. of tbyrno or sweet marjoram rubbed to a powder, or a little chopped, parsley, may be used for flavouring. Season highly, and beat the ingredients together until the whole is light and creamy. Shape the croquettes nicely, about two and a half inches long by one in diameter dip in egg and crumbs, and fry carefully. A piece of onion fried in the lard before the croquettes helps to flavour. DEVILLED PoTA,ross.-Cut the potatoes length- wise 111 long, thin strips, and fry as usual plain slices, rounds or dice, may be used, as preferred. Cook quickly have ready meanwhile, in a sauce- pan, a good lump of butter, rubbed up with a sufficient quantity of French r/iustard, and, if liked, a little catsup or hot sauce of some favourite sort. The dish requires a high seasoning. Drop the potatoes into this sauce and shake up until they are well coated. Serve with the sauce in a deep dish. LIGHT BUNS.—A teaspoonfu) and a half of baking powder, a I)o,ind of flour, two ounces loaf sugar, the same weight butter, a. quarter of a pound of currants or raisins, a few caraway seeds, half a. pint of cold new milk, one egg. Rub the baking powder "lid flour together through a hair sieve work the butter into the fluur, add the su«'ar, fruit, and caraways, mix all well together, m"ke ft hole in the middle of the flour, and pour in the milk mixed with the egg, which should be well beaten mix quickly, and set the dough with a fork on b iking tins, and bake the buns for about twenty minutes. TEA CAKKS KOR TOASTING.—TWO pounds of flour, half a teacupful of salt, quarter of a pound of butter or lard, one egg, a piece of German yeast ttle. size of a walnut, a little warm milk. Put the flour (which must be thoroughly dry) into a basin, mix with it the salt, and rub in the butter or lard then beat the egg well, stir up the yeast in it, and add these to the flour with as much warm milk it will make the wllole into a smooth paste, and knead it well. Let it rise near the fire, and, when well risen, form it into cakes; place them on tin let them rise again for a few minutes before putting them into a moderate oven, in which they must be baked from a quarter to half an hour. If eaten as soon as baked, these cakes may simply be buttered, but if they have become cold they will require to be spht and toasted before being buttered. SPONGE CAKF, PUDDING. Slice some sponge cake and line a well-buttered, deep pudding dish with it. Fill this with alternate layers of fruit, jam, and cake; over this pour a plain custard and bake about twenty miuutes, or until the custard sets. SWEET PICKLK PLUMS.—Steam ripe plums, and when they are soft press out the juice. Pass the Eulp through fine wire, or, what is still better, a air sieve; boil in a quart- of the juice a teaspoon- ful of broken cinnamon, half that amount of mace, and the same quantity each of cloves and pepper. Add this to the pulp, with two pounds of granu- lated sugar; heat and stir constantly until the sugar is dissolved. At the last stir in a pint of best vinegar and boil.

A MODERN PARISIAN DETECTIVE. M. Rossignol, though only detective, is one of the best known men in ritris-and, in his line, undoubtedly the most popular. He is a consummate actor, and unlimited in his range of character. His stock of "properties" is enormous, he rarely fails in his disguises, and criminals quickly lose hope when he is known to be on ihpir track. His latest achievement is the unearthing of a band of tHifcvoS who a couple of weeks ago rubbed the bouse of ^BaronRainese of a considerable assortment of valuables. He was practically invisible for a week in the accomplishment of this task. His most intimate friends fail -to recognise" him when disguised. He arrested the Anarchist Duval, and when the search seemed hopeless, pounced on the murderer of the widow Stordeur. Indeed, no mystery seems insoluble to him at least, he has got to the root of many which utterly foiled others. He makes himself at home among thieves, among loafers, or truculent slaughter- men, and In the most fashionable salon might probably pass as a habitue. He seems unconscious of "perves."

THE WRONG TIME. MothM: "No wonder yon catcb cold. Every night you kick the covers off. Why do you do it?" "Li'tie Boy: 1. 1 don't know, mamma. You'll have to me when I'm adeepb". 'a.t-

WELSH GLEANINGS. I By Lloffwr. Celtic Mythology. Professor Bevan began his Gresham lecture on Celtic Mythology by Caes.ir's acoount of the Gaulish Pantheon, and ended it by quoting Lncan's eulogy of the Druids, addressing whom, he says, If your lore be true, death is but the passage to unending life." The lecturer had previously shown that the two funda- mental beliefs underlying the religion of the Celts were those of immortality and the trans- migration of souls, and their eschatology not only indicated a final hope but a final certainty of salvation for all. Speaking of the Druidic worship, Professor Bevan said that the oak ap- peared to have been the sacred tree of most Aryan races, and iastanced the oaks of Dodona, in the whisperings of whose leaves were heard oracular voices. We might smile and call it superstition, but happy should we be if we heard the Divine vo:ce that speaks in the manifold utterances of Nature. Nine tenths of the people who wrote in magaz'nes and theo- logical novels about religious belief treated the transient expression of such belief which belonged to their own time as though it were the only one, and seemed to forget that the spirit which prompted the Pagan to revere the oak might be no less Divine than that which prompts the Christian to reverence the home ot God. Wales and the Government. The illlpnlllV with which Euglish Governments are in the habit of insulting Wale? cannot last for ever. There are signs in the air that a check is about to be given to the ingrained tendency among Knglish politicians to ignore and despise poor little Wales." That the claims of Wales should be contemned by the Conservatives is not surprising; but there is something startling and anomalous in such conduct in the Liberal party. The Liberals are under great obligations to Wales -far more so than to any other part of the British Isles. She has passionately supported Mr Glail. stone: as a reward she is snubbed. But the vigorous young Wales party will not brook such ungrateful treatment. It is exuberant in the freshness of youth the sap is in its veins, and if it must face the storm, it will gather strength from the blasts which toss its branches. Life and energy are on its side; it is self-dependent, con- fident it believes in the future, not the past, and is ready to grapple boldly with the difficulties that beset it. The foregoing, remarks are not an inaccurate description of the present political situation as one gathers it from the, pictures in the Welsh papers for the last week. With tolerable unanimity they recommend the Welsh members to take up an independent attitude. Even the loyal Baner vehemently urges a revolt in certain contingencies, and is so discontented with Mr Gladstone that it plainly suggests that while his hand is shaking in decrepitude, the younger members of the Liberal party are ready tb do justice to Wales. Welsh in Elementary Schools: A Revo- luiian. The Welsh papers are in great jubilation over the stiweias which met the deputation introduced by Archdeacon Griffiths to Mr Aoland. The deputation pleaded for a, miore pk.orootinoocl rftpg- nition in the teaching ot Welsh ?n ^jneritaty schools in Wales, an<i Mr Acland unhesitating y conceded all that the deputation asked. The London correspondent of the Baner points out that a partial recognition WM given by Sir William Hart-Dyke, of whom the Genedl also- which devotes three columns to the question- speaks In terms of praise. But Welsh was, even then, only tolerated on sufferance teachers were 1 not exhorted and encouraged to teach it. Hence- forward every encouragement will be given. The Gcnedl truly points out that this event will begin a new epoch in the history of Wales. Until lately the educational system in the Principality was conducted on unnatural and irrational principles, principles different from those of any other country. Iu every countiy except Wales children are taught in the language of their homes. In Wales they were not only taught in a foreign language, but they were frequently punished for using the)r mother's tongue. The great object of the Welsh Utilisation Society was to abolish this foolish old system to teach the Welsh to respect themselves by reo specting their language to make the language that was contemned in official circles in the kingdom become one that would be respected by the country and valuable in official circles and to establish a truly national educational system under which the Welsh language would be a help and not an obstacle to the child and to the teacher. Henceforth elementary school teachers in Wales will be encouraged to teach Welsh grammar and composition, Welsh history and Welsh literature, and Welsh airs will be taught. Pupil teachers, too, shall be examined in these subjects in their annual examinations and for Queen's Scholarships." The deputation is to be congratulated on such a brilliant victory; a similar battle has had to be (or is being) fought out by many small nationalities on the Continent, as the Czechs in Bohemia, the Finns in Russia, and the Poles in Russia. "Cymru" and "Cymru'r Plant." Mr Owen M. Edwards' national magazines maintain their high standard this month again. The chapters in the "History of Wales" are of exceptional interest. as they deal with Cadwallon, whom Green has pronounced to be the last great hero of the British race His rise and fall are described with wonderful clearness and charm of style, while the fictitious Cadwallon-the Cadwallon of tradition—is separated from the historical" Cadwallon. There is peculiar fitness in the Welsh air, "St. David's Day," which the musical editor has arranged for this month, as the hero of the song is Cadwallon, though Ceiriog has described his position with more patriotism than historio truth. The tune is published in the staff notation in Cymru, and in sol-fa in Cymru'r Plant, so that it will be in a handy form for either sol-faists or staff notationist8 for St. David's Day. Mr W. Llewellyn Williams, B. A., begins a series of articles on the Teaching of Welsh in Elementary Schools," and writes with characteristic humour and idiomatic purity- though he modestly bu i super- fluously) apologises fbr the lack of the latter quality." The goblin stories compiled by the late D. Lledrod Davies are wouderfully fascinating, and one Is glad to GUK* that they are to be published in a little booklet. The sketch of Harlech Castle is obviously from the pen of the editor; D. Davies, Ton Ystrad, throws further light on the history of Ystrad Meurig School; there are other articles by Elis o'r Nant, Mr O. Williamson, Wrtydyn Dew Mawddwy, J. R. Evans. Henri Myllen, and the Rev J. Morgan Jones some charming poetry by Gwalchuaai, lolo Caernarfon, Edward Edwards (the History Lecturer at Aberystwyth, whom we welcome as a poet), R. Bryan, H. P. Williams, the Rev J. Gwyndud Jones, T. Thomas, and the Rev W. A. Griffiths; while the Rev J. Myfenydd Morgan (Liverpool) contributes some opportune and patriotic verses on "St. David's Day." Jottings. The fierce light of burning criticism is being directed at the Welsh University scheme from all quarters'. Almost every clause is being con- demned in some paper or other: that enjoining the necessity of residence in one of the three university colleges is the one that meets with the greatest disapproval. The acute crisis in the South Wales coal trade attracts much attention in the leading weeklies. The Tartan, looks for- ward with hope to the resumption of negotiations; the Baner sympathises with the collier in a long leading article, and other papers-I,lhe He,-aid, the Genedl, and the TffSt espeoially-have special contributions on the subject.

Overheard at a small olub in P" Mo will lend iiiie a couple of Imis ? I'll pay him one

Parliamentary History of Pembrokeshire. -+- LBr W. R. WILLIAMS, SOLICITOR, TALYBONT.] 1770. March, Hugh Owen, of Landshipmvr, un- seated on petition suoceeded his father, the above Sir Wm. Owen (see 1747), as 5th Biior.t.. May, 1781, and Lord-Lieut, and Cus. Rot. of the County the same year, unsuccessfully contested the county 1761 and 1768, but acquired the seat on petition 1770, and held it till his death, January, 1786. 1786, February, Richard Lord Milford vice Sir Hugh Owen deceased. From 1747 to 1841 the seat was occupied by an Owen or a Phillips alternately. At the election of 1807 Lord Milford defeated Sir Hugh Owen, Bart. (see Pembroke 1809), by 1,195 tc 1,102 votes. 1812.-Jolin Owen, of Orielton, defeating Hon. John Frederick Campbell (see Carmarthen, 1813) by 1,529 to 1,344. This member, who held the seat for nearly 29 years without interruption, was born in 1776, and was the eldest son of Joseph Lord, a gentleman of Pembrokeshire, who held the appointment of Lord-Lieutenant of Montgomery- shire, and who had married Corbetta, younger daughter of Lieut.-Gen. John Owen, M.P., who has been previously mentioned as being a brother to Sir Wm. Owen (see 1747). Mr Lord was called to the bar at the Inner Ten.pie 1800, and succeeded his father June, 1801, and was married twic —(1) at Gret,na. Green, 1800, to Charlotte, daughter of Rev John Lewis Phillips, of Llwynerwn, and she having died September, 1829, he married (2), October, 1830, Mary Frances, third daughter of Edward Stephenson, of Farley Hill, county Berk?. On the death of his kinsman, Sil Hugh Owen, M.P., 6th baronet, in 1809, Mr Lord succeeded to the largo possessions of that gentleman by bequest in his will (though the baronetcy devolved upon another relative), and he thereupon assumed the surname and arms of Owen in lieu of his patronymic by Royal licence August, 1809, and this circum- stance naturally gave him great influence in the county. He also at the same time succeeded Sir Hugh as M.P. for Pembroke, and at t he next general election of 1812 was returned both for thp county and borough of Pembroke, an honour previously enjoyed by his kinsman, Sir William Owen, in 1747. and this in spite of the fact that he had to fight the county against such a formidable opponent as I ord Cawdor's eldest son. In June, 1813, the honour of a baronetcy was conferred upon him, thismnking the second conferred upon this fan.ily, and br was also ap. pointed (ioverror of Milford, Hsven and Lord Lieutenant and Cus. Rot. of the counties of Montgomery and Pembroke. Sir John Owen, who was patron of six livilig-, sat for the county till 1841, when he was elected for Pembroke, and he retained his seat for the borough till his death, Feb., 1861, having been in Parliament altogether for 51 years—over half a century. At the general election of May, 1831, the poll was kept open for 15 days, and the contest was stubbornly fought, but in the end Sir John was victorious by a majority of 99 over his opponent, Richard Fulke Greville (a relative of Earl Brooke and Warwick), the poll closing Owen 1,949, Greville 1,850. On petition, however, this election was declared void, and Sir John was unseated, but, nothing dismayed, he fought again, and after a severe contest with the same opponent, in which the poll was again kept open for 15 days, he had the satisfaction (October, 1831) of increasing his majority to 206, the numbers being- Owen, 1,53, Greville, 1,423. The expense on both sides of these two pro onged contest's must have been very great. Sir John's third son, Lieut. William Owen. of the 23rd Royal Welsh Fusiliers, fell before Sebastopol, June, 1855, aged 20. The eldest son, Hugh, was M.P. Pt-mbroke 1826 38 and 1861 8. 1841.—John }'a.derlck Vaughan Csmpbell, commonly called Visc-unt Emlyn, of Stack pole-court, eldest son of John, first Earl of Cawd<>r» (see 1812), born June, 1817, educated at Eton, Amclusted I.$. A. 1858, oM, A. 1840, Christ Church, r a Oxford was Private Secretary tcr tbe Duke of Buccleuch when Lord Privy Seal 1841 42, and Pigcis Writer M the Foreign Office 1842 6, and married June, 1842, Sarah Mary, second daughter of General the Hon. Henry Frederick Compton Cavendish, M.P., of the Lif., Guards (son of the .Karl of Burlington, and of kin to the present Duke of Devonshire). Lord Emlyn was ap- pointed Depury-Lieutenant of Nairnshire 1852, Inverness shire and Carmarthenshire, and became Lord-Lieutenant of the latter county in 1861, and he was M.P. for the County Pembroke 1861 till I he succeeded his father in the peerage as second Lord Cawdor in November, I860. His lordship, who was Captain in the 1st Carmarthenshire Rófte Volunteers 1860-6, is patron of ten livings. His eldest son is the popular Viscount Emlyn, of Golden Grove.

NEWSPAPER STATISTICS. From "The Newspaper Press Directory for 1893 we ascertain that h there are now published in the Unitnd Kingdom 2,268 newspapers, dis. tributed a follows :— England- London 459 Provinces i>ZOi ?62 Wales 102 Scotland !I" 214 Ireland ltt Isles 24 Of these there are- 146 Daily Papers published in England. ? Wales. ?2 Scotland. ll nlff Ireland. 2 Ditto British Isles. On referenoe to the first edition of this useful directory for the year 1846 we find the following interesting facts, iz,, that in that year there were published in the United Kingdom 551 jolttliala; of these 14 were issued daily, viz., 12 jn England and 2 in Ireland; but iu 1893 there are now established and circulated 2,468 papers, of which no less than 192 are issued daiiy, showing that the press of the country has more than quadrupled during the last 47 years. The increase in daily papers has been still more remarkable, the daily issues standing 192 against 14 in 1846. The magazines now in course of publication, including the quarterly reviews, number 1,961, of which more than 456 are of a decidedly religious charac- ter, representing the Church of England, Wes- leyans, Methodists, Baptists, Independents Riomau catliolies, and other Christian OOlutnuni. ties.

FOREIGN TO IT. LADY {engaging took).—Do you understand French cookery ? IRISHWOMAN.—Oh, yis, muir, Oi onderstand all about furrin cookery. Oi can cook French beans, an' Spanish onions, an' Jertisalem artichokes I

The New York Boy. The New York boy is not precisely the child of the devil, but for malicious mischief he is hard to beat. One of them was overheard initiating a strange boy from the lawless South into the mys. teries of New York life. Winter is the best time to throw atones at windows," said the New York boy. Why is winter the best tipne I" asked the un- sophisticated youth from the South. Because, you see, the houses have double win- dows, and you can break two panes with one throw and you only get one licking, just the same as if you had only broken one pane."

IT MADK HIM SIOK.— Jerry Hayes, the elevator boy in the Tribune buiding, is something of a humourist. The other day an old gentleman with a carpet bag got into the elevator and remarked, Don't it make you sick, sometimes, riding all day in this elevator i" "Yes, sir." said Jerry, meekly. Is it the Upward motion 7" queried the old gentleman, solicitously. "No, sir." The downward motion V' No, sir." What is it, then ?" The questions." The fact that women are now wearing suspen- ders would go to prove that they are anxious to take some responsibility upon their own ghoul. ders.

FARM AND GARDEN. The Care of Implements. The time will aobn arrive for active field work, as it is hardly probable that we shall have a re- lapse into winter such as we have already ex- perienced, although an occasional plunge into colder weather or' check to early spring sowing may be naturally, expected. All tillage imple- ments that are,Yikc.iy to be in demand shortly should be at once overhauled, aNd put into thorough working-, ( (I am speaking for the rear guard only those who are n(,tt-d for ordinary care aadtoresight will be already pre- pared with all the sinews of war ready to battle with the .voil, subdue it before it has titi,e to master them.) Ploughs, harrows, seed drills, rollers, &c,( should all be drawn up iu line and ready for action. If repairs are not done in the autumn (as they should be when work is slack) and weak places stopped, the damage is liable to become worse. Rust also will enter in and dwell there, cauee endless trouble at a time when it can least bs borne. I have often wondered at the carelessness of some farmers with their valuable implements and tools. As soon as they have doue their work for the season they are carelessly thrust away into all open shed or cart-house. No wonder, they deteriorate rapidly with such treatment, or rather neglect. The more complicated and expensive the article is, the greater the loss will be in proportion tA the neglect it undergoes, and the number of* parts or material of which thftY are oompOSiSJI imd when we consider huw many days, aud^gven nights, implements, and machines also, A"ft exposed in the field while in daily use, it S«ejfci<s absurd to imagine that they require no atteQisftifc afterwards. Like everything else, to rest merely after work means ultimately to rust or to rot. -Jf a farmer cannot find time to cait his implements home at night he can erect a temporary shed iff the more important fields fur a few shillings aplec* but in the southern conn- ties, at least, there is generally an old barn or out'iouse at no gwj^t distance from the scone of operations, which makes a capital store-room for the most important and easily-damaged effects, such as drill bay-mowers and makers, reAl)trBi *e., which on a lair-sized farm are often in use for several weeks during the season. When the machines are done with and relegated to thei&proper quarters, they may be preserved for inoftths by the very simple plan of covering them os$r with an ordinary cahco sheet. Many have pr<.ij»er damp-resisting covers of stouter material/Jy an<i even wilterp,oofs. But these are expense, and the former cheap substi- tute will annweeihe purpose admirably-prevent- ing rust a,nd:eh\t!iJlg dust and dirt. The after-conuequt-nr^s of uudue expos re during this period of ^rest through the long damp nights of wiwier are often 80 serious that owners of the^t .^Valuable things would (if they suspected the true oause) embrace very m'ans in their power to preserve them. -Par-in and Hone. Market Potatoes. The growing of vegetables for market is a large industry; it is carried on in many cases on highly-rented ground, and constant care and attention, together with & good deal of skill and business ability, are r -quired if the grower is to make a profit. Much depends upou the selection of suitable varieties —mitable, that is, for the soil with which one IJ to deal, and suitable, too, for the purchaser who bas to buy, for it is of no 1 use growing a crop for which there is no demand. Of varieties of potatoes there is no end, and not only the beginner, but etpu experienced gar- deners, are often at afpsa MNrii|^e« The grower for mavket g;<-nferally pitAhiijflPn to a few well- known kinds that b«»TinuWft oan be relied on in ordinary Seasons. Snob Tara the old A-bleaf, Myatt's Ashleaf, H bron, Imperator, Magnum Bouutu, the the Lapstone Kidney. Horse-radish. Any common garJen soil will suit horse-radish, but the best crops are produced in a poor r ther than in a very rioh soil. In preparing the ground, open a trench two feet wide and two feet deep. Place three inches of rotten manure in the bottom of each trenob, treading it firmly with the feet. If the ground is in fairly good heart, no manure should be added to the top soil, for by so doing the roots, when planted and in full growth, will produce a number of strong side- roots, thus rendering the main stem forked, and, to some extent, spoiling the crop. In February level down the trenches. Sets are obtained by takmg aliout three inches in length off the top of each stick, rubbing off any growths which may be upon the sides of the sets to be planted. Planting may be performed from the beginning of February till the middle of March, either by means ot a dibbor or by opening trenches I prefer the last. Place the sets in the bottom of the trench and cover with light soil. The plants will not appear above the ground for some time, and, until they do, weeding must be done by hand. The Thorns. A few of the thorns Are familiar trees in most gardens, and very valuable ornaments they are. Some of the most beautiful kindti are, however, seldom seen outside botanical gardens. Almost every thorn is hardy 10 English gardens; • some are remarkabla 1" their flowers, others for their ornamWtol fruits, while in a few the habit of 8(ù" VOuers them most useful. The commonest perhaps the most beautiful of all the thorns is the common native hawthorn or whitethorn. The typical white kind is lovely enough, but being so common everywhere its varieties are most important. We have now every gradation 01 tint in the hawthorn, from the deepest crimson, through pinks and carmines, to the snowy whiteness of the double sort. Everyone who knows Paul's Double Scarlet, un- doubtedly the best of all, a tree that glows with nob crimson during -the fortnight it is in bloom. Then there are the double pink, double white, the single scarlet, rose, and various others. Soma of the varieties are remarkable for their growth, like the graceful pendula, others have foliage different from that of the type, and a few differ as regards their fenits there being yellow-beriied as well as white-bsrried varieties. Altogether our native hawthorn is one of the most important trees in our gardens. Vegetable Garden. Cottage gardeners should grow all the best vegetables. Potatoes, of course, there must be, in as large proportion as poesible, and I would strongly urge tbein to be particular in saving the seed tubers. There is room for the most thought- ful cultivator to improve his systems of manage- ment in every department, and very much can be done in the selection of seeds and seed-bearing. £ tlailto,~ Every potato-digger knows that occa- sionally a root is found far superior in production to the others. ADd Jf weds are sown from these '?f'l- tp. is taken to | work up a race of very productive1 potatoes. If this, power of selection is used with judgment annually, good must come of it. And this is true of even cultivated plants. Cover up rhubarb with rather long manure; if more support is required, and rhubarb is a great feeder, some short, rich manure may be placed round the crown first, and the long litter placed on the top. I have often wonderftd why people, so frequently grow very late and inferior kinds of rhubarb, when the early varieties are much more valuable. We do not in a email garden require many varieties of rhubarb, but everybody, I think, should have an early and late variety, and the best of these are Paragon and Victoria. It is quite possible to force a root or two of rhubarb in a very humble way. An old orate, or tub, or box, with some loam manure round it, will make a week's difference in the time of gathering.- Cottwe Gardening.

A Fair Average. Friend: Alow me to congratulate you. I bear that your daughter has married a foreign nobleman. Mr Goldberg s Yea, it's pretty tough on me. but by a streak nf good luck her sister has eloped with a steady street car driver. so the affliction is somewhat mitigated. This is a world of com- pensations, and I can t expect all my girls to do as weU as the one who married the street car driver.

The moment you preaenk a bill to* man he to get mmo.

Andrew Fletcher, ef Salteun, in a letter te the Marquis er Montrose, wrote I knew a very wise man that believed that if a man were permitted te make all the ballads he need net care who should make the laws ef the natien."

0 1 DEATHR We know when moons shall wane. When summer birds from far shall cross the sea, When autumn's hue shall tinge the golden grain But who shall teach us when to look for thee? Is it when Spring's first gale Comes forth to whisper where the violets lie ? Ts it when roses in our path grow pale ? They have one seas(iu- all are ours to die I Thou art where billows foam; Thou art where music melts upon the air Thou art around us in our peaceful home, And the world calls us forth-aud thou art there. Thou art where friend meet friend, Beneath the shadow of the film to rest— Thou art where foe meets foe, and trhmpets rend The skies, and swords beat down the princely crest. Leaves have their time to fall, And flowers to wither at thenorth wind's breath, And stars to set hut all, Thou has all seasons for thine own, 0 Death. FKI.ICIA DOROTHRA HKMANS.

TO A SEA-BiRD. Sauntering hither on listless wings, Careless vagabond of the sea, Little thou heedest the snrf that sings, Th« bar that thunder*, the shale that rings,* Give me to keep thy company. Little thou hast, old friend, that's new, Storms and wrecks are old things to thee; Sick am I of these changes, too; Little to care for, little to Ltle,- I on the shore and thou on the sea. AH of thy wanderings, far and near, Bring thee at last to shore and me; All of my journeying* end them here, This our tether must b" our cheer,— I on the shore and thou on the sea. Lazily rocking on ocean's breast, Something in common, old friend, have Wftj Thou on the shingle seelc'st thy nest, I to the wafers look for rest,— I on the shore and thou on the sea. BRKT HARTE.

WHAT AND WHITHER P What, then, am I, who ponder the sublime? A feather wafted on the wind of Time Toward the land of that uncertain clime Where death is dead ? A little ray of light That ceases with the coming of the night! A spark that smoulders to a living fire? A shadow moulded to a great desire? A singer weeping on a stringless lyre, Discomforted ? A mind that has no faith 111 moving substance or in dreamland wraith ? I only know that, being, I have need, That I must follow whereso love may lead No care have I for postulate or creed Since love has led And when I last embark I shall not fear if all be light or dark. FKKDINAND K. ICAPPET.

The remainder of th 6m. guns to complete the armament of the first-class armoured battleship Hood arrived at Chatham recently. Hpr full armament consists of four 64 ton guns and ten 6in. guns. She will be n-ady for -eat :n a few weeks she will have cost just £ 1,000,003. The original e-itimate was R937,940, but this has been largely exceeded. Incandescent lamps of a special character are now ma !e foi- electric railway lightiiur, says the Electrical Engineer, by the American General ikHectric O mpany. 1 nesê lanitki sim-dfwignod so as not to break by vibration. In the single- loop form the tilnm-nt is anchored to the point of the lamp, while in the spiral form the filament is made in three close spirals mounted on a long heavy glass ceutre, giving great steadiness to the filament.. When we reduce the receipts and expenditures to a common standard, says Mr R. Hu-nphreys, of the United States of America—a 16 candle latTip-lioiir-,tiid express the relative cost of the two sys,eins in percentage of gas gross earnings, we find the following result Coet of gas in percentage of gross earnings, 71 per cent. cost of electric light in percentage of gross earnings of gas for equal unit of light, 91 per cent. or. other- wise expressed, the unit of light costs by elec- tricity 20 j>er cent, more than by gas." Every maker of margatine in the United Kingdom is compelled to furnish the Board of Trade with his name and a ldress. According to these returns there appear to be 11 margarine factories in England, 10 in Scotland, and two in Ireland. Four of these factories are in London, one in Chester, another in Cumber- land, and a third 111 Staffordshire, all th ea within the jurisdiction of English County .Councils; and four others (three at Birken- head) are subject to the Town Councils. The Scotch factories are scattered. The two Irish are in Limerick. The total number of factories all over the United Kingdom, as appears by this. is only 23. Most of the margarine so largely sold in the poorer quarters of our great towns, is said to come from al)road.-Itivetttiott. It is reported that the order for the steel and iron required in the construction of the five new Inman liners to be built in America will be sent abroad, as the same can be imported duty free.— Iron. A lasting machine that enables one operator to turn out 3,000 pairs of shoes a week is one of the latest achievements in labour saving machinery in the United States. It deals with anything, from light to the heaviest boots. It has recently been stated by a leading physician that the increase of pneumonia among men is, to s-me extent, owing to the falling off in the use of legged boots, as the ankles, where many severe throat troubles originate, are now more exposed to cold weather.

SCHOOLBOY NOTIONS OF EDUCATION. "A Junior High School Boy" writes to a Dundee newspaper to say that "Latin is a mis- w. take, and mathematics is awful rot." What he wants is more gynuastics, which is "a most important subject of study." The motto of schools," he says, "should be mens sana, &c., which, he adds, "though Latin, is good sense." He would, therefore, have the day's work divided in this fashion :-9 a.tn. to 11 a.m., gymnastics (compulsory); 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., lunch and play (compulsory) 51 p.m. to 3 p.m., reading (optional). Reading, he kindly explains, is to mean Marryat, Ballantync, Kingston, Conan Doyle, R. L. Stevenson, and Jerome K. Jerome, because "school-boys shou1d have a taste for reading, and should akquire that tast when young."

WHOM TO CONSULT. I Doctor (to patient): "What ails you?,- —Patient: Indeed, I don't know. I only know that I suffer."— What kind of life do you lead 1" —" I work like an ox, I eat like a wolf, I am tired as a dog, and I sleep like a horse."—" In that case I should advise you to consult a veterinary surgeon."

One of the Family. Rosen stein Let me sell you a suit, mein frient —you look -plendid in it ven you go to (lot Metlio, dist church on Sunday Passer-by I don't go to the Methodist church. I'm a Swedenborgian. Rosenstein: Come riglit in-dose Switzenbergers vas first cousins olif niiiie-I gif you a bargain

HKK MATHEMATICSC —" Now, said the teacher, suppose 1 should give you and Johnny an apple, divided into four parts, and Johnny was to take two of the pieces, how many would you have leftf "Noue," answered the little g;rl. "None?" echoed the teacher, I'm afraid you don't know your lesson." 'Tain't that, ma'am, you don't know Johnny."

ECHOES FROM THE CALENDAR. FEBRUARY. 26. SUNDAY—2nd Sunday in Lent. Loss of the Birken- head. 185a 27. MONDAY-Corn I,awa abolished, 1849. Exeter Hall opened, 1831. 28. TUESDAY —Mr Lab ou.-he re suspended, 1890. MARCH. 1. WEDNESnAY-t. David's Day. 2. THURSDAY—Pigott comm ttei suicide, 1889. 3. FRIDAY-Serfdom in Russia abolished, 1861. Waller born 1605. 4. SATURDAY-Forth Bridge opened, 1890. Loss of the Birkenhead. H.M.S. Birkenhead, outward bound, with the reinforcement* of troops for the Cape, struck the ground at about two in the morning of Feb. 26, 1852, near Point Danger, Simon's Bay. The rush ot water was so great that most of the men in the lower troop deck were drowned in their hammocks. The rest of the men and all the officers appeared on deck. After the. horses had been thrown over, the women and children were parsed into the cutter and the boat stood off. Just after this the entire bow of the ship broke off at the foremast, the ) bowsp. it going up in the air. This was in less than a quarter of an hour after the vessel struck. Captain Wright, of the 91st Regiment, one of the survivors, wrote :The order and regularity that prevailed on board, from the time the ship struck till she totally disappeared, far exceeded aHYi hing that I thought could be effected by the best discipline and it is the more to be wondered at, seeing that most of the soldiers had been but a short time in the service. Everyone did as he was directed, and I there was not a murmur or a cry among them until the vessel made her final plunge. I could not name any individual officer who did more than all, ther. All received their orders, and had them carried out, as if the men were embarking instead of going to the bottom there was ony this difference, that I never saw any embarkation conducted with so little noise or confusion." When the vessel was just abot-,t going down the commander called out All those that can swim jump overboard and make for the boats." Lieutenant Giradot and Captain Wright bpgted the men not to do I as the commander said, as the boat with the women must be swamped. Not more than three men made the attempt. Capt. Salmond m ght have saved himself easily, but he remained giving orders uutil the after part of the vessel surged and threw them overboard. The Lioness schooner I picked up a number of the wrecked, and some swam to shove, a distance of about two miles. Out of the 638 persons on board, only 184 were saved. The h>st thus numbered 454, the soldiers belonging to the 12th Lancers, 2nd, 6th, 12th, 43rd, 45th, and 46th Rifles, 73rd, 74th, and 91st Regiments. The Home of the Y.M C.A. Exeter Hall, the head-quarters of the Young 1\! Christian Association, was commenced in 1829, being designed for the meetings of religious and charitable societies. Over the narrow en. tral ce in the Strand is sculptured a Greek word, signifylllg "Loving brothers." The great hall, opened in 1831, has been several times enlarged. For many years it was used for musical festivals, and Spohr and Mendelssohn conducted their own works there. Haydon, in 1840. painted the meeting of Anti-Slavery delegates in it. under the presidency of the Venerable Thomas Clark- son, then in his 814t year. It was in Exeter Hall that Prince Albert made his first appearance at a public meetmg in England. The occasion was the introductory meeting of the Society for the Extinction of the Slave Trade. He was very nervous," the Queen says, but all passed off well. His "peech had been carefully written out and committed to memory,' while, in addition, he rehearsed it to her Majesty in the ii orning. Mr Spurgeon drew crowds to the hall by his preach- ing 37 years ago. It was purchased by fFiends of the Y. M C. A., at a cost of over £60,000, and pre. sented to that excellent institution. Edmund Waller. Along with the genius of his age, Waller exhibited many notablo defects; but, living as he did through the stormy period of oivil war, it would be unjust to jti,ige him too harshly. Dr Johnson, while exposing his ignominious conduct to his friends when the plot against Cromwell and the Parliament was discovered, on the whole deals gently with his memory. We may now pass over the laxity of the politician to consider Waller as a poet. Born in 1605 (old style), at Coleshill, Hertfordshire, he e;;rly came iu for the fortune of three thousand five hundred pounds a year. His first compositions attracted marked attention, and have never ceased to be admired. One old editor observed that "he attained by a felicity, like instinct, a style which perhaps will never be obsolete and that, were we to judge only by the wording, we could not know what was wrote at twenty and what four- scoie." Elegance and gaiety describe the general character of his poetry. "The panegyric upon Cromwell," as Johnson pointed out, obta,ned from the public a very liberal dividend of praise, which, however, cannot be said to have been unjustly lavished for such a series of verses had rarely appeared before in the English language. Of the lines some are grand, some are graceful, and all are musical.' Still, in praising the poems, it is impossible to avoid feel. ing contempt for the man who ascribed the highest degree of power and piety to Charles I., then transferred the same power and piety to Oliver Cromwell, and afterwards congratulated Charles II. on his recovered right." Waller pre- served his spirits and his poetic power till his death at 82.

DRESS IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS. A London correspondent says the best-dressed men in Parliament are the young Tories. He adds :—Mr Henry Chaplin is perhaps uot quite the swell of the Tory front bench, but he cer- tainly does wear a loose black overcoat winter and summer. Evening dress is no longer the universal costume in the House after dinner. Yet there is still a conspicuous jiowerfnl Shirt Front Brigade. In this connection it is due to Sir Albert Rollit to give him such credit as is due for the introduction of the tailless dress coat or jacket into Parliament. The writer is not quite sure whether Mr Cjwley Lhro. bert or Mr Hanbury Tiacey introduced the reefer jacket into the House, but he thinks it was Mr Penrose Fitzgerald. At any rate, he is always associated with it, aud he has certainly worn the reefer more gracefully and successfully than any other member. Lord Randolph Churchill has gone through every degree of coathood, and has appeared in tan boots and top hat, but to his honour be it recorded he has never turned up his trousers." Mr Chamberlain-indeed, the two Clianiberlains-are among the best diessed members, though the correspondent demurs to the inclusion of Mr Chamberlain among the "masheri of Parliament."

Lsve Letters rn Court. Newspapers have a rage for publishing love- letters that are produced as evidence in breach of promise aud divorce cases. That wou'd be bad enough for the parties concerned if the editors I corrected the grammar and orthography, but they won't do it. They take delight in reproducing these amatory and damaging epistles with all their imperfections on their heads. If the infatu- ated lover tells his inamorata that she is his "dere luv," and he kneads her evry our," that is the way it goes into the paper. If he promises her a fir cloke," it is spelled that way in type. And if in a hurried, and, as it often proves, unguarded moment, he alludes in type. And if in a hurried, and, as it often proves, unguarded moment, he alludes m to her as his "betruved," the pitiless proof- reader couldn't be bribed with any amount of money to substitute the conventional way of spelling the word. These things a I i tictilarly harrowing to the father of the incomplete letter- writer. whose shame at the publication of the correspondence is mingled with the mortifying thought that he has squandered money on the young man's education. The safest way is not to write love-letters but if you do, it would be advisable to have them corrected and revised by some expert in grammar, orthography, and tilol I punctuation before mailing them, so that in case they get into court and the newspapers, you may not be set down as illiterate, however much you may be suspected of being a fool.

f u" COUntt? e(^*tor recently gave explanation as follows :—e refer to a mistake which by acci- dent occurred in our hist week's issue. We re- 1 erred to Mr as a rough hewn diamond it should have been a ruffianly demon.' We trust our readers will excuse the error, which indeed must have been obvioua to anyone who is ac- quainted with Mr >

Welsh Tit-Bits, Neu Wreichlon Oddiar yr Eingion. [BY CADRAWD ] The Late Mr D. Jones, of Wellington, Surr^v, Mr Jones was one of ik most industrious students of history, as vu.. as a painstaking collector of Welsh Lore. He had devoted the last 15 years of his life in collecting material for a history of his native couuty, viz., Glamorgan shire, which at his death was contained in some- thing like 200 volumes of MSS in a fragmentary form, which, no doubt, had he lived, he would have fitted together in such manner as to form a history of the county that would compare favourably with Mr Jones's History of Brecon," the only county history at present of any county in Wales which is worthy of the name. Death took him away in the midst of his werk, and his eariy loss is much lamented by all who had the privilege ot his acquaintance. I am glad to say that it was vouchsafed to me the pleasure of being in constant correspondence with him for nearly 10 years. Not being quite con- versant with Weish, he would submit to me something he could not fully understand. I also sent to him every piece of information I was able to discover which I thought would be useful for his purpose. The last bit I sent him was an account of the first Deere that camo to this county. He was then on his death bed, but wrote a post card to thank me for the intt-restizig in. formation, and begged of me to follow up Merchant Deere's pedigree for him. In a very few days following the post card, I received, to my grett sorrow, the account of his last moments and death from the good lady who nursed him. He was buried by the side of his dear mother, whom he loved so well, in the churchyard, at Bed. dington, Surrey. He very wisely bequeathed his Welsh books and manuscripts to a gentleman of Glamorgan, who is very much interested, as he himself was, in the history and antiquities of his native Wa-les-the genial esquire of The Ham, who, with his usual kindness, has lent me several of the smaller copies in writing, and also has given me his permission to make any use of them I may think proper for the benefit of the general public. There is no better way, I think, than to place some of Mr Jones's jottings and memoranda in this column. We shall always take care to place the mitials of Mr Jones to everything taken of his collection. Merchant Deere. While we remember, here is the account of the first Deere who came to Glamorgan, for which we are indebted to the Rev D. Lewis, Vicar of Briton Ferry Merchant Desre, Purse Bearer to King Charles the Martyr, retired in these troublesome times into the County of Glamorgan, and secreted himself at a place called Lower Llangwian. Ho had two sons and three daughters. Anna Deere married David Lewis, of Penkirn," from whom the present Vicar of liriton Ferry is descended. It is supposed that a British Church stood at Llangwian, and dedicated to "Gwlon Bach," the original name of Taliesin, which was changed by Elfin, when he found the deserted bard. Gwion also was the name of a being or god worshipped by the Celtiaid. Who or what he was there is no finding out, at least I have not tumb'ed upon it. But he is a character of immense importance in the theology and mysteries of the Ancient D. uids of this land. He !s mentioned often in the works of Tahesin, and to this day is celebrated in a saying or proverb Gwir a dy wed Gwion Gwd." ("Gwion of the Bvg speaketh truth.") In the parish of Llangynwyd there is a spot called Clwyd Wion, and near Newbridge is a celebrated place called Gelly Wion. TaHcsLn says Mi a funi gynt Wion bach, Wyf hen, wyf newydd. wyf Wion." The late Rev R. P. L'ewetyn, M A., suspected that he was a deity among the first settlers of this land, and that they calle t the island after his name, which, under the term Albion, is continued to this day. A Legend of the -Castle of West Orchard. In a field at the western extremity of St. Athan village are some disordered heaps of stone and rubbish almost covered with grass, but still showing the ground plan and out- line where once stood a feudal building of some importance, traditionally known as the Castle of West Orchard. The Knight, or Baron, or what- ever he might be (for tradition has not preserved his name), who owned this castle in the time of the Crusaders, went to fight in the Holy Land. On his return he found that his wife had, in his absence, proved unfaithful. He condemned her to die. She was to be bound and buried in the earth up to her neck, there to remam till duth would slowly end her sufferings. Anyone who should atten.pt to offer her food or sustenance were to suffer instant death. Now comes the affecting part of the story. Her sister, who was the wife of the Lord of the neighbouring Castle ot East Orchard, was permitted to visit this unfortunate lady once a day while the slow execution was proceeding, early each morning she came, and though not daring to offer nourishment, she yet, with an angel's kindness, let fall her long train upon the damp grass and allowed it to sweep up the dew, then passing it by her sister's mouth she permitted her to suck therefrom the grateful moisture. In this manner life was prolonged, says the legend, for more than nine days. It is a pity that the names of the actors in this pathetic story have not been preserved, as well as the recollection of the mcidont itself.-D.J. MSS. The Book of Baglan. DRMKSTA AP MKKKIHTH (CONTINCKD). And the wife of the said Mr Morgan was Christley the da., of David ap Mirick to. of Gwent, and they had issue Yngharad their da, and sole heire who inis; Llu, ap Ifor lo of St. Cleare, of whome issueth all the Morgans of Monmouthshire, unto the which Ynghariad this meetter was made in the British tongue, as fol- loweth, that is to say Hawdd fyd wen wryd wen Eirian, Ynghaer roy Ynghariad verch vorgan lliw rodd ayr llaw rudd an an, liver orey merch lliw'r Eira man. This Ynghariad was mother unto Morgan ap Llewelyn, ap Ifor hael, ap Llewelyn, ;.p Ifor ap Bledry, lord of St Cleare, Tredegar, and Machen, and she was aho the mother of David ap Llew- elyn ap Ifor of Rydodyn in the Catitre Mawr, within Cardiganshire. The heyres female of the lord Re", and Gladice his ladie. Gwenllian their daughter, was the mother of Conau ap Rodwy, and after that Conau ap Rodwy was slayne by the Saxons. SbeiijiLrr-ed Edenyftd Vaughan of Monydd. and her sons by Edenyfed Vaughan were Gruffith ap Eduefed and Grolio ap Edenyfed. The son of Gruffith ap Edenyfed was Sir Howell ap Gruffith, and the son of Sir Howell was Meredith ap Sir Howell-the mother 9f this Meredith was the daughter of Sir Rues ap Gruffith ap Robert ap Gruffith. The mother of Sir Reea ap Gruffith was Gwenl'ian, the daughter of HowWl jq) Treharne ap Gfljfiu ajj Bleidd Gweirydd ap Blethyn ap Mynarch, Lord of Brecon, and the wife of Sir Howell was Tang. Iwst, daughter to David Goch, ap Howell Ychau up Owen ap Treharne ap Cradoe, Lord of Wistlie. The mother of Tangiwst was Berwerfrye, the daughter of Meredith apRydderch apBledri, Lord of Gwinfei, and the mother of ould Sir Howell ap Gruffith was Neast, the daughter of Gwtwared of Tremeis. [To be continued.] Mistress "Now, Ftorrie, let me see how well you know your lesson. Tell me who first dis- covered whslet.one !"tlorne: "Please, Mia I tick it was Jonah." Patti owns one hundred canaries. No wonder she sings like a bird. The Liberator Relief Fund has now reached nearly £ 7,500. We understand that Mr Burns-Jones, A.R. A** has retired from the Royal Academy. The Suspensory Bill, of which Mr Asquith has given notice, will apply to Wales and HoD. inouthshire." Mr Samuel Smith. M.P. for Flintshire, has given a donation of £1,000 towards intermediate education in Flintshire. That well-known agriculturist, Mr Jasper Mora, has been appointed chairman of the Seleet Com- mittee of the House ef Commons on Corn Sales. Mr McKinley, the author of the famous Tariff Bill, has been placed in a very embarrassed position through having endorsed the paper of a friend, who has now suspended payment. Sir George Findlay, the general manager of the London and North-Western Railway Company, is lying seriously 111 at Hill-house, Edgware. He has been absent from his duties nearly a month. Chemically treated lib. of coal will yield dye of various brilliant colours—enough of magenta to colour 500 yards of flannel, Vermillion for 250 yards, aurine for 120 yards, and alizarine suffi- cient for 156 yards of cloth. At one period of his life Mr Gladstone waa known as "The People's William." A flippant correspondent suggests that a further chapgp should be made, and that he be designated Home Rule Bill. "-Evening News and Post. Mr Burne-Jones has resigned his A«sociateshtj» of the Royal Academy on account of the increas- ing difficulty that he finds in contributing to the annual exhibitions and m helping in tbe o work of that institution. For the convenience of visitors to Chicago during the forthcoming exposition a mammoth hotel is being erected by the World's Fair to. operative Bureau. The hotel is in blocks, somw what after the plan of St. Thomas's Hospital, Midi will contain over 6,000 rooms. One of the most persistent listeners to the Home Rule debate has been the Danish Ambas- sador, Herr de Bille, who has had the privilege of sitting for two evenings next to H.R.H. The Prince made frequent use of his glasses to get A better view of the speakers in the debate. Mr Charles Coborn informed a repotter the other night that his song, The Man that Broke the Bank," has already yielded him about JMMm royalties from his publishers. The humorous point about the announcement is that he offend it to the same people some time ago for £30. The Annates IndustrieUes estimates the total loss incurred at the Panama Canal at £ 38,000,000. Against this loss—considered from a national point of view-it argues may be set the gain accruing from the Suez undertaking, which is put at £ 57.560,000, thus leaving a credit of balance of 19,560, 000. Lovers of the Zoo will regret to hear that Prince, the large black-maned lion so well known to visit rs to the Garden of Animals, has suo- Cunibed to the rigours of the British weather after a residence in Regent's Park ot 16 years. At present the Gardens are not particularly strong in lions, but in tigers they are unrivalled. An important discovery of some 500 unpublished letters of Voltaire has been made at the privatw library of M. Tionchin, at Besmnges, Ii- Geneva. M. Tronchm is a descendant of the famous doctor of the same nawe, with whom Voltaire was in regular corresp ondence^ The letters, although not presenting features 01 speaial interest, will, it Is eaid, be published shortly.. Mr H. M. Stanley has written an article for one of the March magazines upon the slave ques- tion in Africa. In dealing with the slave trade generally Mr Stanley deals particularly with Uganda, and strongly advocates its retention. Ponding the result of Sir Gerald Portal's mission, what? Mr Stanley has to say on Uganda should be interesting. In his view the making of a railway to Uganda is not the impracticable thing soine seem to think. The average length of life of the clove tree in Zanzibar appears to be from 60 years to 70 years. Such terrible devastation resulted from the great hurricane of 1872, when nearly all the olove plan- tations on the island were destroyed, that the average age of the trees now growing may be put down as below 20 years. The trees in the Sultan's plantation, the largest in the island, are from 16 years to 17 years old. Rome has its grand old man. A day or two ago his Holiness the Pope is said to have remarked. "I feel myself as young as Mr (Gladstone." Leo XIII. has need of all his youthfulness just now. The reception and blessing of the pilgrims who are paymg him their homage in thousands must be nearly as fatiguing as taking part in Home Rule debate in the House of Commons. As a matter of fact, however, the ]pope is a month or two younger than our Prime Minister. A c.orrespondent of the Isis vouches for the following as a "solemn fact :—" I recently had occasion for photographs of Lord Beaconsfield and Mr Jesse Collings. I accordingly ordered them from a leading firm of Oxford photo- graphers. The girl replied, We shall-have to get you Lord B.eaconsfied printed special], but we will send you up Jessie Collings in the morning. Would you like her in Ta-ra-ra- boom-de-ay V" Dr R. D. Roberts is evidently not devoting hit whole time exposing the Welsh University Scheme, for we see that he has just issued (in Mr Murray's series of University Extension Manuals) a book, entitled "The Birth's History? An introduction to Modern Geology." Dr Roberts is a native of Aberystwyth, and a brother to Alderman D. C. Roberts of that town. He is a J.P. for Cardiganshire, was sometime Fellow of Clare College, Cambridge, is now a Fellow of University College, London, and is secretary to the Cambridge and London University Extension Syndicate. Moukhtar Pash^, who has been recalled by the Porte, has been ill Egypt as the Turkish Commis- sioner since 1885. He .vent there on a special mission at the time that Sir Henry Drummond Wolff was sent by the English Government; but while the latter's duty was speedily discharged, the former has stayed on at Cairo. Moukhtar Pasha took an active part in the Ru-so-Turktob war, and is described by Mr Milner as a straightforward gentleman as well as a soldier of high distinction." He has all along held that England should not have been in Egypt, and his policy as the Turkish representative ha* based on that conviction. 7

A SATURDAY SERMON. In all climates Spring is beautiful. In the South it is intoxicating, and sets a poet beside himself. The birds begin to sing; they utter a few rapturous notes, and then wait for an answer in the silent woods. Those green-coated musicians, the frogs, make a holiday in the neighbouring marshee. They, too, belong to the orchestra of Nature, whose vast theatre is agaia opened, though the doors have been so long bolted with icles, and the scenery hung with snow and frost, like cobwebs. This is the pre- lude which announces the rising of the broad green curtain. Already the grass shoots forth. The waters leap with thrilling pulse through the veins of the earth, the sap through the veins of the trees, and the blood through the veins of man. What a thrill of delight in Sprint- time What a joy in being and moving. Men are at work in gardens and in the air there is an odour of the fresh earth. The leaf-buds begin to, swell and blush. The white blossoms of the cherry hang upon the boughs like snow-fialces f and ere long our next door neighbours will be completely hidden from us by the dense greea foliage. The May-flowers open their soft blue eyes. Children are let loose in the fields and gardens. They hold buttercups under each other's chins to see if they love butter and the little girls adorn themselves with chalM and curls of dandelions pull out the yellow leaves to see if the schoolboy loves them and blow t I down from the leafless stalk, to find OUt it tbi«r motihert w»nc them at bom*