The Cardiff Times

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WORKMEN'S TOPICS. BY MABON. THE AGED POOR AND THE AflED POOR REPORT. True poverty is no crime—still poor and im- poverished dependent people are treated more like criminals in this country than any other slaes. This question of poverty among the Community should be of special interest to all Joed men and citizens; but when poverty is \Ilied with old age it is in an especial degree "Pitiful and appealing. And in all probability a ter, large number will now admit that poverty, At all events, in old age, is a fit subject for relief by the State. The principle is already affirmed tll our system of poor law relief. But that the present system is not efficient is proved by the attention which the whole question of parochial feliet has received in recent years, as well as from ibe existence of the Special Commission, whose report we are going to notice in this letter. if the present system was efficient no Parlia- mentary or Government inquiry would have been *et on foot. But these inquiries have been instituted through the wide prevalence of a vague tanse of dissatisfaction and doubt in the public bind as to the adequacy of the present provision for the relief of the aged poor as well as the Occurrence of individual instances, which showed bither laxity in the administration of the law or Inadequacy in the conception of the relief to be .fforded. as well as the want of economy in the 'hole system. It scarcely merits to be called a system, and certainly cannoc be called an Economical one looked at from the point of view if the benefit realised in proportion to the cost of administration, and, indeed, it could not well be bbherwise if we look at the large staff required for the collection of the rates, administration and supervision. The whole affair is complicated and Cumbersome, and it is highly necessary and very desirable that the whole matter should be placed 073 a philosophical, consistent, and statesmanlike basis. The Report. The report-using the word in its collective tense-contains the evidence of 69 persons, all of )Phom may be regarded as experts or specialists to relation to the poor and the poor law system. In 4his evidence the facts of the case, at all events, tre put forth as seen from every point of view, tod interpretations of these facts are given in *°cordaaee with the theories, the predilections tad the sympathies of the several witnesses who fives them. What is desired now is that leaders M IDen-especially of those most practically in- terested m the matter—should study the facts embodied in these reports, and that they should tea. the various conclusions arrived at for them- 'telves. The most striking feature of the majority report is the degree in which it relies on the evidence of Sir Hugh Owen and other officials. It would not be too much to say that the Whole aim of that report is to minimise the destitution which exists in the country, and to show the admirable efficiency of the existing poor law system in its work of relieving that tntnimum of destitution. What may be taken as certain is, that in their report there is no exaggeration in what they say to the amount of pauperism in the land, or as to the defects of the remedial agenoy. Take, for instanoe, the statements on the first point in the amount of pauperism. The number of persons Who received relief in 1892 is given as 744,757 this shows a considerable decrease since 1849. But how this decrease is accounted for is a ques- tion. Sir Hugh, while contending that the general improvement in the condition of the Working classes has a good deal to do with it, admits also that it may be greatly due to a better administration, and that the decrease has been entirely in outdoor relief—a most significant Admission, as it is well known that there are tens of thousands who prefer starvation to the work- house. But the most astounding facts connected With poor-law relief and administration are those that relate to the expenditure. According to the report, the aggregate expenditure in 1892 was £ 8,347,678. This was an increase from 1861 of ^^000,000, notwithstanding the said decrease of Pauperism. But most significant of all is the banner in which this expenditure is distributed, Of this sum, £ 5,740,721 was spent in relief in 1892 (this includes the maintenance of lunatics), and £2,607,213 of it was also spent on establishments and officials. The authors of the majority report find no fault with this state of things. To this, We find, is to be added a sum representing a very considerable portion of the expenditure of the Local Government Board, which is never Reckoned in poor-law expenditure. And all this delates to pauperism in general. But what about the aged poor, whose case the Commission was appointed to consider ? And the admissions on this point are very remark- able. "The fact," it says, "that out of 35 Per cent. of the population of London, Over 65 per cent. are returned as Deceiving relief other than medical relief, and that 23 of this 35 per oent. received in poor-law "tabltshments is especially remarkable." Again St says It appears that nearly 20 per cent. of the total population above the age of 65 receive belief in one day, and nearly 30 per cent. in the Course of a year." Again, "It is an unsatis- factory and deplorable fact that so large a propor- tion of the working classes are in old age in Receipt of poor relief." Much is tried to be made towards minimising this unsatisfactory and deplorable state of things by making out that the bulk of those workmen in receipt of poor relief Are not compelled to go into the Workhouse. Mr Sidney Webb is quoted in favour of the theory that those who go to the Union are, as a. rule, the loafers and ne'er-do-wells." If this is so it is too wonder J that self-respecting people will fchob to undergo any hardships rather than lubmit to be herded with snoh a dan of people. According to this report, however, the Workhouse is not at all A bad place to go to. Indeed, one is almost persuaded to think that it is a very fine place—a Plaoe were the inmates have far more comfort than their fellow-men who are toiling for their 4aily bread can afford in their own homes. There may be a sense in which this is perfectly true, and if there is, surely nothing more con- demnatory of the poor-law system is possibly to imagine. The loafer and the neer-do-well are better provided for than the industrious, sober, kard-working man. And to its credit be it said that the report says, that a greater discrimina- tion in the administration of relief is needed." True, and sooner the better, that the whole system may be superseded by one more natural, Inore humane, and more worthy of a nation Which lives in an enlightened age and a Christian bad. We cannot allow this opportunity to I low by without saying a word with regard to What appears to us to be one of the most powerful ] objections of the present system, viz., the hard- ship imposed on the recipients of the State relief and that this hardship presses in a special degree tipon the virtuous and good citizen, while it falls lightly upon the backs of the seliiah and the Vicious. For it is implied in a parochial relief that people become one of a class, separated from family and home ties, from old acquaintances, from familiar associations, and from many little Katies and occupations that have settled around them in the years of lifetime. Nothing but the Reparation of old couples in death can be more ferying, if even as trying, as is their compulsory Separation on entering the Workhouse. Wo fcruelly put these old people, when their ipower of adoption and pliability ia gone, Into new and trying conditions, and almost to every case amid strong and uncongenial Associated. It is obvious, then, that the hard- ship attending this kind of life bear the hardest upon those who lived a good and dutiful life. The Ettanee they receive has to be paid for by sacri- les great and real. As to the isolated, wanderers id tbe professional tramp their life that never formed any kind of home ties, have never shared in the burdens and cares of life, can take their place in the ranks of the State relieved without a pang, and oven, in some cases, with a sense of relief and satisfaction. So it is obvious that our present system of poor relief does not Impose equal conditions upon those who receive its aid. May all statesmen and politicians come to really feel that the present condition of the aged poor needs amelioration and improvement— then its end will soon come.

Gardening Notes. Flower Garden. The season is a backward one, and there is still time for planting many things which in an average season would now be full of growth. Carnations, pinks, picotees, pansies, violas, hollyhocks, phloxes, delphiniums, pyrethrums, and most of the other hardy plants may still be purchased and planted. Roses, too, if good plants can be obtained near home, may be planted, although, of course, the season is Retting advanced for such work. I purchased a lot of roses last autumn, teas and H.P.'s. It was not convenient to plant them till after the frost broke up, but as soon as the frost set in they were protected by a ridge of leaf-mould being placed along each side of the rows of plants. The tops were cut with the frost, but now the plants are pruned they are breaking strongly, and there is not a single death among them. This shows the value of earthing up rosep. No one who adopts this plan need lose a single rose, even of the delicate teas, if the earthing up is done as soon as the frost sets in. Dahlias which have remained in store and have not started into growth may be planted out in the borders, either with or without division. Cover the tubers four inches deep with soil—if in heavy soil in light soil they may be covered a little deeper. There will be plenty of spring flowers in blossom now. There are several varieties of Leopard's Bane which are very showy in spring and later on, and good sized patches of honesty brighten up the dark spots in the shrubbery, and this old plant casts its seeds about and takes care of itself without any trouble to the cultivator. The common evening primrose is another uselul sub- ject for filling up rough places on banks with the foxgloves. The white foxglove is, I think, the most effective for lighting up dark places. In good soil they will grow 5 feet high, and they are very effective in a mass. Hollies and other ever- greens will move safely now. We ought to plant more hollies. They are always effective. Fruit Garden. It is generally admitted that a late season is more favourable to fruit-trees than an early one, yet late or early, the blossoms of the choice stone fruits should have protection. Very often simple means are very effective. One cold spring some years ago I called to see an old gardening friend when the peaches were in bloom, and I found that, being short of netting and having a good many trees to cover, he had covered some of his trees with the new untrimmed peasticks. In that district he could have the sticks cut any length he liked, and by selecting the longest he could have them pretty well long enough to reach up to the top of a 10-foot wall. It was only a question of a few weeks, and the plan answered admirably, and the sticks were just as good for the peas afterwards. Stir the soil among strawberries and give the final dressing before mulching the beds down with long litter. A bed of Alpine strawberries always comes in useful. They are small, but they bear continuously for several months, and, when well cultivated and the plants nourished with rich mulchings and liquid manure, the size of the berries can be much increased, and when well ripened I think the flavour better than that of many of the large watery fruits of the modern varieties. Seeds may be sown now in boxes and placed in the frame, and when the plants are large enough to handle prick out in rows a foot apart and eight inches or nine inches apart in the rows. I have gathered fruit from Alpine straw- berries the first season wbon sown early under glass, but it is better if the plants show flower the first summer to pinch them off. Vegetable Garden. Sow beet and carrots. The turnip-rooted beat should be sown for early use, as it turns in so much sooner than the long varieties, and being grown nearer the surface it matures sooner and is consequently better flavoured than any root which is buried deeply in the soil. If vegetable marrows are started in the hotbed, move to a cool frame as soon as the plants are well above the soil. If drawn up weakly they are not of much use. The same remark applies to ridge cucumbers. I expect everybody is doing all that in him lies to improvise a green crop of some kind as soon as possible. The very warmest spot in the garden should be selected for the early cauliflowers. A well-manured trench at the foot of a warm wall is a capital spot for early cauliflowers, and the plants may be set out thicker than usual, trusting to rich mulchings and liquid manure to make them swell up. I have had a lot of splendid early cauliflowers in warm trenches not more than eight inches apart. Being in a single row they swelled a good deal over the edge of the trench, but it was the liberal feeding which brought the flowers on fast. I believe everybody has something to learn about the application of liquid manures to vegetables. Greenhouse. The chrysanthemums are now in cold frames with all the air possible on mild, calm days, and never altogether closed at night unless very windy or frosty. The gale of Sunday, the 24th ulfc., did a good bit of damage to the glass erections in our district. With us here it was a difficult job to keep the lights on cold pits, the wind lifted them up like sheets of paper where not securely fastened down. In some places the damage done to glass erections will be a very serious item this year. Tomatoes may be planted in large pots or boxes in the warm greenhouse now. Give liquid manure to roses in pots and any other plant which seems to require help, but the most useful time to give stimulants is just as the flower-buds are forming and advancing, and this may be continued in a moderate way till the blossoms expand. Heated Frames Cuttings of all kinds will strike very rapidly now in frames placed on an ordinary hotbed. The frame to be kept close and shaded on bright days. Windsw Garden. So many window plants have been lost that replenishment is the order of the day. It is true plants are very cheap, but still they cost money, and such things as petunias (double and single), lobelias, begonias, balsams, and even fuchsias and pelargoniums, if it is thought worth while, may be raised from seed. Divide and repot musk.-— Cottage Gardening.

AT THE SEASIDE, Jons I hear that they have a good organ at our lodgings. Do you know how many stops it has ? SHB Only about three a. day, and those not very long ones.

A well-known alderman took a cab to his resi- dence, which is near an old cemetery, and offered the man eighteenpence, which was just his legal ,fare and no more. Cabby looked at the coins, slowly deposited them in his pocket, and said, pointing to his horse, D'ye see that little white s with the short tail 1" Yes," said the alderman, rather puzzled, what about him V Oh, nothink, only I hope the next time you're brought here it'll be by a black 'oss with a long tail Brown junior was making an evening call when his adored one's little brother approached him and begged the loan of his whistle. Whistle t" queried Brown I have no whistle." "Well, papa says you have," said the little wingless angel, and that you are alwaysnetting ifc

WELSH GLEANINGS. In 1715 there were in Wales 35 chapels. In 1879 they numbered 3,000. Siencyn Penliydd, whom the late Rev. Edward Matthews, of Ewenny, has immortalised, was born on the 16th of September, 1762. An at'empt was made in the 12th century to supplant the ministrations of the Church by the propagation of a natural Theosophy, which was virtually a re-appearance of Druidism. The church at Llangorwen near Aberystwyth, is one of the monuments of the Pusey move- ment in the Welsh Church, having been erected by ardent supporters of Puseyism, and being formerly known as the Puseyite Church. The next volume of the Dictionary of National Biography will contain the names of a number of eminentWelshmen, includingHenry Salesbury, the Welsh grammarian Wm. Salesbury, the transla- tor of the New Testament into Welsh and David Samuel, of Nantglyn, a. well-known Welsh poet. The la¡,e Dean Edwards regarded the follow ieg as the governing influences which have moulded the Welsh character :—1. The pulpit and the platform. 2. The diaconate or the set fawr. 3. The Sunday-schools. 4. The native press and literature. 5. The eisteddfod or congress of bards and musicians. Hume's views on Drmdism had better not be communicated to Hwfa M011, the Archdruid of to-day. That historian has written, No species of superstition was ever more terrible than that of the Druids and a little further On, No idolatrous worship ever attained such an ascendant over mankind as that of the ancient Gauls and Batons. Madame Patti appreciates the value of the magic lantern so much that for her private theatre at Craig-y-Noa a magnificent triple lantern has been constructed at the cost of J3300, and among the slides supplied her are a sixteen- g-uinea "effect" sot, prepared and specially painted for her to illustrate Henry Russell's song, The Ship on Fire." Neither the late Dr. Saunders nor the veteran Dr. Morris, Brecon, entertained exaggerated views of the mental capacity of average congrega- tions. The former once counselled one of the ablest of the younger generation of Methodist preachers not to give essence of hay to horses and the latter often urges upon his students to have ready at hand a stock of anecdetes, and other small change. The Parliament which met in January, 1401, passed a series of ordinances seldom equalled in the history of any people in point of severity. It prohibited the Welsh from purchasing lands, from holding any municipal office, and from bearing arms ,within any city, borough, or market town. It further enacted that no English burgess should marry a Welsh woman on penalty of dis- enfranchisement. 1 "A New Yeat'e's guifte made upon certen Flowers presented to the Righte Noble, Honor- able, and the Singuler good Ladie the Countesse of Pembroke by William Smith," sold by Messrs Sotheby from the collection of MSS. in the late Sir Thomas Phillips's library realised JBM while a series of 81 MSS. relating to Wales of the 16th, 17th, 18th, and 19bh centuries, including gram- mars, history, genealogy, poetry, sermons, correspondence, topography, &c., sold in separate lots, realised a total of £1,289. The popular use of the SiKU- of the Cross in Wales seems now unusual, although a reference to its former employment in Wales (says the Rev. Father Cormack), is made in the still common expression Yngroesa, Cross thyself, equivalent to take care," used for eheaJeieg one who is about to do anything wrong. The Welsh language has another analogous idiom, viz.: Ymswyn, charm yoursejf;" it occurs in the Welsh version of the Bible, perhaps marginally. The following figures show the progress of the Baptist denomination in the Rhoudda Valley from 1869 to 1894. as given in Yr Herald Cenadol, published by Mr Lewis Evans, Cadoxton-Barry. In 1869 the Baptists had in the Rhondda Valley, excluding Pontypridd, 11 chapels, 1,171 members, 1,346 Sunday school scholars, and accommodation for 3,706 hearers in 1894, a quarter of a century later, they had 40 chapels, with seating accommo- dation for 23,615. The number of members were 7,946, and of Sunday school scholars 9,254. The rise of Henry VII., the grandson of the I squire of Plas-pen-y-mynydd, to the sovereignity of England was the resurrection of the Cymric Kingship. The turbulent times which Wales experienced under the previous monarchs were replaced by a period of peace and tranquillity. Sir Henry Sidney, in a letter to Sir Francis Walsmgham, in 1583, speaks of his presidency as his grea.t and high office in Wales, a happy place of government; for a better people to govern, or better subjects, Europe holdeth nob." William Phillips, poet and farmer, of Ardudwy, flourished during the Civil War. Like the over- whelming majority of his countrymen he took the side of the King. He was charged with writing against Cromwell, and as the result he was exiled and his goods confiscated. In this unhappy situa- tion he wrote a series of englynion. the last of which we here append :— Ni chaf ddol, maenol, na mynydd— dof Na dyfais awenydd, Na rhoi mhen ar obenydd Na'r coed led fy nhroed yn rhydd. Llancarvan in the Vale is classical ground. There stood the celebrated College of Cattwg the Wise, also known as St. Cadoc there Taliesin was a frequent visitor, and there Aneurin com- posed his great poem, the Gododin," the sub- ject of which is the dreary Battle of Cattraeth, where the Celtic poet had fought and suffered. In Llancarvan still stands the House of St. Dubricius, now known as Ty-dy-frig, near which are the house and garden of St. Cadoc. From Llancarvan, Caradoc, the historian, took bis literary surname, and at Watterston, close by, Walter Mapes was born. This ancient centre of light and learning-formerly known as Nunc Carvan or The Vale of the Stags—was the site of the earliest religious institution of the Christian Church in Britain, long prior to the mission of St. Augustine to the Saxons of Kent. Welshmen won't help the ghost-hunters. "Wa.les, in spite of the emotional character of its people, dashed with much that could be described as mediumistic, has hitherto treated the liberal and educational influence of philosophy as diabolic in origin and perilous to immortal wel- fare." AH this because only in Cardiff will any one systematically search after spooks. Light mourns and Borderland sympathises, and the psychic student is urged to think out why it is that Spiritualism makes its way in the big towns more successfully than in the rural regions. Meanwhile it is suggested that the haunted room at Plus Mawr, Conway, should be examined care- fully. Perhaps the Cambrian Society artists will lay on a ghost as an additional attraction to their next exhibition in the fine old mansion which they rescued from degradation and decay. In the following, taken from Tit-Bits, a very ancient cock-and-bull story is revived :—Some years ago a congregation of a remote country chapel was called to decide upon the nomination of a minister. They had fully made up their minds beforehand that their choice should rest upon a man well up in classics and they came to the conclusion that the best way of deciding this matter was to re- quest the candidate to preach to them a sermon in Greek. The minister desirous of obtain- ing the post was a Welshman, and not being able to comply with their request, thought he saw a way out of his difficulty. The day arrived upon which he was to preach the all-important sermon. Ascending the pulpit, he commenced a voluble though utterly nonsensical discourse in Welsh. Happening to glance towards the gallery, he saw a man convulsed with laughter. Instantly divin- ing that he, too, must be a Welshman (continuing in the same language, and without making a pause), the preacher called out in Welsh, My friend over there in the gallery, don't you split." Needless to say, his friend did not betray him j he gamed the post, his congregation being charmed at having a man who wold be ao eloquent to Greek.

THE HOUSEHOLD. I I A M beginning my spring cleaning iliis year in the kitchen depart- ment, and I feel perfectly con- vinced thab ib ia the besb thing to :lo, for when thii is all straight it ia very much easier to upset thereat. .J the establish. ment. The cup. "boards are of course the first thing bo ba at. l acked. To begin with, there will sure to be a larga assemblage of broken articles. f really believe that when things are once broken they are taken a great deal more care of than ever they were before. They are collected, gathered together, moved about. a day of resurrection spoken of, but which somehow or other never seems to arrive the only thing is to be quite strong-minded about these articles; when you turn out the cupboards, either send them at one. to bo mended or else with firm determination send them to the dustman. Put nothing baok on to the shelves that you do not really want. The next thing to be done is to go all over your pots and pans and kitchen imulements generally, especially noting how the linings of your sauce- pans are wearing. It is a saddening and expen- sive process this, I know, but it may save illness in the end and this reminds me—I wonder if you know of a new and most useful little inven- tion called "The Electric C!eaner." Anyon who has ever cleaned a saucepan as I was taught to do at a certain well-known school of cookery will be able to realise that it is not nearly such a simple matter as might be supposed. I know that the copper saucepans that were given to to THE ELECTRIC CLEANKR. quite took the skin off the tips cf our fingers, aud then they were hardly in that state which would qualify them for a position next to godli- ness. This cleaner can be used in an immense number of ways, but for pots and pans it i« simply wonderful. The blade is flexible and two of the ends are rounded so that 110 matter what shape the ubensil is this little investigator can be bent so as to penetrate into every corner. Ill would be particularly appreciated with anything that has an aperture smaller in ptoporfeion to its size. The sink should be well seen to, and if required a protector placed over the holes, and another matter that id frequently forgotten when the frost is once past, is the cistern this should be thoroughly seen to, and, indeed, if people live in town, I always think it is better to pay a certain sum a year to those who undertake to see that they are kept in order. Dustbins, too, do not occupy the thought of the modern housekeeper nearly as much as they should, and though there is no excuse for this neglect, quite charming dust- bins seem to be invented in quick succession to each other, each adding some little improvement which is overlooked by its predecessor. The last is the Disinfecting Sanitary Dustbin, and it really oxhibits an infinity of consideration on the pwfc of its inventor; it is made of galvanised iron, not so thick as to be clumsy, and yet sufficiently so as to stand the somewhat rough wear and tear it has to endure. It is double-lidded, THE SANITARY DUSTBIN, the top lid having a deep brim, which fits soenrely in the bin itself, while the smaller one works on hinges, and through this smaller aperture the refuse can easily pass fixed in this latter lid is a kind of small box which contains a disinfectant which, whenever the lid is closed, receives a shak- ing sufficient to scatter it over the contents. We never seem weary of hearing of new table- centres and doyleys; they always require renewing, and never more so than at the present centres and doyleys; they always require renewing, and never more so than at the present moment, when glimmers of daylight begin to penetrate into the room quite labe in the evening, when fires are not quite so imperative, and everything shows up the wear and tear of winter. There is nothing that looks so fresh and spring-like as a delicate, pure, pale green, the spring flowers look so lovely against it, and nothing makes such a charming background for bunches of daffodils deep-set into old blue and white jars, or sprays of A PRETTI DOYLET. I lilies of the valley gracefully branching out of delicate white china vases. Some of us who are able to net are glad to know how this graceful shuttle weaving may be turned to account, as will be seen in my illustration the table centre and doyleys have both a border of netting. This is done in pale green purse silk, and then with an edging of feather-stitching sewed on the centre of pale green Indian silk. Satin may be used for she table centre if it is preferred, bub thin silk will be by far the best for the doyleys. Of course, an infinite amount of colours may be used, either alone or blended together, or even shaded silks may be used for the border, and the centrepiece may be covered with more or less elaborate embroidery, but when one is possessed ot pretty little bits of silver, and where flowers are used, the plainer background is better. Just in. side the feather-stitching, however, another row in the vine pattern may be more elaborately worked just over the narrow hem a row of double crochet of the silk is made round it, and then is the netting begun, one loop being made in eveiy space made by the crochet; six rows of plain netting completes th« border, or a pointed oorder may be made by three rows of plain netting over a rather small mesh, making it of the length desired for the trimming then not eleven stitches, turn, and net ten stitches. leaving the last one unuetted, which narrows the work. Continue in this way nntil you have but one loop on the mesh, and your point is completed. Begin the next point by tying the thread into the next stitoh in the third row, and make all the pointe in the same way. Draw out the foundation thread, and crochet J.s.c. in each loop to form the heading. It may be made deeper by making the points larger, in which case you work more loops over the mesJi in the first row of the point before turning back or, if a smaller point be desired, make fewer loops to begin the point. E

"The candles yon sold me last week were very bad," said Toole to a tallow chandler. Indeed, sir," said he, "I'm sorry for that." "They burnt to the middle," said the wag, "and they wouldn't burn any longer." .'What, sir, did they 10 out f ^iNo, sir, them burnt sbwfter.

I Songs for the People. Andrew Fletcher, of Saltoun, in a letrer to t.b. Marquis of Montrose, wrote :1 know a very wise man that believed that if a man were permitted to make al] the ballads he need not care wbø should lIIake the laws lif the nation." GOVERNMENT. Kach petty hand Can steer a ship bucalm'd but he that will Govern and carry her to her ends must knov His tides, his currents, bow to shift his saild What she will bear in foul, what in fair weathers, Where her springs are, her leaks, and how to stop theto What strands, what shelves, what rocks, do threaten her Tha forces and the nature of all winds, Gusts, storms, a.nd tempests: when her keel ploughs hell, And deck knocks heaven, then to manage her Becomes the name and office of a pilot. BEN JONSON.

THE STORMY PETREL Whsn tierce a'oug his ocean-path The north wind rushes in its wrath, And down the vast, insatiate wave The great ship shuciders to her grave, Whence is it that tiny form Exults, and challsjSgL the storm Oh, not for thee ^jralooin-sweet gales Of orchards or my vales The bee's low 11m e- rush and roar Of breakers un sojn^savage shore, Or organ-winds tnflgrali sea-caves blown. Are harmonies for oifee atone Man's argosies are swept to naught; Yet o'er the havoo, tempest-wrought, Companion of the wancleritig Tumult and Death but toy with thee, And cheer thee in thy lonely flight, Making our horror thy delight.' Oh, would, strange bird, I too could sweep Unharmed along life's aligry deep. Nor heed t he lowering clouds that roll And darken round the struggling soul- Like thee could soar, and breast, elate, The mists of doubt, the storms of fate ijHNNRT S. CORNWALL.

PASSINIIAWAY. He is passing &way— I Passing from noon to the twilight grey Passing away into the uight, And the light Of his eyes we shall see no more for aye, Passing away, passing away To the realm beyond the tidal bar, Beyond the grave, and the cloud, and the star, Is this friend of onrs, And the darkness low'rs, [ ^"d the night grows dim, | And we 11 see no more of him— To whom we gave a love of indifferent kind In return for the light of his glowing mind And the fteadfast love of his deeper heart. Then away with pnde And let us ci>y, fee he depart Yr ebbing tide— Mea culpa » Mea culpa We have siuned against his soul, And the whole Of the crime is ours. Come, ere he passes away to the tomb, And the chsuioe is lost, Let us own the fault and dispel the gloom At whatever cost. Let us open our hearts and make sweet peace Ere our faithful friend should cease To sojourn here Ere his soul should burst through death's dark night And stand erect in that dazzling light Where soullii like hisuprear. Throw wide the portals of our hearts, (Though small they be), So that he see Our love's act dead ere he departs. Throw wide, throw wide love's close-barred door Ere the chance is ours no more—no more. E. P.

The Welsh Press. — [n JLNTDDWB.] Disestabli^jg^f the Church. The deternoinedT^JP^ if all the reports are correct, the uivtcrv^ilchf opposition shown to the Disestablishment Bill by the supporters of the Churoh is the subject of much comment in the Welsh newspapers last week. Opposition to a measure of this kind is, of course, only to be expected it is perfectly reasonable, and, up to a certain point, quite legitimate. It is only when the methods adopted to gain the desired object are contrary to the principles of honesty and truth that objection can fairly be raised to them. The Celt takes strong objection to the action of the defenders of the Church, and reminds them, for the sake of their own honour, that they should remember that they will be in as much need ef their character as truthful and fairminded men after Disestablishment as they ever had, and more also in all probability." After referring to the foolish amendments of the Bill proposed by the Church party, it has a few words to say about the petitions which are being forwarded to the House of Commons against the measure. To judge from these petitions," it says, no doubt the people of the end of the twentieth century would be surprised to know how few of the people of the endfof the nineteenth century were able to write their own names. But," it facetiously continues, perhaps if they knew the age of some who the petition profess have signed their own names, they would be surprised to know bow young some children are who are able to sign their names in this century." It hopes that the trickery which has been practised will be exposed in the light of the sun, the eye of hght. The Baner is sorry for, but not surprised at, the various methods which have been adopted to secure signatures for the peti- tions from the Church. It points out that already 60 petitions sent up te the Houso of Commons have been rejected by the House of Commons Committee on Petitions, because the signatures they contained had been written by the same hand." And this has nut been done through the action of any of the M.P.'s, but the irregularities havo Ken discovered in the ordinary course by the clerks of the committee, whose business it is to examine the petitions presented. The Baner aiso gives extracts from the leading English newspapers as well as from the South Wales Daily News in favour of the Bill. The Tyst also condemns the manner in which petitions have been got up in favour of the Church, although it maintains that if any Non- conformists have been induced by misrepresenta- tions to sigu them, there is really no excuse fur such conduct. It rejoices that, having secured so large a majority on the seccnd reading, Disestab- lishment, whether rejected or not by the Lords, is now only a matter of time, and it further suggests that the better it will be to the Church itself the sooner the Bill becomes law. The Tarian remarks that the jJisestablishment question has been the means of cooling the love which previously existed be- tween the Liberal Unionists and the Tories. But whatever may be the result in that direction it is satisfied that Wales is going to have justice done to it before very long. The Genedl giv«s a few specimens of the amendments proposed by the supporters of the Church for the purpose of weakening the measure. For example, chat the Commissioners, who will have charge of the endowments, should all be Church- men that the chapels should also have all their property taken away from them that curates should be indemnified for the loss of their prospective benefits; that the cathedrals should be banded to a committee of Churohmen, but that the cost of maintaining them should be paid by the country and that all parish churchyards should remain the property of the Church. The Genedl suggests tha6 amendments should also be proposed to make the Bill more acceptable to Wales. But III does not say in what direction that should be done, leaving it to the national conference at Aberystwyth, where it hopes the Liberals of Wales will produce amendments for that purpose. Denominational Schaalsand the Rates. The Tarian devotes its leading article last week to the attempt which is being made to secure funds for the Cburch of England and Roman Catholic schools from the rates. It points out that already three-fourths of the income of those sohools are now derived from the Government, and now they want the other fourth to come from the same source. The Tarian fears that the public might be misled by the ptomises which are made by both Churchmen and Roman Catholics, who are united on this question. They promise, among other things, that they would be willing that the public should have "some amount" of control over the schools. But. n says the Tarian, they do not say effective control. Care will be taken that they (the publio) will not be in a majority." If they intended the public to have effective control over the schools they would at once place them under the oontrol of the School Boards, where the only effective pubhc oontrol lies at the present moment. It points out that these schools are in existence for teaching denominational religion, and they should, there- fore, be supported by the denominations to which they belong. If they were iutended for general education only, that could be secured under the Board schools. It wants Nonconformists not to be a party to endowing religion in another form, as that would be the effect of permitting the schools above referred to to obtain funds for their MWPKt from thereto.

Our Country Column. Teulouse Geese. That geese are among the most profit,able of out v>"n,>r stock everyone admits. They are easy to ii'jf, and when they have passed the first stages they obtain much of their food for themselves. Here again, as in other instancea, success depends a good deal upon locality. They do well where there is common land to pasture on, and they are good gleaners after every harvest. Anyone oon. templating keeping geese will make their selection from the two mftin breeds, Toulouse and Embden. The former are grey, the latter white. Both breeds have their champions, but there is really little to choose betwixt them. Then there is the cross between the two to fall back upon. The Emhdens a.re rapid in growth. and, like Aylesbury ducks, are ready for market at an early age. The Toulouse do not lay on flesh rapidly at first, as thf> goslings grow bone fast and, being loose of skin, they soon fill the ey<s. It must be admitted that when young And raw they are rather deceptive as weigher?, but as soon a" matured they gather flesh and fat quickly, and can be fed to an enormous size—to a weight, in fact, exceeding that attained to by any other variety. The moral of this is that if green or Michaelmas geese are required, the Eliablen is tho bird to produce them but if heavy Christ- mas geese, then the Toulouse. When, however, the "cross" is kept, the produce nature and fatten rapidly. To show how important is this industry it may be mentioned that in certain districts the small holders who foliow it often manage to pay the renb of their holdings out of the geese-the main of the attention being given by the women and girls. Of late years the geese put upon the market havo greatly increased in size, and Is per lb. is a fair price for dressed birds drawn, trussed, and ready for the table. It is always better economy to grow big geese than smaller ones. Late Sewn Onions. In certain districts late sown onions are often rendered necessary by reason of the exigencies of the weather. Ofben. however, it is desirable to sow later shan usual for reasons which need not be referred to. but in any case good crops can always be had if suitable sorts ate selected, and sowing is done not later than April. Such sorts as white Spanish, brown globe, and others of this class give good crops of medium sized onions, besides providing a certain amount of small bulbs for pickling, but the Tripoli and other Italian kinds are not, as a rule, satisfactory. Whether early or late sown, onions require a deeply worked rich soil, and to secure this the ground should be well trenched each autumn, and be left in rough ridges during the winter, so that the air can have free access to as large an area as possible. In spring, when the ground is dry, the surface should be forked over and levelled, and after laying for a week or so, the becfe should be rolled firm with a wooden roller, after which shallow drills should be drawn about a foot apart, and the seeds sown thinly, raking the soil level after- wards. When the plants are about two inches high they should be thinned out to from three to six inches apart, according to the size of produce required, and the beds must be kept clear from weeds at all times. Occasional oressings with wood ashes, nitmte of sodB. oru. nriate of ammonia in small quantities, liquid manure, or other manorial dressings, proves very beneficial, parti- cularJyon light soils, but their use should cease with July. By the end of August there should be signs of the ripening of the orop, the foliage bending over at the neck of the bulb but if the foliage keeps erect, it should be bent over, a birch broom being a bandy implement to use for the purpose. In September the crop should be lifted, and, in private gardens, made up in bunches and hung in a cool, airy shed to dry, after which the onions may be dealt with as desired. The small pickling onions should be picked and dealt with as soon as the large roots are taken away, it not being necessary to dry these. Everlasting Flewers. Helichrysums are useful everlastings of easy culture, and while being ornamental as border plants, they prove very useful for winter bouquets when associated with grasses, the seed vessels of honesty, and the like. Seeds of helichrysums should be sown in a cold frame early in April, so that the plants may be put out in the end of May; or they may be sown in the open late in April or during May, being careful to thin the plants out to a foot apart to allow them to fully develop. These plants do best in a free garden soil not too highly manured, but at the same time it should not be too poor or the plants will be too stunted to produce an abundance of flowers. The colours are very varied-yellow, white, rose, crimson, and purple, with a host of intermediate shades, two of the best being the Fireball, a brilliant crimson maroon, and the Silverbal), a beautiful silvery white variety. This should always be growi; where good dried flowers are an advantage for decorative purposes. Helichrysums reach a height of from 18 to 30 inches, according to variety and soil, and each plant produces a large number of flowers. Where a kitchen garden exists, it is a good plan to have a row of helichry- sums for the special purpose of providing flowers for drying, and in regard to this it is desirable that a few hints be given. In the first place the blooms must always be cut before they have expanded to the centre, and, as it is always easy to wire the flowers for use for bouquets or other decorative purposes, the stems need not be very long. When cut, the flowers should be hung singly or in small bunches, heads downward, in a dry place from which light is as much as possible excluded. If this is not done the stems will be bent and the colours dulled when thoroughly dry they should be stored away in boxes or drawers, where, if kept dry, they will keep for several years in good condition. The last cuttings late in the season will always provide plenty of buds, and where these are wanted in a half-opened state when dry they can always be opened by holding before a fire. A Kerry Cew, Almost everyone knows the little Kerry cattle, the one breed indigenous to Ireland. It is black in colour, quiet and gentle in disposition, and certainly one of the most useful of all bovine breeds. The Dexter Kerry is only a modification of the Kerry proper, and ewoh variety embodies the same qualities. At one time this race of tiny black cattle was only found in Ireland, but now it has spread to many counties in England. There is just the danger that it may be kept to too great an extent by rich amateurs, and then there is a chance of its being spoiled by being robbed of its more thrifty qualities. At present the Kerry is a splendid milker, and its milk comes next to that of Jersey8 and Guernseys in richness of butter-fat; consequently Kerries are excellent butter cows. They are hardy, wiry, vigorous in constitution, and capable of making a living where bigger cattle would starve. Some of their pastures are so poor that it is marvellous how they manage to pick their sustenance at all. but they come boma sleek and satisfied for all that. No cattle are better adapted for grazing country lanes and road-side wastes, only this is not always allowable, con- sequently the Kerry is just the animal for tbe cow-keeping labourer or small-bolder, and upon no thriftier animal can he bestow his care. Answers to Correspondents. "Small Holder" (Card<S).—The Middle White Yorkshire, as one of the improve breeds, would best suit your purpose. It has &11 the qualities you name, and. from what you say, would be sure to give a srood return. Trees for Small Garden (" Gardener ").—We should advise pyramid pears on quince stocks, bush apples on Paradise stocks, and plums on ordinary stocks, paving these latter as bushes, or to form a hedge, in which form they boar admirably. For the walls we should use pears horizantaJly trained, andif of good heigbt-uy 9 or 10 feet-—standard plums, horizontally trained to occupy the wall space over the pears, as this allows of greater economy of &pace, North walls can be covered with Morello cherries and Victoria plums both of these are useful, as are also gooseberries, which do well on north walls. The beet soil for trees of the class you name is a sound loam, bub they do well in any good garden soil. There is no necessity to put stones under the trees, because if you pur- chase from a goodmiu they areproperly prepared. A good half-dozen apples for your purpose are Claygate Pearmain, Cox's Orange Pippin. Dmne- low's Seedling, King of the Pippins, Warner'* King, and Peasgooa's Nonsuch. S'x pears, Beurre Bosc, Burre Diel, Brockwonii Park, Doyenué du Cornice, Glou Morcoau, Pltma-stoll Duchess, and Williams' Bon CbrSuen. Six plums, Coe's Golden Drop, Grew Gage, Jeffereou, Victoria, White tfftgQMQ ItopuKt Pood's I

THE POPE AND WALES. NEW VICARIATE FOR THE PRIN- CIPALITY. Pastoral Letter of Bishop Herfley. An important Pastoral Letter by the Bishop of Newport and Menevia (the Right Rev. Dr. Hedley) was read in the Roman Catholic churches in South Wales on Easter Sunday with reference to the impending Iteirarchical changes in Wales. In the course of the Pastoral his Lordship says:- A public announcement has already been made of the step which the Holy See has taken in regard to the ecclesiastical organisation of the church in the Principality of Wales. By a brief of the Sovereign Pontiff, dated March of the present year, the six counties of North Wales and five of the counties of South Wales are severed from the dioceses of Shrewsbury and Newport, to which they respectively belonged, and formed into a Vicariate Apostolic. It has long been thought by those on whom rests the chief solicitude of these things that the interests of the Faith in the Principality of Wales (with the exception of Glamorgan) might profitably be placed under the superintendence of one chief pastor. Although the whole of Great Britain, from a Catholic point of view, is sti'la "missionary "country, yet the 11 counties of Wales are" missionary in a much more striking sense. The general population of the country is, in comparison with England, sparse and scattered. Tnere are 110 iarge towns, and few centres of indnstry; there are wide tracts of moor and mountain. Of the total population of Wales, which is, approximately, 1,350,000, no less than about 550,000 belong to Glamorganshire, leaving about 800,000 for the eleven counties. As to Catholicism, the contrast is still more marked. Whilst in Monmouthshire there are about 12,500 Catholics and in Glamorganshire about 25.000. in all the eleven counties there are only about 6,000. These figures show two things, first, that tiie eleven countiesof Wales require religious methods which must be somewhat different from those which am applicable to othor parts of ths country and, secondly, that no Bishop, or religious organisation which had to deal with two conditions of things so different as we have described, could be either free enough or versa- tile enough to do justice to both. The distance alone would make is morally impossible Aber- ystwyth is as far from Cardiff, by time, as Carlisle is from London. The establishment of A VICAMATJC INSTEAD OF A NEW DIOCESE is, no doubt, a temporary measure. The new Vicar Apostolic will, m many respects, have a different line of work from that which falls to the lot of the Bishops of the Province. It will be for him to form a d'oeese. When Cardinal Wise- man prenched at the oonsecrittionof the venerable Bishop Brown, one predecessor of happy memory, at Bitt!' in 1840, lie said, in allusion to the "Welsh Vicariate" to which he had been appointed, "To others the Bishop's office is appointed, to you the Apostle's theirs more to keep, yours all to gain." It might seem as if this were even at this day only too true yet we must not forget what has been done. In Glamorgan- shire in 1840, although a few congregations gathered together in rooms and lofts, tlier* was not one Catholic Church now there are more than 20. If God gives the increase, the day will com" when the old Welsh dioceses will be revived, and the Principality may, or may not, be again united to the Province of Westminster. Mean- while, it cannot be doubted that there are many, very many, who are now ready and anxious to assist in an efforb to make the CATHOLIC CHURCH BETTER KNOWN TO THE WELSH PEOPLE. The new Bishop will find, let us be sure, many generous friends and supporters. At this moment there are six or eight young students, Welsh-speaking, who look forward to take their share in the holy work of the missionary. In Brittany, where the Catboht branch of the Welsh race still show themselves the best Christians of all France, there are priests and religious who are preparing themselves to come over and help us. In one or two places in South Wales there are already, like an advanced guard, missions zealously served—such as Carmarthen, Tenby, Aberystwyth, Breoon-wbich will receive new life and vigour from the words of the Sovereign Pontiff and the zeal of the new pastor. In North Wales there are many more and we can hardly he disappointed in our expectation that the great Society of Jesug, which is there so strongly repre- sented, will carry on its old traditions, hûçl use its resources ip the of a racetfPR^f hftve welcomed it in their midst, FOR IT IS FAR FROM BEING TRUE that the Welsh people, as a race, are hostile to Catholics, or even to Catholicism. They have, from time to time, shown themselves hostile to certain phantoms and shapes that have been put forward to represent Catholicism. The Avelsh people believe in the Bible and in our Lord Jesus Christ. As soon as they can be induced to give a hearing to Catholicism they will find that the Catholic teaching only illuminates and illustrates the Bible, which in the hands of the sects is like the sun in partial eclipse-not the half of its light being brought out. They will find that without the Eucharist and the Sacramental system the Cross of Jesus Christ is little more than a piece of ancient history. They will discover that the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Saints only re-echo, reflect, and enforce the Incarnation. What is much more, they will see that without tho calm, measured, and decisive teaching of Catholic authority, THE VERY BIBLE ITSELF will shrink, verse after verse, leaf after leaf, till very little but the binding will remain. They will see that their natural religion, their kindness, and their courage and enterprise, must be lifted up and turned into virtues for heaven by faith and Divine charity and that morality can only gain, not lose, by self-examination and humble confession. These things the Welsh nation might learn, and they should learn. These things, if God grant it, they will learn, when tbey find men in the midst of them who can speak to them and reason with them men who will sympathise with their history, their traditions and their aspira- tions men who can show them how they have drifted from the ancient religion of their race, and how the cries and the catchwords which now make up all they know of the once-delivered faith represent only shreds and fragments of a grand Christian dispensation which is adequately presented to the world by the Catholic Church alone. Nothing farther need now be said except that the ecclesiastical changes here referred to concern the Church's organisation only, and have no connection whatever with any POLITICAL VIEWS OR MEASURES. The Church is never indifferent to the genius, the history, or the wishes of a people. With these she is ever desirous that her own arrangements should harmonise to the utmost. A National Church must always be marked by many of the characteristics of the nation which makes it up. But it must ba a real Church not a department of the State, but, on the one hand, independent of kings and Parliaments, and, on the other, united with the source of unity, the central Apostolic See. The day may be long distant when such a Church shall again be the Church of the Welsh people. But as St. Chrysostom said. when things went wrong in his own time, The Church knows no old age." Due notice will be given of the actual moment when the new arrangements will take effect. In bidding farewell to the devoted priests and faithful people of Brecon, Llanelly, Carmarthen, Haverfordwest, Tenby, Pembroke Dock, and Aberystwyth, we are anxious to assure them that their interests will now be more care- fully considered and more anxiously oared for than ever they could be by ourselves. Leb them animate themselves with the thought that they are called upon by the Sovereign Pontiff to become centres of light and faith to their immediate neighbour- hoods, and that all their efforts to second the desires of the Holy Father and of the Bishops will be in a special way blessed by Almighty God. The Bishop concludes with the direction that from this date until the announcement of the appointment of a Vicar Apostolic for Wales, there will be added in the Mass tbe Collect, be., Deusqui cordafidehum that the same Collect be recited at Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament; and that the hymn of the Holy Ghost, Veni Creator, be sung or said, in Latin or in English, every Sunday before the principal Mass.

MfiN. E. VBUYLATE Ho w Vol! cased to for me, Adele ? I oame earlier this afternoon, and you do not even look glad to see me. Mass ADELK Indeed, I am glad to see you but this is my hwv for reetjjpg spy f•fttQpe fcpua, •Uextipwie*

Welsh Tit-Bits. Neu Wreiohion Oddiar yr Eingien. [n OADRAWD.] The Cenquest of Wales. Freeman, the historian, discovered that ib wat the Conqueror's intention, had he lived, to conquer the whole island. Troubles abroad took away an army intended for Wales. At his death he left the work to bis son, who begun by conquering Flint and a part of Montgomery. The son was a siokly man, or he would have done it all. He left London with a large army tor South Wales in the autumn of the year 1092, and got to a place called Olveston, near Gloucester, where he became so ill that he could not be moved. He sent Fitzhamon in a number of boats down the Severn (Olveston is near the Old Passage) with the tide, and he and about 3,000 men landed at Porthkerry. From there they marched to a place called Mynydd Bychan, near Cardiff, where they encountered Iestyn and defeated him. They had nothing whatever to do with Iestyn and Rhys ab Tewdwr's wars, and Einion is never mentioned in any English records. Olveston is only two days' march from Cardiff, but there is no evidence that a small army left Cardiff in a body, where there was an old wooden castle of some sort surrounded by a broad moat, outside where the town is now. After the battle in which Rhys ab Tewdwr was defeated, the King left Olveston to quell a disturbance in Normandy. The occupation of Glamorganshire was tenta- tive and slow. The castles had to be built, to sbrengbhen the Lords in possession. The first thing .erected was a tower, then after a time another tower, then a perforated wall between, and if a good size castle was built in 20 or 30 years, it was as much as could possibly be done. How absurd it is then, to read of such and such a castle being built in a certain year. They were always being added to and renewed. I am not sure that what I have said will be acceptable to those who have studied the question from, and believe, Caradoc of Llancarfan's version. We should be careful not to take everything we read which is called history as facts, and when anything cannot be proved to oursatisfaotton, we should endeavour to take a common-sense view of the circumstances, and draw our own conclusions. Edward the First, by his prowess and policy, confiderably weakened the pertinacious resistance manifested iby the Welsh in defence of their country and their liberty. It may be said that this exploit was amongst the most illustrious achievements performed by this enterprising monarch. The annals of 40 years which im. mediately preceded the conquest of Wales, dis. play a terrible tissue of conspiracies, proscriptions and bloodshed. The contesb between our last Prince Llewelyn and Edward was fought with mutual spirit and bravery. They were both young and ambitious, the one fought for conquest, the other for life and liberty: and as both were actuated by motives which spurred them to ex- ertion, it was not likely that the contest would end either tamely or quickly. History tells us how prolonged was its duration and how fatal and unfortunate to the Principality the result was. It is not easy for a Welshman to contemplate the patriotic struggles of our an- cestors during this eventful period without feeling and profound admiratiou. Their loyalty animated them to defend their birthright, Jaws, and ancient customs, and to preserve them from being violated by a cruel and detested enemy, and. after a long succession of the most unhappy vicissitudes, they were obliged to submit to the conqueror's yoke, and lament in the gloom and solitude of their mountains she loss of their be- loved independence. Warrinton, in his History of Wales," has eloquently commented on the conquest of the Cambro Britons in the following words The fall of nations distinguished only by misfortune or merely illustrious for conquest, may rise for a moment a sigh of pity or the transient effusions jtpjii&use; but a people like the Welsh, satisfied with their mountains, who bad been forced into a long and unequal contest in defence of their native rights, with few other recourses other than their valour and a fond attachment of their liberties, though falling in the ruins of their country, will have a claim upon the esteem and admiration of the world as long as manly senti- ment and freedom shall remain." The subjection of the Principality was accom- plished A.D. 1285, and Edward, before leaving Wales with his Army, did everything in his power to prevent any more rebellious attempts of the Welsh. He cut down all the trees in Wales wherein in any time of danger they were wont to hide, and repaired all the castles and places of strength, and built tbe Castle of Beau- maris in Anglesey. A Youthful Welsh Musician. Miss Elizabeth Randies, daughter of Mr Ed. Randies, organist of Wrexham Church (blind) at the dlown of the present century, who was, I believe, a pupil of the eminent Welsh harpist, Mr J. Parry, made her first appearance in public when but two years of age, when she had tbe honour of performing on the pianoforte before the King and tbe Royal Family. His Majesty pre- sented her with 100 guineas. A public breakfast was given at Cumberland Gardens for her benefit, patronised by the then Prince of Wales, Sir W. W. Wynn, Lady Dungannon, and others, when 500 people were present. At the ags of six this wonderful child could play the most difficult compositions and sing songs at sight. Dafydel y Gareg Wen, It is very singular that we find no account of this distinguished Welsh musician in Williams's Eminent Welshmen, or any othbr biographical dictionary, as far as I know. He was bern in EifionydA, and his grave is at Yny. Cynhaiam, with a stone slab over it with a harp engraved thereon. It is he who composed the charming old Welsh air, the Rising of the Lark," and when lying on his death-bed, after a heavy sleep, be asked his mother to bring him his harp-that in his sleep he heard the most wonderful music sung as he bad nrver heard before—and after bringing the harp to him, and bis mother assisting him, be played the plaintive tune which has ever been known after his name, viz.. David of the White Rock." He desired also that the same should be sung at his funeral:— Sweei, solace of my dying hour, Ere yet my arm forget its power; (hve to my falt'ring hand my skill, One strain to bid the world farewell; Life's last faint spark will soon aspire, But ah when silent thou my lyre; When deaf my ear and cold my tongue, Ages shall tell bow David sung." Dafydd Ab Gwilym and his Damsels. David, as the tale runs, paid his addresses to 110 fewer than 24 young ladles at the same time. Having an inclination to divert bimselt at their expense, he made an appointment with each, un- known to the rest, to meet him under a certain tree at a specified hour. The poet before the time of meeting ascended the tree, and hid himself among the branches. He very soon had the satisfaction of finding that not one had failed in her engagement. When they were all assembled, and when it became known to them that they were duped, we can naturally suppose that the only sentiment that inspired the whole group was that of indignation. The reproaches against the bard were loud and long. The bard in his turn replied to the rueuaoes ef bis dis- appointed fair ones in the following extempore lines, which Mselog has thus translated :— Oh let the fair and gentle one. Who oftest by the summer sun, To meefc me in these shades was wou- I Let her strike first, and she will And Thu poet to his fate resign'd. The tradition adds that the contriver of the etratagem had the good fortune kt eseape un- molested in the confusion of tbe conflict which followed.

A Mean Insinuation, Dudely Canesucker I believe I'll go to Smith's studio aud have my photograph taken. Gus Snoberlv I wouldn't patronise Smith. He is no ^entleniai]. When be takes hold of the cloth of his apparatus, he says Now look pleasant, if you please, and keep your eyes ou that sign over there." Well, what's there ungentlemanly about that ?" That sign reaos Positively no credit.'

Mrs A. Yes, my daughter appears to have married very happily. Her husband has not wealth, it most be admitted, bat he has family.— MfiB-: tgem»» *$<»*

GOSSIPS' CORNER. 't The residents in Vienna last year ate 1&8QY horses. A Widows' Club has jailt been founded in Dresden. Russian priests are said to be the greatest bail singers in the world. Greek women went barefoot indoors, and were sandals only when walking abroad. Mr Phil May is engaged on a large picture ia oil depicting a first night at the play. A lock of the great Napoleon's hair sold at'Mt auction in New York recently for B10. French and German lawn tennis players have mproved in a, very remarkable manner. Archdeacon Farrar says the Scriptures give-no warrant for morbid thoughts on Good Friday. Carlyle had a very large library, relating principally to German and French literature-and history. The Simplon Tunnel, which is to be con- structed under the Alps, will be nearly 16 milec in length. The Earl of Yarmouth, heir to the Marquis of Hereford, is still appearing as a "skirt dancer in Australia. Hot cross buns originally were not eaten oR Good Friday at all, but on Easter Sunday, and they were eaten in church. Sir Frederick Leigbton, President of the Royal Academy, has left London for a two wouthi holiday to recruit his health. One of the most serious signs of the timea, according to an agricultural correspondent, is the decadence of mangel-wurzel. Professor Ramsay's discovery of helium is dati to a lucky accident following upon the happy blunder of an American chemist. President Cleveland has made a pet of a solemn old owl, who perches on his shoulder while tw writes or thinks out his speeches Such is the rage for cycling among fashionable women that a handsome bicycle is quite a favourite form of wedding present. Strinberg, the Swedish author. who has lately been so popular in Paris, has left the horfpitaKtoo poor to return to his native country. Out of 218,317 persons employed in Britiah merchant ships in 1893 there were 1,792 who lost their lives by drowning or other accident. A very significant sign of the increased popu- larity of the blouse is the multitude of silks and stuffs designed expressly for its fashioning. Mr Gladstone's friends aver that during his residence in the South the ex-Premier has grown not only stouter and fuller in. the face, bat taller also. In Corea, if a man's home is destroyed by Are, his friends and neighbours are called upoa, M in ancient Rome, to help him set np housekeeping again. Miss Frances Willard, the veteran reformer, is about to publish a little book on cycling, giving her own personal experiences while learning to ride. A Liverpool paper tells those who may -ha" been contemplating an Easter triP to Manchester by way of the Ship Canal, that it would mani- festly be safer to walk. In 1695 Sir John Trevor (Yarmouth, Hants) was expelled from the Chair of the House of Commons for taking a bribe of 1,000 guineaa or the passing of the Orphan's Bill. The Dean of Norwich preached the other day in the Chapel Royal, St. James's, a masterl) sermon on the relation of Intellect to the Agony of Our Lord to a ccnprrega tio^PpR!* According to an article in the Daily iTntjiH), the custom of presenting Easter eggs may be traced back to the old Aryan myths, whereby the renovated sun of springtide was typified by a red or golden egg. The report on the past and present condition of the Rothesay Castle, prepared, at the request of the Marquis of Bute, by Mr Wm. Burgess, Lon. don, has been published at the instance of hit Lordship, together with illustrative architecture! drawings. Though big briefs are rolling in very fas) indeed now, Mr Carbon, Q.C., is a most simple, unaffected fellow. He pubs on no side, and if quite as much at home with the junior memben of the Bar as with the big wi^rs." He shares chambers with Mr Darling, M.P. According to Sir Edward Clarke, there is only one member of the Government a total ah. stainer—Mr Burt. Of all the men who had sat on the two front benches of the House 01 Commons during the last 25 years, he did not think another could be mentioned who was a total abstainer. A Swiss statistician has taken the trouble to count the number of steps he took in walking dur- ing the whole year. The number he finds to hav« been 9,760,900, or an average of 25,740 steps a day. Going still farther into details, he declares tow over 600,000 of these steps were taken in going UI, and down stairs. A novelty for English readers is promised soov in the shape of a book of HyacintheLoyson, bettai known to the religious world as Pere Hyacinthe It is entitled My Last Will and Testament," and has an introductory preface supplied bj Archdeacon Farrar. The book is being trans- lated into several other European languages. One of the French riflemen, when embarking af Marseilles for Madasgnscar. let his helmet fall into the sea, and as he passed General Duchesne after recovering it, the commander exolaimed witl a laugh, A good baptism of water before th4 baptism of blood," and there was loud applauv from the bystanders. According to Mr Labouchere's paper, proposal: have been made that Jab-z Balfour should b< exhibited on his arrival either at the music-hall: or the Zonlogicul Gardens for the benefit of tb, Liberator Relief Fund. It is also suggested that a handsome sum might be raised by takinf "gate-money at the trial. A curious incident occurred at Fordham, Essex last week, in connection with the performance ot the marriage service. As a newly-married pail were about to sign the register, the olergymar surprised them by announcing that he hac mistaken them for and married them in the nuo. of another couple. To set matters right, thi party returned to the altar, the ring was taken off, and the ceremony was gone through again. The ways of the early diamond dealers hardly commend themselves to the modern conscience We read of one dealer to whom a man brought a rough diamond. He saw its value at a glance, but he knew his man. Whc are you larking with?" he snapped, as he threw it out of tbe casement of his shanty. The sellei retired abashed. When he was out of sight the dealer carefully sought for the stone and found ib. and added a splendid diamond to his nexb consign- ment for England.

A SATURDAY SERMON. Moltkoonce declared that "war hinders the nations from sinking into the most hideout materialism." "Yes," said Maupassant, "we contend with nature and ignorance, with every kind of obstacle, in the hope of making our short life easier. Philanthropists and men of filcienQl spend their lives toiliug in the search of all thai can help their poor brethren and lighten theii bmdens. War breaks out. In six months the generals have destroyed the work 01 the patience and the genius of twenty years. This is what you call hindering a natioi, from sinking into the most hideous materialism I I have seen this war that yov boast of. I have seen men, fallen back iate brutes, beaide themselves, slaying for mew pleasure, for fear, in bravado, or in ostentation. Then, when right exists no longer, when law it dead, when all sense of justice disappears, have 1 seen innocent men taken on a high road, sus- pected, and shot, because they were afraid. I have seen dogs shot when they were chained at their master's doors for the sake of trying a new revolver. I have seen cattle shot wheu they lay in the field in the most purposeless way, merely for the øb. of firing at something, as a poll jest. This is what you oaM bhtdanajt t tmtte* ftgaiflaWf &*> mmWmv