The Cardiff Times

Complete Story. THE EPISODE OF THE HOTEL NEVA. By W. MURRAY GRAYDON. (COPYRIGHT.) A r. • • tgreenish-yellow fog, a misty dnzzleof rain, fdanip biting atmosphere that seemed to cut ^to one's very bones—such was Paul Demidoff's impression of London on the November j when he reached Charing Cross railway j^mimis from the Continent. The sharp con- *^ft between the English Metropolis and Paris, *aich he had left early that morning in a blaze sunshine and brilliancy, impressed him pain- as he stood by the Strand curbing, looking Westward into the heart of Trafalgar-square, *kere little was visible save a faint suggestion ? the Landseer lions and the Nelson column, out of the fog. | More than one of the restless crowd that surged ??y turned for a second to gaze at the tall, slim T^re, attracted by one of those subtle impulses •oat men feel but cannot explain and yet, had -«ey been asked to hazard a guess at his national- lty, all would probably have fallen short of the; jjjark. They would have pronounced him an an American, a Frenchman—any- ^*ng but a Russian, which he really was. ■Paul Demidoff did not possess any of the j Social traits that characterise his countrymen. Pe wore a bowler hat and a grey mackintosh J ^ttoned close to the throat. His shrewd, clean- qqaVen face was ruddy, of an Anglo-Saxon type, his hair and eyes were brown. j He stood by the curb for a moment, and then 'tttned westward, walking slowly, and as if in perplexity. He paused in front of the ^and Hotel, and eyed the portal with a wistful glance. But he passed on, repressing the tempta- °Q to enter, and presently hailed a cab standing ^the square. ( The Hotel Neva I" he said, speaking in per- ( '6ct English. That's in Soho, ain't it ?" the driver asked. Yes, east of Wardour-street," Demidoff impatiently. The man glanced curiously at his fare. Get sir," he said. I know the place you want." pAs the cab rattled by Morley's and swung into Sharing Cross-road, Demidort placed his small the seat beside him, and then fixed himself a comfortable position that admitted of his -atching the street scenes to gcod advantage. ."It is too late now to turn back," he said, half- j *foud. It might have been wiser to go to the |and Hotel, and yet my chances of success *°old have been infinitely poorer there. How- I don't think I am assuming any risk, Without my beard I can defy recognition from j*y of the guests of the Hotel Neva who may j*ve seen me before. As for the man whom I to find, if he is really there—and my in- filiation leaves little doubt on that point—I penetrate any disguise that he may have He has hardly thought it necessary j /^assume one, though for London is always a j refuge for the very worst of our criminals. Demidoff's attention was now attracted by a in the traffic, caused by the density of the and when the tangled vehicles were finally 0 behind, the cab was rolling through War- r^lr-street. It swerved into a dark, narrow j jtooroughfare on the right, and pulled up a little pW before a dingy, four-storeyed building. A .^ble light streamed from the ground floor, and £ the upper windows a gleam was visible here there behind drawn curtains. The Hotel Neva, sir, exclaimed the driver, ^temptuously. „ Demidoff stepped to the pavement, and stood Jr^e for a few seconds after the man had 1 Picketed his fare and driven away in the fog. The hesitancy of the Russian sprang from no ^certainty as to his surroundings. He knew he was in the purlieus of Soho—that squalid 'strict of London where dwell foreigners from lands, and among them not a few refugees justice, men who had committed crimes great r*d small. He knew, moreover, that in the gloomy ^ding before him, through the lower windows j ^hicn suspicious faces were even now peering, thither by the advent and departure of cab, lived men from his own land, who, if LTe7 had their deserts, would be pining in the b.proof casemates of the Fortress of Peter II.b.d Paul or toiling in the mines of Siberia. • divB reflection was not a pleasant one to Demi- and for a second time he wavered in his pur- ?°Se- The struggle was brief. He crossed the telllent briskly and placed his hand on the yj! £ > which opened at a toach. -the Hotel Neva was so named for a bait its jFpellation was intended to lure such wandering S^sians as might find themselves in London gj^plgh no fault of their own and with pockets ^JPficiently lined to pay for board and lodging— ^ch was a necessary qualification. It had been j for many years, and was conservative j. its character—loth to open its doors to new Srr°ns, but ever gracious and hospitable to 'ttrning guests, and to those who came well (?) ^amended. jj^eioidoff found himself in a small, dingy room, tg&ted by two gas jets His entry drove two or persons into the darkest corners, where they see conveniently without coming under observation themselves. The proprietor of hotel, a middle-aged Russian, with black ^r^ers and a bleached complexion, who to the name of Petrosky, stood behind a counter and desk that fitted across one of the room. He listened to Demidoff's 7/?est in apathetic silence. wish an apartment, my man," Demidoff re- ^'ed and this time tiie fellow muttered a Si»ieri asser)t, having meanwhile caught a covert ^sjial made by one of the men across the room— tj0°it of by-play that escaped Demidoff's atten- j^etrosky came from behind the desk and took j guest's bag. This way," he said, shuffling ^^rds a door on the left. Q^ne formality of registering was unknown in Hotel Neva. At one time it had been the but as the police were the only ones to to the disadvantage of the inmates, j^pPactice was speedily discontinued. i jjVenaidoff followed his guide across a narrow thence up a decrepit staircase, and was soon ^v-^lled in a rear room on the second floor a and cheerless apartment, meagrely fur- en Peteos&y'8 shambling footsteps had died <j?~y Demidoff walked to the window and looked \11" There appeared to be a court below, and on to were high walls pierced at intervals by Jjjr^ows, some black and some showing a dull throngh the deepening fog. It was six and the evening air was hoarse with the °f traffic and the tread of many feet the populous region of Soho. From a deep-toned bell struck the hour. time last night I was strolling in the tjJJ-tevard d'ltaliens," Demidoff muttered as he 8tft e<^ away- What a vile contrast I shall P here no longer than is necessary. One is jjy} favourably impressed by the hotel and its and as for Monsieur Petroskv—I would tih?er a thousand roubles his name has at one and as for Monsieur Petrosky-I would tih?er a thousand roubles his name has at one Boo aPPeare(J our police lists. Well, the dispose of the business that brought me the sooner I shall be free to leave. My man present when I came in, I am certain of 10;t. It may require considerable strategy to him, but I think I am equal to it." jje torn his travelling bag he took a pair of {y^y revolvers. He examined the loadings care- tb Y, and finally, after casting his eyes about room, he concealed the weapons beneath the ,tress of the bed. -^Qd now for supper," he decided. I have ■pLr<3 that the Hotel Neva serves a good meal." g*j-e left the room, locking the door behind him w slipping the key in his pocket. He made his d* downstairs, meeting no one, and reached the t}j r the coffee-room, which was in the rear of hotel office, and separated from it by the eUt previously mentioned. Demidoff without hesitation. He walked slowly the middle, glancing at the tables right and Several near the door were occupied by .Qel"sons who looked up keenly as he passed, but the rest empty until he reached the end 1- the room, and here, seated alone, at the very '•bail he saw the man in quest of whom he :!joumeyed to London. ? trace of sunrise or excitement escaped Qj^'doff. He drew a chair cut from one end of <t \able, and sat down. Well, Alexis Pogram," he said, quietly, I t° see you." man started violently, and his face turned It;e j^on't make any disturbance," said Demidoff. >lf at me. Have you never seen me before ?" '« 1" replied the man, after a brief scrutiny, jjj ,ut you know me. You called me by name Vaj t HOW." His face was still pallid, and his ,shv^k with fright. ^es, know you, Pogram." Demidoff re- ''1 and I have come all the way from ,J° Itove an interview with you. Don't be it is for your own good. You have a btok and two children in Moscow, and it nearly e YOur heait to leave them." "ft?8' that is true," Pogram said, huskily. Well, I can p tit it in your power to see them hi -b15 and not oi >dy that, but to live with them .fttssia, and undiVi* government protection." << what terms at you come b^.ck* with me to Russia, and certain in for mation which you alone But this is a v?a»gerous place for con- Meet me at \\iy room two hours from ^e 't is number 13 oM the second floor—and discuss the matter further. Will you » V* If vi0s, I Shall be there," Pogrs m replied, "and to 311 prove your sincerity I probably agree W° What you wish. But very careful. If i PUrPosc here is known my\V'e and_yours vail •6a,v 0 Worth a moment's purchase I had better A You at once." Uei3l0raent later he rose and s>Volled away. 4 consulted the badly-writte2ripn,i that tr Put before him, and orders. *2 several ot dishes that it contains ^—taviare,^ fish, salted cucumbers, and a bottle oi «6r, They were soon brought to Uia; N he Aii ea't with a zest. g-oes well," he tbou-;bt. "Pogr". \1 ,i1J tQOodJ:lt; he is weary of eyjl", ar.d in a yit *1' lI.1:1d i We acted wisely in preventing' his be 0nr"ily from leaving Russia. I trnst I bj Viil I:t¡Otr n tny way back to Pitris by this hour t, ,5- l? ow." v'v'Upi Demidoff was, as the rec.der will ha^e H a secret police agent. A terrible crime t. een committed in St. Petersbarg early in a-nd Alexis Poprram, a Nihilist, was ^Ufc i* 1)0 have been indirectly connected with it Hisj r' .fled before he conlAabe arrested, leaving behind hi-.n. 'Wu learn.ingthror.gh Hlat Pogram was in London, Demidoff .{on England with the hope of inducing the fugitive to come back to Russia and turn in- former against his fellow-criminals, whose identity was suspected, but not positively known. IL Demidoff finished his supper leisurely, and then sat for some minutes while he smoked a cigar. Meanwhile the room had filled up, and when he rose and passed out nearly every table had several occupants, who turned and looked after him until he vanished in the hall. He went straight to his room. He locked the door on the inside, drew the blind down, and lit the gas. Then he took a sheaf of documents from his pocket, and was soon deeply interested in their contents. The house was very quiet, and little could be heard save an occasional foot- step in the hall or on the stairs. Time passed rapidly, and when he finally looked at his watch, he was surprised to find that it was nine o'clock. Pogram was exactly due. But the man did not come. The silence re- mained unbroken as the minutes slipped by. Demidoff, growing more and more uneasy and troubled, paced the floor with restless steps. He heard a neighbouring clock strike the quarter- hour and then the half. Something has gone wrong he thought. "Can the fellow have turned coward? lean hardly believe that. He is young in crime, and devoted to his wife and family. It is vaguely possible that my intentions have been discovered —my disguise penetrated. If that is the case I had better be preparing Rat-tat-tat The faint sound was heard on the panels of the door, though no step had been audible in the hall. Demidoff stepped eagerly forward and turned the key. The door opened before he could touch the handle, and with a soft rustling of skirts a woman glided into the room. She closed the door noiselessly. j Lower the gas she whispered in Russian- I have something to say to you." Demidoff was at first too startled and surprised j to obey. He devoured with his. eyes the slender figure standing opposite to him. The girl was no more than twenty, and her dress showed every outline of her perfect form. She was very beau- tiful, with deep violet eyes and a mass of golden- brown hair that clustered on her neck and shoulders. It was a strange place to encounter such a divine creature—this dingy, crime-haunted house in the most squalid quarter of Soho. The police-agent's face openly expressed the { intense admiration that he felt. The girl's eyes dropped before his, and she blushed. j Lower the gas, I implore you!" she entreated in a voice of rare sweetness. Your life is in peril—and mine as well." The words broke the spell that bound Demi- doff. A thousand pardons he said, as he turned the gas down to a mere tip of blue flame. He came back to the girl, who had retreated a few paces and was standing with one hand on the j knob of the door. j What do you mean ?" he demanded. You tell me that my life is in danger, and yours ? I will protect you. For myself I do not fear." You must leave here at once sa.id the girl. You cannot escape by the staircase. There is only one way—you must drop from the window to the roof below, and then to the ground. It will not be cliffictilt to gain the street." "But who are you?" implored Demidoff. j At least tell me your name." "I am called Helene," replied the girl. That is all I can say, but to prove that I am sincere I will tell you your aame. You are Paul Demidoff." That is true," he admitted. But listen Do not go yet. If we are both in peril, why not escape together ? It will be easy to construct a rope from tlie bedding." The girl shook her head. Don't make me repent my rashness," she said. "You are un- reasonable. I come to save your life, and you wish to know everything." Pardon me, you are right Demidoff ■ answered humbly. I shall say no more." Hush whispered the girl. I heard a noise." Both were silent for a moment, and as they listened they bseard a door close softly at no great distance away. 11 They are prepaing to act," said the girl, in an agitated voice Don't delay, I beg of you but go at once. If you stop, you are lost." With that she slipped abruptly from the room. j closing the door behind her. Demidoff turned the key in the lock. His mind was more occupied with his fair visitor than with his dangerous situation. He hated to think of this lovely girl living amid such surroundings, belonging to the class of people who frequented the Hotel Neva. Yet such was doubtless the case. She must be the sister or daughter of some fugitive Russian— perhaps his wife. "It is apparent, at all events, that she takes; an interest in me," he muttered. I have been recognised, and she has overheard the plot: to assassinate me." He turned up the gas, and with the flood of yellow light came a half-conviction that what; had just transpired was but a figment of his imagination. He walked to the door and lis- tened. All was quiet. He turned to the window and looked out. No sound came from the dark court below. Then he lifted the mattress from the bed. His revolvers were gone This discovery woke Demidoff to a keen sense of his peril. He lowered the gas, and stood for a moment in the narrowspace between the bed and the window, debating whether it were better to swing out and drop to the roof below, or to take; time to weave a rope from the bedclothes. On the left-hand wall, between him and the window, was a fireplace concealed by a screen of boards; pasted over with faded Russian newspapers. It j was held in place by a few nails stuck loosely in the crevices. • Demidoff little dreamed how near and real was his danger. He was startled by a sharp, rattling: noise, as if a bit of plaster had fallen down the chimney and when he looked in that direction he saw, to his horror, that the screen was moving slowly outward from the top, The next instant it came down with a crash, and the dim gas-jet flashed on polished steel, and revealed three or four figures crouching in the fireplace Demidoff promptly understood the situation. He had been assigned purposely to this room, and the fireplace was connected with the ad- joining apartment, through which the assassins had entered. For an instant he lost hope. He had no weapon with which to defend himself. His enemies were between him and the window, and he was certain that they had posted con- federates outside the door. Suddenly he remem- bered the chair, the vague outlines of which he could see just in front of him. It was a strong, heavy piece of furniture, and he seized it with both hands. I'll fight to the last he resolved. But a second or two had elapsed since the fall of the screen, and now the crouching ruffians, who must have been aware of their intended victim's location, emerged boldly and quickly from the fireplace. The foremost reached up and extinguished the gas, doubtless in order that the bloody deed might not be witnessed through the window, which Demidoff had opened a minute previously. So the room was plunged in total darkness. A few seconds of trying and dreadful silence ensued. Feeling sure of their prey, the assassins lingered for a moment, conferring in low whis- pers. As yet not a word had been spoken aloud. All at once a faint, shufllng noise was heard. The evil crew were moving cautiously forward. At this critical point the imminence of the danger made Demidoff cool and collected. To sue for mercy he knew would be useless &nd his mind readily grasped the only possible chance of escape, and a very slim and desperate one it was. Against the framework of the window, which was dimly outlined, he saw the position of his foes. They were creeping upon him, and knowing that he was unarmed they evidently expected no resistance. Demidoff drew a deep breath and clenched his teeth. Then he dashed forward blindly, plunged into jhe midst of the assassins, and hit out right and left with all his strength. Crash crash Each blow was followed by snarls of rage and pain, and by the sharp splitting of wood as the chair went to pieces in his grasp. Still dealing stroke after stroke with the fragments he pressed on. Twice he felt sharp pains, once in his left arm and once in his side, and then, when hope was high in his heart, a hand clutched his ankle and brought him heavily to the floor. He believed himself to be lost, but with a violent effort he wrenched loose and staggered to his feet. Retained the window and caught hold of the sill. One of his enemies was close behind he wheeled round and struck him furiously with the back of the chair. The man fell like a log, cursing and groaning. "There he goes I" a voice exclaimed in a shrill whisper. Stop him, quick He will get away from us Demidoff dodged as something whizzed by his head—a knife probably—and the next instant he was swinging from the outer side of the window. Letting go of the sill, he dropped safely to the roof below, landing with a jar on his feet. He ran to the edge and swung over. As he clung there for a second, peering up towards the win- dow he had just left, he saw a dark object fall swiftly through the air. There was a dull crash on the roof a few yards to his rear. The second leap was a short one, and he took it without hesitation. He was now in the conrt- yard, and as he ran blindly ahead, seeking some outlet of escape, his determined enemy dropped after him and pursued, knife in hand. A blank wall pulled Demidoff up sharply, and when he swung round he perceived the assassin almost upon him, with blade uplifted for a mur- derous stroke. He abandoned hope. Leaning against the wall, weak from bruises and loss of blood, he waited the death that seemed inevitable. But just then a pistol cracked from some unseen quarter, and the ruffian dropped his knife wfth a howl of pain. The shot had broken his arm. As the echoes of the report reverberated through the court, windows were opened here and there, and figures leant curiously out. Someone displayed a lamp, and tho yellow glare showed the fugitive the mouth of a dark and narrow passage. He darted into this and sped on at his top speed for a. door hlld opened behind him, doubtless from the ground noor of the Hotel Neva., and the sound of rapid footsteps apprised him that his relentless foes were still in pursuit. The passage terminated in a gate, and Demi- doff struck this with such force that it flew wide open. The next instant he was dashing along a deserted court, and turning an angle at the farther end, he saw in the distance a lighted street, witlI people passing to and fro on the pavements. He staggered on, reeling with weak- ness, and just when he was on the point of drop- ping over he fell into the arms of two blue-coated constables, who had been drawn into the court by the report of the pistol. After a drink of brandy from the nearest public-house Demidoff was able to tell his story. V He repressed all mention of the girl. The con- stables seemed disinclined to believe him, and 1: vomptly escorted him to the neighbouring police ill, ution of the Soho district. The inspector in cm VTge listened attentively to a repetition of the nari''&tive, asked a few questions, and then an- noun that he would take prompt steps to have I the cr.vr.uIiah; apprehended. Meanwhile a surgeon f had been summoned to dress Demidoff's wounds, j which were fortunately slight, They consisted of a shallow knife-thrust in each arm, a cut on the shoulder, and one across the ribs. A little later a party of ten men set out from the station. They presently separated, four of them going round to guard the courtyard and its approaches, while the others, including Demi- dolf and the inspector, approached the Hotel Neva from the front. Petrosky was in his usual place. He expressed great surprise and complete ignorance, and blandly offered to assist in the search. The house was ransacked from bottom to top, and though a few persons were found in the rooms, Demidoff could not identify any of them, nor did he suspect them. Room 13 was visited, and here was evidence of the struggle—the broken chair, bloodstains, and a knife dropped by one of the would-be assassins. The searchers then went to the courtyard, only to learn from the men posted there that nobody had attempted to pass out by the rear. So there was an end to the quest for the present the guilty ones were not on the premises. Taking advantage of the brief time allowed to them, Pogram, his confederates, and the girl had sought safety in immediate flight. Since Petrosky obstinately refused to make any disclosures, the inspector put him under arrest pending a further investigation. The hotel waiters and several inmates of the coffee-room were also ta.ken into custody, and then the whole party returned to the station. The police were puzzled about the pistol shot, but Demidoff, who alone could have furnished the clue, said nothing. It was Helene who saved my life, who fired at the man in the nick of time," he assured him- self. Rather than do anything to bring harm upon the brave girl, I would let the whole villain- ous band go scot-free." Denudon" s wounds healed rapidly, and he re- mained in London for a fortnight, stopping at the Grand Hotel. During this time strenuous efforts were made by the police to track the assassins, and especially Alexis Pogram, but they achieved no results. So Demidoff finally started back to Russia, convinced that his oppor- tunity was gone beyond recall. With the exception of the part played by the girl, the affair was by no means a mystery to him. It was clear that Pogram had betrayed the police-agent to some of the inmates of the hotel, who had a grudge against him—for his name was feared and detested by scores of Russian refu- gees in all parts of Europe. „ As for the beautiful Helene, Demidoff long wondered who she could have been, and what had prompted her to save his life. He attempted to discover her whereabouts through English spies, but months passed without bringing the desired information, and gradually he ceased to think of the matter. ill. Some three or four years after his adventure in the Hotel Neva, Paul Demidoff was summoned i one night to the headquarters of the Bureau of Police, and instructed by his chief to proceed I with several men to a certain house in the Nevski Prospekt, St. Petersburg, and arrest a woman who had been wanted for weeks, and who j had been located that very day through the aid of j an informer. Olga Nesteroff—that was her name— had long been connected with the Revolutionary party, and though young in years she had been j implicated in numerous dynamite plots and at- I tempted assassinations. Demidoff obeyed orders to the letter, and shortly before midnight he and his men entered the suspected house by force, and proceeded to j make a thorough search. While his companions { were in the lower apartments Demidoff mounted S alone to the second floor. Attracted by a gleam of light from a rear room, he burst open the door, revolver in hand, and found himself face to face with the girl who had saved his life on that ¡ memorable night in London. Olga Nesteroff and the mysterious Helene were one and the same. 1 She was as beautiful as ever, but her face was ¡ pale and agitated, and there were indications to I show that she had been hastily preparing for flight by means of the window. I Demidoff's decision was formed instantly. There was not a moment to spare, for the foot- J steps of his men were already audible on the j staircase. staircase. Madame, you once saved my life he said. | "It is now my turn to save yours. Put out the j gas, lower yourself instantly to the ground, and leave the city as soon as possible. No person j shall enter this apartment for ten minutes—at the least ten minutes." Before she could open her lips to reply he had closed the door softly behind him. He joined < his companions and led them to the front part of the house, and when <his had been thoroughly searched they went to the rear room. I On lighting the gas the police observed with j vexation the proofs of their defeat—the open i window, the rope of knotted bedclothes dangling s from the sill, and the abandoned articles that • strewed the floor. I This is an unfortunate night's work," Demi- doff said, calmly. We have come too late. Our bird has flown." The neighbourhood was zealously scoured, but j the woman could not be found, nor was any trace of her subsequently discovered. Demidoff was reprimanded for negligence, but the real part he j had played III the matter was not suspected. j Two months afterwards a letter was slipped S one evening under the door of his office. It had evidently been forwarded to St. Petersburg i undercover of another address, for it bore neither stamp nor postmark. The contents were as follow: London, February 19th, 189—. My Dear Friend,— You will perhaps be glad to hear that I have renounced Nihilism, and that I shall never return to Russia, You have often won- dered doubtless, what motive prompted me to save your life when it was threatened in the Hotel Neva years ago. When I was a child of fifteen I fell from the Court Quay into the j river, and a man plunged into the icy waters j and rescued me from drowning. That man was yourself. I never forgot your face or nsime, and as long as I live I shall hold you in grate- ful and sincere remembrance. Farewell, Helene." (The End.) Next Week :— "BULLDOG," by Shan Bullock.

A "PUNCH" CARTOON. "Ian Maclaren and MrE. T. Reed. Writing to the Daily Telegraph," Mr E. T. Reed, son of the member for Cardiff, replies to Ian Maclaren's criticism of his cartoon in a recent number of "Punch." He says: "I find from a shower of Press-cuttings that is fluttering in upon me that the Rev. Dr. Watson has been trying and sentencing me in a speech at Liverpool for a caricature of mine of Mr Samuel Smith, M.P., in the current "Punch." I read that, speaking on Wednesday night, at a house- dinner of the Liverpool Reform Club, to three members who have returned from the front (it is consoling to know to how small an audience my turpitude was exposed!) Dr. Watson spoke of my drawing as a rare instance of a British carica- turist descending to that which is ignoble and offensive. The report concludes with the state- ment that the speaker's remarks were received with applause from many of the company.' Appa. rently, I had at least one out of the three returned warriors, who constituted the audience, on my side—or, more probably, he had not yet seen his "Punch," and so reserved his judgment. It is proverbially feeble and futile to explain a joke, and to do so to Dr. Watson one would have thought was, as a confused friend of mine once said, carrying coals to Newmarket with a vengeance! Dr. Watson says Mr Smith is a good man.' Well, of course he is in what way do I suggest the contrary ? Dr. Watson rightly has a high opinion of Mr Smith; but the House of Commons has a higher one, because it did not hesitate to give way to uncontrolled laughter at the mere conjunction of the hon. member with the subject of the question standing in his name on the paper The humour lay wholly in this hopeless mcoagmity, and I merely translated that into black and white. The better the man the greater the contrast with his surroundings (though this is rather hard on the barmaids !) and the dictionary tells us that incongruity is of the essence of fun The comicality of the situa- tion was increased by Mr Smith's bewildered inability to see any joke at all May I ask where the offence comes in ? Why is it more offensive to poke fun at Mr Smith than it is to ridicule, say, Sir Henry Campbell- Bannerman, who is considered fair game,' though the difficulties of his position are largely the creation of his philanthropist followers ? Even he. I presume, has friends and feelings of his own Why erect barbed-wire entangle- ments round the great and good, and so sadden the lives of the caricaturists ? I merely wish to ask this before I step gracefully into the vat of bailing oil,' to which I presume I shall shortly be conducted by a deputation of the Liverpool Reform Club I But Dr. Watson then went on to indulge in an exercise which, I feel sure, is to him a novel one, and wholly uncongenial. He proceeded to hit deliberately below the belt, and, as his many friends would have expected, he did so openly and without the least deception. He accused me of dressing Mr Smith in signs of mourning in intentional allusion to a private sor- row, of which I have never heard, and which, had I known of it, could only have compelled me to modify a perfectly well-recognised, conven- tional costume, or, more probably, to abandon the subject altogether. How it could enter Dr. Watson's mind that such a thing could be done intentionally by anybody I cannot conceive. If, as he would have me believe, and as he told his audience, I owe an apology to Mr Smith for something ignoble and offensive,' does Dr. Watson feel that there is nothing due to me from himself for having on such slender grounds dragged in a charge which I ask your permission, sir, to resent for myself and for the paper for which I work.—I am, sir, yours very truly, E. T. REED."

THE WESIJEYANTRESTDENCY. As the time approaches for the Wesleyan Con- ference to meet in annual session the interest increases respecting the nomination for the presi- dency of 1902.. This year tho president-elect is Rev. Dr. Davison (of Handsworth College, Bir- mingham), one of the most cultured ministers of the body. It is generally expected that when the ballot is taken for his successor the highest num- ber of votes will be given for Rev. Marshall Hart- lev, of the Mission House, London. Among other names mentioned are those of Professor J. S. Banks (of Leeds) and Rev. Thomas Champ- ness (of Rochdale), the well-known evangelist and temperance reformer.

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The man who knows himself well is a-good judge of others. We seldom see a person who cannot advise someone else how to do a thing better than the latter can do it himself. Defined.—First Farmer An' what does subtle mean ?—Second Farmer: Oh, that's when you can't tell what the thing means. Proving It.—He Euphronia, I love you madly.—She But I haven't a penny.—He Well, that proves what I say I love you madly. I Had Reasons.—Mrs Keyboard Why do you always sit at the piano ? You can't play a note. —Old Stokes Neither can anyone while I'm there. As an Explanation.—Mr Good: I dropped a sovereign in the contribution box in church last Sunday.—Cynical Friend: Did you, indeed? I What was the matter with it ? One Essential.—Head Mistress (to pupil) What must be the condition of a person in order to be buried in consecrated ground ?—Pupil (in great surprise) Dead, mum. Missing.—A fjirmer once wrote to a dis- tinguished scientific agriculturist, to whom he felt under obligation for introducing a new variety of swine :— Respected Sir,—I went yesterday to the cattle fair I found several pigs of your species. There was a great variety of beasts, and I was very much astonished at not seeing you there. What He Lacked.—Stout Old Gentleman I wonder if I have time to catch that train. Can you tell me ?—Policeman You have time, sir, but I doubt very much whether you have the speed. J Charged For.—Landlord (come for rent) I had the pleasure of hearing you sing as I came up the stairs, madame.— Prima Donna Very well, Mr Leaser. I will deduct two guineas from my rent. Sometimes So.—Cora: Why is it that Palette is called an impressionist ?—George: Because a picture of his looks as if he had laid the canvass on a palette full of colours and taken an impres- sion. She Meant Well.—He: Yes, I've sent scores of stories to different magazines, but they've all come back, I think I should drop dead if one were ever accepted.—She: I do wish they would accept one. Frequently the Case.—Brownson A man never loses anything by keeping an engagement punctually.—Johnson My experience is he is apt to lose half an hour's time waiting for the other fellow. Worth Knowing—Magistrate (severely) How could you be so mean as to swindle people who put confidence in you ?—Prisoner (impudently) Well, yer honour, I'll make it worth something to yer if yer'II tell me how to work them as don't So Stupid of Him.—Lady (in boot shop) These shoes pinch terribly. Haven't you any- thing larger ?—Salesman You asked for No. twos, ma'am. I can give you number threes or fours, or Lady The idea. I want something larger in number twos. Encouraging Her.—" I don't like your milk," said the mistress of the house. What's wrong with it, mum ?" "It's dreadfully thin, and there's no cream on it." "After you've lived in town a while, mum," said the milkman en- couragingly, you'll git over them rooral ideas o' yourn." Perseverance.—A priest, who had delivered what seemed to him an excellent and striking sermon, was anxious to ascertain its effect on his flock. Was the sermon to-day to your liking, Pat ?" he inquired of one of them. Throth, y'r riverence, it was a grand sermon entirely," said Pat with such genuine admiration that his reverence felt moved to make further inquiry. Was there any one part of it more than another that seemed to take of ye ?" he asked. Well, now as ye are axin' me I'll tell ye. What tuk hoult av me most was y'r riverence's parsever- ance—the way ye wint over the same thing agin and agin." An Offending Wreath.—A story is told of the widow of a well-known American who by his own exertions and astuteness rose from wielding the pick and shovel to be one of the biggest railway contractors in the United States. His wife was very sensitive about his humble origin, and re- sented all reference to it, however remotely put, any guest alluding to the subject never receiving a further invitation. Eventually the contractor died, and his friends sent. many wreaths and flowers and called to express their condolence with the widow. While she was receiving those callers and expatiating on the many excellent qualities of the deceased, the widow's eye hap- pened to rest on a floral tribute in the shape of an anchor. Immediately she bristled with rage, and, turning to the astonished friends, ex- claimed, Who insulted me by sending that pickaxe ?"

ALARMING ACCIDENT AT CARDIFF. Three Children and Two Adults Injured. An alarming vehicular accident occurred at Cardiff, on Monday evening, resulting in injuries to three children and two adults. The occasion was the annual outing of the Sunday school con- nected with Cornwall-road Baptist Church. Several hundred children, in company with a number of parents and friends, being accommo- dated in'a set of waggons with improvised seats. The trippers set out gaily from the school for the country shortly after ten o'clock, but as the wag- gons were turning into Moira-terrace some of the seats gave way, and a number of children and grown-ups were precipitated into the roadway. Happily no one was seriously injured, although in respect of a few cases the hurt sustained was by no means slight. The injured were imme- diately placed in the waggon and conveyed to the Infirmary. Five persons were treated in the wards, namely, Mary Rogers (38), 29, Rutland- street, broken collar bone Minnie Coleman (8), 37, Cornwall-read, shock Minnie Lee (9), 71, Cornwall-road, shock Elizabeth Davies (10), 35, Court-road, shock and John Capper (25), 27, Kent-street, injuries to the head and back. With the exception of the last-named none were detained. The patients were treated by Drs. Jones and Thomas, and we learn that Mr Capper is progressing satisfactorily.

MORMONS AT SWANSEA. On Sunday evening three Mormons, styling themselves "The Seventies," endeavoured to hold an open-air meeting in the Victoria Park, Swansea. The first speaker, a Dane, was in the midst of a discourse when some anti-Mormon i arrived and distributed handbills headed, Hell upon Earth," The Land of Bigamy, Sin and Shame." The crowd encouraged this intervention, whereupon the anti-Mormons asked why the Mormons had not responded to the challenge oi Councillor Jarman, of Exeter. The Mormon went on, but the secretary of the anti-Mormons alluded to the question of polygamy, blood atone- ment, and the Mountain Meadow Massacre. The Dane said if such crimes as were alleged were committed he would not be a Latter Day Saint for two months.—The Secretary Then why don't you as a church prosecute William Jarman for slandering you ?—The Dane said he wtHiltl explain, but he was met with cries of You explain, but he was met with cries of You daren't preach in the States," What about the horrible crime of Warren Snow ?" and You ve read Jarman's book." Yes," said one of the Seventy, some of it. I hnow there's —— lies been written." Then there was arush on the Mormons, police protection was sought, and the Saints retired, followed by an unfriendly crowd.

BAHRY drowning CASE. Mr E. B. Reece held an inquiry on Monday- morning at Barry Dock as to the death of William John Clancey, a schoolboy, who was drowned while rafting on a pond last Friday. The evidence of a lad named William Shed was that deceased fell into the pit, about nft. deep at the spot, while crossing from one raft to another. Upon deceased falling in witness im- mediately ran away, and was afraid to raise an alarm because, he admitted to the coroner, he knew he was doing wrong in playing there. Mr F. P. Jones-Lloyd represented the owner of the pond, Mr Alban Richards, and elicited from the police that the pond, though dangerous, was well railed off, and not accessible except by climbing over railings about 5ft. high. A verdict of Accidental death was returned.

A BURGLAR'S BLUNDER. At Mailing, Kent, Police Court, on Saturday, Charles Barnes, alias Daws, was charged with committing a burglary at the residence of Mr Souter, the sanitary inspector of the district. The prosecutor heard a noise in his bedroom shortly after midnight, and thinking it was his daughter, asked, Is that you, Nellie ?" Some- one replied in a soft voice, "Yes." The prose- cutor sprang out of bed and seized the prisoner, who, after a brief resistance, said, Don't ill- treat me. The game is up." Mr Souter, with the assistance of his daughter, tied the man's hands behind him and took him to the police station. Ou him were found gold and silver brooches, gold rings, etc., which he had abstracted from a drawer in the prosecutor's bedroom. The pri- soner apparently mistook the prosecutor's house- for the local parsonage, as a note was found, which read, I have never had a good opinion of parsons, yet I have got a worse one now. It is only for the likes of you to get a living by I telling lies, saying, Ask, and it shall be given .1 I' you; seek, and ye shall find.' Let anyone ask for charity of you. Would you give them any ? j You would not. You don't care if we go to hell or j heaven. You sheep in wolf's clothing.—Charles Peace's Youngest Son." Barnes, who is 24, was remanded.

Dymunir i'n gohebwyr Cymreig gyfeirio ea go- hebiaethau, llyfrau i'w hadolygu, &c., far y canlyn: Dafydd Morganwg, Morganwg House, Llantwit-street, Cardiff."

AT EIN GOHEBWYR. ¡ Cenfigen."—Ymddeugys. Y Gormeswr."—Yn ei dro. Y Wawr."—Cymmeradwy. Y Frwynen."—Ymddengya. Y Gwynt."—Yn ei dro. •« Y Rhaiadr."—Ymddeugys.

BARDDONIAETH. Y MORGUUGYN. Ar gyfer gauaf i'r gofyn,—llawn iawn Yw lluniaeth morgrugyn; Casgla'r haf gynhauaf gwyn, Rhag niwed a rhwyg newyn. Y diweddar Iolo LaJys.

AMSER. Heddyw yw'r amser aeddol,—yr awr hon Yw'r awr wir feddianol Fory nid yw arferol, Na ddoe i neb ni ddaw'n ol. Y diweddar Iolo Lalys.

PERORIAETH YR ADAR. Gwir gyngherdd geir ar gangen—gan adar, Gwin ydyw eu hawen I loni pawb; i lenwipen—mau 0 fawliadau dihafal Eden. Mwys a mwyn eu maws emynau,—'n yfed Fel nefol anthemau; Bywiogi'r fron fwynlon fau, Wna eu hudol ganiadau. Y Fwyalchen, yn ei llawenydd,- sy'n Wir delyn i'r dolydd A'r hudol ber Ehedydd Nofia'n ei don ar fin dydd. Yr Eos wech ddyry sain—ar ddoldir, O r gwyrdd ddeildy cywrain; Ei hynaws gerdd ar nos gain Yn wir heria'n harwrain. YnNheml Anian ymlonant,—y cor glan, Ac o'r gwlith yr yfant; Ac yno bywiog ganant Am les Duw mewn melus dant. America. Rhoslyn.

Y GWRTHGILIWR. Wrth feddwl am wrthgiliwr, A'i enaid oil yn wyw, Ystyriwyf fod ei gyflwr Y gwaetha' o ddynol ryw; Er hyn fe gaiff drugaredd, Ond gadael llwybrau ffol, Gan ffoi o gorsydd llygi-edd, A throi at Dduw yn ol. Mae adeg brudd yn dyfod, Wrthgiliwr, cyn bo hir. Pan ddeffry dy gydwybod Fel sarph o'th fewn yn wii; Fe'th bwysir yn y glorlan, A thithau'n methu'i throi, Ac yna,'th enaid aflan Yn uffern gaiff ei glou Cyn delo'th olaf eiliad, Cyn trengot yn y glyn Dymuna gael all dremiad Ar lawn Calf aria fryn. Yn rhin lawn Crist a'i haeddiant, Ymblyg wrth orsedd gras, Ac ymbil am faddeuant O'th holl bechodau cas. Cadwgan,

Y CWLWM SAITH-A-CHWECH." Er cymaint sydd o siarad Am garu yn y byd, Mae llawer yn y farchnad Yn weddw, oes, o hyd. Ar ol coroni'n Brenin, Rhaid i bob geneth wech Gael pron oesol rwymyn Y cwlwm, Saith-a-chwech." Fe welodd Duw, Ei Hun, Fod dan yn well nag un, A chreodd brydferth Efa I loni Adda flin. Un tyn yw'r Sais am arian, A dyna4 Dduw o hyd; Nis gall daigoni'i hunan Tra yma yn y byd. Aroglodd aur y Transvaal, A gwlad y Banwr Sech, A myn ei ran yn ddyfal O'r cwlwm Saith-a-chwech." Fe welodd Duw, &c. Mae'n ddiflas ar hen laneiau, Wrth rodio min y nos, Dan bwysau eu gofidiau, Heb gwmni meinwen dlos. Ymwauwch, rwydau cariad, 0 gylch y giwaid sech, Daw'r hen lancyddol fwriad I deimlad Saith-a-chwech." Fe welodd Duw, &0. Ceir bywyd henlancyddol Yn oer fel darn o ia, Neu auaf anfiiflanol, Heb awr 6 heulwen ha*. Mae cartref, llawn o gariad A synwyr dynes wech, Yn goron i'r Offeiriad, A'r cwlwm Saith-a-chwech." Fe welodd Duw, &c. Bu raid i Dduw roi Efa Yn wraig i Adda gun, Er mwyn cael dechreu gyrfa Carwriaeth teulu dyn. Ymuniad pur o gariad Fu hwn yn Eden wech, Am nad oedd un offeiriad I godi'r Saith-a-chwech." Fe welodd Dnw, &c. Mae'n warth i wir Offeiriad Fyw'n weddw wrtho'i hun, Tra yn ei fynwes gariad I ddenu calon mun. Ddaw cysur byth o arian, Er bod yr aur yn wech, Heb iddo glymu'i hunan Mewn cwlwm Saith-a-chwech." Fe welodd Duw Ei Hun Fod dau yn well uag un, A chreodd brydferth Efa I loni Adda flin. Llundain. Llinos Wyre.

Y WAWRDDYDD. Gogoneddus Wawr y boreu 1 Bywiog ysbrydoliaeth sydd Yn cusanu min y bryniau Oddiar dy hafaidd rudd Mae d'anadliad tawel, hyfryd, Yn yr awel dyner, fwyn, Yn ysgafnu'r anian gysglyd, Ac yn deffro'r byd a'i swyn. Byw-gynyddol Wawr y boreu Brydferth Wawr blygeiniol, gu, 'N gwrido tlysni trwy'r cymylau O'r ffurfafen dawel fry; Gwenau newydd dydd adfywiol Sy'n bfaguro ar dy rudd, I addfedu boreu siriol A groesawi. hawddgar ddydd. Gydag awel gwawr y boreu, Rhuthxiadau oer y nos Gaiff eu chwythu o'r terfynau Lie siriola'r heulwen dlos; A holl anian a fywioga, Fel i ddawnsio'n llawn o hedd, Mewn uniondeb nes machluda Haul y dydd oddiar ei sedd. 0 dan fantell ddu y cyfnos Huno mae yr anian mud, Nes b'o gwen y wawr yn dangos Arwyddnodau boreu clyd A'i odidog hiniog wyneb Yn llewyrchu heb un chwa, Gan ymdaenu mewn tlysineb I ddarlunio boreu da. I roesawi gwawr y boreu Rhydd yr awel folawd gerdd, Can yr adar eu telynau Gyda aail y gangen werdd Adeg dedwydd sy'n bodoli, Mewn llawenydd a mwynhad, Pan mae'r wawrddydd yn sirioli Mewn prydferthwch swynol, mad. Llangennech. Ciwnfab.

Y GWANWYN. Y Gwanwyn dihalog! mor deg yw ei wawr, Nid tecach oedd Eden pan decaf ei hawr; Mae argraff llaw Ddwyfol yn fyw ar ei wedd, Ac ar ei werdd fynwes hoemisrwydd wna'i sedd. Mae'i ben o dan goron o flodeu di-ri', Y rhai a addurnant ei einioes â. bri; 0 amgylch ci ffyrdd tardda bywyd ynddedwydd, Arwyddion ei urdd ydynt-cân a llawenydd. Y Gwanwyn gwyryfol! mor hoew, mor ir Y mae'n adnewyddu gwynebpryd y tir; Teleidion gyfodant o'u beddau yn lln, Gan wasgar perarogl eu swyn i bob tu. Y ddaear ymwisga'n ei thlos fantell werdd, A'r gwigoedd sy'n fyw o farddoniaeth a cherdd. Dan dyner gyffyrddiad llaw dyner y Gwanwyn, Mae Anian o'n hamgylch yn mhob man yn chwerthin. Mae'r dydd yn ymestyn a'r nos yn byrhan, Pelydrau'r haul melyn o hyd sy'n cryfhau; Mae'r claf yn sirioli, daw'r henwr i'r ddor, I edrych gan wenu ar Wanwyn yr lor. Cyfoda'r amaethwr yn siriol ei wawr, I ddechreu ei orchwyl dan wen cynar awr; Mae'n agor ei gwysau, mae'n taflu ei hadau, A'i "ffydd" yn gwel'd Hydref yn plygu dan ffrwythau. Y cynar gafodydd ireiddiant yr ardd, A hithau. yn ddedwydd fel meinir, a chwardd; Yn iach ar y fron mae yr oenyn dinam, Yn neidio'n chwareugar dros ysgwydd ei fam.. A'r plentyn pen-noeth gyda'i hardd felyn wallt, Yn chwerthin mor nwyfus nes seiuio yr allt. 0, Warrwyn adfywiol! ei dremiad hawddgaraf Sy'n dwyn "bywyd newydd ar ol gwg y Gauaf. Mor ysgafn ei sangiad ar ysgwydd y bryn, Mor ber ei anadliad ar laswellt y glyn! Mae'n codi ei fenyr yn lion trwy y wlad, I A'i dlysau addurnant ei mynwes yn rhad. Mae'i gylchdro blynyddol yn orlawn o hedd, A'4 gyson ddyfodiad i'r byd sydd yn wledd. Ni tliorodd y Gwanwyn erioed ei gyhoeddiad, A dengys bob tro ffeithiau byw'r Adgyfodiad. 0, dymhor cyfoethog I fe garia o hyd Allweddau cyflawnder y flwyddyn i gyd; Efe sy'n darparu ar gyfer yr haf, Gan fagu yr ieuanc gynhauaf yn fraf; Mae gobaith cynhaliaeth y byd wrtho'n nglyn, Darfyddai am dano pe collai ei rin. (deb,, 0, Wanwyn arthebgor! mae'n llawn o ddwyfol- Mae delw yr Ion yn mhob llinell o'i wyneb. 'cfor' Treforfab

Understand That!" "I understand you thrashed my boy this morn- ing," the angry parent said, striding into the schoolroom after the children had been dismissed. Ye3, I did," the terrified teacher answered ,• but I did not thrash him severely." That's what I am angry about," he rejoined you didn't hurt him at all. Now, look here, sir, I'm one of the largest ratepayers in my street, and my boy is entitled to as good a thrashing as you give any other boy. Understand that If you slight him agaiin you'll hear from me in a way you won't like. Good afternoon, sir." In his Agitation. Do you know what my father would have done if I had been caught doing such a thing?" asked an irate father of his youthful son. The latter did not consider the situation at all alarming, aud said, in a rather jocular manner— "You must have had a pretty bad father." This cool, sarcastic manner nettled the old gentleman all the more, and in his loss of temper he exclaimed— "Well, sir, I want you to distinctly under- stand that I had a better father than you'll ever have." Then he felt like kicking ^imseli. Then he felt like kicking ^imseli. All In a Day. A man's marriage, someone has 3aad, is the greatest event of his life, his birth and death not excepted. It certainly was so in the case of a man who recently found himself in the dock, charged with being drunk and disorderly. His" excuse" was that the day of his offence had been his wedding day, which had brought about a certain overflow of spirits. The fact was that he had worked till 2 o'clock, by 3 o'clock he had taken to himself a wife, and before the day- light had faded he was under the care-Of a paternal government. Truly an eventful day. An Offer Accepted. Good-bye," he said brokenly, and his frame shook with emotion. Good-bye, and may Heaven bless you. Remember, Miss Green, that although I cannot win your love I shall always -be your devoted friend, and if at any time I can be of service to you, you will have but to com- mand me. I leave for Australia to-night. Good- bye." "Iam sorry, Mr Gerridge," said Miss Green, in a low tone of voice, to have been the means of driving you so far from home but, since you are so kind as to offer your services, I will ask you to post a letter for me on your way to the -train. One Exception. Wilkins was well known to the members of the little world in which he moved as a henpecked and generally down-trodden sort of mail. A few evenings ago he was present at a social gather- ing, and knowing, as ho had reason to do, that J Mrs Wilkins was in the immediate vicinity, he 'very wisely exercised the utmost discretion in the J matter of conversation. During the evening he found himself with a few choice spirits in the smoking room, yet even here, as the following will amply testify, he did not relax for a moment his careful watchfulness. They were talking of the trouble their wives seemed to experience in first of all gettin—and then in retaining—domestic servants Yes," remarked Wilkins, we've been married now about fourteen years, and yet I don't think my wife ever had a servant stay with her for more than a few months." Not one ?" inquired one of the listeners. "Not one answered Wilkins. And yet," replied the other, with a smile, you said yourself not two minutes ago that you'd been married fourteen years. Cannot Digest Soap. Do not soap the geysers,' is a notice posted in the wonderful American Yellowstone Park," observes a writer. If you were to take a cake of soap and drop it into the bowl or crater of one of the geysers, then in a very short time with a rumble and a roar a gigantic fountain of scald- ing water would rise into the air. "It is said that a Chinaman was the first to discover that a geyser dislikes soap. One day this Chinaman, thinking he had hit on a good idea, took a basket of washing to a quietly boil- ing pool, emptied the dirty linen with a large piece of soap into the crater, and lay down to let the clothes boil themselves clean. Suddenly a frightful roaring and frothing occurred. A jet øf scalding water, and with it the entire washing, played up a hundred feet in height. Poor John was shockingly splashed. The spectators saw him dash out of the steam clouds and take to flight down the valley, utter- ing wild and pathetic cries of terror and anguish.

JEWELLERY THEFT ATBRISTOL Two men were remanded at Bristol on Monday charged with burglary and stealing £1,000 worth of jewellery from the shop of;Me3Srs Coleman and Tammadge, pawnbrokers and jewellers, of St. Augustine's-place, on Saturday night. About noon on Sunday Detective Pollard, when on duty in Church-road, Redfield, saw three men whose behaviour attracted his attention. Two of them, one carrying a brown portmanteau and the other a brown leather handbag, which seemed to I be rather heavy, was walking on one side of the road, and the third man was on the other side, & little ahead. The officer followed them at a distance down Church-road towards the city. The man in front was soon lost sight of. The two others, on approaching the railway bridge at Lawrence Hill, separated, and the one carrying the heavy bag entered'a shop. The detective went after him, and having made a purchase left the shop, and proceeded to follow the man with the portmanteau, who was going in the direction of Old Market-street. He arrested him, and having taken him to Trinity-road Station returned promptly to the shop and took the other man into custody. Detective-Inspector Pope was then communicated with, and he hastened to join Detective Pollard. The two officers arrested the proprietor of the shop and took possession of the heavy bag. This was found to contain a varied assortment of jewellery to the value of about JE500. As yet the police had no information as to the burglary. About half-past 3, however, while they were pursuing their inquiries, they learnt that a big robbery had taken place at Messrs Coleman and Tammadge's shop. The manager went there soon after 3 o'clock, as usual, and dis- covered that the place had been forcibly entered. The police, who were expecting such information from some quarter, proceeded there, and found that the thieves had effected an entrance through some premises next door occupied by Messrs James Smith and Sons, perambulator manufac- turers. They had apparently gone up to the roof, displaced a few tiles, got on to the roof of the pawnbrokers' shop, removed some tiles there, and descended easily to the strong room. This they forced open, and also the safe inside. They abstracted all the contents, rejecting such things as silver watches and spoons, which the police found scattered in profusion over the floors. It is stated that some cash, though it is not known how much, is also missing from the Safe. The value of the goods taken altogether from the safe was about £1,000. The thieves had selected the most valuable and easily port- able articles and thrown the rest anywhere. The shop was locked up at ten minutes to 11 on I Saturday night, and, strange to say, it is fitted with electric alarm bells, not one of which rang. The intruders' operations must have taken a con- siderable time, and it is probable that they remained on the premises all night, and left in the morning when the streets were full of people going to places of worship. The three prisoners are foreign Jews, who talk Yiddish among them- selves.

ORDER OF SHEPHERDS. To Visit Cardiff Next Year. The 75th Annual Movable Conference of the Loyal Order of Ancient Shepherds (Ashton Unity) began in Glasgow on Monday. There were about 200 delegates present. Bro. Milne (Aberdeen), Chief Shepherd, presided, and said the gathering was the largest in the history of the Order. Bro. Torrance (Glasgow) moved That this meeting tenders to the miners' wives, relatives, and friends who are now in be- refINement through the disastrous explosion at Senghenydd its sincere sympathy and condo- lence." Bro. Evans seconded the resolution, which was carried, the whole meeting standing. The Chief Shepherd, in his address, stated that, during the year they had lost 1,362 members, in- cluding Brother Adams, Ashton-under-Lyne, one of the founders of the Order. At the end of the year, the total membership of both Unities was 121,064, an increase of 2,726. Lord Provost Chisholme, the head of the Corporation of Glas- gow, welcomed the members of the congress. The treasurer's report showed an increase in the funds of £39,645. Brother Brown (Edinburgh) was elected Chief Shepherd Brother MacEwen (Glasgow) deputy chief; Brother McNicol (Helensburg), general secretary. The next meet- ing will be held at Cardiff. The delegates were entertained by the municipality at a conversa- zione in the ovening.

BOMBARDING A WARSHIP. Experiments at Bermuda. New York, Monday.—Advices from Bermuda of the 18th inst. give the following details re- garding the firing experiments made with shells j loaded with a new explosive upon the coast de- j fence ship Scorpion. Figures representing the Scorpion's crew were rigged about her decks. The quick-firers made great havoc among these and with everything ou board that could be de- stroved, showing that it would have been impos- sible for the crew of the vessel to survive. The .iiring of the bigger guns was not so good, al- though the shells were fairly accurately placed, Of some 20 shells, all of which fell within a small radius, only two or three hit the marks, but they were very destructive. One burst inside the Scorpion, and practically wrecked everything on board. Civilisns were not allowed anywhere near the scene of the experiments, which were continued on the 16th and 17th inst. It is said that although the shooting of the big guns was bad various experiments were successfully made, and that some of the explosions gave great satis- faction.—-Reuter.

WEARING OF ARMORIAL INSIGNIA. Writing on this subject, Fashion remarks that heraldry, as we all know, is the science that arose out of the mediseval fashion of wearing de- vices of various sorts upon one's clothes and head-dress, in order that j|one might be distin- guishable from other individuals of the same rank in life, in case it ever came to a rough-and-tmn- ble-whether in the tented field or in the tavern- yard of the Middle-ages. To-day the fashion of wearing what have come to be known as heraldic insignia has degenerated, as the sense of colour and form in clothes has degenerated, until it has nearly reached the vanishing point, or is, at any rate, even to the small extent to which it is still prevalent, misapplied or wrongly used. The modern armigerous personage is content to place his crest upon his harness and his servants' buttons, to paint his arms upon his carriage door, on his hatchment, or his marble tomb, to have it reproduced on a seal or signet-ring, on his book-plate, or his writing- paper. Now the reproduction of crest and shield of arms, and even .of badge and device, upon a seal or signet may be held to be perfectly correct. Attached to a document it is a sign definitely attesting its originator. On a book- plate, too, as being the seal of possession set upon a volume by its owner, such a reproduction is correct. Bat the man wno uses a crest without an ac- companying shield of arms—save upon his head— displays but his ignorance of what a crest was, is, or should be. The man who puts a crest upon a carriage door, for instance, or has it stamped upon his footman's buttons merely Degrades an Honourable Ensign appertaining solely to himself. The proper thing for servants buttons is the badge, with its accompanying device, as being the lineal descen- dent of the metal plate or embroidered badge placed (like that of the modern commissionaire) on the livery servants' arm. It might conceivably be conceded that the crest upon the frontal of a horse's headpiece is allowable, as suggesting the ancient crest upon the head of the destrier. But on the collar or saddle it is merely ridiculous although as representing the ancient bardings, the coat- of-arms without crest might be permitted upon these latter. Again, a man may agreeably dis- play his arms or badge (not crest) upon a stan- dard, banner, or pennon, if he be by way of being a territorial magnate with a flagstaff crowning the highest turret of his ancestral donjon-keep. But in the matter of personal wear he will find his field much more circumscribed. When he has had his arms engraved upon a seal or signet ring he has done all he can properly do to signify his possession of armorial ensigns. The custom of having sleeve links engraved with a crest is, it will be obvious, a solecism. Equally so will be that- of having his crest mounted as a scarf-pin—seldom done, I am glad to believe. Some years ago a cartoon in Punch" recommended the jeunesse doree to wear evening dress shirts of silk with coats-of- arms embroidered upon the front. The idea was held up to ridicule in the London Charivari but heraldically speaking, the custom, if strange, would have been perfectly correct, and A Legitimate Substitute for the coats-of-arms." I need say next to nothing about the absurd and very common cus- tom of using what is as absurdly and as com- monly called crested note-paper." A crest and arms have no business upon note-paper, which should contain merely the address of the house from which it is despatched. The only arms upon a letter should be j those used in sealing it, To sum up, then, the ) man of taste who possesses the right to bear arms and the knowledge of how they should be borne, will confine himself to a well- designed book-plate, and three seals; a large one with all his armorial insignia correctly displayed a small privy seal, to hang from his watch chain, and engraved with his shield of arms, possibly surmounted by his crest upon a helmet—no crest should ever be represented apart from its shield, or except resting upon its appropriate helmet or cap-of-maintenance, as the case may be—and a signet ring, which should bear the shield only. or perhaps a cypher combined with a proper heraldic ensign or de- vice, but not a crest. Articles made of the pre- cious metals too, such as a flask or watch, may be engraved with some heraldic device but this custom may be carried too far, and articles of a derogatory nature should never be so ornamented. Shields of arms on college blazers (for instance) are more or less in their right place, and the armorial device stamped upon a book cover is as correct. So also are arms worked upon tapestry or hangings and kindred articles, or painted upon properly- shaped and sized shields and hung upon walls. But here we wander into other worlds, removed from that one where personal apparel there chiefly lives, "and until we return to the days of tabards and trunk-hose, or coat armour and the heaulme, there will be little more to be said about the personal aspect of bearing arms."

MOTORING IN FRANCE. An Exciting Incident. j It was recently stated (says the Paris corres- j pondent of the" Daily Telegraph ") that a ¡. motorman. while driving his car along a country road near Baume-les-Daixies in the Doubs, had j fired at some country carters who were in hisway. A rather different version of the case has now I been made public by the motormarl himself, and while he gives what is no doubt a correct state- ment of facts, he shows the dangers which auto- car conductors incur in provincial districts where j their mode of locomotion is likely to be unpopu- 1 lar. He states that, accompanied by his wife, he was driving along the road when he saw a cart blocking up the way. He at once blew his born, but the vehicle did not move, so he managed to steer past it, but only to come into collision with another cart which was behind. In the collision the motorman and his wife were thrown out on the road, and their car was broken to bits. They then found that the driver 01 the standing vehicle was fast asleep, and when, after many pinches and pushes, they succeeded in waking him up, I they saw that he was hopelessly drunk. After the husband and wife had removed their broken car to the side of the road they walked to the nearest village. There they received a hostile reception, and in a few moments the drunken carter, parti- ally recovered from the effects of his carouse, drove into the village, got out of his vehicle, and savagely attacked the motOrnIan and his wife, The villagers joined in the onslaught, and cries of Mort aux riches and then the motorman presented his revolver at the carter, fired, and seriously injured the man. After this there was nothing to do but to retreat. While the villa- gers were attending the wounded carter, the motorman and his wife took shelter in a neigh- bouring house, whose owner enabled them to escape from the people, who were thirsting for their blood. The motorman has since been arrested, and is now in the prison of Baumc-les- Dames.

THE SALT CURE. Successful Experiment on Mrs M'Kmtey. A Morning Leader telegram, dated New York, Sunday, says :—The so-called Chicago School of Medicine has gained a great victory for its theory that salt is a great blood medicine, and will cure most serious diseases. It is now officially admitted that when Mrs M'Kinley was at death's door in San Francisco, it was decided, as a forlorn hope, to try saline injection. Accord- ingly, from a vessel suspended six feet above the couch, a quart of water, at a temperature of 105 containing a tablespoonful of salt solution: was allowed to flow in to the median basilic vein in the left arm. The result was sudden and efficacious The President and his wife are now travelling homewards. The Chicago theory is that it is muscular and not nervous stimulus which causes the heart's action, and that salt is the greatest stimulant of the muscle fibres.

DRUNKENNESS AND HEREDITY. Are the children of drunkards more likely to become drunkards by virtue of heredity ? This question has been investigated by a scientific committee at the instance of the Society for the Study of Inebriety. Most persons would reply without hesitation that the drinker's child, even though he never knew his parent, would doubt- less in most cases inherit the alcoholic taint. But most persons are unaware of the fact that, as the Lancet puts it The last word of science, as declared by teachers of physiology, biology, and botany, makes the definite assertion that no instance of an acquired characteristic has ever been demonstrated in either the animal or vegetable kingdom." Many eminent men, including Mr Herbert Spencer, believe in use- inheritance, and the public generally do so but the leading authorities are opposed to it. The Inebriety Committee find that inebriety is not hereditary, but that a tendency to it is heritable; and that the frequent succession of alcoholism in a family suggests taint. The latter circum- stance, however, may be explained by evil environment and by debilitated constitutions, about which there is no question. It is a pleasant theory that drunkenness tends of itself to weed out the unfit, but confessedly the process is rather slow.

A NEW CABLE. The German telegraph ship Von Podbielski. a J finely-equipped Clyde-built steamer, on Saturday performed the duty of carrying a new cable from Bacton, near Yarmouth, across the North Sea. landing the German end first at Borkum, one of the Frisian Islands, and then carrying it on to Emden, in Northern Hanover. The Von Podbiel- ski had been expected off the Norfolk coast for a fortnight past, and when she anchored on Friday a thousand yards off Bacton Cliffs, the whole population turned out, The cable was warped ashore by blocks and tackle, and when it emerged from the sea the land end was seized by a hun- dred sturdy fishermen, dragged into a trench ex cavated in the beach, and hauled to its allotted position iu the station where the sea and land wires are connected. The shore end having been tested and found perfectly sound, the Von Pod- bielski left late in the evening, paying out the cable at the rate of five or six knots per hour, for the German shore. There are now altogether 12 wires connecting the Continent with Great Bri- tain through the little red-brick cable station at Bacton, which has its repeating station at North Walsham.

— ■ !MjHr=!S Count Leo Tolstoy is at present, says a St. Petersburg correspondent, engaged on a new work, the purpose of which in to draw attention to certain passages in the Ol .l 'Testament which «u-e at variance wi Ji modern ideas y £ morality.

Eisteddfodau. CAERPHILLY. Proceeds for Sengtrennyd Victims. The Caerphilly Whitsuntide Eisteddfod in- augurated in the year 1888 was held on Monday in a marquee pitched in the grounds of the castle. The attendance in the morning was sparse, but as the day wore on and the big musical contests came on for decision the spacious tent was well filled. The Caerphilly meeting, thanks to its enlightened promoters, has steered fairly clear of the growing tendency of the present day to convert the old literary and musical festival of the Cymry into a mere competitive concert. Tne success of this year's gathering was prejudicially affected of course by the calamity in the Aber Valley, a district which in past years has contributed a very large quota to the attendance and it was also unfortunate that there should be no entries in the chief choral competition, for which a prize of £40 was offered. The committee with commendable generosity have resolved to hand over the pro- ceeds of the festival to the relatives of the victims of the Senghynydd disaster—a decision which was loudly applauded when announced by the chairman, Mr John Morgan. r The conductor was the genial seer of Gwyn- fryn (Watcyn Wyn), a.nd the adjudication board was composed as follows :—Music—Mr D. Emlyn Evans, Mr David Evans, Mus,Bac., London, and Mr Wm. Thomas, Treorky poetry, Watcyn Wyn recitations—Rev. A. O. Hopkins. Abersychan ambulance — Dr. K. Childe McKenzie, Caerphilly, and Dr. Burke, Llan- bradach; prize bags—Miss Anthony, Mrs Elias, and Mrs Powel brass bands—Mr J. Holloway, Stalybridge accompanists — Miss Rebecca Marnier, R.A.M., Cardiff, and Mr Richard Howell, Aoerdare general superintendents— Messrs Wm. Thomas and W. W. Williams. The secretary was Mr Tom Jones. At an early stage of the proceedings Mr J. D. Hughes, who has for the past eight years been secretary of the Eisteddfod, was presented by Mr John Morgan, on behalf of the committee, with a rramed illuminated address in recognition of his services. j Mr John Morgan, who presided at both meet- ings, was supported on the platform by a number of the leading residents of the neighbourhood, including Dr. G. Maurice Evans, Rev. Daniel Lewis, rector of Caerphilly and rural dean • Mr and Mrs Spicbett, Dr. and Mrs T. W. Thomas Miss Anthony, Rev. J. P. Davies, Tonyfelin Councillor Edmund Evans. Aber Dr. 'Trevor Evans, Rev. J. D. Thomas, Caerphilly; Hon. D. T. Phillips, Cardiff, etc. j The Eisteddfod Song was sung by Miss Mary John. We append the chief awards :— Solos.—Violin, Mr Joseph Chivers, Caer- philly soprano. Miss Ethel Thomas, Cardiff tenor, divided between Mr Watkin Phillips, Aberaman, and Mr Albert Simmonds, Blaina contralto, Miss Alice Maude Lewis, Ogmore Vale baritone, Mr Tom Lewis, Cardiff piano- forte, Miss Amy Rodder, Aberavon. Englyn to Rhyfel (War).—Gwilym Elian. 1 Brass Ban;l Competition.—Selection. Lur- line "-1, Pentre 2, Great Western Colliery Band 3, Nelson. Elegy to the late Marquis of Bute.—Three compositions, two in English and one in Welsh were received. Watcyn Wyn commended the two English compositions for their artistic form, but said that in the higher qualities of poetry the Welsh composition was far superior. The adjudicator scondemned the practice of pitting English and Welsh writers against each other in the same competition. The winner was Car- nelian, Pontypridd. Soprano Solo, Tell me, Swallow."—This was one of the best competitions of the whole gathering, no fewer than fourteen being selected to sing on the platform. The prize was won by Miss Ethel Thomas, Car- diff. The rendgsiog of Miss Lydia Griffiths, Cardiff, was highly eulogised. Juvenile Choir, Plant y Wlad."—One choir only competed, namely Ynvshir (conductor, J. Howells), who wereawa,rdea"the prize. Mr David Evans, in giving the award, commented upon the practice of indiscriminately making boys sing alto and girls soprano, when frequently their voices were better suited for other parts. Brass Band Competition.—"Beauties of Sullivan." 1, Femdsle; 2, Aberdare; 3, Arael Griffin. The Ferndale party at a subse- quent stage in the proceedings played in the marquee to a very large audience. The playing of the winners was declared by Mr Holloway to be such as would do credit to any band in the land. (Applause.) Prize Bags.—1st and 2nd, Mrs Parry, Mackin- tosh-place, Cardiff. Tenor Solo, "Why doth the God of Israel Sleep ?" 1, Mr Watkin Phillips, Aberaman. English Recitation, Hamlet's Speech." 1, Mr B. M. Roberts, BIaina 2, Mr J. H. Davies, Ynyshir. Bass Solo, Rolling in Foaming Billows." 1, Lewis T. James, Pontycymmer. Ambulance Competition.—1, Bedlinog No. 2;" 2, Bedlinog No. I." Dr. Mackenzie spoke highly of the work of the winning teams, men- tioning particularly their skill in inducing arti- ficial respiration. Contralto Solo, "Arnnydon." Miss Maggie Sambrook, Pontypool. Duett, Y daau Awenydd." Messrs Ben. Devonald and Owen Treharne, Ystrad. A Rising Ladies' Choir Ladies' Choir Competition.—" Y Clychau" (arranged by Mr Emlyn Evans). Only one choir, viz., Pontypridd Ladies, conducted by Mr W. H. Morgan, competed, the Cardiff Morganwg Ladies not putting in an appearance. Mr Emlyn 1 Evans, in making his awara, said he had nevel.; hea.rd the piece sung better. There was not a hitch in the performance. He complimented highly the lady soloist of the choir, and said he could hardly conceive any choir capable of giving a finer rendering. Male Voice Competition.—This, the chief choral contest of the day, took place in the pre- sence of a crowded attendance. The test piece was Crossing the Plain (T.M. Price), and the prize offered was £20. The following parties j sang Aberaman (Mr John Howell), Abercarn (Mr S. Allsopp), Blaengarw (Mr J. D. Owen\ Blaina (Evan Anthony), Glancynon(D. Phillips), i Prior to calling upon the adjudicators, Watcyn moved a vote of thanks to the chairmau. Mr John Morgan, and in doing so delivered himself of the following impromptu englyn :— "Haedda hwn glod, mae'n ddyn glan-A llywydd Gallnog a dyddan Y mae ergyd J ohn Morgan Bob cymal yn cynal can." The Rev. Daniel Lewis seconded, and the vote was passed with acclamation. The adjudication on the male voice contest was delivered in Welsh by Mr David Evans and by Mr Emlyn Evans, who gave an interesting speech in English. He spoke in the highest terms of the performance of the winners. First, Blaengarw; second, Blaina. WATCYN WYN ON THE EVOLUTION OF THE EISTEDDFOD. 'At the Caerphilly Eisteddfod the attention of Watcyn Wyn was directed by our representative to the increasing popularity of the so-called singing Eisteddfodau or competitive con- certs. The rev. gentleman, who is probably better qualified to speak on the question of the evolution of the Eisteddfod than any other South Walian, delivered himself in this wise:—"I don t think tttat the latest turn which the Eis- teddfod has taken will Add anything to our credit as a musical nation. The competitive concert requires no preparation. We have old songs sung over and over again in the same style and by the same persons. It is the same with recita- tions—they are vain repetitions they don t give new work to our young men and women, and if we give up work and study we shall s*et to be without strength, and at last without life. I consider that we deteriorate fast in taking this course, and the sooner we return to seek the good eld way the better. „ RHYMNEY. The third annual Eisteddfod was held on Whit Monday. The president of the day, Sir Henry W. Tyler, chairman of the Rhymney Iron Com- pany, was prevented at the last moment from i attending owing to a severe cold, and Mr F. B. } Saunders, secretary of the Rhymney Company, ) occupied the chair. The vice-presidents were Mr Smith, general manager of the Rhymney Com- pany and Mr Thomas Edwards. The adjudi- cators were:—Music, Mr R. C. Jenkins, Llanelly, and Mr Dan Davies, Merthyr. Litera- ture—Dafydd Morganwg and Rev. T. Davies, Bethel, Cardiff. Brass Bands—Mr J. Walker, Batlev, Yorkshire. Neddlework—Mrs Harrison, The Lawn Mrs Trump, Glanyrafon Mrs Edwards, Terrace House. Accompanists—Mr T. D. Edwards, Pontypridd and Mr D. Richards, L.R.C.M., Rhymney. The officers were :—Mr E. F. D. Skudimore, chairman Mr Richard Benjamin, vice-chairman; Mr Lewis Thomas, treasurer Mr Iorwerth Edwards, secretary. A procession was formed at thelavra gates to escort the president to the pavilion. The procession was preceded by the Rhymney Brass Band, and consisted of the Rhymney V olunteeJ."S, public bodies, officers and members of the Eisteddfod Committee, and general public. The pavilion, which was supposed to hold from four to five thousand people, was very nicely decorated and comfortably failed. The conductor for the day was the Rev. George Griffith, who did his part in an admirable manner. The competitions were as follow — Pianoforte Competition (under 14 years), The Fairy Isle "-1, Dorothy Owen, Perth 2, Maud Clarke, Cwm. I Pianoforte Solo, waltz in A flat (E. German)- Mr Sam Lewis, Rhymney. Baritone Solo, Yr Ornest (Davies)—Mr Morgan Morgan, Dowlais. The Eisteddfod song, Ymgyrch Gwvr Mor- ganwg," was sung in splendid stylo by Miss Mary Richards. Brass Band Competition (Class B).-T4e test piece was" Echoes of the Ocean (Wright and Round). Six bands competed in the following order -.—Lewis Merthyr, Hafod Cory Work- men's, Ystrad Dowlais Brass Band, Treharris Brass Band, Rhymney Brass Band and Aber- aman Silver Band. The award was, 1st prize, £9. Aberaman Silver Band 2nd prize, £6. Treharris Brass Band 3rd prize £ j, Cory Workmen's, Ystrad Rhondda. Tenor Solo, "If with all your hearts" ("Elijah")—Mr Evan Rees Evans, Dowlais. The President said some might possibly think that the absence of Sir Henry Tyler was due to a loss of interest in the Eisteddfod. He could assure them that this was not the case. Sir Henry had made all arrangements for being present, and had been looking forward for some 1 time to the pleasure of enjoying another Eisteddfod, but just before the departure of the train he received a note from Sir Henry saying he could not possibly come owing to a severe cold. A~, a proof that Sir Henry was interested in i.lr« Wi-rXHfod ho had forwarded £10 10s 10 ii, j, ,d-¡.:¡r"J :"uds, double the amount of previous occasions. He (the president) wished the Eisteddfod every success, and both on his own behalf and that of the board of directors of the Rhymney Company. The results of Sir Henry Tyler's visits to the Eisteddfod were more practical than some were aware of. Last year someone broached the question of the need of more houses at Rhymney, and the directors decided to offer every facility for their erection, and they could see the result bv the building operations that were going on at the present time. He felt that he could not sit down with- out referring to the sad calamity that had occurred at Senghenydd a few days ago. A dark cloud had passed over the district," and there were many widows and orphans mourning for their dear lost ones. He moved that they pass a vote of sympathy with the bereaved ones and those afflicted by the terrible calamity. Mr Wm. Smith seconded, and the motion was passed in silence, the audience standing. Essay, The History of Rhvmney "—Divided between Mr Timothy Davies, Ilhymney, and Mr John Edwards, Rhymney. Recitation, Gwron y Conemaugh "—Miss Eleanor Jones, Penydarren. Translation, Welsh to English, Cartref yr Ymfndwr "—Divided between Mr Griffith Jones, Rhymney, and Miss Hughes, Pontycymmer. Juvenile Choir Competition," I Sing Because I Love to Sing (Pinsuti).—Six choirs sang in the following order —Mountain Ash Juvenile Choir (conductor, Mr Benjamin Morris), Penuel Juvenile Choir (Mr Tom Griffiths), Pantywaun k Juvenile Choir (Mr William Morgan), St. David's Choir (Mr John Jarman), Jerusalem Choir (Mr D. Evans), Glanelyrch Choir (Mr John E. Jones)—Divided between Pantywaun and Glan- elyrch. Essay, The Characteristics of the Welsh Nation "—divided between Mr David Lloyd, Tirphil, and Mr D. Jones, Twyncamo. Musical composition, anthem to verses 15, 18, and 52 of 89th Psalm—divided between Mr D. T. Evans, Dowlais. and Mr M. 0, Jones, Treher- bert. Bass solo, But who may abide ?" (Messiah"). —Prize withheld. Essay, The Importance of Cultivating Good Taste."—1, Mr J. T. Rees, Cardiff; 2, Mr Samuel Jones, Rhymney. Congregational choir. Y Nant a'r Blodeuyn" Prize, £20. Five choirs competed. Gwent Choir (conducted by Mr Tom Jones), Glanelyrch (Mr John Owen), Jerusalem (Mr David Henry Walters), Penuel (Mr William John Jones), and Tabernacle (Mr Tom Morris). Won by Penned. Englyn, Cragen," divided between Rev. T. Cynfelyn Benjamin. Pisgah, Llandyssul, and Rev. J. J. Williams, Rhvmnev. Contralto solo, Matches," divided between Misses Polly James, Abersychan Maggie Jones, New Tredegar and Gwenny Lewis, Rhvmney. The Chair Prize. Subject, Yr Anialwch," not over 500 lines prize, three guineas and a beautiful oak chair (given by Mr F. B. Saunders, London). Six poems were received. Mr Benjamin Phillips (Myfyrfab) Llanelly, was declared the winner. He was represented by Mr Iorwerth W. Edwards, who was chaired by Bethel and the Rev. J. J. Wil- liams. Poetical composition. 40 lines on Pen y Mynydd," divided between Mr Daniel Owen,, Cardiff, and Bugail Craig y Glyn." Male Voice Competition, not over 60 in num- ber, The Crusaders (Dan Protheroei prize, £20. Three parties competed :—New Tredegar and Tirphil (Mr T. R. Lewis), Rhymney (Mr Daniel Owen), and Glan Taf, Merthyr (Mr Edward Evans). The prize was awarded to Rhym- ney. Duet, tenor and bass, Sibrwd yr Awel," Mr Evan Rees Evans, Dowlais, and friend. Soprano solo, The Promised Land," Miss Jordan, Abertillery. Trio, On Thee each living soul awaits ("Creation"), Mr David Davies, Pontypridd, and friends. Mr Iorwerth Edwards, on-behalf of the com- mittee, warmly thanked Mr Saunders for presid- ing, and lor the interest he had shown in thssuoj cess of the Eisteddfod. FELINFOEL. A most successful Eisteddfod was held in a spacious tent at the village of Felinfoel, Llan- elly, on Monday. The presidents were—Morning, Mr Gwilym Evans. J.P. afternoon, Mr W. Y. Nevill. Conductors—Rev. J. W. Roberts and Mr W. B. Jones. Adjudicators-Llew Buallt and Mr T. Conwil Evans, Carmarthen (vocal music) Mr T. Hanney (instrumental music) Mr B. Phillips, Myfyrfab (poetry and recita- tions) Revs. B. Humphreys and J. W. Roberta (essays) Messrs B. Ellis and J. W. Griffiths (handwriting) and Mrs W. Y. Nevill (priza bags). Messrs Wigley, Griffiths, and D. Wil- liams acted as accompanists, whilst the secre- taries were Messrs D. B. Phillips and Tom Hughes. The following were the results :— Alto solo, Mae d'eisieu Di bob avn: "—L, Miss Maggie James, Felinfoel 2, Master T. R. Bowen, Sandy. Juvenile recitation, "Taflu Ceryg "—Divided between Misses Daisy Williams, Pontycymmer, and Eleanor Daniel, Llanelly. At this juncture Mr Gwilym Evans moved a resolution of sympathy with the relatives of those killed in the Senghenydd disaster, and the con- gregation joined in a rendering of Yn y dvfroedd mawr a'r tonau." Contralto solo, "But the Lord is mindful of bis own," Miss Elias, Ammanford. Tenor solo, "Y Llong a'r Goleudy," Mr W. 11. Protheroe, Llanelly. English essay, Children's duty towards theii parents," Edna," whose name did not trans- pire. The president awarded an equal prize to Mr Henry James, 1\foniston. Englyn, Breuddwyd Baban," Rev. T. Cyn. felyn Benjamin, Llandyssil. Writing the Lord's Prayer (workmen of Felin- foel), divided between Jeremiah Griffiths and Philip Evans. Pianoforte solo, The Harmonious Black. smith," Miss Maggie Hughes, Halfway. Quartette, Good night, beloved," Mr W. H. Protheroe, Llanelly, and party. Juvenile choir competition, Angels of Jesus (Gwilym Loa). Four choirs came forward—CaJ- iaria Chapel Choir, Sandy United Choir. Dafen: Choir, and St. John's, Llanelly. The prize was awarded to St. John's Choir. Brass Band competitions, a march, with B. selection, Songs of the 8ea "—One band only came forward, viz., Gwanncaegurwen, whosa performances were well spoken of. Soprano solo, Llam y Carxadau "—Miss Gwenny Williams, Llanelly. Bass solo, Brad Dunraven "—-Divided between Messrs C. Dula.is Rees, Llanelly, and Josiah Thomas, Swansea. Essay, The \Velsh Awakening in its relation to the Eisteddfod "—Mr R. Melinfab Griffiths, Llwvnhendy, Prize bag—1, Ms-s Griffiths, Pottery-street, Llanelly 2, Mrs M. Williams. Trimsaran. Duet, J1:ae Cymru'n Barod "—Messrs W. H. Protheroe and R. Hughes, Landore. A second prize was given to Mr W. T. Rbys and friend. Second choral competition, Y Gwlithyn (Alaw Ddu) prize, £8 and a baton. St. John's, Bethania, Pontyeats, and Tabernacle, Llwyrn hendy, competed, and the latter, conducted bj,' Mr John Thomas, was adjudged the best. Recitation, Achubwch fy Mhlentyn."—1 Miss Eleanor Daniel, Llanelly 2, Miss Lizzie Jones, Llanelly. Violin solo.—One competitor, who was deda.reC worthy of the prize, namely, Mr D. J. Richards, Llanelly. Poem, Gardd Joseph."—Rev. R. Machnt Humphreys, Llanelly, who was chaired with th' usual ceremony. Chief choral.—Two choirs competed for a prizt: of £20, the selection being Ffarwel i ti, Gymrtf fad." The prize was awarded to Trinity Choir. Llanelly. LLANHARRAN. The Maesteg Music Lovers' Choral Society, under the leadership of Gwilym Taf, won the first prize of JE20 at the Llsnharran Eisteddfod, tho test piece being 0 Father, whose almighty power." Mr W. T. Samuel, Cardiff, delivered the adjudication, and highly complimented th6 choir for their excellent voices and praiseworthj rendering.

SOLDIERS AND SAILORS" FAMILIES ASSOCIATION. The Duke of Cambridge has promised to opet the great county sale to be held in aid of Thfl Princess of Wales's Appeal for the Soldierf and Sailors' Families Association. Ten new and important allotments of stalls have been made by the committee. The Princess Christian hM permitted her name to be attached to the Berk shire stall wit.h Lady Wantage. Mrs Georg< CoruwaHis West and her friends will undertake to represent the Maine hospital ship, which stall will be appropriately decorated with the Red Cross and the combined English and American flags. The Countess of St. Germans becomes the president of the Cornwallis stall, and Mrs Charles Orman that of Hampshire while the Marchioness of Zetland will represent the North Riding of Yorkshire Lady Gibson Craig, Mid- lothian and Lady Jane Taylor, London County. Perhaps in no connty is there more enthusiasm than in Yorkshire. Lady Arthur Hill will preside at a lace stall, and Mrs Harold Hartley at the furniture scalI. There are now very few of the counties throughout the United Kingdom which have not secured space.

Michael Renahan (65). «. laboarat*. v»as killed at Limerick on Saturday under peculiar circum- stances. He was engaged with oibers in hoisting machinery. The men vwej* tolc] to un- wind the windlass. This was donp, aid wliilt the handle was revolving vapidly r.onalian attempted to catch it, but mL«i:?d;>l ;lie dis- tance, and the handle struck hiro viokmiy am the head auu chest, causing his innneyi&to