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f )WORKMEN'S TOPICS. '
f )WORKMEN'S TOPICS. BY MABON, WAGES BOARDS BILL AND THE COAL MINES EMPLOYMENT BILL. r' ataougst many measures coming before the Ut"8B °* Commons this year and of especial i to workmen are the Wages Board &Qd the Mines Employment Bill. Tbe ♦he'" the former of these is to provide for .•otablishment of Wages Boards with power *o b tlle m'niniana r*'e wages to be paid to in particular trades. It is left to the kj"6 Office to say for what trades these Wages IQ are to be appointed, so that* at all events gpjj jnstance) Wages Boards need only be i °'nted for what are known as sweated in- k "'as," that is: industries in which workers are ely employed and in which the rates of remu- 1013 are low. A Wages Board will have power j thinks fit to fix a minimum rata for any J, 8l« kind of work, or for any single class of 8 in a particular trade. They will have Widest discretion as to fixing the time rate biece-work rate, and as to varying the mini- on 01 according to the kind of work and the class ^P#taons employed. The Bill provides that a aRes Board shall be composed of represents- l^68 of employers and representatives of em- b)*Q es?nal nombers, with a chairman chosen members, or nominated by the Home Sec- CL4°? it is proposed to entrust tbe en- I of payment of tbe minimum rate to ^Jly inspectors, (s a&t this Bill is backed by such men as Sit Dilke, Messrs R. Bell. John Burns, R. anai Tennant, and Trevelyan is a snffi- 4 Proof that the interests of the workers shall UfTr" looked after while the Bill is being passed. °ne cannol: ^ut have doubts abont its effee- once it is passed, and while it may only niinimnm wage of sweated industries t^*68 its chances of doing good may be mora u *f°0s than of doing evil. Tbere was a time 11 on a thought that such work as forming Boards and fixing wage rates by people interested in the (trades concerned won'd and equitably fixed. Bnt the more one of these things by experience tbe morfe 1ikes the idea. And it win be a day of v greatest possible importance to work- taen of the coubtry if any Govern- strong enough, with a docile » lority ad jts baCk, should enforce sncb 'Qcipie as this upon and against the wishes 4ny of oar well-paid and strong.'y organised Once the principle accepted tbere is "owing: what might happen. Moreover, this tne real commencement—tbB parting of Ways between Socialistic legislation and Unionism in fixing Tates of remuneration till k DP°P,e- On that account tbe experiment most interssting. Coal Mines Employment Bill. Vol8 '8 t^lat year '3 '5nt *orwar<^ k Miners' Federation of Great Britain for 'in D]Ue instead of the, Miners' Eight Houra ik' For the intelligent and practical man there uo disguising the fact that tbe Federation but%- forward this Bill has practically the 1w object' in view as they have when patting Bill forwird*. Andthe supporters of the • of redacing tbe boars of labour in miaes 6 if pot a strong case and » i-} telling pie* for at present reduc>og th» °f young men-nnder 18 than foe all cImms U ^^ergtonnd workers. Could tbat be carried is bat little doabt bnt that the boars of 8 *on1d have to be modified largely. The Crovidea that :-(l) A male person under tbe not be employed irror allowed 6 '0t the purposes of employment in any mine ;W Rvound for more than eight boars daring w50Q8eOntive 24 hours (2) The period of each (( °v<nent shall be deemed to bagin at tbe time SrL- ing the surface, and to end at tbe time of j to the anrface. Therein Jars, of course, OonsI1, the principle of from bank to 4k .1 tf a, included in the other Bill, And sections bjj 8 Coal Mines Regulation Act, 1887-the IIIP)al Act;-uld be applied to a contraven- I Of this new Act in the same manner as it t d, be a contravention of the provisionsof Principal Act with respect to employment. ,,b. new amended Act will require registers to of these persons, as is the case now with ^dftr 16 years of age and, also, that the 41 of i aspectio-ench registers be given to any Inspector under the orincipal Act as well (t0 Buttons employed in tbe mine. This is the amended Act, and should it be so ^^ed it e thought tbat the hours of all 1 63 of underground workers would have to Modified accordingly, as was the case after ^j^'sing of the Mines Act of 1872. Still, that Dot be essential, as there would be found thaQ one way of meeting the change when H^*Pedient is found necessary. It is to be hoped ""Ht 'k'S necessary measure will be passed'to I W *be new set of circamatances created by so WT an introduetion of machinery intoonr V ^ound workings as has taken place daring .4,4t years, which it is strongly alleged baa 4u ^leed also a much larger element of ar to this class of underground workers. Women and Our Goal Mines. fe|^>8 indeed high time that something sbonld *4 0,)&, and done anxedlately and resolutely, and prevent tbe employment of women iw.1 Gllr mines in the United Kingdom. Few Ie really know that in England and Wales 'b there are as many as 2,665 females still [ IB(I abont our coal mines, and that the j & bt instead of decreasing is on the increase. t 4'4 Colliery fi rill a in the Manchester and Bol- S, ^nrict^ are said to be about to engage fe- Hjj to Wotk on their pit banks instead of men It Of course at lower rates of wages. It 1 t 8ufficjent for these wealth grabbers to be onr fair daughters and foture mothers i W a^nd and Wales by putting them to pnsb | HTj8' to raise and lower Bcreens, yea, habitually lln 6 'Q c'ocd9 of coal duat, inhaling tbe same. their hoara of employment, but the^ VuT but them to do this degrading work for CvH^bind at a lower wage rate than their male W ^ts. There are already 1.000 girls and enoployea on tbe pit banks at Atbeiton, Leigh, and Wigan distrcts. How Sr bow long is this' degradation'to con- I flew? long is Lancashire to be again be- Si^iabing entirely the abominable idsa of life happier and easier to male bread- Si* III by making it bitterer and harder to 'S;; 7 Lancashire in Us other of inaustry for decades has been cursed I idea and practice of compelling women ildren working in factories and workshops at pitbeads to swell the family main- \jvs ftJnd, and for nearly as long content to between the whole family remunera- the zagregate only equal to those tfat' beads of families alone in other w^ere the wives' and elderly daughters' '•bjg has been abolished. How many other Trade Union leaders been |Nle« nR against the evil effect on the ^of the male populations arising from e°'of the employment of women and jH ^n' who could be so much more decently engaged in other employments. N;'?b"e is the country's retrogression 1 *td 8'°P ? Is it to be everlastingly the re- ir Of the Conservative workir non of Lan- 10, returning the class of men they have .%<) ? them in Parliament for so many t bit b>T th*t the employment of women l^i^d °Wa and banks in these districts will also tkC'8th of the fact tbat from these very dis-. colliery owuera brought up a number of ¡ i,,ell ta tbe Lobbies of the House of Corn tl»e to lobby members against putting Act. which is now tbe I p the ^ct 2 clause to abolish for all future' .k .ploYmeut of women at pit heads. «cnrt' we^ t^16 day they were there, and of k6- roan^ the Honse a photographic headt,J6mselve8 at tbeir work, drawn with ''b^ Pit »far an^ aDrons m white linen, as if in Lancashire had been a lime Ve*y female tr*m greyer «afl pusbtr a O'tY female tmm greyer i%QO pusbtr a i Iioo white-washing irl. Such a lying photograph never was seen. I never experienced such colliery misrepresentations of fact equal to this no, not even when the representa- tive of that part of the country described a col- liery as a big hole in tbe groarid where 10,000 workmen' may be employed, and because they could not go down all together they had to descend one after the other. Yet this is the class of colliery representative tbat has been good enough to represent Conservative Lancashire since™ the days they refused to return Wm. Pickard and turned out onr friend and opce col- league. Sam Woods. Really, it is bard to know what these men mean. They moat sooner or later realise that those who are not with as are against as. Hence, instead of improving the conditions of wives and daughters in the colliery districts, we shall ex- perience a severe course 01 retrogression back to the old traditional times when men and women were employed underground. A melancholy illustration of that kind of labour condition may now be seen, lam told, in the exhibition Of women's work held in the Grand Palace, Paris. The illustration comes from the Oharleroi district of Balglum. It is a life-sized man and woman at work in a coal mine, near tbe, race of the workings." Dressed like a man, with a Salvation Army kind of bonnet protecting her head, and a Davy lamp fixed to her waiat, the womenisbarnessed to atram taden with coal, She —the draught anima1-pnlls before, and the man poshes the Cram from behind, and up to the year 1897 this was largely the state of things in Bel- gium. Happily, thie hideous abuse, this impiety of the worst sort, was abolished in Christian Great Britain. Notwithstanding its bideousnets, it is-in that direction things are tending in Con- servative Lancashire at the present moment. Fellow-colliers, beware. I wonder sometimes if many of my friends have comprehended the meaning of that part of the old Welsh adage Ni cbred y moel nes gwelo'i menydd.
! INeu Wreichion Oddiar yr…
Neu Wreichion Oddiar yr (iingion. BY CADRAWD. Y LLWYNT AR DAU. (THE GROVES ON FIRE,) Last week I was privilegsd to spend several days ¡in following the WelSb revival in the LJyøfi Valley, and to make the acquaintance of several distinguished visitors to tbe place, and act as their interpreter at ten of the meetings. One of my chief objects in attending so many of the meetings was to be of some service to these earnest and good people who bad travelled hun- dreds of miles, and some, thousands of miles, to came and see for themselves the work which was going on now in 11 poor little Wales, and how the grace of GOd was manifested in the conver- sion of sonls from ain. Having gone to Maesteg on Sunday evening with the intention of attending Mr Evan Roberts's meeting at Carttel, when I gdt there, before two o'9lock, I found it impossible to get in, and following some others who found themselves equally unfortunate, 1 went to Tabor Chap si, where an overflow meeting was held, and when the meetings were over it turned out that the little overflow prayer meeting at Tabor was by far the better. At Tabor in the evening there was a very crowded assembly, and huudrede of people stand- in ontaide in front of„tbe chapel, with no hone whatever of getting ioaide the building. This was conducted during tbe first hour in Welsh, English and French and everything seemed as if we were going to have a'glorious meeting. Mr Roberts arrived sooner than is his custom, and at once stood up and made the finest address I beard from bim while he was in the Valley, which lasted for 15 minutes- it was well thought .out, well spoken, and in excellent spirit. Then he asked them to sing bis favourite hymn, "Dnw Mawry Rbyfeddodau Maith, etc. and wbiletbia was going on a gaspipe was displaced and the lights had to be extinguished. This unfortunate Accident spoilt a remarkably good meeting, and the birr)," which was feit getting higher and higher La the ifrst part of this meeting, did BOt. "181" iri»a lb* obapBl.iraa reUJrt.t",d,;8Jaoqb the not leave the pulpit. The nMAiQg at Zoar in the afternoon was on. The chapel was cromled Rei tile prngs carried on without a bftob] the eioging being impressive, the prayen'and addrasees most thrilling, Mr Roberts did not attend, and when it was made known At the com- mencement tbat he would not be there the news: did Dot disturb or JeAseD tpe enthusiasm, Several stlaners from London, Scotland, Ireland and parts of England spoke, and one gentle- mas declared M he waa going cut from Zoar that ft ales was blessed with a real revival, and fully hoped that this great revival would spread all over the world. At Bethania, in the evening, was pethapa tbe most successful meet ingyet in poi nt of namber and conversions. Many strangers were present from all'parts, including tbe Rev. C. Spurgeon. of the Metropolitan Tabernacle, Dr. Wells, of Glasgow, and other distinguished divines. The congrega- tion sang without stopping, in the real Welsh "hwyl," a certain hymn for over a quarter of an hour to their hearts'delight. On Wednesday I dropped into a railway carriage at [dan Station, where there were fonr gontle- men bound for Mr Evan Roberta's meetings. They were booked for Maesteg, but before I had hardly sat down I wfts questioned concerning the revival meetings, and at my advice they came -to Nantyflfyllon, a mi:e beyond Maesteg, where the meetings were to take place that day. I was able to find'them a place to siay at without macb trouble, aod after a hurried meal we managed to reach Silob in good time for the afternoon meeting. One of those gentlsmen turned out to be a Baptist minister from the neighbourhood of London, who had been brought up a Ritualist, bat had been converted and WM now a successful minister in the Baptist con. nexion* the other three were ministers, two from Sroydon, and one from Sheffield. Tbey were all Iry much impressed with the first meeting^with the spontaneity with which it was canaucted, without anyone attempting to. lead. This proved a most impressive meeting, and every one present appeared to be at his best to worship, and the Diolch Iddo seemed to beemanating from every heart present. After this meeting, every possible moment while in the company of these poor gentlemen, I had to teach them to pronounce and sing "Diolch Ido." and by the end of the next day they were able to sing "Diolchlddo, etc.. BytB amgofio llwchy Ilawr," to my satisfaction, we attended together the evening meeting in Salem Chapel, the largest in the Valley, and found tbe gates locked, and a tremendons crowd in front, standing in the rain, and singing revival hymns. The doors were thrown open aboat 5.30, and in Jess than ten minutes every seat was occupied. The service started at once, and the rendering of some of tbe hymns by the congregation was magnificent, and tbere was some earnest and eloquent praying, but soon after Mr E. Roberts's arrival our old enemy, well known in Wales as "Oytbraul y Cano," took possession of tbe meeting, and tbe mrasioner seemed more saddened than affected, and left rather abruptly. After leaving Salem, when tbe meeting was practically over, and walking quietly down to Bethania. on oar way home. the service in Betfcinia was in full swing, and the singing of Diolch Iddo as load as ever. It was then I ascer- tained tbat the Rev. Charles Spurgeon had been speaking there, and I am told that he attended Betbania on Tuesday evening also, having been to see Mr Evan Roberts at Llya Derfel," St. Michael's Road, in the morning. The ministers, my friends from Lon- saw Mr Roberts on Wednesday, morning, add nothing in the course of his experience, said the elderly gentleman to me, had given him more pleasure than the interview in Maesteg with the Welsh revival missioner. (Ie left bim, be eaid, fully convinced that he was a man of God, and inspired onJv with the desire to save ion Is. The prayer meeting at Dyffryn Chapel I could not attend in the morning, but went to the after- noon meeting at Seion, Caeran. It was very crowded, and an overflow meeting was held in another chapel close by. The Seion meeting was aboat the most fiery of the series, and tbe Welsh "hwyl" manifested tttr)\f in its best form, with no visible effort. Mr Roberts spoke, and appared deeply affected after tbe rendering of the Welsh bymn, Wrtb gofio'i yr Ardd." At the meeting at Hermon, the last in tbe Valley for Mr Roberts to attend, I was not present, bnt from what I have heard the quiet meeting at Dyffryn, in tbe morning, when Mr Evan Roberta was not present, afforded the Greatest blessing to those who were privileged to attend them all that day.
[No title]
Yes," said Mr Hoggs, "it was funny enoagh I to make doofcey Iaugh-I toughed till I criedv'i.j
MUSIC IN WALES. .
MUSIC IN WALES. By D. EMLYN EVANS. THE ALBERT HALL EISTEDDFOD. The promotion^of an eisteddfod to be held in the London Albert Hall is no small venture, as those who had experience with the National gathering of 1887 hardly require to be reminded. The South Kensington building is so difficult of access, and so huge in its proportions, that it needed it considerable amoant of courage on the Part of the friends connected with the Welsh Calvinistic Methodist church in Falmonth-road —known in earlier days as that of Crosby, row—to face the undertaking. They were encour- aged to do so, however, by their previous success at the Queen's Hall impelled, indeed, try their experiences of last year, when that hall proved macb too small for the occasion. Unfortunately, in an eisteddfodic sense at least, circumstances hive lately arisen which have largely altered the condition of things in the Welsh world and when many committees bave felt compelled either to postpone or abu- 3on projected eisteddfodau. it is but natural to assume that tbe promoteis of this eisteddfod, with its cbora), pme of 100 guineas, could not but have felt some anxiety and misgiving ata to the result. It was, therefore, not only consola- tory to the committee, but pleasing to the sym- pathetic eisteddfodist, whether a or something more, to note that the response of the poblic-both as to the matter of competition and attendance — proved to be so satisfactory; tbe result being a pleasant and an enjoyable gathering, all the operations being conducted with good humour and a fair amount of hwyl," thanks in the main to the energetic and always ready conductor, Llew, Teldd; the success of the eis- teddfod as a^whole being undoubtedly due to a iarge extent to the untiring exertions of the sec. retary, Mr 1,). R. Hughes. If a fault must be found it is in regard to the late hour at which the meeting terminated—somewhere past mid- night—and which to many present meant a con- siderable amount of inconvenience in the matter of reaching their homes in distant suburbs, &c. The proceedings-commenced with commendable punc- tuality, ana all-would have terminated betimes had our friends the bards used better despatch over the chairing ceremonials, and some of ,be choirs been Jess dilatory in transacting their platform business. Here, it is but fair to add that the winning choir was in this respect also a pattern to many of their fellow contestants. The Preliminary Competitiens held on the previous evening had occupied the various adjudicators for a good many hours, and although the candidates were numerous in almost all the classes it can hardly be said, we think, that the standard Of merit reached as a. whole was otherwise thtan moderate. Of those tbat ap- peared on the Albert Hall platform. Mis. Ellis was easily best in the sopiano solo, Hear ye, Israel," and sbe also fairly won the special Carmelite prize of five guineas, although the winner in tbe baritone class made t* strong op- ponent. Miss Sambrook also fully deserved tbe honours of the contralto contest for her excellent rendering of Lord of the fatherleax." The duet of The Fistherman by Gabussi is abput played obt so far as the demands of op-to-date ,contests are concerned, although it was song effectively enough by the winning party. Un- fortunately, time did not permit a final compoti- tion on Coleridge-Taylor's Onaway, Awâke, beloved," and therefore the prize had a warded to the one whom the Adjudicator deemed the superior of the three best competitors selected the previons evening. A word of praise is also due to tbe young lady winner on tbe pianofort." who played with so mnch neatness and finish. Bat naturally the chief interest of the even, work cep|red in The Choral fompeiftioHr \1 for wttteh aix choirs had enteted^and all Of whom appeared-tb, teat piece being Mr Christmas Williams' IlonMwaid Bound," aad for which the prize offered was 100 guineas, as has been already stated. The judge simply distinguished the ahoirs by tbe order in which they sung the order being as foUows, as we understand I—(1) Maneheator Orpheus Glee Society (Mr W. Nesbitt), (2) Mid-Rhondda Male Voice Party (Mr Rees Jones), (3) Resolven Male Voice Party (Mr T. Glyndwr Richards), (41 Cvnon-Aberdare United (Mr W. J. Evans), (5) Eryri (Carnarvon) Male Voice Choir (Mr John Williams), (Sf Lon- don Welsh Male Choir (Mr Merlin Morgan). Tbe performance of No. 1 choir at once set a high pattern to all that might follow, and it v>aa felt that it would require to excsl it a combina- tion of much talent and effort, although theren- dering was not nniformlyequQl throughout, some points in the composition displaying places where improvement was desirable and possible. Choir No.. 2 was uhfortunate in the matter of intonation more or leas throughout, doe largely, perhaps, to the forcing of tone by the first basses on their higher notes. The 3rd choir pos- sessed good voices, opened well and gave an in- telligent rendering of tbe work, some portions being effectively interpreted, bat this perform- ance also was marred by faulty intonation, the choir ending over a tone below pitcu. In regard to the singing of No. 4, tbere is really bat little or nothing to say, except that it was an achieve- ment which may be almost characterised as remarkable, being practically faultless from be-, ginning to end. Quality and combination of voices, excellence of individual parts and en- semble, the attention paid to marks of expression and the mental grasp displayed left nothing whatever to be desired. A very slight forqing of tone occurred at the last two or three bars," but it was very trifling, and was perhaps the result of a natural and an excasable exuberance at having landed "Rome once more so safe an; soond after a voyage which possessed not a few dangers. The .5th choir also bad vary fine voices, and openea in a very promising manner, but in this case, too, early difficulties in the matter of in. tonation occurred the pitch falling, then rising and ultimately ending half a. tone too low. Oboir No. 6 began alittleelugeishly—not so much slow aa inanimate possibly due to the desire not to sacrifice self-restraint, and to lose that self control which is always so desirable. A some- what slack pace, however, was observable in more than one of the movements—slacker than tbat indicated by the metronome marks, and tending to as we think, the general effectiveness. Nevertheless, this choir gave a very fine render- ing as a whole, and one tbat may be pronounced not unwprthy of the best National Eisteddfod standard. The same remark may be applied to cboir No. 1, The judges, however, were for- tunately freed of the task of having to decide be- tween tbe respective merits of these two by tbe performance of the 4th ;:hoir, who established their superiority in this well-fought straggle without any donbt whatever. It is only sight to state in conclusion that tne writer's co-adjadicators, Dr. Coward and Mr D. C. Williams, are not in any way responsible for any of the details offered here, although the award itself was arrived at unanimously. -1.
[No title]
Too Short. Wife James, do you know that you are a very small man ? Husband How ridiculous. I am nearly six feet in height. Wife That makes no difference. Whenever I ask yon for money to go shopping you are always sbewt. No Bcsiness There. A sendry, an Irishman, was on post duty for the first time at night when the officer of tbe day approached. He called, Who comes there ?" Officer of the day," was tbe reply. "Then what.are yez doin' out at nigbt 1" asked the seBtry. Tbe Silent Stranger. "Oi say, Mulligan. Phwat kind av a. foreigner is tbot fiUow seelin' iugs ?" He's a Turk, me bye." Well, I talked tb him for tintninutes awn oiver a word hos be shpo&en." Bedad maybe he's phwat they call the un. 3peatable Turk.' What Happened. In a written examination on astronomy, one of the questions was What happens when tbere is an eclipse of tbe moon ?" A student with rather a good knack of getting iout of a difficuhy wrote: 41A great many people come out to look at it." Mother: Do you think that young man has saved anything ?—Daughter Undoubtedly, ma, Be says be b*a ney?r Iwd foe(<?*•» j
SCIENCE AND HEALTH i
SCIENCE AND HEALTH i By Ir. ANDREW WlLSQN.'f.fLS.E., So. Divining for. Water. Some years ago the subject of divining for water by means of certain twigs or rods attracted a considerable amount of attent-iou. The water diviners professed that they were able to locate the presence of water supplies below ground by certain movements of the twigs they held in their hands, such movements being presumed to be one on one theory or explanation at least to the action or existence of some so-cslled mag- netic force. It, of course, seems a very difficult matter to assume the existence in certain indivi* duals of a. special susceptibility of a nervous kind which enables them to-locate the presence of a water supply deep in the pronndwitb the result of commnnicatmg BOllle special movements or other to a, twj held in the hand. Professor W. Barrett, of the Royal College of -Science, Dublin, devoted much attention to the investiga- tion of the pretensions of the water diviners 31 dowsers" as they are called. The professor came to the conclusion that, having regard to all the evidence which was placed at bis disposal, the theory of some special sense or other render- ing the individual capable of detecting the pre. sence of water at varying depths yas the most feasible explanation of;t,hEllWbenomen&. Needless to sav, stress was laid aula the fact that a. large amount' of success attended tbe water diviner's effortB. It is tloethese efforts did not always result in the finding of a water supply. Again geologists pointed otft tbat in the case of certain localities where.. ptentifn) sappiyof water was known to exist, ofc was likely to exist, having regard to the geological formation of the country it was bardly ueceiaary to assume any special powers in locating such a supply because -of its general distribution in the locality. A Geologist's Opinions. Here it may be said the matter ended. The i services of the water divinera wore obtained, and for all that I know to the contrary, may still be in rfemand by persons who are desirous of extending their water supply in country districts. Recently, Professor Gregory, of tbe University of Glasgow, in a letter to the Press, made a most interesting commuaicRtion regarding this curious subject. Commenting^upon the views of a pre- vious writer, the Professor remarks that he feels less strongly, than the writer in the "Times" that the water diviner is either ii knave or an unconscious fool. Reference is made to the theory that some people aro abnormally sensitive to • the influence of the presence of water hence they may be able to detect slight differences in humidity, which are not perceived by the majority of people. Professor Gregory remarks that one water divinar failed to find the great pipe wbich carries the water supply o Melbourne, when he was taken across the field through which it passed. But it is to the credit of this man that hs Drolesseil to be unable to detect the presence of water contained in iron pipes. Professor Gregory add. that the action of the diviner's rod seems to depend not on the nature of the material, but on the weight. In any case, it is of air extremely ligbt character, and is carried eo that there is an unuanal strain on the diviner's muscles, whereby they may be regarded as existing in a state of spasm. The theory is, however, promulgated that, under suah conditions, the nerves of the akin may be excep- tionally sensitive to slight external stimulation, such stimulation being represented, according to Mr Gregory, by the influence on the individual passing suddenly aeross a. layer of damper air, On the whole, Professor Gregory tends to hold a brief for the water diviner. Whilst not com- mitting himself in any definit fashion to aapport aU that is claimed for the dowsers," he never- theless practically adopts Professor Barrett's views that tbere may exist on the part of certain individuals a high sensibility to the presence of moisture saoh as is not experienced by the majority of person*. I do not know that any farther explanation can be < given of sncb pheno- mena, or'that any advance can be made towards a clearer understanding of the nature of water dividing (assaming the reality of the occurrence and that its successes are not dae to chance) than tbe institution of a serine of elaborate and .carefully ;carried out experiments, where the probabilites of t1;, case on on. aide or tbe other may be duly tested. The Air and the Sea. It ia not generally known tbt., a very intimate relationship exists betw%p. atmosphere— or rather between certaaW t^ ^nstituents— and the ocean. In tbe cearge of an interesting naper published ift Nature," A- "Harden liscusses the relationship in question. He deals specifically with tile carbonic acid of the air, ot, as it is otherwise called tbe carbonate dioxide. Thia e. gas, it need hardly be said, which ia exhaled from oar longs in tbe act of braatbiog. It ia also foand developed io mines and wells, aad constitutes tbe choke damp ot the miner. It is a gas which, of course, ia entirely unfitted for the sopport of animal life, but green plants derive from it an important constituent of their food. Every green plant in the presence of ligbt drinks in carbonic acid through its leaf pores. The living cells of the leaf then decom- pose or split up the carbonic acid gas into its constituent elements, namely,cBrbon and oxygen. The plant retains the carbon as part of its food. whilst in the presence of light it allows tbe oxygen to pass back into the atmosphere. These astions cease in the leaf during darkness. Dr. Harden remarks that sudden interchange takes place between every water surface and the air aboveit. A result of this interchange is thaevola- tion from tbe water or the absorption by the water according as tbe pressure of carbonic acid in tbe water or the air is the greater. The ocean (hue comes to act, we are told, as ft regulator of the amount of carbonic acid in the air. In ordinary pure air horn thtee to four volumes of carbonic acid exist in 10,000. It is estimated that the quantity of this gas contained in the greater masses of the oseans amounts to 27 times greater than that contained in tbe atmosphere itself. Dr. Harden, following up the investigations of a Danish scientist, details the effect on the atmos- phere of oar coal-bnrniog habit. It is calculated that, apart from any regulating action of the sea, in a thousand yars the percentage propor- tion wouid.be doubled in other words it would rise from three to six volumes per 10 000 of air, and would thus render the air unfit for the breatbing of aoimals. Before, however, the pro- portion rose very much above three volumes the eea., it is stated, would absorb the gas all fast as it was produced, and owing to the large volume required to bring tbe sea. into what is called equilibrium with the air it is stated that, at the expiration of the thousand years, the proportion of carbonic acid in the air would not be more than 3; volumes per 10,000 We are also told further that there are indications that the amount of carbonic acid gas in the atmosphere tends to increase. If this be 80 then the air must be obtaining supplies of this gas from some source or other at present unknown to us. Clearly we owe much to the sea in preserving the natural parity of the air v?e breather Fishes and Their Uses. It is undeniable that aa we are an insular people geographically considered, we are also, extremely conservative in many of our ideas and purposes, and more especially in those which relate to our feediu habits. When the average Briton goes abroad bo cheerfully, if only by way of experiment, partakes of the viands which are offered to bim by the foreigner. Many of these he thoroughly enjoys, and his enjoyment is not lessened by the fact that in the vast maiotity of cases be does not know what he is consuming. Ignorance in this case is no doubt to be regarded as representing the provetbial bliss, At the same time It is uudeniable that we loae a vast • foods simply because we are too prejudiced to use them. This is especially the case "men we come to deal with fishes. A recent communicati6n made to a scientific journal by Mr F. tr. Aflalo inquires What fishes are use- less to man ? He shows that foreign nations obtain from the harvest of the sea r vast number of products which are not merely useftll, but, commercially viewed, highly profitable. He mentions, for example, that the Portuguese have a profitable fishery for sharks in deep water, and these fishes are found to be commorcialty valuable. He adds that we neglect our own anchovies and import largely from Mediterranean countries, paying a high price for these little fishes which exist in large quantities around our coasts. The ivolf-fiah, which is by no means an agreeable looking animal, is found on the north- east coast, and the author adds that at Scar- borough it fetches agoodpriee as a food-ifsh. Eels, which form an extremely nourishing article of i ^he amount of fat they consume, are loathed in Scotland. Immense quantities of these fashes are netted on the Scottish lakes and aresent direct to England, where they fetch very high prices. The cuttle fish are only nsed in this country for bait, whereas all the Italian coasts a very dainty dish is made of these monaeke. Carp an 1 pike make excellent dishes in Germany. In England they are utterly neg- lected. it 18 quite clear that in so far as the harvest of the sea is concerned we have a great deal to learn in respect of many fishes which are adapted for the food of mankind, and also vf ,many others whicb, if not exactly suitable for eat- ing, nevertheless are capable of providing large stores of oil and other products. The Treatment of Consumption. Some discussion has recently taken place in the medical journals regarding the treatment of consumption in sanatoria- The general trend of medical opinion appears to be working ronnd towards an expresision of the belief that it is not necessary to spend large sums of money in building huge palatial establishments for the treatment of the white plague. The open air treatment, it is pointed out, ce-n be readily and easily carried out almost anywhere, and where tanatmria are erected it is regarded as a prefer. able procedure to erect smaller and even tempor- ary but comfortable buildings, which at the end of a term of years can be taken to pieces and thoroughly disinfected. These wooden buildirgs would equnlly serve the purpose with the large I sanatoria buile at a greater expense in a per- manent fashion. This view may be commended to the notice pf cb« public as well m to tboas specially interested in sanatorium work. With large nnmbers of poor persons beginning the open-air treatment, and with a lack of accommo- dation for them, it in obvious that even tem- porary wooden buildings erected in a suitable locality would serve aU the purposes of cure.'
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Strangers Now. II Yes, he proposed," Miss Passay continued, blushing and when papa came into the room he found me in Mr Hnggins's arms." Ab, now I see," exclaimed Miss Speitz. I wondered what your father meant to-day when he told me that Mr Haggina bad an old bead on young shoulders." I now TO.DO IT. Mra Noopop t, My baby cries, all night, I don't know what to do with it. Mrs Knowitt: I'll tell yoa what to do. As soon as oar babv commenced to cry I used to turn on all the gas. That fooled him. He thought it was broad daylight and went to' sleep. rA? CLEAN SHAVE. '• Tonaotial Artist ;in agitated accents, to cus- tower be has jaBt anicked "): Will you have anything on your face when I've finished, air ? Victim: Well, I dia 'CM to 'ave a nose, bat-" I HIS ONE: HOPE. I Is not this work aimost too macb for yoa ?" I asked the new vicar. You must be a great age P" Yesair, yeasir," mumbled, the old bell ringer. Ow many years I've tolled this bell I can't tell ye, but it's beginning to tell on me. 'Owsowever, I've tolled the bell for five dead • vicars Dear me," ejaculated the clergyman. And, continued the sexton, I'll be happy when I've made ap the 'alf-dozen. I thing I'll retiie then." > I I LOGIC. I The Girl What is the matter, Gastave l Aten t von comiCR into the ballroom ? Gustave (jealous) No, yon can keep on dane. iaa with the other men. The Girl Gastave. do be reasonable. You ought to know that if I dance so frequently with the others I do it. only so that people won't notice that I'm always dancing with yoa." Experience. Regarding a woman," said Henpeckj To thii sad conclusion I've come When a man puts a, ring on her finger, He puts himself under her thumb."
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Andrew Fletcher of Saltoun, in a letter to the Marqnis of Montrose, wrote :—"I know a very wise Illan thlÜ believed that if a man were, permitted to make all the ballads he need not care who should make the laws of the Dation,"
TO A YOUNG GIRL
TO A YOUNG GIRL Like stars at midnight, seem thy matchless eyea, Arid tby obeek's blush was caught from morning's akies. Under a wealth of shimmering chestnut hair, Radiantly para, thy brow is beaming fair- Art could not dream of beauty half so fair. Rare as thy beauty is, yet coald I speak All that my beart would prompt, I'd bid tbee seek No greater conauest than to e'er remain Devoid as now thou art of I!&)f!b stain, And willing e'er to heed each kind behest, Love-born, from her who loved thee first and but Live pare and trac, 40 shllt thy life be blest, Brockton, Mass. Jo KiBg."
MY VALENTINE.
MY VALENTINE. Once more the sanny spring draws nigfa, The eOD mounts higher in the sky, The noons grow warm, the winds grow gtilll- Beneath the snow the rootlets thrill 5 So thrills my heart, 0 lady mine, With love for thee, my Valentine. Thoa art my soul's unshadowed SUD, Towards whom my tides of being run, My refuge from life's wildest storm, My altar where Love's fire kaeps warm My heart's most sacred inner shrine, My only love, my Valentine. No store have 1 of gems or gold. No lands are mine to have and hold Yet riches all untold have I, Wealth which mere -old can never boyt If thou, my love, will but be mine, My own, my peerless Valentine. Ninette M* Lowater,
Fashion and Things ,.Feminine.…
Fashion and Things Feminine. BY MISS IDA MELLOR. The New Belero. There are some distinctly new features in tailor-madeii for the spring, one of the most im- portant changes ^ffeoting the bolero, which is seen under an eutirelv new aspect.. Hitherto our boleros have been straight and simple in cat, at least, if not always in the fashion of their trimming, but the latest development of the popular little coat inroduoes fulness both at the neck and waist -the waist of the bolero being short, and allowing a generous view of a high pointed cointure below. A sketch is given here of the JAtest edition of the bolero. The fronts and back are gathered to a braided yoke and band at the waist, and the neck h marfced by a short stole of velvet witb tasselled ends, while the sleeves have braided bands at the elbows, and there are under-sleeves and a front of batiste. Boleros in this fashion in faced cloth or voile are' very smart. There ara several varieties of the new mode. but all maintain the characteristic of fulneBS, which marks the novelty of the coat. Some of the new designs are distinguished by au absence of yoke, the bolero being gathered into a little band a) the neck, which is cnt low and round, and bordered with a three or foar inch strap of velvet or em- broidery, continued down the fronts in a fancy outline, and finally running round the waist of the bolero. Costume With the Latest Yoke. Skirts and blouses are very macb as they were, but the broad-shouldered sleeve is conspicuous again, as I have already related in previous I chats, and there is a distinction, too, in the shape r of the new yoke, which is shown on the blouse sketched. The novelty, it will be at once seen, rests with the wide tab into which the yoke merges in the centre front. Thelabs on yokes vary a good deal in widtb, and are sometimes pierced, as in the sketch, so that,, neckties can. be threaded through them. The tab-shaped yokes are made not only in lace, butalso in- blouse materials. The sleeves to oar illuntntoo model are puffed to the elbows, and below them are lace under-sleeves following the shape of the arm. One of tbe new skitts, arraDed ia small, even box-pleats, accompanies the blouse, both beiag of tbe same material-pale blue or old pink faced cloth would be delightful. This is the newest form of the pleated skirt, the small- ness of the box-pleats being an agreeable change from the wider folds which are usual. Spring Hats. Hats are once more trimmed at the back, where they are, again, much uplifted, and garnished with flowers apd ribbons and feather?, reminding us of the hats of several years ago. The Bretonne sailor hat of straw or silk, with the back brim lifted bigh and resting upon a bank of flowers and foliage. promises to be one of the most popular of Spring millinery fashions. The hat sketched is an example of a new and pretty mode. The brim is of drawn brown tulle, and the crown is covered with wallflowers, while at the back are more blossoms and knots of wall- flower velvet. Carried out in moss-green talle with banches of violets, or in mauve tulle with lilac blossoms in natural colours, the hat sketched is,1so very charming. All shades of violet, from deep Russian to pale lilac, a .nnent on tb« early consignments of Spring millinery, and daffodil-yellow is, as usual, well to the fore. Tiny flowers, as wall. as those of larger siza, appear in profasion on the new hats, and bunches of violets, forget-me-nots, and other flowers, with plenty of stalks showing aie placed here and there round the crowns of toaues or at the back of them in the prettiest manner. A Paris hat of brown chip, with a small, oval crown and brim that carls up at the back, and straightens out as it approaches the face, is trimmed with a prim little wreath of forget-me-nots, pimpernel, and clover, just thrown upon the hat. as it were, little knots of flowers breaking the monotony of r the evenness of the wreath at intervals. Fashions in Skirts. Fashion is particularly adaptable jast now. in- asmuch all tight coats and loose coats are equally fashionable, and skirts plain at the waist or full meet side by side in smart salons. There is ad- vantage in the period that aeea one fashion going out and another coming to, for it is naturally a time when faehion is particularly elastic. Old modes die hard, and the tight skirt has atlil faithful advocates in spite of the prettiness of the newer foil skirt. Ba it must be admitted that the skirt we call tight has somewhat altered its character through the influence of the full round skirt, for althongb it is still cot to fit the figure at the waist, without the aid of pleats, it is very much faller than formerly lower down, and no longer clings as of yore. Tailors are in- creasing the width of skirts very much, and some of the new models are of preposterous measure. ments lound the hem. Accordion-pleated skirts consequently fit in with the fashion of the timea in a peculiarly apt manner, and are as popular as ever. They are mote convenient, for out of doors, when abort, the long, accordion-pleated skirt being diftwit to manage U there Ia the slightest breeze, or even without it—-for"the long skirt must needs be held npslbtJy if we would avoid play- ing the part of scavengers, and handfuk of accordion-pleating ate inconvenient we have other things to carry besides, Lace Bibs, A pretty use to which a remnant of lace or esprit net may be put is as a bib, whicb, if long, almost to tbe waist, is very useful for wearing inside an open coat over a blsuse that bas lost its freshness. The bib takes so small a quan- tity of material tbat even a slender purse can afford a good piece of lace for tbe pnrpoq. Moreover, the bib can be all of wide lace, gathered to a collar-band of lace insertion, or it may be of esprit net edged with narrow lace and gathsred to a folded collar-band of net. The bow-tie of while tulle is also fashionable, and. stocks of soft silk, delicately embroidered, are Other pretty trifles for the neck. French Method of Washing Blankets. The following is a method of washing blankets adopted in French homes- The soiled blanket is put to aoak for a quarter of an bonr in soft, warm water. Than a jelly, made of the best laundry aoap and soft water (sometimes barley water is ased), is prepared, about lib. of soap being used for every blanket washed. This jelly is put into a tab of warm water, allowed to melt, and then lathered up with the hands. The blankets are wrong out from tbe soaking-tub and thrown into the father, when they are stirred about and left to soak for about ten minutes Then every inch of the blankets is rubbed between the hands, after which the articles are taken oat of tbe tub and wrung, then rinsed in fresh, warm water twice, and finally dried thoroughly. "hen dry the blankets are stretched in every direction, Del < rubbed all over with a piece of rough Sannet,. which inddces them to remain fluffy and soft. If very dirty, a tittie borax is added to the wash-1 water, bnt never soda or bleaching powder. The favourite soap used is made from olive or cocoa-, nut oil, soda and tallow soaps being regarded as ,andeairabiefor blanket washing. Very hot air in the drying room ia to be avoided, on account of shrinkage. In washing any flannel goods, they should be moved about in a. toapy lather and sgoeezed with the hands rather than robbed. Fritters, Orange fritters are made by dividing each orange into quarters, previously removing all the white pulp carefully, so as not to break the skin, dipping each piece into fritter batter and pinng- ing it into deep, boiling fat until golden brown. Drain each fritter and sift nowdered sugar over it. Banana fritters and apple fritters are deli- cious and celery fritters aroalao very good. To make them, boil some sticks of celery in salted water; when tender, dry them in a cloth, cat them into pieces two inches long. and keep them • wrapped in a cloth until you cook them. Then dip each piece in frying batter and cook the frit- tors until they are light brown finally sprinkle them with salt, and serve with or without tomato aauce. Meat fritters are other appetising dishes, and any scraps of meat may be treated thus.
WELSHGLEANINGS. -..
WELSHGLEANINGS. Dr. Abel J. Parry, of Rhyl, formerly of Swan- sea, is engaged in writing his autobiography, > which is to be published shortly in celebration of tbe jabilee of bie ministry. Dr. A. M. Fairbairn, principal of Mansfield College, Oxford, has accepted an invitation to deliver a series of lectures at this year's meet- ings of the South Wales Sammer School of Theology to be held at Brecon. Tbe Welsh Chinese missionary, Rev. W. 1Iøp.. kin Reea, of Chi Cboa, formerly of Cwmavon, is on his way to this country, where be will stay or, furlough for several months. Madame Kate Morgan Llewellyn, of Dowlais, is on a taith diwYKiadal" (religions revival itinerary in North Wales, with engagements lit Llandudno, Conway, Pentrefoel-is, Trefriw, Talycefn, Llanfairfecban, Carnarvon, and Holy- head. Canon Griffith loses, of Marehwiel, is tc preach.tbe special sermon at the Welsh service ia Chester Catbodra! o» St. D&vid's Day. The capon is a native of the neighbourhood of j Ammanford, and is$cousin of the Bev. Elwyn Thomas, of Newport. .l.. r Witb sncb a wide re-institution of family prayers, and erace before ifteals, as the reaalt of the revival, many Welsh parents will be glad tc see the following translation of Be present at our table,.Lord," etc. The translator is the Hev. W. B, Griffiths (Tawe), Llantrinant Bydd wrth ein bwrdd ein Nefol Dad, Molianwn Di yn ddinacad Benditbia ni rho ganiatad I'n w!edda. yn y Ganaan wlad. The last census retarns show that Chester con* tains 10,000 inhabitants who were born in Wales, or who speak the Welsh JanJčuage..RecoÏsjng this the Dean of Chester bas consented to a Welsh styrvice being held at Chester Cathedral on St. David's Day next. How grieved eouls of the proud Normans who drove the Welch over the border" into Wales centuries ago will be if tbilS information passes into the spirit world. Bata and Trevecca. Mr Owen M. Edwards, M.A., of Oxford, ia the current number of Cymru," states that he has not much faith in the wild rush made to get every college to one place. I would like," he adds, to see more scattering. The Calvinistio Methodists will be saved from losing their ohl colleges by two things—their love for Bala and Trevecca, and tbe coat in connection with moving. One theological college would cost from four to five thousand pounds a year; the income of the two colleges,is not mach,if any, over thrae thousand. If two preparatory schools were estab- lished the Calvinistic Methodists will have to go under a burden nearly double what ja paid to- wards the colleges at present. It would be a lose in every way to change the present system." Making Sure of His Future. Many yesrs ago, says a Llandovery man, there was an old gentleman living in the neighbour- bood who named his house" Paradise." He was asked one day why he selected such a name. WeH,eaid he, you see I was never sure of getting to Paradise after leaving bere, so 1 made certain of it while I was at Llandoveiy I" The successors were quite content, after becoming tenants, to choose a new name for the domicile more in keeping with the district. Welsh Jews and the Revival. A writer in the "f South4 Wales Jewisfc Review for February says, How aboat members of our particular creed who are living under these present influences ? Hu aov ten., dency to a Jewish religious revival yet displayed itself ? Circumstances undeniably eall for such. Hysterical conversions are, of coarse, oat of the question in the case of the Jew. The tactics of an Evan Roberts would meet with no countenance from our fold. But tbe spirit of a general uplifting from whatever quarter it should arise would fall like water on the parched ground and win over to our ancestral faith many an estranged soul. The tiro may be bnrning>.low Bat it is there. A breath of genuine 8Dcleavout will fan the flame." "L The Looming "CofpofaUoo" of Merthyiv The announcement of tbe Act of Parliament ttf legalise tbe Merthyr Charter (writes one whe fought for it) has again revived intereat and te- started anticipation. It bas come at a time when Merthyr is being rejuvenated. The crowds of squalid tenements which gave the place such disfigurement are brushed away. The placa called China" would not now be recognised were an old inhabitant to come back from America or Australia. Caedraw is presentable and Ynyscoy transformed. The old block of houses at the bottom of High-street, called throttle-valve, are gone. In all directions neW buildings bave been erected or old ones elevated} and tradesmen, rising to the occasion, him made tbe town still more worthy of being a « centre for the mining and ironworks distrtcw On the one hand, Brecon and BoUth regard it as tbeir largest and beat trading town, with an enormons and never-satisfied appetite for poultry and eggs, batter and bicon; and on the other hand, buyers of all sorts of produce and manufac- tures come from the Tredegar and Brynmawt districts, and the close railway touch with the New Rhondda, with its great virgin tract of coal will, it is believed, lopg continue the prosperity of Merthyr, Dowlais, and neigbbourhooi. Mere thyr will take its place in municipal rank not by the aide of Aberavon, or other ancient and, j comparison, decayed boroughs, but by that oi Cardiff, Swansea, and Newport, with ft history (M. interesting aa the best,