The Cardiff Times

SUNCLAD TOBACCO IS the Best. Try It. I 11 —-— -a

WORKMEN'S TOPICS. THE TRADES UNION CONGRESS. (By MABON, M.P.) Reverting to this Congress and its work, j tr)"'Y say that to an sincere lovers of trades organisations there is nothing more desirable than that the various societies should be working in harmony one with another. The Trade Unionists of the country have again an(I again passed resolutions -it previous con- gresses declaring that any method of organisa- tion which divides workmen from their fel- lows in the. same or similar occupation is detri- mental to the best interests of Trade Unionism, and this matter will a train j come before the delegates at Bath. The evil, I understand, is growirg instead of decreasing. The congress is to he asked to condemn the practice of recruiting and admit- ting in some Unions men and boy,; into their ranks whose occupation is separate and dis- tinct from the majority of their members. This practice cannot but binder and retard the progress of Unionism. It. is not fair, either, to f-rnppioyers or employed, and it divides the workmen. In some places two rates of wages are established in the game district for the same class of workmen. That is had enough, and it should be put a stop to. This was the case, I believe, tha t occurred in connpction with branches of the Tyne Ship builders'Association a few days ago and the Boilermakers Society, when the walker caulkers' strike took place, and when a very small body of men affected a a much larger one. The matter was left over to be settled by the representatives of the larger organisation of employers and workmen independently where the masters now insist that the next agreement must be so that hy the machinery of their common agreement provi- sions shall Be made whereby every possible, dispute between them and their workmen shall be settled without recourse to strikes or lock-outs. This. forsooth, was only fair after ail. It was hardly to be expected that the em- ployers would tolerate independent action bv handfuls of men who first strike work and call upon their Unions to support them. And the awkward and dangerous part, to say nothing of the unpleasantness of the proceedings, the dispute will be settled whether it pleases the men on strike or not, and whether they will return to their places or not, work will pro. ceed on the terms of the new agreement. We have been going on in our South Wales colliery districts something very similar at the present moment. The General Labourers' Union are taking into their organisation some of thp colliery surface workmen at a low rate of entrance fees, simply to swell their num- bers, although they well know that these men's wages are governed by the Mineowners and Workmen's Conciliation Wages Board and that in whatever dispute that may arise between those surface men and their employers the officials of the General Labourers' Union cannot interfere. It must come before the lint Board at Cardiff. The same thing ppens again ith the Colliery Engine- an and Stc .srs* Association. That sociation has broadened its basis t. operation, and takes the surface craftsmen of the collieries into its ranks. Here again it is known to the officials of that associa- tion that the men's rates of wages are regulated I by the Joint Committee at Cardiff. The minimum wage, when settled for the colliers and other underground workmen, was settled for them also, and by the same representatives respectively. In fact the wages of all work- men in and out our collieries in this coalfield (with the exception of enginemen, stokers and outside fitters) are regulated by the wage agreement in force between the respective representatives of the Monmouthshire and South Wales Collieries Association and the miners' representatives none else, during the existence of this agreement can interfere with regard thereto. Not long ago a number of surface craftsmen were educed to join the Enginemen and Stokers' Union, and I dare say that not a few of them who had fallen in arrears in the Miners' Union have found it cheaper to join the Enginemen and Stokers than to pay their arrears or re- ehtrance fee into the Miners' Union which they originally belonged to. Evidently in the interest of Trade Union this should not be so, and the Trade Union Congress should be c-alled upon to put an end to it. Just see what has recently happened in South Wales. A number of these men having joined the Enginemen and Stokers' Union were allowed, if indeed not induced, by that organisation to give in their notices to terminate their contracts of hiring with the Ocean Colliery Company. At the first meet- ing after the notices were received the matter was placed by the employers on the agenda of the Joint Committee for consideration, and the workmen's representatives, having signed the agreement on behalf of those men, were prevailed upon to try and induce them to withdraw their notices, as the giving of them was a distint breach of the wage agreement, because the employers had not even been approached as to any dispute existing between them. On the other hand had they been in- formed of their having a dispute, or any grievance, the employers, under the agree- ment, could not have dealt with it but through the workmen's representatives on that Joint Committee, they being the people responsible to them for carrying out that agreement. So that the workmen, ultimately, must have found that they bad, in joining the Enginemen and Stokers' Union, joined an organisation that could do nothing towards bettering their position either from a wage standpoint or demanding better conditions of labour. Nor is that all the. trouble nor all the evil wrought. I am informed that some of the leaders of the organisation that allowed those men to give in their notices to terminate con- tracts have been trying to persuade the colliers and other workers engaged at those same col- lieries that it would be good comradeship," the essence of brotherly love," and perfec- tion of Unionism "were they to throw in their lot and make a common cause with those that had given notices-to refuse to work on until those on strike would have their grievance and their wrongs, if there were any. redressed. But their grievances or wrongs were of no concern to other workers, that were to have no votfe In the right or wrong of the cause to he fought for more than any part they had in the wisdom or foolishness of handing in their notices when that was done. No, 110 all their part was to fight. for a common cause— the strong to fight for the weak," etc., etc.- although the would-be strikers were but a handful of men who had previously seceded from the parent organisation the only place that striking for a common cause was possible. Now that they had left, and found they had a grievance they were shouting on the brethren they had formerly turned their backs on to show their spirit of Trade Unionism by breaking even their contracts of hiring—which they themselves had not dared to do—and making the cause of the would-be's their own. This I am informed was the course advocated, although the advocates thereof knew wcil that while the men that would be directly affected because of the smallness of their number would be financially supported by their Union, ..hey having given the legal notice, the others fightingfor the common cause, having no direct cause of their own, and being at least 90 per cent, of the whole body, that under such cir- cumstances had they left their employment woilld not be supported at all moreover, they would be liable to prosecution for breach of contracts. Nothing to my miad could be more wicked II,¡ld more likely to sow the seed of discord between the societies concerned. In fact. the whole thing is contrary to the true principles of honest Trade Unionism. These men, who were formerly members of the Miners' Union, and whose wages and conditions of labour have been fixed and are being regulated by the miners' general agreement, ought never to have been allowed to join either the General Labourers or the Enginemcn and Stokers.

MUSIC IN WALES. By D. EMLYN EVANS. THE ART BEAUTIFUL. It does not require a very old person to re- member the time when all composers profes- sing to be musicians strove to arrive at the line of beauty, to be perfect as to form or design, and to express themselves in a finished and musicianly manner, no matter what the subject or situation may be. This was nothing but strictly carrying out the teachings and the examples of the great masters of the tonal art from Bach and Handel, and Haydn and Mozart down to those who followed later in the same path.' Nearer to these our own times, how- ever, other writers and other composers arose, who formed a cult whose principles or practice became practically a negation of what had previously commanded highest approval so that of late years anvthirg like beauty/of melody, sim- plicity and directness of expression and power —both as to depth of feeling and wealth of tone—without straining after the sensational and the violent, is declared to be anathema. Bearing upon this question is an article from the pen of Mr Emil Sauer which appeared a little while ago in the Strand Magazine and if we quote chiefly from his references to Mendelssohn, it is because we in Wales have good reasons for appreciating that master, and also because he, of all the classical writers, is the bete noire of the ultra-moderns. But we must not pass Mr Sauer's description of the present-day music-maker. The modern com- poser." he tells us, "is a. sort of musical mathe- matician and engineer, who, with great labour and a tremendous amount of calculation, builds an enormous edifice which, like an American skyscraper, attracts our attention and our wonder for the marvels of its construc- tion and the wonderful precision with which every strain has been calculated and every inch of height and breadth proportioned."And that compared to such works as theirs, to play Mendelssohn is like migrating from the American skyscraper I have used ns a simile to a tiny cottage in the country, built in some peaceful spot amid exquisite scenery. where one can live in peaoe and quiet, fanned by warm breezes carrying with them the scent of a myriad bright flowers We think the writer is right when he says Give me the simple cottage." The virulence of the long-continued opposi- tion to Mendelssohn, and which has puzzled many, has not been lost sight of by Mr Sauer. To my mind, b8 says, the way in which neople of the hyper-modern school pretend to listen with pleasure to the symphonies of Mozart or Haydn, while at the same time they openly declare their scorn for Mendelssohn, is the summit of hypocrisy. It is the same spirit of simplicity which runs through the works of all three, and no one who really ap- preciated Mozart and Haydn could possibly depreciate Mendelssohn. No the position they take up is due to the fact that they dare not pretend to dislike Mozart or Haydn, since their names are too great, but Mendelssohn can be made a scapegoat for their lack of appreciation for true beauty." We do not know that that disposes of the whole case, although it may be probably cor- rect enough, as far as it goes. The members of this so-called school are obliged to speak respectfully of Handel, although they refer to him. in a patronising tone as a "grand old man," &c., they would also, and they dare, apply belittling criticism not only to Beethoven, but even to Wagner, their supposed leader and prophet a few years since. So does Time take its revenge We are inclined to think, however, tba.t this sustained and marked enmity towards the composer of Elijah," a gentleman in the highest sense of the term, is due partly to that verygentleman- liness and to the exceeding popularity of bis music" Why do you spit on me ?" asks the glow-worm of the toad. Why do you shine?" is the reply—self-explanatory and sufficing. In the opinion of our author, this modern madness—for the ugly and noisy—will grow still more. Fresh composers will, no doubt, .write music for three, or even six, orchestras, with not thirty-three, but ninety-nine systems. To-day we live in a period when cleverness is put before everytbing else. To-day the simple melody is utterly despised, and the simple score is despised also. Orchestration on the lines of Mozart is almost laughed at. The modern mind demands cleverness,' minute calculation, intricate texture, and elaborate detail." And he reminds his readers that a melody worthy of the name is much more difficult to compose than the elaborate music of the present day, which is more often cacophonous than other- wise. Nevertheless simplicity, directness, and honest workmanship are not yet discredited. and Mr Sauer prophesies that when all the symphonic poems and one-act operas of the modern type go out of fashion, they will do so for ever a.nd a day, and that when that time comes such works of Mendelssohn as his violin concerto, his pianoforte concerto in G minor, his Scotch symphony, his overtures, his Songs Without Words,' and many more. amongst which we may add his oratorios, will live and be as fresh in the next century as they have been in the past." To that statement we hope we may be per- mitted to add our humble endorsement.

Faithfully Kept. It is not easy to learn to keep an account book all at once. A dutiful parent, wishing to instil business instincts into the mind of bis son and heir, gave the boy a neat little bnok. ruled with a cash column, and a sovereign, and said I want you to put down what you have given you on this side. and on the other write down the manner in which you have spent it. If I see that you are taking pains over the account, I will make you another present." Two weeks later the parent asked for the book. Oh. I have kept that account," said the youngster ■ here it is." And on onc page was inscribed. Received from father, one pound and on the opposite was this summary, Spent it all." Pleased with Himself. My good man." said the professor of socio- logy, you seem to be happy. Would you mind telling me the reason for your happi- ness ?" Oi wud not, sir." said the Irishman. I hev just done three good deeds, and anny man who has performed three good deeds has raisin to be bappy." Indeed he has," said the professor and may I ask what three good deeds you have performed 1" Well, as Oi was coming past the cathedral this morning I saw a wumman wid a wee bit infant in her arms, crying thot hard it wud melt the heart av a stbone. I asked her pha.t could be the matther. She answered tbot for the want av three dollars to pay the fees she could not get the child baptised, an' it was a sickly child at thot, an' liable to die soon. I felt thot bad for her I pulled out the only tin dol- lars I had, and tould her to go and get the child baptised and bring me the change. She went inside rejoicin and soon returned wid her face all smiles, give me my change, and went away hapin' blessin's on my head. Now, ain't thot enough ?" That's good," said the professor now, what were the others Others," said the,jrishman "hat's all." I understood you to say you had performed three good deeds" And so I did, don't you see ? I dried a widow's tears—that's wan I saved a soul from purgatory—thot's two and lastly, I got sivin good dollars for a bad tin, and if thot wouldn't, make you happy thin you are hard to plase." Mistress And why did you leave your last situation ?—Applicant: Shnre. mum, I wasdis charged .— Mistress Discharged. Ah. then, I'm afraid you won't suit me. What were you discharged for 1—Applicant For doing well. mum.—Mistress Why, what do you mean ? Where was your laat place T—Applicant In the hospital. i

Welsh Tit-Bits. .0 Neu Wreichion Oddiar yr Eingion By CADRAWD. OUR ANCIENT STONE MONUMENTS. Allor oedd yn mhob cclli—o gareg, I Yo gorwedd nr feini Ac yn gvich n'i ha-mgvlch hi, Gadarn golofnau gwedi. Eu tern! hwy oedd y by;l hwn, Ar noet-h yr awyr ei nen "V lampau golau, nid gwan, Oedd y lloer a'c ser hcirdd lion. Cromlech, We are informed by a high authority in the Archacologia CrAabrensis, that the word in its earliest and simplest form was Llech." The word Cromlech" appears to be a compound regularly formed from the word Llech "—a slab, or flat stone, and the femi- nine form of the adjective crom," or crooked. The laborious Camden, though he was particularly interested in monuments of marked antiquity, a research pursued by him more diligently than by almost any other man, makes no mention of the I St Nicholas Cromlech, near Cardiff. It is situated in a valley called Dyffryn ¡ Goluch, or the vale of worship, or adoration, or prayer, about six miles south-west of Cardiff. The Cromlech at Pentre Ifan, in North Pem- brokeshire, had the name of being the largest in Wales, but this opinion arose from the tact that, the St Nicholas Cromlech had been over- looked by those travellers who, up to the beginning of the last century, had overlooked the one at Dyffryn Goluch. This huge monu- ment is supported by five large stones, and enclosed on the east, west, and north sides, and open to the south, forming a considerably large, though low room sixteen feet in length, fifteen wide, and from six to four feet high. What the real height was originally cannot be judged at present without a clearing away the rubbish within, which appears to be seve- ral feet above the level of the ground. In the time, Mr Malkin surveyed this Cromlech a hundred years ago, probably accompanied by lolo Morganwg, the support- ing stone to the north measured 16 feet long that on the west end about 9 feet in length. At the eastern extremity, there were three stones set closely together the middle stone is four feet and a half wide the northern stone of these three about three feet, and the southern nearly two feet in width. These stones, standing upright, support a large stone on top, which forms the roof of this rude apartment. The length of this horizontal stone is 24feet. It is 17 feet in its widest part, and of different breadths at other' places and from two to two and a half ffeet thick. By a rough c il- cuiatidn, the stone contains 324 square feet., and appears thrice as large as the top stone of the Cromlech at Pentre Ifan. I am informed on the best authority that a square yard of our native stone weighs 27cwts. Therefore, according to the above measurement, the St Nicholas stone weighs 49 tons. Not far from the Dyffryn house, on the south-east, is another Cromlech of the same description. as the one above mentioned, but of much smaller dimensions the covering stone not being above 14 feet in length, by 12 or 13 feet in width. This is called Llech y Plast," a, name common to these monuments in the Principality, but of unknown origin. Literally it means the stone of the greyhound bitch, and it it has been conjectured that it was derived from the circumstance of the early Christians evincing their contempt for these vestiges of Pagan worship, by converting them into ken- nels for their dogs, and to other mean use. This being so, the probability is that when Christianity gained the ascendancy, many of the smaller temples were thrown down, and covered over with heaps of stones, for this was a mode of punishment by the ancient Britons of malefactors when condemned to die they were fixed to a spot and pelted with stones until covered over. Those which remain, being the largest, were suffered to remain, only be- cause they were too unwieldy to be overturned or covered ov-er. The top stone already described is sup- ported by three large stones, one to the north, another on the south, each about ten feet long, and more than seven feet wide, or in height, standing on their edge, and very up- right, nearly two feet thick. At the west end, there is another stone of five feet long and of the same height as the sides, and form a room of eleven feet wide over five wide, and seven feet high. It is said that at times it has been used as a house for sheltering cattle and other rustic purposes, and at one time it is known to have been used. as a horse stable. The Maen Hir. This may be either a monument over some distinguished person, an object of worship, a boundary stone, or placed to commemorate some important event, such as a great battle, or other calamity. Mr E. L. Bramwell says, in an article on Pillar Stones in Wales," that the evidence that the Maen Hir," is, or was, nothing more than a tombstone, or a funeral monument, is so extensive and con- clusive that it is unnecessary to discuss the question. The reverence originally shown to the defunct clyef, or warrior, is easily trans- ferred to his monument, which in time be- comes an object of religious worship. Tbe modern Bardo-Druidic system does not claim these monuments for its mysteries, though the stone circles are used and put up at the present day by a rule which those who profess to understand them cannot well explain. Up to a very recent date, the "Meini Hirion have been waged perpetual war against, and for the preservation of those which still remain we are chiefly indebted to the Cambrian Archaeological Association, which from its commencement, has been most industrious to preserve, as well as to record and explain these and other class of ancient lllonuments. Cromlechau, Meini Hirion, Carneddau and Caerau cannot be removed to museums, and their preservation depends entirely upon the good will of the landlord. Perhaps these monu- ments have not been valued and appreciated at any period so much as at present, and the interest in them is every day increasing, not only in this country, but all over Europe. Let us hope that there will be no more of the destructive spirit manifested towards these ancient relics, and that our farmers, land agents and land owners will have sufficient in- telligence to care for them and protect them. Meini Gwyr. Perhaps the best example of these stones is on a mountain near Kilmaenllwyd, Carmar- then, where may he seen a circle of stone monuments which are called Buarth Arthur" and "Meini Gwyr." The diameter of the circle is about twenty yards. The stones are as rude as may be, and pitched on end at uncertain distances from each other, some at three or four feet. but others a.bout two yards, and they are of severai heights, from four to six feet. In Mr Edward Llwyd's time there were fifteen of them, and seemingly seven or eight have been carried away. There is also an entry to the circle or space of three yards, guarded on each side with stones much lower, pitched closely together, and against this avenue at a distance of about 200 paces, there stand oft end thrlSb other large rude stones erected at such a distance from the circular monument. Mr Llwyd suggests that these and. their kindred may be intended for Druidical Temples, and called Meini Gwyr, which signifies crooked, from their bent atti- tude and bowing position. Maen Chwyf-RQcking Stone. These monuments are* found in England, Ireland and Wales. The Rocking Stone in the Neath Valley was upset by a number of navvies while making the railway through that valley. The one at Pontypridd may now be seen on a hill near that town. It stands upon another stone that .is in the earth, and is several tons weight. And in former years it poised so nicely upoa its pivot that à child could easily move it. But this is only a toy in comparison to the rocking stone of Corn- wall, and the Logan Stone in the same county, which, means the Stone of Covenant. The latter is computed to be 750 ton.* weight, and stands several feet above the ground, resting upon the pointy of another two huge stones.

Fashion and Things Feminine. By MISS IDA MELLER. Autumn Fashions. Curiosity as to autumn fashions is being graduallyappeased.for every day gives further evidence of what is to be worn during the com- ing months. There are no radical changes from the modes already well-known to us, but warm woollens will, of course, be in the ascen- dant and take the place of the thinner materials nowreigaing. There is a choice of delightful tweeds and diagonal serges, striped cloth and flannel materials, and frieze, in light and dark colours. The stripes on costume cloths are quiet in colour, and in some instances are scarcely conspicuous, the lines merging into one another as it were, M, for example, on a cos- tume of dark blue cloth with a half-inch stripe a shade paler. This costume is made with a. plain, gored skirt and knee-deep coat with long sleeves, and is an excellent model for everyday wear, as is also a similar costume in grey striped flannel. The lighter greys, in cloth or tweed, generally look well with a touch of black. by way of relief, pipings being preferred to the more solid strappings and black buttons also aidipg the scheme. Kimono blouses and coats take their place among prominent autumn fashons, and pleated skirts are strongly in evidence. A new and pretty skirt is illustrated in the house-dress shown herewith. The box-pleats are held down with very narrow bands of their own materal for a considerable distance from the waist, and fall in handsoyie lines to the ground. Worn with the skirt- is a finely tucked Kimono blouse, with finder-sleeves to the elbows, these being of the blouse material or otherwise, and at the neck is a chiffon bow. Blouse and skirt may be of different materials, but should match in colour, though a white or cream blouse is, of course, permissible with a skirt of any hue. New Millinery. Fashions have undergone great changes dur- ing the last ten or fifteen years. Formerly it was deemed correct for hats of such slight materials as lace and tulle to take part only in summer fashions, but gradually it has come about that July fabrics are worn ell the year round, and that hats of guipure lace and trim- mings of tulle flourish in winter as well as summer. But for the most part it is the felt hat that claims attent'ii wth the entrance of autumn, and the new srecimens of millinery in smooth and rough felt are calculated to in- spire considerable admiration. One of the most popular hats, it is believed, will be the wide-brimmed model that bends down slightly at the sides, and Has a moderately high crown, such a hat, for instance, as is sketched in the accompanying picture. It is trimmed with a drapery of velvet-ribbon, arranged in a bunch of loops and knots at the left side. while at the right is a big, full-blown rose with foli- age. This hat in brown felt, with a rose in faded colours is charming for the autumn. Velvet hats are going to share favour with those of felt, and are trimmed with wide ribbon draperies, quills, feathers, or flowers. A simple, pretty hat. in black velvet, of mush- room shape, is arranged with a scarf of soft black satin-ribbon round the crown, caught up in two big rosettes at the side. Another velvet hat, trimmed in a similar way, has ends of ribbon proceeding from the rosette at the left side, the ends dangling prettily over the ear and a charming toque of black chenille has a big bunch of chenille bails falling, Toreador fashion, from the left brim. Method and Management. Armed with method and forethought a woman with only a smrfll income will manage a home far more successfully, and bring more comfort into it than she with twice as large a sum to spend who lacks either of those above-mentioned most desirable qualities. Good management will save pounds on the house-keeping bills, and be as oil on the wheels of domestic life, causing them to run smoothly and forbidding muddles." But the woman to whom method is an unknown term, though she may have servants to wait on her, and a well-filled purse, will, nererthe- less, be evermore in a state of search or want, for she is perpetually misplacing things, is delayed at the last moment by a fruitless search, and rouses ,if not wrath, at any rate suppressed emotion in the breasts of those about her by her thoughtless, careless ways. Very little comfort comes to her irom the many things she possesses, for the reason that when wanted they are probably not to be found. With this type of woman money is wasted freely, and is tight where it should be flush. It is spent on superfluities and the things that are more urgently needed, are overlooked. It is unfortunate when natures of this sort are at the head of domestic affairs, for how- ever methodical the seconds may be, they cannot make up for deficiencies in their superiors. To be always late, always rushed un- dependable, forgetful, and careless, is the characteristic of scores of good-natured men and women, who fail to realise the distress to which they are continually putting those with whom they live. Children who show signs of developing qualities of the kind should be trained early to amend their ways, for habits allowed to run riot, soon take strong root, but checked at the outset they are quickly uprooted. Lace Curtains. In house-moving it often happens that lace curtains that fitted the windows of the old home are too short a nd too narrow for those of the new abode. I have lately had occasion to help a friend in house-moving who was met by this difficulty. In her previous sitting- room she had two narrow windows, to which were hung two pairs of lace curtains in her new sitting-room she has but one window, which is very large. When she hung up a pair of her lace curtains for the decoration of the window, she was shocked to find a marked deficiency in length and breadth, the curtains failing to reach the end of the window frame and allowing nothing, therefore, for draping. Her quick brain was not long in devising a plan to meet the emergency. With the two extra, curtains that used to adorn the second window of her former sitting-room, she length- ened and widened those hanging up, slitting up the centre each of the two curtains, and' using the four halves for ekeing out the width and length of those at her new window. She joined the lace very neatly, arranging, of course, that the borders should take their places along the outer ;sides and ends of the curtains, and the re?.uit is that she has a very prettily dressed window. The ?TIrt,ins, now amply long, are caught hack with ribbon sashes, and are wide enough to meet in the centre at the top. Close against tbe window panes are drawing-cur- tains of casement cloth, which takes the place of a blind anù run easily backwards and for- wards by means of brass rings run on a brass rod. A pretty window goes a long way towards giving a room a furnished home-like appear- ance. Some Simpls Prescriptions. To improve a thin neck, massage, with good skin food, is one of the best remedies. The following prescription is also recommended :— Take and mix together an egg, some warm milk, a little grated mealy potato, cream, and a small portion of alcohol. This mixture con- tains all the elements necessary for the for- mation of blood and is easily absorbed." Thus say" a man of science. Sir William Jenner had a great belief in th" following mixture as a remedy for the anaemic girl :—Break a new-laid egg into a cup, take out the yolk and the gelatinous string, and whisk the white thoroughly with a wineg'.ass- fui of cold water. Drink the potion a quarter oi an hour before rising.

TALKS ON HEALTH. By DR. ANDREW WILSON. On Taking Holidays The fashion of holidaying has become of so universal a nature, and has of late years so largely developed as a standing rule of health amongst, all classes of society, that it seems appropriate to consider the habit from a health point of view. This contention is all the more obvious, as the admitted use of the holiday is to increase our store of health, or to give us a further lease of vigour and activity to fit us the better for discharging the work in the world which lies to our hand. It is to be feared that large numbers of per- sons take their holidays in a fashion which little accords with hygienic ideas and prac- tice. It is of great importance in the first instance, to note that a holiday should, as far as possible, afford a complete change of scene, and further, that it should be taken amidst surroundings which are calculated to afford <1"1 much physical vigour as it is possible to ac- quire in the time placed at our disposal. There are certain broad rules concerning the local- ities cr places suitable for holiday making which are easily remembered, and it is of the greater importance that we should note snch rules, because the selection of a locality calculated to do good is a matter of vita! importance to people existing under varying circumstances or presenting different degrees of health The broad rule to which I have made allusion is that the sea coast, speaking generally, is more bracing than inland places, and that east coast resorts in their turn are of a more bracing and invigorating charact cr than west coast places aDd also than south poast towns. Naturally also the height or altitude of a resort has much to do with its c;i ;tic peculiarities and characteristics The air of the mountains is more or less of a bracing character, or at least is to be regarded as more invigorating in its nature than the air of the valleys. The Personiil Side. It is obvious that with different constitutions around us and represented in us, the idea that one holiday resort must, or should, suit every person is at once seen Lo be of an erroneous character. Many persons are absolutely upset in health by even a short stay at the seaside. In such a case the air is either too invigorating or the effect of residence is to upset many of the bodily habits, especially the digestive functions. It is no uncommon thing to find, for example, that change of locality will sometimes affect people in a very powerful fashion, either by inducing indigestion, and like troubles, or it may be, on the otl^r hand, by lessening such ailments and in time curing them. Taking another case, that of persons inclined to rheumatism, we see the necessity, if their holiday is to be regarded as a means of improving their health, for the selection of a locality which is absolutely dry. Resilience in a damp valiey would, in all probability, mcrea.' ther affliction, whilst, on the otuer | hand, a dry air. even if it is somewhat told J and bracing, nmv, with proper bodily prctec- tion in the shape of sufficient clothing, be | found to act as a veritable tonic, and to im- prove their general bodily state.. Persons who are afflicted with nervous breakdown and who may be said to exhibit the symptoms of sk-ep- lessness and general debility, will frequently I benefit by seeking a very mild resort inland or a fairly warm seaside resort on the west or south coast. It is well-known, for example, that sea-air of a not too invigorating nature hasa. decided influence in promoting sleep, and many 9therwise intractable cases of sleepless- ness benefit extremely from a, temporary change of residence, such as aholiday is well calculatect to represent. A mild climate, and one which may exhibit a considerable amount of mois- ture, will frequently be found to benefit nervous cases, and also in a measure to be well adapted lor persons suffering from lung troubles of various kinds. Those who are troubled wtih asthma may find it a very difficult matter to discover a health resort which will absolutely suit their case. Of all diseases asthma is extremely peculiar, in respect of the differences exhibited in one individual from that seen in another. The Objects of a Holiday. The objects or a. holiday are naturally summed up in the two expressions, rest and change. In order to recuperate and rest our frames it is not necessary that we should in- dulge in absolute laziness during our holiday season. If we alter our mode of life and en- gage in pursuits other than those to which we are accustomed in our working hours we practically rest ourselves or at least give a certainamountof leisure to thefaculties which we employ in our working days. One might put the case more clearly, perhaps, by suppos- ing that certain groups of brain cells, ordin- arily employed in our working days, are rested, whilst other groups are more prominently brought into play by whatever interests mostly appeal to us during our leisure time. In respect of the proper mode of employment of a holiday this point may be summed up by saying that as much of a contrast or change in our mode of life as is possible to be obtained, should be our aim as holiday makers. Obviously, the man who is tied to his room or desk when at work should indulge in more active exercise, always be:1ring in mind that such exercise must not be overdone. His holiday period devoted more to muscular exercise of mild type will contrast very favourably with his sedentary life when be is engaged in work. In the same way the brain worker will find it best during his holiday period to allow his ordinary avocations to pass as far as possible out of the ru.v^e of his mental vision, and to interest himself in other pursuits compatible with his gaining as much open air exercise as is possible, and to occupy his attention on whatever hobbies he may find most agreeable by way of judiciously spending his holiday hours. Summing up the chief general teachings regarding holidaying, we, therefore, see tlw t our leisure time should as far as possible pre- sent a striking contrast to the hours we spend at work, bearing in mind always, that the main object of our leisure hours is thnt of gaining a fresh supply of invigorating health. chiefly through the medium of new surround- ings and of a pure atmosphere amidst which we may be supposed to place ourselves. Health in Holiday Time. Disturbances of health are not uncommon during tbe holiday season. Manysuchdis- turbances are ipractieally due to our own folly in the way of unwise habits in eating and drinking, forgetting as many of us do that change of air and residence and the renouncing for a time of our ordinary business routine should render us very careful regarding our diet habits especially. I have already referred to the fact that frequently the digestion is upset during the early days of a holiday through the influence of change of residence. It will be well if extreme moderation in both eating and drinking be rigidly practised during the holiday season. I remember reading the re- mark of a physician that a great many persons rerffiered themselves either ill during their holiday time or did not succeed in getting the fullest return in the shape of health for their money, through their throwing to the winds all the care they bestowed on their health when they were at home. He added that many men for example, are inclined not merely to smoke far too much in their leisure time, but to eat and drink to excess. I believe there is great truth in this physician's ideas, for there must naturally exist a fairly strong temptation when we are at leisure to relax that vigilance for our health concerns which it is to be hoped most of us exercise during our working period. As a final piece of ;ulvice it is hardly necessary, perhaps, to add that the selection of a holiday resort should be made with intelligence in respect of the sanitary surroundings ot the new quarters we ptopose for a time to occupy. Happily in most of our health resorts tbe sanitary authorities are a live to the importance of presenting a cieau bill of health with regard to the surroundings under their charge, but in our own interests it will be well if we make due inquiry of any place we intend to patron- ise, that the quality of the water, for example, and the drainage and other items of sanitation are of an up-t/-datc character. It, is not at all a pleasanFidea to contemplate the fepectacle of people returning from a holidav afflicted with typhoid fever or other preventeble illness, acquired during a season whicfrhas been meant to recuperate them for the work they have to perform in the world.

¡ Illustrated Humour. Lucky Man. Jiggs My wife talks to herself all the time. Riggs Is that so ? I wish mine would. Gave It Away. It was Monday morning, and the rent col- lector was pursuing his task. His hag was get- ting heavy, consequently his heart was light, until he reached the house of Mrs M'Pherson. Wee. Johnnie opened the door, and said. Mither and faither are oot. Will ye please to call on Fridav ?" ''H m. and why on Friday, my Jittle man ?" queried the collector. c That's what I dinna ken."replied .T0nnn;p, 'r^,Tm'ess it's because we be guan tae flit on Thursday!" The Young Idea. Jenkins," said the master, you have spelled the word rabbit with to t's-' You must leave one of them out-'3 Yes, sir," replied Jenkins, which one ?" Cats and Chickens. The nld houskeeper met the master at the door on his arrival home. If you please, sir," she said, the cat has had chickens." Nonsense, Mary," laughed he "you mean kittens. Cats don't have chickens." Was them kittens or chickens a-s you brought home last night ?" Why, they prere chickens, of course." Just so, sir," replied Mary with a twinkle well, the cat's had 'em." A Borrowed Umbrella. I say, Johnson, have you got that umbrella I lent you ?" '• No- Are you wanting it V Not cxactty.but.UT- cba.r I borrowed it-off says the owner wants i L- Not Before- Magistrate W hat Do y-m mean to «;/ yoar husband struck you, and he that wreck I Mrs Maioney Yes. ycr honour but he's only been a physical wrècksince be struck me. A Martyr. Boy (to tramp) Don't you get awful tired 0' of doin' nothin', mister ? Tramp Terrible but I never complains. Everybody has their troubles. Wilful Blindness. She I saw you in tram car the other even. ing, Mr Saxby. He Did you ? Whyjl didn't see you She I suppose not. 1 was standing. The Blushing Bride. I do wish," she whispered softlv." I do wish people wouldn't look at us as if we had just got married." Carry the rugs and bag, my dear," said he. A Case In Point. Father You can't have him. Daughter Oh, PaPa You said once you could deny me nothing. Father: Well, he comes as near being nothing as anything I know of. Apropos. I I got my wife a beautiful summer outfit." Well ?" Now she wants me to get her a summer." German Sausage. One of two men bought a German sausage. On the way home his companion reproved him for such foolishness, declaring that the saus- age was made of time-expired cab horses. This the purchaser indignantly denied, but that same evening, going to his friend's room, he apologised. "You was right about that sausage, Bill," he said- Ah I knew I was- But how did you prove it ?" Why, I cut the sausage up into five pieces, and set 'em out in a row, one behind the other. Then I pushed forward the first on the rank, ;.nd the other four moved up." Mamma (angrily) Now, you have been a -ery nauguty girl, Mabel, and do you know what l'm going to do with you? I'm gOlJJ¡.' to take you shopping with me this aftcri .ooti." M. son," said the millionaire, is a pro- lific inventor." "indeed rejoined the one- man a, dience- WhR,t has he invented ?" About 3,000 reasons why I should give him money," replied the father.

| WELSH GLEANINGS. News and Views'in Lighter Vein. We are in a position to authoritatively deny the rumour that the object in view in sending the Channel Fleet to Cardigan Bay was to overawe the noisy members oi a local Town Council. 'A Neath Valley cynic avers that. a neigh- bour only goes to service on Sunday in order to learn new word:" with which he can curse his wile the whole of the following week. Natural history is very fascinatingly taught in a series of story books for children—" Tales of the Wood, by A. Sparrow," which has just been issued by the Educational Publishing Co., Ltd., Cardie and Merthyr Tydfii. Mr Morgan Wat-kin, French master at the Municipal Secondary School, Cardiff, who acted as interpreter and guide for the Bretons at the National Eisteddfod at Swansea, has beencommissione 1 to write in French an intro- ductory chapter on Welsh phonetics for the "Grammaire Galioise," which is to be pub- lished shortly in Paris. Llwydmor," referring to the forthcoming visit to Cardiff of Dr. Peace, the organist of St. George's Hall, Liverpool, to open the new organ at the Tabernacle Chapel, writes ;—" It is a mistake to suppose that this will be the first visit of the doctor to Cardiff. It was he that' opened the Cardiff Park Hall organ. At that time Dr. Peace resided in Glasgow." The punster is still abroad, and his sorry wit has been directed against the Principality this time. Good morning," said Neighbour No. 1, '■ I hear you have a son and heir." Neighbour No. 2 Yes, our household new represents the United Kingdom. You see, I am English, my wife's Irish, the nurse is Scotch, and the baby Wails !'—N.B.—If that punster bad his deserts he also would be sent away wailing. This is a real rural Wales story. The family hopeful had been sent out as a young farm- hand. The staple, meat food of his new home was home-cured bacon, which was not even streaky with lean. Almost simultaneously with his change of home the first evidence of a beard appeared upon his face. In his letter home he begged his mother to fetch him home. He had had so much bacon that bristles grew all over bis face. Next, please I The Rey. William Thomas, of Llanxwst, calculates that the ministers of the Calvrnistic Methodists in Wales spend a total of over £7,000 per annum in travelling expenses in going to and returning from their Sabbath engagements. There is a growing desire among a large number of the ministers and also the church members of the. connexion in North Wales for a more stationary ministry. This is the burning topic of the moment in the Corph." Mr Frederick Griffith, the famous flautist, has come home again to Wales to take a rest, which has been well earned, and is staying at Langiand Bay, where be has completed hii cycle of Japanese songs, some of which have won admiration in the Eastern concert room. Mr Griffith has done much travelling all his life, but he says he likes Japan ever: better than the Colonies. Mr Griffith cCllltemplate.t another long tour in the East, performing iu Egypt- India, Ceylon, Japan, etc. He will leave shortly, but has promised to play in hia native Swansea, where his skill has not been heard for many years. ¡ Dear old Watcyn Wyn How we all minted his cheery .senile and f"3ódY,WJt at thc 8w' 4 Eisteddfod • Our-sense of loss i= ~„v furthei I accentuated by the publication of hi. atttftbhi- !<rai.y n to h i* ] iruiji the artistic, press of the E*iu<-at. :.al Publishing Co., Ltd. The "olume is edited by Gwili—and who more fittiuc for the task,for Gwili and his herowera for many years colleagues ar Ysg .'y Gwyn- fryn t The autobiography, like everything that emanated from Watcyn Wyn. is racy of the soil. bubbling with wit and humour. Like Ceiriog, Watcyn wrote bis own epitaph, and this is now inscribed on the memorial stone erected his old students in Gwyufryn Chapel— Yn naear y Capel newydd—gwelir Cofgolofn y prydydd A'i gorff sal yn gorffwys sydd Ym mynwent Gellimanwydd." A Welsh liyll. There has been at least one motor-eycl# accident in South Wales that has not been reported in the Press. It was on a lonely road in Glamorganshire. The noisy monster startled an otherwise peaceful ox. The cyclist' conceived the notion of toot-toot "-ing his born to frighten the harmless animal, but the. ox took a different view of the situation, and, tail pointed skywards, began toot-toot -ing in his own inimitable style, and then charged the poor cyclist. The motor-cycle is still neas the spot, and its owner has vowed that he will not joke with a. country ox again.

[ Songs for the People. Andrew Fie ten sr. of S*Itoun, tn a. letter to tfit tiwquii oJ Montrose, Trots :—"I know r.vory vu, man that believed th»t i £ a unui wera permitted W m1t.ke ail ths baUiij 113 need no: e&r# who lAouli m»kathi* Uwi ot tile niuoa." EMANCIPATION. Why be afraid of death. As though your life were breath Death but anoints your eyes With clay-oh, glad surprise Why should you be forlorn ? Death only husks the com. Why should you fear to meet The Thresher of the wheat t The Thresher of the wheat t Is sleep a thing to dread ? Yet sleeping you are dead Till you awake and rise— Here, or beyond the skies. Why should it be a. wrench To leave your wooden bench T Why not. with happy shout, Run home when school is out ? The dear ones left behind— 0, foolish one and blind A day and you will meet— A night. and you will greet. This is the death of Death— To breathe away a breath, And know the end of strife. And taste the deathless life. And joy without a fear. And smile without a tear. And work. nor care to rest. And find the last the best —Rev Maltbie D. Babcockl D.D.

I ON WINE. I drank, and thought that all the joy in life Was found where wine. rich wine, flowed sparkling red. Ob, you who criticise the flowing bowl. You never rose to mountain heights above, You never tasted sorrow to the dregs— A bitter sorrow turning life to gall I drank, and thought that wine would tak. away All sorrow's blight. I did not ask for much In life. It had not much my. friend, to give But. disappointed, turn to wine and drink. And with that sparkling, genial host Forgot. His arms unfolded nor asked the why I came, He courted for me Oblivion's soft caress. I never feared his witching, close embrace 'Twas gentle, soft and coy as maiden's touch, And subtle as a minx of sin. its kiss All, Wine from grapes distilled, to you I sang' Seducer of the sense, entered my heart. I honored you in song. in tears—in all— My life had here to give of joy or pain. I drank, and with that sage who sang of old. Whe still sings o'er the world of wine and lovr Even I sang, too, yet his refrain I Is unworthy to be heard, and I may add An after note. and feel I sing it well. i My friend, give heed whither thy soul Soars fancy's flights beyond the pole, Or darkling grubs this earthy hole, In low pursuit. Know prurient, cautious, self-control Is wisdom's root! In low pursuit. Know prurient, cautious, self-control Is wisdom's root! —Howard Laurie.

Jobson (proudly) Yes, I can tell you was quite the lion of the evening." Mt Jobson (putting in her head at the door^- And I'm the lion-tamer. Come to bed once."