The Cardiff Times

Neu Wreichion Oddlar yr Eingion. By CADRAWD. LLANGYNWYD PARISH PLACE-NAMES. (Continued from last week.) Bryn Mawr. A farm in the hamlet of Cwmdu, of 108acres, belonging to the Margam estate. The'farm- house is situated in a sheltered hollow on the top of this hill, and is called after the same Bryn Mawr. and within a. few sloping fields of the commercial strict of Maesteg. Before the commenccmeut of the iron and coal industries at the Llwvni and Coegnant the main road leading from Neath to Hridgond WM over this hill, not touching the valley of Llynfi until Cwmcerdin W;1.3 reached. Some of the old mile- stones P-:TC still in existence, and the one "n Brvn M-iwr is and has been a conspicuous landmark. The Calvinistic Methodist met at Bryn Mawr to worship for some years when they had no fixed abode. Niun Mj-ddock^ the tcrJmt at that time, was among the first to "nroi himself a member of the first C.M. society tn the valley. He ordered the local carpenter to make a pulpit chair for ordinary use in the hall, and to serve as a pulpft when apreacher r,ame that way to proclaim the Glad Tidings. This interesting old chair of solid oak is still in the possession of a descendant of old Sion Maddock," as he was generally called. Not far distant from the farmhouse' are the remains of an old by-way cottage, which I remember being inhabited and known by the name of Bryn Mawr Bach (the little big hili). In past ages, when the inhabitants of this country had to live entirely upon their own produce from the land, there was need of small cot- tages to accommodate the farm labourers and their families, and a cottage or two was at- tached to almost every farm of any extent, with perhaps an acre or so of land and in many Instances this was named after the farm, with the distinguishing adjective bach," hence Llest-fach. Tygwyn Bach, Craig Fach, &C., &c. Something like sixty of these ancient habitations in this parish alone have been allowed to disappear, and at the same time a most characteristic section of the peasant population of Glamorgan, their mode of living, traditions, dialect, and idiosyncracies are com- pletely lost. Brynrhyg. This small farm is situated on the side of Pwil-yr-Iwrch mountain, and contains about 20 acres of land, the property of Mr Gwyn Moore, of Dyffryn. Neath. One hundred and fifty years ago the richest heiress in the parish was married from this house, her father counting on the morning of her wedding a thousand guineas from an old skin sieve, in which they had been stored within the family -tak chest under double lock and key. The name suggests the time when people culti- vated rye, which was at one time the food of the poorer people. There is hardly a farmer in Glamorgan at this time who knows anything about the cultiva- tion of this grain, and hew to set it. It wa a sort of grain which succeeded well on very poor land, and the winter rye flourished on the most barren gravel, or sand. It was sown in the middle of September after a summer's fallow. It. was necessary to sow it in the driest weather. It yielded 20 bushels an acre, and also a strong spirit when distilled. Bryn-y-Frgf. A farm of 103 acres, in the middle hamlet— the property of Miss Talbot, of Margam. This place-name will not very well bear an intelli- gent translation, but the name evidently depicts a place- on a hill, or rising in the vale, or valley. It was at this place many years ago lived a very celebrated family of poets, who were noted for what is known in Wales, and particularly in Glamorgan, as the awen barod" (the ready muse). We have a good cumber of this family still living amongst us. Bome of whom have inherited the awen," but not so much of the barod." Edward Williams, who farmed Bryn-y-Fro aver a hundred years ago, brought up a son, a clergyman, who was also richly endowed with the Welsh muse, and being well educated was considered the poet of the neighbourhood at that time. Edward Williams' brother was parish clerk of Llangynwyd for many rears, Edward Williams, the clergyman s father, besides being a farmer, was also by trade a carpenter, and had his tools kept in a email shed near the farmhouse. It happened that a well-known member of the Independent fra- ternity in Llangynwyd village had entered the shop one night and stolen a hatchet there- from. When we say that the thief happened to b 1 the precentor at the meeting the sting of the jest will be more apparent. The know- ledge of the theft having reached the ears of the parson, he composed the following hymn to he given out at a meeting on Sunday, pro- vide.! the precentor be present :— 0 am yn y gwreiddyn, o am iechyd yn y gwa'd O am lErlh i wrthod ]]erlrad, A bwyelli siop fy nhad ;— Glan yw 'nestrwydd, &c., On" feddwn ar fath beth." Which, translated by Mr R. D. Morgan, of dacstog, reads thus — 0, for honesty to guid6 me. For my soul this virtue lacks 0, for power to stand beside me, Lest I steal my neighbours axe Honest conscience. &c.. Would thy fair content were mine."

CLERGYMAN CHARGED. Alleged Sacrilege. A former vicar of Hessett, Suffolk, was re- manded at Saffron Walden Police Court on Monday on a charge of sacrilege at Clavering Church, Essex. The accused clergyman is the Rev. Douglas P. R. Nunn, M. A., of Brentwood, Essex. It is alleged that he stole the sum of six shillings from an alms-box in Clavering Church. The Rev. S. Morton, vicar of Clavering, Stated that he found the box broken open with only twopence halfpenny remaining. A short time previously he noticed a quantity of silver and bronze in the box. Another witness named George Wright said he saw the accused unlock the church door while Ellen Knight, a domestic servant, said he called at the vicarage and asked for the keys of the church, stating he was a clergyman of the diocese. On that understanding she gave • him the keys, which she found on the hall table half an hour later. "The defendant had nothing to say in answer to the charge. Mr Nunn is stated to have been travelling in the Bishop's Stortford and Saffron Walden dis- tricts. He took his M.A. degree in 1885, and has held appointments in H aggers ton, Sutton (Cambs), Broadstairs, and Guildford. His last living was that at Hessett, where he was vicar from 1896 to 1903.

NO FEINTING THIS TIME. Rees Roderick, of Morriston.who through his antics at the Llandaff magistrates' clerk's office last Thursday gave the police much trouble, appeared at Llandaff on Monday to answer a charge of stealing a violin. There was no fainting or feinting, and the defendant conducted himself calmly. The evidence showed that defendant stole the violin, which belonged to Mr Arthur Burch, from a tent in a field attached to Glan-y-nant Farm, Llane- derne, and sold it for 2s 6d. Inspector Rees gave the defendant a bad character, and ex- plained to the magistrates the trouble he had given to the police. He shammed fits, he said, and then. when he saw an opportunitv, bolted. They had had lots of complaints about him. He went about the country begging, and he made such horrid faces that he nearly fright- ened ladies and girls out of their wits. He is a thorough bad lot," added the inspector. Defendant was sent to prison for two months' hard labour.

ASSAULT AT ANTWERP. A hurly foreigner, Matthyr Strautsman, was at Barry on Monday, charged with unlawfully wounding Wo. Crammond, chief engineer of the ss. Cara, on board that vessel at Antwerp, on Thursday last. Prosecutor, for whom Mr J. A. Hughes appeared, said that .Tohn Crammond, the third engineer, reported to him that prisoner had declined to go on watch. Prosecu- tor went into the forecastle and requested him to do so, when prisoner rushed at him, struck him a blow on the chin, and then, taking up a knife which lay near, used it on prosecutor, cutting his head and breaking tho blade. Prisoner alse threw a pickle bottle at him before bring overpowered. Later he was taken ashore. The British Consul ordered him to be brought to Barry to be tried. Prisoner declared that he was drunk, and did not know what he was doing. The Bench having reduced the charge to one of common assault, imposed a fine of 40s and costs or one month's im- prisonment.

GELIGNITE IN PANTRY. Samuel Carp, a quarryman, of Church-road, Pentre, was before the Ystrad Rhondda Bench on Monday on a charge of storing 4ibs. of gelig- nite, a dangerous explosive, in the pantry of his house. Receiving a complaint that Carp had threatened to blow up his house, Police-In- spector Edwards, Ton, said he visited the pre- mises. and, finding the powder in the house, questioned him, whereupon defendant ex- plained that he had only stored it for the night before taking it to the quarry. A fine of 15s was imposed, and the powder was ordered to be confiscated. .f

TINPLATE TARIFFS. HOW PROTECTION WORKS.' AMERICAN METHODS. The following statement of the position ao to the American tinplate trade is of interest having regard to the strike of American tin- platf workr.i'.n and questions asked in Parlia- ment as to withdrawal from operation on tin- platr of the Canadian anti-dumping clause. As is well known (writes our trade corres- pondent), the American tinplate industry was established and is new maintained by a pro- tective tariff. From the first the workmen have been taught to believe that the tariff on tinplates is essential to the existence of the tinplate industry, the United States. At different periods American tinplate manufac- turers have made compacts with the tinplate workmen by which, if they succeeded in their joint effort to secure higher tariff, the workman woro to receive their share of tariff profit in the form of increase of wages. It i:z by such inducements that the American manu- facturers have secured deputations from the workmen's association to appear before the Ways and Means Committee at different time:; tc press for the removal of the rebate or for increase in the tariff. I The Drawback Trade. In 1902 the officials of the American Trust invited officials of the Amalgamated Associa- tion of Iron, Steel, and Tinplate Work<-r.s t" conference, at which the trust officials suit mittel r- scheme by which it was claimed that the American drawback trade in tinplate (that is the trada h, which tinplate- is re- exported with a drawback of the duty of 99 per cent..), the tinplate trade of Wales with Canada could he captured. The proposal was that a special fund should be created, made up by contributions from merchants, the giving up of profits by the Tinplate Trust. end the production of exported plate by the workmen at a reduction of 25 per cent, in wages. It should be emphasised that this reduction of 25 per cent. was to apply only to the tinplate intended for exportation. Mr Shaffer, who was then president of the Amal- gamated Association, agreed te the scheme. and undertook to place it before the American tinplate workmen. He, and also official;o of the trust, attended meetings of the men advoca- ting the scheme, and afterwards a general vote of the tinplate workmen was taken, which was found to be almost a unanimous condem- nation of the scheme. For this set-back to the scheme of the Trust the Welshmen at the various American tin- plate works were fathered," and their con duct became the subject of much tondemna- tion by a section of the American Press, which pointed out that the Welshmen voted as they did in order to help their relatives at horn engaged in the Welsh tinplate industry. Th officials of the trust did not take this set-back to their scheme lying down. They declared that the vote meant a loss of business annually amounting to a million and a half boxes, an 1 they took more active means than ever to press the workmen to alter their decision. In a short time they brought almost all thou mills to a standstill, and again the men's officers and Trust officials went round th various lodges pressing the men to reconsidei their vote. Subsequently a convention of tli, association was held in October, 1902, to con- sider the- situation, which was now a seriou one. so many of the American mills haviiu been closed down. How the Fund Was Used. The outcome of the convention was a pro- posal to be made to the trust that instead of the wages of the men working on export plate* wages being reduced 25 per cent., that the 25 per cent. on such plates be made up by a general reduction of 3 per cent, on the tinplate workers' wages, and that that amount be de- ducted by the Trust for use as proposed in th special fund. This amendment to their schem which provided the money they wanted was accepted by the trust. This fund became operative and the 3 per cent. was collected,reduced for a period to2iper cent., suspended for a period, and then again reimposed. The fund has been largely used t< recoup-exporters using American tinplate fo: the loss of drawback they would get if usiir Welsh tinplate for re-export purposes. It is also believed that this fund wa drawn upon to assist in dumping plates i: Canada. The dumping of plates into th Dominion was checked by the successful appeal of the Morrisburg Tinplate Company for thi putting of the anti-dumping clause into opor. tion. When the Morrisburg Tinplate Work stoppe4 i the ground for the continuation of fh dumping clause was gone, and the Canidiai canners were not long in seeking to remov the anti-dumping clause, which for a time liai altered conditions that made them buyers ol the cheapest tinpla,te.s in the world. Questions with regard to this anti-dumping clause litv been put in Parliament, suggestive of a request for its continuation in the interest of the Welsh tinplate trade. If the anti-dumping claus be re-imposed it would have the effect of preventing the prosperous Canadian cannerio from securing dumped plates if again offer" The Americans, however, are not likely to again slaughter tinplate prices as they did in tin past, for the reason that the trust has tergeiy abandoned the policy of dumping, and that the contribution of the workmen of 3 per cent. 01 wages to the dumping fund has now ceased since the strike at the mills of the Tinplate Trust began at the beginning of July last.

Betting at Newport. STIFF FINES IN SERIES OF CASES. As the result of the activity of Detective- Inspector Tanner and Detective-Sergeant Caldi- cott heavy fines were imposed at Newport on Monday in several letting charges. Mr Treharne Morgan appeared to prosecute. Albert Edward Neill, Malpas-road, pleaded guilty to loitering in High-street and Shaftes- burv-srteet fcr the purpose of betting also loitering for the purpose of receiving bets in the same streets and, further, with loitering for the purpose of settling bets. Detective- Inspector Tanner gave evidence of having observed the defendant from a window on the 21st, inst., and seeing him receive slips and money. At the police station 33 slips, S25 16s 5!d, together with rhe South Wales Echo," were found upon him. The Bench inflicted a fine of 110, or one month's imprisonment, and ordered the slips to be forfeited. John Osmond also pleaded guilty to loitering in Cambrian-road and Harrhy-street for the purpose of betting for loitering for the pur- pose of receiving bets and, further, for the purpose of settling bets. Detective-Inspector Tanner stated similar facts, and said that o4 the 27th instant, together with Di-tective- Sergeant Caldicott, he kept observation on the defendant. When spoken to, the defendant appealed for leniency, remarking- Let me go this time. I will give it up. I intended to give it up when you had me be- fore. Others seem to have a fair run. but I I am most unfortunate. At the police station Ell 4s lid and the South Wales Echo were found upon the defendant. Superintendent Brooks proved two previous convictions.—The Bench now fined defendant 120, or two months' imprisonment. James Edvrards, of Durham-road, was also charged with loitering in High-street and Car- penter's Arms-lane for the purpose of letting also with loitering for the purpose of receiving bets, and, further, loitering for the purpose of settling beta. Defendant: I admit betting, but I am not a bookmaker. Mr Treharne Morgan I don't think there is much distinction. Detective-Inspector Tanner said that at the police station 12 6s 71d, four betting slips, visit- ing cards, and the South Wales Echo were found on the defendant. Defendant Not visiting cards, but business cards. The Clerk Yes, Jim Edwards, tipster, of 12 years' experience." The Bench imposed a fine of £10 or one month's imprisonment. Defendant: I'll do the month. Wm. Warhurst, Malpas-road, was also charged with loitering in High-street and Carpenter's Arms-lane for the purpose of bet- ting also for the purpose of receiving bets and, further, with loitering for the purpose o: settling bets. Detective-Inspector Tanner t aid that at the police station X17 13s 2t<:1. together ,with betting slips, were found on the defen- dant. Superintendent Brooks proved two previous convictions, and the Bench now mulcted the defendant in the sum of E20 or two months' im nrisonment. The slips were forfeited in every case.

DECAPITATED ON LINE. Mr Howell Cuthbertson held an mquest at Skewen on Monday on T. Evans (29), colliery haulier, who was killed on the G.W.R. at Skewen on Saturday night. P.S. Jones said he saw deceased at about 10 o'clock on Saturday night, and spoke to him about some pension papers. About midnight the body was seen by William Eadon, engine driver, lying in the four foot way of the up line. According to Eadon, deceased must have been knocked down by an up London excursion. Dr. Burrow said the head was practically severed and the left arm was cut off. Deceased must have been struck in the face, and death was instantane- ous. A verdict of Accidental death was returned. —' '-J

TO END HIS AGONIES. A strange case was inquired into by the East Devon Coroner on Monday in connection with the death of Arthur; Brewer, a lad of 17, whose body was found in a ditch on Aylesbeare Com- mon shot in the abdomen and head, with a dead fox by his side. Medical evidence suggested that deceaaed accidentally shot him- seif in the abdomen, and believing the wound was a fatal one shot himself in the head to end the pain. The jury agreed that deceased had accidentally shot himself in the abdomen I and ended his life by shooting himself through I the hc*\d to "\?s agonies. 1

RAID ON ALMS BOXES. I Clergyman's Admissions. I Rev. Douglas Philip Roper Nunn was brought before a full bench of magistrates at Saffron Walden on Tuesday charged, on re- mand, with stealing about 6s from an alms- box at Clavering Church on August 18%. Accused was now further charged with feloniously stealing about 10s from an alms-box at Wicken Church about August 18th, and also with stealing about 8s from an alms-box at Wendens Ambo parish church. Saffron Walden, on or about August 2nd. Giving evidence in regard to the Wenden Ambo charge, the Rev. F. W. Berry, the vicar, stated his attention was called to the alms box. Witness examined it, and found the box had been broken open, and' that three half-pence remained. He knew that a half-crown and other silver had been placed in the box. In answer to the charges the accused- said it was with the deepest regret and shame lie found himself in that position. It was during a fit of aberration of mind and kleptomania, bought on by lack of business and financial worries in supporing his wife and family, that he was so placed. He admitted the terms of the charge. He was committed for trial.

1 cannot remember anything about them. r was very drunk," said Alexander Young- stone at Merthyr in answer to a charge of stealing a pair of trousers, the property of Mr J. S. Davies, clothier, Dowlais. He was sen- tenced to one month.

WEEK TOO SOON ? After travelling from 5 o'clock on Monday morning in order to be married at a village chapel near Ma.rket Drayton, Shropshire, the prospective bridegroom discovered that there had been a mistake as to the date, and he is still a bachelor. The minister and registrar were in attendance to perform the ceremony, but the lady insisted that Monday next was the appointed day, and that her intended had arrived a week too soon. '———————————

Mr THOMAS THOMAS, Itlie retiring stationmaster at Llandovery. "*■

ANTI-BUDGET MEETING. Pro-Budget Resolution Car ried at Fochriw. The Conservative Club at Fochriw held an anti-Budget meeting on Saturday evening on the mountain just opposite the club. The speaker was Mr Thos. Fielding, of Manchester. It was evident from the start that the great majority of those present were very enthusi- astic supporters of the Budget, Mr Fielding made the sweeping declaration that every tax in the present Budget was hitting the working man. He said a tax on land means a tax on the produce of the land, and so it becomes a tax on the working man's food. This kind of theory created roars of laughter amongst the workmen. The speaker said sarcastically, You may laugh you had better go back to school again to learn manners." At the close of the address one of the workmen proposed, and another seconded, a vote in favour of the pre3ent Budget, which was passed by n.n over- whelming majority, all present voting in favour of it except, a few of the club members. Before parting the hills around echoed to the cheers for Lloyd George.

JEWELLERY STOLEN. During the brief absence of a carman de- livering at a Belfast jewellery firm on Tues- day a parcel containing goods to the value of l close upon £ 500 was stolen.

ARRIVAL OF THE NIMROD. The Antarctic Expedition ship Nimrod arrived at the East India Docks at 11 o'clock on Monday morning, and proceeded at once to the berth allotted her. Lieut. Shackleton informed the Press Asso- ciation that the Nimrod will remain in the East India Dock for about two months. At a quarter to 1 the Nimrod, containing a crew of 20 all told, was safely moored alongside No. 6 jetty in the in-port basin of the East India Docks after her eventful voyage to the South Pole, on which she started from the same dock on July 30th, 1907, just two years and one month ago. Lieut: Shackleton left the vessel at Bourne- mouth, and arrived in London on Monday morning. The Nimrod came up from Dover in charge of a Thames pilot. There were only about two dozen persons to witness her arrival, mostly of the seafaring class, when the vessel came alongside, and a few visitors were per- mitted to inspect the ship. 1 Press photo- graphers were busy with their cameras, and one of the most interesting features was a couple of Esquimaux dogs which were stand- ing on the forecastle when the Nimrod came alongside. These are the parents of seven puppies born when the vessel was crossing the line." The latter were sunning themselves on deck.

The Rev. WilliaCm Jones, who has been for a quarter of a century the minister and school- master on Bardsey Island, off the coast of l Car.xarvcn?hire, is about to retire.

BY D. EMLYN EVANS. EISTEDDFODIC COMPETITIONS IN ENGLAND AND WALES. A Comparison. (n a recent number of this journal we ca' attention to some of the papers read at annual conference of the Association of ^IuSvTe Competition Festivals, lately held in tbel Metropolis; and at the end of our reference was made to another paper on Eisteddfod and the Competition Movement comparison of aims, methods, results," read by Mr Harry Evans. half-promise then made that we may return to that at another time, we now propose to redeem. On that occasion we expressed very sincere regret that we in Wales, after all tbe long years—generations of eisteddfedaUJOc. had no such association in existence, nor any general organisation whatever that wotu hring our leading musical men interested iJI the subject together to express opinions, eS" change views, and compare notes, etc. indeed, we may very profitably learn to copy our imitators. In our present paper the weakness and w* defects of the eisteddfod, both national local, are duly recognised. There is nothing very new to be said in this connection, as experienced and observant eisteddfodists are practically unanimous in their opinion^ opinions that have been expressed aD reiterated over and over again—regarding our laches and drawbacks. Thus about the oiuy thing remaining for the aspiring reformer to a* is to Keep on Fcg in; Away at the same old t-viis except, indeed, wheJt some fresh and further deviation from to true path has to be noted, such as these lat^ day champion and challenge conteaw and their like. Although Welsh eisteddfodists have been looking forward longingly for years to t>o time when the national eisteddfod would managed by a real controlling body tral, continuous, and thoroughly represeD^ tive— we fear it will not come yet, and that must be content for a. while longer with tbi present arrangement of things an annua gathering in North and South Wales alter" nately. managed by a local committee, secre- tary, etc. (whose experience is valueless there' aftCr -except in the somewhat uncommon case of the eisteddfod revisiting the town) and tbf very perfunctory examination of tbe list .tJ subjects by the National Eisteddfod Associ^ tion and the Gorsedd authorities. This worked fairly well upon the whole during the last 30 years, or since 1881, at Merthyr, when the present National Eisteddfod evolved from the South Wales Chair Eistedo foil, which had been held at Cardiff in 1»'^ and Swansea, 1880. We read in the above pape that the English competition festival roov ment know no such gathering as the Nation^ Eisteddfod, and each festival was worked its own locality, guided by experienced hano* in that locality, and so went on from streng_ to strength." In that particular comparison w do not know that Wales comes off second hep- Our national annual meetings are not p feet by any means. But if some of the deta. are open to improvement, the right idea iØ there, or one might say the right ideal united Wales—a Cymru gyfan in highest sense, where the nation meets 80S °I! on a common platform, irrespective of cree- or party, and exhibits the best it canproduc^ at the time in music and other arts. Even o" English friends may find in this direction An Object Worth Aiming At; 1 and one, at least, of the papers (Mrl^ Atkins's) read at this conference strongly towards combination. Certainty difficult to imagine a more inspiring sight tn^ a large? pavilion crowded with its thausaii^ intelligent, men and women," when takes its holiday." In regard to the tyranny of the choirs such as are indolent and incapable-and tbe too ready willingness of money-hunting cou* mittees to select popular and worn-out^ pieces in order to "attract the f^atest numb of choirs, and which meant mcreased ga^ money the inclusion of •' unworthy trumpery publications —songs, etc. instigation of the publishers, who provided prizS the need of instituting entrance^ and so secure a business-like tune-table forgetting the needed :nervate ,#dumg day"—instead of the too please fashion now prevailing all familiar topics, so familiar, indeed, wrtj have become almost wearisome. One pom^, however, mentioned by Mr Harry EvaOj, deserving more than a passmj wor « in the Welsh system only the fewwho^ fortunate enough to survive the test (solo) get any criticism of then-perfo ances. Of £ 0 entries, say, three selected for the final, and 47 would without the helpful criticism and advice the judge." Other adjudicators have years felt the unintentional unfairness of tha system—or lack of system—and have occi^j ally rectified it when circumstances permit^ But some distinct rule should be which that matter might be put on a satisi^ tory basis for all the competitors. We also read that the" inclusion of sign reading "-another old grievance ot \_# eisteddfod reformer—" was another lea* that distinguished English festivals from, Welsh." And "a point that addedconsideraDJ to the pleasure and interest to audiences, gave them a better opportunity of their own judgment, was the printing ol .words of the test pieces in the programøciø The gradation of test pieces from year year," as we are told, had produced Excellent Educational Results in Engla"^ The music was selected by capable people iJL increased in difficulty, both executive an interpretative, yearly, with the result choirs and conductors were systematic developed and improved the spirit.. commercialism did not interfere the aim of the festival, and —. ll' main object, the cultivation of mm ¡JJ the district, was successfully achieved. 1>1.a1 it continue so. But the English comP festival is yet in its young days. It has n the advantage of having the old eisteddfo. even of its mistakes—as an object lesson. money prizes of some of the English festiv are already on the increase, however; an the large sum offered in the aggregate adve\ tisrd as an attraction. English festivals ar- told in this paper that in the course of develo ing the choirs they should guard a.ga.ms selecting music mainly because it is difficul » One sometimes came across ins tan of village choirs having to struggle with tb« mo«t unattractive and uninspired but difficw* music. This tended to break their spirits,?> damp their ardour, and to create a distaste fot music. There was an abundance of what wa? beautiful and at t he same time difficult enough for competitive purposes." This warning is so altogether unnecessary in connection with tn^ Eisteddfod at the present time. We are in dent danger of leaping from one extreme to another, and to forget that if we are to truly progress, we must proceed step by step.

ALLEGED THEFT. At the Bristol Police Court on Monday Eric Campbell Walker, aged 20, who stated that h6 was a native of London, was charged onTCf. mand with stealing jewellery to the value ° Miss Clara Allen, a shop assistant residing with a Mrs Bigwood' at 10, Ambra Vale, EaSt, Clifton, Bristol, said that on Monday, April 1^' prisoner came to the house to lodge. Tie stayc until April 21st. On that day witness left to g to work at 8.30 a.m.. leaving on her dressing table a gold watch and -chain and four gp rings. When witness returned in the evenin» she found that all the jewellery was missing* When prisoner left she gave informationw the police Hyman Levy, an assistant to his father. who is a pawnbroker, of Victoria-street, Bris- tol, produced a gold watch which was pledged with him on April 22nd for 6s 6d. As far as could recollect prisoner pledged the article. So gave an address in Brigsto cke-road, Bristol. Alfred Rimmer. manager for W. PhillipS, pawnbroker, of St. Mary-street, Cardiff, Pr° duced a gold ring pledged in his shop by young person, who gave the namo of Arthu Stuart. Clarence-road. 7s 6d was ziven on it- William Alfred Lees, pawnbroker's assistan^ of Westmoreland-street, Cardiff, produced gold chain and ring pledged by a young f11aJ1, who gave the name of Stuart. All the article9 were identified by Miss Allen. f Mrs Bigwood, with whom the prison^ lodged, identified Walker. When he called f°. lodgings he said he was in the employ of Messrs Milner and Co., safe manufacturers, as repairer, and had been transferred from Lon- don to Bristol.. Deteotive-sergeant Pollard deposed to arresting the prisoner on a warrant at head on August 21 st. In answer to the charg he said, I took the jewellery, and I will te you where I pledged it." He told witness be pledged the watch in Bristol, and the remain dpr at Cardiff. Witness recovered the article3" As regards prisoner, he bad never been befor the Bristol Court before.. j Prisoner pleaded guilty, and was committed to the next Quarter Sessions in Bristol.

ABERAVON FIRE. On Monday a fire broke out on t" premises of Mr II. W. Keey, watchmaker and jeweller, Cwmavon-road, Aberavon. The out break was first noticed by P.C. Emstone, w immediately gave the alarm. The fire was go under in a very short time, but damage esti- mated at about £200 was done to the structure and stock. It appears that the outbreak £ rl £ inated at the rear of the premises—a lock-up shop.