The Aberdare Leader

THE EISTEDDFOD AND COMPETITIONS. The National Eisteddfod is over, and it has been an all-round .success. It ha* paid its way financially, and the number of competitors constituted an easy re. cord in eisteddfodic annals. At one meeting—on the day of the chief choral competition—the attendance and enthu- j si asm were unprecedented. Over twenty-two thousand ardent eisteddfod- wyr listened attentively for over four hours to ten competing choirs. Some critics complain bitterly of the, mercen- ary aspect of the Eisteddfod. They say that competitors sing for money, and they denounce the competitive spirit which dominates the whole proceedings. But is not the competitive spirit the life and soul of the Festival? It was spirited rivalry that stimulated the ten choirs to enter the chief choral contest, and like- wise stimulated the majority of the twenty-two thousand that so patiently listened to them. They did not attend the Eisteddfod out of some patriotic re- gard for the institution, or as a matter of national duty towards the land of their fathers. They attended because they were interested in the welfare of the various choirs, and were eager to watch the progress of the contest and the destiny of their favourites. They also were imbued with the spirit of competi- tion—perhaps equally as much as the contestants. So it is clear that competi- tion is th essence of the Eisteddfod-it6 one great staying power, and to elimin- ate this factor from the proceedings would be to spoil the institution. In every walk of life we have competition, end although it sometimes is accountable fcr unpleasant incidents, it is stimulat- (

MILES'S RESTAURANT, 2, CANON STREET, ma a NOW OPEN. Proprietors R. H. MILES & SONS, ABERDARE. m y——iiiijh PRELIMINARY NOTICE. C* Y* SHORTLY OPENING AT 49a, COMMERCIAL ST., ABERDARE. :.t

"Lourdes" at Aberdare. In his novel 11 Lourdes," the late Emile Zola described a harrowing scene where the sick, the palsied, the blind, the maimed, the demented, and count- less other sufferers, were conveyed in their hundreds to a holy place, there to be set right and in their proper health. The crutches, and leg irons, and belts, etc., they would leave behind them, and they would return home in possession of all their faculties-in perfect health and strength. There is a Lourdes" on a small scale at the top of Dean street, Aberdare, this week. Dr Carl Hermann is at the Theatre, and he gives advice every day to suffering mortals. With the result that a large number of bath-chairs, and traps, and mail-carts, conveying victims of the many ills that flesh is heir to, continually pull up behind the theatre. One aged woman, over 60, who could hardly move, was carried bodily up the steps by a young man. Children, 6 and 7 years of age, who cannot yet place their weight on their legs are also among his visitors, In the evening he gives a demonstra- tion of his electrical apparatus and treats several patients. Like Col. Ingersoll, he said that if the task of creating this world had been alloted to him, he would have gone about his work in a different way. He would not have allowed disease to form part of the universe, and he would certainly have made good health catching, instead of disease. But had we no disease, perhaps we would have had no Dr Hermann, and people would miss a very entertaining programme at the New Theatre this) week.

Salvation Army, Aberdare On Sunday evening at the Barracks, Adjutant Henson delivered a very strik- ing and impressive address to a large and attentive gathering. He based his remarks on Acts xxiv. 22. It is interest. ing to note that the local Salvation Army Band is making rapid strides, under the leadership of Bandmaster Gadsby. Amongst those who have recently joined the band is a gentleman from the West Indies.

Alcohol and Weak Heart. A CWMDARE INQUEST. Mr. R. J. Rhys, held an inquest at the Castle Hotel, Cwmdare, on Saturday morning touching the death of Thomas Francis, who died on Wednesday last. Bachel Francis, deceased's landlady, said in the early pari of the morning she heard deceased get up and go downstairs. She heard him fall when he reached the bottom, and going down, found him in a sitting position. On being asked how he had fallen, he said his foot slipped. He was carried upstairs, and in the morning a doctor was sent for, but through a mistake of the nurse at the surgery, he did not arrive. Deceased died on Wed- nesday night about six o'clock. He was quite sober that night. She had not seen him under the influence of drink for some weeks. Dr. Begg said he arrived at the house after the man had died. He found the abdomen greatly extended. He attributed death to a weak heart caused by the drinking of intoxicants. He might have died from an apopletic fit. He could account for death in no other way. A verdict in accordance with the medical evidence was returned. Deceased was a blocklayer at Bwllfa Colliery, but had not worked for the last three weeks.

Labour Jottings. BY DEMOS." At Pontardawe I.L.P.ism is progress- ing so rapidly that the fraternity have decided to erect a hall and iiastitutel there, which will cost £ 1,000. I look forward to seeing a handsome and suit- able structure lifting its head in Aber- dare ere long, for I take it that the present apartments are but a temporary shelter for the Ark of Labour in Aber- dare. Last week a man who is engaged in some occupation which involves more physical than mental action was fined at Cardiff for refusing to pay his tram fare of 2d. He claimed that the was a work- man, and therefore was entitled to a workman's privilege of paying a penny fare only. This raises a rather important ques- tion. What constitutes a workman? Is the application of the term to be limited to a person engaged in manual labour— one who works with his hnad-ip If so, is it not often difficult to draw Hi (Mine between the man who works mentally and the man who works physically? I am not so narrow and bigoted as to exclude all brain labourers from the right to be called "workers." A man may work as hard with his head as with his hands. Nevertheless I do not think that professional and business men who get their hundreds a year, however hard they work, should usurp the paltry pri vileges which are meant only for the toilers who literally earn their bread in the sweat of their brow. I am quito prepared to give the term worker its widest meaning except in connection with the privileges referred to. We all know what class of workmen are en- titled to reduced fares by train or bus. Etymology is often modified by custom, and so it is in this case. It would be downright mean on the part of a pros- perous grocer, a well-briefed barrator, or a parson with a fat living' to demand the right to travel at a reduced rate simply because he is a Çó workman" in a technical or dictionary sense. Is the Rev. Elwyn Thomas travelling towards Campbellism? Preaching re- cently to what may be termed a fash- ionable gathering," he remarked that one of the outstanding characteristics of the present age was the extent to which believers doubted and doubters believed. He was not at all down- hearted in the presence of honest doubt. It was a proof of regard for truth. The rev. gentleman went as far as to affirm that Christ did not treat doubt as sin, and that therefore an honest sincere doubter should be encouraged. Surely, Elwyn is drifting away. Throw out the life line! He, however, spoke somewhat scorn- fully of a faith that is based on rudi- mentary Blatcbfordian flippancy and sixpenny Rationalism." Ah, there are many gentlemen of the cloth who are not unwilling to tread the paths of Camp- bellism, but who uplift hands and eyes in holly horror at the very mention of Blatchfordism. Mr. Campbell, while speaking in Aberdare, mentioned the name of Robert Blatchford with reverence He, recog- nised the Editor of the" Clarion n as one of the moral forces of the day. Be of good cheer, Robert.

Mountain Ash Concert Party. AT TENBY. The members of the Mountain Ash Male Voice Party gave a series of con- certs at the De Valance Gardens, Tenby, to crowded houses on Saturday and Sun- day last after their fine achievement at Swansea. They were loyally received by the visitors and inhabitants. The ap- plause after the rendering of choruses and solos was deafening, several special requests being sent to the worthy con- ductor, Mr. T. Glyndwr Richards, for repeat renderings of the choruses. It was freely said that there was never such fine singing heard at Tenby. Amongst the artistes were Mr. J. Thomas, who sang When the Ebb Tide Flows," Messrs. Edwards and Williams, who sang the duet, Two Heroes Mr. D. Cynon Evans and choir, The Ital- ian Salad"; Mr. Anthony Jones, Mr. Ben Davies, Mr. D. Williams, and Mr. D. Davies.

Letters to the Editor. WORKMEN'S BATHS. Dear Sir,—In last week's, issue of the Aberdare Leader in the Mountain Ash Jottings, Lucifer refers to the above subject as carried on in Germany. I think that something of the kind is greatly needed in Wales to-day. I should be very pleased if some of the mining students who recently visited Germany could give the people of Aber- dare the, benefit of their experience re- garding these Baths.—I am, A WORKMAN. REV. CYNOG WILLIAMS AND SOCIALISM. Sir,—In a recent issue of the LEADER, a Mr Rowland Davies, of Llanstephan, writes under the above heading. But a very small portion of his lengthy epistle has any connection with either the Rev Cynog Williams or Socialism. He has a grievance against a certain Doctors' Committee, and is obviously pining for revenge. We will assume that this par- ticular Doctors' Committee is playing fast and loose with the workmen's money, but what in the wide world has that to do with Socialism ? Granting that our miners' leaders have an eye for Westminster and that those who are already there aspire for the House of Lords what has that again to do with Socialism ? Will Mr Rowland Davies answer ? Yours, KNOWLEDGE SEEKER.

Aberaman. LIMERICK. Mr. n Evans, 2, Chapel-street, won a prize of .£1 8s. 7d. in a Cardiff evening paper last week for completing a Limerick. Mr. Evans pro- vided the last line of the following: — A grocer of Cardiff went tripping, But unused to the sea and to shipping, Was seized with commotion Whilst out on the ocean And thought his life's cable was slipping.

MONDAY, SEPT. 2nd, ROYAL TEM- PERANCE HOTEL, ASERDARS. TUESDAY, SEPT. 3rd, VREDEGA& HALL, NEWPORT. WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 4th, CORf HALL, CARDIFF. THURSDAY, SEPT. 5th, VICTORIA CAFE, VICTORIA STRFET, M-219, THYR, TYDFIL. FRIDAY, SEPT. 6th, CENTRAL HALL, OLD ORCHARD iTEEEflV SWANSEA. MRS. CLARA E. SLATER (of So'thport) was unable to see all the patien; that visited her at Aberdare a few wees ago, and has, therefore, decided to a pa- tients as above for a short timely. As before on previous visits all !ît-ice" will be free. Mrs. Slater's skill oiaIt internal diseases of women 'has ev proved by thousands in this distty. She is still pursuing her mission agai, the use of inward instruments. STOP THAT OPERATION IN TI){ Note.—The most eminent operOtIlli surgeon alive said: "If the use of Inward Ingir eutt, were persisted in they would have BI 1 build a hospital to treat the CA and TUMOURS created by them." Extracts from a few letters will sp^ | for themselves:- | DON'T PUT IT OFF ANY LONGJB. It is important that any wishing to her should lose no time in doing Your neighbours on every side can fy to the benefit they have derived her treatment. A LADY FROM MOUNTAIN ASH. In sending a friend to be measured, 111811' sent the following message: —" Tell Slater I would not be without my for the world, although I have only it a s'hort time/* I. I! I' A STOUT LADY RESIDING IN MERTHYR VALE, and who had an appliance for diftícultf of breathing and walking, owing to t' weight of her body, said:—"I further than I had done for eight Ye3tS I felt so well. I cannot say too D3 about your appliance." ONE WHO HAS BEEN GOING TO HOSPITAL FOR FOUR YEARS WROTE "Dear Mrs. Slater,—I have only Il wearing your belt three weeks, but it done me more good than anything1 eJf* I intend to do you all the good I can* ANOTHER FROM CANTON SAIP:/ "Doctors have all told me there IJ. r-othing but instruments would do øø eØ any good. A friend persuaded me to 9 d you, much against my will, as I bt no faith in anybody, and a blessing 1 has been to me that I did so. Since ing away with the instruments and V#* ing your appliance, I feel like ano&e woman. I have never felt so well twenty years." Hundreds like the above could be down, but there is no room. What been done for others may be done for you. ONE FROM OLD BRIDGEND WRIT^: "It is impossible for me to express feeling of gratitude to you. If equa successful in dealing with all your cases; no surprise could be felt at the succeS" which attended your visit." ANOTHER FROM NEATH SAYS:/ "I had been a sufferer from intern^ I weakness for many years. Your trea ment completely cured me, and I pleased to say I now feel as strong £ 1 ever I did in my life." Stout Ladies must on no account llJl Mrs. 'Slater's visit. A STOUT LADY LOST FIVE ST«>-N*1'" Writing to Mrs. Slater, she said: I beu. was only 28 years old, and weig^ eighteen stone before I began to ta your advice. I have gone down o <'nd only weigh 13 stone now, and felt better in my life. I wish ev6^ stout woman could see you. It is w01 gold uncounted." RUPTURES, WOMAN'S WEAKNESSES CURED WITH^ OPERATIONS OR INWARD INSTRU' MEINTS. istout Ladies, the Compress Belt reo duced the measurements 4 to 8 inches- FOR FURTHER PARTICULARS s^ MRS. SLATER AT ONCE- Largest Ladies' Belt-maker in ALL ADVICE FREE. NOTE ADDRESS HOURS: 2 to 5 Sharp. f

ing and healthy. That it is often buoyed up by mercenary motives is to be de- plored, but such is the perversity of human nature. There may have been aiD. era in the past when eisteddfodic pursuits were regarded in the light of a pastime or the pleasure of leisure when the bard or the musician said, I s'ng because I love to sing." Now it is ob- vious that, in many instances, he sings, because he lovetr, the, prize and the at- tendant renown. But the eisteddfod, if it is to live and flourish, must conform with the spirit of the age, and that ia identical with the spirit of competition. Now that art is likely to be introduced into the eisteddfod in a larger measure than ever, we may expect the competitive contagion to increase. Personally we cannot see that healthy competition and friendly rivalry, if kept within reason- able bounds, can be productive of much harm, but on the other hand can be an element for good.