The Aberdare Leader

Letters to the Editor1. NON-UNIONIST TEACHERS. Sir,—Much has been written and spoken concerning the non-unionist iiiiner6 and the treatment meted out to them by the Federationists and the officials. But apparently things are quite as bad in the professions as in the trades. On Wednesday last week might be witnessed a very interesting spectacle. There was a deputation meeting the Aberdare Education Committee re the dismissal of married teachers. But only five of the married teachers were repre- sented; the other 12 were ignored, and were therefore not represented in any way. Surely this was an instance, of the tail wagging the dog. I enquired the reason why only five out of seventeen were mentioned by the deputation, and I was solemnly informed that the twelve were not members of the N.TJ.T., and consequently they had to look after them- selves. This state of affairs reveals a fatal weakness in the case which the de- putation presented. And I am told that there are really hard circumstances sur- rounding one or two of the twelve where- as there are no extenuating circumstances at all belonging to the five. It is ex- tremely difficult to understand the action of the N.U.T. If they were really op- posed to the principle of the abolition of married teachers, why ignore twelve married teachers out of 17? I under- stand that in the uncertificated class agi- tation against the £ 5 reduction motion, the iiott-unioiiists as well as the unionists Were represented by the Aberdare Valley Teachers' Association.—Yours, etc., PERTURBED. FAIRPLAY'S, LETTER. Sir,It was with some surprise that I read the letter of Fair playin your last issue. It seems that there is another body of young men living in the neigh- bourhood/' other than Freethinkers, who have perplexed and troubled minds." But who and what are this body of young men who are greatly displeased with the so-called methods adopted by follow- ers of Christ in enforcing persecution?" I rather doubt Fairplay's statement re troubled minds for he gives himself away bv saying that he and his friends extend a firmer support to their Master Christ," and that they went to the lec- Ic'll tures ^with the conviction in their minds that "God kept watch above his own." Therefore, I am not surprised to hear that his prejudiced mind did not catch the arguments put forth by the lecturer. At seems that he came for the purpose of finding1 faults only, and for that I am sorry. The beautiful sentiment ex- pressed by the lecturer regarding his tellowman should have been digested thoroughly by Fairplay, for it seems that he badly needs it. What he is pleased to call pantomimic business was genial S?.mour-* ari-d if we are not to laugh, in this old world what are we here for ? the humour is kept within moral founds, then let us laugh and be merry, Or to-morrow we die and are merry no more. I think that every opportunity 'as given for discussion, and if Fair- Play pan only get some minister to. £ ome upon a public platform to discuss question, the Aberdare Secularists be only too delighted to meet him. perhaps Fairplay will persuade that re- doubtable champion of Christianity, Mr. • H. Bibbings to stand to his challenge that the Secularists have failed. seems to be in great form just ow. The meetings of the Aberdare ^ular Society are always open to the Public, and they would esteem it a Pleasure if Fairplay" and that body perplexed young men would avail f,, n selves of the opportunity for dis- aission.—Yours faithfully, BEN EVANS. TifL PRICE OF MILK AND ITS VALUE. IJ. Sir -I remember an old divine who ]■ ,(,(1 to say to me" "Always slip a word i when an opportunity affords." This llo a convenient and a favourable time Po^t-' aillC^ ^ink if people took this op- p^'ttiruty up it would be good. But bp e,as a n°thing unless there Wj.SotQe gain in it. There has been a ,,f; or two in the Aberdarei Leader" bpriee of milk. One murmured the milk was costing too much. Cc.6 °tlier says no. I never heard a '^Plaint that beer was costing too W<}1 Wliy is that ? Years ago beer thp5 °X1^ a Penny Per quart, and it paid pn ,r!It is astonishing how mistaken va1 c 0P1') ion may be in regard to the i'or^ °* suhstance,s in general use. Take Wastai*e "the immense reputation that secti anc' malt liquors have with large quaoi the populace, and the vast e«iUTi' °*' ^iem that are consumed in titles l1Son with milk. As nutritious ar- s liardlv ant^ other malt liquors ape to an'' consideration. A reference resneoH11 ys^s wl'l show at a glance the Pr°porti"e va'U('s heer and milk. The taker °1i1 water in each may be the aloni! i e. same- The food value of the contr° fln ^e ^eei: that er.te.lies in the other constitu- is well off f seen that while milk the pronp,. 1 nutrient quality—in about body—the i, f)roPort:ioris for use by the respect. If :s sadly lacking in that and less beer^0 g00<~ m-ilk were used nation imnr„We might hope to see a plivsique as a stature and '"f rkod diaiinnf; e]l(ra.kl certainly see a tion ot poverty and dis- ease. Nothing can present a more de- graded picture than a beer-sodden man, and nothing can be more pitiful to see. than the weak and puny offsprings of parents who are addicted to drink. There is no poisonous alcohol in cocoa nor milk. One of the best evidences of the value of milk as a nourishing food is the con- stant and growing use of it in our hos- pitals, resulting in a constant lessening in the use of malt liquors and other al- coholic beverages. In twenty-two of the London Hospitals the total milk bill reaches the immense sum of consider- ably over iill.OOO per year Sheep's milk is the best of all. It reaches 32 per cent.-a total solid. It would be well if the people were to train their children in science, to know more about these facts. Old people too, say they cannot understand it. They can understand the,, other way about very well—the drinking side. Ten grains of new milk when cons am ed in the body produce sufficient heat to raise 1.64 lbs. of water 1.0 ft., which is equal to lifting 1266 lbs. one foot high. One ounet/pf new milk when oxidised in the body will develop sufficient energy to raise 27 tons one foot high, We may rest assured that if the milk supply be good and sufficient, it is not only a. highly de- sirable form of beverage, but in addition it is a most valuable food.-Yours etc., W. A. DAVIES. Tudor House, Aberaman. DID CHRIST EVER, LIVE ? Sir—Regarding the controversy as to whether Christ ever lived, I am bound to write a few lines in defence. "goaiiie Jenyns," author of "A view of the internal evidence of the Christian Religion," says: It is more reasonable to suppose that the arts and sciences which flourished in Ancient Greece and that the Laws of Solon and Sycurnyas were the production of infants and idiots than that the Doctrine of Christianity were derived from an inconsiderable number of obscure, illiterate fishermen. I will deal with first, direct historical evidences. The witnesses were men who had every opportunity of knowing the truth or otherwise cf what they pro- claimed. They claimed to have followed our beloved Jesus, Heard His teachings-, saw His miracles, received their com- mission from Him after He had been put to death and raised from the grave. They further claimed to have received power from Him to work miracles in Hig Name. They proved their sincerity by leaving their homes and their friends and devoting themselves to the work of spreading the Gospel of Christ in the face of poverty, persecution, and even death. Saul of Tarsus explained the change in his life as consequent on the appearance to him. of the glorified Christ, who m person commissioned him as his apostle to the Gentiles. Writings ad- mitted almost unanimously by sceptical critics to be this man's genuine produc- tions, testify to all the vital facts and teaching of the Christian system. These writings, 1st and 2nd Corinthians Remans, and Galatians, were icomposed within thirty years of the crucifixion, aiKd their author's conversion took place about five or six years after that event. His position afforded him every oppor- trinity of testing the truth of his own ex- perience. Besides Paul's writings we have the Gospels and other New Testa- ment 'Scriptures which are so largely and frequently quoted by the so-called Fathers" that it has been asserted that the New Testament if lost could be re-constructed from their writings. Be- sidesl the testimony of Christians like Clement (97 A.D.) Justin Martvr (150 A.D.), Irenaeus (180 A.D.), and others of early .times, as to, the spread of Christ- ianity and the sufferings of its professors at that early period, we have also that of Josephus, the Jewish historian Tacitus and Pliny, eminent Romans. In addition to all these there are records of the attacks of such determined opponents -of the new faith as Sucian, Celus, Por- pliyr,17, etc. Secondly indirect historical evidence. three memorial institutions are observed to-day which can be traced in an un- broken line to Apostolic times: (a) The Lord s Supper, designed to celebrate the death of Christ, (b) Baptism, in which the believer is united with Christ in the likeness of his death a in! resurrection, likeness of his death and resurrection, (c) The Lord's Day, observed in memory II of the resurrectiton of Christ from the dead. Is it easy to account for the origin of such observances without admitting the facts they are alleged to commemor- ate? Thirdly, from what has been advanced, it is evident that Qhristianity was widely spread throughout the Roman Empire before the end of the first century. How are we to account for the rise and spread of Christianity? Certainly not by the education influence, or worldly power of its earliest proclaimers, who were mostly fishermen of a despised race. They were opposed by the priestly orders and'ruling class, in their own country and wherever they went. If Christ really lived the they went. If Christ really lived the purely and holy life recorded in the New testament, performed miracles, and rose from the dead and commissioned these humble followers of his, if he dowered them with the Holy Spirit which em- powered them to work signs and wonders, then we have a satisfactory explanation. Men do not die and suffer for what thev 1,l;0Wi ',0 false, or even for truth which they do not regard as of vital im- portance. Regarding the character of the Christ- ian system (a) The internal evidence of its truthfulness has been over and over again shown to be worthy of all accepta- tion. (b) Its teaching is the purest, its ideal the noblest, its philanthropy the most unselfifeh the world has ever had. presented to it. (c) It possesses power to change the hearts and purify the lives of all men.—Yours, etc., A BELIEVER. FAIRPLA-'Y'S LETTER. Sir,—It was with considerable interest that I read "Faii.-play-s" letter in your issue of the 16th inst. The tone of his letter is a welcome change to the drivel and bigotry to which we have so long been accustomed. I thank him most sin- cerely for his manly denunciation of per- secution and his hearty support of free speech, which is a very rare virtue among his Christian compatriots. It among his Christian compatriots. It was very unfortunate on his part to quote that heterodox verse, from Lowell. To the average Christian what is beyond that "dark tempestuous flood" is cer- tainly not the "dim unknown." Truth for ever on the scaffold, Wrong for ever on the throne." If he will just reflect a moment he will know who built the scaffold and the throne which Lowell had in mind. The spirit of Lowell's verse-in which we are told Fairplay" went to the New Theatre-and the spirit which prompted him to write of "our loyal and firmer support^ of our Lord and Master Jesus Christ are irreconcilable. We are led to understand at the outset that he stood at the cross roads with a perplexed and troubled mind," but we are soon dis- illusioned by reading that he has already made his choice and is well on the steep and thorny road of faith. Unlike the rest of the splendid aud- ience, he failed to appreciate Mr. Foote's afternoon lecture but I am afraid the fault rests with himself alone. In the course of a chat which I had with Mr. Foote at the conclusion of the afternoon lecture he said, "I cannot congratulate you on the quality of the opposition." I told him I was very sorry, but I thought it was the best we could offer him at Aberdare. The man who can fill the Birmingham Town Hall and the Picton Hall in Liverpool and other large halls in differentpart6 of the country wher- ever he goes, there is something more than a punster and a-wit. In a recent letter to Mr. Foote, the great Sir Oliver Lodge said, "Your articles (in "The Freethinker ") are always interesting and sometimes instructive which is a somer what different estimate of the man to that formed by Fairplay." Perhaps he will come and hear Mr. Foote again, and when he does, may I ask him to leave the coloured spectacles of prejudice at home? "Fairplay" insinuates that he has heard Mr. Foote "when engaged in debate. The last time Mr. Foote had a public debate was in 1897, just 11 years ago. I was present, and I remem- ber it well. If your corespondent was present on that occasion, and is still a young man and I think he is-his opin- ion of Mr. Foote's debating powers is of very small value. He also complains that Mr. Foote should turn and twist" the questions put to him. Very well. Let us take two fair examples. In the afternoon one man made an awful fuss because Mr. Fcote stated that the saints which arose from the dead at the crucifixion were Christian saints. If they were not Christian saints, what on earth were they ? Were they pagan saints? Fancy- there being saints dead and buried long before the Christian religion was bornl There is surely something wrong with the optic nerve of the man who cannot see the folly of all this. At the evening meeting one man waxed eloquent over the five different hells men- tioned in the Bible, and asked Mr. Foote, of all men in the world which was the right one! Eventually Mr Foote told him that he really didn't know but that his questioner would find out when he got there! The very next morning the same questioner said to me: "Didn't I corner Mr. Foote beautifully last night.. You can always knock them wp''°TLyoT:i knOTvf J~ou only ku<nv how. llien I remembered Mr. Foote's reply, and I laughed heartily. I been laughing ever since. Twenty-five years ago a packed Chrlt- Pom^ryrJ??nr guilty, and a A Catnolic Judge sentenced him to ™Pris°nment for the artifi- ncfitim-,™'6" J fP m^r- An influential petition, signed by most of the leading .^l^ratuBe, science and art, was sent to the Home Office praying for a re- duction of the sentence, but was ignored. The niai-i who stood in the way of having foil 11ja^j1°"U)?1 sentence reduced was the Statesmen^ William We have it on the authority of the Home Secretary himself that the recent prosecution for blasphemy was under- taken with the full sanction of the Home Office. Mr. Herbert Gladstone seems to have inherited all of his illustrious lather s religious prejudices, but none of lis great talents, and the sooner he is packed off to the Gilded Chamber the better it will be for the liberties of all Hig Majesty s subjects. The step from Justice North's (the modern Judge Jeffries) "twelve months imprisonment," to Mr. Justice Phillimore's U bound over in fifty pounds measures the distance we have travelled in the great inarch of progress during the last quarter of a century. The march has been painfully slow, but the gain is substantial.—I am, etc., Aberaman. THOS. WILLIAMS.

Llwydcoed Sparks. BY "FIREMAN." Empire Day is approaching and al- ready Llwydcoed people are beginning to a think imperially," and act patriotical- ly, for the nags that will brave the breeze on Saturday are already in the make. I am told that Mr. Windsor Lewis, in order to crystallise and perpetuate the patriotism of young Llwydcoedites is go- ing to erect an Empire in brick and mortar up here. The young theatre- goers of the place are delighted, for it will save their Cardiff train fares. It is now too warm for Sunday football, so the exuberant young sports of Llwyd- coed are betaking themselves! to the cooler pastime of angling on the same day. I would advise some of the local fishermen of souls to be on their track.

WHEEZY COUGHS. Chronic Asthma Cured by Veno's Lightning Cough Cure. Mr Alfred Harrould, of 64, London Avenue. N.E., Portsmouth, writes:— About twelve years ago I contracted Bakers Asthma,' and I got so bad that I had to give up my work. I went to several doctors, And tried every advert- ised remedy, but derived no permanent good. Then I tried Veno's Lightning Cough Cure, and gave it a fair trial, and soon found that the coughing was no- thing like as bad, and now I am as well as ever. I always keep a bottle in the house, as I find that one dose only will cure a cold in any of the members of my family." Veno's Lightning Cough Cure can be bought for 9H, 1/16, and 2/9 every- where,

Musical Successes. A musical examination in connection with the Associated Board of the Royal Academy of Music and the Royal College of Music, London, was held at St. Alban's School of Music, Roath. The following pupils of Professor Abraham N. James, R.A.M., ex-student of the Royal Academy of Music, successfully pa;sed Mr. Robert Walker, singing, higher division. Mr. Ernest G. Lloyd, pianoforte, lower division. Miss Evelyn Rosser, singing, lower division. Miss Evelyn Rosser, pianoforte, ele- mentary division. Master Bertie Parr, 14, Canon-street, Aberdare, piano, primary division. Master Granville Lewis, piano, primary division. Miss Florence Novello James received the requisite number of marks to entitle her to Distinction Certificate. Master Cecil Dunn passed the Inter- mediate Division (pianoforte plaving) and the rudiments of the theory of music at the Local Centre, Cardiff, in connec- tion with the Associated Board of the Royal Academy and the Royal College of Music.

Penrhiwceiben Potions. BY "PENWIPER," A lively outdoor meeting of the latter day saints" was held outside the Lee 'Hotel last Sunday evening. The « saints had as most saints have, a rather rough time-in fact, the meeting became what one might describe in these latter days as rather suffragette. Many questions were asked by several enthu- siastic Ceiberians, including Messrs. W. Thomas, Railway-terrace; Dd. Howells, Glassbrook; 'and John Davies, Glanlay. The heckling at one time assumed alarm- ing proportions and the word liar was frequently bandied about. Eventu- ally the a saints" retired, if not dis- couraged, discomfited. The recognition of C. Cooksley's courage came not a moment too soon. His record is a wonderful one, for during his career he has attended no less than 95 fires and been the direct means of saving 120 lives. That is undoubtedly an enviable record, and Penrhiwceiber is justly proud of him. The aerial railway is just about com- pleted; some wag has issued a type- written notice of summer trips from Hot Island to Merthyr Vale. Perhaps the wag would not object to taking the first trip himself as a means to cool his ardour. The debate at the Institute on Monday evening was well attended and was really most instructive. At one time it looked like getting too warm, when Mr. Alfred Morgan intervened and rightly so. A good conundrum reaches me in re- ference to the wild donkey at Matthews- town. What is the best method to catch him? The answer is: Get into a field and make a noise like a carrot and he will come to you. Don't tell this weird story to any friend who is about retiring to bed.

Should Women have votes? Certainly! f || I |ii|j They Have shewn their intelligence by voting I ^IJEiROOK'S J- SAUCE I I Best I | | Vorlcl J j Fashions for Whitsuntide. Special Show of High-Class Novelties and New Coods 0 5 This Day and Daily during the Month. IR. T. JONES a Co. MERTHYR, Beg to announce that they have now received further large de- r liveries of Summer Goods, in- Great Show of i j• T TJ r Summer Fashions. c U(^m§ t^ie Latest Ideas for Ladies', Children's and Gentle- The Smartest and men's wear. Never were the most Desirable Showrooms and various depart- ^for^the8 ments so attractively filled with SeaSon, smart novelties. A visit is sure to interest you. Everyone may « £ j pj freely inspect the New Goods. No one importuned to purchase. An Important Point is the remarkable value of the goods exhibited. The cold and inclement Spring has compelled manufacturers to clear large quantities of their stocks at lessened prices. Full advantage has been taken of this. Customers will appreciate the special value thus placed before them. R.T. Jones o High Street, Victoria Street, Central Street & Market Square, Merthyr Tydfil. NAT. TELEPHONE, No. 165. DQ YOU d want Furniture ? We I WANT I your custom., We are noted for Good, SubstantialH FURNITURE I and have an enormous Stock to select from, which jn ~ppi> I Cash or Gradual*Payments. It will cost you S NOTHING H to inspect our Windows, and be convinced for yourself. I All Goods delivered free. Catalogues free on application. H VICTOR FREED, »orJ £ JeSe,.| 3 and 4, IVjisl^in Road* Mountain Ash I Nat. Tel.: 0162, No connection with any other firm, IH REACH OUT JtHT. AND Take jfflBT Hold BEHV OF JlW Good 11 Health w Always have po bottle of Tudor Williams' Patent Balsom of Honey WHAT IT IS I Tudor- Williams' Patent Balsom of Honey Is an essence of the purest and most efflU cacious herbs, gathered on the Welsh l\ Valleys m the proper season, when their virtues are in full perfectioa and combined with Pure Welsh Honey! All the ingredients are perfectly pure j WHAT IT DOES! Tudor Williams' Patent Balsom of Honey Cures Coughs, Colds, Bronchitis, Asthma, Whooping Cough, Croup, and all dig! orders of the Throat, Chest, and Lunlra. Wonderful Cure for Children's Cough, after Measles. It is invaluable to weak- chested men, deli-ate women and chil- °ren- -1.1; succeed* where all oth«r reme- dies fail. Sold by all Chemists and Stores in Is. 2s. 6d., and 48. 6d. bottles. WHAT IT HAS DONE FOR OTHERS. A Stipendiary and Magistrate in tka County of Glamorgan remarks:- I feel it my duty to inform you that have been using your Tudor Williams' Balsam of Honey in my family, which if a l&rge one, for many yeare, and hara proved its great value, having ased noth- ing else for Cough during Meaelea. Whooping Cough, and Bronchitis, and can highly recommend it to all paresta for such complaints. YOU NEED NOT SUFFER I Disease is a sin, inasmuch that if you act rightly, at the right time, it can, to a great extent, be avoided. Here is the preventative. The first moment you start with Sore Throat, take a dose of Tudor Williams' Patent Balsom of Honey It has saved thousands! It will save you' • It is prepared by a fully qualifted chemist, and is, by virtue of its composi- tion, eminently adapted for all cases of Coughs, Colds, Bronchitis, Asthma, etc., it exercises a distinct influence upon the mucous lining of the throat, windpipe, and small air vessels, so that nothing but warmed pure air passes into thq lungs. It's the product of the Honeycomb, chemically treated to get the best results. The Children like it. THEY ASK FOR IT! So different from most Medicines. Nice to Take! Cure Quickly! For vocalists and public speakers it has no equal, it makes the voice aa clear BS a "bell. Manufacturer: TUDOR WILLIAMS, M.R.P.g., A.S.Apth Analytical and Consulting Chemist and Druggist, by Examination, MEDICAL HALL, ABERDARE. IMPORTANT TO MOTHERS. Every Mother who values the Health and Clean line&s of her Child should use HARRISON'S 'RELIABLE' NURSERY POMADE. One application kills all Nits and Vermin, beautifies and strength ens the Hair. In Tins, 4td. and M. Postage Id. Geo. W. Harrison, Chemist. 118, Broad-street, Reading Sold by all Chemists. Insist on having Harrison's Pomade. Agent for Aberdare: -]Emryo Evans, Chemist, 9-10, Victoria Square; Afenaman, 1. E. Thomas. EVERY WOMAN Should send two stamps for our 82 page Illustrftted Book, containing valuable ir,. formation how all Irregularities and Ob- strlction. may be entirely avoided or re- moved by simple means. Recommended by eminent Physicians as the only Safe I Sure and Genuine Remedy. Never Fails. Thoueands of Testimonials Established 1862. Mr. P. Blanchard, Daiston I-Aanot London National Telephone 21.] JOHN MORGAN & SON (ABERDARE) LIMITED, Builders, Contractors and Undertakers. Complete Funeral Furnishers and Funeral Directors. Estimates given for Bricked Graves and Vaults. ALL ORDERS PROMPTLY ATTENDED TO AND CARRIED OUT AT MOST REASONABLE PRICES. Orders taken at the Offices: Penydarren Street and 4 Stuart Street, Aberdare.