The Aberdare Leader

Nodion. Gwr o ddysg a phrofiad ydyw Syr John Bhys, sydd wedi ei benodi yn gadeirydd y Comisiwn i edrych i mewn i hen gof- adeiliau yn Nghymru. Ai tybed y daw hen garchar Glyndwr yn Meirion ai hen aenedd-dy yn Maldwyn o fewn cylch sylw y pwyllgor newydd? Mae Syr John wedi bod yn ysgrifen-ydd dau gomisiwn, sef yr un yn nglyn a chau tafarndai ar y Sul yn Nghymru a'r un mewn cysylltiad a'r degwm. Fel y diweddac Mr. Darlington, o fendigaid goffadwriaeth, mae Mr. A. P. Graves, M.A., yr hwn yntau sydd arolyg- ydd ysgolion, wedi dysgu Cymraeg yn weddol dda. Wedi iddo feistroli digon. o Gymraeg i allu darllen a gwerthfawrogi caneaon Ceiycg, syrthiodd i gymaint cariad a hwy nes yr aeth ati o ddifrif i gyfieithu amryw o honynt. "'Ewy'n caru awen Ceiriog" ydyw ei brofiad yn awr. Myn y dylai Ceiriog gymeryd ei le gyda phrif feirdd Prydain. Wrth gwrs fe ddylai' Ped elai eetron- iaid ati i ddysgn iaith brydferth y Brython, byddai yn fantais ddeublyg. Delent hwy i feddiant o gyfoeth llen- yddol diail, ac hefyd celai ein llenorion &In beirdd haner cudd y cyhoeddusrwydd y deilyngent. Pan ga yr iaith Gymrasg ei lie yn mysg ieithoedd daear ca Ceiriog ei le yn mhlith beirdd y byd. Oblegyd annichonadwy ydyw cyfxeithu llawer o'i ganeuon goreu. Gwyddel ydyw Mr. Graves, ac efe, gyda llaw. ydyw awdwr y gan adna- byddus, "Father O'Flyrm." A ydyw Byrddau Gwarcheidwaid i gael pasio o fodolaeth? Yn sier, y mae peithredoedd fel eiddo Gwarcheidwaid Poplars, West Ham, a Mile End, yn drewi yn ffroenau y wlad, ac yn peri i ni ystyried o ddifrif ai ni fyddai yn well i'r Byrddau hyn fyned i ffordd Byrddau ereill—y Bwrdd Ysgol, er engraifft. Un o brif atdyniadau Llandrindod eleni, yn enwedig gan yr ymwelwyr Cymreig, ydyw "pierrot" o Gymro- Tom Evans wrth ei enw. Cana ganeuon ei wlad mewn llais baritone peraidd, a cha '• gymeradwyaeth fyddarol fel y dywed y newyddiaduron. Newydd- beth yn mysg y coons duon a gwyn- ion ydyw hyn. Eiluned Morgan, y Gymraes wladgar o'r Wladfa Gymreig, a achwyna fod Cyrary yn angbofio ac yn esgeuluso eu cydwladwyr yn Mhatagonia. Anfon- wch i ni ambell i bregethwr," medd Eiluned yn erfyniol. Achwynir yn ami fed gormod o bregethwyr yn yr Hen Wlad, Beth pe gwnelid i'r overflow" lifo i sianelau y Wladfa hwnt i'r Wervdd ? Beth sydd wedi dod o Gynghor Eglwysi Rhyddion Aberdar? Ai marw ydyw, ai ynte hunQ y mae ? Sibrydir tod yr anhawsder dwyiethiog wedi ei ladd, ac hefyd dywedir fod y gelyn wedi rhocli chloroform iddo. Beth pe byddai i rywun adrodd yn Eisteddfod Llangollen y mis nesaf y gan anfarwol a ganodd Ceiriog i eisteddfod 11 flaenorol yn ardal Dinas Bran, sef I- Can y Bastai ? Ar hyn o bryd y mae Mr Bryan, y masnachvvr llwyddianus o Gairo a'r Cymro gwladgar yn y fargen, yn treulio ei wyliau yn Llandrindod. Mae Mr Bryan a Mr Mills (Tarianydd) yr hwn sydd yn berffaith gartrefol yn yr Aipht, ar delerau tra chyfeillgar a'u gilydd. Parodd y newydd am farwolaeth Ira D. Sankey syndod i lawer, am y tybid ei fod wedi marw er ys talm o amser. Dyna ddigwydd i lawer a fyddont wedi bod yn hir yn mro dystawrwydd ar ol gyrfa o egni a diwydrwydd. Pan ddaeth enw Florence Nightingale o flaen y y cyhoedd yn ddiweddar yr oedd llawer yn teimlo fel pe bai y foneddiges ddyn- garol wedi adgyfodi oddiwrth y meirw, I am ei bod wedi bod cybyd yn gudd. Fel cydweithiwr a Moody y daeth Sankey i fri. Mae y blaenaf wedi huno yn yr angeu er ys blynyddau bellach, ac er y pryd hyny bu telyn ei gydymaith enwog ar yr helyg. Yn awr ca don newydd arni yn I-ardal lonydd yr aur delynau," Y Sul o'r blaen yr oeddym yn gwrando ar gynulleidfa o Saeson yn canu y don Aberystwyth" i eiriau Seisnig. Rhyfedd mor ghiar a diysbryd ydoedd y canu! Mor wahanol i glywed cynulliad o Gymry yn ei chanu a'u holl ddeall a'u holl galon. Ni fedd y Sais ysgyfaint cerdd y Cymro. Yn y rhan fwyaf o leoedd lie y cyn- helir gwasanaethau crefyddol yn Gym- raeg a Seisnig, dechreua yr oedfaon Cymraeg yn gynarach nag eiddo y Saeson. Beth sydd yn cyfrif am hyn ? Ai nid yw yn dangos aiddgarwch ere- fyddol y Cymro ? Hiraetha am gyn- teddau ei Dduw fel nas gall aros hyd unarddeg ar foreu Sul heb fyned yno. Rhaid iddo gael oedfa am ddeg o'r gloch, os nad yn gynt. Yn y Rhondda ar hyn o bryd y mae cryn drafodaeth o berthynas i redeg y tram-gerbydau ar y Sabboth, Mae rhai o eglwysi y lie yn protestio yn erbyn trafnidiaeth Sabbothol ar y ffyrdd. Yr anhawsder ydyw fod y tramffyrdd dan reolaeth cwmni, amcan yr hwn ydyw gwneud arian. Hefyd y mae y Cwmni yn cael cefn- ogaeth i gadw yn mlacn y trams ar y Sul am fod y bobl yn para i deithio ynddynt. Os ydyw y bobl yn awyddus am i'r cerbydau beidio olwynio ar y Sul y ffordd fwyaf effeithiol i'w rhwystro ydyw peidio rhoi cefnogaeth iddynt.

ARE YOU THIN P increase your weight 1 lb. per week and gain Strength and Nerve Force. Dr Cassell's Tablets will, if you are thin, increase your weight 1 lb. per week, revitalize the nerves, and invigor- ate and strengthen the whole body. They can be taken by stout people also without fear of increase of adipose tissue, owing to their extraordinary power of absorbing superfluous fat and converting it into blood, bone, muscle, and healthy flash. Mr W. C. Shadwell, 17, Woodrow terrace, Forest road, Melksham, Wilts., writes :—" I was exceptionally thin, owing to weakness of the digestive sys- tem, and I suffered from weak stomach and constipation. My weight before commencing Dr Cassell's Tablets was just over 9 stone in three weeks I had increased 4 lbs., and could enjoy my food better than for years. I continued for four months, and now a complete cure has been effected. I now weigh 10 stone, 2 lb., and do not feel the slight- est trace of indigestion." Dr Cassell's Tablets only cost 10id.; larger sizes, l/lt, and 2/9, of all chem- ists, and are a certain cure for nerve and physical exhaustion.

Mrs. Cholmondelay Browning: u Oh, yes, my dear; he got his money by ex- tremely hard work." Mrs. Upton Stokes-Trent: I thought it was left to him by his uncle?" Mrs. Cholmondelay Browning: a It was; but he had hard work getting it away from the lawyers." H'm! said the dentist, after he had examined an Irishman's aching molar. "The nerve is dead, that's the trouble with your tooth." « Sure, then," was the immediate reply, "the teeth must be houlding a wake over it."

Labour Jottings. BY "DEMOS." I see that the Aberdare Trades Council are going to revolt against hoardings. It is proposed to put up one of these triumphs of art on the Gadlys Trip, and the Trades Council are taking time by the forelock and opposing it before it is erected. They oppose it mainly, I pre- BUlle, not because it mars the surrormd- ing scenery, but because it is to be put up right in front of working men's cot- tages. Strange enough, the other evening, on the Gadlys, I saw a number of children, whose homes it is proposed to shut out of sight by this horrid hoarding, sitting in a group on the site of the proposed light-barrier. And what irony! They were singing Home, sweet home with all the power of their youthful lungs. Hoarding?, I suppose, are among the essentials of present day civilisation, and form some of the indispensables of business. So long as they cover blind, walls which are about as ugly as them- selves no one will object to them, but when they dare to shut out sweetness and light from the homes and lives of the people it is time they should be op- posed. Still they come, the rights of way. There is a dispute concerning a Tre- cynon path, and also about a road in the vicinity of Blaengwawr Farm. The later contention has culminated in police court proceedings, and the Stipendiary is so taken up with the matter that he has resolved to go out of his way and visit the spot. We will wait and see if magis- terial wisdom will be able to solve this intricate poser. Without passing any judgment on this matter-I will leave that to the Stipen- diary—it is evident that there is a grow- ing tendency among the landed in our neighbourhood to close against the people old pathways which plainly bear the im- print of feet of many generations. In many cases the attempt to shut out pedes- trians from these rights-of-way is simply a try-on, and it behoves Labour men to check the same, and make it a try-off. Dr. W. Lanzen Brown, editor of the "Physician and Surgeon," gives a medi- cal man's experiences, of the Workmen's Compensation Act. He declares that the house surgeons of hospitals who appeared in courts on behalf of employers or in- surance companies in actions under the Compensation Act had shown themselves, with few exceptions, the friends of the employers of labour and rich insurance companies, and their friendship was not always of a disinterested character. Quitetrue, Dr. Brown, and in this cate- gory toaj be included the "house sur- geons" l)f mines as well a6 of hospitals. Your c orrespondent, "Aberdare Cardi," writes some very pleasant nonsense about the "Western Mail" in the last issue of the "Leader.' To say that that journal is racy of the Welsh soil and represen- tative of the Welsh soul is ridiculous. Every member of the staff, from the edi- tor-in-chief down to the youngest office boy, might be a Welshman, but surely even that would not constitute a Welsh national paper. Ask the Welsh colliers of the Aberdare Valley what do they think of it. Com- pare what "Cardi' asserts with the action of the P.D. miners during the last few days and the irony of the situation will, I am sure, appeal to you rather forcibly. I could also ask "Cardi" if this paper's policy with regard to Sunday closing, the Temperance movement and other matters is a fair reflection of Welsh thought or Welsh sentiment, but I will refrain, for perhaps, after all, your correspondent is not serious. Since he has taken office Mr. John Burns has caused considerable anxiety to his friends, who fear that he is falling from political grace. Now they enter- tain grave fears lest he may develop into a Jingo, for it is said that there is not a more enthusiastic believer in his own Territorials than John. The other day he was on Salisbury Plain at 3 a.m., and throughout the day watched with keen interest the manouvres of the sham fighters. t I Another sign of the degeneracy of the once militant Socialist—John Burns has taken to motoring. While on Salisbury Plain he rode in his motor from one part of the neld to the other in order to have a good view of the operations. The German Menace has become the universal topic, and in many quarters it is held that a German in- vasion is only a matter of a few years' time. It is to be deplored that pro- minent Socialists have identified them- selves with the scaremongers. And here I should like to tell" Liberal," whose letter appeared in the LEADER for Aug. 8th, that the Socialst body as a body are opposed to Mr Blatchford and Mr Hyndman on this question. These two speak for themselves only. Mr Keir Hardie is a much more representative leader than either of the two mentioned, and he is dead against stirring up strife by repeating parrot-like, that war between England and Germany is in- evitable. The Tories and the monied classes are working up a scare because they are interested parties. War is the surest way to thwart home reforms and social improvements. Even the op- position in the House of Commons

ADMINIL Who's J? What's J ? Where's J? TH0 Up-to-date »■» Easy Payment I™ ■ IBB Furnisher's at PT CASH PRICES. | !j! tjj AM .NMI AH ill DEPOSIT REQUIRED." |faW| TERMS: worth of Goods 1/6 weekly. £50". We hava the Largest Stock of Bedroom Suites and Dining Suites in the Valley at prices to suit every pocket. Please give us a call and see for youselves. Jay & Co. employ no Canvassers oil Collectors. 8, COMMERCIAL STREET, ABERDARE.

Aberdare District Council OLD AGE PENSIONS. A special meeting of the above Coun- cil was held on Monday afternoon to con- sider a letter from the Local Govern- ment Board regarding the Old Age Pensions Act, recently passed by the Government. There were present: Mr. W. Rees, J.P. (chairman), Messrs. E. Stonelake (vice-chairman), L. N. Williams,, J.P., A. P Jones, Owen Powell, M. J. Harris, Thos. Bowen, David Davies, Illtyd Hop- kins, J. H. James, J- O. George, W. Thomas, and D. Jackson Thomas, with Col. T. Phillips (clerk) and Mr. Owen Williams (surveyor). The Clerk read the circular explaining the modus operandi of administering the provisions of the Old Age Pensions Act. The circular stated that the Pensions Committee should consist wholly or part- ly of members of the District Council. Outsiders could be co-opted if deemed necessary. This committee afterwards could appoint sub-committees so as to divide the work. Mr. D. Davies: The Pensions Com- mittee cannot consist of more than 20 members ? Clerk: The circular states that the number may be not less than 7 and not more than the total number of the mem- bers of the Council. Mr. Thos. Bowen was of opinion that they could not do anything that day until the full regulations had been for- warded by the Local Government Board. Mr. J. O. George: Then this meeting is fruitless. Mr. Stonelake thought that some good might be derived by. discussing the mat- ter. He was of opinion that a sub-com- mittee should be appointed for each Ward. Mr. T. Bowen: What about the ap- pointment of a Pension Officer r Clerk: The Exciseman will be the Pension Officer. He makes enquiries and reports to the committee. If the committee and the officer do not agree, he can appeal to the L.G.B. against the committee's decision. Mr. W. Thomas said that the present I excise man in Aberdare was an Irish- man. With all due respect to him, he (Mr. Thomas) thought that too much power was given to the exciseman. He sonsidered that a flaw in the Act. It would be much better if the officer could Welsh, which would be the language of the majority of the appli- cants. Clerk: You think that only Irishmen need apply? (Laughter.) Mr. O. Powell suggested that the whole Council constitute the Pension Com- mittee, but Mr. A. P. Jones thought they had better defer the matter inasmuch as the number might be fixed at 15, which would then necessitate five members being struck out. The Clerk also suggested that the matter be held over. In reply to Mr. Illtyd Hopkins, the Clerk said that forms of application would be obtained on and after October 1st at the Post Office. The Pensions Officer ivvould have to report on each claim. The pensions would be paid every Friday at the Post Office. In the course of further discussion the Clerk said it was about 1836 that an Act was passed requiring parents to register the births of their children. The Coun- cil would doubtless have some difficulty in ascertaining the age of some of the applicants. A birth entry in a Family Bible would be valid. Mr. Stonelake: IT1 buy a, Bible, then. Clerk:: But if you buy a Bible in 1908 and enter the birth for 1840, that will appear rather suspicious. (Laugh- ter.) Finally, 1fr. W. Thomas moved that this meeting stand adjourned until further regulations had been received, and that in the meantime copieR of tlhq Act be handed to members. Mr. J. H. James seconded, and the motion was agreed to.

iMirarsrj DERANGEMENTS Of THE UR1WARY ORGANS Superior to Copaiba, C'ubehs and Injections. No nauseating effects with these Capsules. Thousands use then! with universal success, wilc; ()X, 49, Haymarket, London. Post free, 3/G.

Miles's Annuai Outing. On Monday last the employees of Messrs. R. H. Miles and Sons, Aberdare, had their annual outing. The appointed place this year was Brynich, near Brecon. Mr. Tom Dix's char-a-banc and the Mardy ■" brake were requisitioned for the purpose of conveying the firmto that rendezvous. The weather was all that could be desired, and if ever a crowd enjoyed themselves Miles's crowd did so on Monday. Driving through Brecon, Mr. R. H. Miles, the senior partner of the firm, with Mrs. Miles and Mr. C. 'W. Miles, were picked up, they having jour- neyed there by train from Builth, and such was the ovation given them that the inhabitants of sleepy Brecon must have thought the King had arrived there. Reaching Brynich after a lovely drive, the tables were spread in the shade of the trees, and ample justice was done to the good things which were so bounti- fully provided. Luncheon over, Mr. Williams, of Brynich, placed his fields at their disposal for games and sports, and a real happy time ensued. After tea, which was also partaken of "In the Shade," and after votes of thanks were passed to Mr. Williams for the Use of hiR fields, to Messrs. R. H. Miles and Sons for their generosity in providing such a day's enjoyment, and to Mr. L. H. Miles and the Bakery Staff for the excellent catering, the return journey was commenced. A brief stay was effect- ed in Brecon, and then away for home. The drive over the Beacons, to the ac- companiment of music such as those "little hills" seldom, hear, was per- formed in fine style, and all too soon Aberdare was reached, and our annual outing was to an end. Perhaps one of the most enjoyable part of the day was the 'Football at Brecon," the combative parties being The Single Bigfeets" versus The Married Sprinters"; referee, Chef Hay- ter." The man of the day undoubtedly was cc Groom Jim," who evidently must have thought he was chasing Flora around the field. The redoubtable "Billy" Was also in fine form, and managed to cheat as fair as ever. The Midgets," who were scattered all over the field, played splendidly, but some of them didn't know which side they were playing for. When a goal was kicked for the "Married Sprinters," by the combined efforts of "Groom Jim" and Canon Moffat," the applause from the vast crowd of specta- tors was immense. Half-time was reached with no other score. After lemons, "Victoria Fred" took the ball right down the length of the field, and said he had scored a goal, but as nobody was looking they did not be- lieve him. However, "Billy" managed to score a goal for the a Single Men," and thus equalised matters, and as this was just before "Time" it was felt that a draw would be the inevitable result, but the newly-married man. did some silly trick, for which the referee award- ed the "single uru- a. penalty. This was kicked by a Billy," and the mar- ried uns'" custodian watched the ball rolling over the line, and never said a word, at which the crowd smiled, the "Single Bigfeets"" cheered, and the referee caHed time. Final score: Single Bigfeets, 2 goals; Married Sprinters, 1 goal.

Can Agnostics be SocialistsP VIGOROUS ADDRESS BY MRS. PENNY. Mr. John Phillips presided over a large meeting held in Victoria Square, Aber- dare, on Monday evening. The speaker was Mrs. Penny, wife of Mr. John Penny, -L.L.P. organiser, Sheffield. She dealt with the land question, and traced the history of ownership in land back to William the Conquerer. For the past centuries landowners had made the laws, and they had taken great care to pro- tect themselves. We had a House of Commons, but with the exception of a small group the interests of the mem- bers were identical with the Lords." The I country had had an Old Age Pensions Act, but it was a miserable thing. There were people who were too old to work at 50, but they would be too young at 65 to receive a pension. Lord Cromer had received a gratuity of -e50.,000 from the Government. He was getting too big for his boots in Egypt, so he had the sack, and this sum of money was something to put in it. When a workman got the sack he didn't have anything to put in it. (Laughter.) The speaker was proceeding to deal with rents when Mr. David Richards, solicitor, who was in the crowd, shouted, cc I've got X15 to pay to-morrow." (Laughter.) Mrs. Penny advocated a valuation of land by the owners themselves. If they valued it at a low figure, then the Government could obtain compulsory powers to purchase, but if the landowners inflated the value, then let them pay a heavy tax on that basis. Referring to the war scare, she said that financiers wanted interest on their money, and so they must plunge the country into war. If war were to take place between England and Ger- many, there would be a boom in trade for some time, but a period of depression would follow. She exhorted all to work for the betterment of the people, and re- marked that she would be ashamed to go before her God if she had only prayed and had done nothing more. Women in London .and other places who ■ were dressed like peacocks did so at the ex- pense of women and children who were in the gutter. When questions were invited, Mr. D. Richards asked: "Who pays you?" Mrs. Penny: My husband is responsi- ble for me, I don't know whether your wife looks after you. (Laughter and ap- plause.) One person asked: Is it possible to be a Socialist without being a Christ- ian ?" Mrs. Penny: I know many men who call themselves Agnostics who, though they admit that Christ was a good man, still refuse to believe in a hereafter, etc. But they are good Socialists. I believe that God Himself judges men by the way they live and not by the way they talk. (Applause.) Questioner: How has Christianity failed to perform for 2,000 years what Socialism now sets out to do? Mrs. Penny: Because it has never been tried. Christians do not put into prac- tice what they preach. How can Arch- bishops and Bishops with .215,000 a year and three palaces glorify the name of Him who was born in a manger? People go on Sunday to shove their burdens on the Lord, and do the Devil's work dlIt. ing the other six days. Face your own responsibilities, and don't place them on the Lord or anyone else. (Hear, hear.)

Jones: "That was a scathing sermon on mean men the parson gave us last Sunday. Wonder what Smith thought about it?" Brown: "Singular. I met Smith yesterday, and he said he'd like to know your opinion on it."

Merthyr Tydfil Union. Probationer Nurses. THE Guardians of this Union require -i- three Probationer Nurses, not under 21 years of age, ?or the Work- house Infirmary. Applicants will be required to satisfy the Board that they are well educated, and produce a certificate to that effect. The persons appointed will be bound for three years, At the end of the first year a bonus of C7 10s. Od, will be paid each Probationer if conduct satisfactory; at the end of the second year £10, and at the end of the third year £15, upon similar conditions. Outdoor and Indoor Uniform will be supplied, together with board and lodging. Applications, which must be in candi- dates' own handwriting, and accom- panied by copies of three recer.t testi- monials and certificate of birth, must be sent in not later than Wednesday- September 9th, 1908, upon forms which can be obtained (together with Rules, &c.,) upon application at my office, or by forwarding me a stamped and directed foolscap envelope. By order, FRANK T. JAMES, Clerk to the Guardians. 134: High street, Merthyr Tydfil, 11th August, 1908. n

IJVJJRY WOMAN Should send two stamps for our M pagll" Illustrated Book, containing valuable t" formation how all Irregularities and Ob- structions may be entirely avoided or ro- moved by simple means. Recommended by eminent Physicians as the only Safe Sure and Genuine Remedy. Never Fails- Thousands of Testimonials Iii3tablishad 18«2. Mr. P. Blanchard, Dalston lAn* London.

could not directly oppose the Old Age Pensions Bill. The easiest way to handicap the movement for the eman- cipation of the people is to create a war between this country and some other country. Social reforms will then be delayed for another 20 or 30 years. There was a deal of good humoured raillery at Aberaman pit-top on Saturday afternoon when the men were being paid. All's well was the ironical password used by several of the work- men as they glanced mournfuiiy over their small takings." One poor fellow's wages, after the price of a load of coal and other deductions had been made, totalled the magnificent sum of 6d. His chagrin was increased when he read at the foot of his pay sheet the wordst" All's well." Another person, who had been reading Browning during the strike and had become imbued with his optimism: was heard muttering- Mr Hann is in London All's well with the men." The S.W.D. News, referring to Mr Keir Hardie's attitude towards the war scare says, The junior member for Merthyr is not among the alarmists." Well it depends entirely upon circum- stances. When he has to announce the doom of sordid capitalism or the down- fall of a red-handed, stone-hearted auto- crat he is just the one to sound an alarm." •,