The Aberdare Leader

Shortage of Paper. To avoid waste in unsolds our readers are asked to give orders to their news- agents for regular delivery of the Aberdare Leader." Very shortly we shall be able to print copies to order only, owing to the high price and serious shortage of paper. The price has now increased by almost 100 per cent. since the beginning of the war, and the sup- ply of paper, due to the embargo on pulp from foreign countries, has been cut down as from March 1st by one-third. The newspaper owners of South Wales, in view of the increasingly heavy cost of production, have realised the necessity of charging for certain matter which hitherto has been inserted free of charge. In future the "Leader" will have to charge for all appeals, sub- scription lists, balance sheets, acknow- ledgments of gifts, etc., according to space occupied, with the exception of appeals from soldiers at th, front.

"Doctor, my daughter seems to be going blind, and she's just getting ready for her wedding, too! Oh, dear me, what is to be done?" "Let her go Tight on with the wedding, madam, by all means. If anything can open her eyes, marriage will."

Aberdare Easter Vestry. Insuring Churches Against Air Raids. A "Repeal the Act Cry. The annual vestry meeting of the Aberdare Parish was held at the Vestry Hall on Easter Monday, the Vicar, Rev. J. A. Lewis, B.A., pre- siding. Churchwarden, W. Edwards pre- sented the balance sheet for the year. He said that the money col- lected in this parish for church pur- pose last year was zC680 more than the previous year. He hoped that the Vicar and Mrs. Lewis had been so encouraged by the results of last year's Garden Fete that they would have a repetition of it this year. (Hear, hear.) Improvements had been carried out at St. Mair and the Churchwardens were satisfied with the work. With regard to the parish church renovations only about £10 was further required. Gravestones had been repaired at a cost of £20. From 350 to 400 stones had been at- tended to. With regard to danger from aircraft the committee did not feel disposed to risk such valuable church property as they had at Aber- dare. So it had been decided to in- sure St. Elvan's and the parish church under the Government Scheme, and he thought that some- thing should be done regarding St. Mair too. The report and balance sheet was adopted as satisfactory. In reply to Mr. Durden. Mr. Ed- wards said that the Aberdare churches were heavily insured against fire. rhe Vicar said that the warmest thanks of the meeting were due to Churchwarden Edwards for the mag- nificent work he had done in connec- tion with the renovation of the par ish church. Referring incidentally u Pai*ish collections for the year the vicar said that in the aggregate they amounted to a sum well over J22,OOO, which was very encouraging, indeed, considering the abnormal times we were passing through. The Vicar proposed the re-electilk, of fr. T. Lloyd as vicar's warden. Mr. J. Roberts proposed, and Mr. W. Parker seconded that Mr. W. Ed wards be re-elected people's church- warden. Both resolutions were agreed to. The Vicar paid a very high tribute to both wardens for their loval ser- vice. Mr. Lloyd very briefly responded Mr. Edwards in responding said that the old parish church had been designated the mother church of the Aberdare valley," and he con- sidered it the duty of the church- wardens to keep such old edifices in good repair. Personally he had taken great interest in the work of the renovation of the Aberdare pav- i^h church. He did so because his heart was in the work, although it meant a great drain on his time. The Vicar highly eulogised the work performed by the sidesmen of Previous ^ar. He explained that the duties of a sidesman em- braced much more than taking the collections, and he was glad to see local sidesmen taking such a compre- hensive view of their work. Sidesmen were elected as folloii-s: I Parish Church: Eucharist, Messrs T. Hayman and W. H. Templeman. I Children s service, Edward Morgan and John Davies, Harlech Place. I St. Elvans: Messrs. Harry Lewis, W. Davies, Glanant Street; Joseph Shannon, George Pavey, Mr. Jack- son, Monk Street; Messrs. G. T. Jones, J. Bradley Morris, J. Ed- munds, F. Griffen. F. Pardoe, H. Pritchard, F. J. Twissell. Mr. Durden moved a resolution of protest against the Disestablishment and Disendowment Act, and urging upon the Government to repeal the Act at the end of the war. Mr. J. Shannon seconded, and Mr David Thomas supported the resolu- tion. The Vicar remarked that we were urged on all sides to practise econo- my in order to be more able to fin- f"c.e, the war, and all the time the Welsh Church Commissioners and their clerks were drawing huge salar- 1C? i-f PrePai^§ way for dises- tablishment, and this money must ( cortie eventually from the national j exchequer. He. however, was confi- dent that in the end the Welsh Church was going to emerge tri- umphantly from its long period of trial and suffering. The proposition was carried unan.- ) mously. |

Cymanfa Ganu. I On Tuesday, under the auspices of the Trecynon and District Congrega- u10i j ^T™on a Cymanfa Ganu was held, in the morning at Horeb. Llwydcoed, and in the afternoon and evening at Ebenezer, Trecynon. The churches represented were Ebenezer, Siloh, Horeb, Salem. and Cana, Penywaen. The Pre- sidents were: Mr. William. T. Williams, Rev. J. Grawys Jones and Rev. J. D. Rees, morning, afternoon and evening respectively. Mr. Wm. Evans, Salem, conducted the juven- iles, and Mr. W. E. Thomas, Eben- ezer, the adults. Mr. Isaac L. Davies accompanied for the adults, and Mr. Evan G. Llewelyn for the children. The chairman of the com- mittee is Rev. W. S. Davies, Horeb; treasurer, Mr John Lewis, Ebenezer secretary, Mr. John T. Davies, Llwydcoed. Mr. David Evans, G. & L.. was the test examiner. Several hymn tunes and anthems were sung with great fervour.

The bride and bridegroom sat side by side. "Dearest," he 6aid, ""if I haa known that tunnel was so long I would have kissed you." "Didn't you kiss me?" she asked. "No," he replied. 'Well somebody did."

Easter Services. Body or Soul? Sermon on the Resurrection. On Easter Sunday morning, at Highland Place Unitarian Church, Aberdare, the pastor, Rev. E. i. Evans, dealt with the subject of the resurrection. He took as his text two lines from one of Ella Wheeler Wilcox's poems Roll the stone of self away And let the Christ within thee rise. Referring to the popular idea "f the resurrection of Christ, the preacher said that Unitarians did not believe in the resurrection f Christ's body from the tomb. The word resurrection came from a Latin term, and the mistake made by many people concerning the resur- rection was that they thought the dead body came back into life and re-appeared among the living. The Unitarian child was taught not to believe that. He was confirmed :n that view by St. Paul. Why did the disciples believe that Jesus's soul was living in an unseen world It was because of the greatness, the graciousness and the charm of his life. The Jews were never great be- lievers in life after death. That could be seen by reading the books in the Old Testament, especially some of the Psalms. The Jews al- ways prayed for a long, happy and prosperous life on this side of the grave, because they thought the grave was the end of everything. But Jesus lived such a good life as to convince the people of his day of i the reality of a future life. The charm of Jesus could not be shown better than in his tender love for children. He was ever their friend. Proceeding, the rev. gentleman emphasised how the famous John Brown had championed the cause against slavery in the United States. He worked in a heroic manner, and at last was made a martyr and exe- cuted for the stand he made for free- dom. He impressed his followers very much by his devotion to the cause, and the song of which the fol- lowing were two lines, was known wherever the English tongue was spoken: John Brown's body lies a mouldering in the grave. But his soul goes' marching on. That was the resurrection which r ni- tarians believed in: the resurrection of the soul to greater perfection, and not the resurrection of the dead body. And this was what he wanted his congregation to carry away with them this Eastertide— Roll the stone of self away, And let the Christ within you rise. Selfishness must go. and then the real soul would rise to greater heights of moral and spiritual splen- dour. May God in his gracious- ness," he concluded. send us this spiritual resurrection, this inward freedom, and then we shall be num- bered among that large host of real heroes, of whom Jesus and John Frown were such noble examples."

Trecynon and Llwydcoed j Notes. I BY MARCELLO. A local Romeo was the other day intro- duced to his prospective mother-in-law. He did not like her as much as he likes her daughter. Mrs. I thought that at Easter Mrs. I thought that at Easter you would be a time-expired widow, and that you would be re-enlisting in the ranks of matrimony. Why has the event been deferred ? The cannonading on Monday morning must have been a false alarm raised by some who were deceived like myself. He may be stylish but evidently he is not used to stiles. When negotiating the one on the canal bank the other day it gave way under him like a wicker basket, and when he was at last clean over he nearly came a cropper, bumping violently against "She." The trip to Cross Bychan, arranged for Easter Monday by a happy quartette from Trecynon and Llwydcoed, did not come off "owing to the inclemency of the weather," as the reporters say. I am told that the event was not exactly abandoned, only postponed to Whit- Monday. Wait and see. Miss came in late to a local place of worship last Sunday. Was it to show her new Easter costume, thereby in- curring the admiration of all the young men and the envy of all the young womenP Who won a bottle of whiskey in a j ung-throwing competition at a local intil The liquor came handy to quench his Easter thirst. A local mother sent six hard boiled eggs to her sou who is at the front. I believe that half-a-dozen chocolate eggs would have been more digestible. A certain young lady lavishes a lot of love on her pet puppy. She took it out for an airing last Sunday. She seemed to like the outing and the company of her four-footed friend, but "it" did not share the joy, for during the whole time it tugged violently at his mistress's skirt, and looked wistfully in the direction of "home, sweet home." T am told that the latest is that the Miners' Row residents have formed a syndicate to buy up the noisy piano and exchange it for a hurdy-gurdy. Marcello is to be offered the manipulation on con- dition that he gives up note-writing. But Marcello will not be gagged or bribed.

"My dear, what kind of a stone do you think they will give me when I die?" "Brimstone, my love!" was the affectionate reply.

Aberdare's By-Gones. BY CATWG. The following are a few leading in- cidents connected with the history of Aberdare and ite outlying districts irom an early period down to the latter end of the nineteenth century, collected and chronologically arranged especially for the gratification, I sincerely hope, of the numerous readers of. the "Aberdare Leader — (?)—Date of the erection of the Parish Church unknown. (Bell dated 1633). Iron first made at Hirwain by Mr. Maybery. 1726—The first public-house at Ton Coch was kept by a lady named Bess Knight, supposed to have been. a relation of the Bruce family, of the Dyffryn. 1750—The first "canal" in the valley was the one constructed in a coal level. near Tir-y-lluest, by the means of which water-way a small boat was able to haul out the coal easier and more economically than could be done other- wise. 1750—The first Tin-works was started at Gadlys by Mr. T. Wayne. 1751—The first Welsh Presbyterian Chapel, Hen Dy Cwrdd, Trecynon, was erected, and afterwards changed to a Unitarian Church. 1786—The first coal level at Hirwain, known as the Big Level, was opened. 1789—The first stone bridge was con- structed over the Dare River. 1792—The first dwelling-house at Tre- cynon was erected. 1793—The first public-house at Hir- wain was opened near the Works by Mr. John Watkin. 1799—The first workman's cottage at Abernant was built. 1799—Iron was first made at Llwyù- coed by fr. Scale. ISM-^Iron was first made at Abernant by Mr. Birch. 4801--Troii was first discharged from No. 1 Furnace at the Gadlys Iron Works. 1806--The first Welsh Calvinistk- Methodist Chapel was erected at Pentwynbach. 1811-The first Welsh Baptist Chapel. Carmel, Monk Street, was erected, and has been English since 1856. 1811—The first Welsh Congregational Chapel, Ebenezer, Trecynon, was 1 erected. 1823—The first smithy at Abernant WJI = built, by the Aberdare Iron Works Co. 1826—Mr. W. E. Phillips, landlord ot the Bon-y-groes Inn, the first public- house in the "village," died, aged 104. years, The house stood where the old iToTvn Hall Offices are situated. I 1830—The first locomotive engine u«ed } in the valley was invented by Mr. Gurnev. It weighed 30cwt.. and wa-s bought by Mr. Crawshay for the purpose iof hauling coal from Hirwain Common to Hirwain Works. 1832—The first market-house was the 'old Town Hall Offices. I 1836—Messrs. T. and W. Wayne com- menced the first steam coal pit at Cnm- nantygroes. 1837—The first public brewery wa.9 erected by Mr. Lewis Roberts near his own residence at Gadlys Uchaf. 1839—The first Welsh Wesley an Chapel. Soar, Hirwain, was erected. 1844—The first coal-pit was sunk at Aberaman by Mr. Grawshay Bailey, 1844—The manufacture of the first supply of iron at Aberaman was also I commenced by Mr. Crawshay Bailey. I 1844—Coal from Blaengwawr Colliery I was sent abroad for the first time. 1846—The first railway in the valley between Trecynon and Aberoynon was opened. I 1S46—The first Primitive Methodist I Chapel at Cwmbach was erected. 1853—The first Mechanics' Institution was opened. j 1854—The fiv-^t. Local Board of Health was elected. 1855—The first rate of 3d. in thev £ was made. | 1856—The first tender was accepted for the lighting of 19 public lamps with gas. 1857—The Burial Board was formed. 1857—Tho first English Congregational Chapel, Tabernacle, was er?cted. I 1858—Serpft. Mathews was apnointed the first Inspector of Lodging Houses, 1 he first: English Unitarian t Chapel, Highland Place, was erected, j 1859—The first Waterwork. Company j was foimed. 1860—The first burial in the Public Cemetery took place. 1860—The first Roman Catholic Church, St. Joseph's. Monk Street, was erected. 1863-Dr. David Davies, Bryngolw^. was appointed the first Medical Officer of Health. 1866—^The- first English Calvinistic Methodist Chapel, Trinity, was erected, 1867--The Dare River was first; arched [over between High Street, and Duke Street. 1867 The first, hansom cab licence was issued to Mr. Hosgood, Iron Bridge Inn. Also the first licence for a hackney carriage to carry five persons. 1869—Messrs. Hodson and O'Learv (r.'<'ently deceased) were appointed tie first keepers of thcl Public Park. 1869—The Public Park was formallv opened to the delighted inhabitants. v 1869-The first Local Board of Health election, after the division of the di- tnet into four Wards, took place. 1871-The newly-formed School Board met for the firs-t time. 1873—The first application was made for the exclusive use of the Public Pai l- 18í7-The first Fever Hospital was erected at Trecynon. 1878—The first barracks of the Val- valion Army was the Old Saw Milk. Maesydref. 18.9—The first English Presbyterian Chapel, St. David's, was erected. 1887-Perivii.ion was given for the first time to place a few pleasure row in" boats on the lake of the Public Park. 1888—The Plymouth Brethren's first meeting-place, Gadlys Hall, was erected. 1889—The first election of Connfv Oouneillors took place. 1890 Permission was given for the first time in the history of the Public Park to the eolhers for the holding of a inasv meeting. 1890--The first English Baptist Chap< j. oeulah, Aberaman, erected. 1894 It was decided to confer power" upon a company for lighting portion* of the town for the first time. 1894-The first election of the Urban District Council, which took the place Df the Local Board of Health, occurred In five Wards-Llwydcoed, Ghdh, Town, Blaengwawr, and Aberaman. <

r I VICTOR FREED, Mountain Ash, I Invites you to apply for his PIANO CATALOGUE Before purchasing elsewhere. VERY LIBERAL DISCOUNT fO | CASH BUYERS. S I Free Lessons. I I J

Mrs. Peck: "I hope you will often tlunk of me when you are away." Mr. Peck: "But, my dear, I thought it wa* going to be a pleasure trip." "Miss Flvte, do you think Miss Giggle is laughing at me?" "I say. Mr. Softleigh. She ofton laughb at abnoat. nothing."

The King Tailors PUT First things first. Value, Wear and Fit. The test of merit is not in flashy, up- holstered styles and low prices. The buyer wants long service-and gets it in a Stewart Suit because good tailoring is with us a first thought and second nature. For 36 years we have made value our motto-value all the time. That means a lot to you. Suits to Measure and to Fit. 30/- as usual and 35/6 39/6 & 42/- and upwards. SPECIAL BLUE SERGES 42/- 50/- 55/- LADIES' COSTUMES 37/6 45/- 50/- BOYS' SUITS 17/6 19/6 22/6 j No Fit No Pay- the Stewart Way. Stewarts 6. CANON STREET, ABERDARE OXFORD STREET, MOUNTAIN SH. Verthyr. Pontypridd, Tonypandy, Tredegar, Ebbw Vale, See. 135 BRANCHES LOXDON TO ABERDEEN. — The Ninth Annual JUVENILE I EISTEDDFOD I Will be held ill the Public Hall, Cwmaman, <1 SATURDAY, JUNE 24, 1916 I o- Chiff Events. Ju veniie Choir, own choice, j64 and £1 Action ong, own choice ti 10s. Duct-' The Child and the Flower,' 7s. 6cl. Champion Solo—• Fy Mam,' 10s. (id. Substantial Prizes also offered for Solos, Vocal and Instrumental. Recitations, Dialogue, Essays, Drawing, t c. Progr ainiuep (now ready) post free lid. to be bad from Secretary— W. -O LLOYD Isfryn, Cwmaman. ADVERTISE IN THE ———— [ABE RDARE LEADER. DENTISTRY. I Notice to the Public. j THE WINDSOR DEN?A £ INSTITUTE. (late MacCormack) have removed their Business from 2 Cardiff St to Groom' Surgery, 17 Canon Street, Aboreare. PAINLESS EXTRACTIONS PER 6d. TOOTH. ADVICE FREE. The Cheapest .pjaoo for Hopaij i Note Addrets: WINDSOR DENTAL INSTITUTE (Liti Mat Cormaok's), 17 CANON STREET, ABERDARE Dentistry. Mr. Tudor Williams has pleasure in an- nouncing that his old established Dental Surgery is now Open with practical, skilled Operators &. Mechanics. FROM PROFITS OR LOSSES? WE all advertise. A man advertises his ebaracter-by his deecjls, his wisdom by his words or by his silence. A merchant's store, stock and windows speak either well or ill of his business. So when a man says, "No I do not advertise," he knows not what he says. What he really means is that he does not publish printed advertisements. So you are paying for advertising either out of your profits or by your losses.

Abercynon Police Court. I Thursday, April 20.—Before Right Hon. Lord Aberdare (chairman,; I Col. Morgan Morgan and Messrs. I Thomas Jones, Griffith Evans ani W. Fenwick. Military Service Act. j Conscientious Objectors in Court. Gwilym ldns Smith and Emrvs I Hughes, certificated assistant te t ers; Percy James Kendall. plate j layer, Taff Vale Railway, and Betih 1, el Wm. Morgan, student of College, Bangor, were summoned'for 1 failing to report themselves under I tiie Military Service Act. Sergt. Major Johns' ev^ lenc? against each qf the defendants was that he sent notices to them (IT., April 6th to appear at the Recruiting Office, Mountain Ash. on April i-2. Neither of the defendants presented themselves. Defendant Hughes. asked to go into the witness box. declined to take the oath, but would affirm. His evidence was that the local tribunal said that he was a political offendev. Witness, continuing, said that I e was anti-war, anti-militarist, and anti-conscriptionist. and he would not obey military orders. Defendant Smith (from the dock) I would crave your clemency. I have an important point to put in front f you. The results of my appeal to the local tribunal and my appeal to the central tribunal were totally differ- ent. j Mr. T. Elias (the magistrates' clerk) We have nothing to do with the tribunals. Defendant Morgan said that he should refuse to obey military orders. Kendall had nothing to say. Each defendant was fined 40s. and ordered to await a military escort. As the defendants were leaving the court one of them shouted. Keep the red flag flying." There was also considerable applause in court, which was quickly repressed. One man was turned out. Dog Delinquents. Hugh Price and Elizabeth Thomas were fined 15s. each for having no licence for their dogs. Wm. Vaughan and Clarice Jackson were fined 5s. each for not getting licences in time. Sunday Trading. John Monks, Abercynon, was fined 5s. for a breach of the Lord's Day Observance Act. P.C. Kennard proved. Ill-treating Horses. m. Williams and Thomas Wil- liams, respectively, father and son, were charged, the former with C'aus ing two horses to be ill-treated and the latter with ill-treating the same. P.S. Clinch stated that he was in Edward Street, Abercynon. on Mon- day, April 10th. He saw Thomas Williams, who had two horses at tached to a coal cart. Witness ex- amined the chain horse and found a raw round on the side. and the chain was continually rubbing the wound. He examined the horse in the shafts, and under the collar was an on! wound — a running sore. Both horses were in a poor condition. On April 13th he saw Wm. Williams, who said that he took all the blame. The elder defendant urged that he had hauled house coal in Abercynon for Guest, Keen and Xettlefold for 20 years. His Lordship fined Williams, junr., 91, and in fining the elder defendant X5, said that his plea of 20 years' ex perience did not mitigate his offence, but rather added to it. Sheet Stealing. I Alfred Henry Sargent (12) and Wm. Sargent, his father, Milbourne j Street, Matthewstown, were chary ed, the former with stealing two bed sheets from a garden and the latter with receiving them, well knowing | that they were stolen. i Janet Edwards, 17 Pentwyn Avei; j ue, deposed that she put two bed ) sheets on the line to dry on the 7th inst. She missed them in the even- ing and told the police. P.C. Diniwiddy stated that acting upon information received he visited the elder defendant's house and saw I two bed sheets being dried by the fire. The elder defendant said that it was quite true that his boy had j brought them home, but he knew nothing of them, and was going to take them back. Williams- in defence said that his boy was incorrigible, and he couldn t control him. ¡ There were previous offences against the boy said Supt. E. Rees. 1 The Bench dismissed the charge against the father, and adjourned the case against the boy to find a ¡' suitable school.

Noddfa, Trecynon. On Thursday and Friday, at Nodd- fa (B.), Trecynon, performances of Sterndale Bennett's work, The Woman of Samaria." were given, th-* conductor being Mr. J. R. Evans. Cx & L. An orchestra under the direction of Mr. Tom Jones, Barry, was in attendance. The pianist was Miss Maud Thomas, A.L.C.M. 0". ganist,. Mr. Llew James. The fol- lowing vocalists gave their services Madam Bessie Morris, Ammanford, soprano, Madam Lizzie Davies. Tonypandy, contralto; Mr. R. O. Jones, Tonypandy, baritone; Mr. Willie Davies, Trecynon, tenor. On Thursday Mr. G. W. Fletcher, Aber- dare, presided, and on Friday Mr. E. Ll. Humphreys, chemist, Tre- cynon. The secretary was Mr Evan Evans; treasurer, Mr. William Hughes.