Rhondda Leader Maesteg Garw and Ogmore Telegraph

The Omnibus. Rhpadda- District Council paid over *5,000 in salaries last year. The estab- iishment ekargee for the same period amounted *0 £ 1,844. -+--+- An ox walkfcd into a butcher's shop at Perth the other day, and considerable difficulty 1184 experienced in getting it out again. Probably he came to look for a long-lost brother. -+--+- There is oilly one basket-maker in the Rhondda. There is no available data to show what profits he makes in this absence f competiioiea,. -+--+- IT The Rer, Il. H. Jones, R.A., pastor of Jerusalem, Tom., is throwing himself into the, Cymreigyddioa movement heart and soul. Mr. Jaxes is a great lover of S&tiquities, conducted an Antiquarian polumn in a Carmarthen contemporary *or some years. A Treorcfay Cork dub visited Blackpool a week or tw. ago, a. saloon being specially ckartered to convey them to the of the North. They booked jodgings for st fortnight, but ere a week elapssd kalf of their Lumber were compelled to return home—cleared out. ♦ • There are 913 dressmakers in the Rhondda, the trade next in numbers being Jhe bakers *ritk 166. Bootmakers number ^57, whikfc barbers come a good fourth with im. -+--+- The cost of scavenging the Rhondda last year amounted to nearly C7,0001. The scavenging and watering of roads and streets is responsible for another £ 1,791. -+--+- A Baptist! minister residing not a hun- dred mile# from this office was busily eagaged one day this week in digging up a portion of his garden. We were always Convinced tkat there was a lot of spade- Work in connection with preaching, Some people have queer ways of spend- Ing a holiday. A number of Llwynypia colliers took a one-day excursion trip to London last week, and spent the whole of the day in a public-house near Padding- ton Station. On their return they told Some wonderful tales of London sights to their friends. -+--+- Prof, D. Jenkins, Mus. Bac., Aberyst- wyth^, gave some good advice to parents at Colwyn Bay last week to buy their children little harps to practice on in- stead of gramophones and other latter- day contraptions. We have suffered un- duly from the tinned music invasion In the Rhondda; a street organ has more soul by far. -+--+- It is surprising to think that in a large community like ours, where the bulk of the population is Welsh to the core, no effort is made to foster a love of the "Welsh language and literature. Cymro- dorion Societies ought to be formed in Such large centres as Tonypandy, Tre- brchy, Porth; and Ferndale. One existed Ton until very lately, but we have heard nothing of it since Tom Davies donned the ambulance uniform. Have the visits of some of the leading men of the country killed the Ton Society? -+--+- An Abergorchy collier, who had the ;misfortune to possess a wooden leg, one day wished to leave the mine at an early in order to attend a funeral. He Accordingly stumped his way to the over- man of his district, and asked the neces- Sary permission. "No indeed," indig- nantly replied the official, you can't go. »Why, if an angel with a wooden leg asked tne to-day, I wouldn't let him off! ♦ It is related of a well-known Treforest minister that when preaching he never misses an opportunity of having a "sly dig" at the sleepers in the congregation. One Sunday night he occupied the pulpit of a chapel at Ystrad, and there was an overflowing congregation. The heat, how- ever, had a very soporific effect upon some of the deacons in the big seat," and this greatly disconcerted the preacher. Then the little boys in the gallery became very uneasy, and this was the divine's opportunity. My dear boys," he said, appealingly, please do not make a noise, or you'll surely wake some of the people downstair* -+--+- Muck prominence is given in these ^ays to the conditions of life among shop- workers. They are hardly, better-or |fOrse—than in 1844, when Tom Hood pub- lished the following verses — Pity the sorrows of a class of men, Who, though they bow to fashion and frivolity, -^o fancied claims, or woes fictitious pen, But wrongs all wide, and of a lasting quality. Oppress'd and discontented with our lot, Among the clamorous we take our station; A host of ribbon men—yet there is not One piece of Irish in our agitation. ;We do revere Her Majesty the Queen; b:1 We venerate our glorious constitution; joy King William's advent should have been, And only want a counter-revolution. i\V e love tho ipx-to serve them is a bliss I We trust they find us civil, never surly; All we hope of female friends is this: That their last linen may be wanted eariy. Oh! who can tell the miseries of men, That ■•rve the very cheapest shops in town; *ill faint and weary they leave at ten, Knock'd up by ladies beating of them down! But has not Hamlet his opinion given? (O Hamlet had a heart for draper's ser- "rants!) Ahat eusfom is—say custom after seven— 14ore honoured in the breach than the observance. 00-vie, then, ladies gentle, come in time! O'erwheim our counters, and unload our rp shelves; torment us all until the seventh chime, let us have the remnant to our- selves. long for thoughts of intellectual kind, _And not to go bewilder'd to our beds, With stuff and fustian taking up the mind, -&Itd pins and noodes running in our heads; side with toil and lassitude extreme, often tttlnk when we are dull and vapoury Paradise was all supreme, that Adam did not deal in drapery.'» ij-ew use has been found for those people—policemen. In certain ear! London they are utilised to call lieoS Workers in the morning. Many span w^°. hare tried alarums, wet ^^8es, trick beds, and various other UiaT8 may now fall back upon unstable as a nffcans to get them There was a case of a man L who, having tried all other things, at last covered a room with cork and engaged a valet of herculean strength, whose duty it was to pull his master out of bed, and, in spite of his struggles, throw him into a cork-room and turn a hose on him..He invariably dismissed his valet in the morning and raised his wages in the evening, but the policeman is a much better invention. If the subject indulges in abuse or violence, as is most likely to happen in such a case, he will be marched off to the police station-a sure way of being awakened. Mr. Harry Evans, conductor of the celebrated Liverpool Choral Society, found time from the Festival to give his first rehearsal to the Salem (Llwynypia) Choral "Union on Wednesday. The work in hand this year is Brahms' "Requiem," the biggest enter- prise of this choir. Mr. Evans spoke most encouragingly of the preparation up to date, and paid deserved compliment to Mr. Ayton Jones for good promise in his laborious effort. Miss Granville, daughter of Mr. James Granville, was tested by Mr. Harry Evans on Wednesday. He gave his -emphatic opinion that her voice had splendid qualities for the trainer to work on, but suggested, as she is very young, a quiet period with the voice, but a strenuous lourse of general and musical education for the present. ♦ ♦ The inhabitants of Tonypandy and dis- trict were startled on Monday evening last by the appearance of a weird light that was seen flashing from point to point. Some were anxious to know if it was an- other German airship hovering about, others equally anxious said the German invasion had begun, but, after a little inquiry, it was ascertained the search- light belonged to the Tonypandy Empire, from the top of which it was being used to waken people up to the fact that inside could be seen a fine variety programme.

PHOTOGRAPHIC Half-tone and Line J)L Blocks for all classes of Printing are supplied at most moderate charges by the "Hhondda Leader" Limited. Apbly- Manager, Rhondda Leader Offices, Excel- sior Buildings, Tonypandy.

Cwmparci The Cwmparc Corps of Boy Scouts had the useful experience of undergoing review on Saturday last, the inspect- ing" officer being Lieut. H. R. Jenkins, Ystradfechan. The boys were given but short notice of the event, but in quick time Scoutmaster Haydn Evans mustered his forces, and very trim and neat his troop of twenty-four looked as they marched in splendid order into Ystrad- fechan Grounds. They performed several smart evolutions on the lawn, and went through intricate Indian club exercises with precision and accuracy. Patrol Leaders A. Middleton, W. H. Jenkins, and D. M. Breeze were in charge of the local fire hose and reel, and the boys found the hydrants in several places along their line of march, and extin- guished imaginary fires with zeal and thoroughness. Subsequently the boys were entertained to tea by Mr. Jenkins at the Park and Dare Institute, Treorchy, and it was gratifying to note that they main- tained their highly disciplined standard of attack," for certain dainties were demolished with a most admirable thoroughness. Mr. Jenkins delivered an interesting address, in which he compli- mented the Scouts on their efficiency. and smart appearance, for which Scoutmaster Haydn Evans deserved much credit. He emphasised the importance of drill and of a proper sense of discipline, and trusted that the Scout movement would soon em- brace all the boys of Cwmparc, Treorchy and Ynyswen so that a grand field day could be held at Ystradfechan Field. Mr. Jenkins also entertained his juvenile audience with reminiscences of his Public School life at Clifton. A vote of thanks to Mr. Jenkins, proposed by Patrol Leader Jenkins, and seconded by Patrol Leader Middleton, was carried with acclamation. An interesting revival of an old-time custom which had become almost obsolete locally was made at Owmparc on Satur- day, when the Loyal Edward Lodge of Oddfellows (M.U.) treated the village to a turn-out." About two hundred mem- bers (exclusive of a great number of juveniles) formed a procession, and glistening regalias and emblazoned banners added quite a gay touch to the occasion. The day was fortunately very fine, and marching" was presumably quite a pleasant recreation to the martial strains of the Cwmparc Silver Band. But we missed one feature which afforded us much delight in childhood's days. Where were the gallant horsemen of old who used to lead the procession? We have fond recollections of the collier turning equestrian, swaying precariously on his unaccustomed seat the while his shield caracoled to the accompaniment of the huzzas of the small boy. The subse- quent feast at the Park Hotel on Satur- day (Host Munday proving an excellent caterer) was a big success. We hope the object of the procession will be justified by an influx of new members. Excellent preaching was heard at the half-yearly services at Park (C..M.) Chapel on Sunday and Monday last, when the Revs. H. P. Edwards, B.A., Llanelly, and Wm. Davies, Aberdare, occupied the pulpit. There were large congregations at each meeting. Quite a reverberating echo of the wed- ding festivities of Mr. David Davies, Llandinam, will shortly be heard m the Rhondda, for the children of workmen in the local Ocean Collieries are to be given a tea in the schools and a day's sport in Ystradfechan Field. The arrangements are well in hand, and to set the juvenile mind at rest, we hasten to inform them that September 29th is to be the red- letter day.

q C. ANNikOT iBrrE iuE.QvU, ALvLE,D sFOR: I KITLEY'S CANNOT BE EQUALLED FOR Natural and Artificial WREATHS, 212 Oxford 8t.i opposite Natoinal Schools and Oentral Stall Market 8WANSEA.

A GOOD WAY TO BOTTLE FRUIT. First get some good, strong bottles or pots, next fill the bottles to the neck or shoulder with fruit not quite ripe, which must be perfectly dry. Fill the bottles with clear cold water, place i, a saucepan of cold water, taking care that the bottles are not allowed to touch each other; put on the fire, and when the bubbles rise freely in the bottles of fruit (in about ten minutes or so), remove from the fire and set them aside, and when quite cold pour on sufficient pure olive oil to oover the top of the fruit. Tie down with parchment paper, and the fruit will keep for When required for use, take care U skim off aU the oil, and add sugar when cooking. 11\ Marriage for Money. i A Short Complete Story. [By RICHARD CARE, Cardiff.] A little crash. A sudden upward flight of a thousand red sparks, as the fire, burnt hollow, collapsed upon itself. The small log burst again into an inter- mittent, yellow flame. Dr. Trevale, seated in a deep armchair before the fire, enveloped in a dressing gown, awoke with a start from the doze into which he had fallen. A deep gloom had settled in the corners. Grotesque dancing shapes twisted and squirmed upon the wails. A strange sense of loneliness came over him as the fire burnt lower. And as the yellow tongues from the log grew smaller and yet smaller, and the surrounding blackness became more and more accentuated, so did an inexplicable sense of uneasiness grow stronger and yet stronger in his mind, and he found him- self glancing suddenly and fearfully behind him. He rose to" Ms feet, and a little cry escaped him as his own shadow, huge, unshapely, rose suddenly on the opposite wall and faced him. My nerves seem to be all unstrung to-night, he muttered, as he stepped towards the large, four-posted, oaken bed, with its overhanging drapery. If I am invited another year to Llanedarne Castle, I shall specify for a smaller and less ghostly bedroom. This darkened place gives me the creeps." He took his watch from beneath the pillow, stooped, and held it in the red glow of the fire. Just Christmas Day," he whispered, as he rose. He placed another log upon the fire, watched for a moment as the revived flames flickered round, and tentatively licked it, then crept into bed. It seemed but a moment, and he was sitting up again. He heard the echo of a terrified shriek ringing in his brain. He saw that spurts of flame were bursting from the fresh log, that the grotesque shadows upon the wall were leaping and jumping in a wild, riotous dance. All was silent* | Yet in the recesses of his brain he still heard the re-echoing cadences of a woman's shriek. He listened. For a moment he heard nothing but the crackling of the log, and the muffled, erratic beating of his own heart. Then suddenly to his quickened senses came the sound of light footsteps flying down the corridor. His bedroom door faced the passage. He knew instinctively that they were making for his room. Almost immediately he heard a heavier step, evidently that of a man, enter the passage. The nervous feeling he had before ex- perienced still gripped him. The fore- most footsteps reached the door. He heard the handle turn. For one brief, tense moment he stared fearfully at the door in the bickering firelight. Then with a crash, it was dashed violently open, and a young and beautiful woman, in evening dress, precipitated her- self into the room. Her velocity was so great that she had almost reached the opposite wall ere she could arrest herself. Then, in a flash, she turned, rushed to the open door, slammed it with both hands, turned the key that stood in the 1 lock, and stood panting as the heavy foot- steps of a man rushed up. For a moment she stood thus, in a listening attitude. Then her dark eyes opened in a wild terror. She grasped the handle in two white, beringed hands, and crushed her dainty shoulder against the panel. The man outside had retreated a few steps up the passage. The doctor still sat up in bed; powerless to move, gripped by that instinctive belief in the super- natural common to all humankind. He wished to move, to go to the help of this beautiful creature. But his body refused to answer the dictates of his brain. He clenched his damp hands con- vulsively-and waited. Still no cry escaped the girl's pallid lips. The footsteps of the man had ceased, The doctor knew that he was preparing to dash down the door. The girl knew it also. She was strain- ing every nerve. She turned, dug her heels into the thick carpet, and placed her back against the door, while with both hands she held the frame in a desperate grip. Two dark eyes, shining with an un- natural brightness, stared from her marble-white, fear-stricken face. Her bosom rose and fell in quick, con- vulsive movements as she panted under the strain. Then came the rush. Half a dozen quick steps, and the man outside threw himself madly against the closed door. It shivered under the terrific impact. The upper panels leaned momentarily in- wards. The woman straightened herself into rigidity. Her breathing ceased for a brief moment. Then again the man retreated up the passage. Still no cry escaped the girl. Yet again she braced herself for the shock. The doctor's brain was on fire. He made a wild effort to leap from the bed. But his body was as if turned into stone. His muscles refused to act. And still he remained, his brain at the highest pitch of excitement, yet his body paralysed, immobile, helpless. Again came the headlong rush. Again the door bent inwards under the pressure. A crack appeared down the length of one of the panels. The woman threw her head back in despair. The firelight played upon her ghastly features, now tingling them with a rosy glow, now emphasising their pallor. Suddenly she set her white teetli. An agonised expression swept over her face. She threw all her forces into one last despairing effort. Again the rush of steps. The upper part of the door leaned in- wards. The hinge had broken. The lock gave. The door fell. The woman darted away, and for a moment faced the opening, then with arms uplifted in supplication, and dark eyes mutely pleading, she fell to her knees as a man of herculean build, his repulsive face red with fury, murder in his eyes, the foam at his lips as at the mouth of a mad beast, leapt over the fallen wood- work, and hurled himself upon her. His great red hands gripped her white throat. Then, for the first time, the doctor heard a low sobbing moan of utter fear. It seemed to further infuriate the man. With a hissing curse he flungher back- wards to the floor. She lay still for a moment. With a quick gesture the man glanced round the room. His eyes fell upon the heavy brass poker lying upon the hearth. He picked It up. As a dueller selects a sword he balanced it in his hand, and seemed to mentally consider its power. The woman was rising weakly from the floor, supporting her weight with her hands, her head hanging limply. A shudder passed over her as she heard the metallic clink of the fireirons. She moaned despairingly. The man turned with a snarl to his victim, and stood over her. She raised herself to her knees. Her pleading eyes would have melted a heart of stone. Every movement, every gesture, every guttural curse, every rustle of the silken dress, bit deeply into the doctor's brain, and left its impres- sion, as the stylus in wax. The man lifted the poker. He let it rest lightly upon his broad back. Then, his mighty chest suddenly expanded. His heavy underjaw shot out. The light of madness seemed to scintillate from his red eyes. The iron rose suddenly. For a brief moment it balanced above his head. Then something seemed to snap in the doctor's brain. His body, released from the paralysis that had enchained it, pulsated with life. With a wild, indig- nant cry lie leapt from the bed. He saw the downward movement of the arms as he hurled himself upon the murderer. A hissing curse. A moan. A muffled, cracking thud. The doctor closed his eyes instinctively as he continued his rush. He came with a shock against the wall. Great heavens! He had passed through them! He turned. The woman lay, a huddled heap, three yards from him. The man stared at his Even as the doctor looked, and as a cold dread gripped his heart, they were becoming indistinct. He clasped his hands bewilderedly to his head. His brain spun round. They were dematerialising before his very eyes! Another moment, and a wisp of white mist was all that remained. He staggered blindly forward,, fell into the armchair, and collapsed into insensi- bility. CHAPTER. II. The following Christmas illness was rife in London. Dr. Trevale left the bedside of a patient as the bells tolled out the message of peace and goodwill. An hour later, responding to an urgent summons from a Mrs. Thurston, a lady of whom lie had never before heard, he stood in a reception room of that lady's house. For a few maments he gazed idly round the well-furnished apartment. Then suddenly lie found his attention arrested by a silver photograph frame, the back of which was turned to him. It stood upon a small ebony table near the middle of the room. He found him- self idly speculating upon the unseen photograph. From an idle speculation it became an uncontrollable desire. He must see the face. He stepped to the table and picked up the photograph. Then he fell back with a gasp. Haw well he knew the face. It had impressed itself upon his memory as none other had ever done. How well he remembered the bestial mouth, the fierce eyes. That deep ridge between the brows. •' Will you come upstairs, doctor? Mrs. Thurston, a woman of haughty demeanour, but now fatigued looking, entered the room. The doctor replaced the photograph, and his brain still full of terrible reminiscences, followed her upstairs. He hardly heard her reason for having passed her own doctor, and sent for him. He grasped in a vague fashion that Mrs. Thurston's daughter, Violet, was now quite; calm, after a sudden and severe attack of nervous hysteria. Even as he entered the bedroom he was still re-enacting in his mind the vivid dream-tragedy of last Christmas. Dr. Trevale stepped forward to greet the patient. Then he reeled suddenly. and grasped at the foot of the bed for suppart. Again he glanced at the pale, white fact, at the dark, brilliant eyes. Good heavens! he gasped, the girl in the castle." Quickly recovering himself, he went to her bedside. The girl hastened to ex- plain that she was but suffering from the nervous effect of a terrible nightmare. And as the doctor listened a strange theory quickly developed in his mind. Are the incidents of your dream still fresh in your memory? he asked. Quite." Will you tell me them? The girl shuddered. "No! No!" she gasped. Then I will tell you," returned the doctor. The girl's eyes opened wide with fear as he proceeded. There is a man, a huge, ugly man, in your nightmare. He ptrrsues you. He breaks down a door when you attempt to escape him. He threatens you with a heavy poker. He Shall I proceed? For a moment the light of a terrible fear showed in the girl's eyes. A terrified moan escaped her lips. She covered her eyes with her hands as if to to shut out the memory. Oh, 'don't—don't," she wailed. c, I will not," replied the doctor, consol- ingly. I may have appeared merciless to you, Miss Thurston. But I feel-I would not speak if I did not feel that what I say is true-that a great tragedy is being played upon the stage of our lives. Your are a principal. I am but a super. But my role is, nevertheless, an important one." The doctor's eyes grew fixed and abstract. As the soothsayer in Julius Caesar, I cry, 1 Beware the ides of March.' For the ides of March' substitute the name of the man with the heavy jaw whose phonograph stands in the room I have just left." Mr. Loede, I presume you refer to," interposed an icy voice behind him. Dr. Trevale swung round. For the moment he had forgotten the presence of Mrs. Thurston. The words he had spoken seemed to have come from him in spite of himself. He experienced a sudden mental shock as the freezing accents of Mrs. Thurston fell upon his burning mind. For a moment a deep silence reigned, then she observed in a freezing tone: The fact that my daughter is engaged to be married in a few months to this gentleman might also lend satisfaction to what I consider your more than profes- sional inquisitiveness with regard to my family affairs." The injustice of the remark struck him like a blow. A burning flush suffused his faoo. Hot, indignant words sprang to his lips. Then again there uprose before him the snarling face of the man in Llanedarne Castle. The beautiful, pleading face of the girl. The face that even now lay framed in straggling masses of black hair upon the white pillow. A tumultuous flood of pity filled his heart, which gave place to a surging wave of contempt for the mother as Mrs. Thurston proceeded: I may also tell you that the match my daughter is about to make is one that, by reason of the wealth of Mr.Loede, is causing a great deal of jealousy among certain people." It might even," she added, insinuat- ingly, "be in the interests of certain people to do all possible to prevent that I match." The doctor's lip curled. He felt his I heart beating violently with suppressed anger. But outwardly he remained calm. j The worldly-minded woman seemed to shrink before his contemptuous stare. For J a few moments he could not trust him- i self to speak. He struggled with the j1 rage within him. It left his face as pale as death, his eyes dark and glittering. It was a face the woman remembered ¡ later. i "Madam," he said, and his voice was as clear, cold, and deliberate as hers had been. I may be mistaken, yet I feel certain that I am an instrument in the hand of fate. I was not called in to see your daughter this early Christmas morn- ing by any mere chance. I was called in to warn her. It is my small part in a great drama. I have stood upon the stage. I have uttered the warning. My part. is finished. I am no longer required. The chief characters will take my place, and the drama run on to its bitter climax, unless," and the dark eyes glittered, and he pointed a long, white finger at the now startled woman, ''unless you sink this contemptible desire for a rich match for your daughter. Unless you abandon this vile selling of a beauti- ful girl with a soul to a beast with a fortune. This man is mentally and physically repellant to your daughter. My instinct tells me that. They are as far apart as the poles. To join them in wed- lock is wicked, repulsive, loathsome. And I solemnly declare that unless you step in now, the dream scene in which your daughter has played a part to-night shall be enacted in grim reality. "I believe in the theory of a sub- conscious personality. The dream of your daughter was no mere dream. Her bodv was resting here. But she herself, her personality, the real self, the existence of which is unsuspected during waking moments, was elsewhere. Her dream was in reality an actuality. Her real self took an active part in the incidents of the so- called dream, while she lay apparently sleeping here. You may pretend to smile," continued the doctor, as a cynical look overspread the woman's face. You may pretend to disbelieve. But in your heart of hearts you know that I speak the truth." Mrs. Thurston laughed, a harsh, cynical laugh, that grated on his ears as he walked proudly from the room. The following Christmas Dr. Trevale spent with a literary friend in a small country house, away from the mud and slush of London streets, where he could appreciate the glorious exhilaration of Christmas to its full. He returned to town the evening of Boxing Day, and hailed a hansom. Sud- denly he started. What were the news- boys crying? "Murder!" He felt a cold chill pass over him. He had endeavoured not to think of the horrors of that early Christmas morn, two years ago. Yet he. had seen the net of fate being drawn about the two chief actors in his vision. He had read of their marriage. He had heard that Mr. Loede had purchased Llanedarne Castle. He was afraid that they might be there this Christmas. Nevertheless, it might not- He bought a paper. In staring charac- ters he read, Terrible murder in a Welsh castle. Mrs. Loede, the-" The paper fell from his nerveless grasp. Enough. Enough. He knew the rest.

Ystrad-Rhondda. A grand supper organised by the Court Lily of the Valley," Ancient Order of Foresters, Ystradyfodwg District, No. 3,484, was held at the Greenfield Hotel, Ystrad, on Saturday evening last. It is now 50 years since the court was first opened, during which time many changes have taken place. Many of the brethren who took pari in the opening are gone the way of all flesh, only one remaining. to-day. In the absence of Major Dyke (manager of the National and Provincial Bank), Pentre, Bro. Thomas Chapel pre- sided, assisted by Bro. Bower, D.C.R., Cardiff. After a sumptuous spread, a presentation and concert took place. The secretary, Mr. Wm. Phippen (Penrhys Road), gave a detailed report of the first ten years of the Society's existence. Bros. Chas. Herne and Geo. Knight were each. presented with a P.C.R. framed certifi- cate for services rendered to the Order as officers, for the last twelve months. The concert, in which items were contributed by Messrs. Tom Royall, Frank Royall, Joe Jones (Ton), and Rd. Davies (Ystrad), added considerably to the enjoyment of the evening. Mr. Arthur Collier presided at the piano. The usual vote of thanks terminated the meeting. We deeply regret to report the serious illness of Mrs. Ann Davies, Brook Street, who for several weeks has been lying in a critical condition. Mrs. Davies has reached an advanced age, and is the oldest member of Bethel (C.M.) Church,

-"AE OPENING ANNOUNCEMENT MESSRS. A E. Bennet & Co., Ltd., Watchmakers, Jewellers and Silversmiths, WILL OPEN THEIR LARGE AND COMMODIOUS NEW PREMISES AT 110, Dunraven Street, TONYPANDY, On Saturday, Sept. 24 WITH A Magnificent Selection of Choice and Up-to-date Jewellery, Electro-Plate, Clocks, Watches, etc. -0- Look at Our Grand Opening Offer! PHT Lever Watch 25/- (10 Years Warranty) With Massive Solid Silyer Albert Complete. Free Bonus of dozen finest quality Tea Spoons and Tongs to every purchaser of o/- worth and upwards. Don't miss this marvellous opportunity. Come and Inspect Our Windows. Watch and Jewellery Repairs a SpeciaUty. Competent Workmen kept en the Premises.

PERSONAL GOSSIP. The Princess Royal. The Princess Royal is most devoted to Scotland and the outdoor life there. Quiet and gentle as is the Princess, she is yet an excellent business woman, and is thoroughly conversant with all the work connected with the management of a country estate. She has shown and taken prizea with cattle, and is an excellent judge of farm stock. The Princess has brought up both her daughters to be as fond of outdoor life and country pursuits as she is herself, and has not in- sisted on mathematics and the more abstruse studies which were in honour in the Sandring- ham schoolroom, and were the bugbear- of the Princess in her youthful days. Russian Imperial Treasury. Commenting on the statement in a weekly paper that the Emperor of Russia has a Civil List of over a million sterling, Truth says: The fact is that the Emperors of Russia have no Civil List, as they draw ad Jib, on the Imperial Treasury, every rouble -in which is supposed to be at the absolute disposal of the Sovereign. It was said that during the year before his assassination the Emperor Alexander II. drew one hundred and twenty-live millions of francs from the Treasury in order to make what he considered to be an adequate provision for his i morganatic wife, Pi access Dolgorouki, and her children. Famous "Punch" Cartoonist, It is not easy to estimate the loss to Punch which is represented by the death of Mr. Linley Sambourne whose finely individual drawings have been a feature of its pages for more than forty years, says the Westminster Ga:fttc, Since the retirement of Sir John Tenniel he has been the mainstay of the serious draughtsmanship of the paper, and most. of the weekly cartoons in the last few years have been from his pen. His work has always been marked by perfection of line and elaboiate finish. A Long Parliamentary Career. At the close of the present Parliament the House of Commons will lose the services of Sir Mark Stewart, who has announced his intention of retiring from the representation of Kircud- brightshire. His Parliamentary career has been a long one, and although he has never taken a prominent part in debate he has done splendid work in many directions. Sir Mark, who is near- ing his seventieth year, first entered the House as representative of the Wigton Burghs in 1874. Three Lovely Sisters. Lady Elcho. whose birthday was the other day, was Miss Mary Wyndham, eldest daughter of the Hon. Percy Wyndham, and so sister to Mr. George Wyndham, Lady Tennant. and Mrs. Adeane. Sargent s brilliant painting of the three lovely sisters all dressed in white is still re. membered as one of his greatest triumphs. Lord Elcho is the third and eldest surviving son of the Earl of Wemyss. He was educated at Harrow and Balliol College. Oxford, and was M.P. for Haddingtonshire from 1003 to 1885, and for Ips- wich from 1886 to 189-5. Norway's Sailor King, King Haakon of Norway, who celebrated his thirty-eighth birthday the other day, had a severe apprenticeship in his youth. In the Danish navy, cadets dicing the first period of their ser- vice have the same work, rations, and quarters as ordinary seamen. So the King, during his first nine months on a Danish training-ship, had to take his turn in waiting on his messmates and in washing up the dishes after meals. This rough training has proved a valuable asset in his go- vernment. of a democratic race, and King Haakon has been popular with his people from the first day of his reign. He is a typical sailor Prince, hale and hearty, and that counts for much in Norway, where half, the population have the sea in their blood.

Griffiths and Thomas, SHOP-FITTERS, For FRONTS, ENCLOSURES, CASES ancl SIGNS. Estimates Free. Nat. Telephone, 2247, Tunnel, Queen Street, CARDIFF (Opposite St. John's Schools). 436 We Have Greatly Reduced in Price A NUMBER OF SECOND-HAND AND:SLIGHTLY STOCK-SOILED >nos & Organs To Clear Previous to Stocktaking, 1910. PIANOS from 4510. OHGAMS J53. SPECIAL LIST ON" APPLICATION. DALE, FORTY & Co., Ltd. PIANOS AND ORGAN MERCHANTS, High Street and Castle Arcade. CARDIFF.