The North Wales Weekly News

PERSONAL AND SOCIAL. Lord Moistyn has accepted the iI:vitat; Jin of the London Executive to. preside at one of the National Eisteddfod meetings to be held at the Albert iRaLl in June. The students of Bala Theological. College com- memorated the Welsh patron, saint by holding a conversazione on Friday, when over 200 guests were present at the Victoria Hall. Professor Porter presided. The death took place on Saturday of Mrs. Morgan, wife of the Rev. T. J. Morgan (Garn), registrar of the Calvinistic Methodist Theo- gioal Cbillege, Aberystwyth. Mrs,. Morgan, who was sixty-six years, of age, had been an invalid for the past eight years,. < Sir Herbert. Robqrts, Bart., M.P., has con- sented to. act as President of the United King- dom Temperance and Provident Institution in succession to. the late Canon, Fleming. Mr. W. .Howell Da vies, M.P., has been elected on the .Board of Directors of the same institution in place of Canon, Fleming. Major the Hon. Thomas William Best, of Bar- mouth, for 25 years Chief Constable of Mer- ionethshire, and prior to that from 1879-1883 Adjutant of the HatLamshrire Rifles, brother of the fifth Baron Wynford left estate of the gross value of £784, of which the net personalty has been sworn, at £ 6i6. The, Rev. Rhondda Williams, pastor of Green- field Congregational Chapel, Bradford, has ac- cepted the call from the Union Church, Bright- on, of which, the, Rev. R. J. Campbell was for- merly the pastor. Mr. Williams, who. has been at Greenfield for 21 years, is regarded as Brad- ford's leading pulpit orator. He holds views similar to those of Mr. Campbell with regard to. Socialism and theology. < Mrs. Ellis, Griffith on Thursday afternoon gave an "at home" at the Welsh Industries Association's, depot in Lower Grosvenor-road, fBelgravia. She was supported by ia large number of lad.ies connected with the Princi- pality, including Mrs. Lloyd-George, Lady Edwards, Lady Newnes, Lady Brynmor Jones, Mrs. Llewelyn William's, and Mrs. Timothy Davies. Some new exhibits were displayed in pottery, laoe, and leather work, and a brisk sale ensued. Tihe Rev. Edward Griffiths, Meifod (the pre- sident-elect of the Clalvinstic Methodist North Wales Association), writes to the Goleuad calling attention to. an article on The Cry of the Home," written, by the Rev. T. M. Jones,, Colwyn Bay, which appeared in the Dry- .sorfa for Tanuiary, 1907. Mr. Griffiths believes that reform in the homes, is the chief religious need of Wales at present, and advocates the publishing of the article in pamphlet form. The article when it appeared drew much attention, and was referred to in many pulpits and church meetings. < iMr. Christopher F earlIle Priestly, of Hendre- graig, Llanffinan, Anglesey, an extensive farmer and energetic tariff reformer, who, contested Anglesey at the last general election unsuccess- fully, left £7,739 gross,, of which £ 3,528 is net personalty. He named, no. executor, residwarry legatee, or devisee of his win, and letters of administration, witE the will anneived, of his property have accordinglv been granted to his sister, Mrs. AinnabeHa -S-a>rah «ynn-Grimths, of PIJaSl Llainfair, Carnarvon, as the only next of kiln. The testator made the following bequests: To his. bailiff, William Thomas, three-fourths of his stock and the tenancy and goodwill of Hendregraig and Nant; to his cowman, Robert Thomas,, one-fourth of his stock and the tenancy and goodwill of Hynachdy; [20 to, his dairy- maid, Bets-.O-en; £ 2 for each year of ser- vice to his gardener, Griffith Jones; £ 1 for each year of service to. his carman, John F. Otwen. He left £ 100 to Mr. Thomas Pritchard, £200 to Mir. Robert Hughes, £30 upon trutst ela;ch for Jane and Elilen Grace Hughes ^15 each for apptenticing to. Richard, Robert, and Joihin Hughes and to his sister, Mrs. Annabella Wynn-Griffiths, his silver and six pieces of his furniture, as she may select.

WEEK BY TVEEK. I was born a T.T." declared a witness at Trefiriw Liceensing Sessions on Saturday. Holyhead Pier contains 7,000,000 tons of granite. Plymouth Breakwater has 3,800,000 tons only. •» • An in.teresting statement was made at Pwllheli licensing Sessions the other day, viz., that there are fourteen parishes in the division with- out a single licensed house. Eisteddfodau seem to be the rage everywhere. They have just had one at Widnes, and there were no less than: one thousand entries for the competitions. < ",M-udiad Suffragettyddol is a Welsh ver- nacular journal's' description of the suffragette movement. It is more objectionable than the bell-ringing tactics. < < The evening service was in progress in a West Wales chapel lit by acetylene. The gas sud- denly gave out, and SOl did the eloquence of the minister, and the congreg.ation were constrained to disperse, after singing a hymn. Individual Communion cups are gradually being generally adopted in the Nonconformist Chtorches. One of the latest churches to adopt them is Betiha-nia Congregational Church, Merthyr Vale. It is, after all, in the fitness of things that the" Gelti,c fringe should be the first to, feel the direct benefit of Mir. Lloyd George's Patents Act. The first factory under the Act that has actually got to work is erected near Penzance. It may not be generally known that there is a Welsh Clalvinistie ChUITch at Oldham. The pas- torate has just been, accepted by the Rev. Ernyr Daviies, of Bala College, the crowned bard of the 1908 Natloinial Eisteddfod. < < An interesting discussion, is going on in a literary paper about Bishop Biarlow, of St.. David's, who died in 1569. ihe point is: Was th\s prelate, at any time Bishop of St. Asaph? The great historian. Gairdiner says he was but there are those who deny it, and declare that a mistake has been made. Cardiganshire watering-places^ are combining in a scheme to advertise themselves at the Im- perial International Exhibition.. The scheme will take the form of a panorama, but it is hoped to include a cinematograph re-production of a squabble at Aberystwyth Council. 'Considering its size and population, Lampeter is unique in some respects. It has fourteen ordained clergymen, of the Church of England, its chuirchyard is the second best for neatness and cleanliness in the diocese of St. David's, it has the only lady M.F.H. in the Principality, and a lady president of the town Rugby team. fflhe challenge issued by the seven brothers Williams, of Haverfordwest,, to. play any orther seven brothers in the United Kingdom, a Rugby football match for the family championship was accepted by the steven, brothers Randell, of Llanelly. The Randell brothers, however num- ber eight, and are thus able to provide a lines'- man) as well as a team. < Who, shall say that Cardigan is not. literary? A few days ago a friend of an invalid at that place kindly sent hian a big lot of books and periodicals to; while away the time. The load was taken in, a donlkey-cart, and the driver called in somewhere en route. When he re- joined his vehicle he found, to his horror, that every book and periodical had disappeared' A Welshman, the Rev. Daniel Evans, D.D., has been appointed principal of Anidover Uni- versity, Cambridge, Mass. Born, at Aberaman forty years ago, Mr. Evans, emigrated to. the States with his elder brother, the Rev. J. Gwawr- fryn Evans, and he held some of the, most im- portant pastorates prior to accepting the princi- palsihip of the Cambridge seminary. I An attempt is being made by some wicked Welshmen (says the Daily News) to rob St. David of his leek, and to substitute the daffodil—" St. Peter's leek," in Welsh—which they claim to be the proper emblem of the Principality. But the daffodil seldom blooms as early as St. David's Day outside the Scilly Isles, while the leek can be found growing wild at several spots on the sea- coast of South Wales. No doubt the leek bereft of surplus leaves in a greengrocer's shop presents a prosaic appearance but M. David's plant looks quite pretty in a garden, and is by no means so maladorous as Pistol libellously asserted. It is in- correctly stated that the leek has received no recognition at Court since the time of George II. Our present Queen, when Princess of Wales, always wore the leek at Court functions that fell on St. David's Day. lit, is not likely to, have occurred to many people—even Welsh antiquaries^—that the play- ing Off football on Shrove Tues(iay-,a,s was done by vVales against France-was a general custom in England, Scotland, and Wales, in long years .gone by, and it is curious to note -that the origin of the custom is stated to be connected worth a challenge to, Britishers by a foreigner within his gates. An Italian, is reported to have come, into Perth (.Scotland), and challenged all the surrounding parishes. All the parishes de- clined except Scone, which beat the foreigner, and in camtmemoratioin of the victory the game was kept up on that day throughout the country. The whirligig of time finds Welshmen going to, Paris on M,ax,di Gras in the year 1909 challeng- ing the foreigner, and beating bim by seven goals and four tries. Is it possible that Welsh- men are now going to. popularise in France what Italians popularised in Scotland so many years ago ? < < A good story was told round the Cymmrodor- ion tables at Cardiff on Saturday night in con- nection with Lord Justice Vaughan Williams. The Lord Jiusitice is known to hold strong views about the selfishness, of motorists. On one of his annual visits to' MiaTiÏenhad he and Lady Wliilliams went out for a drive, and when they were returning at night they neard a motor-car coming up behind. The Lord Justice's carriage was turned one side till, indeed, it got into, the ditch. The motor never slackened speed, and rushed past, slightly grazing the wheels of the carriage. 'The Lord Justice confessed that he was indignant, and expressed himself with free- dom and force as the motor-car flashed by. Next day he was taking a walk, when he saw King Edward beckoning him. I am afraid," said the King when the Lord Justice came up, that I caused you some anxiety last night when, I was returning in my motor." Rather taken aback, the Lord Justice answered "I am sorry if you were inconvenienced, sir." The King smiled, and with a twinkle in each eye remarked: I don't think that was what you said last night," and then both laughed heartily. By a felicitous coincidence the birthday of <Mlr. William Dean; Howells,, the famous Ameri- can novelist, falls upon St. David's Day, for he is of Cymric descent, though he was born 72 years ago in. Ohio. Liike other eminent writers, Mr. Howells entered literature by the practical path of the composing-room. His first book, Poems, of Two. Friends," was published nearly half a century ago, in, collaboration with John J. Platt. The intellectual gifts of Mir. Howells have been inherited by two daughters, one of whom died young, and is commemorrated in a touching poem by Mrs. Mouilton. Mr. Howells owes much to. Tolstoy, and franklv admits the debt. Tolstoy's literature," he says, both in its ethics and aesthetics, or its union of them, was an experience for me somewhat comparable to the old-fashioned religious, experience of people converted at revivals. The effect was as if I had never read a word of the imagination before. He has given many of his readers a bad conscience, and a bad conscience is the best, thing a man can have." Mark Twain says that at a public dinner Mr. Howells con- fessed his ohildbood's, dream to. have been the possession at an auctioneer of real estate, or, as Mr. Clemens facetiously put it, to occupy a roistruim and hypnotise tools till they PUT- chased corner lots and old battlefields at the price of central sites."—(" Daily News.")

SAYINGS OF THE WEEK MR. ERNEST WHIR. What we call pluck is nothing but unique presence of mind.—Art Don caster. REV. FATHER KANE, S.j. I advocate a spice of danger to bring out a boy's pluck.—At Manchester. "nORÓTHY DIX." The critic on the hearth is love's chief grave- digger.—In tihe New Yorik American." REV. F. B. MEYER. Raising church funds by means of whist drives is like asking the devil for subscriptions. -At Liverpool. » < BISHOP OF LONDON. In London alone a death takes place every eight minutes.—At Ealing. < MUSS CONSTANCE SMITH. The genuine childhood of learning and playing is 'the only efficient preparation for a life of use- ful and honourable work.-At Norwich. MIR. WILL CROOKS, M.P. The world is full of willing people some willing to' work and some willing to. let them.— At' Bristol. • »' • MR. A. E. STEVENS. The town man thinks country life is healthy because his only knowledge of it is got from books, which portray the. bright side only.—At Chichester. < it MR. HERBERT SAMUEL. If there is to. be (international rivalry, let it be a keen competition to. a:-aise the standard of the intelligence, happiness., and comfort of the people.—At Saltburn. MR. WILLIAM R. VOLLER. No public man can desire a nobler monument than, he would have who turned the green fields of this country into wheat fielcl,s.-At I Birmingham. MR. LLOYD GEORGE, M.P. Once a public mafn cuts his moorings from his kith and ikin he is oastt helpless on the troubled sea of public life, possibly to become a hopeless wTecl-At the Welsh Club. + MR. RAYMOND BILATLHWAYT. We have begun to realise that the lighter side of life is as well worth cultivating, and is as essential and important as the weightier side.— In Black and White." M. MERCARDIiER. A day without a single daily newspaper would miark a catastrophe which scarcely any dip- lomatic or .political upheaval could equal.—At the Grafton Gallery. the Grafton Gallery.

mmm ALL MARRIED PERSONS who are interested in the population question should read THE MALTHUSIAN," a Monthly Journal containing brilliant arti- cles written by well-known people on this all-absorbing topic. A copy will be sent under cover, together with our 100 paged price list of appliances, on receipt of 2d. in stamps.—E. LAMBERT & SON, Surgical Instrument and Appliance Makers, 60 and 62, QUEEN'S ROAD, DALSTON, LONDON, N.E. 83

OUR LIBRARY TABLE. A WORLD INFLUENCE. John Calvin: Tihe Man and His Work. By the Rev. Ch. Irwin, M.A. London Re- ligious Tract Society. Pp. 208. 2S. 6d. In Wales, of all countries, this new work will be received with open arms. Mr. Irwin has 'here given us a timely and valuable addition to the vast literature which has grown up around the personality and teaching of John Calvin. We are very pleased, in the first place, with the printing, bonding, and illustration of the book it is a beautiful production on its technical side. Even more pleasing is the general plan of the work, and the successful manner in which the author has grappled with many difficulties and completed the task which he has undertaken. John Calvin, one of the greatest men the world has ever seen, was a many-sided character. It is, therefore, no. easy matter to give in a work of this size a clear and critical survey of the Re- former, of the age in which he lived, and of the influences amidst which he proclaimed his great mission. But difficult though the task undoubt- edly is, the author has accomplished it in a manner which deserves the most cordial con- gratulations. Few men have been so little under- stood as Calvin in his day, and in, our own time a great deal of misapprehension exists as to what Calvinism means; if only for that reason alone there is great need for such a volume as the one before us. This book is destined to have a steadying effect upon the minds of young men who, having been brought up in a Cal- vinistic atmosphere," are being tempted to wander away from the true fold by the attrac- tions of certain much-advertised and specious doctrines.

FOR THE LOVER OF NATURE. Wayside and Woodland Trees: A Pocket Guide to, the British Sylva. By Edward Step, F.L.S. London: Frederick Warne and Co. Pp. 182. Mr. Edward Step is the trusted guide of all en- thusiastic students of nature, and it is not sur- prising to find his books, such as Favourite Flowers of 'Garden and Greenhouse," The Romance of Wild Flowers," and other standard works from his competent pen', meeting with an ever-increasing demand. We hear that Mr. Step has recently brought out a new work on Fierns, a subject in which great interest is taken in North Wales, but this we have not as yet had the pleasure of consulting. In Way- side and Woodland Trees we have an insight into. Mir. Step's method of winning the interest and imparting information, the purpose of the volume is not the addition of one more to the numerous treatises upon sylviculture, or for- estry, but to afford a straightforward means for the identification of our native trees and larger shrubs for the convenience of the rural rambler and Nature lover. The list of British arbores- cent plants is a somewhat meagre one, but all that could be done in a pocket volume by way of supplementing it has been done—by adding some account of those exotics that have long been naturalised in our woods, and some of more recent introductions. that have already be- come conspicuous ornaments in many public and private parks. The book is profusely il- lustrated there are over a hundred plates from original photographs and numerous draw- ings, the latter by Mabel E. Step. The photo- graphs have been taken upon, a novel plan in most cases. This consists in photographing a deciduous tree in its summer glory, and return- ing to the same spot in winter and photograph- ing the same individual, so that a striking com- parison may be' made between the summer and winter aspects of the principal species. Supple- mentary photographs are given in many cases of the bole, which exhibits the character of the bark, and should prove a valuable aid in tihe identificaton of species. The Garden, the Woods, and the Fields; or, The Teachings of Nature as Seasons change. London: T. Nelson and Sons, Paternoster Row. Pp. 503. For some reason, the name of the author of this charming book is not given. Whoever he may be who1 has enriched our literature with this gem of literary grace and inspired phil- osophy, he has rendered a great service by aid- ing us to .study the seasons and the beauties and wonders of nature in the light of the writ- ten Word. To the enlightened eye," he says, every scene of beauty is a transparency through which the glory of God is seen and the ear of faith can he-ar the voices of Nature singing the praises of God in one harmonious stria.,in. The object of this book is to aid the student in Nature's school to listen to these voices, and understand aright the lessons which are to be learned as each season presents its ever-changing succession of pictures to the eye." The aim in view, and fully realised, is indicated further in these woirds: -There are two books which the Creator has furnished for the .instruction of man in the knowledge of Himself the one is the Book of Nature, and the other is the Book of Revelation. Both, however, may justly claim the title of books of revelation and it is as such that we are now to. consider the book of Nature, seeking to arrive at an intelligent appreciation of the abundant proofs which it discloses of benefiei- ent design, and of the elevated ideas which it unfolds to us of God as the creator and governor of the universe."

ST. ASAPH DIOCESAN CALENDAR. The Diocesan Calendar and Clergy List for the diocese of St. Asaph, edited by Canon C. F. Roberts (Llandduias) (Pearce & Jones, pp. 234, is.), is a very complete handbook of Church information for the diocese. The obitu- ary list for the past year is about double its usual length, and one notices that the average age of the clergy who died during the year is 64 years. A new and useful feature, probably a by-result of the Welsh Church inquiry, is a siuimmary of statistics for each of the four Welsh dioceses, giving, 90. far as figures can give, a general view of the nature and extent of the Church's work in Wales. The directory gives as usual full and well-classified information as to the clergy, benefices, ecclesiastical, and phil- anthropic agencies, and scholastic institutions within the diocese.

Death of Mr John Parry, Bala. Universal regret wi'lil be felt throughout Merionethshire at the loss which Liberalism, education, and religious interests in the county have sustained through the death, which oc- curred on Saturday, of Mr. John Parry, Chair- m'an of the Merioneth Education Committee, at the age of 63 yeards1. Mr. Parry, who was a native of Bontddu, near Dolgelley, removed to Bala in 1872, where he opened a business. His business abiLity and foresight, together with a practical knowledge of political, social, and religious affairs; soon brought him into prominence. It was he who, in conjunction with the late Mir. Thomas Jones, Brynmelyn, and others induced the late Mr. T. E. Ellis to contest Merioneth for the Liberals on the re- tirement of Mr. Henry Robertson in 1885. In 1892 Mir. Parry was elected a member of the Cconty Council and placed on the Commis- sion of the Peace. In 1904 he was elected chairman of the Council, and in 1905 chairman of the Education Committee, an office which he retained until his death. He was a deacon at Bala Congregational Chapel, and twice served as chairman of the Merioneth Congregational Union. He also held several important posi- tions in, the Congregational Union of Wales, among them being Treasurer of the Union's Forward Movement Fund. Mr. Parry was held An high esteem by all who knew him. The funeral, which was. private, took place at L-lan- uwchllilyn on Wednesday.

A Colwyn Bay Minister's Resignation. After fifteen years of useful and acceptable service, the Rev. Dr. H. T. Cousins has resigned the pastorate of the English Baptist Church at Colwyn Bay, and has decided to take a similar position at St. John, New Brunswick, Canada. The English cause at Colwyn Bay was started by the Rev. W. Hughes, (founder and director of the African Institute), by whom English services were conducted in the Welsh chapel, of which he was pastor. Then, with the coming of Dr. Cousins, fifteen years ago, the present English place of worship was erected in Abergele-road., and under his pastoral charge the church has made good progress. Mir. Cousins, has been a prominent figure with Connexional matters and in public life. He has held the position of President of the North Wales English Baptist Union,, was twice Presi- dent of the Colwyn Bay Free Church Council, has been Chairman of the Book Committee of the Free Library since the commencement, and has done useful service for the technical evening classes in the town. Dr. and Mrs. Cousins will sail in Easter weeik by the Victorian," of the Allan Line, and he will preach his farewell sermon on April nth. At the close of last Sunday evening's service Dr. Cousins annoulnoed his impending depar- ture. It is," he said, with feelings of regret and sorrw that I am obliged to make the follow- ing statemezit: After weeks of anxious considera- tion and much prayer, together with consulta- tion with my personal friends, I feel there is no other course open to me than to tender my re- signation as pastor of this church, a position which I have held for 15 years. I feel naturally very keenly the parting from you, and this work which has been so dear to, my heart, as weU as that of my dear wife. I also feel the parting from the homeland where I have spent so manv years of happiness and peace. But Canada offers a greater opportunity of service for the Master, and I am hoping to do some of the best work of my life there. We have family ties, too, in that land, and you will recognise that it is quite natural for us to desire to. be nearer our loved ones. As to this church, I am leaving with- out a grievance or cause of complaint. I am happy to know that it is in a more prosperous and promising condition to.-day than it has been for many years. The congregations are good and increasing, and the finances are now on a .satisfactory basis .But new conditions demand new methods, and perhaps another type of min- istry for dealing with this rising seaside resort, and I am hoping that before leaving you that satisfactory arrangements will be made for the future work and ministry of this church. Ac- cording to present arrangements, I shall sail on 19th April, and I propose, with your permis- sion, to close my ministry here on Easter Sun- day, April nth, 1909. May the God of airgrace guide, bless, and keep us all in that path which shall be for the furtherance of His Kingdom and the glory of His Holy name."

The Sea Air of Colwyn. From "A Country Diary" (" Manchester Guardian") for February 27th: — A boy caught a field vole on the shore, my Old Colwyn correspondent tells me. The little animal was very tame, and when carried to the railway bank and put down on the grass at once began to eat as if sadly in want of a square meal. It allowed the bov _and his comfpanioms to stroke it, did not "attempt to run away, and took a blade of grass that was offered to it. Probably the vole, through some accident, had lost its way on the sand and was feeling the pangs OICfiiunger. Even fear or the instinct of avoiding danger often vanishes when an animal is starved. Most small mammals re- quire food constantly, and no doubt the vole was weak; its tiny brain was numbed, and its present needs drove away fear. I wonder if it had been carried and dropped on the sand by some bird which had intended to make a meal of it; that would perhaps explain how it was that it could not find the grass.

Rhyl Light Railway. FUTURE OF THE GOLF LINKS. At the inquarv concerning the proposed light railway from Rhyl to Prestlatyn vigorous opposi- tion was offered to the scheme by the Rhyl Golf Club, on the ground that it would destrov several of their best holes, Information ha; now reached Rhyl that Mr. Pullevne (who. gave evidence in favour of the scheme) has given the tW i fTf m°n?S ?°tice to Sive UP land they hold from him frr the purposes of golfing. The' Rhyl Golf Club is the oldest in the Prin- paj y, and the Welsh championships are Wed to .take place there in about three months tome. It is hoped that some amicable understanding may yet be come to.

A Conway Musical Composer. Mr. Josef E. the well-known Conwav musicLan, who gaiin-ed National honours at Car- narvon and Llangollen; and is the author of one of the test-pieces for the Colwyn Bay National Eisteddfod, has written a very appropriate musical .setting for one of the hymns of the im- mortal Ann Griffiths. The hymn-tune, which is entitled Maes-y-G,roes and is dedlcated 1, to my brother, J. C. Jones," is published in the February number of "Yr YmwelVdd Mi-sol" (Wrexham: Hughes & Son), together with the words of the hymn, which commences with the Hii/iie: 0 ddedwydd ddydd! tragwyddol orffwys." ,It will be remembered that the Life and Works of Ann Griffiths » is the title of one of t^e^ ™»st recent additions to the charming series or little Welsh books known as Cyfres v Fil ^ted,biy^K°™ M" ^d printed and published by Messrs. R. Jones & BroS.

ST. DA VID'.s DA Y. IN MANY -and various ways, the immortal meYnory of the Welsh patron saint was honoured on Monday by Welshmen throughout the King- dom. That leader of Welshman, Mir. Lloyd George, celebrated the national festival in his own distinctive waY-lby delivering in Parlia- ment a speech which was remarkable for its eloquence and its human sympathy. The House was morved to tears by his touching desoriptions of the lot of the poverty-stricken in this richest country in the world. Other representatives of Wales celebrated the occasion by winning for the Principality the intern atioinaT~foo<tball illa,toh with Scotland. FootbalLl may not be the best means of displaying one's love of country on the paitronal day, but it is certainly a better way than that adopted in Carnarvon, where a political gathering was held for the purpose of villifymg a Welsh national hero'. The people of Wales take their politics seriously enough, but even they agree to lay aside their political weapon's on St. David's Day in order to join in honouring the memory of the national saint, and thoze who have broken, this old-established and praiseworthy rule have been guilty of a lack of taste and of setting up a not very credit- able precedent. There is plenty of time for political fighting during all the yeazr without im- porting a Liverpool Philistine into Carnarvon on St. David's Diay. However, with this one eixceptiom, alll the social gatherings appear to tfiavta been. Iconducted on ifighlt lines, and at some of them the speeches were of a high order. The Rev. Thomas Charles Williams was par- ticularly fine at Penmaenmawr and here we shoiuild like to remark that l'enmaenmawr is showing, in regard to St. David's Day celebra- tions, an example well worthy of emulation by all its neighbouring towns. We are delighted to see so. many English residents sitting at the festive board on these occasions, but perhaps it would be just as well if some of them coudd shed a few of their favourite prejudices, for the time being, at any rate. It seems to be for- gotten that the United Kingdom is made up of four distinct countries, each inhabited for the greater part by members of a dis- tinct nationality, each nationality hav- ing its own peculiar language, customs, and outlook: upon life. Some people would like all the inhabitants of the fouir counitiries brought to one uniform type, forgetting that, to put the matter on its lowest basis, racial individuality, both linguistic and literary, adds. a pleasing and "valuable variety to human life. We were very plea.sed with the observatioin of the Rev. T. C'. Williams that it is time for Welsh people to possess a certain good conceit of themselves." Many causes have combined to give the' old people" a certain humility of spirit. But Young Wales must abandon any feeling of illlfer,iorrity which may have been inherited by them, and must assert themselves in the face of the world as members of a race of which they have good reason to, be proud. Undoubtedly, it is time to do something to stimulate amongst the rising generation in Wales a feeling of pride not only in their national history, but also in their ancient language, the greatest gift with. which Providence has ever endowed the nation.

COL WYN BA I" AND THE KING'S FORCES. A PRACTICAL START is being made in the direc- tion of arousing patriotic interest in the Ter- ritorci.,al Army at Colwyn Bay, and we cordially wish the timely movement every success. A meeting, called by County Councillor J. M. Porter, was held last Thurs- day afternoon, and all the speeches made are weill deserving of general at- tention. In especial we consider that great em- phasis should be laid upon the need that was shown; to exiist for officers. It is undoubtedly the case that officers are required to build up the Colwyn Bay company, and it is important that, as in the past, they should be men of some personal influence. There are undoubtedly many difficulties to be overcome at Colwyn Bay if the company is to be revived, and the new officers should be men able to appreciate those diffi- culties. In a seaside, town like Colwyn Bay there are obstacles in the way of young men joining, however wishful they may be to do so, and the new officers must not only re-alise, this fact, but must have the- capacity to remove' the obstacles without inconvenience or loss, to either employers or employed. Stress, must also be lJalid upon the great need which has so long existed of proper headquarters for the Colwyn Bay corps. How the company has been kept togethecr for these seventeen years in such beg- garly quarters is beyond the wit of man. to' ex- plain. Many officers of experience who. have seen the existing armoury -a room about twelve feet square—ihave marvelled greatly both at .the patience displayed by officers and men and the, indifference shown by the townspeople. 'Cblwyn Bay should certainly possess a Drill Hall, with houlse iattached for the Sergeant-In- structor. And if the residents took the interest that they shoiuild do in our n,atioinal defences, then Colwyn Bay would not have long to' wait for its Drill Hall. With the provision of this much-needed accommodation one of the great sources of difficulty would be, removed. But to come back to the question of officers, the greatest stumbling-block in the way of the Col- wyn ;Bay company, it is just as well to ventilate one or two. points. Young gentlemen, willing to take up commissions, want a few things ex- plained before they spend their money. Wihat is the explanation, they ask in effect, of the several transfers and resignations gazetted in connection with the 5th Battalion during the past twelve months? Surely, there must be some explanation of this, because officers who, have undelTitaken the great expense attached to theik positions are not likely ,to throw up those posi- tions and loise theicr nioney wantonly or out of mere pique. Why is it, we are also asked, that the Territorial Association concerned have not taloen some step to secure the useful services of Captain, Mb-rgan, with his experience of seven- teen years and his record of honourable work for tibe Volunteers? Mr. Haldane's gre^t ideal of "a nation in arms is a democratic ideal, but one which connotes an extension of the principle of popular control in military matters. Civilians are prepared to make sacrifices for Mir. Haldane's ideal, but they expect something in return and it is certain that the time has arrived for curbing to' some extent the preten- sions of the higher officers whose autocratic methods are giving men a distaste for service with the Volunteers. After all, we live in a democratic and common-sense age, and this country is about tired of being ridden by ex- perts." The military expert, like the expert who rules with such a high hand in educational and other departments of local government, is all very well in his way, but unless he is under some kind of restraint he is in danger of doing a great deal of harm. If the Territorial Army Scheme is to. succeed—and we earnestly hope that it may do so—then it is certain that an inquiry will have to be made into the powers possessed by certain Regular officers with a view to. organising our forces on proper demo- cratic lines. The People's Army," to quote a familiar phrase, must be governed by the people. And when it us so governed there will be no difficulty in obtaining recruits either at Colwyn Bay or anywhere else.

ANOTHER COLWYN BAY A TTRA CTION. COLWYN BAY, noted alike for both the number and the variety of its attractions, is about to add another powerful one to the list. As we announce this weslk, the Directors of the Vic- toria Pavilion are about to provide, at great ex- pense, an open-air skating rink on the Pier; and to all appearances the scheme is bound to prove a complete' suecessi from the townspeople's point of view. In all the large English centres, roller skating is quite the rage "—its popu- larity is truly phenomenal—and visitors will therefore be delighted to find that at Colwyn Bay they can in summer p-utslue their favourite pastime, not -in the hot and stuffy atmosphere of a crowded hall, but in, the open air, and amid health-giving breezes and glorious scenery. If indoor skating has proved so popu- lar, there is every reason why out-door skating should prove more popular still. This new scheme, therefore, should be the means of guid- ing a large proportion of the visiting public to Colwyn. Bay when the choice of a holiday place has to be made. In this busy age; it is hard enough to get any holidays' at all, but it is sometimes, even harder still to solve the problem "whelTe to. go. In future, therefore, Colwyn Bay will exercise a stronger attractive power by reason of the new addition to its many advant- ages, and we hope and believe that the enter- prise and foresight of the Pavilion Directors will have valuable results in the. way of pro- Ledearettes.

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English Sing in Welsh. INTERESTING COMPETITION AT BAN- GOR COLLEGE EISTEDDFOD. A high level was ^maintained at the annual Eisteddfod of the University College of North Wales at Bangor on Friday. The successful bard was Mr. J. Ellis Williams, a student at the North Wales Congregational College. (Miss J. M. Evans, of Ruthin, conducted the successful ladaes' choir, and the winning or. gamisation in the male voice choir com- petition. was entirely composed of students from the various theological collages in the city, con- ducted by Mr. Spencer Jones, of Kidwelly, Car- marthen. Other awards were —Pianoforte prize Di- vided between Mr. W. H. Gray, Llandegai, and Miss Maria Smith. Handiwork Miss Ceridwen Jones, Miss. Katie Foulk Jones, Bangor, and Miss Dorothy C. Evans. Soprano solo Miss Stella Walton. English recitation Miss Ruth Easterling, Bangor. Pen and ink sketches: Miss Lucy Redmond. Sight reading: Mr. Arthur Cross, Normal College. Essay: Mr. John Jones, of OLilanuwchilyn. Love songs: Mr W. H. Jones, Bethesda. Duet: Messrs. Thomas Jones (Rhos) and R. W. Hughes (Dolgeilley). Baritone solo: Mr. Bertie Walker, Bangor. Quartette: Misses Muriel Edwards, Morfedd Davies, Messrs. J. G. Roberts and Bertie Walk- er, Bangor. One of the most interesting competitions was that in which the competitors—English monog- lot students—had to. sing a solo in Welsh. The prize was awarded Miss Stella Walton, a student hailing from London. Mr. John Williams, Car- narvan, the adjudicator, said the competition de- monstrated that it was possible for persons, who did not speak Welsh to enunciate clearer than many Welsh singers, the winner pronouncing her words uncommonly well.