South Wales Daily News

TEA MEETINGS. Most of the modern developments of activity among the churches owe their origin to Noncon- formity. The first missionary society in England was founded by Oiiver Cromwell. The Sunday, echool is the child of the chapel. The Dorcas could probably be traced to a similar origin. All these institutions have been copied, but a greater than all remains the peculiar feature of Dissent The tea meeting may be regarded as the main pillar of cburch life. It is an unique institution, not to be found probably apart from the English- speaking race and it is one not likely to socn pent-b. It has peculiar claims on our admiration. It aims to make the best of both worlàs-a. leaven of excitement and secular gaiety pervades it, yet -pot to such an extent as to shock those of stricter views. The gaiety is modest, the excitement well kept down. On the other hand, there is a distinct religious feeling pervading its atmosphere. The very cake has a flavour of sanctity. The currants are not worldly currants. Though neither do they too closely resemble the visits of angels by being few or far between. Every one will recall the experi- ence of the old lady who was reproved by her vicar for attending a tea meeting beld under the auspices of the Plymouth Brethren. I have often told you," quoth he, that their doctrines are highly erroneou." "Erroneous, bir," she replies, their doctrines may be, but their cake with Sultany raisins is excellent." But that old lady's motives appear to have been some- what low. She must not be taken as a fair type of the tea-meeter. Half the success of these gatherings is probably attributable to the fact that those present consider themselves to be taking part in a rather meritorious function in short, an all but devotional one. If Protestants recognised a nicely-graduated scale of good works, they would probably reckon them somewhat thus :—Two tea meetings—one ssrvice two services-one prayer meeting. Formerly these meetings were somewhat saore severely spiritual. The carnal refreshments were followed by others of a distinctly religious type. Now-a-days, how- ever, be tea-meeting has assumed a lighter char- acter. Scngs — sacred songs of course — and even recitations — serious recitations — are indulged in, almost to the exclusion of more serious exercises. Is the tea-meeting on the down grade ? It woull be a pity if it were to altogether sink its sacred associa- tions. Stolen joys are the sweetest, and pleasures snatched as it were out of the midst of solemn things have a fascination of their own. Nor must the tea-meeting be allowed to suffer by base imitation. Persons who "perfect the arrange- rriontf: fur a tr pe supper" in connection with Church of England guilds only degrade what they seek to emulate. They have never known the hoiy joy, the mysterious afflatus, which breathes around such gatherings aa those which flourish among their schismatic brethren.

PROPOSED CHARITY MATCH. TO THE EDITOB. SIR,—I do not agree with your correspondent "Greenfield" (who seems a little funky), for I think Cardiff v. Newport would be a biggur draw, and I know Cardiff are anxious to wipe off their unlucky losses. Cardiff have lost the last three, Newportgames through sheer ill fortune. In the first, ac Newport, Cardiff had to play without four forwards and,I believe, a half-back in the second, at Cardiff, they lost through the referee's dis- allowing a perfectly fair try whilst everyone knows 'twas simply want of raining that pre- vented the Blue and Black players from beatingr Newport and A. J. Gould on the 8th iust. If Cardiff ad beeD playing 3ain8t 1\ team so out of condition in front as they were at Newport the score would have been five or six tries, not tWJ. Newport are certainly not the Welsh champions, as "Greenfield" fondly imagines, for they have been beaten twice by Penarth, and have lost considerably more games than Swansea have, I do hope Cardiff will be given an opportunity of meeting Newport on equal terms, and retrieving their bad luck.—I am, &c., March 20. FLOREAT CARDIFF.

EXPLOSIONS IN COAL MINES. TO THE EDITOR. SlB,—It is high time that some improvement should be carried out in coal pits. I have offered a double invention which would reach every nook of the workings, and would make the pit safe, as it is self-acting night and day continually also a ch.ap mod8 of closing the ti81!UreS ill the roof and ludes with non-conducting wash, wbich is to be ued a8 colliers proceed in their work. This is composed jf three very cheap things, so that the gas is kept from being conducted together, as it is the uni- versal law or nature that the like attracts the like. This is the first part of my invention. My other part (self-acting) can be extended under the roof, and wili not in auy way interfere with the workings, and the expense will be very small in comparison. If coal proprietors would with to avail their workiugs with this boon to save their coal-pits from such diasters, they shall have full dimensions or specififjitions and drawings for the moderate sum of J3300. They have sucb confi- dence in their managers that they unite against everything that does not emanate from them. It is a sad thing to see that over 6,000 bread-winners have been killed by needless explosions. Now does that show that these self-confident men have studied the laws of nature as they should have done ? I have had different patents out ere this. Every sceptical person is dead against any in- ventor. Their mode of putting them down is to laugh at them.—I am, &c., A WELL-WISHER OF POOR Aberayron. COLLIERS.

COAL TRIMMERS' GRIEVANCES. TO THE EDITOR. Sm;—Will yon kindly allow me a short space to reply to "OJd Hobblsr's letter in last Tuesday's South Wales Daily News 1 His letter is remark- able for the repetition of my initials and the change of front that is taking place. Nothing in my previous letter has been contradicted, and no charge of sweating bas been made against me or the men I have worked with in so many different places. "Old Hobbler" then falls back upon bis biacklead and invites me to doubt some more of bis averages. Why, he is in a greater huvry to assert his veracity than was his great predecessor, Baron Munchausen. Another thing I would lika to say to Old Hobbler" is that the obblers of thisport are a class of men equal to anyotherwork- men, that are proud of the healthy independence of their manhood, and have no sympathy for those patronizing words, Poor bobbler," being continually Berved up to them. But if these words hare a sweet savour for you, Old Hobb!er," then wear them on your own lips like the stock-in-trade of the street mendicant. And now, Old Hobbler," who is the foreman that has illegally retained your money ? Give us bis name, the name of the ship, and the date of loading. You may go on with your mythical averages as long as the chalk cliffs of Dover willlaat, but that will not prove that you are suffering from this modern martyrdom of which we have beard so much for the past two months.—-I am, &c., Cardiff, March 20. W. H.

SOUTH WALES AMALGAMATED SOCIETY OF RAILWAY WAGON AND CARRIAGE BUILDERS AND LIFTERS. TO THE EDITOR. SiB,—It havia; come to our knowledge that some information respecting the above society wonld be by DO means unwelcome to many of your raaders in South Wales and Monmouthshire, and even the West of England, we crave a small space in your valuable paper to make a few state- ments for the benefit of tboaa whom they may concern. Our primary objoct is, of course, tha protection and advancement of the interests of our craft, and the promotion of the welfare of toilers generally. We feel that, whilst many liberties and benefits have been already secured to the toiling masses, through the self-denying efforts of trades-unionists, there is still urgent need for further effort in tbe same direction, and, since we Icannot always expect other people to fight our battles, we have come to the conclusion that it is high time we were up and doing. Our society was inaugurated in December last year, and we commenced paying contributions the first week in January, with a membership of 52. Since then we have steadily increased, and have now 100 members we are also represented in the Cardiff Tradss' Council. We may say that the experienca of the past three months freely justifies the belief that we have before us a prosperous and useful futurs. Employers, as well as employe*, have their rights, and we intend to respeet them, but we hold it to be tbe duty of all who earn their bread by the sweat of their brow," to com- bine in order to protect their mutual interests. We, tVereftre, cordially and earnestly invite all persons engaged in railway wagon and carriage building and repairing in tbe principality to co- operate with UII, eitber by joining at Cardiff, or by opening branch ldeil. All further informa- tion will be readily given by tbe sccretary- address, 47, Arabella-street, Albany-road.—We ase, &c., WM. COLLIER. President. WM. WENT WORTH, Secretary. Cardiff, March 21st.. U90.

RETENTION OF THE IRISH MEMBERS Mr Gladstone, writing in reply to a communica- tion from an Ayrshire Libera), says :— Sir,—My aeclaratiou that I could undertake to meet public opinion by proposing a method ef retaining the Irish representation at Wostminster was made tirst on a most public occasion in full detail at Singleton Abbey, South Wales, and since circulated in penny tracts and repeated again and again. There are really bounds within which denials in such wise ought to be kept.—I am, &c., W, E. GLADSTONE. 191 h March.

THROAT IRRITATION AND COUGH.— Soreness and dryness, tickling and irritation, inducing cough and affecting the voice. For these symptom? use Epps s Glycerine Jujubes. In contact with the glands at the moment they are excited by the act of sucking, the Glycerine in these agreeable confections becomes actively healing. Sold only in boxes 7 £ d., tins Is. lid., labelled "James Epos and Co., Homoeopathic Chemists, London." Dr. George Moore, in bis work on Nose and Throat Diseases," says The Glycerine Jujubes prepared by Jues Rpp. and Co., are of undoubted service as a curative or palliative agent," while Dr. Gordon Holmes, Senior Physician to the Municipal Throat and Ear Infirmary, writes After an extended trial, 1 have found your Glycerine Jujubes of consider- able benefit in almost all forms of throat disease 1217 "USK HOPKINS' Home-made Ciikes.Hayes Market. 1901-450

NOTES ON LABOUR, lbY AN OLD TRADES UNIONIST.] Trade may breathe freely once more, for. happily, the coal strike is over. The decision of the Mineowners' Federation came to on Thurs- day practically conceded the whole of the demands of the pitmen. A like determination was possible a week ago, the circumstances were the same then as now but for some bidden motive of the I owners the calamitous inconveniences of this week have been inflicted on the community. Not long ago it was fashionable—it is so to-dry with the least informed—to blame labour in every conflict, and to anathematise trades uaions as the cause of all mischief, and, generally, as the curse of the country. Public fashion has changed; the press of the country devotes more attention tc industrial problems, and social wars are subjected to impartial criticism and judged by a more enlightened opinion. In this last great unsettls- ment of relations, there can be no two opinions as to which party had right on its side. The mine- owners, who acted independently, averted actual conflict by conceeding the justice of the men's demands last week whilst those who adhered to the Federation have done so later, but not until a loss of millions has been inflicted on trade and commerce. One is prompted to seek the motive of these shrewd market-watching merchants, and to reconcile their conduct with their own pockat- interest. Miils and factories, by the score, hue suspended operations for want of coal, and famica prices have been obtainable in urban districts. There can be no doubt that owners and their agents have reaped a golden harvest during the week. Ccal, that otherwise would never have reached the market, has fetched high prices old stocks have been cleared out at immense profit, and higher rates are assured for current and future supplies. Social industrial wars are, it is some* times said, madness—the mine-owners have had method in their madness ou this occasion. Tbey have limited the output with a purpose. The impending calamity of acoai-famine having passed away, the means of preventing future catastrophes becomes of first importance. It it said that such a means was agreed upon in principle" between the miners and tbe owners on Thursday. Two tried schemes are present to xiiy mind-one a perm.Dent board of arbitration for the regulation of wages the other, a sliding scale of wages, similar to that adopteu in South Wales, but more sensitive to the market fluctuations. The iron trades of the North have for many years settled wages by a board, consisting of an equal number of employers and workmen; an arbitrator, jointly chosen, being called in to decide whenever a dead-lock at the board occurred. If colliery proprietors are prepared for such a peace-maintaining arrange- ment, I am sure the men will meet them, pro- vided a just basis for calculating the varying rates of wages can be agreed upon. One con- sideration may influence the owners—the recent strike is the first undertaken by the new federa- tion of miners associations. It has demonstrated tha discipline and power of the federated organisations and all future ditferencev must be settled by the owners with this mighty parliament of working men. It has been found necessary to send still another deputation to Sir Michael H. Beach upon the Load-line Bill. Mr Gardner, of Cardiff, represented the seamen of the Bristol Channel, who, in common with all others, claim to have a compulsory load-line affixed ou ships laden in British ports. Not a load-iine that may, as an owner oace sneenngly remarked, be painted on a steamer's funnel, but oce truly indicating the point beyond which a vessel carries cargo at the risk of foundering at sea—becomes, in fact, un. seaworthy, Mr Broadhurat's bill would make such a load-line compulsory, but now a few ship- owners demand that it shall be optional. This conteutiou is monstrous. It ws that the sailor's life shall be at the mercy of certain reckless owners, who not infrequently gain by the loss of ships much more than they would receive for them if sold at fair valuations. Sir E iward Reed is undoubtedly the most practical ship designer and constructor in Parliament, and the bill referred to give* effect to his views, which were unanimously approved by a specially-skilled com- mittee last session. Many honest owners fear the competition of the foreigner, but Mr Piimsoll has over and over ain demonstrated that England's loss of life and property from overloading snips is, proportionately, twice as heavy as that of the! average of foreign countries. The ships of a hundred British firms would always carry any load-line fixed by legislation high out of the water- but there are, unfortunately, greedy men, owning ships, too, who are always ready to add the straw, careless of consequences, ana wtiom nothing but legislation will restrain. How many more missing" colliers and ocean tramps must be registered before the first deliberative assembly of the world realises its duty to the bravest and best sailors who plough tbe oc.;an ? The deputation was further instructed on behalf of seamen, to urge upon Sir Michaei the better representation of practical sailors on local marine boards. These authorities wiil never be trusted whilst they are (almost exclusively) composed o! shipowners and officials. Self-interest and red tapeism cannot inspire confidence. The meg whose liveu and liberty hang in tbe balance are w much entitled to a voice as those who own pro. property, not uousualiy fully insured against the risk of loss. I re-echo your sentiments, Mr Editor. Tin tailor's lot, under the Merchant Shipping Act, it not a happy one-bis position is cruelly unjust. Too often the law enforces upon him the cboict between death and degradation. It was framed and passed in tbe interest of the shipowners, and Jack is under civil disabilities which disgrace tht Euglish Statute Book. Cases similar to that of tht eleven men of the ss. Cadoxton, alld tho one yoo commented upon, are of daily occurrence in oni port or another. The breach of a civil contract is, on tbe sailor's part, a crime punishable with gaol and bard labour. No danger of any kind war. occasioned by the conduct of the eleven men ot the Cadoxton it was, when they were at seaf admitted to bave been exemplary. When the vessel was safe in dock—after she had given un- mistakable indications of unseaworthiness—tbe men are arrested without warrant, marched through the streets in manacles like felons, and sent to herd with tfiieves and cut-throats for 14 days—for wbat? For refusing to sail out of dock uuless tbey were assured upon competent authority tbat the ship was seaworthy. Apart altogetbee from the reason for refusing duty, their action was but the breach of a civil agreement, and if perpetrated by any workmen on sbore, or by Bea men outside tbe blessed Merchant Shipping Act, could only be dealt with under civil jurisprudence. There was no crime as we understand the term. The law which makes an identical action criminal in the sailor, bait untainted in tbe shipowner or artizan is unequal, unworthy, and should be re- pealed. When Jack is heard in St. Stephen's it will soon go overboard. The strike of laundry women, and that of tbe potato women at the docks, should give mell pause. I am not going to enter upon the merits of either, but allude to tbem because the treat- ment of working women everywhere is unsatis- factory. In proportion to the work performed, and to its value, they are paid much less than men, and where they give time-service the bonra of toil are longer. I see that Mr Caine, M.P., has been asked to introduce a bill limiting tba hours of barmaids, and that a Shop Half-boliday Bill is being promoted in the interests of women. Also, I notice, that, in London, the Bishop of Bedford and others, and in Scotland, Lady Dilka, have been urging upon the attention of female workers the necessity of combination and united action for the amelioration of thtir condition. Ia their helplessness, and in tbe battle for bread, women fall tte easy prey of the sweater, whilst some, who are not sweaters, take advantage of their necessity. It behoves men to sympathise with and help struggling women- workers. The trade councils have a wide field before them in organising woman labour, and furthering claims to better and hours. Cardiff, Newport, and Swansea Councils have done nothing in this direction as yet. Swansea tramway-men work 100 hours for. week's pay of 21s, or at the rate of 21 per hour, A labourer at Cardiff Docks is paid 5^1 per bout for ordinary time, and 8d per hour after five p.m. Note the contrast, tramway-men The Swansea Tramway Company paid 10 per cent, dividend, and carried £2,000 forward last year. Tbe men who voluntarily continue to work for the com- pany on the terms mentioned have themselves to blame—ao one else.

THE LATE SIR WILLIAM GULL. Tbe will of the late Sir William Wit&ey Gull, of 74, Brook-street, Bart., M.D., who di-ed en tb, 29h of January last, has beeu prored, the per- Boualty being valued at £ 344.C22. He bequeaths to bis son, Sir William Cameron G'oucester-street, Portman-square, £40,000; tc tbe trustees of the marriage settlements of Mrs Theodore Dyke-Acland, the testator's daughter, £26,000; to two nieces, £lCO eacb; to Miss Mary Jackson, £500 to bis amanuensis, £50; to Lady Gull's maici, the executors of bisr will, j3500 each ana to bis butler, William Brown, £52 10s a year for bis life.

HAVE you tried Liveorina 1161 USE HOPKINS' 2s Tea. Sugars at cost.—Hayes Market. 1901-430 TRY HOPKINS' Farmhouse Bacon, 7: per lb, Hayes Market.. 1301 420 t