South Wales Daily News

FROM the point of view of the Trade Unionist, the present state of affairs, par- ticularly in regard to organisation, cannot be regarded as satisfactory at any rate, in the South Wales district, and in the larger industries. Yet there are not wanting .signs, at least, of revival, and of the establishment of greater unity among the wage-earners. The strongest blow struck at Unionism was in 1890, when the Cardiff Dock strike failed, a struggle entered upon without due preparation, and its effects supplemented by falling off in trade which flooded the labour market. Persistent endeavours have been made to reorganise, but in the coal trade and the tin-plate industry the response of the men has not evidenced on their part any clear perception of the value cf complete organisation; and unless organisation be complete the full measure of benefit which it would confer cannot be realised. There are indications now apparent that an awaken- ing from lethargy is in progress. The unskilled. men are leading the way, and as yet not very much has been done. But once a commencement has been made, it is very probable that the different industries will successively catch the spirit of the movement, and that so the work of re-organisation will become general. The recent experience in the Sliding-scale Committee should teach the miners the necessity of placing themselves in a stronger position, and of investing their leaders with the effective power which the existence of a good organisation would create. The tin- platers, too, need closer union. The seamen and dock workers have their own battle to fight. All round can be seen the need for revival of Unionism and also can be seen the early stirrings of a new movement.

YESTERDAY was published the Bill which is to confirm the Provisional Order of 1888, under which the Aberdare Canal tolls and charges have been regulated. From time to time bulky documents of this character are issued, all showing that a vast amount of time and labour have been expended upon theit compilation and the question which each of these suggests is, How long will it be ere Britain follows France, and makes its waterways free 1 Across the Channel are to be found canals as free as the high roads, maintained by public funds, and serving equally with the highways for the conveyance of traffic. A Bill which was introduced into Parliament this year, but which does not seem to have got far beyond the stage of introduction, aims at placing all the canals of the country under specially constructed local bodies, so that they should be main- tained and should serve their original par- pose of facilitating the transport of merchandise, instead of being retaiaed in the grip of railway companies whose sole purpose is to force traffic to the railways. The Municipalisation of Canals Bill would do much to advantage trade,butan imitation of the French system of free waterways I would do more, and the reasons which I justified removal of the toll gates are no less powerful in the argument for this new departure.

SHIPPING AND FREIGHTS. REMARKABLE DECLINE OF RATES. SERIOUS OUTLOOK. HOW LOCAL VESSELS ARE AFFECTED. The present month is likely to be a. record one in the matter freights to and from Bristol Channel ports, they having reached a lower point in some instances than has ever before boen known. The market generally has fallen away in a most remarkable manner, and ship- owners find themselves confronted once more with the problem whether they shall lay their vessels up altogether or continue to run them at ft-loss. There is everywhere in shipping circles to be heard the cry that the quantity of tonnage offering is far in excess of the demand. Conse- quently there -has been some very keen rate cutting, and some altogether unprecedented figures have gained an evil prominence during the last few days as showing the straits to which the greatest industry of the country has been reduced. Thus iron ore has been carried from Bilbao to Cardiff at 3s lOVad per ton, while, by way of comparison, it may be mentioned that bricks and the rougher kinds of building material pay something like 2s per ton when taken from one side of the Bristol Channel to the other. The Mediterranean rates have gone down in an equal degree with those to other ports. Thus vessels have been fixed for Alexandria as low as 4s 3d per ton, while not long ago the freight to that port was 7s 6d, and that was regarded as far from being satisfactory. The Danube has been done at 6s 9d per ton, another unprecedentedly low price. Fixtures for Venice have taken place within the present week at 5s 6d per ton, while only to day at the Baltic among other fixings may be mentioned that from Odessa to Antwerp at 9J 6d per ton, and that from the Danube to Antwerp at 10s 9.1 per ton. Taking into consideration the fact that the rate out from Cardiff to the Danube is about 6s 6d, such homeward rates can only involve a loan of some hundreds of pounds on any vessel accepting the same. A similar condition of things prevails with regard to the rates to French ports, coal being now carried to St. Nazaire and other ports at 4f. 75c. per ton. If the freights to Italian ports are examined it will be found that a similar condition of things with regard to the falling off in prices obtainable exists there also. There is a remote prospect of things looking up a little when the regular fixings in respect of the grain trade from the Danube, the Biack Sea, the United States, and the River Plate come to be made next month. But the confidence of shipowners in any decided revival then is by no means great, for the numbers of vessels that will compete will in all probability neutralise the effects of any tendency in rates to rise. Already a number of steamers are laid up, and even vessels of the latest type and fitted with triple expansion engines are lying idle, their owners having found it expedient to adopt this course rather than to continue running them with no immediate chance of their paying expenses. If the newest, class of steamer cannot be made to yield a profit, what must be the posi- tion for obsolete craft that have a heavy con- sumption of coal and thdot may be prevented, owing to their heavy draught, from entering certain ports except at stated conditions of the tide? Suggestions innumerable have been made as to the need for combination among the owners, but the temptation to cut the rates has always proved too strong to be resisted. Some hold that no permanent improvement can be expected until snch times as the owners have a direct financial stake In each of their vessels, apart altogether from the general management, nnd one- half the capital of each boat has been named as, a reasonable amount for the owners to stand to lose or make money upon. To the difficulties which confront the poor shipowner at the present juncture have to be added those arising from increasingly keen foreign competition and the absence of those legislative restrictions which obtam in England. A case in illustration of this point is afforded by the steamer Ferncliff, formerly owned by Messrs Morel Brothers, of Cardiff. This steamer could load about 2,000 tons when she was owned in England, but upon being sold by Messrs Morel Brothers to a Russian company, she was forthwith made to carry 2,250 tons, and has regularly been taking that amount of cargo since. The absence of a Government load mark on the foreign vessels loading in foreign ports in competition with English ones gives them an immense advantage. Altogether the outlook at the present moment for British shipping is a most dismal one, and it is universally r<^cognised that a serious crisis is fast approaching.

MR AND MRS GLADSTONE. Mr and Mr Gladstone and Mrs Drew and Miss Dorothy Drew left Willesden at 12.45 on Thursday afternoon for Ha warden. Mrs Gladstone did not appear very well, but Mr Gladstone was in excellent health and spirits, and did not wear the now familiar blue glasses. No arrangements have yet been made for the right hon. gentleman's return to town.

LOCAL BILLS IN PARLIAMENT In the House of Commons on Thursday the Barry Railway Bin and the Taff Vale Railway Bill were read a third time.

THE BROMPTON TRAGEDY. Inquiries made on Wednesday at Bromp. ton elicited the fact that the America.n lawyer named Bennett, who on Tuesday attempted to shoot a young woman and then endeavoured to commit suicide, is still in a dangerous condition. The btjllat, which is embeded in the head, has not yet been removed.

LIVKR COMPLAINTS.—Dr. King's Dandelion and Quinine Liver Pills, without Mercury, remove allLiver and Stomach Complaints, Biliousness, Heallacbe Sick ness. Indigestion, Complaints 1162 COGAN EXHIBITION, Wednesday, 22nd Aug., 1894.—Horticultural and Ca4e Bird Sections, open to- Cardiff and district. Splendid prizes. Outside judges. Promenade Concerts, Dancing. „Penarth Band. Case^ bird fanciers and gardeners appfy for entry forms, etdt* to R. A. Lewis, Cogan Board Schools, Penartn, Entries close Aug. 18th. 2.x260

PARISH AND DISTRICT COUNCILS. BOARDS OF GUARDIANS. DISTRICT COUNCILS. CONCLUDING ARTICLK. Prior to the passing of the present Act Eugland and Wales were divided for sanitary purposes into 1. Urban sanitary districts. 2. Rural sanitary districts. An urban sanitary district was either 1. A borough, with the mayor, aldermen, and burgesses acting in council as the sanitary authority or 2. An Improvement Act district, with the Improvement Commissioners as the sanitary authority or 3. A local government district, with a local board as the sanitary authority. A rural sanitary district was the area of any union of parishes of which no part was within the area of any urban sanitary district. In a rural sanitary district the board of guardians acted as the sanitary authority. Under the present Act urban sanitary districts (other than boroughs) and rural sanitary dis- tricts are, after the appointed day (i.e., after the date of the district councils election), to be called urban and rural districts respectively. The areas of existing districts remain prac- tically the same as before If the boundaries of any parish or district overlap the boundaries of a county, e.g., as in the case of the parish of Longhol", oil the confines of Glamorganshire and Carmarthenshire, then-tije county councils of the two shires must come to an agreement with regard to the matter. RURAL DISTRICT COUNCILS. Th& district council of every rural district is to consist of a chairman and of councillors elected by the parishes or other areas from which guardians were formerly elected. The chairman, who is to be appointed by ths councillors at their annual meeting, need .Pot necessarily be one of the councillors, but he must neither be an alien (i.e., a non-British sub. ject) nor an infant (i.e., under 21 years of age). Ho must also have been a resident in the district, or within a radius of three miles of the district, for th, previous twelve months. He must not hold an office under the council, and he must not be an undischarged bankrupt. With these reservations the council will be at perfect liberty to select whom they will as chairman. A woman may be elected chairman, if the council so ordain, exactly as all the offices created by the new Act will be equally open to women as to men. The chairman of the district council will be a man of great weight and authority. He will, by virtue of his office, be a justice of the peace for the county in which the district is situated. (A woman, however, cannot act as a magistrate). This will give the people a greatly-needed chance of popularising the character ot the magistracy. It is too often a source of just complaint that in country districts on:y landowners (who are generally game preservers) have seats on the magisterial bench. Short shrift is there- fore given to the suspected poacher, and the administration of justice has been travestied in order to secure the conviction of offenders against the game laws. Now, however, for the first time tha people have a chance to seat their own representative on the bench. Let the district councils, then, take hsed whom they eject as theirchairman. It should be a- strict rule from one end of Wales to the other that No magistrate need apply." The first care should be that the popular element on the bench should be strengthened, and there will be found in every district plenty of capable men who, on account of their politics, their religion, or their social status, have not been made justices of the peace. DISTRICT COUNCILLORS. The number of councillors for each parish is to be the same as the number of guardians elected for that. parish before the passing of the present Act. When a parish has been divided by this Act into two or more new parishes, there w, subject to any order made by the county council, to be a district councillor for each of such new parishes. The electors are to be the parochial electors, that is to say, all those whose names are on the voting lists, either Parliamentary or county council. The first election is to be held on November 8t b, cr on snch later da te in 1894 as the Local Government Board iijay fix. Every qualified person who has been elected as a councillor must accept the office by sub- scribing a declaration to the effect that lie accepts the office, either before two district councillors or before the clerk to the council. If the person elected does not accept the office, he will have to pay to the council a fine of such amount, not exceeding £50, as the council may by bye-law determine, or if there is no such bye-law, a ifne of £ 25. The term of office of a councillor is to be three years, and one-third, as near as may be, of the council are to retire on the 15th of April in each year. Of the councillors first elected, the third, who are to retire first, will not go out of office till the 15th April, 1896. The county conncil are ^o determine which of the councillors shall retire in 1396 and 1897 respectively. On the other hand, in those districts where tho whole of the guardians of any Union in a rural district used to retire together at the end of every third year, the district councillors, who now take their place, are to continue so to retire. Of, it the county council determine that it would be better in places where one-third of the board of guardians retire every year that the whole of the councillors should retire 'together every three years, they may so direct it to be done. POWERS Of DISTRICT COUNCILS. The following powers will be vested in the district councils 1. The powers, duties, and liabilities of the guardians for the Union. (The district council will take the place of the board of guardians). The present Act makes the following alterations in its character :-(a) Parochial electors, and not ratepayers, are to be the electors. (b) Property qualification abolished. (c) Cumulative voting abolished, (d) Ex officio members abolished. The district council, sitting as a board of guardians, can still, however, co-opt two membersif they so wish, but these co-opned members must, at the first election, be chosen from among those who have acted as ex-officio members of the board of guardians. 2. The powers, duties, and liabilities of the rural sanitary authority or an urban sanitary authority. 3. Powers of the highway authority. 4. Powers of the juatici-s of the peace in refer- ence to granting licences to dealers in game, certificates to pawnbrokers, abolition of fairs, and alteration of fair days, &c. 5. Powers of quarter sessions in relation to the licensing of knackers' yards. 6. Power of aiding, with tho consent of the county council, any person in maintaining rights of common. 1 his. brief sketch of the powers, duties, and liabilities of parish and district councils has been confined to a bare locital of the main features of the Act, It is obvious that there are many points which have been missed or imperfectly explained. Wo shall be only too glad to render what help we can in explaining away the difficulties which our readers may still feel as to the application of the Act. There is plenty of literature on the subject, and we can recommend the following :— An Outline of the Parish and District Councils Act, Id. Published by the Liberal Publication Department, 42, Parliament-street, Westminster, S.W. Parish Councils Act, by A. H. Graham, M.A., and Spencer Brodhurst, M.A., b, Ward, Lock, and Bowden, Ltd., Salisbury-Square, London, E.C. Cynghor Plwyf, gan Beriah Evans, Caernarfon. Tair ceiniog. Liyfryn bach ardderchog.

SCIENCE AND ART TEACHING IN CARDIFF. The forty-first report of the Science and Art Department for 1893 shows that, as compared with the previous year, there has been a great increase in art and science teaching. The number of schools in the United Kingdom had increased since last year from 2,553 to 2,754, aud the number of pupils from 180,410 to 193,431. Ten years ago the pupils only numbered 78,336. The following figures show the distribution of the existmg science and art schools :—England and Wales, 2,153 Scotland, 379, and Ireland, 222. In tho list of schools and classes some interesting local statistics arc given, showing that in Cardiff the art and science teaching recognised by the department is given in eight schools, of which the following particulars as to pupils, fees, and grants are given -Science. -Iii the science classes there i are 1,162 industrial and no middle-olass students, who earn in grants B712 6. Art.—In the art class there are 815 industrial and no middle-class students, who earn in grants -2230 4?. The foregoing graiit-i aro in addition to any other aid that may be given, either by the county council under the Local Taxation Act or by the municipality under the Technical Instruction Act of 1889. The practice throughout the country as to the application of the funds by local authorities to the purposes of science, art, technical, and manual instruction, varies very much, and with a view to get a general view of what is being done, the department has issued a circular to county and town councils asking for information as to the amount expended on technical education in 1892-3, and the amount allocated for 1893-4 out of nioliey received from local taxation (Customs and Excise) and from rates raised under the Technical Education Act of 1889. Later in the year these .returns are expected to be published.

G.W.R. DIVIDEND. The directors of the Great Western Railway Company will recommend a dividend for the last half-year at the rato of 4per cent, per annum .on the Consolidated Ordinary Stock, carryiug forward a balance of £ 23,000. forward a balance of £ 23,000.

Sttstiuss ^binssts. A*. '.J.. 1_J>: '¡. ■ B. EVANS AND COMPANY'S QRKAT REMNANT gALE AND CLEARANCE OF SURPLUS LOTS, fJO-DAY, JjlRIDAY, AUGUST 3BD, CONTINUING UNTIL SATURDAY, AUG. 4TH. HOSTS OF JgARGAINS BE FOUND ON EVERY COUNTER AND IN EVERY SHOWROOM. TEMPLE STREET, gjWANSEA. 1046 '^TILLIAM J>ULLING & CO., DISTILLERS, WINE AND SPIRIT MERCHANTS, AND BONDED WAREHOTSEMEN, HEREFORD. Holders of ona of the LARGEST STOCKS of FINE OLD BOTTLE WINES (n South Wales or West of England. Full particulars and detailed Price List on application. Branches :— 22 (CUSTOM HOUSE-STF-EET, 9 CARDIFF. AND HIGH-STREET, ROSS. All Foreign Wines and Spirits imported direct under iond from country of production. DISTILLERS for Seventy Years of "PULLING a PURE HEREFORD GIN.' Bottled Cider Merchants. Manufacturers of all kinds of British Liqueurs and Cordi&l^ 5999 J. JACOBUS, A RT rjVULOR, 96, ST. l ARY STREET- CARDIFF, BEGS to ANNOUNCE to the Public in General that there is a PERSON ad- vertising himself as LATE MANAGER. with intent to mislead. The ONLY and 30LE MANAGER is Mr BERLINER, who is interested in the Firm as here- tofore. On behalf of J. JACOBUS, 96, ST. MART STREET, CARDIOT, L. BERLINER. Aug. 3rd, 1894. 7363 FTTRNITDRE ESTABLISHED OVER IHREE- CARPETS FURNITURE QUARTERS CENTURY. CARPETS FURNITURE —— CARPETS FURNITURE «oOD ARTISTIC AND CA&PBXS FURNITURE UUUU' CARPETS FURNITURE INEXPENSIVE. CARPETS FURNITURE CARPETS FUROTWJRE ——— CARPETS FURNITURE NVFATIR YOU BUY CARPETS FURNI-0QRE BEFORE YOU CARPETS FURNITURE FURNITURE CARPETS FURNITURE CARPETS FURNITURE OR CARPETS FURNITURE ROVD-PVTC CARPETS FURNITURE UAK_R.EI.LC5, CARPETS FURNITURE DO NOT FAIL TO CLRPFCTB FURNITURE VISIT CARPETS FURNITURE CARPETS FURNITURE T AVERTON & CO. CARPETS FURNITURE JU CARPETS FURNITURE JU CARPETS FURNITURE CARPETS FURNITURE CABINET MAKERS, CARPETS FURNITURE TTX>,TR., ARR-CT>TRR<5 CARPETS FURNITURE UPHOLSTERERS, CARPETS FCRNITURE TROTTQT? DTUVMH'LI'TLS CARPETS FURNITURE H0^SE FURNISHERS, QARPEI|JG IIART-LE-PORT STREET gARPETO FURNITURE CARPETS FURNITURE AND CARPETS FURNITURE BRIDGE STREET, CARPETS FURNITURE BRISTOL CARPETS FURNITURE CARPELS FURNITURE ——— CARPETS FURNITURE THEIR SHOWROOMS, CARPETS PURNLTUREN TRP-P IYWV AMI? TN CARPETS FURNITURE^ VJ5,K UJN £ I AOK,J!I IXS CARPETS FURNITURE EXTENT CARPETS FURNITURE MVRITO CARPKTS FURNITURE CONTAIN CARPETS FURNITURE THE LARGEST, BEST, CARPETS FURNITURE AND CARPETS FURNITURE CHEAPEST STOCK CARPETS FURNITURE IN THE CARPETS FURNITURE WEST OF ENGLAND. CARPETS U79 JJAMS FOR THE HOLIDAYS! JJAMS FOR THE SEASON! LIP r 0 N'S JJf A M S! SPECIALLY SELECTED. LEAN, MILD, AND FINE FLAVOURED. OWN CURE. GUARANTEED PERFECTION. THE FINEST IN THE WORLD. PER 8D LB. OTHER CHOICE QUALITIES, PER 7D AND 7D LB. No matter what price is paid, finer cannot be got. ROOKED JJAMS, WHOLE BONELESS, PER 11D LB. SLICED, PER IS & IS ID LB. fiqual to what is sold elsewhere at about double the money, COOKED BEEF HAMS, PER lID LB. ANY QUANTITY CUT. rlDl SECRET how Lipton can sell Hams and Bacon cheaper than any competitor is Because ne is one of the largest curers in the world. Cus- tomers buying from him Rave all middlemen's Sofits, and get a much superior article. Melton owbray Pie?, Rolled Ox Tongue?, Ham and Tongue, Luncheon Sausages, and other eoolced delicacies specially suited for the Summer Holi- days, at equally low prices. LIP T O N S LOCAL BRANCHES — CarditI-7, HIGH-STREET and ST. MARY. I STREET. Swansea ARCADE BUILDINGS, HIGH. STREET.; Llanelly Brancb-9, STEPNEY-STREET. Bristol—22, WINE-STREET. N ewport-4, COMMERCIAL-STREET. Merthyr-4, MARKET SQUARE BUILD- INGS. BRANCHES EVERYWHERE. 803e 7350 STONE BROS., (Sons of the late Aid. Gflius Augustus StOM). I COMPLETE FUNERAL FURNISHERS AND FUNERAL DIRECTORS. Every requisite for Funerab of all classes. # Proprietors of :Fulleral Cars, .l1earses. Shilli biers, andCoacbes. Superb FlemishHoTses, &c. Price List on Application. Please Note the Only Address: — 5, WORKING-STREET Telelmwhk Address :— "STONK BROS., CARDIFF.' 5995 "VTEAVE'S "JJ^OOD.—First Established Jj 1825. Best and Cheapest. "VTEAVE'S "IJ^OOD.—For Infants and ■X-l J- Invalids. For Growing Child- ren and the Agel. "VTEAVE'S FOOD.-For Infants and A. » J- Invalids. A Pure Cereal Preparation In Patent Air-tighu Tins. Sir Charles A. Cameron.M.D. says Admirably adapted to the wants of Infants. I Sold Everywhere. 3671 fiHEETH.—Complete Set, One Guinea ■ Five years' warranty. Goodkan AND Co., ^C, i>WtstNet. and 56. Quee'.i-^treat. IVTEATH AND DISTRICT BILL- POSTING COMPANY —Late T Wall. 1 Offices ASSEMBLY-ROOMS, NEATH Manager J. W ROBINbON. Lessees and Proprietors of the best Posting Stations in Neatn and District. 6445 Shisiness ^dresses. l ROGERS' AK ALES AND PORTERS Iu4% Gallon Cesk sand upward PALE AND MILD ALES froralOdper GaUon PORTER AND STOUTS from Is per Gallon BREWERY, BRISTOL. CARDIFF STORES, WORKING-STREET 1161 Schweppe's Patent Porcelain-lined Syphons, for hygienic use, preclude all possibility of Metallic Con- tamination s CHWEPPE'S gCHWEPPE'S TABLE sCH WEPPE'S WATERS. OCHWEPPE'S O AS SUPPLIED TO THE QUEEN. THE QUEEN. s CHWEPPE's IN BOTTLES, S UHWEPPKS SPLITS, j^CHWEPPE'S AND QCHWEPPE'S SYPHONS. K-7 Carriage paid tc any address if ordered through one of the Agents of the Company, for lists of whom Apply to HF.AD OFFICE, ;"1, BEXNERS-STREET, f-osco W. 6372 cL o,-i QTTO" GAS ENGINE. GREATLY REDUCER> PRICES. MASY RECENT IMPROVEMENTS. SECOND-HAND ENGINES JN STOCK (Crossle and Other Makes). The largest Manufacturers of Gas Engines in the world CROSSLEY'S PATENT OIL ENGINE, SIMPLE, RELIABLE, AND ECONOMICAL. South Walea Office :— 22, MOUNTSTUART-SQUARE, CARDIFF. Representative H. ELLISON WALKER. Telegrams, Otto, Cardiff." 1093 See Large Advertisement. G. A. STONE & CO., I UNDERTAKERS. ESTABLISHED OVER 30 YEARS. AT THE Of.T) AND ONLY ADDRI.SS— 10, 11, & 12, WORKING-STREET. CARDIFF. UNDER THE MANAGEMENT OF Miss STONE, assisted by all Efficient Staff. Telegraphic AIdress "Stone, Undertaker, Cardiff.' It <3—1103 NOTICE TO CORRESPONDENTS. Contributions sent to the South Wales Daily Neics should be plainly written in ink, and invariably on one side of the paper. We desire to urge upon our numerous correspondents the value of concise- ness and the desirability of curtailing the length of their communications. It cannot be too clearly understood that brief and pointed letters receive the first attention. All communications intended for insertion must bs authenticated by the name and address of the writer, noc necessarily for publication, but as a. guarantee of good faith. No notice will be taken of anonymous letters. Rejected communi- cations will not be returned

BIRTUS, MAIIK1 AGES. DEATHS Notices e/ Births, Mar-riages, and Deiths, Is each, if nst exceeding SO word?, and 6d for each extra 10 words. BIRTH. JENKINS. At Church-view, Abercanaid, Merthyr Tydfil, on August 2nd, the wife of T. T. Jenkins (schoolmaster), of a son. 308 AIARRIAG E. THICICENS—EVANS.—August 2nd, at Li ban us Chapel, Dowlskis, by the Rev. J. Jenkins, Newquay, assisted by the Rev. W. W. Lewis, Dowlais, the Rev. John Thickens, of Aberayron, to Cecilia, third daughter of Mr Thomas Evaus, Gwent House, Dowlais. DEATH. MORGAN.—On Wednesday morning, John Morgan, late of the Clive's Hotel, Caerphilly, a<re 47. Funeral Saturday, at 3 p.m. for St. Martin's Church. Friends please accept this intimation. 285 —- —————

THE WELSH PULPIT." NOT even in Scotland has the Pulpit exercised so much influence on the nation's history as it has in Wales, and the issue of a new work of criticism on the Welsh pulpit isanevent of unusual interest. Nonconformity has only been the dominant factor in Welsh life for a century and a half, and yet it is little short of miraculous the change it has brought about, not only in the condition, but also in the character of the Welsh people. The industrial virtues," writes Mr LECKY in a thoughtful chapter on the influence of Presbyterianism on the Scotch character, "for which Scotchmen are so eminently distinguished, can only be very partially attributed to the influence of the Kirk, for they spring naturally and almost spontaneously from good secular education, and from an advanced industrial civilisation, while in some other branches of morals no great improvement has been effected. It is well known that the statistics of drunken- nass and the statistics of illegitimacy show that in point of sobriety the Scotch nation ranks among the lowest in Europe, and in point of chastity below either of the other parts of the kingdom." Superstition rather increased than decreased under the stern rule of the Kirk, and even in the last century witches were known to be publicly burnt, and in 1736 the associated Presbytery solemnly denounced the repeal of the laws against witchcraft as an infrac- tion of the express word of GOD. In spite, however, of these defects no one will deny that the influence of the Kirk in Scotland has made for good, and that the basis of the success of the Scotch people has been their sturdy though dour Presbyterianism. But historians can say that, with all its defects, the religion of Scotland has been the determining element in the success of its people. What words can we apply to the religion of Wales ? A century and a half ago Wales lay dor- mant, sunk in moral, intellectual, and spiritual lethargy. Superstitions, the most childish and grotesque, still reared their heads in our midst. Every hill and forest was tenanted by the Tylwyth Teg every cross-road was haunted by a ghost every lane and road was travelled by corpse candles and phantom funerals; every wrinkled and whiskered harridan was the possessor of an "evil eye." True it was that in many ways the light-hearted and careless life, which has been so sympathetic- ally celebrated by the Royalist bard, Huw MoRus, possessed its pleasant and engaging features but no one can read of the gross and paralysing superstitions, the drunkenness, the recklessness, the improvidence, and the incontinence of Cymru Fu, without blessing the Puritanism whose stern discipline dissipated at once the idle fears, the slug- gishness, and the lack of purpose which had hitherto been the curse of the Welsh nation. Within a century after the great revival Wales was prepared for life's struggle, and was ready to take advantage of the secular education and the industrial civilisation which this generation has been privileged to receive. No one, therefore, can estimate the obligation that Welshmen owe to Nonconformity. It has enabled them to enter upon life's keen struggles with a character formed after the sternest examples, and with a spiritual discipline that should help them from sinking to the level of mere Mammon-worshippers or pleasure-seekers. 'I Recognising, as we do, the inestimable debt that Wales owes to Nonconformity, we yet confess that we have read "The Welsh Pulpit," a new shilling volume recently published by Mr FISHKK UNWIX, with a good deal of sympathy, if not with entire approval. The anonymous authors are evidently men of culture and education and they write with a literary grace and 1 finish, and with such knowledge of their subject, that it will be hard for anyone. I however opposed he may be to the subject matter, to lay the book down without read- ing it through. This is not the time or the place to discuss its theology nor will we say that we are in cordial agreement with all the authors' opinions. Neverthe- less we welcome the volume as a courageous attempt to look at facts squarely in the face, and to draw the right deduction from them. The authors see clearly that Young Wales has outgrown its swaddling clothes and that it must no longer be tied to theological apron-strings. They echo the demand which is being made by the youth of Britain for wider liberty, for greater progress, for freer growth. In theology their standpoint is some- what similar to Dr. FAIRBAIRN'sin his last great work, CHRIST in Modern Theology," namely, they preach a return to CHRIST. From many of the opinions expressed in the volume we diverge widely and we think that the authors, in their zeal for progress and in their impatience of conventional restrictions have now and again done less than bare justice to the present-day "Welsh Pulpit" We are, however, at present concerned only with the main purpose of the book, and with that we are in hearty sympathy and agreement. In reading the following words, extracted from the end of the book, we could almost believe that we are listening again to some of the speakers at the recent meetings of the Welsh Congregational Union. In political freedom and educational progress Wales is marching on, achieving victory after victory. We grow in culture and intellectual strength, and increase of liberty will produce greater independence, self-respect, and self-con- fidence. If it is to hold its ground, the pulpit of Wales must also advance with the age. It has been a tremendous power for good in the past, and a leading factor in our national development. That it shall be so in the future cannot but be the desire and the earnest prayer of all. But this it will not be unless it adapts itself to the needs and the aspirations of the age. Let it, ■therefore, have a stronger and deeper actuality. Let our preachers seek to purify and ennoble our every-day existence, and inspire us with the grand truths of morality and conduct. Above all, and beyond all, let us be taught the truth as it is in JESCS."

TYPHOID in the Rhondda Several cases in one house, and that a four-roomed cottage which is one of forty or fifty close together. Most of them, says Councillor RICHARD MORRIS, are without effective drainage. We are not in a position to confirm this statement but in regard to the house where the disease exists it hardly needed such statement; the fact that typhoid exists is proof positive of the other fact that filth has been allowed to accumulate to a dangerous extent, for where there are proper drainage and abundant water supply no fear of filth diseases need prevail. It was the duty of the local authority—in this case the Ystradyfodwg Board—to have prevented the occurrence of the seven cases reported it is their duty, now that the outbreak is announced, to prevent the spread of the terrible disease to other dwellings under their care, and this they can do by ordering drains to be made. What are they going to do ?

Miss BRADDON'S NEW STORY, Thon Art tha Man," is now appearing in the Cardiff Times and South Wales Weekly News, together with a new series of Prench Criminal Stories. Order at once Id weekly. The biggest and best family oaner in the Princioalitv

ABERYSTWYTH UNIVERSITY COLLEGE, -*■ GOVERNMENT GRANT OF £10,000. DEPUTATION TO THE TREASURY. LONDON, Thursday, This afternoon the Chancellor of the Exchequer (Sir Wm. Harcourt), who was accompanied by Sir Francis Mowett (secretary to the Treasury), received a large deputation from Aberystwyth College. The deputation included Lord Ken- sington, Sir G. O. Morgan, M.P., Mr Thomas Ellis, M.P.. Mr Lewis Morris, Dr. Isambard Owen, Principal Roberts, Major Rowland Jones, M.P., Mr W. Rathbone, M.P., Mr Bowen Row- lands, M.P., Mr Humphreys Owen, M.P., Mr Alfred Thomas, M.P., Mr Egerton Allen, M.P., &c. Sir GIWRGE OSBORNK MORGAN, M.P., in in- troducing the deputation, said it would be difficult to imagine an institution more in need of State help or more deserving than Aberystwyth College. The University College of North Wales was the pioneer of the Welsh University Colleges. It was established by the efforts of the people themselves, a hundred thousand persons having subscribed to its fouudation, many of them con- tributing small sums, such as five shillings or crowns. The college had had a hard struggle. It was not like Cardiff, situated in the midst cf a rich industrial district, but was in the middle of a country sparsely populated, and on the whole 'I very poor indeed. At the same time, it was situated between North and South Wales, it was in the heart of the more strictly Welsh portion of Wales, and it was the educational centre of many of the Welsh counties which had contributed most towards the intellectual life of the Prmci. pality. The original college buildings were un- fortunately burned down at a loss of £26,000, of which £16,000 was uncovered by insurance. The lecturers and professors were very inadequately paid. One great object of the present appeal for help was to provide a hostel for women. The results achieved in the college sup- ported their present appeal for the number of students had steadily increased since the opening, when there were only 25, to 184 men and 131 women, of whom not less than 310 were students attending three or more courses of lectures. In the course of 20 years the Aberystwyth students had obtained no less than 17 first cl ttsses and 15 second classes at Oxford. Mr RATHBONE, M.P., as president of the sister college of North Wales, corroborated and sup- ported the apppal made by the previous speaker. Principal ROBERTS, after stating that commu- nications had been received expressing the regret of Lord Aberdare, Lord Rendel, and others at their unavoidabie absence, stated that £7,000 of the restoration fund after the fire still remained unpaid. Nearly £2,000 of that balance was due to extensions of the building which had become necessary within the last two years, and further extensions were urgently necessary owing to the continued growth in the number of pupils. The temporary airangement made for a hostel for the women students would expire in June next, and permanent accommodation for them must b« provided about that time, which would alone involve an expenditure of not less than £15,000, towards which they already had a trust a site granted by the Cor- poration of Aberystwyth. The heavy charge which had rested upon the college in respect of the restoration fund and outstanding debt had prevented them making adequate provision for the salaries of their excellent staff of able teachers, or for those scholarships which were I especially needful in a poor district. Sir WM. HARCOURT, in reply, said this was a special application justified by special circum- stances. His duty—not always a pleasant one in applications of this kind—was to protect the interests of the general tax-payers, and, therefore, he was obl'ged, jealously and carefully, to watch that he did not create precedents which might have an injurious effect upon the tax-payer at large. In the present instance he had been rather anxious to find reasons for acceding to some portion of their request rather than objec- tions to it, for he had great sympathy with their rerriarlTable efforts in favour of higher education. WALES WAS NOT mCR in its resources, yet it had made great educa- tional efforts,and the Aberystwyth Colleg-e had led the way. He knew something of its products, one of its most distinguished students being a valued colleague (Mr Ellis), with whom ho had a, great deal to do every day and every night. (A laugh and applause.) He fonnd that Aberystwyth had got less than its share of the original grant of :£4,000, besides the misfortune of the fire. Their claim divided itself into three The liquidation of the debt on the college building; (2) the completion of the building; and (3) the erection of a hall of residence for women. He was afraid he could not deal with the third demand, but the two others amounted Dealing with this as a special case, h,) was pre- pared to promise them a grant of £10,000- (applause)-in respect of that building fund on condition that the locality found the additional sum of £5,000 within two years. He hoped that help might be of use to an institution with which he had great sympathy and to which he heartily wished well. (Applause.) Sir G. OSBORNE MORGAN then in the name of the deputation thanked the Chancellor of the Exchequer for his courteous reception and kind promise. This concluded the interview.

BISHOP OF ST. ASAPH'S MARE'S NEST. ANSWERED IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS. In the House of Commons on Thursday, Mr HUMPHRKYS-OWEN asked the Vice-President of the Committee of the Council on Education whether his attention had been called to a letter from the Bishop of St. Asaph which appeared in the Times of 31-st July, stating that it was much to be regretted that Mr Acland should have said in his place in tho House of Commons that he (the bishop) signed a circular which he never nigned, and further stating that the circular did not state that the school was undenominational, and whether these statements are in accordance with the facts of the case ? Mr ACLAND I have seen the letter to the Times of July 31 from the Bishop of St. Asaph. The bishop appears to be under some misappre- hension where he states that I said in the House that he signed a circular which he never signed. The facts are as follows I was asked in July last a question from the hon. member for West Denbigh whether my attention had been called to a certain circular of the year 1833 relating to Ruthin Grammar School. I replied I had seen it, and said it was signed, among others, by the Bishop of St. Asaph, Mr Corn- wallis West.and Sir John Fuieston. The date ef the circular, an old circular more than six ye^n ago, was before tho House. It was obvious, I think, that the only person who could sign the circular in 1889 as Bishop of St. Asaph was the bishop of that time, to whom, of course, I referred. I had no intention of making any mis-statement about the present bishop. With reference to the other statement of the bishop, mentioned in the question which runs as follows :—" The circular did not state that the school was undenominational,"—it is sufficient to quote from the circular, which I have in my hand to-day, of which I said on Friday the following worda-" The school is undenominational." The rest of the sentence, which it is not necessary to quote for this purpose, is as follows—" and the pupils are nob subject to any religious test." The exact date of the circular is 12th May, 1888.

MR GLADSTONES REPLY TO AMERICA. The following is tho text of the letter addressed by Mr Gladstone to the committee who invited him to visit America :— Dollis Hill, July 30, 1894. aID alike impressed with thp, gratify- in nature of the invitation you have been good enough to address to me and with the form, alike considerate and flattering in which it has been conveyed. While snsible of the strong reason; which make a visit to your great country an object of just and warm desire, I have for some time felt that my advancing years placed obstacles in its way such 11.1 I could hardly hope to surmount. Undoubtedly your letter supplied tbe strongest motives for an attempt to brave the impossible. But I regret to .say It reaches roe at a tillle when, were I mnch younger, it could not be open to me to cou^ider the question. The surgical treatment of my eyc for cataract which began recently with the usual opera- tion, will not be concluded for neatly two months, and until that trei1.tment shall have reached its conclusion—(about that time as I hope)—I am not able to look with coufirlence to a date for the restora- tion of practical aud useful vision. Under these circum- stances, however sanguine as to the eventual isue I feel that I am incapacitated from the contraction of prospective engagements, and I am sure that you and the many distinguished gentlemen who haye joined you will feel WILh me that this is the only reply which I can make to your proposal. Convey to them the assurance of my grateful thanks and of my unalterable interest in your country,-Ik1iev<! me, etc., W. E. GLADSTONE.

NEW MAGISTRATE FOR CARMARTHENSHIRE. The Rev. T. Evans, Henllys, Llandovery, on Thursday, qualified as magistrate for the county of Carmarthen at the special quarter sessions held at Carmarthen.

CLEANING SILVER."—All difficulty in keeping silver, electro-plat' &e., untarnished and with a 'm il- liant polish may be obviated by using Goddard's Non- Mercurial JPlate Powder fc-oltl everywhere, in boxes, Is, 2s 6d, and 4s 6d. Six Gold Medals 105 THOU AUT THB MAN is the title of Miss Braddon's new story which is now appearing in the Cardiff Times and South Wales Wsekly News. Many special features. A magazine and newspaper in ene 111 weeklv, Order at QUCO

TEN LIVES LOST, EIGHT BODIES RECOVERED. A shocking boating accident occurred about 10 p.m. on Weduesday on the river Mawddach, a few miles east of Barmouth. In the afternoon a large number of visitors went up to Penmaen Pool in pleasure boats, returning thence about half- past eight o'clock. On the way home they en. countered a. heavy gale of wind, and some of the boats capsized, resulting in the loss of ten lives. Eight bodies ha va been recovered. LIST OF THE VICTIMS. A Barmouth correspondent, telegraphing later, saysThe drowned are Miss Mallison, of Brad- ford Misses Golightly (two sisters), Durham Mr Woodworth, Manchester Miss Read, Lpeds Miss Greenwel), Durham Mr Grey, Oxford (one of the local secretaries of the Home Reading Union); Mr Paton, Liverpool (another local secretary of the union) Miss Moore, Harrow and Mr Newman, Hastings. ^The bodies of the last two have not been found. PERSONAL NARRATIVES. Mr Fields, a visitor from London, has furnished the Press Association's representative with the following narrative :—Tho ten drowned were staying in the house in which I am at present, Hendre Villas. We came down here on a tiip which had been arranged by the Heme Reading Union. We started up the Mawddach river on Wednesday evening, and went as far as the Gold Mine. We had experienced boatmen with u.?, and the water was not at ail rough. We started back about a quarter past eight. There were several boats. I was in the first. The sea was smooth enough until we got to a point named Little Island, where there was a sharp curve. The boatman told us to put our oars down and leave the steering and everything to him. In an instant a big wave rolled over us, swamping the boat and casting us into the boiling waves. I could not swim, but I managed to turn on my back and float. I could see the boat upside down. The next thing I remember is being in the bottom of the boat, the boatman having pulled me in. I looked round and caught sight of Mr Pryor and got hini to stick to the boat. Then I saw Miss Read, who had hold of a sister of hers. I got hold of one of the Missss Read and held her up until I was almost ex- hausted. I then tried to get hold of her sister, but failed, so I clung- to one only. Mr Pryor gob hold of the other and the boatman made for the shore, but I could not get the bead of Miss Maud Read above water, and despite all efforts she perished. It was then almost dark. We saw a light in the distance, and we made for it across marshes, stone walls, and ditches, carrying the surviving Miss Read with us, and leavmg others on the shore. When we reached a farmhouse every hospitality was shown us. After Miss Read recovered consciousness we went back, and managed to reach home safely. I may mention that there were seven of us in the boat, and that of the passengers only myself, Mr Pryor, and Miss Read are now alive. It was a dreadful experience. The boat which followed us also capsized in about the same place, and six' of its ocupants were drowned." A YOUNG LADY'S ACCOUNT. The boats that went up the river in the after- noon numbered three, and contained about 20 visitors, with Miss Edwards, of Ty Fry, Bar- mouth, Two of the boats were in charge of Wm. Jones and Lewis Edwards, two of the most experienced seafaring men in Barmouth, and two well-known Oxford rowers were in charge of the third. Miss Edwards, who was in Lewis Edwards's boat, gives the following narrative:— went up the Mawddach in one of the other boats, but at Pen- maen Pool I was persuaded to enter Edwards's boat. We had it pretty smooth until we got to the point called Yynysprldd, a little below Pont- ddu, commg down which the tide was very high and the wind blowing hard agllhlst us. The waves at this point ran high and wild, and I never experienced such tempes- tuous weather. Our boat was hurled to and fro and we could not for some time make any head- way at all. After considerable difficulty, how- ever, we reached the shore safely. On two or three occasions our boat seemed completely under water, and our escape was marvellous." The conduct of W. Jones is (says the correspon- dent) highly commended by thepublicat Barmouth. After rescuing some of his party he again braved the waves with a small boat which happened to be lying on the shore, »nd rescued three more. The party in the boat manned by the Oxford rowers were nearly all drowned. Ie is stated that the visitors were advised not to go up the Mawddach yesterday as they might find it difficult to make their return. AN EXPLANATION. Another correspondent, telegraphing from Barmouth, states that the disaster happened in the fol.owing manner —While the wind was blowing hard the bat of one of the passengers blew off, and he reached over to secure it. The water being rough, the boat capsized and all the occupants wore immersed. Another boat which was near at hand came to the rescue, but in endeavouring to save the drowning persons this boat also overturned.

OPENING OF THE INQUEST. At one o'clock on Thursday, the county coroner (Mr W. R. Davies, Dolgelly) opened an inquest on the recovered bodies—eight in number.—The Coroner, in his opening statement, said that the inquest could not be concluded that day. It would be necessary to get some evidence as to the regulation of the number of passengers the boats were capable of carrying, and other information. — The bodies having been identified, evidence was called.—Mr Hubbert deposed that he saw the boats start. They did not seem to be overloaded. He did not go because he perceived the danger, the wind being very high. He denied that the party went out against the will of the boatman.—Mr F. C. Pryor was the next witness. He did not agree with the last witness that the river looked dangerous when the party started out. It was nob dangerous till they were coming hack against the wind. He was sitting at the bow. After they had proceeded some distance the boat was swamped, and he jumped out. The others were thrown otJt. He floated for a time until he came in contact with a plank from the boat. He clung to this until he reached the boat again, and managed to get in. He was in the water for about twenty minutes.— Captain William Jones stated that the boat was licensed to carry nino persons. As they were coming down the estuary he ordered the rowers to put down their oars, but one of the party at the stern of the boat had his hat blown off and looked back, which caused the boat to turn a little. Theu the water flowed in and the boat capsized. lie swam ashore, got a boat, and went out immediately to. rescue the party. He picked several up. The capsized boat was then floating in the water bottom upwards. lie tried to cant it over but failed. As they returned to Barmouth, about an hour after the accident, they heard the shouts of a lady. They rescued her.—Other witnesses having been heard, the inquiry was adjourned.

BOATING DISASTER IN SCOTLAND. THREE MEN DROWNED. A Greenock corresponclellt telegraphs :-A sad boating accident occurred at Millport on Wednes- day, whereby three men lost their lives. About 11 o'clock three persons belonging to the place named Duncan Cameron (son ot the pier-master, Daniel Hunter, and a Mr Swanston, all between 30 and 40 years of age, went out into the bay in a rowing boat, when the boat capsized and they were drowned. U¡\TI1t-l'on'o; body was recovered the same night, and the bodies of the other two were found on Thursday morning.

INSPECTION OF MINES. I QUESTION OF SUB-INSPECTOR APPOINTMENTS. In the House of Commons on Thursday Mr David Thomas asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he had yet received a communication from the Merthyr Valley colliery workmen in favour of the appointment of practical miners as sub-assistant inspectors of mines; whether his attention had been called to tha recommendation of the coroner's jury 9n the Cilfynydd Cü!1iery explosion in favour of more frequent inspections of mines and whether he will reconsider bis decision and appoint persons from the ranks of the workmen I as sub-assistant inspectors of coal mines, as he has recently done for the Merionethshire quarries. Mr Asquith said the answer to the first two paragraphs was in the affirmative. He repeated the answer already given as to the extent to which I he had gone iu the appointment of practical miners as sub-inspectors, and he could give no further pledge beyond saying that he would give full consideration to this ,id eery repre8f>nta.tion made to him on the subject. _n__n_

Everything about Gocdwood, where the Prince of Wales is staying, smacks of age. The cedars are two hundred years old. In tho room usually allotted to the Prince of Wales are the pieces of gold plate presented by the Merry Monarch to Neil Qwvnoa,

NEWS IN BRIEF. The King of Italy takes only one meal a daf' The charge of telegraphing from YokohOO London is 10s 8d per word. j Rumours are again current that Mrs Best" dissatisfied with her religious position. The Lord Mayor of Dublin's salary is to increased from CS,000 to E4,000 a year. The lady cyclist in "knickers" is familiar in some of the London suburbs. The Divine Sarah is going to write for one the monthlies her Impressions of England." The Duke of Richmond has set up his son, & Walter Lennox, in busmess as a wine merchot A recently captured African slave-raider wearing the cast-off uniform of a British soldier. The Bishop of St. Asaph says that the Asaph Diocesan Society is in debt to the extaB* JB600. The British Medical Journal points out no satisfactory teetotal drink has yet luvented. The Emperor William says he regards tb who wouid throw France and Germany into as madmen or criminals. The total number of persons under treatni at the Pasteur Institute during the months • April, May, and June was 417. It appears that the Board of Trade has po to order periodic cleanings of railway trucks 6 cattle, but has no control over beings. Mr Edgar Brinsmead says his firm turns ojj 2,000 pianos a year, that London turns ont 35, a. year, Germany, 73,000; France, 20,000 the United States, 25,000. According to St. Paul's, her Majesty ha» 1,1 sympathy with the strong-minded, shriek*^ sisterhood, and what is called the "new won2avf with her knickerbockers and her tricycle. The Princess Letitia Duchess d'Aoata, has.900 to St. Moritz for a month, accompanied bY lady-in-waiting and a suite of five persons. neat English bicycle forms part of her baggage- I Mr John Ward, F.S.A., of the Cardiff MuseUtl and Art Gallery, was elected a member of tft committee of the Cambrian Archseologic* Association at their recent meeting at Carnarvon Mr Fay, an American millionaire, claims thO he is the only man in the world who inhabit* mansion built in the air. His house is over 3IJI feet high, and is supported by massive iron Pillarl It is suggested by some wag that there shoull be a tax on Christian names. Everybody WOu11 be allowed one Christian name free. A moder»"\ duty-sy Is—would be levied on the secoD^ name, a greatly-increased charge-say 5s—on tbl' third, 25s on the fourth, and so on. The Denbighshire County Council have A.keèi the Welsh Land Commission to postpone their) visit to that county for a montb, from the end 011 August to the beginning of September, owinf to the lateness of the corn harvest and the convenience to which farmers will be put. To a correspondent who pressed Mrs Patrick Campbell the other day to grant him an inters view on the New Woman and so on, tb** gifted lady wrote in reply :—" I have nothing say on the New Woman excepting that she Wj!1 be rather a dreadful person when she is old." The Prince of Wales has a very fine colt by 5(7. Simon at Sandnngham, with which he hopes win the Derby in 1895. The colt is unquestioll' ably one of great promise, and it is stated 011 excellent authority that his Royal Highness re- cently refused a bid of 3,000 guineas for him. Antwerp has many restaurants, and has rnavy ways of wrestling with the spelling of the Engli-lb beefsteak. Hero are some samples taken frow various menu cards :-Biftek, beefstec, beaf. steake, beavesteck, beavesticjk, biefsteck, bafe' steck, beevestek, biffsteake, and beeafesteeacko. Exactly a. hundred years ago the First Lord of the Admiralty was Earl Spencer, grandfather of the present Lord of the Admiralty. The fact is recalled by the inclusion in a collection of Enizlisb medals to be sold at Sotheby's of a medal struck in honour of Lord Spencer, First Lord of the Admiralty," bearing date 1795. Peincess Alix is to be baptized and formally admitted into the Greek Church when she goes to Russia shortly. A German princess, when she 1 becomes a member of the Greek Church on Tnar I riage, has to array herself in a night-gown, and before the assembled Grand Dukes and Court I officials in Russia, to get into a bath, immersio2 being part of the ceremony. Some licensed victuallers in the neighbourhood of London recently adopted an ingenious form of ,lottery. A number of keys were placed in a bot. Among them was one capable of opening a casket in which was a £ 5 note. Every customer wh4 paid for a. certain quantity of liquor was entitled ¡ to a key. The customer who had the right key < unlocked the box and took the money. The police are taking steps to put a stop to this. A law case recently reported from America eW phasises the uncertainty of life. A rich girh disliking her guardians, and thinking she would be more independent as a widow than a maidoot went to a hospital and had herself married to » man seemingly at the point of death. Strange to say the man recovered, aud the girl instituted proceedings for fraudulent marriage The ways of American justice are strange, for the girl woll the suit. Mr Stanley Leighton has blocked Mr George Russell's motion for returns showing the incoluo and grants of the Ecclesiastical Curnmissionem and the revenues of the Church of England in Wales and Monmouthshire. The effect of this will probably be that these important particular* will not be forthcoming for the information of th< House, when, early next Session, it is called upoll to decide upon the question of the Disestablish" ment of the Church in Wales. In "The National Review" Mr A. Symoni Eccles, M.B., attributes insomnia, one of the most prevalent afflictions of the modern time, to the hurry and worry of life, which, again, hi refers to the development of rapid and easy means of communication between the variou-' human communities scattered over the globe.' Though it may be objected that the ultimate cause is rather too generally stated, there can b< no doubt whatever about the growing prevalent of insomnia. An animated discussion is reported to have recently taken place on a town council. Finally one of the disputants gave the other the li6 direct. The latter made a plunge at him, and, a? the pair came to grips, the first exclaimed, 1 reiterate that you are a liar." Whereupon the other remarked, "Oh, if that'a the case, 1 accept the apology. if a man says he reiterates that is all any gentleman can ask." Accordingly he relaxed his hold, and is still unable to account for the roars of laughter which greeted his observation. Sir Gavan Duffy tells the following story He was on one occasion in his Australian eareol returned to the Victorian Legislative Assembly by a mojority of one, there being 99 votes foi him, as against 98 recorded for his antagonist. Subsequently Sir Gavan Duffy's son met one ol his father's supporters, to whom he expressec gratitude, saying, So you were one of mj father's ninty and nine?" ".NLo, sir," was tbt reply, "I was t?vo of them." The worthy mat had voted tvice. A long-standing dispute has been settled at the Wynnstay Colliery, Ruabon. Some three Weekt before the great strike the men at this colliery, about 800 in number, were out on strike. A nevo field of coal of exceptional thickness having beet opened, the masters offered the men Is 8d per toe for working it, but the men wanted Is IOct. Several efforts have been made since to arrive at an amicable settlement, all of which failed until now, when the men have accepted Is 9d per too for working the new coal. The settlement has given much satisfaction to all concerned. '■ A well-made woman in a hard-fronted man"* shirt is a confessed failure (say a critic). Tili shirt bulges, break", and falls in, when it should present a fla, even surface. What would a man say who found his shirts present the "switchback" appearance that man) women offer to the eye of day ? It is on)) on a femme manquee, a woman without the oufr lines of a woman, that a stiff shirt-front cas fulfil the smooth impassiveness of its destiny. Therefore, to sum up the matter for the benetii of the misguided females who ape men's clothes either the shirt must look badly made, or the woman who wears it must be badly made. The following englyn was composed in recognv tion of the kindness shown by Mr H. M. Keiney.9 Tynte to the tenants and employees on the OCC. sion of the dinner this week at Cefn Mably :— Euwog halas wedi i gaboli—gan Ogoniant pob tlysni Y cwrt glas mor fras ei bri, Hardd lanerch mewn gwyrdd hvyni. Boneddwr o bawb yn haeddu—ei fawr Glodfori trwy Gymru Oeseu hil ei lwys deulu Trst chwedl am ei genhedl gn. GORRWO. A writer in the World dissects the avert1 young lady who regularly attends the mort 1 fashionable race meetings. The most paltry 11 j the woman who merely bets. Hers is th* instinct of the gambler solely. Then there arl those who really enjoy the excitement of the sport. But by far the largest class comprise' those who know nothing about odds or the quality of a horse. It is an opportumty fot seeing all the smart women of the day. Ttif fashionable' race meetings seems to ber 1110 great field-days, when all her resources-horse. foot, and artillery—all her powers of fascinatio* I blandishment, and linesse, can -be brought into play in order to effect the conquest which sb* t desires 1" ■