The Carmarthen Journal and South Wales Weekly Advertiser

BRIDGE STREET. LEFT HAND. "Horse and Jockey"; lower down than the Old King's Head. "Unicorn," where Mr. James, saddler, is now. I can find no evidence of much change on the opposite side except, that at the bottom of the street, where Towy Works' new building stands, was "Yr Rar," an inn which was in turn kept by several families well known in the town. Two inns men- tioned in 1819 are "The Hare House" and "King David House," but where they were I do not know. i CARMARTHEN TOWN HALL, WITH STEPS LEADING TO THE BALCONY. In the foreground to the left is the site of the present Emporium, and to the right is the old Talbot Hotel. ST. MARY STREET. A cooper's shop, kept by Davies. stood where Mr. W. V. Howell Thomas's auction mart is now. It was afterwards used as a printing office (known as the Caxton Printing Works) for a short lived venture, the "Carmarthen Times." and subsequently became an ironmonger's shop. Mr. William Thomas's furniture department was the old JOUBXAL premises. Before that it was a coffee tavern and a draper's shop. The alteration of Mr. William Thomas's bedstead department from the old offices of Mr. John Francis in Nott-square was quite a recent occurrence. Mr. William Thomas's main premises running from St. Mary-street to Hall-street, appear to have been used for an ironmonger's business for 130 years back. What was there before is not known, and it would be interesting to find out. Close here, of course, was the site of the old St. Mary's Church. i-J. HALL STREET. A liquor shop, on the premises now occupied by Mr. John Saer, clerk to the Board of Guardians, will be within the memory of those still living. It was kept by D. and W. Davies. On the other side, on the site now occupied by the caretaker of the Guildhall, was a gin shop, kept at one time by John Davies, who afterwards went to the Golden Lion in Spilman-street. GUILDHALL SQUARE —RIGHT HAND. Most of the alterations here are within living memory. Chief among them are the old JOURNAL premises, now Mr. E. Colby Evans' establishment; Mr. Carter, grocer, where Lipton's noW is, the L. & P. Bank where the Star Co. is, and the Com- merce House on the site of the new L. & P. Bank. On the other side of the Square was the "Talbot," next door to the "Old Bull. Tins was an inn of some repute, where the coaches used to call. It was kept in 1819 by J. Davies. and afterwards by Mr. U. Davies, father of the late Mr. Charles vies, butchpr. A large corn stores was kept on the present premises of Mr. Jenkins, draper, and in Mrs. LOWER CORNER OF GUILDHALL SQUARE, NOW A STATIONER'S SHOP. I Heddon's present premises was once the business of [Mr. Shackell, now of Thompson and Shackell. RED STREET. The "Curriers Arms," now occupied as a private house by Mr. Jones. It was kept by Mr. Woods. "Bunch of Grapes." This used to be called the "Market Gate." "Old Fountain," where Market Hall is to-day. "The Lamb." This is now the "xNelson Hotel." In this neighbourhood there is shown in 1819 "two shops in front, 6 cots, hat manufactory, yard, etc occupied by R. Spurrell and under tenants. Also there is the "Falcon House," next door to the Round House. WOODS ROW. Chapel-street seems to have been once called Slaughter-house-lane, and contained the "Market shambles," slaughter-house, etc. A gin shop stood where Mr. Rees, baker, now car- ries on business. It was kept by Mrs. Greencross. BLUE STREET.-LEFT HAND. "The Four B's"Premises now occupied by Mr. Rioe, dentist. The four B's were: Beer, bread, bacon, and something else which I have not been able to ascertain. "The Lark" and the "Ship" were recent. "Cross Hands"; now a private house occupied by Miss Scott. "Ship and Castle"; where Mr. Jones, cooper, now is. The "Buckingham" and the "Lord Nelson," these were further on, abutting the Quay. The "Commercial" (?) on the other side, now occu- pied as a cooperage by Councillor John Morgan. Where the "Weekly Reporter" premises now stand were some stables kept by Mr. Gwynne. "Nag's Head." This was the corner house between Blue street and Dark Gate and seems to have been under that name for a great many years, until it was absorbed by the Half Moon. It was kept by the grandparents of Mr. J. F. Morris, soli- citor. inext door to this in 1819 was a Unitarian Meeting House, and somewhere on the opposite side a printing office occupied by J. Harris and others. Carmarthen House (now occupied by Mr. A. J. Jones and others) was kept by the late Mr. James Davies, ropemaker. and for a time it housed a wax- works exhibition. LAMMAS STREET.—RIGHT HAND. The "Black Horse"; this stood on the present site I of the English Baptist Chapel, and was kept in 1819 by Mary Jones. The "Tin Jug" was the old name of the "Temple Bar Inn." The "Vine" gave way to the present North and South Wales Bank on the corner of Water-street. The "Golden Lion" used to be where Mr. J. F. Rees, M.R.C.V.S., now lives, and was afterwards moved across the road to what was the "Bremenda." Next to it was the "Cock." "Live and Let Live" was an inn a little higher up, and the "Barley Mow" was close to the present mile-stone. Further on was the Masons Arms, and further still, near the Congregational Chapel, was the "Red Cow." The lane or passage near here used to be used by children going to the Model School. j The Volunteer Stores," called in the old days the "King William." The "Cross Keys" where the "Antelope" now is. On the opposite side was the "Three Horse Shoes," opposite St. David's Church. "Smiths Arms" on the present site of Christ Church. The "Speedwell," an inn next door to Mr. Davies, cabinet maker. This was one time accounted one of the most genteel houses in the town. The name still remains on the hoUBe. "Old Queen's Arms," now occupied by Mr. Comey. This house was once occupied by a shoemaker, who had in his employ seven young men who were pressed into the Army and fought at Waterloo. As far as I can find out, only one of them returned. '.t. -j!L.£ Between Lammas-street Chapel and Christ Church was also the "Mermaid" now the Park Refreshment Rooms. "Bremenda Arms," now the "Golden Lion." "The Three Compasses," now a shop. "Cawdors Arms," now an eating house. The "Boar's Head" was in 1819 occupied by Mrs. Stone- hewer. MANSEL STREET. Opposite Zion Chapel was a ropewalk, kept by Frank Davies. There were fields here where cattle used to be shod before going to Barnet and other fairs. This street was once a pathway leading through fields to go to the Market. WATER STREET.—LEFT HAND. The "Red Cow" was next to the "Swansea Castle," kept by Jeremiah and Richard Rowe. also there was a "Black Bull." The "Bear Fawr," next to Water-street Chapel, kept by a Mr. Lewis, now an eating-house. The "Fox" (once the "Bear Fach") kept by John Thomas, between the "Bear Fawr" and the Far- mers Arms." "Cardigan Arms," now a grocer's shop. Near here was a garden and nursery in the occu- pation of Phillip Hinds. On the opposite side of the road was a barley and ] malt stores, now occupied by Mr. Jenkins as a furni- i ture warehouse. I Another large stores, occupied by James Morgan, I j was where Mr. Greenwood's place now is. I The present ounliffe Bakery was an eating-house kept by a Mrs. Davies, where a roaring trade used I' I to be done in hot mutton pies. Somewhere here in 1819 was also the "Bakers Arms," kept by Samuel John. THE TOLL-GATE IN WATER STREET. I CATHERINE STREET. r The upper part of this street was the old Goose- street, and the lower "Felin Saint." "Sunnyside" was an old inn which is now a private I house, next door to the Model School. It was kept by Thomas Lewis. The "Carmarthen Arms" stood on "the bank," on the Morley-street side, while opposite Morley-street, on the other side, was the "Apple Tree," kept by David Richards. II Morley-street appears to have been named Pig- street, about 1819. Broad-street, or the Market Shambles, was some- where in the neighbourhood of the "Butchers Arms," which is shown on the 1819 Survey as occu- pied By Peter Morris. There was a "Black Swan" thereabouts too. This street seems to have run from the "Butchers Arms" to Shaw's -lane. ) TABERNACLE BAPTIST BAPTIST CHAPEL, CARMARTHEN. Exterior, before it was altered. THE QUAY. There atre many important landmarks gon6 out here. The "Hope and Anchor" has given way to the new name of "Jubilee" and the "Three Mariners" is also no more. The "Ship and Castle" at the bottom of Quay- street has gone, and the sturdy old "Jolly Tar" still remains as prim and taut as ever, but without its old neighbour, the "Waterloo" (kept by John Rees), which used to stand on the present site of Mr. Davies' slate yard, and still has traces of the ball court left at the rear. Little remains to-day to remind us of the miniature seaport that it once was, With its custom house, shipping offices, roomy and lofty store houses, and the sounds and smell of shipping, before the advent of the railway. SPILMAN STREET. Several interesting old landmarks are gone here. Starting at the back of the new Post Office the most recent alteration is the disappearance of the "Saracen's Head." On the opposite side of the street was at one time the Post Office. It came there from where Jeremy's Hotel is now. Afterwards it went to Church-street near the Vicarage: then it went to the present premises of the JOURNAL, and finally re- moved to its present position. The "Victoria" still exists in name, but its licence is gone. The "Elephant and Castle" used to be a school, but there used to be an "um Elephant" near the present offices of the Cawdor Estate (not Napier House). Close here was also the "Star and Garter," occupied by Thomas Lamb, and the "Coach and Horses," a busy house in the days of the Cardigan Railway. The "Ivy Bush" in 1819 was occupied by Thomas Moore. The "Black Ox" stood where Mr. Bona now lives, and the "Golden Lion" on the corner near the School of Art. Near Spilman-street. perhaps near the site of the old station, was "Kidwelly Bach, with its school house and Pound, a tanyard, and several houses and gardens. In Little Water-street was a theatre, kept at one time by N. Aubrey, and a number of cots and gar- dens, and at the end of Backway, or Wood's-row, was a slaughter-house and yard, with a wool-room and the "Free School" above., The town refuse at one time used to be deposited in Waundew. It were, perhaps ^better not to pur- sue the. subject any further ex.pt to say that its depository was changed several tunes before it got to its present situation. The last "pound" or "ffal" in Carmarthen was'on the site of the new Intermediate Schools, and close to it were very large gardens, occupied by Mr. Valen- tine Rees. late land lord of the Ivy Bush Hotel. Not so very long ago there lived in some cottages in Little Water-street between Wood's-row and Is- land Wharf, five old dames, each of whom was over 100 years of age. They were, giving the names they were known by among their friends:—Sal Phil, 9 Sal Harrv, Pecrgv Bona, Sal Roach, and Mother Wolfe. Mrs. Sarah Jones, who keeps a grocery business next to No. 31, Kingstreet, is the last of the old inhabitants of Little Water-street. She is now over 80 years and still hale and hearty.

.&¡: &W: BETTERMENT OF THE WORKING CLASSES. PROGRESS OF A CENTURY. [By W. J. WATERHOUSE,-B.A., B.Sc.] When the JOURNAL first made its appearance 100 years ago, the conditions cf life were vastly different from those under which we now exist. As the law stood in those days, it would have been criminal conspiracy for the employees of this paper, or any other workmen, to combine to secure a reduction in the hours of labour, or a rise in wages. The work of reform was begun in 1825 by Lord Liverpool's Conservative Government, which legis- lated in favour of freeing the working-man from these restrictions. It was 1867. however, before Lord Derby's Conservative Government gave the franchise to the town artisan. During almost the whole of the intervening period the Liberals had been in office; and the "Party of the People" might have been expected, with these ample oppor- tunities, to have put the workman on an equality with his employer. But the workman had no vote, so they quietly let him alone. The Conservatives made him free to work out his own interests. Mr. Disraeli in 1875 liberated him from the harsh grip of the law of conspiracy, by an Act which the late Mr. George Odger described as "the greatest boon ever granted to the sons of toil"; and four years later we find the Liberal and Labour M.P. for Stafford telling his constituents that "The Conserva- tive party have done more for the working classes in five years than the Liberals have in fifty." If that party had done nothing more than reduce the number of ruinous and disastrous strikes which in- jured alike capital and labour, it would well deserve the gratitude and adhesion of the working man. The Right Hon. John Burns testifies that such has been the result of the Conciliation Boards, which are owing to Conservative initiative and steady Unionist support. A century ago the working-man was usually not paid his wages in cash, as he is to-day. He was paid partly or wholly in goods. This was known as the Truck system, and it inflicted much injustice on labour. The working-man frequently got what he did not want, and got it at an exorbitant valua- tion; but he was helpless. The Conservative party took up his cause, and in 1831 surmounted the Liberal opposition which had previously frustrated its efforts. The workman got his money, to spend where he pleased and as he pleased. The only Liberal leader who spoke up for him was Lord Althorp; and the Bills which made the working- man his own master were introduced by Lord Wharncliffe in the House of Peers. They were re- vised and extended by Lord Salisbury in 1887, and further amended by the Act of 1896, of which the secretary of the Notts Miners' Association said: "If it had been any other Government in pqwer, the moosure would have been lauded to the skies." "L_ _& Should any reader of this paper desire a sickening experience, let him investigate the conditions of child and female labour in factories, as they were a century ago. The accounts we possess simply reek with horrors. The Tory Government of 1802 first championed the oppressed; and it was followed in this course by the Tory Government of 1819, which forbade children under nine to work in cotton mills, and limited those under sixteen to twelve hours a day. In 1S32, the Conservative Lord Ashley (later Lord Shaftesbury) pressed the matter forward in a Ten Hours Bill, which was bitterly opposed by a group of greedy Radical capitalists. Further relief was afforded by Sir Robert Peel's Conserva- tive Government in 1844, while John Bright de- nounced the Act as "miserable legislation, on principles false and mischievous." In 1846 yet another Ten Hours Bill was introduced, and it was fiercely attacked by Cobden and Bright. It got through in 1847. Bright said it was "one of the worst measures ever passed"; he described it as "injurious and destructive to the best interests of the country and he insolently threatened the House I s<> fonmdable a combination of the owners of capital that, the House could not successfully legis- late against it." The obstruction was so'violent and envenomed that it provoked from a Liberal member the remark that it was "the most unfair and vexatious opposition ever offered." When thA A "t. came into operation, what was the result? Mr. L '0,,iihe ot Commons in 1867, that having at first opposed the Act he wished now joyfully to utter his testimony t'o its beneficial results. In his own neighbourhood a squalid population had been succeeded by a healthv one. The operation of the Act had changed the aspect of many a once wretched district, and brought dren full T °/ •happy' ^ubby-faced chil- dren full of health and activity, who, but for the interference of the Legislature, would have been wearing away their lives in premature toil." We desire no better testimony than that of Mr. Mun- cleila who said "it was to the immortal honour of the Conservatives that they had passed the Factory Acts"; and went the length of stating that "the Conservative party had always been the friend of datin° and J901 tJat party PASSCD a consoli- dating and amending Act endorsed by the "Daily Chronicle as practical and serviceable, and men- tioned by Mr. Bowerman at Swansea as in all respects the most comprehensive work of the kind yet placed on the Statute-book. And those who benefit by the Early Closing Act, should not forget to whom that measure also is due. In housing and sanitation the party has a fine record. Of the Artisans' Dwellings Act of 1875, Mr. Chamberlain said, shortly afterwards, that it had "done more for the town of Birmingham than had been done in the twenty preceding years of Liberal legislation." To Mr. Disraeli belongs the credit of laying down in 1872, this broad principle: y "The first consideration of a Minister should be the health of the people." The Radical party, then as now fertile in abusive phrases, sneered at the great stateman's doctrines as a policy of sewage." ± he said, "it may be the policy of sewage to Liberal members of Parliament; but to one of the labouring multitude of England who has found fever always to be one of the inmates of his house- u u-T has, year after year, seen stricken down the children of his loins on whose sympathy and material support he has looked with hope and confidence- it is not a 'policv cf sewage,' but a question of life and death." A long series of enactments bears witness to the eager zeal with which Mr. Disraeli's policy has been pursued. Turn where you will the result is the same. Liberal testimony has been given to the effect that with reference to industrial and provident societies the balance of help has come from the Tory side, which bais encouraged thrift The Workmen's Compensation Act of 1901 has safe- guarded the little store from accidental depletion; "the greatest measure they had received from any Government," said Mabon to the Miners' -Federa- tion at Birmingham. Samuel Plimsoll did not scruple to say: "I am a Liberal of the Liberals. I have supported Liberal measures ever since I came into this House, but it has been borne into my mind that the interests of the working classes, when at issue between themselves and capitalists, are safer with the Conservatives than the Liberals! I suppose that the working classes of the country will not be slow in arriving at that conclusion, which has been forced upon my mind." We have not space to deal with miners in detail; but we will remind them that Mr. Burt, M.P., said that Lord Salisbury's Act of 1887, which was opposed from the Radical benches, "would do much to protect life' and limb, mitigate suffering, and lessen the still enormous and terrible loss of life." "It was," he said, "the greatest measure of the kind that had ever yet been passed by the British Parliament." A last word, and this to the farmer and agri- cultural labourer. The Unionists gave you a Small Holdings Act in 1892. Under this Act, you or your son might purchase your holding. The Radicals gave you another Act in 1907, and in spite of the efforts of Unionists, and the amend- ments of the House of Lords, refused to insert a provision giving you power of purchase. If, there- fore, you desire to own a bit of land, you have no choice but to support the Unionist party. Sir Charles Dilke will tell you why you are not to be allowed to own small holdings; it is because it will make you as socially conservative as the rural population of France. In other words, you know what is for your own good, and what makes for your prosperity. So you desire small holdings. You may have them, by paying a public body a greater rent than you would pay a private landlord. But you may not purchase them from the public body, because you would find that this system would benefit you so much, that you would be- come conservative to preserve the advantages you would thus have gained. So you shall not have those advantages; you must learn to do without them, for they would place an insuperable barrier in the way of the predatory socialism which masquerades in the old clothes of the now defunct Liberal party. And you are much too likely to become Conservatives as it is, when you inspect the record of what the Conservative party has done during the last century for men of your class in all walks of life. We await with some interest the verdict of the agricultural community when the facts of the case are brought home to them.

-+- CLAWDDOWEN COMPETITIVE MEETING.—A very interesting com- petitive meeting was held at Clawddowen Council School on Friday in last week, in aid of a School Library. At the opening of the meeting a letter was read from Alderman H. Jones-Thomas, J.i- expressing his regret of his inabilty to attend to occupy the chair, owing to illness, in which letter he also enclosed a cheque in aid of the library. In his absence the meeting was well presided over by the Rev. J. H. Davies, vicar of Abergorlech, who also acted as adjudicator in the literary section. The music adjudicator was Mr. Rhys Jones, Capel Isaac; gloves, Mrs. Davies, The Cottage, Aber- gorlech, and Mr. W. Gunn. The accompanist was Miss Jones, A.L.C.M. The following were the successful competitorsSolo, under 12, "Paid a'm gadael I" (prize given by Miss Jones, Abergorlech): 1, Sarah M. Jones; 2, M. J. Roberts; 3, Mary Jane Williams. Solo, under 16, "Wyres fach Ned Puw" (prizen given by Mrs. Williams, Cathilas): 1, Letitia Thomas; 2, Sarah Ann Evans. Soprano solo, "O'r Niwl i'r Nef" (prize given by Rev. J. H. Davies, Abergorlech): Miss Thomas, Post Office, Llanfynydd. Tenor solo, "Wyt ti'n cofio'r Lloer": Mr. David Thomas. Bass solo, "Cwymp Llewellyn" (prize given by Mr. J. Williams, School House, Clawdd- owen): Mr. David Thomas, Esgerdawe. Duett, "Y Ddau Forwr" (prize given by Mrs. Jones, Tirbach): Messrs. Thomas and Moses. Party, 12 in number, "0 tyred yn ol": Mr. Ginn and party. Over 40, "Dwy aden colomen" (prize given by Mr. C. Ed- wards): Mr. Jones, Tirmaes. Impromptu reading: Mr. C. Edwards. Recitation for adults, "Sodom and Gomora": Divided between Mrs. Davies, Llan- fynydd, and Mr. D. Peregrine, Tyrpant. Recitation for children 16, "Melyn Bowyd": 1, Mr. D. J. Jones, Tirbach; 2, D. J. Jones, Blaencwm. Lova letter: Mr. Johns, C.M., Abergorlech. Verses en Clawddowen School: Mr. David Jones, Esgerdawel. Spelling B: Mr. Chas. Edwards. Gloves: Mrs. Roberts, Llan. "Child's first grief": 1, Master Gwyn J. Williams; 2, Mary J. Williams, Cathilas. At the close votes of thanks to Mrs. Davies-Evans, Penylan, for the beautiul volumes of books sh,6 had given to start the library; also to Mr. J. Lewis and Mr. Delme Davies-Evans, Penylan, for sending cheques; also to Mr. H. Jones-Thomas, Penrhos, for his donation were heartily aocorded. Prize bags: Miss Williams, School House. Treasurer, Mrs. Williams, School House.

HORSEBREEDERS Get your HORSES FIT for the FAIRS. Give them a little pinch of MORGAN DAVIES' OLD WELSH" CONDITION POWDER in the feed. It will fill the hollows and shine their coats, and remove any tendency to Swelled Legs and Grease, Dry up Worms, and Bots. I Large Box, sufficient for a month's treatment, post paid for Is. 4d., from MORGAN DAVIES, Old Welsh Medi- cine Maker (Yr Hen Siop y Druggist), uLANY- BYTHER. (77