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MR CHAMBERLAIN.

MR. PARNELL'S LATEST.

ABERYSTWYTH ABSURDITIES.

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ABERYSTWYTH ABSURDITIES. Considerable amusement may be derived from the views of social life expressed by people who live in small towns. The condi- tions of life that exist in these places are such as give rise to peculiar feelings which, while they aggravate the self-importance of the individual, confer on him no sense of his own absurdity. Aberystwyth has been much vexed by the social question, and has rushed to the local papers for comfort. The blank despair of social destitution rose up like a great chaos in :hc brain of the would-be reformer he saw a iearth that threatened his country, and up- lifted his prophetic voice in woe and warning. With what result ? The newspaper man straightened his back, and frowned as lie said, This is my work I will remedy all this. A hundred pens shall be unsheathed at my word. I myself will write such stinging leaders that the world shall stand and gaze like Joshua's moon. Society shall tremble." Thus do men make fools of themselves. But there is a serious side to all questions, which must be considered. It is said that there are always people struggling to get a footing in n t5 society. Unfortunately, society abominates struggle, and is not to be won by impetuosity of attack. Society may be dull, it may be rotten, but that is the fact; it is taken at the point of least resistance, and the knock to which its doors are opened is given quietly. After all, social status is not regulated so much by considerations of prestige as by conve- nience; and we would remind our Aberyst- wyth friends that the existence of different coteries and conditions is essential to corporate social life, and esoteric circles, and that abominable word cliques are unavoidable. I Such conditions are not only necessary, but they are wholesome, and only the small mind finds superiority in one circle and inferiority in another. Unfortunately, the small mind is often predominant. Let us take the class which has been labelled Aristocracy." They associate, keep carriages and horses, hunt and dance, play tennis, and eat dinners together, and more or less apart from the other classes. Then the shopkeepers and tradesmen have their social gatherings, festivities and cere- monies, holidays and peculiar class observances, honourable and characteristic of the class. So, too, with the shop boys and servant girls, the professionals, and farmers, each have their own mode of social life. Now to separate one class, and call it nobler or more desirable than the other, is to confess one's own inferiority, and shows a most pitiful ambition in the f fool that uses it," while it serves but to distin- guish the class. Let us remembel,they are all good, they are all convenient; one circle is no better than another, except where the graces of life are in more abundance. And if this circle keeps different hours to that, if they follow different pursuits, have different ideas, and possess different means, it is not for us to find fault. Such a condition is merely the outcome of convenience, and is so because so it works best. There are natural drawbacks to any other method, and these, together with conventional facilities, are the causes which have created the present forms of society. It is well that the classes should meet, as they do occasionally, for iron sharpeneth iron, but until the fundamental laws of supply and demand are abrogated, until the properties and talents of humanity are reduced to a dead level, there can be no universal society that shall contain all the elements of social con- cord. Such may be the ultimate condition which the visionary thaumaturge hopes to produce out of his own 11 intense inane," but in our opinion such a condition is not evolved the sooner for empiric nostrums and con- temptuous writing, even if it were desirable. We look at the conditions as they exist, and would advise any would-be reformer not to forget that charity is a force that should not be overlooked if he will succeed in his object. This is our view of the question. What are known as county people associate together because they find it pleasant and convenient to do so. They keep carriages and horses to reduce the difficulties of being apart, and for pleasure and profit. There is no merit in keeping horses and carriages; it is merely convenient. Tradesmen and professionals, perhaps, do not, neither is there merit in that; it is merely a fact, a condition. So these visit those who are similarly situated to themselves, and controlled by the same needs and capabili- ties. They all are the creatures of circum- stance. As we are kin, let us regard each other in kindness. Each has his class, and rung by rung the ladder is made. One rung is no better than another, and which ever way the ladder is placed, the rungs must be always there. The classes are essentially equal, and t be who calls one higher than another merely proclaims his own inferiority, for to him who thinks it high it is high. There have been social beginnings ever since the world began; there have been social endings, as long as there has been social life; but let us never forget that there are social sores far more fatal than class conceit and Aberystwyth absurdities, and let us devote our energies to heal these while we leave the others to foolish quacks.

LLANDILO SCHOOL BOARD J ELECTION.