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CA HJVj ARTHEN UNDER THE SEA…

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CA HJVj ARTHEN UNDER THE SEA KOHLIGHT. (kme corne, and 310 you down yon shall out bu Ige, Yon shall not go, till I set you up a glass, Where you mlY see the inmost part of j SHAKESPEARE. "1 a.m getting quite ,oid now I am nearly thirty" remarked an assistant-teacher to the Education. Committee. And a, member in an audiblE- whisper remarked "I'm young yet; i I'm only sixty." ) { In a discussion on t,lie tramp question at the Guardians' meeting on Saturday, it was stated that the stones provided for breaking were soft. They are hardly so soft as the Guardians after all, The great difficulty in the way of starting a Town Band in Carmarthen is the want of fund. What is required in Carmarthen is a. faiiy god-mother who- will provide the instruments, and bandsmen who will always be ready to. give their services for nothing to anybody requiring them. There is a. splendid opening in Carmarthen for a band conducted on these hUBs-and then people would grumble at it. Dr Bowen Jones is an enthusiast in the new anti-consumption movement, and he practises what he preaches. The meeting of the Dis- trict Council wa.s being held on Saturday afternoon" in the Gramd Jury room, and the members were packed l'ke sardines, and the atmosphere was fairly rank. "We'd better have the window open, or we'll all be asphyxiated. The oxygen is all used up' said the doctor, and opened the window was. The cold blast made .some of the members curl up, but it was impossible to argue against expert advice; and the atmosphere was purer if cooler for the rest of the afternoon. The evils of the drink traffic are past count- ing. A District Councillor assured his fellow- members on Saturday that something ought to be done to put a stop to a contrivance which goes about the country at Llandefeilog delivering beer from the Felinfoel brewery. The machine in question appears to, be a kind of a steam motor car, and horses positively won't pass it. There are many drivers who won't pass, a public house and things have come to a fine pass; when horses won't pass; a brewer 3. dray. The question is raised whether anything can be done to stop this machine. Yes, there is one way of getting rid of it. Let the people of the district all sign the pledge. The new timepiece which is to be erected in St. Peter's tower is what is called a "quarter clock." The people who have taken the clock question in hand are evidently not dis- posed to stop at ha.lf measures. Ihe second-mind clock on being removed to St. David's tower will probably end the diffi- culty which has been, existing with regard to an old question in that parish. Whatever difficulties existed in regard to the proposed clock do not exist respecting the kind offer of the second-hand article, now on the look out for a home in its old age. It will be tracked up a.s good as new, and the dial will be covered with gilt. It is to be hoped that the dial will be the only thing in town which will be in that condition. **« Physical Culture will be all the rage m Carmarthen. Some years, ago, the whole craze was for people to improve their minds. It. was discovered in the (process of time that a, lot of the "improving" of the mind only resulted in spoiling whatever little bit of a mind they had. A lot of the so-called mental improvement simply consists in finding big names for things that you don't know any- thing about. But people noawdays have dropped that nonsense. The whole cry is about physical deterioration. That is the problem. *• All kinds of schemes, are being tried to restore the lost physical stamina of the British race. The food question has, replaced theolo- gy as the all-important subject. All kinds of patent fowls, are before the public, and every second (person you meet has his special remedy for dyspepsia. One crank will explain fO you that all that is required to keep you in perfect health is to swallow a teaspoonful of baking powder every half hour, and another lunatic has some special preparation (it looks: like powdered dynamite) which he sprinkles on everything he eats. He carries this about with him; and is enthusiastic in its praise. This kind of thing may be healthy; but it. is unfortunate that the people, who go. in for such fads in eating and drinking are about as miserable- a, lot of wretches as you can see anywhere outside tpictures of t!he Indian Famine. **# The Physical Culture idea, is, better than this faddism. Its idea is toi provide physical exercise so as to maintain good health. Of course there are walks in lafe: whTe. physical culture is not required. Nobody would re- commend a blacksmith to go in for it; men of that calling seldom suffer from a lack of exer- cise. Another similar walk in life is that of the postman; he seldom suffers from the effect of a foul atmosphere and a sedentary occupation. But there are many people who do not possess such advantag.es, and it is for them that, systematic physical culture is a benefit. Of course, in ainy case, it may be carried too far. There, is always the danger that after a course of scientific studies in this new art, the town will be overrun by a, com- pany of young San clows who will assault the police, uproot lamp-posts, and upset the guns at the monuments, just to show what they can do. With regard to the matter of physical I deterioration, it can hardly be denied that. the iTM-dica! profession in the cause of the trouble. The great piugress made by medical s(-eiic;e is at the bottom of the decadence) of the race. Of every 100 children born a. cer- tain number kgreater or less) are s In more ignorant ace*, those died off. Infant mortality was High; but the children wHch grew up were t-hoi-e wli4) Wi been strong enough, to survive all the different, forms of sickness which abound. The population of the country was not great but it was com- posed of people who could stand a. lot of knocking about. The British Army in the Peninsular waf composed of harder men than the British Army in South Africa. Every care is now taken of the weaklings. Instead' of dying off in early childhood, they are care- fully guarded so. that they grow up, form a large part- of the community, and live lone enough to become the parents of others like themselves. The result of oar advanced medical science is the gradual deterioration ,e of the race by the survival of the unfittesr. The 'United Counties Agricultural Society which holds such splendid shows, at Carmar- then is anno:yed-and' rightly so-Nvit-h the action of the year-old Aberystwith Society calling itself the "National Agricultural Society for Wales." The Aberystwith people are all there }DU find anything harder than the head of a Cardi except it be a. lump of granite. It is all very well t.o say "What's I in a name," but rhe Aberystwith people. think, that there is a. good deal in a name. It is. a great pity that it never struck the U.C.A. Society to call itself National or Imperial; Carmarthen people, are, however, always too modest. They have not- the nerve of the bound ing Cardi, who realises that other people never estimate you at a higher rate than you estimate yourself. After all there, is nothing to prevent a man calling his, house a castle if he likes; and it is just possible that by doing so he may delude some fool into the belief that it is a castle.. 1 There seems to be a, movement amongst the members, of the County Education Committee to minimise the value of qualifications 011 the part of teachers. It us first laid down that degrees are essential for certain poses, and j then applicants are appointed who have no degree. Indeed, teachers without degrees get their salaries raised to a higher pitch in some instances chan are .enjoyed by those who sport a B.A. In pursuance of the same policy the Committee eems now in danger of con- .sidering favourably the idea that uncertili- cated teachers should be employed where cer- i tificated teachersha,ve b en decreed before to be necessary. The matter was mentioned at last: week's; meeting, and although nothing was decided, the members did not seem to j -peak unkindly of the suggestion. J Of course, the, argument is always put for- warcj that Mr So-and-So or Miss So-and-So is a better teacher than many who have a degree or a certificate as the case may be. It is a most remarkable thing that two or three year, in a college or four years at a University seems to damage people a great deal. That is the only conclusion it is possible- to come to when you boar it stated that the unqaulified one is ever ;&0 much better than those who have gone through the proper training. The only conclusion which sieems allowable in tne face of these revelations would seem to be that all who wish to become successful tea- chers should avoid degrees and certificates as they would the plague. It is all very well to minimise the value of parchments and diplomas; but they are the only ready method of ascertaining a person's knowledge in a certain direction. If every Committee or every Board had to hold an examination of candidates every time it had to appoint a teacher, a lot of time would be lost. In the absence of degrees, or certificates that. would be the only safe method, for you will never get a noodle who is hardly sane, but you will find some friend of his, who will assure you that he is ever so much better than anybody else. We have too many quacks 'al- ready we have Yamkee D.D.'s, and hedge lawyers, and quack doctors enough to form a regiment of themselves. We can do without a company of unqualified teachers to add to the same honourable battalion. There is one advantage, of course, in leav- ing appointments to unqualified people. It gives you a chance of jobbing in friends of your own who would have no chance in the open market. The County Council election will take place on Monday, March 7th, and the election for the Board of Guardians, 011 Monday March 28th. We shall probably have a stiff fight in the Borough for both. I *«» It. is stated on excellent authority that Mrs Blagdon Richards intends to resign her posi- tion as a, member of the Borough Education Committee. **« A leaflet has been is.sued by somebody in Carmarthen, and is entitled "A Honest Publi- can's Advt." In this, the publican is repre- sented as saying, "I love a lazy life." This is not fair at all. Who has, such long hours as the poor publican He has to work until 11 p.m., and still his en- thusiiasm, is so great, that he often works on Sundays as well. If the British workman had to work from 98 to 105 hours a, week, there would be a, fine how-do-you-do about it. It is time the publicans went on strike f.r shorter hours. The defendant Elizabeth Williams, who was sent to prison on Monday for neglecting one of her children, is the widow of the late "Jack Wyndham" who met his, death on Mafeking Day by the bursting of a, cannon on the Pot- house, and the daughter of "Het yr Hen- ffordd" who met her death in Red Lion Yard' a couiplle of years ago by falling downstairs. The boy who is the subject of the prosecution on Monday gave evidence then, at the inquest cn his grandmother. Supt. Smith made some very proper re- marks at the Board of Guardians, on Saturday on the appalling increase of tramps. When it comes to relieving 23 tramps a night at the expense of the ratepayers it is time do I something. But it is useless expecting any- thing so long as we have a, Bench which, can be got over by any yarn about asking for a drop of hot water, to make tea. If some of the profession asked for cold water and, a bit of soap, the request might be regarded with much toeration. What can be expected of the Board of Guardians that &01 far from, detaining tramps for two nights, does not detain them at all— gives them tickets for the lodgiiig-hoime ? Of course it would cost money to build some more eells, but it costs more to board the tramps out, and it will cost a good deal more by and bye. Carmarthen is getting a name as the hatpipy hunting ground for tramps. The plague will never be stamped out so long as there are "softies." enough to make it worth while for people to go on tramp. Make it an offence, punishable by a fine of 40s a-nd costs to give any assistance to tramps, and you'll get at the root of the evil. A movement is on foot to present a testi- moniaJl to the Rev W. S. Jones, pastor of Penu-el, who leaves shortly for Llwynpia. ow that there is a prospect of a. visit from Royalty in the summer, it is interesting to recall t'he former vis\tx> of members of the Royal Family to Carmarthen. Three in- stances are given in Spurrell's "Carmarthen" as having occurred during the Nineteenth Century: (1) George IV., on September 13, 1821 (2) the Duchess of Clarence- on July 28, 1827, when she was presented with an address by the Mayor (Mr Grismond, Philipps) on be" hailf of the burgesses; (3) Prince Arthur, on July 23rd 1863. All these, however, were not visits to Carmarthen; they were simply short I stoppages on the way through. *■ The same; interesting work records the fix- ing of the, present clock in its place in St. Peter's Church—"1858. June 1st. A clock fixed in front, of the. steeple of St. Peter's Church at the expense of Mr Dd. Morris, M P., who also gave the town [I, fire engine in lieu of e ectiorn ,expenses forbidden by law." The compiler of these items had' a quiet sense of humour. By the way. one-of the men who fixed, the old clock in St. Peter's: tower is still alive- Mr H, J. Williams, watchmaker, Nott Sq. It is nearly La't a. oenturv since the elook xrm* e fixed, but Mr Williams is still hale and hearty j enough to help to fix another one. The latest thing in picture postcards is the "local character series," and an excellent likeness of Mr John Davies, jockey, aippeared in several of the shop windows this week. Competition is still rife as to who is to be the next, and whether gentlemen only are to be j included. Sergt. -In struct or Poole who has been for several years at Carmarthen, received his dis- charge from, the army this- week, and will after the experience of several campaigns, retire into civilian life on a w 11-eariicd ipiension. «** I have received from a correspondent a copy of some "lines on the removal of an antient clock within a hundred mites of Car- maitlien which, after competition, was under- taken by a Jew who ,handed in the lowest estimate, in the month of June, 1816." This lines begin— "Behold me all, as ye pass, by Who oft at me have cast ain eye, And while you gaze, don't think it strange All things are subject to a change. Hne I've hept. time, indeed that you Might learn by me. what time will do. Yet after much and great ado, I fall a victim to a Jew. Now each reflect while I relate I'm but an emblem of your fate. For time will come when each of you Will then, like me, be shifted too." The piece contains about- fifty lines a.nd the leaflet contains another entitled "Lines Since written 011 the clock after its removall to the Market Place, in the cime town where- it has become useless; also describing the maiiiier in which it was deprived of an ancient Bell supposed to be of great value, with the Mayor and Cliamberlain's names 011 it, and J showing the want of foresight of those who j had contracted for its removal; the evil effects of low contracts; and neglect of duty in not getting a sufficient security for the per- foimanc-e of them." The contractor who- re- moved the clock, had the bell Which had for ages been a guide For all who came to buy and sell But lost through ignorance and pride By those who now cut such a swell. This shows to you just what they are In everything they undertake, Who puts them in are not aware They do such foolish bargains make. **# Town Councillors were not regarded as per- fection in these days even and there were people not afraid to say so. The clock in question has evidently gone the way of all brass. Can anyone remember where the- dock in question was situated; before its. removal to the Market-place and its subsequent disasters. I Things are coming to a head in the Boro At the meeting of the Education Committee on Tuesday night, the Rev J. Harry will move: -"Tha,t, in reply to the inquiry of the Town Council, this Committee desires to | report that inasmuch as the Voluntary schools of Carmarthen do no require any aid from the local rates, no provisions from the rates be made iin the estimates for the ensuing year in respect of these schools, and that accordingly this committee begs to advise, the; Town Coun- cil that to increase the Education Rate beyond the amount levied at the end of 1902 is alto- gether unnecesary." At the same meeting, there probably will be more heard from the lawyers who have been put on the track of the Committee by the Roman Catholic Bishop with the view of compelling the Committee to be a partv to an agreement binding the head, teacher to, give religious, instruction according "to the doctrine and discipline of tne Roman Catholic Church." Religious tests for public officials paid out of public money are bad enough, but to ask those who- detest these tests to be parties to impos- ing them is simply monstrous. Here is a fine sample of London "Welsh." A person who left Carmarthen for the Metropolis has just returned, and in conver- sation with a friend, on being asked how long she had been in London, said • Blwyddyn ond tri quarter." ««* Some people who are struggling after a joke in the same way that a person born blind might strive after a sense of colour, have been trying desperately to make a little fun over the term "bona, fide Liberals." They had better give it up. Bona fide travellers are more in their line. The reconciliation between. Professor Jones and the bulk of the Liberal Party is the best item of news this week. I have a fine selec- itioln of flattering notices by me which the Cleriea-Is applied to Professor Jones during the hist few months when they thought he was one of themselves. Even they can hardly go back on their own words, and say that he is not a, good Liberal, an ardent educational- ist with an honourable record, etc., etc. But one need not be surprised at anything from some of them. There is a kind of weak conspiracy about—to attempt to belittle everybody (no- matter what his or her merits) who won't take their marching orders from the skirmishers in surplices, and, a'lso to crack up anybody and everybody who will assist the' aforesaid gentry in their little raid on the. public purse. But this is always the method of Clericalism. Many have been burned at the stake for opposing the Church, although their lives were blameless. Had they only been foul, evil-living, lying, and dishonest ruffians, and left the Church alone, they might have ended their days in the odour of sanctity and have actually been many scoundrels have been. At the sitting of the Carmarthen magis- trates on Monday, some startling revelations of low life in Carmarthen were made. Mr C. Carter, of Nott, Square, was the means of unearthing two worse cases this week in Shaw',si-lane. In one case, a father, mother, and four children were discovered Iviing in one room, land the- only furniture of the room was-n orarige box. There was not a table, bed, or chair in the "home." Mr Carter with assistance of a few friends managed to get them some necessary furniture, and to relieve- their immediate wants. In the room; below, there was discovered a man and his wife living on 4s a week which they get weekly from the Guardians. In this case, there was a, little furniture in the house, but the walls were running with water like. a damp cave. Mr Carter says he never saw such sights even in tiles/lulls of Birmingham, which are sup- posed to bo pretty Had, But, of course, the various local authorities will each explain that they are net responsible in any way for such things. ALETHEIA.

[No title]

The County Council Contest…

THE BOARD OF GUARDIANS.

THE ANNUAL MEETING.

i rofcdsor Jones & his Constituents.

-----Cn__----<-The Temperauce…

W'--=.:.. At this Reason of…

The A I: ti-\ oiiijUi-iptioy…

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