The Merthyr Express

CORRESPONDENCE. The Editor wishes it to be distinctly understood that he will not hold himself responsible for the opinions or statements of correspondents, nor under- take to return rejected manuscript. Correspondents irusT write on one side of the paper only. Correspondents are requested to condense their re- narks as much as possible as. owing to the very great demands upon our space, we cannot undertake to publish letters of great length. Lettera of a personal character will not be inserted. TO CORRESPONDENTS. "Bryeh&n."—We have reoeivecj your letters, and have made a note of your suggestions for future guidance. Elizabeth A. Bennett.—We are unable to in- sert your letter. If you are not satisfied con- sult your solicitor. "A Morthyr Catholic."—We have received your letter, but before we could make use of It it would have to be re-written on smaller eheets of paper, and we have not time to re- write letters from correspondents THE PURCHASE OF CYFARTHFA PARK AND CASTLE. Sir,—Since the Merthyr Corporation affixed their seal to the purchase of Cyfarthfa Castle, the workmen in the Cyfarthfa district have lost RZ,OM per week in wage.5, and the people in tha neighbourhood have been plunged into the greatest poverty. The purchase itself will mean a dead teas of over £ 1,000 per annum to tho ratepayers. Very soon our Corporation will require another huge loan under the pre- tence that it is going to develope the property; that will certainly mean another £1,000 loss per annum, and I estimate that the. total annual loss wit! not be Jess than £2.000 per annum. All the receipts from picnics, boats, and open- air meetings will be too small to cover the ex- panses of the officials. The only benefit I can see the town will got from the above grand in- vestment will be an expensive object lesson on the question of the nationalisation of land. A distinguished councillor asserts that the land is freehold. If so, why dses the Corporation make such a secret of the whole affair? Why 'not publish the terms on which the property has been secured? The rates in our Borough are a'r?jvdy high, and we can never expect any erxvu'.ators to establish new industries unless the rates are reduced to one-half the present ,"ndard.-I remain, yours truly. T. J. RICE. --r- CO UN. C. GRIFFITHS—DEFENDER OF THE FAITH. Sir,—Mr. Mansfield and his co-religionists tnay well rejoice at the downfall of at least one Labour man. Last week Coun. Griffiths was pui outside the Labour group on the Town Council, aj>.d he now stands as the defender of sectarianism. It is to be hoped 'that our next candidate for Penydarren will understand the

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THE CHRONICLES OF CA RTOONIA.. By JOHN BRIND. (Author of "Household Sketches," "Marmon Hall," "Short History of Bedwellty Church," etc., etc.) Third Chbonicle. The visitation of a national panic is often recorded in a nation's history, and Cartoonia L3. £ ?Teat nation with a historical past and a f iiian^ Present was not exempt in one period of her career from a national scare that shook ferJ'rofound' apjjears that King Grandosa e^'[OIua—a restless, dogmatic monarch who aspired toInternational supremacy in arms on the basis of a great and tremendous victory with a neighbouring nation about thirty years before, suddenly showed open intention of rivalling and, indeed, surpassing Cartoonia in naval concerns. The country flew to pieces in alarm, and after the usual flood of invective and political accusatives, between the rival national parties, suddenly under an extraordinary attack of patriotism, combined to moet the emergency, and resolved by every means to maintain its at tho. r to supremacy of the sea. Cartoonia prided herself immensely on the construction of a certain class of warships called I^earlesses," whose size, and strength, and ngnting capabilities had hitherto stood unrival- led among the nations of the world but when it became known that King Grandosa had been secretly builing vessels of the same description. and that, too, with a rapidity that, threatened to outvie Cartoonia. in that respcct, after the first flush of alarm had subsided, patriotism in- spired the country to a riotous expenditure in naval construction, and thrusting aside all other national considerations, sums were voted to a further augmentation of the fleet that made the hair of the minister of the public purse to stand on end, and he hysterically declared that other national and eccial reforms absolutely de- manded attention. He was politically told to go bang, that the nation was in danger, and unless they found means to increase the con- ftruction of "Fearlesses," Cartoonia would go down the scale of nations, and play second fiddle to Teutonia—a circumstance and condition not to be thought of, much less endured. Cartoonia's great Ocean Lords who controlled the management of her naval affaire, developed and exercised such unusual energy in the stress that the clerks and staffs of the Ocean Lords' offices suddenly awoke to the fact that their duties were not absolutely confined to a system- atic reading of the dailies and friendly discus- sions on the various sporting and. theatrical topics of the day. and with much grumbling and perturbation filled in returns, issued official mandates, and altogether flooded the various authorities of the nation ctjncerned, with blue memoranda, to such an extent that breakdown pensions loomed largely a.mong the unusually- worked officials. In every part in Cartoonia was heard the naval hammer and the clanging crane. Every now and then word would be brought that Teutonia had just finished another "Fearless," and was laying the keel of a suc- cessor. With feverish energy, Cartoonia's ship- wrights sought by superhuman efforts almost to keep ahead with her ships and the whole world watched with bated breathe and Suppressed mirth the gigantic struggle between the two naval Titans. King Affabel did not display that excitable interest the various governing heads of the country anticipated: he would, and when sent for by him to discuss the situation, they were not behind hand in expressing their sur- prise at his eqnanimou3 attitude. "Pooh, pooh! My cousin Grandosa is only suffering from a momentary attack of cepha- •lotus—commonly caued, swelled head; but I am not insensible to an under-current of danger from him nevertheless, and I quite agree with Scribbletcn, the Representative of the Fourth Estate, whom I have just seen that every pre- caution a3 he very pithily states: 'If its war, we'll meet him; If its bluff, weil beat him.' Clever fellow, Scribbleton, eh, what! what!" and the King's eyes twinkled with a gleam of amusement as he caught a passing frown on the face of his Chief Minister of Representa- tiv-2s at the mention of that independent Re- presentative's name. "Your Majesty's equanimity is to be envied," replied the Chief Minister with a most pre- i cautionary touch of sarcasm, "and I only wi^h your Majesty's subjects were equally easy in their minds and actions on this matter." "I am not blind or deaf to the symptoms of danger in the national crisis that has arisen— but, as Scribbleton says, there's no reason why we should lose our heads as well as our money over the business, eh? what! what!" and the King tilted back his crown on his head and picked up his jewel-mounted meerschaum with that easy grace of confidence supposed to be common among monarchs when dealing with important matters of State. "Your Majesty is aware that we are only four 'Fearlesses' ahead," gravely put in the Chief Ocean Lord, "notwithstanding the strenu- ous efforts of our dockyards?" "Yes. Scribbleton has informed me of the fact, and he further stated that probably wo would be only three ahead next year, two altead the following year, and so on till our cousin Grandosa's cephalotus complaint dimin- ishes," replied tha King as he lit his meer- schaum. At this moment, the royal chamberlain an- nounced that a message c £ importance awaited the Chief Ocean Lord without. "Bring it in, bring it in," said the King, as a questioning look of permission, for departure came from the Minister. The message was delivered and handed to the King in right of his royal supre- macy. "No, no; you open it, my lord. After you—for once," and the King's eyes twinkled behind a cloud of royal tobacco smoke. The face of the Chief Ocean Lord was a picture of con-sternation as he perused the communkattion. "Well, I'm dashed!" he involuntarily ex- claimed regardless for the moment of the pres- ence of royalty and the etiquette of court; "all the dockyards of Cartoonia are filled with con- structing 'Fearlesses,' and my chief officer of naval construction is inquiring where to build more!" "Matters are developing," laughed His Maj- esty, as he blew a cloud upwards, "itV; not a question of ships now but of dockyards! I wonder how our cousin Crandosa is off for dockyards?" The looks of doubt and uncertain- ty on the faces of the various leaders before him seemed to give the King roy&l amusement. "We must call an- immediate meeting of the Representatives of the State at once," put in the Chief Minister, "and I take this opporLunity, your Majesty, to ask your permission for that purpose. "Pooh, pooh! Send for Scribbletop now, and we will have an impromptu court inquiry into this matter," said the King as he rose from his chair and took his place at the head of a table. "Clever fellow, Scribbleton; generally finds us a way out of our national difficulties- eh! what! wijat!" he continued, ending with his ucual terminological phrase. A message wa. instantly dispatched com- manding the presence at once of the Fourth Representative to an audience with the King. The royal cigarette box was handed round with that characteristic affability that made His Majesty so popular with his people, as they awaited the attendance of the Representative of the Fourth Estate. "Ha, Scribbleton," exclaimed the King, as that gentleman, grave and impassive as usual, entered the room with the usual ceremonial formality of obeisance, "glad to see you. I have ordered an impromptu court of inquiry to discuss a situation of immediate importance— have you heard the latest?" "About the nation's shortage of dockyards, your Majesty? I forecasted that privately some time ago, your Majesty." was the quiet re- sponse. "Just as I thought, Scribbleton. You didn't lose your head, clearly enough-but what do 1 you now suggest?" "Go on building, and keep ahead of His Teu- ton;c Majesty," replied Scribbleton as he grave- ly looked into the King's inquiring eyes. The other members turned sharply towards Scribble- ton and eyed him somewhat contemptuously. "Perhaps the honourable member," put in the Chief Ocean Lord using the House of Re- presentatives' usual mode of address with sar- castic emphasis, "has the further marvellous quality of fortalling how to increase the sea- board of an already overstccked country?" "Our resources in that respect ere not yet exhausted, your Majesty," was the answer. The King nodded with suspicious gravity, and mutilated a smile behind a tobncco cloud "Your Majesty," said the Chief Minister, "I hope the Representative of tho Fourth Estate is not so daring and presumptuous is to trifle in your royal presence with this matter." "I never trifle with national interests, your Majesty," was the reply, and it was noted that all his answers were given direct to the King. all his answers were given direct to the King. "My advice still is--go on building Fearlesses." "But where, sir, where?" exclaimed the Chief Minister with sufficient sense of the presence of the King to restrain an outburst of wrath on the cool figure of Scribbleton. "Perhaps," he added sarcastically, "he has means for charter- ing the moon to supply our wants." "No, we will oome nearer home, your Maj- esty, for the remendy. The relegation of some of your subjects, however, to the distant orb mentioned so astutely by your Chief Minister might prove suitable to them and beneficial to ourselves, your Majesty." And the speaker again very gravely looked into the royal coun- teoance in such a. manner as to necessitate His Majesty's instant use of a pocket handkerchief, "We would be pleased if the Representative of the Fourth Estate would explain himself, your Majesty," said the Chief Minister, with an intonation of one suggesting the advisability of a capital sentence being being passed on some- one, "and that he would give at onco the in- formation neoaGsary to relieve the nation's ten- sion." "My advice is to still go on building 'Fear- lesses,' after the manner of Teutonia — 011 paper!" A startled puzzled look came to the faces of the hearers, and for a moment* there was, as the critics would say, a dramatic pause. The Chief Minister was the first to recover his voice. "If the Representative of the Fourth Es- tate is labouring under the impression that Teutonia is deceiving us with the construction of a paper fleet, I must disabuse his mind of the error. Your Majesty remembers, I trust, the secret diplomatic despatch from Baron Poosh, your representative at the Teutonic Court, wherein he stated clearly the action taken by Teutonic's naval authority, and sub- sequent information respecting the progress made by them. Are we to understand that we have been deceived by the Baron—for such is the oonoluaion that is implied by Mr. Scribble- ton's statement?" 'T^fre no deception intended," replied Scribbleton, "but a slight omission in tho orig- inal despatch of Baron Poosh owing to the corn- plication of the secret cypher code, made the in- formation read that Teutonia intended actually to build, whereas plans of building the ships only had been decided on. The Baron has been utterly mystified by the extraordinary atti- tude of alarm and preparation at home that re- sult&d from his dispatch, and it was only when I wrote to him suggesting the probable omis- sion that he discovered what he had done, or rather what he had- not done. The Baron is deeply concerned for his unconscious error of j omission, and'will write to your Majesty a full account of the matter." The King burst out into a hearty fit of laugh- ter. 'By my royal wig," he said, "this is the best diplomatic contretemps I have ever met with—eh! what! what! Gentlemen, I close j the meeting. We've been scared out of our senses by an error; now it is your duty to un- scare the nation and find a market for our superfluous fleet. Good day, and Scribbleton, 1 I desire you for a few moments," and the King j roes up from his seat. The Chief Minister made his regulation bow, and, followed by his colleagues, filed through the door. "Scribbleton," said the King when they were alone, "what was Baron Poosh's little game over this affair?" "Simply a diplomatic move to convince His Teutonio Majesty of Cartoonia's resources in time of danger, and a desire to awaken us also to a sense of preparedness. Had we been in- formed of a Teutonian paper fleet, we would ha.ve done nothing to convince King Grandosa of our resources—and as he often expressed scep- tical opinions of our national conditions, the Baron felt it timo to teach him a lesson." "A rather costly one to us, eh, Scribbleton ?" "But a splendid investment for the future, your Majesty. The Baron says, though the King was tickled immensely at our scare, he was also perfectly amazed at our resources, and certainly will not dare for some time to come to force conclusions with us on the sea." "All's well that ends welL I think you prefer whiskey, don't you? Help yourself Scribble- ton." (To be continued.)

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fundamental principles of Socialism. As for the letter of Mr. O'Grady. M.P., which appeared in your last issue, surely the Labour members will not tremble at that. Thev know Mr. O'Grady to be a Roman Catholic politician, and one who, if he had the power, would gladly put the whole of our educational system under the heel of the priest. I wonder where this gentleman was when the Catholic teachers were really sweated, when their salaries were paid in coppers which they changed at the nearest shop into silver. I venture to think that Mr. Mansfield's own letter to Mr. O'Grady would have been of far more interest to your readers. There is no bigotry about public control, and our Labour group will not sell their principles for Catholic votes.—Yours, etc., A SOCIALIST. WHO IS TO PAY COUN. GRIFFITHS? Sir,—Now that the Labour group has expell- ed Coun. Griffiths I should like to know who will pay him for his valuable time on the Coun- cil. Seeing that he is now fully the represen- tative of Roman Catholicism, would it be un- reasonable to ask the Catholic Church to main- tain him out of the shillings stopped from the Irish workers? The voluntary teacher is sim- ply a olerical slave. If such as Mr. Mansfield and Mr. O'Grady were to shout for spiritual freedom first, we could then listen with respect, to their shout for more pay. These men are strangely silent with regard to the sweated con- dition under which the great majority of the Irish workers in Dowlais live. 'Tis easy to be generous out of the public pume.-Youl-a truly, I J. IL CATHOLICISM AND SOCIALISM. Sir,—Might I be permitted to endorse tne rem.arks of your correspondent, "A Merthyr Vale Social Democrat." on the question of Catholicism and Socialism, which appeared in your issue of the 17th inst. ? A Catholic may do anything which "prudence dictates and con- science justifies." And he is in no way obliged to obey any ^ecclesiastic in matters not per- taining to religion. The writer was once a member of the Church of England and a Con- servative, and has become, through sincere conviction, a Catholic and a Socialist. I left the Conservative camp because I was of opinion that Conservatism benefited the moneyed class to the detriment of all others. And I became a Catholic because I was convinced, though not without good reasons, that the Catholic Church is the only true one.-Yotirs faithfully, A CONVERT TO CATHOLICISM AND SOCIALISM. "HUW MENAI" AND HIS MERTHYR VALE CRITIC. Sir,—"Merthyr Vale Social Democrat" brings me to book for saying something which I never I did. It is easy to argue with an imaginary op- ponent. Just as it is easy to fight a twelve round contest with a shadow. What I said about the Catholic Church, I believe to be true. And when an attempt is made by an apparently hon- ost soul to anawer the unanswerable one ma.y justly regard him as a query To maintain consistency in either religion, politics, art, or science, one must at least be honest. But be- cause I am a consistent Social Democrat, when saying that tho Catholic Church must go be- fore Socialism can be realised, I am quite gratuitously accused of "pure ignorance." It is not my fault that I was not born in Ireland or soma other Catholic country. In other words, because I have managed to struggle into the universe instead of into an "ism," and let the I cool wind blow the cobwebs off my brain, I am called a "crank." I am quoted by your corres- pondent as saying that "Religion must go be- fore Socialism can be realised." Surely, I did I not make any such statement. What I said was: "Before Socialism can be realised the Church must go." I have times without num- ber maintained in your columns that Metho- diats, Baptists, and othe*- breaches, ei the swae kidney are not necessarily Cnnstians. ±oi3toy has said that all the Christians in the world* to- day would not fill an ordinary vestry. I am a religious man, and my church is in the open air. My brain is in my head, and not in the church. It would be well if the brains of some Social Democrats exchanged places with their stomachs. They would then perhaps be used a little oftener. I have every respect for "A Merthyr Vale Social Democrat," and he will forgive me I am sure, for saying tha.t he is rather shortsighted, and that he cannot look at the universe and Socialism except through his church spectacles. My statement that the church must go, etc., is an inference drawn from my knowledge of Socialism and philosophy. If your correspondent, on the contrary, infers that sectional churches will co-exist with Inter- national Socialism, I can but say that he is in a delusion. Still I respect his opinion. When I made the statement which your correspond- ent takes exception to, I was not speaking for the S.D.F. or any other organisation. I was merely speaking for myself. In conclusion, let me admonish those who clamoured for my expulsion from the Merthyr Vale Branch of the S.D.F. (for making that statement in the "Ex- press") for introducing Catholic methods to sup- press a hated adversary,—Yours sincerely, HUW MENAI. THE CULT OF THE COMMONPLACE. Sir,—I regret to say that "Anthropos" does not understand Socialism; and before he can ever hope to do so, he must first of all endeav- our to understand Christianity. The latter, your correspondent evidently does not under- stand, otherwise he would not have failed to ] appreciate the difference between a Methodist and a Christian. Christianity is an everyday religion; Methodism is a Sunday pastime, Christianity concerns human beings, Methodism interests itself over original sin. Tolstoy is a Christian, but not a Methodist, and as a Chris- tian he is concerned with this universe, which, < in spite of Pascal's objection, is the most "real" 1 place we can live in nowadays. Your corres- < pondent's statement that I am "evidently smart- < ing from the many stripes I recently received « in your columns" is extremely naive if not | foolish. Did my letter contain any evidence to 1 that effect? or is the "evidently smarting" non-existent outside the prosaic imagination of your correspondent? My philosophy is impreg- < nablo, and my withers are yet unwrung. "An- ] thropos" cannot discuss any question without J being personal. He stands alone, unique, over- < dosed with originality. One moment he soys that every man is in more or less degreel"orig- < inal." The next moment he says that Socialists because they look at every thing through So- cialist glasses cannot be regarded as "original." He confuses quality with quantity. Unless "An. thropos" can appreciate the initial difference between relative quantity and absolute quality it is hopeless to argue with him.—Yours sin- cerely, HUW MENAL VAYNOR VESTRY MEETING. Sir,-Witb reference to a statement which ap- peared in your last issue concerning the above vostry me-eting, will you grant me the privilege of making my position clear, as veetry clerk for the parish of Vaynor, and also as to the minute book of the vestry being mislaid. The vestry meeting for 1908 was held in the Parish Church on Thursday, April 30th, and on Friday, May 1st, the Rev. J. Davies. Rector of Vaynor, ap- plied to me for a loan of the minute book. The said minute book was delivered by me at the Rectory, Csfn Coed, on Monday, May 4th, 1903, on the distinct understanding that it was for a loan. I applied personally to Mr. Thos. Evans, the parish warden, on July 10th, 1908, after applying elsewhere, for the return of the minute book in vain. My application on this occasion also was unsuccessful. The minute book has not been mislaid through any faultier neglect on my part, and that is a point I wish to make clear. It was through the protest of Mj. Thos»3 Gsfa, against proceeding J with the business of the meeting without first producing the minutes of the last meeting which caused the meeting to be adjourned un, til Thursday, the 29th inst., at 7.30 p.m., and not Thursday, the 22nd inst., as stated in your last issue. Thanking you in anticipation,—I beg to remain, yours truly, T. J. WILLIAMS. Clerk to the Vaynor Vestry. 86, High-street, Cefn Coed, April 19th, 1909. MERTHYR SCHOOL CLEANERS. Sir,—What has become of the resolution of the Merthyr Education Committee re employ- ment of married women as school cleaners? Some of these people have husbands earning good wages, and it is a crying shame to em- ploy them when there are so many poor widows with families to bring up who would be only too willing to do the work. Now is the time to do ripht in this matter, when the pinch of distress is upon us.—Yours, etc., JUSTICE. ALLEGED EXCESSIVE PUNISHMENT OF A TREDEGAR, SCHOLAR. Sir,—In your issue of the "Mcrthyr Express" for last week, I noticed the account of alleg- ed excessive punishment by a Tredegar teacher. I am sorry to note that a supposed case has been reported from this town. However, it ap- pears to me that at present we have only re- ceived one side of the case. I wonder whether some one would be kind enough to supply the public with the other evidence necessary to make the case complete. From reading the remarks of the child's parent and other mem- bers of the Trades and Labour Council, it ap- pears that the lad in question has been severely punished, and that he was afterwards medi- cally examined. Now, to give the public a little more information on this subject, perhaps the parent or someone knowing the facts of the case, will oblige us with the result of the doctor's examination; also, whether in conse- quence of the punishment inflicted the lad was unable to attend school. It seems to be under- stood by parents that if a child is marked with a cane that grievous bodily harm has been done. These marks, which seem to be very rarely made. are generally skin marks which appear for a short period. These, in the opinion of medical men, which, I think, no member of the Trades and Labour Council will question, do not cause excessive pain or bodily harm. However, my intention at the outset was not so much to deal with punishments as with the remarks of the different members of the Coun- cil as reported in your paper. I should like to point out to Mr. Onions, who is a member of the Education Committee, and should know the rules of that authority relating to corporal pun- ishment,, and also at the same time remove that, doubt for Mr. Filer, that every certificated teacher under the Monmouthshire County Council has power to inflict corporal punishment —that punishment to be recorded in a book kept for the purpose. This is the rule set down by the Committee, but I will go further, and say that according to the decision of the High Court, any teacher in charge of a class has power to inflict corporal punishment. This means that not only have certificated teachers the power, but also uncertificated and supple- mentary teachers, of whom Monmouthshire can boast of a large supply, have this power by law. Further information of the above deci- sion I am unable to give. but, doubtless, the local secretary of the N.U.T. will supply it gratis to anyone upon application. The mem- ber who points out that his daughter is suffer- ing to-day from treatment she received at school is throwing out a rather dangerous ac- cusation. I might warn him that many of the "bumps" and "thumps" children receive may be accounted for elsewhere than at school. At present I could give two disgusting instances where teachers were accused of doing grievous bodily harm tö children, and which upon investigation proved to be utterly false. Of Mr. Webb's remarks I have nothing to say, but I should like to ask Mr. Rogers whether he can point out a single case where complaints of ill-treatment have been made at the Troedrhiwgwair School since the present mistress has had charge ? Thanking you, sir, for publishing my letter, I am, faithfully yours, C. A. P.S.—In justice to the Troedrhiwgwair staif [ should like to state that the case of alleged excessive punishment reported did not apply to that school.—C.A. THE MINERS OUT OF WORK FUND. Sir,—I should like very much to give my opinion on the out of work fund, but as I am no platform speaker will you kindly pardon me for sending it through the press. First of all, I should have nothing against the out of work fund, providing it were drafted in a dif- ferent way. I find out in the district that I belong to that we have paid JE107 levy to out of work men, while another district, with nearly as many members, has paid £46 levy to out of work men. I believe in an out of work fund, but let us have the management of paying the aut of work members each in their own district, by paying sixpence a month in our own dis- trict, 80 that we should bave our own money to handle, .and if a district should be unfor- tunate that the sixpence a month would not meet the demand of the out of work members in their own district, then they could apply to the other districts for help. When our execu- tive members have to handle this fund it means more expense than it would be if we handled it ourselves. No one knows the feeling of his Fellow man more than those in his own district. This Out of work fund is supposed to be a fund on its own head. I will give you a little illus- tration. Supposing the executive members, 24 in number, went to sit on cases, and there were 24 workmen out of work, the executive members would receive £14 8s., that is equal to 12s. per day each, without train expenses, while 24 workmen out of work would receive jS12, at the rate of 10s. per week each man. Worse than all, our out of work members might be in the want of food, while the executive would be discussing the question whether they were en- titled to assistance or not. I appeal to every jollier in South Wales to vote against the out of work fund until we can have the manage- ment of the funds ourselves in our own dis- tricts. I have just got hold of a balance sheet Jf the South Wales Miners' Federation, and I think it is high time that each member got one. [ notice that the train fares and conveyances reached £838 10s. lid. last year. If a little of that money went to the out of work men it would be a. good thing.—Yours, etc., FEDERATIONIST. WELSH DISESTABLISHMENT. Sir,—Your correspondent "Anthropos," in a letter in your issue dated the 3rd inst., made a clear and definite statement to the effect that the State had endowed the Church. In a letter you kindly inserted from me I asked him a clear and definite question with reference to this statement, which I beg again to submit, "When. where, and to what extent did the State endow the Church?" This is plain and unvarnished—a few dates, names of Ecclesias- tical Corporations, and a few items from the ar- chives of the State would settle the question, and be a sufficient and convincing reply. Al- though ha has written nearly a column of copy he has evaded the issue, and he tells me that my questions are not to the point! Surely, I am the best judge of the "point." My point is distinctly put in my question. I ask it again, and I respectfully wait for an answer. The other matters so freely dilated upon can wait. When "Anthropos" Answers my simple query I shall be prepared to reply to the question he puts to me. I do not want any beating about the bush, and the clouding of issues by the in- troduction of extraneous and confusing discus- sions on alien points, but a frank, honest and true proof of the statment—"the State has en- dowed the Church." Will "Anthropos," there- fore, tell me when, where, and to what extent this was done?—Yours, etc., CHURCHMAN. A SNOWBALL LETTER. Sir,—The Council of Dr. Barnardo's Homes will be very much obliged if you can find space for this communication in your valuable col- umns, and thus assist them to stop a Snowball Letter which has been circulating ali over the world for the past nine years or so. and which is doing harm to the national and beneficent work of these Homes. The Snowball was ftarted by Miss Robertson, of The Square, Kenilworth, in all kindness, but without con- sulting the Homes. Since Dr. Barnardo's leath, someone has altered the wording so that :he letter now indicates that the work is being carried on by the Executors, and that the ioors are likely to be closed if funds are not speedily forthcoming. These statements are srroneous and misleading, for the Homes are incorporated and are managed by a Council, and far from the doors being closed they are is wide open as ever all over the kingdom. )8,05D children have been rescued, trained, and placed out in life in 42i years. The family is now larger than ever, numbering 8,391 boys xnd girlB-the largest family in the world. The admissions last year were 2,518; and many other helpless little ones, including those who axe sick, crippled, and incurable, are being re- ceived daily through the various ever-open- ioors. Two-thirds come from the provinces and one-third from the Metropolis. Will your readers please help to put the Snowball Letter out of circulation by mentioning the matter to their friends? We beg them not to continue the chain; but if they are interested in this national and imperial work for destitute chil- dren, and wish to do honour to the memory of the founder, their gifts of three or more stamps, as asked for by the snowball letter, or larger amounts, will be heartily welcomed at head- quartere. Cheques and P.O.'s should be made payable to "Dr. Barnardo's Homes."—Yours faithfully, WM. BAKER, Honorary Direoto. Headquarters of Dr. Barnardo's Homes, 18 to 26, Stepney Causeway, London, E., 13th April, 1909.