The North Wales Times

CAMBRIAN GOSblP. ;=::= r un ii-s voyage in the Mediterranean grej' !y liefited in heaiti), The Local Dr:" :> sr.net. Council of Barmouth has de err- e question of accepting Mr. Dav^esV ;,881" nation as chairman. ODO Discussing the respective merits of the t -n-o gentlemen nominated for the Liberal i Mature of the Carmarthen Boroughs tie ondon Celt comes to the 'hat Mr Alfred Davies has the deepest nocket; Mr. Owen Phillips the longest irousers, and Mr. Tom Hughes the readies' tongue 0 o O As evidence of the great feeling roused i:, North Wales by the question of 'Close '■'oramunion,' it is stated that one of the most, important Baptist churches .requested heir minister last Sunday not to exchange pulpits with a Calvimstic Methodist minis er The opposition came from the church itself. 000 Mr. W. H. Preece, the Carnarvon born Velshman, who, as we all know, is the chief engineer and electrician of the Post Office, will, if the ordinary course is pursued, retire from that position on the 15th of next month. Mr. Preece entered the public service in 1870, and has nearly reached the extend- erl age limit of 65 prescribed for retire- ment. 000 In the columns of the Welsh Drych (America) a correspondent has been inquir ing whether ministers who entice into their own folds members of other churches are guilty of 'sheep stealing.' A humorous answer has been supplied by a lady-' No; tor they can steal only the goats the sheep will naturally stray into the best pasture.' 000 In reference to a paragraph which recent ly went round the papers. Herr Emil Strauss, the eminent Bonn publisher, writes to inform a Welsh correspondent that he knows of no new Welsh romance by the Queen of Roumania (Carmen Sylva), nor does he believe that the Queen has written any such work. For some years past, Car- men Sylva has relinquished all literary activity. 000 The Welsh library of the late Rev. Owen Jones, B.A., Llansantffraia, is one of the largest and most valuable collections of Welsh books owned by any private individual in Wales. It contains a large number of first editions of Welsh Bibles and Liturgies, as well as Welshlpoetry, and there are several duplicates of rare editions. Mr. Jones since his retirement from ministerial work, rear- ranged his Welsh books and placed them in a separate part of his house, where they would be safe in case of fire. It is rumoured that the books will go to Bala College. 000 The Sunday before Christmas was Hos- pital Sunday in Liverpool. The total col- lections in the Welsh chapel and churches amounted to 2245 8s. Od. which shows an increase of more than £50 over that of the previous year, and is more than double the amount collected by Welsh congregations five years ago. The total in 1893 was S119 10s. lid. The various Welsh denominations contributed as follows on the last Hospital Sunday:—Calvinistic Methodists, £ 186 8s. 2d.; Congregationalists, X27 13s. 9d.; Wes- leyans, X18 Os. 10d.; Baptists, £9 18s. 6d.; and St. David's (Episcopal) Church, X3 7s. 6d. 000 Bryngwenallt, the seat of the late Mr. John Roberts, for many years M.P. for the Flint Boroughs, and father of Mr. J. Her- bert Roberts, M.P., stands in a romantic and beautiful spot about half a mile above the town of Abergele, in the direction of Llanfair, the birthplace of the celebrated Welsh bard and eisteddfodwr Talhaiarn. At a competitive meeting held not long ago in the neighbourhood, a substantial prize was offered for the best poetical effusion on the subject. Amongst the compositions sent in was the following Talcen Slip,' sent in possibly by an innocent disciple of the late Bardd Cocos:— Tyn dy lygad o dy wallt I edrych ar Fryngwenallt 'Rhwn sydd yn hardd ar yr Allt Tua milltir a hanner o'r mor hallt, I'r de os wyt ti'n dallt. The reading of the stanza faiily brought down the house. 000 The efforts of the Welsh Congregational churches to raise a fund of R25,000 do not appear to be meeting with very much suc- cess. On the other hand the Welsh Wes- leyans, a body infinitely smaller in numbers, have last month in North Wales only, raised a fund of 13,000 guineas with comparative ease, and in view of this the Independents confess themselves ashamed of their own dilatoriness. Says a writer in this week's Celt: Are these facts not enough to .bring the blush of shame to our faces as the Con- gregationalists of Wales What absurdity it is to talk of our generosity and self- sacrifice in this direction! Alas! for Con- gregationalism, and yet it is one of the strongest denominations in Wales. If we do not bestir ourselves and cast off our lazi- ness in the matter of our small fund of E20,000 generations to come will have reason to be ashamed of our lukewarmness and indifference. We believe that lack of gener- osity is not the only reason that as a denom- ination we are so backward in this r9spect, but that there is also lack of organisation- a kind of independent selfishness; we are too independent to ask one to give or to suffer another to do so. Let us arise to our duty in all earnestness. 000 The promoters of the monument to be erected in commemoration of five eminent Welshmen born in the mountainous parish of Llansannan, Denbighshire, expect that the column will be placed in position by Easter next. Mr. Goscombe John, the young sculptor to whom the work was entrusted, has completed his task. The eminent men whom the monument is intended to commemorate are Tudur Aled, the poet, who lived in the time of Queen Elizabeth William Salusbury, translator of the Welsh Testament; the brothers Henry and William Rees (Gwilym Hiraethog), and Iorwerth Glan Aled, another famous bard. It is seldom that one parish can boast of having given birth to so many really great Welshmen. It is interesting to note that each of the five belonged to different religious denominations. Tudor Aled was a Catholic, William Salusbury a Churchman, Henry Rees a Calvinistic Methodist, William Rees an Independent, and Iorwerth a Baptist. Mr. Kearley, M.P. (Devonport), has taken very great interest in the movement, and has contributed handsomely to the expense. He expects to be present at the unveiling ceremony, accompanied by Mr. T. E. Ellis, M.P., and other illustrious Welshmen in political and literary life. A short time ago Mr. J. H. Davies, B;A., Cwrtmawr, was iug at Llansannan as the guest of Mr. John Morris, J.P., and these two gentlemen, w f f) Dr Ellis, rector of the parish (the son of the late Cynddelw), selected a suitable site, the middle of the village, for the erect.on of the column. 000 The eighth annual Welsh gathering in celebration of Gwyl Dewi will be held this year in St. Paul's Cathedral on St. David's Eve Last year's congregation was one of the largest ever known, even at St. Paul's, Sir John Puleston, D.L., and an energetic committee of representative Welshmen have nearly completed the arrangements, which ure necessarily on a large scale. The pulpit will be occupied by the Rev. Canon Davies, vicar of Pwllheli, one of the most popular and best known preachers in the Welsh Church, and the choir will number between 200 and 300 voices, and will be composed of picked Welsh Church singers in London. The Sam us Welsh tenor, Mr. Ben Davies, will sing the solos. The Cathedral authori- ties desire it to be known that tickets of admission ad service books are only obtain- able from the secretaries, the Rev. Morris Roberts, 16, Bramshill gardens, Highgate or Rev. R. A. Lloyd, 110, St. Martin's-lane, Charing Cross.

WOMEN'S CHAT. --I- -I- Princess Victoria, who is now on a visit to the Duke and Duchess of Fife at Brighton, is an immense favourite with her small nephews and nieces The little Ladies Duff adore their aunt; and during her visit have fclaimed as much of her time and attention as they possibly could. Princess Victoria is looking particularly well and handsome at the present time, and seems to have entirely recovered from the in- disposition which, last year, somewhat alarmed her friends. —o— The announcement of the birth of another great grandchild of che Queen-the little new comer being a daughter of the Hereditary Princess of Hohenlohe-Langenberg, third daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Saxe Coburg Gotha-directs the thoughts to the nur- sery and its small occupants, whose importance has never been so fully realised is now, since the world began. The danger is, of making them self-important, these scraps of humanity, for whom the press teems with exquisite books, inventors have exercised the finest of brains, and artists devised the most attractive of pic- tures. It would be a hard thing to say that king and queen baby would do better with a little elemeut of sternness introduced, for one hates the idea of anything but love and softness in connection with the helpless youngsters. At the same time, true affection should learn to guard against the risk of too much cotton wool treatment, too much coddling physically, and too much enervating adoration morally. -0- Where spoiling goes on, it is usually the fathers who make much of and pet the girls. The mothers spoil the boys, and many a wife owes much of her married misery to the in- judicious years of misrule in which her hus- band's boyhood was passed. Girls even now are taught in many a nursery to give up, at once, anything that the boys may wish for. And this being so, is it surprising that the age of chivalry is fading? Often in Nurseryland, too, there is the tyrant girl. This tyrant, generally the eldest child, rules the little ones with a rod of iron, supplies the lacking dis- cipline of parents with a terrorism which is founded on no principles of order, or of justice, and nourishes in infant breasts a like senti- ment of tyrrany to her own, that of the tram- pled slave, who waits only for opportunity to be tyrant in his turn. That is what the care- lessness of elders does in the nursery. -0- Madame Patti's third matrimonial- venture occupied a considerable amount of attention last week. The Diva, on her arrival in Lon- don, looked radiantly happy, but the Baron appeared somewhat subdued. It seems the idea of having the wedding breakfast served in the train originated with the young Baron, in whose country railway travelling is a pastime and a pleasure. —o— FrauleinKaroline Baumeister, Madame Patti's devoted friend and attendant, was, of course, one of the bridal party. She is an Austrian by birth, and a highly educated woman, affection rather than pecuniary interest binding her to the Diva. They are exactly the same age, and have been friends from girlhood. Fraulein Baumeister is practically Madame Patti's Privy Purse. She engages every servant inside and outside Craig-y Nos, and knows far more about the great singer's affairs than she does herself. She keeps all her friend's jewels, and" assists each day at the latter's elaborate toilette. —o— The Duke and Duchess of Connaught, after a brief stay in Rome, have gone to Egypt, the Princesses Margaret and Victoria returning to Florence. It is impossible to describe the view of this enchanting city. Almost every street contains a world of art. At the Uffize, and Pitte Galleries, one passes through miles of art treasures, by the finest old masters, all in beautiful Florentine frames, rand looking (no doubt on account of the clear atmosphere), as if they were all recently painted. The Tribuna, however, contains the gems of the collection. It is in the Pitte Palace that the Italian Sovereigns reside when in Florence. In the private apartments of Queen Marguerifca is a strange melange of antique and modern com- fort. The king's own apartments are severe in their simplicity. —o— The simple homely gatherings, the annual dances, the social evenings that were once de rigour' in Suburbia, and brought the young folks together, are now few and far between. In consequence, the men who once gladly ac- cepted invitations to small and early dances and musical evenings, are driven to seek re- creation in town, in default of any social amusement in their own circles, while their hapless sisters are left to languish at home. The reason for all this is-pretension. No one nowadays is willing to entertain in a manner suitable to their position. If they cannot offer their guests champagne and costly viands, they decline to entertain at all. When the former method is resorted to, the result is often a very bad quarter of an hour when the bills come in, when the latter course is taken, the dullest of dull times. -0- When people have plenty of money, by all means let them spend it as freely as they like, but the mistake which I should like to see no longer made is for ambitious wives to spend their husbands' hardly-earned money, merely to outvie each other's display. If they would but remember that life, even at a dance, is as endurable on claret cup as it is on.champagne, at eighty or ninety shillings a dozen, that sim pie daintily served refreshment, a warm wel- come, and a genuine, but unostentatious effort to amuse one's guests, rare.y fails of success, many a worried husband and father would be saved an anxious time when the bills come in. —o— Talking of champagne reminds me of an ex- cellent story told of the Duke of Wellington, the second Duke-who, though far from being stingy, was in many odd ways economical. He discovered one day some champagne which he considered, and which doubtless was, quite good enough for a ball supper, and which had the advantage of being extraordinarily low in price. He ordered the quantity required, and was rejoicing in his excellent bargain, when, on opening one of the papers, he encountered the following advertisement:—' Try our celebrated champagne at thirty-eight shillings a dozen, as ordered by his Grace the Duke of Wellington for his forthcoming ball at Aspley House.' What the Duke said is not recorded. -0- Once upon a time, the unwritten Ia" s which regulated costume, decreed such and such' a garb for the morning, and 'such and such' an- other for the afternoon, and so on, and con- signed certain materials to certain occasions. But this is all changed now. Within certain limits, the sartorial motto of to day seems to be Wear what you please, when you please, and how you please, without regard to tradition or custom, or the suitability of times and seasons.' This is not the first time we have made topsy- turvy of tradition and defied all notions of the fitness of things to times and seasons, for the history of costume tells of a period when women walked abroad in decollete gowns, and airy fabrics were sported in mid'winter. How they escaped I the ills that flesh is heir to' I wish history would tell also. —o— Brown promises to be much in favour during the coming spring, which is an item to rejoice over, as this particular colour admits of such a variety of relief shades. Vivid turquoise, either in the blue or green tone, is harmonious with brown, as are also nearly all pinks, pale greens, heliotrope, red, yellow, tomato, and tangerine. —o— Painted gowns are much seen just now. At a dance, a few days back, I noticed one lovely ivory satin frock decorated in this manner. The panel was introduced of delicate pink roses and grey leaves, the centres and stems being worked with silk, while similar trails ran along on one side of the bodice, the other being ornamented with a boquet of exquisite artificial roses. The well dressed woman is never with- out a loosely arranged bunch of flowers. In the day time these must be real, but at night, artificial blooms take their place. —o— Chestnut Cakes.—Boil one pound of the nuts half-an hour, strain, remove the skins, rub through a wire sieve. Mix two ounces each of butter and castor sugar, reduce to a cream, add the chestnuts, a little flour, and two eggs well beaten. Stir thoroughly. Place the mix- ture in small knobs on a well greased baking tin, and bake thirty minutes. MADGE.

WELSH NATIONAL LIBERAL COUNCIL. ELECTION OF PRESIDENT AND SECRETARY. Meetings of the Welsh National Liberal Council were held at Shrewsbury on Wednes- day. A meeting of the general purposes com- mittee was held at noon, at which Mr. Albert Spicer, M.P., presided. Mr. Alfred Thomas was elected temporarily to the chair. Mr. Herbert Roberts, M.P., after a suitable recognition of the services of the late president of the Council (Mr. Thomas Gee), moved:— That this meeting of the Welsh National Liberal Council desires to place on record the sense of the irreparable loss sustained by this council, the Welsh Liberal electorate, and the country generally by the death of Mr. Thomas Gee, the first president of the council; it would recognise the leading part taken by Mr Gee in the formation of this organisation, and trusts that the principles for the promotion of which he gave his time, talent, and life, may continue to guide the policy and inspire the service of the council on behalf of the Libera- lism of Wales.' Mr. Albert Spicer, M.P., seconded the motion which was carried in silence. The members then proceeded to the election of a secretary, the salary for which is jElSO. The appointment does not preclude the holder from other work not inconsistent with the ful. filment of his duties as secretary to the coun- cil. The following names were recommended by the general purposes coirmitteeMr. Lewis Davies, Pontypool; Mr. W. H. Hughes, Pontypool; Mr. Gwilym Parry, Denbigh; and Mr. T. B. Rhys, Launceston. Some discussion ensued on a point raised as to the placing before the council of another name. This, however, was considered as unfair, and was ruled ovat of order. Mr Brynmor Jones, said Mr. Rhys had written relinquishing his candidature. Mr. Hughes, of Pontypool, had also written stating that if the salary were made £ 208 per annum he would devote the whole of his time to the position. Continuing, Mr. Brynmor Jones said the general purposes committee had con- sidered the point, of making the position one to which the whole of the person's time should be devoted, and had decided it should not be an absolute condition. In regard to Mr. Lewis Davies, they had heard nothing from him since the selection; he believed he was in South Africa, and they therefore had nothing to re- port. After further discussion the two candidates in attendance-Mr. W. H. Hughes and Mr. Gwilym Parry—weie in turn called in, and each gave an expression of his views and what he was prepared to do. Having retired, a ballot was taken, and resulted as follows:— Gwilym Parry, 28 Hughes, 7. Mr. Parry, on being called in and informed of his election, was loudly cheered. He said he hoped, with good and honest work on his part and on that of the council, he should prove to them that in their election they had made no mistake. Mr. Parry, who has been Liberal registration agent for Denbigh Boroughs since 1880, is also election agent for one of the divi&ions of that oounty. Subsequently, Mr. Thomas Williams, Gwae- lodygarth, Merthyr, was appointed president, Mr. Evan Jones, Bala, treasurer, and Mr. J. R. Jacob, Newport, vice-president.

Every man with a clever son believes in heredity. It is a singular thing that the oyster-fisher works hardest when he gets into a good bed. She So you are engaged to one of the Mus- grave twins? How can you distinguish one from the other?' He: 'I don't try to.' I don't think Phil Graves will ever set the world on fire.' I Oh, I don't know. He is an agent for a new make of oil stoves.' Brainwave: I He'll have to give up litera- ture.' Heartsurge: Health failing ?' Brainwave: 'No-hair.' Timmins: 'Can your daughter play the piano ?' Robbins (wearily): 'I don't know whether! she can or not, but she does.' The bicyclist now buys a store Of liniment and salves, And spins along the road way To show his padded calves. Park Policeman: 'Get off the grass there. Can't you see the sign ?' Surlie: I ain't walkin' on yer old grass. I'm steppin' between it.' 'There are two men who will never die of water on the brain.' 'Why not?' Soaker never uses water and Charlie hasn't any brain.' Bill: Say, Sam, who wrote that poem, Snow, snow, beautiful snow ?' Sam I dunno. Why ?' Bill: Well, ef I had him yere, I'd push his face in it.' Wife 'Was that man ever a farmer ?' Husband No.' Wife: 'But he's always'talkin' about the delights of livin' in the country.' Husband Exactly. That's what's shows he never was a farmer.' Witticus Here's a funny thing.' Citticus What is it ?' Witticus Account of a man who walked in his sleep because he dreamed he had no money to pay his 'bus fare.' She: What charming teeth Mrs. Highsea has He You flatter me, madam.' She: I Ob, pardon you are her husband?' He Oh, no; only her dentist.'

I THE PEACE CRU3 mE. CONTINENTAL ENTHUSIASM* J By W. T. STEAD. We have the literary men with us. An unda. suspicion of the interference of bookmen in national questions exists in some quarters, but that objection cannot apply to Dr. Conan Doyle and Mr. Bernard Shaw, who were the principal speakers at the Hindhead meeting. These are men of the world as well as writers of books. Dr. Doyle is a modern apostle of muscularity. He has ventured to glorify the ancient prize ring. Yet he is an enthusiast for international peace. He believes in the lofty and unselfish aims which inspire the Czar, and he has not hesitated to proclaim his opinion. Sunday's meeting at Leeds was, in many respects, a very remarkable gathering. The Coliseum was crowded to the doors nearly a quarter of an hour before the meeting began. Proceedings were from first to last unanimous and enthusiastic. Sir- James Kitson, who was in the chair, made a note- worthy speech. He is one of the few members of Parliament who have recently travelled in Russia. His testimony as to the anxiety not only of the Czar, but of his most powerful Ministers, to divert the expenditure on armaments to the construction of railways was received with intense interest by the crowded audience. Sir James Kitson is immensely impressed with the great field for industrial development which is to be found in the Russian Empire, and being a wise and prudent man, with a good eye to the main chance, he has been one of the first to profit by the opening up of this field for British enterprise. Mr. Herbert Gladstone, who wrote a letter strongly supporting the Crusade, and declaring that its importance was greater than that of any other- movement at present before the country, has also travelled in Russia, as far as the Caspian. He and Sir James Kitson drove with perfect security through mountain passes which, a few years before, had been infested with brigands, but which are now as safe as the road between Leeds and Harro- gate. No more gratifying testimonies to the civilising influence of Russia in Asia could have been desired than those which lay before the people of Leeds. A very mistaken idea appears to prevail in some quarters—that the meetings which are being held all over the country are being got up by the Crusaders in Lordon. As a matter of fact, the movement is breaking out on all sides in a way which renders it impossible for the headquarters to deal with the matter. Tnke; for instance, the town's meetings at Liverpool and Hull. Both of those were got up entirely by the townspeople. They were summoned by the Chief Magistrate, and addressed by local speakers. No representative was present at either one or the other from out- side, but in both of these great sea-ports—one on the east and the other in the west coast of England-proceedings were unanimous, the speeches hearty and the meetings crowded. There is no doubt an immense advantage in having evidence of the p pillar feeling, but it is much to be desired that those who are holding public meetings should, in all cases, communicate with headquarters, if only for the purpose of securing the adoption of a uniform resolution in favour of the election of delegates to the National Convention, which will probably be held in March. In places where the resolution in support of the Conference has been passed, without an accom- panying resolution appointing delegates in the pro-- portion of one to every 10,000 of the population, it will probably be found better for the speakers and the secretary to be considered as an informal committee of selection, and for them to nominate representatives of their towns to the Convention; but it would be much better if the resolution could be formally put to the meeting nominating a com- mittee of selection. The enrolment or volunteers has gone on at every meeting which I have addressed. Here, also, the need of local organisation is vital. The procedure is simple. At the close of each meeting those who are willing to volunteer for three months' service for peace are requested to come forward, pay their shillings, receive their badges, and enrol themselves as volunteers. As each volunteer under- takes to obtain two other volunteers, he should receive two forms of enrolment for his recruits, two badges on credit, and three forms of the Memorial—one for himself and one for each of his two recruits. By this means it will be possible, after even a small nucleus of volunteers, to multiply and increase their number so as to work the whole district. At Lambeth, on Sunday last, where the volunteers were first enrolled, 122 were obtained, at St. Austell between 60 and 70, at Plymouth over 100, at Rochdale 70, at Streatham about 30 while at Leeds it is expected they will exceed those at any other place. The organisation for enrolling volunteers has been usually improvised at an after meeting. At Rochdale, the Mayor, who presided over the town's meeting with his chain of office, accepted the post of Treasurer, and received the shillings on the spot. It is also necessary to have one or more places in the town where the badges can be issued and volunteers enlisted. Tradesmen in leading thoroughfares usually volunteer to allow their shops to be used as recruiting offices.. The reporting of the meetings of the Crusaders Taries amusingly. The largest and best reports, by far, have been those which appeared in the Plymouth papers. They devoted from five to seven columns of their space to the report of the town's meeting. The Manchester Gitmrdian and the St. Petersburg Gazette are the only daily papers which, so far, have told off a special correspondent to follow the Crusaders. .Although one finds little evidence of the fact in the great dailies, London is giving a support to this movement which it extends to few agitations. For every meeting that is held, two are immediately requested. Each post brings requests for help and information, which will be of value in the organisa- tion of gatherings. The agenda which was placed before the General Committee at its meeting on Monday had only bee. prepared on the Friday. It contained a list of the meetings arranged. Between the time of sending the copy to the printers and its actual discussion no less than five more meetings bad been arranged in the capital alone, and half a score others were in active preparation. These are facts that cannot be avoided, and that c. t only be ignored for a time. Hackney, Streatham, Westminster, and Walworth all speak unmistakably o an aroused public sentiment. Prom the first, Earl Grey, who presides at the meeting in the Newcastle Town Hall, has thrown himself into the Peace Crusade with characteristic energy and enthusiasm. He has not only consented to take the chair at a meeting, he is primarily responsible for the holding and the organisation of one of the most notable demonstrations since the commencement of he Crusade. The adherence of no other man could have done so much for the cause of peaco in the North of England. Earl Grey is a man about whom all parties rally. Even those who now differ from him politically respect and admire him personally. The way in which he has thrown his influence into the scale for peace has roused the whole North of England. Nor has he contented himself with active work. The largest cheque to the funds o' the Crusade, received last week, was one for E50, bearing the signature "Grey." On the Continent the interest in the pilgrimage of peace grows daily. One of the odd things illustrating this was the imperious demand from Paris that a day should be fixed for the arrival of the delegates, because Madame Sarah Bernhardt and other distinguished theatrical artistes who had Eromised to assist at a soiree to be given in their onour at the office of the Fronde must know a good while ahead, in order to keep the evening clear. What with soirees with Sarah Bernhardt, and "Te Deums" in the Cathedrals, and receptions by the Burgomasters, the pilgrims of peace are likely to have an interesting and exciting time. It has been decided that each of the smaller States shall send two delegates. If, 808 is at present talked of, Nan sen and Bjornsen are chosen as the delegates from Norway, the International Crusaders will not be lacking in elements of universal interest.

1 'Men,' said the Deai Girl, 'have as much lidle curiosity as women.' t More,' said the Sav ige Bachelor. Women's curiosity is always active.'