The Rhondda Leader

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Wattstown Relief Funds. Rival Claimants to Public Subscriptions. Mayor of Cardiff Suggests a Joint Trust. Some divergence of opinion seems te have arisen as to the best mode of ad- ministering the Wattstown Explosion relief funds. The Miners' Federation have, we understand, applied to the Lord Mayor of London to have the Mansion House fund transferred to them for dis- tribution to the widows and orphans, and the South Wales Miners' Provident Society have, through Mr. Evan Owen, J.P., made a similar application. We understand that the Lord Mayor recently communicated with the Mayor of Cardiff (Alderman R. Hughes, J.P.), and invited his opinion as to the best mode of pro- ceeding, in view of those conflicting re- quests. Alderman Hughes suggested that the London and Cardiff funds should be amalgamated and put in the hands of a separate trust. Here the matter rests, for the Lord Mayor is away from home, and no decision can be taken until he returns. Miners' Federation and the Funds. Mr. Watts Morgan asked the Council of the South Wales Miners' Federation at a meeting at Cardiff on Saturday to give expression of opinion upon a matter affect- ing the funds being raised for the Watts- town (1011Ïj:l'v gVjJ n sffl.w -tio ujacioj-sioorl, He said, that a, letter had been written by Mr. Evan Owen, secretary of the South Wales Miners' Provident Fund, to the Lord Mayor of London, asking his lordship to join with the Mayor of Cardiff, so that both funds should be amalgamated and handed over to the Miners' Provident Fund. Aftora long discussion, it was resolved unanimously that a letter be sent to the Lord Mayor of London, asking him to supply the Executive Committee with a copy of Mr. Evan Owen's letter, and to receive a deputation from the Council as to the distribution of his lordship's fund. It was further resolved that the depu- tation wait upon the Mayor of Cardiff with the same object. The deputation will consist of Mr. W. Brace, Mr. T. Richards, M.P., Mr. Alfred Onions, and Mr. Watts Morgan.

THE GREAT SKIN CURE. SUDDEN'S S.R. SKIN OINTMENT will cure Itching after one appli- cation destroys every form of Eczema; heals old Wounds and Sores; acts like a charm on bad Legs; is Infallible for Piles; Prevents Cuts from Festering; will cure Ringworm in a few days; re- moves the most obstinate Eruptions and Scurvy. Boxes, 7-|d. and Is. l|d. Agent for Tonypandy Mr. J. DAVIES,Chemist; Porth: Mr. T. DAVIES, Chemist. 2595

Tylorstown. Mr. D. Morgan, headmaster, Tylors- town Council Schools, died suddenly on Friday morning at Llanrhystyd, near Aberystwyth, while he and Mrs. Morgan were spending a holiday there. Mr. Morgan was trained in the Normal Col- lege, Bangor, and undertook the charge of the boys' department, of the Tylors- town Schools 24 years ago. He was sec- retary of the T'ylorstown Explosion Fund, and was highly respected by a large circle of acquaintances. All cases deserving of sympathy found in him a true friend, and his valuable services to the community generally will be much missed. Mr. Morgan was a deacon of the Ebenezer Congregational Church, Tylorstown, and treasurer of the building fund. He was also the local correspondent of the South Wales Daily News." His remains will be laid to rest in Llanrhystyd, his native place. Universal sympathy is felt with his widow.

HORSES, CATTLE, DOCS, BIRDS. I THE ELLIMAN E.F.A. BOOK. 193 pages, cloth board covers, Illustrated. 230,000 copies issued. ANIMALS. X KNOWLEDGE OF ITS CONTENTS causes the Elliman First Aid Book (E F.A.) aIR treatment, to be kept hanrly for ready rcffiP- ence in cases of" ccidents to and ailments of H"Ii¡¡S, CATTLE, Does, BIRDS, such as leg troubles, ml" ta>»- tism, Common Cold, Pleurisy, Congestion of tl)" Liver and Lungs, etc, in Horses; Common Ailments 01 Cattle, of Dogs, and of Birds. Price Is. post fre to all parts of the world (Foreign stamps accepted). Or upon terms to be found upon a label afflxcrl to the on t, ide of the back of the wrapper of bottles, 28,,28. 6d., 3s. 6ri sizes ELLIMAN'S ROYAL EMBROCATICN. ELLIIVIAN'S for Sprains, Bheumatism, Curbs, Splints when forming. Sprung Sinews, Capp- ed Hocks, Over-reaches, Bruises, Cuts, Broken Knees, Sore Shoulders, Sore Throats, Sore Backs in Horses; Sprains in Dogs, Cramp in Birds, etc. The Hogs-Birds section. 5f, pages only, may be had anart from the complete hook of 193 pages, and this seotion alone (64 pages) is free and post free. A size at 7d is now on sale for owners of Dogs ana Biras requiring to use a small quautit-y only of ELLIMAN'S EMBROCATION. ELLIMAN, SONS & Co., SLOUGH, ENQ. ELLIMAN'S EMBROCATION. ELLIMAN, SONS & Co., SLOUGH, ENQ.

I nteresti ng Pars. -+- GrAIXANT IGNORAIIIUS General Sir James Willcocks gives the follow- ing description of a scene witnessed by him in the dimly known land of the Chins, lying between the mouths of the Ganges and Burmah, whilst on active service in 1889-90: "On reaching the top of a very steep climb, we emerged into wide cultivated fields, and there, standing in the open within twenty yards of us, was an exceed- ingly quaint-looking savage; his clothing might easily have been made out of a pocket-handker- chief, with something to spare; his weapons con- sisted of a bow and arrow, with a quiver hanging from his right shoulder, and a knife fixed into a large flat bone at his side. As our advanced scout shewed himself, the gallant ignoramus went down on one knee, strung his arrow, tried the bow- string, and very coolly informed the Sikh that if he budged an inch he would immediately fire at him!"

QUINTAIN, The Quintain survives only in the village of Offham Green, in Kent. It is so named from an instrument used in tilting on horseback with the lance. It consists of an upright post, surmounted by a cross-bar turning on a pivot, which had at one end a flat, board and at the other a bag of sand. The object of the tilter was to strike the board at such a rate of speed that he would be past and out of the way before the bag of sand, as it whirled round, could hit him in the back.

TRADE SECRETS GUARDED FOR CENTURIES. There are two trade secrets that the outside world, it seems, will never learn. One is a Chinese secret—the making of the bright and beautiful colour called vermilion, or Chinese red. The other is a Turkish secret—the inlaying of the hardest steel with gold and silver. Among the Chinese and among the Syrians these two secrets are guarded well. Apprentices, before they are taken for either trade, must swear a strong oath to reveal nothing of what passes in the workshop. These apprentices, furthermore, must belong to families of stand- ing, must pay a large sum by way of premium, and must furnish certificates of good character and honesty. You have seen the damascened steel, of course, and you must have seen vr-rmilion or Chinese red. Remember the next time you look at these two things that their secrets have been guarded inviolably—have been handed down faithfully from one genera- tion to another for thousands of years.

A TOOTH FOR A TOOTH. Colonel Delme Radcliffe told a quaint story of paternal affection at the Anthropological Institute. He had killed a crocodile in Uganda, and found a number of rings in its stomach. One of the tribe recognised the rings as belong- ing to his son, who had disappeared a little time before. "He d;d not shew any particular grief," said Colonel Radcliffe, "but simply asked to be allowed to have the crocodile to eat." +

A MOUNTAIN SIGNAL-BOX. Probably the loneliest place in the United Kingdom for a signalman to work is in the summit box of the Highland Railway, situated at an altitude of 1,484ft. This box, says the Railway Magazine, is necessary because heavy trains from the South require a pilot to assist them up the long bank, mostly at 1 in 70, from Blair-Athole to the summit, a distance of 17! miles. For the better working of the traffic (so that the pilot engines can return without delay, &c.) the line has been doubled to this box, but northward of it the single line is resumed. The Highland Railway has erected two substan- tial stone cottages for the accommodation of the signalmen and their families. Up trains, and down ones not having a pilot to detach, do not stop at the box (save when the section ahead is not clear), so that the chances for conversation with the outside world are strictly limited, and as the same men are usually on the pilot engines there is not much chance of seeing new faces. There is practically no resident population in the district, and as there is nothing- to induce wayfarera to visit the neighbourhood, few people (unless they lose their way) other than railway-men are seen by the signalmen and their families.

To IDENTIFY NAVAL ROPE. Every rope used in the British naval service, from heaving-line to hawser, and wherever it may be used, on shipboard or in dockyard, has woven into one of its strands for purposes of identification a red thread. The presump- tion is that any rope with the red thread found outside of such uses is in improper hands. This custom in the British Navy has prevailed since the days of Nelson, or even before that. +

SCOTTISH MARTUAGK SUPERSTITIONS. There are many curious customs and super- stitious practices associated with marriage, some of which still survive, says the Rev. James Murray in his" History of Scotland a Century Ago." Thus, universally in Scotland, May was, 'as in large measure it still is, considered an un- lucky month. In some parts the month of January also was declared unsuitable for marriage,while, in others, a distinct preference was given to April and November.- The 14th day of May was deemed so specially inauspicious that even the day 0" the week on which it fell in any year was .booed by bridal couples for the remainder of Vie year. Many refused to be married on a Friday, while with others it was the favourite day. But this was not all. Not a few maidens declined to enter on matrimony except when the moon was waxing, and some even required further that at the time of the ceremony the tide should be flowing. 4

HOW SNAKE-CHARMERS CATCH COBRAI. The death-dealing cobra is passionately fond of music, and it is through this means that its capture is often accomplished. The men in India who can effect the capture of this deadly reptile must be possessed of remarkable skill, or their lives are the forfeit. When a cobra takes up its abode in the neighbourhood of a dwelling-house it is customary to send for the professional snake-charmers. One of them strikes up a tune near the place where the snake is supposed to be located. No matter what the creature may be doing, it is at once attracted by the sound of music. It emerges slowly from its hiding-place and strikes an attitude in front of the performer. There it is kept engaged with the music while the other man creeps up with a handful of dust. At a convenient moment, when the cobra is standing motionless, this man suddenly throws the dust over the head and eyes of the snake. Immediately the cobra falls its length upon the ground, and remains there for one short second, but the second is enough. With a movement like lightning the man seizes the body of the prostrate serpent just below the head. In great anger the cobra winds itself round and round the arm of its captor, but to no purpose, for it cannot turn its head and bite. If the fangs are to be extracted at once the captor presses his thumb on the throat of the cobra, and thus compels it to open its mouth. The fangs are then drawn with a pair of pincers. If, however, he wishes to keep the snake intact for the present the musician comes to help him, and forcibly unwinds the coils and places the body in a basket, all but the head, which is firmly held by the other man. He presses down the lid to prevent the cobra from escaping, and suddenly the captor thrusts the head in and bangs the lid. A very expert performer can capture the snake single-handed, 1] tough it is highly dangerous. While playing with one hand he throws the dust sideways with the other, and captures the snake with the "111e hand. The whole action must be like a f".sh of lightning, for a half second's delay or the merest bungling in throwing the dust or catching the snake would prove fatal to the I (ff at or. ;+; Oh, tradesman, in thine hour of e e e, If on this paper you should c c c, Take our advice and now be y y y, Go straight ahead and advert i i i. You'll find the project of some u u u, Neglect can offer no ex q qq. Be wise at once, prolong your da* 4, A tilenfc Voxiiww MOB < k k tt,

The Adventures ot John Bramwell Jones. CHAPTER I. (Continued). Now, you young rascal, what business have you up there? Let me have a hold on yo'u, I'll break every blessed bone in your body. Did I ever see such a daring boy in all my born days? Going into other people's gardens and climbing other people's apple trees! My word I but I'll make him pay for it. Hi! come down, you little wretch, afore I come up and pull you down." With such as these, and many other stronger expletives, did the owner of the apple tree, on which Bram had so preci- pitately stranded, regard the youthful offender on his sacred property. Owing to the precise nature of his in- disposition, Bram could not comply with the gentle request of the agitated old gentleman immediately beneath him, and had no alternative but to remain in his suspended condition until such measures which would obtain his release had been taken. Infuriated by the futile effect which his commands had upon the boy, the old gentleman got exceedingly red in the face, and still more voluble in his expressions. Dang the boy," he shouted, are you not going to come down from that tree to-day. Look 'ee here, my lad, if I'll come up there, I'll show ye pretty quick how ye'll come down. If ever I saw such a boy-but, by G-, I know what I'll do with yer, yer young imp and acting upon the sudden know- ledge which he had acquired, he repaired to the other side of the garden, and brought forth a short ladder, which he propped up against the trunk of the tree, and with a gleam of satisfaction in his eyes, such as you may see depicted in the eyes of a beast of prey when about to pounce on its victim, he mounted the ladder, and with an extended hand he pulled at, the nether garments of the offender, until the culprit fell in a heap upon the ground. Now, my young gentleman," gasped the irate old fellow, I've got yer; ye just, wait until I come down, and ye'll see how I treat young gentlemen who do not know how to behave themselves." Deeming this kind of knowledge to be superfluous in his particular case, and under these peculiar circumstances, Bram, without considering the advisability of waiting for the old gentleman's re- appearance on terra-firma, no sooner found himself released from the awkward position in which he had been placed, and without ascertaining whether any of his young bones had been broken in the sudden contact with mother earth, than he promptly regained the use of his limbs and made a straight dash over the wall into the garden of the Boodlers, leaving the furious old gentleman exasperated at the fruitless result of his expedition." Bram, 'machgen i," said Mrs. Jones, when she caught the first climpse of the lad's flushed face, wherever hav' you been ? Mrs. Boodler an' I hav' been waitin' for you iver so long to hav' dinner, an' now," plaintively added the good woman, "the taters an' meat hav' gone c.old by waitin' for you." Oh! mam fach," replied her dutiful son, not yet having quite recovered from the recent excitement in the next-door neighbour's garden, I went down to the bottom end of the garden, and I fell asleep under the bushes; and oh 1 mam, I had such an awful dream. I thought that some big man, with horns on 'is 'ead, and oh! such a big nose an' a big mouth, was after me with a big, thick stick in 'is 'a,nd, an' I dieamt that I was ruzmin' away from 'im, and he caught, me; an' when he was goin' to kill me with the stick, as 'e said w'ud, oh 1 I was so frightened, an' I woke, an' I ran 'ere as fast as I c'ud." "Pore fellow ejaculated the tender mother; 'e 'as sum' awfu' dreams, Mrs. -boo,dici- I b'lieve 'e gets 'em wurse 'cos the pore fellow, druan bach, dosn't get the nourishment he ought, to. W'en 'is pore father was alive," added the dis- consolate lady, relapsing into a remini- scent mood, and vigorously applying a handkerchief which had seen better days to her tear-dimmed eyes, w'en is pore lather was alive, he niver knew w'at it was to be 'ungry; 'e 'ad ev'rythin' that we c'ud get tor im, but since 'is pore father was brought 'onie a corfi irom the Swamp Pit, wher' 'e was killed under a fall (another vigorous application of the handkerchief), 'e gets these dreams so of n that I do b'lieve it is 'cos that 'e dosn't get enuf food." The poor lady sobbed bitterly on reflecting upon these matters; and young Bram, having caught the infection from his mother, and becoming suddenly conscious of the pain which he experienced in the neighbour- hood of his trousers' seat, the result of the fall from the apple tree, grasped his mother's canvas apron, and howled into it with all the seriousness and demon- stration which the occasion demanded. Having thus very naturally relieved the feelings which were uppermost in his youthful breast, Bram was invited to take what was left of the dinner which his mother complained had gone cold through waiting for him. Bram did not appear to take much notice of this draw- back, but applied himself very diligently to the eatables which were placed before him. Here, again, owing to some un- erring instinct on his part, he could not refrain from stowing away odd bits of meat into his pocket, which, with the slices of cake which he had deposited there at the earlier meal, formed a most unique collection, with the other bits of odds and ends such as bits of string, chalk, marbles and the other hundred and one articles which go to make a boy's pocket collection. Mrs. Jones' washing by now having been completed, that, lady, with many thanks on her tongue, hastily procured the bag, which Mrs. Boodler always took care to put something in. and having deposited such articles as an old pair of boots for the future wear of Bram, and some other choice bits of cast-off garments for his mother, the two took their depar- ture from the abode of the Boodlers, and were making rapid strides for their little home, when whom should they encounter but the old gentleman who owned the apple tree. Morning, ma'am," said the old fellow, casting a rapid glance at the same time in the direction of Bram. "Mornin', sir, if you call it mornin' replied Mrs. J.ones; I think its more like afternoon than mornin' Maybe you're right, ma'am," retorted the old chap; "you're awfully partikler. I only wish as that young chap was salf so partiisler as yourself. For myself, I think that a little more schooling would do him a world of good." Well, sir," said the good lady, "I on'y wish as I c'ud send him to school, but he's so 'andy to me now, that really I don't know how I c'ud manage without 'im." Dear me; is that so ? sarcastically inquired the other. I should think that he is very' andy, especially w'en he goes to other people's gardens and climbs other other people's apple trees." "W'at do you mean, sir? indignantly queried Mrs. Jones. "Bram 'as niver climbed any apple trees as I know of; I bring him up much too 'onest for that." "I don't doubt yer word, ma'am," re- plied the old gent; but look 'ere, 'tween me an' you, quietly like, if yer doa'nt keep an eye on that youngster, ye'll get into trouble. Why, it's only an 'our or so ago I saw 'im with my own eyes, climbing my best apple tree, an' if it wasn't for me, goodness knows 'ow he'd get from there. He got stuck on that tree, ma'am; he c'ud'na get down or up, and I 'ad to fetch a ladder to get him from there. Look ee 'ere, my lad," he continued, turning very red and giving several nods in the direction of the offender, "let me ca'ch yer on that tree again, and I'll give yer something that yer doan't forget in a 'urry. Why, ma'am, he'd 'a spoilt the very best fruit that I've 'ad for many a long day, had I not come there in the nick of time, an' dragged 'im down from it." "Bram, 'machgen i," interposed the good mother, do you 'ear w'at the gentleman say. Hav' you been up in his apple tree this mornin', and stealin' the apples? Oh, no, mam," replied the youth, with the tears coming into his eyes; "I did not climb any apple tree. I never went out of Mrs. Boodler's garden." No, no, my lad," returned the affec- tionate mother, it w'ud be very wicked to steal; an' your pore dear father an' I niver bro't you up to that, I'm shure." Sir," continued Mrs. Jones, summon- ing all her matronly dignity to her assist- ance, you 'ear w'at my boy says that 'e did not climb your bloomin' apple tree, an' if you an' twenty more of your sort came an' told me that my Bram 'ad been doins such a wicked thing, well, I w'udn't b'lieve you, so there. Good mornin' and with her dutiful boy tugging at her strings she stalked away, much to the dis- comfiture of the old gentleman, who stood as if transfixed by the sudden eloquence of the indignant mother. When he re- gained his composure, all he could say was, Well, I'm blowed."

Gossip. Our editorial remarks last week on the selfish missionary spirit of a large number of ministers have upset the equilibrium of a few Rhondda friends. One corres- pondent ("Didymus") writes saying that this charge cannot be levelled at Jeru- salem Church, Llwynypia, for they will in a few weeks incorporate a church at Tyntyla, where a handsome chapel has been erected. This was carried out when the church was without a pastor, and the section who will shortly form the church have the hearty good wishes of W. S." -+-+-+- Cosmos" says that neither can Bethania Church, Llwynypia, be included in our remarks, for their branch at Sher- wood is now a self-supporting church, and the minister led the extension movement at Penuel, and is now doing so at Bethania, which chapel they contemplate enlarging. Brutus does not brand as disturbers (but something worse) a few good (?) men who agitate for a new cause, but thinks that there will be a disturbance in his church unless they are driven out, and that quickly. His minister would be delighted to foster a missionary spirit amongst his members! The new and spacious edifice of Moriah, Tonypandy, is now under roof, and the opening services will be held in a couple ot months. -+-+-+- Catwg" says his minister is concen- trating ail his energies on the extension and keeping out the professors of the noble art" from the Coliseum. He has evidently succeeded very well with both up to date. O.P.Q." regrets the breaking off of arrangements between the Salvation Army and tue owner of the Coliseum owing to the heavy rent proposed to be charged, but supports the opinion that were it not for the selfish attitude of the churches there would have been built ere this a serviceable wood and zinc building in the gardens facing the Coliseum, tor the holding in their turn of chapel concerts, performances of oratorios, lectures, &c. f inancially, it ought to be a big success, says" O.P .Q." At Jerusalem Chapel, on Sunday even- ing last, the combined ages of four church sisters sitting in the same seat aggregated 290 years! One of them (Mrs. Jones, Glamorgan Terrace), aged 78 years, had been unable to attend for years owing to infirmity, whilst Mrs. Williams, Court Terrace, aged 86 years, may be seen directing her way, unaided, to every Sun- day and week-night service. The other two sisters are younger, but are bordering upon the biblical age limit, and are re- garded as pillars of strength and good- neu. -+-+-+- The Coliseum is idle again, except the occupation of an upper room by a few onion men. Our good friends, the Sal- vation Army, have amply justified the building of a barracks on the Tonypandy side. During their short stay, converts were added nightly to their ranks. -+-+-+- Great honour has been bestowed upon Mr. Tom Davies, the energetic secretary of the Rhondda Cymrodorion Society, by an invitation received by him from General Sir Redvers and Lady Audrey Buller to be one of their guests at Crediton Court, Devonshire, on Septem- ber 5th, 6th and 7th, during the unveiling of the statue of Sir Redvers Buller at Exeter. The other guests are General Sir John French (Aldershot) and Lady French, Lord and Lady St. Levan, Sir Frederick Stopford, Colonel the Hon. J. St. Aubyn (commanding the Grenadier Guards) and Lady St. Aubyn. The Un- veiling ceremony will be performed by Lord Wolseley, who will be accompanied by Lady WolEeley.

£ II What to eat ^]j in Summer n told you in the booklet "Summer Dishes "-a dainty collection of recipes for • ^ght and nourishing Summer fare, made with Brown & Polson's 'PATENT' Corn Flour. A post-card to B. & P., Paisley, wiD bring you the book free by return.

But the men's representatives had not been able to show him that there were any factors which outweighed the result of the owners' audit showing that selling prices were practically 6d. less than the equivalent selling price to the minimum, and he was consequently compelled to give his casting vote in favour .of a reduc- tion of 3f per cent. Official Report. Mr. Dalziel supplied the following official report to the Press at the con- clusion of the proceedings — The Board of Conciliation of the Coal T'radø of South Wales and Monmouth- shire held its adjourned meeting to-day, when Sir Michael Hicks-Beach, Bart., the independent chairman, presided, for the further consideration of the employers' application for a 3t per cent. reduction in the general wages, the discussion having been adjourned at the meeting held on the 14th inst., in order, as the two, sides of the Board had failed to agree, Sir Michael Hicks-Beach might attend, and, in the event of further disagreement, might give his casting vote for or against the proposal. At to-day's meeting Mr. Fred L. Davis set forth at considerable length and detail the arguments of the employers in favour of their proposal, and also dealt with the points which were raised in argument by the workmen's representa- tives on the 14th inst. In the absence of Mr. W. Abraham, M.P., owing to illness, which was much regretted by Sir Michael and the other members of the Board, Mr. William Brace fully replied on behalf of the work- men, in opposition to the owners' pro- posal, and stated the points which, in the workmen's opinion, showed that the employers were not entitled to, the reduc- tion. After hearing all the arguments adduced by both sides, Sir Michael inti- mated that in his opinion the owners had established their right to the reduction, and he accordingly gave his casting vote in favour thereof.