The Rhondda Leader

[ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.] I MONARCHS AND THEIR MURDERERS. BY LADBROKB ,BLACK. THE DEATH OF A BRAVE KING Before Luccheni entered the cell which the cruel humanity of Swiss law condemned him to inhabit for the remaining term of his natural life he uttered these sinister words: I should have been better pleased to kill King Humbert, but what I failed to do will be done by another." The human mind is so constituted as to lose impressions quickly. The terror aroused by the long series of atrocities perpetrated in the name of Anarchy leaves no lasting effect on the mind of the public. A week elapses, and the drama is forgotten. But the little inner world of Continental officialdom does not forget so readily: it remembers and fears. It happens invariably that after a few weeks public and Press alike describe one of these tragedies as the work of a half-witted lunatic, suffering from a form of exaggerated ego, which compels him to believe that he has a mission from on high to avenge the injuries of the individual against the repre- sentatives of organised society. It is their vanity, they say, which impels these men to their abominable deeds. In support of this theory, they will fairly enough point out that the anarchist Henry, proud of his six victims, pcsed as the Des- troying Angel, and that the last moments of nearly every Anarchist criminal have been spent in attitudinising in the limelight of public notoriety. Realising this character- istic, the French Government included in one of their laws for the suppression of Anar- chists, passed after the assassination of President Carnot, a clause making the trial of an Anarchist private, and forbidding him to address the public. Their object, of course, was to prevent anarchy being apothe- osised by martyrdom. But it is simply folly to judge a cause by the character of those men who are engaged to perform its most brutal and degrading work. The secret societies naturally employ the most debased type of man for their work of assassination. He must be a fanatic, a mad- man who can be absolutely relied upon. He must be capable of any act, however vile: moreover, he must be faithful to those who inspire and employ him. He must go to his death without allowing the names of his accomplices to escape his lips. Every one of the murderers I have referred to in these articles were of this type. But they did not act on their own initiative: their crimes were inspired and directed by that secret, com- mittee whose doings are the terror of Europe. Luccheni's remark that what he had failed to do would be done by another I can shew was no empty boast-that is to say, these words were not the mere vapourings of a diseased mind, but the actual statement of a fact. King Humbert's death, though not compassed until 1900, had been arranged for in 1898, just a year after Acciarito's futile attempt. Bresci had been sent by the Anarchists from America in 1898 to meet Luccheni at Buda-Pesth there funds were secretly con- veyed to both of them, and they were ordered to assist one another in the particular work for which each had been engaged. Bresci actually accompanied Luccheni to Geneva,' and was in that town when the murder of the Empress of Austria took place. Imniediat-ely after that crime and the arrest of Luccheni, Bresci, probably acting on instructions, hurriedly disappeared. The Governments were once more active in their attaak on Anarchism it was, therefore, an unsuitable moment to attempt the assassina- tion of King Humbert. Bresci returned to America, where he obtained work as a silk- weaver at Hamil and Booth's silkmills at Pat- terson, New Jersey. Here he remained until May 7th, 1900, leading a quiet and inoffensive life with his wife and children until the fatal summons came to him again, and he once more crossed the Atlantic. At a secret meeting of Anarchists, which was held in Milan on February 2nd, 1900, it was decided that during the year another effort should be made to spread the terror throughout the civilised world. A list of the various monarchs doomed to assassination was made out, and for the task of assassin- ating each of them lots were drawn. Those members of the organisation who were not present had their lots drawn for them by proxy. It happened that in the draw for the murder of King Humbert of Italy the fatal number fell to an Italian Anarchist of the name of Carboni Speradio. Speradio, though an Italian by birth, was an American citizen, and in consequence of this fact the society gave him the right to choose a substitute for the perpetration of a crime which had of necessity to take place in Italy. His choice fell upon Bresci, and instructions were at once sent to the latter to hold himself in readiness to cross the Atlantic as soon as he should receive the formal summons. Early in May that summons arrived, and on May 7th Bresci left his wife and family at Paterson and took ship to Europe, knowing as he must have known that he would never return to America alive. Everything in Italy favoured the attempt. Considerable trouble had arisen between King Humbert and his Parliament, in which the Socialists had lately greatly increased their forces. All over the country disorders were prevalent: on various occasions the King was openly insulted in the street. But King Humbert was a man of supreme tact and supreme unselfishness. He did his ut- most to allay the unrest, and in spite of the various incidents which occurred when he appeared in public he went about his duties calmly and unflinchingly, refusing to resort to unconstitutional methods, as was the case with Dom Carlos under similar circumstan- ces, and confident that time and the good sense of his peopLe would settle all diffi- culties. He" knew that his life was threatened, but the thought left him unperturbed. After Acciarito's attempt he had calmly remarked, These are the little perquisites of our trade; but why should I concern myself? What must happen. must happen." It was in the same spirit that he received warnings of a plot against his life from two different quar- ters of the civilised world. On July 20th the Austrian Government communicated to him the full details of an Anarchist plot against his life. Next day his police, in common with the police of the rest of Europe, received a notification from the United States that twenty-seven notorious Anarchists, trained in the most violent tenets of their faith, had left New York for Europe with the avowed inten- tion of carrying out some wholesale con- spiracy the exact nature of which the Ameri- can authorities had been unable to discover. Meanwhile, Bresci had arrived in Europe, and had taken up his quarters at Prato. Here he was supplied with funds, and, so I have been told, with the weapon with which he ultimately committed the deed. It was a revolver of the same pattern as that used by Anarchists in the commission of similar deeds, and this coincidence would seem to point to the fact, which has been nar- rated to me on more than one occasion, but which I have never been able to corroborate, that the Central Committee of Combat" have a secret supply of arms, all of the same pattern, purchased by them in America. Bresci spent his days in practising revolver- shooting, and some of the targets .are now in the possession of the police. It is curious to think of him there in Prato training, as a man trains for some harmless sport, for the assassination of King Humbert. From all over Italy communications were sent to him by various Anarchists who were in the secret of the plot. He was kept fully informed of the movements of the King and of the political situation. Both these details were to him of the greatest importance, for it was essential that he should know where and when it would best serve his purpose to strike. At last, towards the end of July, he learnt that the King was to pass through Milan on his way to attend a local fete at Mouza, and he at once decided that this was the time to commit the deed. The Municipal Council of Milan at the time was composed almost wholly of Socialists, with whom his Majesty was peculiarly un- popular. Bresci knew, or if he did not know himself the information was given him by his friends, that the Council were not likely to concern themselves greatly about a Royal visit. It was conceivable that they might not even make any preparations at all to receive his Majesty. Probably the proper number of police would not be supplied, and probably, also, in such a hotbed of Socialism none of the ordinary precautions that attend the wan- derings of Royalty would be taken. Under such circumstances Milan or its neighbour- hood was just the place for such a fanatical and daring desperado as Bresci. The event proved that Bresci had been rightly informed. When the King arrived at. Milan Railway Station on July 29th on his way to Mouza, not one member of the Muni- cipal Council was present to receive him. At the time little notice was taken of this inci- dent, which was regarded as only a proof of bad taste or bad manners. The King passed on his way to Mouza, where the fete was to tafe place, and though Mouza imitated the prevailing politics of Milan neither the police nor the Government officials imagined tnat tlx3 attitude of the local authorities justified them in taking extraordinary precautions. The King attended the fete, and the ap- parent enthusiasm with which he was re- ceived did not seem to warrant any serious alarm for his safety. But Bresci, who was waiting among the crowd for his return, must •have realised that all the usual precautions had been relaxed. The very method which he had chosen for the crime proved that he understood the local situation. As the King drove back to his Palace at Mouza, Brssci, .standing among a group of people, raised his revolver and fired. He had grooved the ncoes of his bullets so that they would expand and make a more fatal wound. It seems incon- ceivable, but it is none the less a fact, that he was allowed to fire three times, each time taking deliberate and careful aim, before he was arrested and the weapon wrenched from his hand. Each bullet hit the King, but it was the Grst that proved fatal. The unfortunate Monarch was driven rapidly to his Palace, and there, shortly afterwards, expired. Throughout the kingdom the news of this atrocity aroused the most furious indignation. It was believed that certain officials must have been in league with the Anarchists to enable the crime to be committed under such circumstances. It is certain, at any rate, that tli3 local authorities of Mouza, if not actually in league with Bresci's confederates, were, at any rate, almost criminally responsible, by their absolute neglect of duty in providing adequate means for the King's protection, for tbe tragedy. Bresci's trial was like the trial of all other Anarchists. He refused to. incriminate his confederates, he attempted to justify his con- duct by declaiming the principles of Anar- chism, and he went to the prison which was for him a living tomb with that curious courage which, in spite of all, wins our re- luctant admiration. Europe was once more in arms, and of the extensive campaign planned by the secret societies only one other step was found pos- sible—the attempt by S&leou on the Shah of Persia's life. That failed, and the. elaborate and expensive precautions taken by all the Continental Powers to preserve the lives of their rulers prevented the remainder of the elaborate plot being put into execution.

Festering and Poisoned Wounds. ZAM-BUK AGAIN PROVES THE ONLY EFFECTIVE REMEDY. A WOMAN'S DISEASED SHOULDER. The power of Zam-Buk to completely and perfectly heal a festering wound is excellently illustrated by the case of Mrs. Alice Tassell, of 12, Elm Rood, Slade's Green, Erith, Kent. In July, 1906," says Mrs. Tassell to an Erith Times reporter, "I had a cyst which had formed close to my left shoulder blade removed at Guy's Hos- pital. The result of its removal was a nasty, deep wound, which discharged freely. I was given some lotion at the hospital, and told to have the wound dressed every four hours. I carried out these instructions, and went to the hos- pital about once a week for a month. The discharge had continued, but at the end of that time a scab had formed, and the nurse said she thought I need not come again. A day or two later, however, the wound had gathered up again. It became inflamed, and my shoulder was very pain- ful. I could not sleep, and could hardly do my housework. I tried ordinary oint- ments, but got no relief. At length I read of Zam-Buk, and determined to try it. I sent for a sample, and the effect of this was wonderful. Zam- Buk had a soothing effect on the wound at once, and the soreness had greatly decreased after a week's perseverance. I still continued, and bought a large 2s. 9d. box and three Is. ltd. boxes. This im- provement was fully maintained, and after a onth's treatment the discharge ceased and new skin began to grow. The sore healed completely, and I am more than gratified at sucb dendid results from using Zam-Buk. It is now about six weeks since the { wound disappeared, and there are no signs of its returning. I attribute my cure solely to Zam-Buk, which cannot be too widely recommended." Keep Zam-Buk always handy at home. Daily mishaps make Zam-Buk a daily need and for all skin diseases it is un- equalled, being entirely different from ordinary preparations.

New Memorial Hall for Po,-th. A John Pugh Memorial Hall is to be erected at Porth in connection with the Forward Movement, at a, cost of zC3,100, and efforts are being made to raise £ 2,000 of this before the building is opened next October.

r ItH^RCH ERaC°rf I IGOLDENRETURP I HfX —REGISTERED M ■■ Fac-siauk oj One-Ounce Packet. Archer's Golden Returns ft8 HHMtlu o. Ptve fohaaMi 0001., a. AN30 fuouiT, i wow j

NEWS OF THE CHURCHES The Rev. Gordon Coe, Vicar of St. Mat- thew's, Blackburn, on account of a diminish- ing attendance at the Sunday morning school, decided to abandon it altogether. In place of it he has started a church attendance guild, any scholar between the ages of seven and seventeen being eligible for membership. Un- der this system the attendance at morning service is registered. Already 300 members have joined, and the attendance at church averages 250, as against sixty or seventy at the Sunday morning school. The examination in connection with the Baptist Union Local Preachers' Feclerition, will be held on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings, June 2nd and 3rd, at various centres throughout the country. All members of the Local Preachers' Societies are eligible to en- ter, provided their letters of application are endorsed by the secretaries of their respective societies. The scheme provides, however, that those who are not members of such societies may have their letters of application endorsed by the ministers of the churches to which they belong, who must certify that the applicants have the gifts and qualities for preachers. The examination has three sections, viz., (1) A book of Scripture; (2) Church History or Homiletics; and (3) a book relating to baptism and a choice of five text-books. Can- didates must send their names, together with the subject in which they desire to be ex- amined, to the Rev. J. H. Shakespeare, M.A., not later than the 30th inst. Canon Hensley Henson's ability and inde- pendence have evidently made an impression from afar on American academic circles, says the Christian World, for he has been chosen to give the Lyman Beecher lectures on preaching at Yale University next year. This lectureship, founded, as its name implies, in memory of one of the most distinguished of American Congregationalists—the father of -an even more eminent son, Henry Ward Beecher—has been filled by representatives of various denominations. Among English Con- gregationalists who have received this ap- pointment are the late Dr. R. W. Dale, Dr. R. F. Horton, and, quite recently, Dr. P. T. Forsyth. The Rev. W. Woodcock Hough, Vicar of Lewisham, who has been appointed Canon of Southwark Cathedral, won distinction at Cambridge as a student and an athlete, being Senior Optime and the first man to wrest the three-mile prize in the University sports from the monopoly of Oxford. An exhibition of the models which are being t collected for the Orient in London is to be held at the Mission House, New Bridge-street, during the week of the May Meetings, says the British Weekly. Some of the most popu- lar of the speakers who have been taking part in the mass meetings of stewards in London have promised to address the meetings in con- nection with the exhibition in country towns, which are now being arranged by the Rev. George Savary. Mr. Silvester Home, the captain of the stewards, is at the head of the list, wliich also includes the Revs. Bernard Snell, F. A. Russell, J. Morgan Gibbon, J. G. Henderson, E. W. Lewis, R. Fothering- ham, G. Barrett, and A. M. Gardner. The German pastors, who will be the guests of the Metropolitan Free Church Federation, are to bring their stay in London to an end on the very day which has been chosen for the open- ing of the missionary exhibition, but the com- mittee is giving the pastors an invitation to visit the Agricultural Hall on the day before the doors are opened to the public. Among the prelates who have already ac- cepted invitations to assist at the forthcoming Eucharistic Congress, to be held in Septem- ber, are the Cardinal Archbishop of Cologne, the Archbishop of Metymme (coadjutor of Cambrai), and the Bishops of Angers, Namur, Luxemburg, and Metz. It is confidently ex- pected that the Pope will cause himself to be represented at the Congress by Cardinal Vin- cent Vannutelli, Bishop of Palestrina, Prefect of the Sacred Congregation of the Council. At one time, when Under-Secretary of State, the Cardinal was instrumental in bringing about the re-establishment of diplomatic rela- tions between the Holy See, Germany, and ) Russia. In connection with the recent death at Car- diff of Mr. Cornelius Lundie, the oldest rail- way director in the kingdom, it might be of interest to many to know that one of his sisters married the Rev. Dr. Horatio Bonar, and the other also married a, clergyman, the Rev. W. Duncan, of Cleish, Scotland, and she wrote that beautiful prayer-hymn, "Jesus, tender Shepherd, hear me." Their father was a minister in Kelso, and Mr. Cor- nelius Lundie was visiting his native place last summer, and had a long conversation with an old lady (since dead) who knew his mother and Mrs. Bonar well. He was ninety- two at the time. The munificence of Lord Winterstoke has been shewn in Bristol and the West on many occasions, one of the latest, says the Cigar and Tobacco World, being in connection with the village on the Mendips where he now re- sides, Blagdon. He has placed Cl2,000 in the hands of the trustees of Blagdon Church for the purpose of rebuilding that sacred edifice. The present building is to be pulled down, with the exception of the tower, and the new building is to be slightly larger than the old. Mr. F. W. Wills is the architect, and he is en- deavouring, as far as possible, to make the new church correspond with all that is best in the existing styles of Somerset churches. It will be in the early Perpendicular style with clerestory windows. A temporary church, which can afterwards be used as a village hall, is also the gift of Lord Winterstoke. Lord Winterstoke has been a great friend to Congregationalism throughout the West, and has just become an annual subscriber of £ 50 to the Western College, Bristol. Among the immigrants from the Far East of Europe who have recently settled in the United States there are many Galicians, Hungarians, and other Ruthenians, who be- long to Uniat Greek congregations—those who, iir return for their submitting to the Pope's authority, have been allowed to pre- serve many of the practices of the Greek Church. Their service need not be in Latiif; their laity may receive the Eucharistic wine; their priests may marry. These privileges they have maintained even after removal to the United States. But contrast between these married Uniat priests and the American celibate clergy has provoked so much incon- venient discussion amongst the American Catholics that the United States Bishops ap- pealed to Rome. The Pope has accordingly now ordered all those Uniat priests who have wives to go back to their European homes; and none but celibate priests are to be ad- mitted to succeed them in America. Dr. Caie, Minister of the Parish Church of Forfar, has announced his retirement. He has for thirty-three years had the oversight of one of the largest charges in the Church of Scotland. The membership at present totals 2,297. Dr. Caie was-lieensed in 1864, and was sent out to Canada by the Colonial Com- mittee. He returned to Scotland in 1875, and was elected minister of Forfar Parish. He was the first minister in Scotland chosen by popular vote after the abolition of patronage in 1875. Dr. Caie is the father of the distin- guished ^oung minister of Morningeid#

Prudential Assurance Contpanp, Clmitea. Chief Office HOLBORN BARS, LONDON. Summary of the Fifty-ninth Annual Report, for the year ending 31st December, 1907. ORDINARY BRANCH.—The number of policies issued during the year was 86,080, assuring the sum of ES,156,865 and producing a new annual premium income of £ 466,357. The premiums received during the year were £4,480,377, being an increase of 9189,406 over the year 1906. The claims of the year amounted to £ 2,430,117. The number of deaths was 8,243, and 12,328 endowment assurances matured. The number of policies in force at the end of the year was 843,206. INDUSTRIAL BRANCH.—The premiums received during the year were £ 6,661,631, being an increase of £ 162,603. The claims of the year amounted to £ 2,563,090. The number of deaths was 281,990, and 4,494 endowment assurances matured. The number of free policies granted during the year to those policy-holders of five years' standing and upwards who desired to dis- continue their payments was 128,429, the number in force being 1,290,758. The number of free policies which became claims during the year was 32,104. The total number of policies in force at the end of the year was 17,459,835: their average duration exceeds eleven years. The assets of the Company,in both branches, as shewn in the balance sheet, are E- 68,006,248, being an increase of 94,119,2106 over those of 1906. In pursuance of the policy indicated in the last report, a scheme was approved by the Shareholders at meetings held in July last, admitting Industrial Branch policy-holders, and the Superintendeuts, Assistant Superin- tendents, and Agents to specified shares in the profits of the Company. The Directors are pleased to announce that in the Ordinary Branch a reversionary bonus at the rate of ;C I 12s. per cent. on the original sums assured has again been added to all classes of participating policies issued since the year 1876. In the Industrial Branch a bonus by way of addition of 5 cent. to the sums assured will be paid on all policies of over five years' duration, which become claims either by death or maturity of endowment from the 6th of March, 1908, to the 4th of March, 1909, both dates inclusive. General Balance Sheet of the Prudential Assurance Company, Limited, being the Summary of both Branches, on the 31st December, 1907. LIABILITIES. £ s. d. ASSETS £ s. d. Shareholders' capital 1,000,000 0 0 BritishGovernment securities 3,415,855 16 11 Reserve funds 2,550,000 0 0 Indian and Colonial Govern- Life assurance funds 64,329,288 13 3 ment securities 6,250,929 14 8 Claims under life policies Railway and other deben- admitted 126,995 10 0 tures and debenture stocks, and gold and sterling bonds 8,623,412 10 4 Loans on County Council, Municipal and other ratea 14,850,229 8 10 Freehold ground rents and Scotch feu duties 4,759,434 0 5 Freehold and Leasehold property 3,628,927 19 11 Mortgages on property with- in the United Kingdom 8,687,757 9 0 Railway, Gas and Water Stocks 7,237,407 18 11 Suez Canal shares 162,193 16 2 Telegraph and other shares 97,207 4 8 Metropolitan and London County Consolidated stocks, and City of London bonds 251,059 9 9 Metropolitan Water Board stocks 435,263 10 7 Bank of England stock 202,754 7 10 Indian, Colonial and Foreign corporation stocks. 1,770,520 15 1 Foreign Government secu- rities 1,899,039 19 6 Reversions and Life Interests 1,287,191 8 6 Loans on the Company's policies 2,587,068 11 10 Rentcharges. 265,112 13 11 Outstanding premiums, and agents' balances 561,972 3 5 Outstanding interest & rents 558,679 5 9 Cash-In hands of super- intendents 35,783 15 0 Do. On deposit, on current accounts, and in hand 438,482 2 3 £ 68,006,284 3 3 468,006,28-1 3 3 WWrW MAKAGEB.S. H- A- HARBEN> CHAIKMAN. A. C. THOMPSON, j TH0S c DEWEY. 1 T, „ J.' SMART,BLE,}JGInt SecretaeIes- W. T.PUGH, [DIKECTOKS. We have examined the Cash transactions (receipts and payments) affecting the accounts of the Assets and Investments for the year ended December 31st, 1907, and we find the same is ood order and properly vouched. We have also examined the Deeds and Securities, Certificates, 3tc., representing the Assets and Investments set out in the above account, and we certify that ihey were in possession and safe custody as on December 31st, 1907. DELOITTE, PLENDER, GRIFFITHS & Co., CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS. 17th FEBRUARY. 1908. Any further information may be obtained from the following representatives -J. WILLIAMS, 70, Bailey Street, Ton-Pentre, Superintendent; I. R. JONES, 47, Bailey Street, Ton-Pentre, Assistant Superintendent; ISAAC" JONES Tanlan House, Llwynypia, Assistant Superintendent; and H. J. LEWIS, 13, Colum Street, Treorchy, Assistant Superintendent. 4034

Rhondda Miners' Meeting. A special meeting of the Rhondda Dis- trict of Miners was held at Porth on Monday, Mr. T. Lewis, Cilfynydd, pre- siding. Upon the question of increasing the salary of the agent and general secre- tary (Mr. D.Watts Morgan), a consider- able majority voted in favour of raising the standard wage to £10 per month, plus the percentages which obtained under the Conciliation Board agreement. The results of the ballots for the elec- tion of district treasurer and financial secretary were given, and it was resolved that a secondhaot be taken on the fol- lowing names: — TREASURER. John Hughes, Oymmer 3470 Noah Rees, Clydach Vale; 3096 Tom George, Ferndale. 2939 T. Mardy Jones, Mardy. 2287 J. Jones, C;wmpare .I. 2172 FINANCIAL SECRETARY. W.H. Morgan, Fernhill. 3731 J. H. Lewis, Cymmer. 270 John Thomas, Cambrian. 3184 Tom Miles, Abergorchy 3183 The next ballot will take place on the 19th inst.

THE SHORTEST DAY." The popular noxion of The Shortest Day is it misunderstanding. There is no shortest d iy. It M true that there is no day shorter an December 21st; but there are six other days of exactly the same length. The seven 'ays from December 19th to December 25th in- hvstve constitute the Winter Solstice, or Sun 'alt. when the sun's ecliptic touches the Tropic Capricorn. After Christmas Day the day be. us to !enpH>-on but only at the latter end. for m-ary 4th the. sun rises three I n T on December 21st. the i 1 i'i i c lit ed by later setting'.

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