The Brecon County Times Neath Gazette and General Advertiser for the Counties of Brecon Carmarthen Radnor Monmouth Glamorgan Cardigan Montgomery Hereford

DRESSMAKING AT HOME. By SYLVIA. A Travelling Wrap. In view of the holiday season—which, in spite of all, is being taken advantage of to the utmost—also the fact that autumn and winter are ahead of us, I have had sketched for vou this- week, in No. 1,911, a most com- fortable coat of the protective order, suited to both purposes. For such a, coat as this no lining is re- quired. and the making is. therefore, much simplified. To Cut Out and Make Up. Place the ed<ps of front to- the selvedges UI the folded material, as these are required I PATTERN -1,911. in duplicate, whilst the centre of back must be placed to the fold. Having marked round each duplicate piece —or, better still, thread-marked it-in order to ensure accuracy, proceed to interline the fronts with French canvas, and face them with material a few inches back; stitch at edi'es. press; make the buttonholes and sew on the buttons; then make and sew on the pockets; tack fronts to back at shoulder and under arm sealjis, and fit, on. Make any necessary alterations at these aeanM. and both sidles exactly alike; then ttitch seams, open, bind. and press, turni up lower edges, stitch, neaten, and also press, when the collar can be made and put on. The sleeves can then be stitched up, the seams opened and pressed, when the cuffs can be stitched on, the sleeves arranged comfort- ably in- the armbole, tacked and stitched, as in the sketch, then noeteTIoed and well pressed, and- the whole finighed off. From 31, to 4 yard's of 48-inch goods will be required, with a small quantity of French canva.s and eight large fauey buttons. A Child's Tunic Suit. So many mothers are economising just now by making as many of their children's gar- ments as they can, that I have had' a tunic suit sketched- for their benefit, ia No. 1,912, I PATTERN NO. 1,912. which I hope may be helpful to those who are perforce carrying out the wishes of the Government. The Pattern and Making Up. The suit is intended for a boy of 4 to 6 years of age. the material depending on the mother's or maker's choice, though khaki colour would doubtless be a popular one with the small boy. The tunic is provided with pleats at back and front, on Norfolk line's, the belt being slipped through openings made in these, in the inner fold of the pleats. Place the centre-fronts of coat to the sel- vedges and the centre-back to fold1, mark round, and allow good turnings when cut- ting out. The knickers can either be joined at the outer leg portions or be placed to a fold here, as may be the most economical when placing and cutting out. Having done this, fold and tack pleats or fronts, make and stitch on t'he. pockets, which have a narrow stitch-ed boxpleat in thë centre. interline and stitch fronts; press, make the buttonholes, and press down lapels. Next fold, tack, and stitch pleats at back, ,then tack and stitch bacK and rront together at shoulder and under-,arm seams, open, neaten, .and press; then turn up and hem lower edge, afterwards' pressing it and the pleats well. Make the collar, which is, double, interlined and stitched); sew this to neck, press, an-d finish off. If made of woollen goods a lining ie neces- Bary, which, should now be put in. Make and stitch in the sleeves (also linings if required), and finish off, also binding the openings for belt. The knickers. should be strengthened at seat part with corners of canvas, have the flies next put in; then joined and stitched at leg- seams, and finished off at waist and knee por- tions. About 2 yards of 44-inch goods are needed for the suit.

HOW TO OBTAIN THE PATTERN*. Onr paper patterns are specially cut for us from designs expressly prepared for this column, and the cost'of each complete pattern is 6Jd. post free. Address all letters, enclosing stamps for patterns, to Syl I' in." Whitefriars House, Carmelite- street. London, E.C. Be sure and mention the number ot the pattern reouired when ordering. Patterns will be despatched within three days of the application beinu receiver.

¡ I REGlirrEARD RA-BA-SA TKJLDE RADIUM BATH SALT 4 added to your ordinary Bath gives you a RADIO-ACTIVE BATH at Home. Both Nervous and Muscular Complaints, such as Nerve Exhaustion, Depression, Insomnia, Rheu- matism, Gout, Neuritis, &.c., yield to a course of RA-BA-SA Baths where medicines fail to give relief. 1/- per packet or box of 7 for 5/9. Of all FR°M c if Stores and leading Chemists, or, if unable to obtain, post free on receipt of P.O., from T1 electioscope,and ltcerta nly Radium Salt To Ltd 21 Farrinedon-ave shows ionising properties. The method London,^ B ^Booklet,' ffl oi appears to be an ingenious one of preser- SSSf °° reCeiPt Mme an<1 Soldi» mearof oSer1iDf tht thera aaare. peutic effects of a radio-active Bath." RA-BA-St BATHS GIVE SOUND, REFRESHING SLEEP. a.s8' a..

HOW WE CAN SAVE. I From a pamphlet issued by the Parlia- mentary War Savings Committee.] II. As chiefs of the domestic spending departments" women can exert an all- important influence. If they will once make up their minds to the uncomfortable I necessity for spending less on our homes and our families, and our amusements and pleasures, the revolution in our national habits that is needed for the war will soon be carried out. They have done a great work for the nation in recruiting. They can do a still greater work for their country in saving. It is they who have to tell us how to save, to show us how to do it, and ultimately to carry out most of the saving that can be achieved in our homes, by cutting off the things that we can best. in their opinion, do without. With their sympathy and I-elp our great problem of financing the war is comparatively easy. Without them it can only be solved by methods which will lessen our staying power and leave us at the end of the war much poorer than we need have been. HOUSEHOLD EXPENSES. No one should build a house for himself at this time. Moving (unless to a cheaper house) should be avoided. Those who are obliged to move, or who are setting up I house for the first time, should avoid neigh- bourhoods where rents are high. The wealthy landowner with more than one I estate should reduce his establishments as far as practicable, and the business or pro- fessional man with a town house and a country cottage should consider whether he could not dispense with the cottage. Dec- orations and enlargements should be cut down as much as possible. No furniture or other household requirements should be bought beyond what is absolutely necessary. The expenditure on pictures, pianos, orna- ments, &c., should be severely curtailed. The expenditure on flower gardens should be reduced, and as much of the garden as possible should be used for growing vege- tables. Less money should be spent on cut flowers. The staff of servants should be reduced wherever possible, and, in particu- lar, male servants should not be employed. The washing bill might be reduced, more washing being done at home. The expenditure? on coal, gas and elec- tricity should be greatly reduced. When fires are necessary in the sitting-rooms one fire might be made to serve, instead of having two or three burning; and this might often be lighted only for a few hours in the evening. There should be no fires in bed- rooms except where they are required for invalids. The gas should remain unlit, or rurned very low, except in the rooms where it is in use the electric light shculd be turned off when not in use, and one light might suffice instead of two or three. A very considerable saving in the light and fuel bill might be made by going to bed at an earlier hour. FOOD AND DRINK. Under this heading the most obvious sav- ing that could be made is in the abandon- ment or greatly-reduced consumption of wine, beer, and spirits. The custom of I I treating" should be given up as a fruitful source of unnecessary drinking. Also, although tea is cheap to drink, its consump- tion by many persons is immoderate, and might be reduced with benefit to their health and with an appreciable saving of axpense. The same may be said of sweet- meats, which are wholesome in moderation but are undoubtedly eaten to excess by many people, especially children. Luxuries of all kinds should be avoided. Special attention has already been publicly drawn to the necessity of reducing the con- sumption of meat. Much saving might be effected by a more scientific choice of foods, by better and more economical methods of cooking and by the avoidance of waste. The Board of Education pamphlet, entitled Economy in Food," gives various recipes for cooking wholesome and inexpensive dishes with little meat. In many establishments more could be saved by a return to simpler meals than even by economy in the quantity or quality of the articles consumed. The mere change from a five-course dinner to the old-fash- ioued two-course meal might enable some families to dispense with one servant, quite apart from other economies. Eating and drinking between meals should be discour- aged by public opinion. Such customs as the serving of an early cup of tea before rising, or of coffee and liqueurs after dinner, should be dropped. (Nothing. 94 There is, perhaps, more scope for the saving of money on dress by women than by men, and especially by women of the richer classes. A great variety in dress is not necessary, and should be avoided. With the stoppage or great reduction of entertaining there should be little or no demand for evening dresses, dress suits, etc., and for ordinary purposes garments of a ser- viceable description should be worn. Changes of fashion (one of the greatest causes of extravagant expenditure on dress) should be ignored, if they cannot be suppressed. Women should take a pride in making their dresses last as long as possible. All not strictly necessary extras, such as veils,white gloves, furs, silk garments, should not be bought. Many women might save quite substantial sums by spending no money on scents, cosmetics, etc., and by avoiding unnecessary visits to the hairdresser and manicurist. Women might make much of their own and their children's clothes and underclothing, and cut down old garments for their children, as was the general custom of a generation ago. Time formerly spent on fancy needlework wovld be more profit- ably spent ih this way. Men can save by having fewer changes of costume and by spending less on golfing or holiday suits, or other clothes for occa- sional wear by having their suits and over- coats cleaned and pressed instead of buying new ones; by spending less on gloves and ties, and by having still serviceable boots mended, instead of buying new ones. Excessive expenditure on mourning clothes and on funerals generally should be avoided. EDUCATION. Expenditure on extra subjects, such as music and dancing, might be stopped in cases where such expenditure is incurred merely as a matter of custom and the child has no aptitude for these pursuits. In the case of young children the expenses of nurses and nursery governesses might often be saved if mothers would look after their children themselves more than they do. TRAVELLING, AMUSEMENTS, ETC. Unnecessary travelling should be avoided, and many of those who travel first-class might well travel third, especially on long journeys. Week-ends and travelling for pleasure should be reduced to a mini- mum. No motor-cars beyond what are absolutely necessary should be used, except for charitable purposes. If they remain unused the expense of petrol and upkeep may be saved, and the chauffeur. if one is employed, can be released for productive work. The expenditure on tennis, golf, rowing clubs, etc., should be strictly limited, as also subscriptions to West End clubs. People should only indulge in theatre-going to a moderate degree, and those who go might content themselves with cheaper seats. Theatre dinners should be discour- aged. Much might also be saved by less frequent visits to picture palaces and music halls. The habit of taking taxicabs for journeys where trams, or trains, or omni- buses are available should cease. Among the well-to-do classes expendi- ture on bunting, shooting, horse-racing, etc., should be abandoned, except in so far as the killing of game for food is con- cerned. Entertainments of all sorts at pri- vate houses should be kept within the most moderate limits; and all entertaining at restaurants entirely abandoned, on account of its excessive cost, The smoking of cigars and the consumption of tobacco generally should be greatly reduced. The giving of presents on all sorts of trivial occasions should cease. Where pre- sents are given, such as on the occasion of a marriage, they should not be costly, and should be articles of real service; in many cases they might take the form of War Loan vpuchers. Testimonials and tips to servants might also take this form. The purchase of jewellery should be dis- countenanced. In this connection it may be suggested that the custom of taking children for long holidays and the giving of many treats and parties and of costly presents might be greatly curtailed, while many persons would find it possible to save by spending less on their hobbies.

=_ — 206th Year of the IL I SUN FIRE OFFICE FOUNDED 1710. The Oldest Insurance Office in the WorM. Oogfed ftnt Policj da(*d ins. Insurances effected on the following risks:- FIRE DAMAGE. Resultant Loss of Rent and Profits. Employers' Liability and I Personal Accident. Workmen's Compensation Sickness and Disease. including Accidents to Fidelity Guarantee, Domestic Servants. Burglary, Plate Glass LOCAL AGENTTS BRECON MR. DAVID POWELL

POULTRY KEEPING I A PROFITABLE HOBBY. BY "UTILITY." LAYER OF LARGE EGGS The Minorca is one of our best laycrs. and on that account alone well deserves its almost world-wide popularity. It was introduced into this country about- 100 years ago from the island1 after which it is named, and its splen- did qualities have been almostyentirely deve- loped by British poultry-keepers, particularly in the south-western counties. Like the Andalusian. to which it bears a gooddeal of resemblance, the Minorca lavs very large white eggs, often weighing as much as three ounces each, and where a fair price can be obtained in proportion to size. this is a condition of the greatest importance. And not only are the aggs exceptionally large, but t'e'Y come in abundance, and there are plenty of records of hens laying 200 per annum. In the ordinary way the hens do not lay very well in the winter, but if they are in sheltered runs, and judiciously fed. they should not dis- appoint their owners. Chickens should be hatched from March to May. One of the secrets of the Minorca's popu- larity is that they thrive better than most fowls in back yaros and other confined runs, being of a quiet and contented disposition. But they are by nature active and industrious, and! plenty of occupation must be provided for them under such circumstances. For a BLACK MINORCA COOK. I non-sitter the Minorca makes a good table I bird, andi though the flesh is white and fairly plentiful it has to be admitted that except when unusual care is given to feeding and fat- tening it does not reach first-class quality. The sketch gives a fair idea of the male bird's appearance, the hen differing but little from the cock apart from the natural differ- ences of sex, except ,that the comb droops over to one side of the face. The colour of the plumage in the black Minorca is a glosey green-black. the comb, face, and wattles are dark blood red, the ear loW white and almond sha|*j. Birds with combs of ex- aggerated; size are to be avoided, as they rarely prove to possess good laying strain. GUARD AGAINST FATNESS. It is necessary at this time of the year to warn poultry keepers against letting their birds get too fat. Fowls which are allowed much liberty pick up food besides that sup- plied to them, so that by the end of the summer they get quite fat, and fatness of the egg-laying organs is one of the reasons why eggs are so scarce in the autumn and winter. To promote winter-laying, therefore, the surplus fat must be got rid of, and this can be attained by feeding upon limited rations con- taining the minimum quantity of fat, and by compelling the birds to exercise their bodies to the fullest extent. in corn-growing districts, where the birds are :>.i liberty to roam the stubbles, no food need be supplied for three or four weeks after harvest. In fact, there is frequently at that time more natural food available than can be consumed by a moderate-sized flock of hens, but the exercise obtained in finding such food compensates for any excess. Where they have a free run on pasture land, the hens will only need one daily feed, which should consist of grain such as small wheat and barley, and should be given in the evening. The greatest care should be taken to compel consumption of the fatty reserves by the methods stated, and thus bring the birds into a condition con- ducive to egg production. Pullets being as a rule more active than hens require a larger quantity of nutriment, and display much less tendency to lay on fat than do older birds. For these reasons they generally commence laying earlier, but to meet the demand upon the system they should be supplied more freely with food. It is true that they eagerly search for natural food, but, as they -,ird still growing, the risk of a check would be considerable if they were insuffi- ciently fed, and it is necessary to provide against this. To promote early moulting an excellent plan during August and September is to add twice a week to the soft food about 20 per cent. of linseed which has been simmered until it is in the form of a jelly, and to give in the drinking water a teaspeonful of sulphate of iron to each quart. Unless moulting takes place early laying will be delayed. But where the hens are of a sitting breed nothing seems to help more than allowing them to rear a brood of chic-kens in the summer, or even to sit for two or three weeks on dummy eggs. ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. "R. G. A."—TRAP NESTS.—I have often described these. They arc so made that the heft passes into her nest her weight re- leases the door, which falls and imprisons her till the egg-collector comes round to re- lease her, which, of course, should be fre- quently, or the bird will looe food amd d(day egg production to such an extent that the trap-nest record would fail to give a fair idea of the bird's egg-Uning powers. Nesting material is placeft- in the available space, and frequently renewed, white at the same time the whole nest-box is cleaned out and dis- infected. 'Novice." — DESCRIPTION OF SILVER W)-ANDOTTF.Tllc, cock's head is silvery- v.hite. as is the neck. but each feather of the latter has a clear black stripe through the centre, which applies also to the sadd.'e hackle. The ba-ck and wing-bows are silverv- white. wir-g-eoverts evenly laced. forming two' well-defined Bars, secondaries white with the edge with black, flights broadly-laced while on outer edge; breast and underparts. wIde ground' colour, each feather with W(",I- (lelined, eo'-id, green-black lacing, the lacing being cleanly cut and., round. The tail is yreen-blaclv. while the thighs and fluff are black or dark slate, powdered with dark grey. clear lacing around the hocks and on the crier sides of the thighs. C. C. L."—PULLET EGC.-BO-U-ND.-If she is visiting the nest without result and the tail is depressed, and she shows signs of straining, she must be egg-bound. The trouble is usually an exceptionally large egg, which she may succeed in passing if she is' gently caught and held and a little olive oil poured into the vent. Then put her into a dark nest aid leave her where she will not be disturbed. If she still cannot pass the egg, hold lier owr a jug of boiling water, so that the sieam can reach the vent and' relax it. Keep yo-jr other pullets moving so that they do not start to lay t-ill the autumn. N. F."—SUSSEX GROUND OATS, so famous as a fattening food, differs from ordinary ground oats in being much finer, as a result of being ground between specially prepared stones. A small quantity of barley-meal is generally added, and the product is a most valuable food for fattening purposes, every particle being used by the birds.

All correspondence affecting this column should be addressed to "Utilltv," care of the Editor. Requpsts for special information must be accom- panied by a stain peck iddres»ed envelops.

QUEEN BESS AND THE GERMANS. The badge of the Anti-German Union shows in its centre an effigy of Queen Elizar belh, and about her it is written: "Good Que en Bes; expelled all Germans, 1 "97 ami upon the outer rim we read: Anti-Ger- man Union, 1915—Britain for the British." The meaning of these latter words is clear enough; but a number of inquiries have r ached the Union offices as to the reason of "0 Queen Elizabeth's appearance here. and how cam 10 cast our the Germans from our ulidst even as we are doing now. Until the other day it was little known, in- deed. it was quite forgotten, that our Queen Lhs-one 01 the greatest sovereigns of all time—set us an example which we shall do well to follow in. every particular. For the re- discovery of this invaluable piece of history, and for its retelling, grateful acknowledg- ments are due lei Mr. Ian D. Colvin, who, in an article in the April number of the Xattmial Br.vicic, entitled "Queen Elizabeth and Her German Garden." set forth the won- derfully interesting results of his investiga- tion.- also to John Britcn, who retold and amplified the strange tale in the .Sunday troii icle of a few weeks since. THE FIRST ANGLO GERMAN WAR. many of us were aware, the ep- pearanee of tiiis historic find, that wo Mere -;1"[ now fighting Germany for the first time? i v i v.e fought, her oiu-e before, and it was i!mparabic Qlk: Bess and her statesmen a;.u righting men who then. claimed tlievictorv owr bE/ll. As now. Germany, with infinite erart and thoroughness, prepared the way for conquest by peaceful methods—bribery, spy- and juggling with the law. C'hiefest among her multitude of ad-a,nee agents the Hanseatic League—surely the cleverest company of traders, financiers", merchant ad- venturers. and a!round schemers for the dominion over Europe and ail the known world beyond it. For then, as now. from small ambitious to possess and hold in sub- jection, their appetite grew by what it fed upon until nothing less than world dominion would satisfy them; and1 so it was then as it shall be now, they raised the world against them and wrought their own ruin. A LESSON AND A WARNING. Until they met their mistress in those elder days. and were overthrown, the Germans had been at their scheming for a couple of cen- turies or so. To a great extent they held Europe in their grip as to ourselves, they had us by the throat. We were then, for instance, the leading wool-growers of Europe. From the time our fleeces left the sheep's backs and were baled, shipped to Flanders, and there spun and woven into cloth, and until the cloth was returned and marketed here, the German was master of the whole transaction. So it was with the rest of our industries, our trade, finance, shipping-—the very fishermen along our shores cast their nets for the profit of a German taskmaster and monopolist. Then, as now. they bribed the weakling and bought the traitor into their servicp. More than once they reached the limit of bribery and corruption—when a.n English monarch was the paid servant of German privilege- hunters and the English crown jewels were actually held in pawn in German strong- rooms. Occasionally some patriotic sove- reign would make a. stand against this infamy; but, the next. pleasure-hunter or profligate or lazybones, would fall again beneath the German yoke. And so the yoke bit deeper and deeper into the neck of Icng suffering Ell gla nd (Jur fathers were very like ourselves, easygoing and slow to anger. Then that Queen who earned, the dread title of Bloody Mary came to the throne. She was a pro-German of the most uncompromising sort—a sort of which samples may be found to-day. Mary (like gome of her present-day followers) reaped, a handsome profit from her pro-Germanism. ENGLAND FOR THE—GERMAN? There followed that tremendous chapter in our island history that sent Mar,vhere she belonged, put Elizabeth on the throne, and set her and her statesmen face to face with the problem, who should own and govern Eng- land—the English or the Germans. For it was the German, observe, that was making the bid for mastery of us, then as now—and not the Spaniard. Here is the most amazing part of an amazing story. When Philip of Spain sent forth his Invincible Armada against us, with the banner of its Lord High Admiral blessed by the Pope of Rome-1t was neither Pope nor Spaniard who fitted out and financed the fleet, but the Germans. This was to be their conquest of England by war; easy enough, as it seemed, since the way had been so thoroughly made ready in times of peace. ANOTHER LESSON. The Armada was sunk and ohattered-our sea dogs and the winds of heaven fought for England; Pope and Spaniard were brought to confusion not being so painstaking and methodical as the German. The question was still to answer—Who shall own and govern England? Elizabeth and her statesmen fell to work upon these German weeds that in- fested her garden. She knew—what we, .her inheritors, have yet to learn—-how to deal with the enemy within the gate. Then, as now, he had coiled himself eo deeply and so tightly into our national life that he was not to be dislodged in a day. He was, and is still, the craftiest and most resourceful of knaves; but in Elizabeth and her Ministers he met hi8 match. His privileges and Monopolies were cut away; a 20 per cent. duty was clapped upon his imported goods; sternly and steadily he was uprooted; and finally banished the kingdom, or, in so far as he was allowed to remain, was robbed of his mastery and re- duced to subjection—either lie must quit Eng- land or, if he remained, must stay as a loyal citizen and serve the interests of the common weal. This is only a broad sketch of the work of great Elizabeth in ridding the country of a great peril. Precisely the same national duty lies before us to-day. Everyone who realises the peril should read and fully understand how it was met and overthrown by our great Tudor Queen. She gave the lead that we must follow. FOLLOWERS OF ELIZABETH. Meantime the Anti-German Union exists to focus and make effective, on Tudor lines, popular resentment against the selfsame tyranny. Evidence of this all pervading enemy activity continues to pour in, and the answers go forth giving counsel as to how he may be dealt with. Recently, for instance, in a single day, letters notifying German intrigue arrived from the Isle of Man and Winnipeg, Johannesburg and the Shetlands, and from the sunny Riviera. Thus there is being formed an irresistible body of public opinion to take action against this common danger. Sir George Makgill, lion., secretary of the Anti-German Union. asks all and sundry who can show evidence of any sort or kind of enemy activity to com- municate the same to 346, Strand, London. W.C. Such evidence will be treated as suictlj confidential, and, where advisable, will be brought to the notice of the proper authorities.

HORTON'S BENEDICT PILLS. FREE TO LADIES. In a few days correct all irregularities and remove all obstructions; also cure Anaemia, and cause no injury to the married or single are invaluable. By post under cover lili or 2/9, from Horton & Co., Chemists (Chief Dispenser from the late Birmingham Lying-in Hospital), (Dept. 85), ASTON MANOR, BIRMING- HAM. Sold over 50 years. SUPPLIED DIRECT ONLY. SELDOM EVER FAIL. All ladies should send penny stamp for free sample of pills, also Improved Sanitary Towel and booklet. UCTIONEERS & ESTATE AGENTS.— Particulars and conditions of gale, posters, catalogues (with plans and illustrations), tenancy agreements, &c., at the "Brecon County Times" Office, where specimens C, high-class work may be seen.