Welsh Gazette and West Wales Advertiser

Welsh Rabbit. The prescription for this is as followsOne lb. of best cheese, grated two eggs, yolks and whites beaten separately, and mixed just before using; 12 pieces of not too thin toast, butter, mustard enough to cover the point of a table knife; salt, plenty; red pepper, lots; Worcestershire sauce, a dash; beer, say four tablespoonfuls, but do not measure. Put one walnut of butter in chafing dish; melt. Dump in cheese, stirring all the time. Put in mus- tard while cheese is melting, and distribute evenly. Stir continually in one direction- all the time. Put in salt, one small teaspoonful (while stirring); one tablespoonful of Worcestershire sauce (while stir- ring). When the mixture has melted put in beer (or ale), say one-third of a glass, and keep on stirring until mixture is soup-like. Then put in egrgs and stir until consistence of scrambled eggs.

-0 The Piano. All (except perhaps teachers of music) will agree that at the present day the piano is too much with us. It is one of the drawbacks of an advanced civilisation, and if we are often tempted to pity those who lived in the dark ages before the dawn of the electric light, and when the auto-mobile was Dot, our satisfaction at the superior graciousness of our state may be tempered by the recollection that they were free from the everlasting tinkle of the piano. The maelstroms of crashing sounds which many performers think it necessary to produce as proof of their skill jar the delicate apparatus of the nervous system to a degree that, in irritable persons, might have serious consequences if they were com- pelled to undergo the torture frequently. It was doubtless after an experience of the kind that Theophilu-; Gautier defined music as the most costly of noises.—" British Medical Journal."

Chrysanthemums. The Scorns of the incurved Japanese section of -is chrysanthemums during autumn, when camellia blossoms are scarce, have a good run in the market and fetch high prices. White blooms are most in demand, and at one time the anemone-centred or quilled kinds were most thought of. but since such beautiful kinds belonging to the Japanese section have beer, raised they are less popular. The flowers of the Japanese varieties are much more graceful than any of the other kinds, and on ',Iiat. accotiut everyone admires them. For sale in pots large- flowering chrysanthemums are little grown, but the pompon varieties are cultivated to a large extent for this purpose. Cuttings of these are strucii in frames in June after the frames have been cleared of bedding-plants. As soon as struck, the chrysan- themums are transplanted to the open ground with a dibber, allowing plenty of space between them. The points of the shoots are picked out once or twice during the summer, and as soon as the plants show bloom they are lifted and potted into convenient-sized pots, well watered, kept in the shade for a time, and housed when sharp weather is apparent. The soil in which they are planted is sandy loam, light, but not very rich. A section of early-flowering chrysanthemums, too, which has of late years been introduced is very eligible for market purposes. The plants assume a dwarf, com- pact habit, and the flowers, though not so large and perfect as the autumn-flowering kinds, are very effective, and either in a cut state or on the plants, are valuable, especially as they come into use in August.

Pasture Land. The copious rainfall we have recently experi- enced could not fail to make our pastures a good ooiour and the grass sufficiently plentiful to satisfy OUT immediate requirement; but there is not that firmness present in the grass just now available which stock-keepers like to see, so that there is little risk of any but "sour" fields becoming un- palatable to the stock for some time to come. Wherever this sourness prevails-a state of affairs easily discernible by noticing the rank appearance of the grass—it is best to run the scythe over such patches, and use the coarse fodder thus obtained for topping haystacks, and so forth. By adopting this course there is a possibility of making the land really productive, instead of being a source of loss. Another way to increase our yield of stock food from our' summer pastures is by scattering the droppings as frequently as possible. When they are allowed to remain untouched it means the loss of almost a square yard of grass for the remainder of the s'.nnmer, for it will not be until the autumn when the early frosts have sweetened the rank herbage, that the grass obtained from this overdose of manure will become acceptable. On the other hand, if, when the pasture has been closely fed, it is the rule to knock the manure about, the slight dressing thereby obtained will leave no unpleasant effects; the sward will remain as even as a lawn, and there will be an absence of the rank tufts which so often disfigure an unevenly-grazed pas- ture. This top-dressing business—if one may describe it as such-is suitable work for June, when the first flush of grass has been pulled off. Not only can we claim the advantages already mentioned as a reward for our labours, but if the stock are removed for a few days they come back, as it were, to a fresh pasture, and no matter whether they are feeding beasts, milch cows, or growing stores, the change has a good effect upon them. Thistles and docks should not be neglected, and, in view of sultry weather setting in about midsummer and the busy time in the hayfield which is so rapidly drawing near, it is well to have an eye upon the watering places, so that any accu- mulation of mud may be removed in good time, and any deficiency in the water supply can be remedied while men are available for the work.

Tuberculosis. A Welsh translation of the Royal Agricultural Society's leaflet on tuberculosis has been issued. We give a summary of it below. The translation is by Professer Anwyl, of Abervstwith, to whom the thanks of the society were accorded at a recent meeting. CLWYF YR YSGYFAINT ivIEWX GWARTHEG. Er mwyn cynorthwyo Amaetliwyr fyddo vn cadw Llaethdai i gyfarfod a gofynion yr Awdur- dodau lechydol dan yr amgylchiadau presenol, yr ydvs yn cynwyno yr awgrymiadau a ganlyn:- Y mae yn sicr fod cryn lawer o'r llaeth a werthir i'r cyhoedd yn cynwys tubercle bacilli (math o bryfaid bychain anweledig i'r llygad noeth), ac y Eaae y sawl a'i hyfo heb ei goginio mewn perygl o gael yr haint. Mewn rhyw ychydig o achosion I on gellir canfod y tubercle bacilli" hyn mewn llaeth drwy gymhorth y chwyddwydr (microscope), ac y mae llaeth felly yn dra pheryglus i'w yfed. Dylid deall yn eglur, fodd bynag, os methir a chanfod y man bryfaid hyn mewn llaeth gyda'r chwyddwydr, nad vw hyny yn dystiolaeth y gellir dibynu arni fod y llaeth yn rhydd oddiwrth ei hadau. Mae y Tuberculosis," yr hwn a adwaenir hefyd fel dar- fodedigaeth, nychdod neu wendid, yn afiechyd heintus, a lledaenir ef drwy gludiad y "tubercle bacilli" i gyrph anifeiliaid iach yn eu bwyd neu eu diod, neu mewn ffyrdd ereill; bydd anifeiliaid attach yn rhoddi bacilli" allan wrth besychu; hefyd, trwy yr hyn a ddaw o'u safnau a'i ffroenau, ac yn eu tail. l'an y byddo y clwyf wedi enill tir, gellir ei ganfod yn amlwg oddiwrth arwyddion allanol, ond, ran ainlaf, nid oes unrhyw arwyddion nodedig. Os dengvs anifeiliaid dan yr arbrawf yr arwyddion fod y clefycl hwn arnynt, dylid eu trin fel anifeiliaid heintus a'u gwahanu oddiwrth y sawl ni ddanghosant y cyfryw arwyddion; i ranu y beudy yn ddwy ran bydd gwahan-fur (partition) teneu wedi ei orchuddio a felt" wedi ei darrio yn ddigon at y pwrpas hwn. Dylai yr holl anifeiliaid fyudo yn cael eu blino gan y dolur rhydd, gan besweli, neu nychdod, gael eu symud rhag dyfod i gyffyrddiad ag anifeiliaid ereill. Mate rhy ychydig o ymbortb, neu ymborth gwael, gormod o anifeiliaid yn yr un man, diffyg awyriad, budreddi a thywyllwch, a phob aehos arall fyddo yn peri gwendid yn ffafriol i ledaeniad y cJwyE. I wartheg godro, bywyd yn yr awyr agored svdd oreu, ac o dan amgylchiadau felly, nid yv/'r tuberculosis yn dangos ond pur ychydig o duecld yruledn. Mae glanhau a diheintio beudai yn anhebgcr^l, ac, i hyn o beth. mae yn dra phwysig defnyddfo digoi.edd o ddwfr. Ni ddylid byth ysgubo heb ddefayddio dwfr, a gocheler rhag un amser godi llwch. J..

Sir WILLIAM HARCOURT. WHAT IS IMPERIALISM. Last week Sir William Harcourt delivered an address to his constituents at Nantyglo. Sir William, who was received with cheers said When I had to consider what I had to speak to you upon to-night after a somewhat protracted absence and a holiday I do not very often take, I thought perhaps that the fashion- able occupation of the day seemed to be to discuss the past, the present, and the future of the Liberal party. I do not know that I should have chosen that particular theme, but I believe that some charitable persons are good enough to mourn over our decay (laughter). They drop tears somewhat of the crocodile order—(laughter and cheers)—over our decease. I observe, however, signs of a suspicion that there may one day be a resurrection (laughter). Lord Salisbury is always an interesting speaker. There is something about the originality of his cynicism which to me is always refresh- ing, and his artillery has this merit, that its recoil is generally quite as fatal to his friends as are the missiles which he aims at his foes. He surveyed our past, and he made the pro- found remark that we never shall be exactly what we were in the year 1886. You may go back a little further, and if you were to say of Lord Salisbury that he will not be exactly what he was in the year 1876, when he was principally occupied in bitterly de- nouncing Mr. Disraeli and the Conservative surrender, that would be a remark equally well founded (laughter and cheers). He ys thh-t t.hQ past, cfvn never be reproduced. That is quite true. It is like saying that what has been has been (laughter). But we of the Liberal party have no regrets and no remorse with reference to our past. Like all other sublunary things, we have experienced defeats we have achieved great victories, and we shall achieve them again (cheers). But, on the whole, the record of the Liberal party is a register of great prin- ciples and of great causes boldly advanced, steadfastly adhered to, which sooner or later have always triumphed for the benefit of our country (cheers). That is the past of the Liberal party (cheers). I do not know If I were a Tory that I should derive quite as much satisfaction from a meditation upon mv past (hear, hear, and laughter). What is the record of the Tory party ? It is that all 'the causes that they have espoused have been defeated either by their opponents or, still oftener, by themselves, that they have abandoned everything which they used to support, and that they have adopted everything that they used to oppose. I pre- fer for that reason the past of the Liberal party as a matter of personal contemplation. But Lord Salisbury has been good enough to explain to us why it is that we cannot go back to 1886. I should like to examine the reasons that he gave for that. He said the Liberal party in 1896 was largely composed of men who were in a transitional state of feeling, who by tradition had been taught to repeat certain watchwords, to look to certain ] eaders, and to imagine they were sustaining historical causes, clinging, as Englishmen will do, to the manners of thought and of action handed down to them by their fathers. Yes, it is an interesting and, I believe a very veracious account of a certain detach- ment of the Liberal party who went over to the enemy in 1886 (cheers.) They went over and the Tories have absorbed, amalga- mated with, and assimilated them. Lord Salisbury knows them well. He has de- scribed them to the life. It is my opinion, with Lord Salisbury, that we cannot go back to 1886. I hope not (hear, hear.) These men, of course, as you know very well, have become more Tory than the Tories, and more Jingo than the Jingoes (cheers.) If Lord Salisbury means that we are not going to reproduce to-day that transitional state of feeling, as he calls it, I absolutely agree with him. But that was not the great body of the Liberal party in this country (hear, hear.) In the midst and in the face of the desertion the disciplined phalanx of the Liberal party were loyal and faithful to their leader and their creed. They refused to follow those refugees. They held, we held by the old watchwords. We adhered to the old leader. We continue to sustain our historical cause, and there is no cause more historical in the Liberal party than the cause of the conciliation of Ireland. We clung, as Englishmen do, to the manners and thoughts which had been handed down to us by our fathers. As long as Mr. Gladstone lived we stood by his flag, and when we lost him we did not abandon his colours. We stand to them now (cheers.) It is said that the Liberal party espouses new causes, which of course, it does. It is a party of progress. You might as well blame an advancing army because it does not stand to-day upon the ground that it occupied yesterday. It is only a demoralised force that remains upon the old field. Lord Salisbury has said that the great successes of the Liberal party have been achieved only because of the question of the franchise and the suffrage-or in great part. If he lives a little longer he will find that there is more to do in that direction too. Lord Salisbury-I don't know whether he meant it for a sneer or not—said that Mr. Gladstone was moved by the undoubted sorrow which afflicted Ireland. Yes, and so he was, and all glory to him for it (cheers). He laboured as no man before him ever laboured to remove that sorrow, and to a great degree he has succeeded. If there is more tranquility, more contentment in Ire- land to-day, it is due to the land reform of Mr. Gladstone, by which he removed the scandalous and bitter injustice towards the tenantry of Ireland (cheers). Aye, and although Mr. Gladstone did not succeed in carrying Home Rule, this he did—he made local government for Ireland inevitable- and without Mr. Gladstone's action the Local Government Bill would never have seen the light of a Tory Government (cheers). I am no longer young, and I can recollect with satisfaction many glorious struggles (cheers). I remember the great battle which we fought from 1876 to 1880, when we over- threw Lord Beaconsfield in the plenitude of his full-blown and blatant Imperialism. And then there was that great election of 1890, when they were always so sure that the whole of the nation was with them. Don't let them be so sure again (laughter and cheers). And after the defeat of 1886 we waged what appeared to be a more desperate and hopeless struggle still against the combined forces of the Tory Party and of our own deserters who had gone over. We are told we stumbled against a sleeping genius, but that genius stood by us, and we hurled the Tories and their transitional allies from their pride of place. Those are the sort of experiences and recollections which teach men never to despond and never to despair in great causes and great struggles. We were returned again to power in 1892, and I venture to say that, under the lead of Mr. Gladstone, we con- ducted the affairs of the country with quite as much credit as our successors have done. Referring to those days, I cannot but speak of my dear friend Tom Ellis (cheers), to whom the great merit of those days belong, he having, by his marvellous influence, by his temperament, by his disposition, lovable as it was, kept the party together, and en- abled us with a very moderate majority to accomplish considerable things for the Liberal cause (cheers). With all these recollections, are we, because we were de- feated in 1895, to cry craven now. We stand by the principle—I stand by the principle upon which you received me here, a refugee, it is true (laughter and cheers), but not to the camp of the enemy (loud cheers). The refugee rather to a regiment which only gave me a better means and a better mind to continue the struggle for the same principles. Since that time I have abandoned nothing, I have changed nothing. We have been attacked upon the policy of Mr. Gladstone and our adhesion to it. Lord Salisbury said that it was a policy of separa- tion, injurious to the safety of the Empire (cheers). What rubbish is that? (laughter and cheers). When was the self-government of Ireland ever so regarded ? Was it so more than 100 years ago when the Liberal party established the Parliament of Grattan ? Grattan, that great patriot, was he the separatist ? Was he an enemy of the British Empire, and has the policy which has taken its place-I ask this in all seriousness—has that policy during the present century strengthened the Empire ?—(No.) Has it not, on the contrary, been a source of per- petual weakness ? (cheers). I should like to ask whether this Tory Imperialism includes or does not include the conception of the contentment of the people who are governed. I should like to know, was it Imperialism that lost America ? Was it separatism that has rendered Canada the most loyal child of our Empire ? (cheers). We refused Home Rule to the United 9v, littvc granted Home Rule to Canada. You will find probably in that short account the differ- ence of our relations in the past with those two great populations. Do not let us be the slaves of phrases. Let us try to look at things as they are. What is this Imperialism which in the slang of the day is paraded as the highest form of patriotism ? I laugh sometimes when I hear myself and others denounced as "Little Englanders" (laughter). I confess I did not know tlftit there was a Little England to belong to (cheers). I always thought that England was the great- est, the most extensive, the most powerful, the most famous nation in the world, that it was one of which any man might be proud to be a citizen, and have no cause to be dissatisfied (cheers). Little England, forsooth. There is nothing, whether in public or in private life, so mischievous as the use of terms to which people attach a very different meaning. What does this Imperialism you hear so much about mean ? If it means pur- suing a policy which is the wisest and the best for that great Empire to which we belong, of course we are all Imperialists in that sense (hear, hear). But then remains the practical question, what is the policy It is a policy which has its first regard to the consolidation of the vast dominions, the countless millions, and the varied interests which compose our unequalled Empire, the development of their resources, the lighten- ing of their burdens, the fostering of their natural growth, the relief of distress within it, and the raising of the standard of all sorts and condition of men who are the subjects of the Queen. That is Imperalism as I understand it (loud cheers). That is a policy which makes the Empire great and which keeps it so. There is another and exactly opposite view of Imperial policy. It is to postpone and subordinate all these objects to vanity, to the [acquisition of fresh populations, the adoption of additional burdens-that is the extensionists' theory. and the extensionists, it seems to me, are ex- tremely like what in currency are called the inflatists, who are of opinion that the more paper you issue the more wealth you create and the more prosperity you will have. I am not an inflationist in currency, and I am not an extensionisc (hear, hear). In my judgement at least it is a greater and a wiser policy to cultivate an empire than to boom an empire (cheers). It seems to be thought consequently from this point of view of the extensionists that acquisition by every other nation is a wrong to ourselves, and so we become the sworn rivals of every State, and, if occasion arises, their foes. These people hold that the "earth is ourselves and the fulness thereof "-(Ituchter)--and that for this object no limit is to be placed on the expenditure of the country or the taxa- tion of the people. To these ends the prin- cipal genius of the Aeministration and the energy of Parliament is directed and social reforms are neglected (hear, hear). Indeed, Mr. Chamberlain told us in a scornful tone that to talk of these social reforms was merely parochial, and that we ought to occupy ourselves with is this inflated Im- perialism. What is the end of that ? It means that the Empire is committed to land speculators and to mining syndicates, and that they are to determine the limits of the Empire and the method of its administration, But seriously the time has arrived when responsible men must make up their minds between these two theories of Government (cheers). The Lib- eral party, at least, unless it be false to its principles and untrue to its past has not hes- itated and will not hesitate between the two (renewed cheers). Whatever pains may be taken to disguise the fact the Liberal party never has been and never will be a Jingo party (cheers),—and this Imperialism we hear so much of, it is only an alias for Jingo- ism (laughter). No, the Liberal party stands true to the spirit in which we fought the great campaign which ended in the triumph of 1880, and I believe they adhere to that spirit now (cheers). My friend Mr. John Morley the other day (cheers, and cries of Honest John ")—yes, I don't often differ from Mr. John Morley-referred to a remarkable occasion when this matter was tested in the month of February upon his motion, and it was a very remarkable vote, in which, as Mr. Morley pointed out, the great majority of the Liberal party sup- ported the leader of that party in the House of Commons (cheers). And I take with gladness this opportunity of paying my tribute to my friend Sir Henry Camp- bell-Bannerman (cheers),—a man of ripe experience, of calm judgment, and a thorough Liberal in conviction, and, what is still better, in action (cheers), and he de- serves and requires all the confidence which is demanded by the responsible post which he so ably fills (hear, hear). I deeply regret my absence abroad prevented me from giving him upon that occasion the support to which he was so specially entitled (cheers). I read a speech a day or two ago of Lord Spencer's, in which I think lie explained our relation to those matters extremely well. Speaking of the advance in the Soudan he said these words, and I think they are im- portant—" We ought to keep clearly before us that we are acting for Egypt. We did not want to increase our dominion in the Equatorial Provinces of Africa. We did what was necessary for Egypt." In that I entirely concur (cheers). We do not want to increase our dominion in the Equatorial Provinces of Africa. We hear it said some- times by unthinking people—why, look at India. Why not create a new India at the Equator? Now is it possible that men should be so ignorant as not to realize the difference of the conditions of the two cases? In India you found existing a numerous and a docile people, accustomed to foreign rule, I tolerant of labour, submissive to disciplinel and with a British army of 80,000 men you' are able to secure your domination there and enjoy the commerce of a fertile land. That is the case with regard to your rule in India. But when you hear people wildly talk of a new empire from ihe Cape to Cairo, do they know that that m(ans a country peopled by warlike and savage tribes, who, except under slavery, refuse to labour at all, where the white man cannot and the black man will not work—(laughter)—which must be held by armies of occupation, armies which, mind you, in this country you cannot to an un- limited degree supply by voluntary enlist- ment, and which, if you go on at this rate, will lead you to conscription (hear, hear). Will that be Imperial in the sense of being for the benefit of the Empire ? Is the Em- pire which you new hold, for the welfare of whose people you are responsible, to be sacrificed and laid under contribution for such enterprises is these? (No.) Have the people of Scotland, of Ireland, of Wales, and of England no wants to be satisfied ? (cheers). Is there nothing that India yet requires ? Have your great colonies no developments that you can assfet by a wise and prudent Imperial policy and Imperial expenditure (hear, hear) witt resources that have not been squandered away ? The pretence of acquiring new markets is so hollow that it does not even deceive the men who profess to rely upon it. No markets are worth anything which do not deal with industrious populations in fertile lands. If there is anything that ought to awaken the sense of the country-the sober sense of the country-to the perils of this policy it thould be the seriousness of our financial |T-~—(Cheers.) I pointed out in the House of Covnmons that in the course of this single Parliament in four years we have added to our aiinual t^jenditure a sum to the whole interest of the National Debt.— (Shame.) The Government are unable to meet their obligations. They feel and they know that they have exhausted the toleration of taxation of the country.—(Hear, hear.) They shrink from calling upon the nation to defray the expenses of their own ex- travagance in the presence of that enormous and increasing revenue. They meet their liabilities by borrowing from the Debt Fund. That is a signal of distress.—(Hear, hear.) It is the outcome of four years of Imperialism —(laughter and 11 hear, hear"),—and I think it is probably the cause of the somewhat desponding tone which I noticed in the speech of the Chancellor of the Exchequer the other day at Bristol.—(Hear, hear.) It is the outcome of a policy which for four years has kept this country in a state of constant scare and apprehension of war which I have never known before in my political experience. Why is it we are always having rumours of war? I confess I have a good deal of sympathy with Lord Salisbury. I like to speak frankly and fairly of my political opponents-( cheers),-and greatly as I differ from Lord Salisbury upon domestic policy I believe he is sincerely a friend of peace.—(Renewed cheers.) He has been perpetually urged and provoked into conflicts which his judgment condemns. For my part, I have always desired rather to strengthen than to weaken his hands in the cause of conciliation and of peace, and in the position that I now hold I consider myself free to do so.—(Cheers.) Lord Salisbury, as the First Minister of this great Empire, has an occasion, perhaps the greatest that ever fell to the lot of a British Minister, in the Congress which is called at the Hague to establish new securities for the peace of the world.—(Cheers.) Talk of Imperialism It has been well said that the first interest of the British Empire is peace, whether you take it from a Christian or from a commercial point of view.—(Cheers.) That the Empires of Great Britain and Russia are taking a leading part in such a work is Imperialism which we may all of us acclaim with great joy. It may do something—I think it must do something-to conjure down that evil spirit of international rivalry, of jealousy, and of suspicion which is the curse and the ruin of empires.—(Cheers.) I cannot fail to notice a lalse claim which is put forward by these so-called Imperialists that they, and they alone, promote the interests of our great colonies. One of the earliest records of the reign of the Queen, whom we all revere, was—I remember it as a boy-the rebellion in Canada. Canada was .conciliated then by the redress of her grievances by the Liberal party. Bitterly resented as it was by the Tories of that day, self-government given to the colonies was a Liberal policy.—(Cheers.) Mr. Disraeli, I remember, contended that it was a mistaken policy. He said we ought to have got conti-ol of the tariffs, that we ought to have directed their military forces. If we had done anything of the kind, do you think the colonies would have been as attached to us as they are to-day ? No; Home Rule is the true Imperialism for the colonies.— (Cheers.) I hope the time is going to arrive, and to arrive very soon, when some greater care and attention will be paid to the true interests of those millions who constitute the British Empire, and which seem, under the present administration, almost to have dropped out of mind altogether. Do not let us waste the substance of the Empire in order to grasp at the shadow of Imperialism. —(Cheers.)

Y Glaswelltyn. In most parts of Wales this name is given, I be- lieve, to a certain kind of Iris, the flowers of which last only for a day. It is generally associated with churchyards, being planted on the graves as a fitting and living emblem of the shortness of life and the transitoriness of all that beauty, all that wealth ever gave." Y Glaswelltyn is generally taken to be the grass of the Scriptures." See- ding the flower coming out in all its glory after 'mid-day and falling before the night it obviously pointed to and reminded one of the sad and solemn lesson—" All flesh is as grass, and all the glory thereof as the flower of the grass. The grass witheretli, and the flower falleth." And we need not wonder therefore, that a foreign plant like the Iris, which seemed to possess the striking qualities of the grass of the Scriptures, is considered to be pre-eminently Y Glaswelltyn," that is, The Grass. Not in Wales only has the grass been taken as an emblem of man's frailty. Simon Wastell, writing in 1623, says that I- Like to the grass that's newly sprung, Or like a tale that's new begun, E'en such is man who lives by breath, Is here, now there, is life and death." This old writer, like the writers of Holy Writ, had in his mind the common grass of the fields, and not, like the Welsh peasant, a particular plant which, to his imagination, seemed so admirably to fulfil the words of Scriptures. There are several plants whose flowers last only for a day, and in Wales the name Glaswelltyn has been given to many different plants whose flowers are ephemeral, no doubt, on account of their being taken to be the grass of the Scripture. The Iris in question is the 1. dichotoma. It was introduced from North China in 1784. Its flowers expand after mid-day, and fall before the night. This is brought about by the petals curving and twisting as the flower opens until they are forced off. Its flowers do not last even for a day, hence it bears the name of Afternoon Iris. Another plant, introduced into this country in 1596, is known to florists and botanists as Hemerocallis, that is, the Day Beauty. for its flowers seldom last a second day. The French name it Belle d'ien jour. The flowers of several kinds of the cacti last only for a day, and we find that in certain places, Tonycae, Aberyst- wyth, for instance, these also go by the name of Y Glaswelltyn.' It would be interesting to know of the name is given to any other plants in Wales. FIELDFARE.

Mr. John Nixon, one of the pioneers of the South Wales coal trade, and the founder of the colleries bearing his name, died in London on Saturday morning.

ROUND THE CHURCHES. [NOTE.—We have pleasure in stating that a short article will appear here weekly from the pen of Philip Sidney. It will, as a rule, deal with some topic of local interest other than the purely theological and political. Communications for the writer's consideration may be sent to him c/o Editor, Welsh Gazette."] V.—WESLEY CHURCH, QUEEN'S ROAD, Before me as I write are two of the rarest of Josiah Wedgwood's medallion portraits, the large one of the great and good Dr. Priestley, and the small one of John Wesley, founder of Methodism. Looking into Wesley's face as here represented- very different to that usually seen on jugs and plates-one is struck by its intense spirituality, the key note, as it were, of his noble life. This is not the place, nor is it part of my plan, to attempt any brief resume of Wesleyan Methodism in general; but to write of the services as now rendered in this pretty church. The earliest date which I have connected with Wesleyanism in Aberystwyth is that of the year 1814, in which the register of the Welsh Wesleyan congregation begins. Prior to the building of the present church in Queen-street—the foundation stone bears the date of 1869-the congregation had a meeting-house in Lewis-terrace. Like the majority of modern Wesleyan buildings, this is of the Gothic order, and none too large for the number of worshippers, of whom there were 210 present at the service under notice. On the wall of the apse behind the pulpit are painted the "Apostles' Creed," the Ten Com- mandments," and the Lord's Prayer and above these the words, "Glory to God in the highest," A gallery runs the length of the church opposite to the pulpit. As in St. Michael's Church, so here is also found a board with the number of the hymns legibly posted, and the number of the tunes. The organ, well and carefully played, stands to the left of the preacher, and has the choir in front of it. Jlere. mnrp iintineahlp fhan —r -l"h previously described, the number of late and just-in-time comer strikes one, who is used to, see worshippers observing the time honoured and admirable custom of allowing themselves a brief period for quiet meditation before the service begins. Speaking from long personal experience, I can bear honest testimony to the help given to one who has to conduct divine service when he finds his fellow-worshippers there in time to begin with him. The quietest movement of a late comer, to say nothing of one who, hastily and conse- quentially marches up the aisle to the top-most seat, is frequently a source of much distraction, both to minister and worshipper. Better late than never" possibly replies the- belated one; quite so, but the preacher may fitly respond, Better never late." The service is non-liturgical,, consisting of hymns, extempore prayer, two lessons from Holy Scripture, and a sermon of 30 minutes' length. The present minister is the Rev. A. Burgess, whose prayers and discourse were,, far and away, the most evangelically orthodox of any I have yet met with in Aberystwyth. The key note, as it were, was struck in his short opening prayer, when he used the expression, hell-deserving sin- ners." How few ministers really excel in the art-for art it is-of extempore prayer-the most difficult of any minister's public functions. Was it not Matthew Arnold who said that so many of the extempore prayers which he heard suggested to him the idea that the minister was speaking to God as if He were a man in the next street ? Not long since it was a painful occasion to me when, in a short prayer of not more than two minutes' length, the phrase" 0 Lord God bless," &c., was repeated 19 times. From that verse in the Revelation of St. John, the Divine, Behold I stand at the door and knock," Mr. Burgess preached a suggestive discourse of just 30 minutes duration. Courtesy and politeness were marked features in the treatment of strangers by the officers of the Church who were assiduous in their endeavours to find sittings and hymn books for all. At the close of the regular service a short prayer meeting was held, to which 57 of the 210 worship- ers remained. This was certainly one of those old fashioned observances, more common quarter of a century ago, than, alas 1. is now the case. Mr. Burgess opened the meeting with a short prayer, and closed it with the apostolic benediction. Four laymen offered as many short prayers, which were interspersed with the singing of a few verses from different hymns. The audible ejaculations of Amen," Praise the Lord," &c., were all here, and added a fervour to the brief meeting. The impression which remains of this church and its service is one of life and activity. Before concluding may I (in no way whatever connected with it) put in a word bespeaking local interest in the admirable work now being done by the Wesley Historical Society? Its publicatioi-is" are amongst the best of their kind, and take high rank in the estimation of antiquaries and historical students. I will gladly give information about the Society to any one really interested in the subject, or show a copy of the publications." PHILIP SIDNEY. By a strange co-incidence just after I had written about extempore prayer I came across the following lines in the Liverpool Daily Post" of June 2. They arc from the trusty and experienced pen of E. R. R., initials which at once command the respect and attention of readers. He is des- cribing a recent service in the City Temple, and writes that Dr. Parker, with all his excellence and facile management of English, is no exception to the almost univeral failure to bring extempore prayer up to the standard of the liturgy. What- ever his aim may be, the effect is that of impress- ing the people rather than that of speaking to God. These were some of the phrases:—" Hear the thrilling voice"; We wear the memories as kings' wear diadems Receive our little gift of flowers and thankfulness." This is not surely the right language of prayer. P.S.

Mr. Wynford Philipps, M.P. I HARD ON THE BISHOPS. Mr. Wynford Philipps, M.P., who addressed a meeting of the Liberal Three Hundred for Pem- brokeshire on Saturday, said that the Session of Parliament did not show much in the way of legis- lation for the benefit of the country. They had had, however, some interesting Bills, of secondary interest perhaps. They had had nothing so in- teresting, for instance, as disestablishment for Wales (hear, hear), but they had had a Church Discipline Bill (hear, hear). That Bill was brought in by Tory members for Lancashire, and was thrown out by a majority of two to one. Several clergymen wrote to him suggesting that he should vote against it, but he voted for it because he considered that while the clergy got all the benefit of the Estab- lishment and endowment, they ought to take the duties which those privileges incurred, and obey the law like all other citizens'(applause). But the Bill was thrown out only by members of the Govern- ment putting their heads together and drafting a very artful amendment. They knew very well that in a Tory House of Commons the clergy would be ordered to obey the law, and so they drew up an amendment that the Government should do some- thing to enforce obedience to the law, but not now, and that the bishops should be allowed some little time to see what they could do. What struck him as the most remarkable incident in the debate was something Mr. Balfour said. The Leader of the House of Commons said he was not very sanguine of these quarrels in the Church ceasing, and after- wards he said that unless they did cease the Estab- lishment could not go on upon its present basis (hear, hear). He (Mr. Philipps) also believed that things were working towards Disestablish- ment inside the Church as well as outside (applause). They had a little illustra- tion the other day of what the House of Lords was. A Scotch member introduced a Bill by which young girls who served in shops should have seats provided in the proportion of one for every two assistants. They knew how bad it was for young women to have to stand all day, and it was the rule in many shops in the large towns not to allow them to sit at all. That Bill was passed unanimously by the House of Commons, but when it came to the Lords, Lord Salisbury said it was perfectly ridiculous, and they would next be legislating for housemaids. As a consequence it was thrown out, not one voting for it. Where were the men of God then ? Where were the bishops ? Where was the Bishop of St. David's ? He took this opportunity of appealing to him. Where was he on that occa- sion? What was the good of a bishop in the House of Lords ? (hear hear, and applause) Here was a Bill passed unanimously by the House of Commons for the benefit of a weak class, and to which nobody could take objection, and not one Peer voted for it, not even those spiritual Peers who ought to be there especially for our edification and guidance (laughter and applause). He would "remerrieer that every time he spoke of the House of Lords and every time he spoke on the Church question. He would say, Where were the bishops 1 What good had they ever done, and why should we keep them where they were? (applause). In con- clusion, the speaker said he was certain that in Pembrokeshire Liberalism was a growing force (hear, hear, and applause). And when the day came and they had to express their opinion on the Tory. Government he beleived the 'answer of the county of Pembrokeshire would be more emphatic than it had ever been (loud applause).

CAMBRIAN RAILWAYS. WELSH WESLEYAN ASSEMBLY (ANNUAL CONFERENCE) AT MACHYNLLETH Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, June 13, 14, & 15,1899. On MONDAY, TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY, and THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 13, 14, & 15, Cheap Excursion Tickets WILL BE ISSUED TO MACHYNLLETH AS UNDER:- Third Class Return Fares. Times of Starting SPECIAL EXCURSION". Four Wednesday, June 14th Day Tickets. Day June 14th Tickets From a.m. p.m. s. d. s. d. Pwllheli 6 15 4 9 *6 0 Afon Wen 6 PZ 4 5 *5 7 Criecieth 6 35 4 0 *5 2 Portmadoc 6 45 3 9 *4 8 Minffordd 6 50 3 6 *4 6 Penrhyndeudraeth 6 55 3 6 *4 4 Talsarnau 7 0 3 3 *4 1 Harlech 7 5 3 0 *3 9 Llanbedr & Pensarn 7 15 2 9 *3 6 Dyffryn 7 25 2 6 *3 3 Barmouth. 7 35 9 z o Bormftutii J unction 7 <?;> 2 0 *2 6 Arthog 7 40 2 0 *2 8 Penmaenpool 7 30 2 6 *3 1 Dolgelley 7 25 2 9 *3 4 Fairbourne. 7 48 2 0 *2 6 Lhvyngwril 8 0 18 *2 3 Towyn 8 10 1 6 *1 6 Aberdovey. 8 15 1 3 *1 3 Glandovey. 8 37 or 1 7 0 6 *0 6 Ynyslas 8 25 12 55 1 3 *1 3 Borth 8 21 12 50 1 3 *1 3 Llanfihangel 8 16 12 45 1 6 -1 6 Bow Street 8 11 12 40 1 9 *1 9 Aberystwyth 8 0 12 30 1 9 *2 2 These Fares marked are available to return by any through ordinary train on date of issue, or up to and inclusive of Friday, June 16th. Tickets at these Fares will be issued by any through train on June 12. 13. 14. and 15, or by Special Excursion on Wednesday, June 14th. Holders of Day Tickets return by Special at 9-5 for Aberdovey, Dolgelley, Pwllheli, and inter- mediate stations. Passengers for Glandovey, Aberystwyth, and intermediate stations return by Special at 9.15 p.m. Children under 3 years of age, free; above 3 and under 12, half-price. First-class tickets issued at double the tbird-class fares. NO LUGGAGE ALLOWED. Further information regarding Excursion Trains and Tourist Arrangements on the Cambrian Rail- ways can be obtained from Mr. W. H. GOUGH, superintendent of the line, Oswestry. C- S. DENNISS, General Manager. Oswestry, June, 1899. WEEKLY AND FORTNIGHTLY EXCURSIONS. Commencing Wednesday, May 24th, and every Wednesday in June, July and August, Cheap Weekly and Fortnightly Tickets will be issued from Aberystwyth* Borth, Aberdovey, Towyn, Dolgelley, Barmouth, Harlech, Portmadoc, Cricc- ieth, Pwllheli, Machynlleth, LIanidloes, Rhayader, Builth Wells, Newtown, Montgomery, Oswestry, Ellesmere and Wrexham, to London (Euston and Paddington), available for the return on the following Wednesday or Wednesday week. Similar Tickets will be issued from London dur- ing the same period, available for return on the following Monday, Wednesday, Monday week or Wednesday week. C. S. DENNIS, General Manager. Owestry, May, 1899. CAMBRIAN RAILWAYS. WEEK-END TICKETS are issued every FRIDAY and SATURDAY from all L. & N. W. and G. W. Stations in LONDON TO ABERDOVEY, ABERYST- WYTH, DOLGELLEY, AND BARMOUTH. Available for return on the following Sunday (where train service permits) Monday, or Tuesday. For full particular see small hand bills. CHEAP WEEK END EXCURSION TICKETS ARE NOW ISSUED ON EVERY FRIDAY AND SATURDAY t TO "•Birmingham, *Wolverhampton, Walsall, Peter- borough, ^Leicester, Derby, *Burton-on-Trent, Staffora, Coventry, Manchester, Preston, Black- burn, Bolton, Leeds, Dewsburv, Huddersfield, Liverpool, Birkenhead, Wigan and Warrington FROM Oswestry, Llanymynech, Llanfvllin, Montgomery, Welshpool, Newtown, Llanidloes, Machynlleth, Borth, Aberystwyth, Aberdovey, Towyn, Barmouth, Dolgelley, Harlech, Portmadoc, Penrhyndeudraeth, Criccieth, and Pwlheli, Similar tickets are issued from Aberys* wyth, Borth, Aberdovey, Towyn, Barmouth, Dolgelley, Harlech, Penrhyndeudraeth, Portmadoc, Criccitth, and Pwllheli to SHREWSBURY. *Tickets to these Stations are not issued from Welshpool. Passengers return OR the Monday or Tuesday following issue of ticket. THOUSAND-MILE TICKETS. The Cambrian Railways Company issue FIRST CLASS 1,000 and 500 MILE TICKETS, the coupons of which enable the purchasers to travel between Stations on the Cambrian Railways during the period for which the tickets are available until the coupons are exhausted. The price of each is £5 5s Od 1,000 miles, and £2 17s 6d, 500 miles being about lid per mile. Application for the 1,000 or 500 mile tickets must be made in writing, giving the full name and address of the purchaser and accompanied by a remittance, toMrW. H. Gough, Superintendent of the Line, Cambrian Railways, Oswestry (cheques to be made payable to the Cambrian Co. or order), from whom also books containing 100 certificates for aut llOrising the use oHhe tickets bv purchasers' family, guests, or employees can beoatairted, price 6d each book; remittaxice to accompany order. C. S. DENrsS, General Manager. Oswestry, March, 1899. Business Notices. TAILORING ESTABLISHMENT, 13. pIER STREET, ABERYSTWYTH. DAVID JAMES. Suitings, Coatings, Trouserings, &c., in the best fashion and at reasonable prices. Cricketing and Boating Suits made to order on the Shortest Notice. FOR WELSH WOOLLEN GOODS GO TO ROWLAND MORGAN, LONDON HOUSE, ABERYSTWYTH. WM. THOMAS, COAL AND LIME MERCHANT, ABERYSTWYTII. BRICKS, SLATES & PIPES of every description always in Stock. DAVID MORGAN, DRAPERY AND MILLINERY ESTABLISHMENT, 18, pIER STREET, ABERYSTWYTIL DAVID EVANS, WATCHMAKER, JEWELLER & OPTICIAN, 399 GREAT JQARKGATE ST., ABERYSTWYTH, (Opposite the Lion Royal Hotel,) Invites your attention to his Choice Stock of JEWELLERY, Comprising all the Latest Designs and mast Fashion- able Patterns in GOLD, SILVER, PEBBLES & JET SILVER PLATE SUITABLE FOR. PRESENTATIONS. G OLD AND SILVER WATCHES IN GREAT VARIETY. H. H. DA v I rA. S, PHOTOGRAPHER, TIER STREET, (Removed one door above.) ABERYSTWYTH. HH. D., having removed to larger premises,. • begs to inform the public generally that ha is now enabled, with the be ter facilities at his is now enabled, with the be ter facilities at his disposal, to execute all orders p omptly. In thanking his numerous patronisers for, their kind support in the past, he trusts that his care and attention will merit a continuance of the same. MRS. M. E. DAVIES, CONFECTIONER. pIER STREET, A BERYSTWYTR HAVING given up the Confectionery business, begs to thank her numerous customers for their past support and to state that she will still retain her DINING ROOMS which she trusts will continue to receive a share of public patronage. I. AND G. LLOYD, COACHBUILDERS, ALFRED PLACE, ABERYSTWYTH. Carriages made to order on the shortest notice. Experienced Men kept for all Branches. CARRIAGES FOR SALE. SUMIElt FASHIONS. C. M. WILLIAMS BEGS respectfully to announce that he is now- showing a good selection of NEW GOODS SUITABLE FOR THE PRESENT SEASON. NEW HATS AND BONNETS. NEW MILLINERY. NEW FEATHRRS AND FLOWERS. NEW RIBBONS AND LACES. NEW DRESS MATERIALS. NEW GOWNS AND SILK SCARFS. NEW SILK UMBRELLAS, & £ NOTED HOUSE FOR STYLISH HATS AND BONNETS. SPECIAL ATTENTION PAID TO MOURNING ORDERS. GENTS' NEWEST SHAPES IN XIATS AND CAPS, TIES, SOARFS COLLARS, CUFFS, &C. Inspection respectfully invited. C. M. WILLIAMS, GENERAL DRAPERY jp ST A BLISHMENT, 10, PIER STREET, ABERYSTWYTH.