Welsh Gazette and West Wales Advertiser

ABERYSTWYTH AND KING EDWARD VII. THE accession of King EDWARD the SEVENTH is of peculiar interest to the town of Aber- ystwyth. For, irr the summer of 1896 the then Prince of WALES, accompanied by the Princess, was at that town installed first Chancellor of the Wefsh University practically on the very site where he was proclaimed KING on Monday by his Worship the Mayor. The present is, we believe, a most opportune moment for reviving the suggestion to have His MAJESTY'S visit to the Athens of Wales commemorated in a fitting and worthy manner by the erection of his statue on that spot. While not in favour of multiplying memorial's indiscrim- inately, yet,, we think,, that such a unique and rare opportunity as this should not be forfeited. At any rate, we Peel sure, that, had that important function been performed at any other place it would be commemorated in a tangible form. Such a statue would not only be a visible record of the Royal visit to Aberystwyth, but it would also be a'striking memorial of the successful culm- ination of that great movement which has already been of such signal service in the noble work of uplifting: the people, and which is destined to play a stilr, greater part in the all-important task of preparing Wales to take her duo place in the, comity of nations.

THE. DOLGELLEY LIBRARY. IT is sincerely to be hoped that the renewed effort that is now being made to provide the town with a Public Library will meet with the success it so richly merits. That a town of the size-and standing of Dolgelley finds itself at the beginning of the twentieth century without an institution of the kind is certainly a reproach to all who claim to have its welfare at heart. The, need-and we may add the urgent need-for such an institution is no Longer denied all seem to be agreed upon that. At any rate, no one is nowadays bold enough or foolish enough to openly declare his hostility to the movement. The important question of ways and means has not, it is true, been catisfactorily solved. But that is not the chief hindrance. We frankly admit that this question of ways and means presents many difficulties; but we much doubt whether any fair-minded man really believes those difficulties to be unsurmountable. Let. anyone analyse the question fairly, and he will be forced to the conclusion that the bedrock of the whole difficulties is nothing other than lukewarm- ness-sheer lukewarmnees. There is also, it must be confessed, a lack of guidance and initiative. Unless a movement of this kind receive a considerable momentum at its start, it is in the nature of things thflt inertness will become its besetting sin. The Library Authority does not seem to have any mainspring-or if it has one it wants winding up badly. Public opinion at Dolgelley, as will be seen from a corres- dondent's letter in another column, is more or less sharply divided on the question of the proper function and scope of such an institution, especially with reference to recreation. A commodious, healthy, and well-managed recreation room in connection with a Public Library would unquestionably prove a strong and effective counter-attrac- tion to the allurements of the public house. Such a room should also prove a good source of revenue to the funds of the institution. It would be interesting to know how much of the money now spent on billiards in the public houses of Dolgelley could be diverted to the tables of the Public Library. With but one small billiard table the Aberystwyth Junior Radical Club supplemented its funds for years to the tune of about X60 per annum-and, moreover, prevented the members from seeking such amusement in the unhealthy atmosphere of the public house. A public library is primarily a place for recreation and amusement, but it should not be forgotten that it is also meant for other and higher things than recreation and amusement. Public Library Authorities have a great power, and a great chance before them of guiding and directing one of the most potent influences in modern life —the choice of literature for the community; and, by this means, of training up our youths in the way they should go. How long is Dolgelley going to dally with its opportunities.

PRINCIPAL BEBB ON > STIMULUS. i< EDUCATION is a subject which, we suppose, < will always occupy the attention of the thinking portion of mankind. Here, at 1 Aberystwyth, it must necessarily have especial interest. We have amongst us the several grades which are the' means whereby educa- tion is most generally imparted-the infants schools, the primary, the secondary, and' finally the collegiate institution. For many years past the subject has been treated from endless points of view, and those who have devoted their thoughts to it, have reached very different and very bewildering conclusions. BACON considered that the end of all philosophy was fruit. Now some have thought that those who have been engaged in this serious work of education have hitherto been expending the greatest amount of energy and labour with the least amount of fruit. According to these educationists, their views have been well expressed by the Latin poet—the mountains are in labour and a mouse is born. The latest authorities on education have sought to alter all this—they have sought to get as much fruit as possible from the amount of energy, time, and money that is expended on the education of youth. Educationists themselves have not been distinguished for sanity of thinking when they have discoursed or written on this great and highly important subject. Principal BEBB'S contribution to the subject last week was characterised by much of what we should call sweet-reasonableness to borrów the expression used in another connection by MATTHEW ARNOLD. Principal BEBB's paper read at the Teachers' Guild at the College was thoughtful, and abounding in valuable suggestions his views were reasonable, and therefore practicable. He is a sound educationist, and is strongly in favour of that education which is a discipline in the formation of character. He reiterated some sentiments which he forcibly expressed at the prize-giving at the County School in December. He does not believe in education made easy. As there is no royal road to learning, so also, it is not always good to have "short cuts" to it. One of the speakers at the meeting referred to themottooftheAberystwyth County School- Nerth dysg, ei ymdrech," which felictously expresses the value of education. The subject which is easy to learn is not the best fitted to develop the mental powers; a course of study in Euclid, or Latin, or a modern language such as German may be the very best possible means of education to a youth, for the power of learning as the above motto has it, lies in the pursuit of it, in the effort to obtain it—to get it, as the English version of the Bible puts it. Stimulus is like a tonic,'and varies according to the pupils who need it. Principal BEBB said that such a book, for instance, as BADEN-POWELL'S Aids to Scouting" might be found to contain facts on this subject which would be useful both to teachers and to pupils. He had very valuable remarks on the value of languages highly inflected as means for training both the eye and mind, and as offering admirable stimulus in fostering care and power of observation. No doubt, as he observed, much can be done in this direction, by such a science as Botany but many think that there is nothing which can be compared in this particular with a course of study in Latin and Greek. Principal BEBB observed acutely that the power of the imagination is largely neglected, and quoted with approbation the remark of CHARLES LAMB that by this faculty even an invoice may be made interesting. There can be no doubt that teachers are in part born and in part made. If the teacher has a natural aptitude for his work, he will succeed, but a teacher without such aptitude whatever training we may give him, is bound to be a failure. We are inclined to say that the personality of the teacher in the matter of education, is almost everything. Mr DARLINGTON at the Teachers' Guild gave a notable instance from Shrewsbury School where, in its palmiest days, the great KENNEDY violated fall pedagogic rules, but by sheer weight of his personality, produced a race of giant scholars which no other public school has probably ever matched. Principal BEBB had some very noteworthy remarks on the necessity of the study of texts-not indeed, in entire depreciation of the value of commentaries and annotations which so often largely encumber our text books, but with a view of pointing out the value of a real and deep study of the text itself, and observing the music, harmony, collocation of the words of the poem or prose passage which is being studied. As he pointed out, perhaps there is now-a-days in teachers too great a tendency to criticism of texts of books read in the class- rcom, and too little of admiration—as he jpigrammatically put it, too much depre- jiation and too littJeappreciation. Principal BEBB was careful not to> dogmatise in his observations on the external stimulus to be ot, by pupils from prizes and competi- tions. This is a thorny subject, but we fail to know what to put in the place of these external stimuli. The' Oxford "Literw Humaniores" has won universal ad- miration, and it is much doubted whether that Uhiversity would gain one whit if: that severe competitive examination were abolished to-morrow. The finest com- petitive examination in the world, is -aid to be the Mathematical Tripos at Cambridge, and it would be an evil day for English scientific scholarship if that examination were done away with. The Senior Wrangler- is a better man than the wooden spoon and we may be quite sure that the men best fitted to perform high duties both in Church and State will always float to the top in the competitive examinations, and carry off the prizes. We believe that Principal HEBB'S paper should be printed and disseminated amongst teachers whether in primary, or secondary schools, or at the University Colleges.

Cardigan District Letter. The death of the Queen and the accession of the King bring in their train a crowd of circumstances strange and new. Cardigan has loyally displayed her sympathy with the Royal household in their bereavement, by visible signs of mourning and by spoken words. Cardigan has also owned allegiance to the King, and the Proclamation of Hi& Majesty took place with due form and ceremony at the Public Buildings on Wednesday afternoon By invitation of the Mayor (Mr D. Ivor Evans), the Corporation* the Officials cf the borough, and the leading men of the town and district gathered in the Guild Hall at 2-30, when the Proclamation was read by the Town Clerk. At 3 o'clock,, in the presence of a large concourse of the public generally, including the local Company of Volunteers, and the men of the- Royal Naval Reserve from St. Dogmell's, the Mayor repeated the ceremony in front of the Guild Hall. No doubt petty larceny is a source of serious leakage to tradespeople, and the punishment, by birching, last week of two- boys, aged respectively 13 and 11 years, for artfully stealing a copy of "Comic Cuts" from the door of Mr Clougher, stationer, should be a salutary warning to such young imps of mischief. While having no sympathy with these boys in the punishment they so well merited, one<' cannot but, regret the necessity for publishing their shame, espec- ially when it is remembered that there have- been other offenders, older in years, and occupying positions of trust, who have- entirely escaped the consequences of their delinquencies, notwithstanding the fact that their operations were carried on for a long; period of time, and on an extensive scale, without detection. A person who compounds a felony offends against law and justice, and the prosecution of these two poor boys, re- minds one of the words-" Through tattered clothes small vices do appear robes and furred gowns'hide all. Plate sin with gold, and the strong lance of hurtless justice breaks; arm it in rags, a pigmy's straw doth pierce it." Another tragedy of the sea has occurred in Cardigan Bay. The schooner "Hannah," of Preston, Cumberland, in ballast from Wicklow, now lies dismasted and battered,. where driven ashore near the Mount (a mile or so N. of the Estuary of the Tivy), on Monday jnorning. Early on Monday the vessel was seen by the coastguard, and the alarm was given with the result that the- Cardigan lifeboat crew were called to serve in a N.W. gale, and a tempestuous sea. The vessel, however, was derelict, and sailors reading the signs, surmise that having been dismasted the crew must have taken to their only boat with but poor chances of ever seeing, shore. The lifeboat crew were compelled to go on to Aberporth, as it was impossible for them to retv.:a in the teeth of the gale. The deputation of the Literary Society- appointed to meet Mr Augustus Bristocke, of Blaenpant, had an interview with him last week, and considered at great length the scheme by which Mr Brigstocke hopes to. stimulate historical reading and essay writing in Cardigan. The scheme provides- for the reading and assimilation of seven historical novels,—three of Scott's, two of Kingsley's, one of Lytton's, and one of Thackeray's. The competition for the prizes offered will involve the preparation of an essay of 3,000 words, the preparation of a. precis of 1000 words, and answers to tu series of questions on the course, written, and oral. On the face of it, the scheme- appears to be as elaborate and thorough as & student course in English Literature, and there is grave doubt whether there are readers. in the district who would like to face-the months of study necessary for success. It, is to be hoped there are, but judging; of circumstances as they appear, the competi- tion would assuredly b»a very limited one. Mr Brigstocke deserves thanks, however), for his good opinion of the literary element in Cardigan, all the same. LAMENTATION AND LOYALTY, The news of Her Majesty's death reached Cardigan by private wire on Tuesday evening last week, and although received with all reserve, there was an uncomfortable feeling in the public mind that the news was too true. The members of the Literary Society, who were, in Session, postponed their sitting, and it was well they did so, for the morning papers with their deep mourning bands, brought full confirmation of, the news. Its reception stronjly illustrated the' almost reverential respect for the Throne which seems to have become a pait of the very nature of. the bulk of the people in this country. The men of the, Royal Naval Reserve at once cancelled all arrangements, for the Benefit Concert which was to have been given on Thursday ovening in aid of the families in mourning through the loss, of the as. Charlie Mitchell' and wherever people congregated full expression was given to the prevailing sorrow. At the Board of Guardians on Thursday,. Mr B. Ress moved,. Mr Jonah Evans seconded* and Mr T. Oolby- appor.ted a vote of sympathy with the Royall House; Again at a special meeting of the, Borough Council on Friday morning, Aid Oi. Beynon Evans moved,, Aid E. Ceredig Evans seconded, and Councillor T. H. Williams supported a like vote,, which was embodied! in an address of sympathy to His Majesty the King, in the following words:— To His Most Gracious Majesty, King Edward VII. The Mayor, Aldermen, and burgesses, of the Borough of Cardigan humbly desire to express to. Your Majesty, and the Members of the Royal Family, tiaeir sincere sympathy with you in the loss of our Beloved Queen, and in which Her and Your peopJe share; and they earnestly trust that a sense of Her noble life,, spent for the welfare of Her subjects, will tend to allay your grief, and bring solace May we be, permitted at the same time; humbly to offer this our tribute of attach- ment and loyalty to Your Majesty, in th, hope that you flay long live to ivield the sceptre of a free and loyal people, and that Your Majesty may ever be guided by those noble sentiments contained in Your Majesty's Most Gracious Proclamation will ever be our sincere prayer. Given under the Corporate Seal at the Council Chamber, Cardigan, this 25th day of January, 1901. D. IVOR Evs) Mayor (Seal). Countersigned: D. MORGAN JONES, Town Clerk, On Sunday, pulpit references were made in every place of worship in town. On Monday morning there was a special meeting of the Borough Council presided over by the Mayor, at which an invitation was read from the Curate of Caruican, the Rev J. R. Thomas, B.A., to attend the Parish Church in State, on the occasion of the Devotional service which i- t > be held simultaneous with the interment i Her late Majesty. While the Council did justice to the spirit of the invitation, ti. y did not lose sight of the fact that the majority <>f the Council, including the Mayor, Non- conformists, and that the Nonconformists of the town intended holdiug a massed service at Bethania on the same occa,-i;.>h. They were not called upon to mourn dead Queen as Head of the Church, but, rather as the Guardian of their liberties as Noncon- formists. Though divided in ot- *t.)ti, the Council unanimously resolved not to attend any service in State, and the Town Clerk was directed to reply to this effec-. TELEPATH.

NOTES AND COMMENTS. ———«.——— IN MEMORIAM V.R.I. Hers was a realm more wide than earth, A nation's heart her throne The simplest peasant knew her worth, And feels her presence gone. H. D. RAWNSLBY. A photographic supplement of the Proclamation of the King at Aberystwyth is presented with this week's issue. This week we publish the Proclamation of King Edward VII. in Welsh, together with 11 excellent portraits of the new King and his Queen. The death took place on Monday of Sir J. W. Maclure, Bart., M.P., a former chairman of the Cambrian Railways Company. A fierce gale blew along the Welsh coast at the beginning of the week; and on Monday a dismasted schooner was seen off Cardigan Island. The vessel, the Hannah," of Preston, ran ashore near Aberporth. Snow fel heavily in several parts of the country. Arrangements are being made throughout the country generally for holding memorial services on Saturday at the time of the late Queen's funeral. The Goleuad," the official organ of the Welsh Calvinistic Methodists, publishes a request signed by the Moderator of the General Assembly and the Secretaries of the North and South Wales Associations, respectively, asking all the Churches of the connexion, if convenient, to have memorial services as near as possible to the hour of the funeral. Probate of the will, which bears date 29th July, 1892, of Mr Alfred William Hughes, of 7, Chester-terrace, Regent's Park, FIR.C.S., Professor of Anatomy at King's College, who died on 3rd November last, aged 38 years, has been granted to his widow, Mrs Mary Anne Aertssen Hughes, to whom the test- ator 1."t all of his property excepting "all his teaching appliances, including specimens, moJe!s, and diagrams, which he leffe and be- queathed to the University College- of South Wales at Cardiff." The late Professor Hughes's estate has been valued at X7,8,32 4s 9d gross, including personalty of the net value of £7,107 Is 7d. Many years ago the Queen was told b £ the then Bishop of London that two members of the Royal band who worshipped at a Wesleyan chapel hadl refused to attend Sunday rehearsals. "The men," said the Bishop, have since been dismissed from the service for these scruples." "What," said her Majesty,two of. my men dismissed for conscience sake ?: I shalL order that they be immediately reinstated. I will have no more persecution in my service on account of religious belief, and I will have no more Sunday rehearsals." And the Queen carried out her resolution. The new King was proclaimed at Aber- ystwyth on Monday afternoon before a large concourse of people. The proceedings throughout were of a most dignified and impressive chaiacter* and were marred only by the disgraceful conduct of a section of the College students. The, indignation among, all classes of people in the town is so great that it is feared good feeling cannot be restored until half-a-dozen of the dis turbers; have been "sent down." It is I regrettable that the Town Clerk had to- remark that fuinetions of that kind were invariably spoilt whenever the students were present. When we say that the behaviour of the- students on Monday incited the loathing and disgust of the foundr-ymen. and other workmen who attended the Proclama- tion any further words of ours are un- necessary. An idea seems to pre-, ail among toe many of the students that education is merely a process of wriggling through matric" and a few other examinations, and that life and- conduct are things entirely foreign to it. It is understood that steps are being taken to make a repetition of this, unseemly conduct impossible. At the annual meeting of the Aberystwyth Branch of the Royal Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals last Saturday only four members put in an appearance. What can be the reason for this ? Is it not the result of Mrs Elizabeth James' policy of favouritism to Mr Gibson's newspaper, which has for a long time proved a wet blanket to all the societies with which she is connected. Mrs Elizabeth James is secretary to about half a dozen public Societies in the town and she always takes good care to strictly confine the announcements of those societies to Mr Gibson's paper. Evidently, the paper lacks its boasted circulation, or the public decline to countencnce this kind of at-rogant offiti ildom. Mrs James may have a perfect right to run a newspaper or house on a sort of joint stock system-but public bodies should not be worked on those lines. We have been long familiar with the folsome reports of some public bodies, the attendance at jwhich, like the circulation of some news- papers, is always stated in logarithms. Had last Saturday's abortive gathering been a County School, College, or Infirmary meet- ing wheh—oh when would we have heard the last of it.