The Amman Valley Chronicle and East Carmarthen News

FOOTBALL. I The following teams were selected on Mon- day evening for the Llandebie trial match. Blues.—Goal H. Taylor; full backs: Ted Sandy, J. Parry Eva*s (vice-captain); half- backs Bert Cully, J. Johns, and Fred Tay- lor; forwards Ted Phillips, W. Johnson, W. Bale, Min Lloyd, Matt Chard. Stripes .Goal Ivor Jones; full backs: Melville Shearn (Somerset), Blayney; half- backs T. Walters, Crockford, Moss Hughes; forwards H. Davies (Builth), Hinton, Brinley Winch, J. Morgan (captain), Clements. Reserves Llew Thomas, D. Jones. Kick off 4 p.m. sharp.

LAWN TENNIS. AMMANFORD v. LLANDILO. The above match took place at the Amman- ford Courts on Thursday, and resulted in a win for the homesters by four events to two, 9 sets to 4, and 64 games to 52. There was no ladies' match owing to the weather not being favourable. Messrs. John and Johns were in good form for Ammanford Mr. G. Thomas was the star artist for Llandilo, and deserved a better partner. Dr. Brcreton and Mr. Roberts, Ammanfond, lost to D. O. Thomas and H. A. Webb, Llanidlo, 6-3, 0-6, 2-6, but beat D. Jenkins and G. B. Thomas 6-4, 6-2. A. W. Johns, and W. D. John, Ammanford, beat D. Jenkins and G. B. Thomas, Llandilo 7-5,, 6-0, also beat A. R. B. Dunstan, and D. 0. Thomas, 6*0, 6-0. R. H. Harries, and S. Rees beat D. Jenkins and G. B. Thomas, 7-5, 7-5, and lost to A. R. B. Dunstan, and H. A. Webb, 5-7, 4-6.

The great wall of China was built more than two hundred years before, as a protec- tion against the Mongal Tribes; its average thickness is twenty-five feet. The human heart beats over four thousands times in an hour. The Mount of St. Gothand Tunnel, Italy, is a l most ten miles long. The Persians observe Tuesday as Sunday. There are 2,750 languages in the world.

Athletic and Sporting Gossip. (By "MIN. ") The first trial match of the Ammanford Rugby team will take place next Thursday. All intending players are requested to send their names in at once to the secretary, or if anyone is desirous of showing his football powers the secretary, on receiving his name, will see that he is selected for the trial match. Lost again The Ammanford cricket team were again defeated on Saturday by the Pontyberem team, the licking was not So stingiag as against Garnant the previous Saturday, but at the same time the Amman- fordians should have won. Pontyberem had two excellent cricketers in the persona of W. J. Roberts, who scored 48, and Jack Thomas, who took eight wickets for 8 runs. The light was very bad during the Ponty- berem innings, and only grew worse by the time Ammanford went in to bat. This may be one of the causes of Ammanford's down- fall, as one of their players informed me it was almost impossible to see the ball. He said he did not see the first or second ball, and had they been straight he would have been bowled out. The third ball down he did not see, but struck at it anywhere, with the result that? he hit it into cover-point's hands. J. Southern re-appeared in the Ammanford team, but his holiday did not agree with his cricket, he being clean bowled first ball. Willie T. Davies was again absent from the home side. It appears he will not be able to play any more cricket this season, owing to his dislocated knee. Burry Port are to be visitors to Ammanford next, Saturday, and this will most probably be their last home match of the season. Now, partisans, go in crowds and see the "B'hoys" play for the last time on the Cross Inn enclosure this season. They will surely give you a treat. No Amman Valleyites' names appeared in the winning heats of the Cardiff Stadium Sprint. T. M. Jones, the local champion, was beaten by Andrews, Cardiff, to whom he conceeded Ii yards. He, however, hopes to make amends for this next Saturday at the Welsh Powderliall, Pontypridd. Pedestrians are looking forward with great interest to the match that will take place on Saturday between D. R. Morgan, Amman- ford, and Owen Roberts, Saron, for the sum of t40. Both runners are well known in the athletic field, having won matches and races at different places. The men are due on the mark dt 7 p.m.. and a grand tussle will be witnessed. "May the best man win. Llandebie footballers are like Ammanford cricketers, either just returned from their holidays, or are spending a gay time. Johnny Morgan, their captain, is having a week's holiday at Cardiff and in the Aberdare Valley. W. H. Walters, the goalkeeper, and assistant secretary, is up at London, while Popple is at the Wells and Hereford. Willie Rees, the energetic secretary, has just re- turned from Mumbles, and is looking as well as ever, after his week's holiday. Melville Shearn, of Paulton Rovers, winners of the Somersetshire Cup. and mem- bers of the Western League, signed a form for Llandebie on Monday evening. He possesses splendid physique, and should prove very useful for the villagers. He has recently opened a business at Llandebie. Llandebie have also' been successful in obtaining the signature of H. Davies, Builth, who turned out for practice on Saturday, and gave a very creditable display. The Ammanford soccer team are playing their first match on September 6th against Mond Nickel Works II., while on the 20tli, Llandebie will play their first match, when Ammanford will visit the Cilrychen enclosure. Lampeter, Builth, and Llanwrtyd, together with some Amman Valley teams will most probably figure in the Llandebie list, as friendlys.

FATHER'S ORDEAL. TRAGIC INQUEST STORY OF HIS SON'S DEATH AT DUNVANT. The story of a father's tragic discovery of the dead body of his son lying crushed be- neath two trams was told at the inquest held on Tuesday on the body of Thomas Alva Edison, a 15 year old collier's helper, who was killed in an accident on Monday at the Killan Colliery Dunvant, near Swansea, in which four other men were also severely in- jured, through a number of coal trams run- ning wild. It was stated by Thomas Jones, father of the deceased, that as he was work- ing underground he heard groans. He rushed to the slant, and there found that a "journey" of seven trams loaded with coal had run wild through a link in the haulage chain having snapped. He saw a youth crushed between the trams, whom he found to be his son. Other evidence having been given, the Coroner said it semed that the deceased and the mother injured men were riding on the "journey," contrary to regulations, in their haste to leave the pit, their work bieng finished. A verdict of "Accidental death" was returned, the jury leaving the question open as to whether deceased was riding on the "journey" at the time.

News at a Glance. Joseph T. Reaney, a Sheffield commercial. traveller, died in the Edinburgh Infirmary on Monday as the result of falling out of the Flying, Scotdniaii. The local policeman at Hungerford has a strange companion when he goes on night duty, a cat belonging to a fishmonger follow- ing at his heels like a dog. In the first six months of this year 587 aliens were excluded at the ports, as against 511 in the same period last year. Expulsion orders numbered 82, as against 91 last year. For riding a motor-cycle to the danger of the public (the speed was estimated at 30 miles per hour), Gladys Jones, of Surbiton, was fined £2 by the Eastbourne magistrates on Monday. An antique fob watch set with jewels, which is said to have belonged to Napoleon has- been stolen, with other valuable pro- perty, from a visitor's room in a Scarborough hotel. That she was only singing "Dear old mother, always kind and true," was the defence successfully offered by a woman charged at Stratford on Monday with having been disorderly. A young fitter named Knight, employed by the Great Eastern Railway, and living at Leyton-road, Stratford, was caught between two buffers of a train at Maryland Point on Monday and killed. A 15-year-old boy remanded at East Ham on' Monday to the care of the missionary, stated that he had been sleeping out for nine months. His mother was dead, and he had not seen his father for months. For drunkenness while in charge of a motor-car, William Small ,aged 36, was fined £ 2 by the Acton magistrate. Reuben Bickley. aged 37, a taxicab drwer, was fined £ 2 at Lanibetli for a similar offence. Mr. Churchill landed at Deal from the Admiralty yacht Enchantress, on Monday, and motored to the Royal Marine Depot at Walmer. He made a thorough inspection and saw the men undergo their ordinary in- struction. Sussex farmers on Monday decided that the wholesale prices of milk for the year commencing October should be lid. per gal- lon for winter months and 8d. per gallon for summer months. This is an iiscrease of id. per gallon for winter months. The fire in the Cadder Pit (where 22 men lost their lives three weeks ago) is still burn- ing, so that the public inquiry has had to be postponed. It is thought that the fire will have destroyed all traces of the cause of the disaster. Saying she was evidently one of the well- known thieves who frequently Westminster Abbey, the Bow-street, magistrate on Monday sentenced Ann Carr, aged 41, to three months' imprisonment for stealing an American lady's handbag. Whilst some youths employed at the rail- way engine sheds at Middlesbrough were at pistol firing practice during the dinner hour on Monday, a boy named Richard Hudson was accidentally shot in the abdomen, the wound proving fatal.

I BRYNAMMAN NOTES. I (By "OCULUS.") Whatever Brynamman may lack in the direction of social functions, etc., the purpose of which, mainly, is to draw together the in- habitants for "sweet intercourse which enlivens," it is never backward in joining with a ready hand when the time comes to wish someone from our midst our most sincere wishes when they depart from the place. The media of such demonstrations are generally at a premium, mayhap, but the spirit prevails very strongly. The profoundity of this sym- pathy and good feeling was manifested very openly at the Upper Council Schools on Friday night, when a farewell meeting was held to bid our townspeople, Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Emmanuel, on their departure to South Africa, bon voyage and a prosperous life in that distant land. A detailed report of the proceedings, which I had the pleasure of attending, appears in another column, and I join the townspeople in wishing our friends a hearty "send-off." The wonted peacefulness of Bethania and its surroundings was ruthlessly disturbed on Friday night when that religious edifice was broken into. The marauder had effected an entrance through one of the windows, and had made his presence very grievously felt by damaging three drawers to a great extent. The safe had also been tampered with, but had not been opened, the traces of attack affording sufficient evidence that the cowardly miscreant was by no means a close follower of "Bill Sykes." Some trifles were taken away, amongst which was the bell, the sound of which commanded such attention on Sun- day School afternoons and Band of Hope meetings It is surmised that tliis burglar is the same individual as the one who so wantonly broke into the shop belonging to Miss Ij. A. Pugh, Rhosamman, a little while ago. Such callous and cowardly actions should be brought to book and the culprits warmly punished. The Rev. J. R, Price, Rhiwfawr, delivered rousing sermons at Gibea on Sunday. I Arrangements are well under way in con- nection with the Carnival and Sports, to be held on Saturday. There are, I understand, numerous and excellent entries, and a record day is anticipated. Next week I hope to give a full account of the proceedings. I am indeed very pleased to see that a local brother scribe has drawn the attention of the neighbourhood to the very deserving case of Mr. Martin Griffiths, Mountain Road, who has eben confined to his bed for many months as a result of an accident. I have known Mr. Griffiths personally for many years, and have always found him ready to lend a helping hand to any worthy cause, either financially or by his services as an accompanist. Very few were the functions held that Martin did not lend a helping hand. Now that he himself is in a similar position to those m-lioni lie so unreservedly helped, let us not forget, but hand out to him also our help and succour.

TITHE RESISTANCE IN CAR MARTHENSHIRE. CALVINISTIC METHODIST CHURCH WILL NOT PAY 6d. SPEECHES BY "TOWYN" AND MR. JOHN HINDS. M.P. 's. The Ecclesiastical Commissioners having distrained upon property in the possession of the trustees of the local Welsh Calvinistic Methodist Church, a largely-attended pro- test meeting was held in Llanpumpsaint, a Carmarthenshire village on Tuesday. The amount claimed is Gd., together with costs, this being one year's tithe rent charge, but the trustees are resolved in their resist- ance to payment. The Rev. Gwynoro Davies, Barmouth. who presided, said he had never known of Non- conformist chapel property being distrained upon before. They were convinced local Churchpeople had no hand in the business. for it was entirely the action of the Com- missioners. The demand, which had come regularly for the last eleven years, had been ignored, but some days ago a distraint was laid upon their property. The object of the meeting was to show the ridiculousness of the whole thing, and to protest against it. Mr. Towyn Jones, M.P., who was accorded a great reception, said he had believed that the tithe war was at an end in Wales, having regard to the near approach of the time when the Disestablishment Bill would become law, but they discovered it was not-so. This sudden action in distraining on this occasion was only the last kick of the Establishment when nearing the end. Fancy the Commis- sioners. with all the thousands they had for the disposal of the Church, threatening to sell a few potatoes belonging to a Methodist chapel, whose membership for generations paid for their own religion. Non conformists believed the Church was a spiritual organisa- tion, and that the support of religion should be voluntary. Mr. John Hinds, M.P., referred to the origin of tithes, and claimed that at first it was a purely voluntary gift. This money, he said, should be utilised for national purposes. The tithe raised in Wales amounted to £ 304,000. One half went to maintain the clergy and another quarter to keep church dignitaries. The four Welsh Bishops re- ceived altogether £ 17,000 per annum, so at this rate one bishop was worth 150 clergymen aad 400 curates. (Laughter.) They heard a great deal that religion would decay in Wales as the result of Disestablishment and Disendowment. As long as Nonconformists existed in the land there would be no danger in that direction. Mr. Timothy Davies, M.P.. said this de- mand note of the Commissioners was the "Meanest Bill" he had ever seen, and it would have been better for the Commissioners to leave well alone at the present time. The Rev. Edward Davies. minister of the chapel, said the chapel people would not pay a single farthing. The Rev. Eynon Davies (London) also spoke.

The Rev. W. E. Nicholson, Portmadoc. has left for America in order to attend the Welsh Congregational Union on the other side of the Atlantic. As the resilt of the recent regatta at Langharne a sum of £ 5 6s. 6d. has been handed over to the funds of the Carmarthen- shire Infirmary.

TO SECURE FULL PUBLICITY, BUSINESS ANNOUNCEMENTS, SHOULD APPEAR IN THE AMMAN VALLEY CHRONICLE & East Carmarthen News." EVAN EVANS, A.P.S., WHOLESALE AND RETAIL MANUFACTURING & DISPENSING CHEMIST Purveyor of High-class Wines, Spirits, Groceries, Oils, Colours, Seeds, &c., -A.lvT O^ID- MAE'R Palas iiawr yn barod, A'r Chemist yn y Shop, A'r prynwyr fewn ac allan Yn cerdded yn ddi-stop Daw llu o bellder daear I Ammanford, Shir Gar, I weled y Shop newydd A godwyd ar y Scwar. Y Stablau enwog hyny Lie safai'r Coach mawr gynt, Sydd wedi cael eu chwalu Yn llwch i'r pedwar gwynt; A Phalas wedi codi Ar adfail Cymru Fu, I ddangos y peteli Sy'n gwella Cymru Sy Mae yno dair o shopau Rhagoraf yn y w lad- Shop Chemist a Shop Baker. A Shop am Watches rhad 0 un cewch foddion Doctor, A'r llall cewch fara gwyn, O'r trydydd cewch yr amser I lyncu'r pethau hyn. Mae pedair heol yn arwain Tuag at eu drysau hwynt, A miloedd o gwsmeriaid Yn d'od o'r pedwar pwynt; Aiff enw EVAN EVANS Ar led drwy fro a bryn, Am godi'r fath adeilad gwych I wella Scwâr Cross Iuu.

Talk in the Train. (BY MAUl GRUFF YDD1. On Holidays. Although I have not been on the continent, I have been holidaying, like the rest of you, and am thoroughly tired out. But I have not been idle when on my travels, for wherever I went I picked up gossip' for "Talk in the Train." The Railway Stations. For instance, I find that the "talk" we had a couple of weeks ago about the railway station accommodation at Amman- ford is "bearing fruit" in the shape of further comparisons which are unfavourable to the local railway companies all around. "Bless you," remarked a clerical-looking gentleman in the train one day, "the accommodation at Tirydail is worse than it is at Ammanford. Out in the rain we have to stand because the booking offiice is ridiculously small." That was his word, mind you, not mine. Then he added—"Have you ever seen the men working at the stationNo? Well, it is H wonder to me how the station staff can do their work at all. They have no elbow room. Elbow Room y Jawled." "That reminds me," said another, "of the story told of old Shadrach Dafis. the preacher, who (in the story, I mean, of course), was preaching a rasping farewell sermon^ and told the people that he was going to America- to a wide country, with plenty of scope in it, where it would not be necessary for an earnest man to be constantly shouting "Elbow room, y jawled." Some people looked very serious at this joke, but the clerical gentleman only smiled and said, "Well, I don't know whether these men actually say that, but they must mean it, sometimes, for the crush is simply dreadful." Now, that is a nice way of saying a thing, isn't it? These clerical gentlemen can get round a nasty word so beautifully, you know. Uncouth Youths from Gorseinon. I I Those two young men who travelled in the train from Swansea Victoria Station to Gorseinon last Saturday week, looked smart and well-dressed, but their manners were such as made me nearly say "Elbow room" to them. There were young ladies in the com- partment, and there was a baby there. Yet, as soon as the train started, these two youths pulled out their cigarette cases, and, without apology, or so much as "Do you mind, ladies?" lighted their smokes, and puffed away, in a non-smoking coach. They made me think of the old song of the "Penny Swell," who swanked— 'With a penny paper collar round his throat, lah-di-dah, And a penny paper flower in his coat, lah-di-dah, In his hand a penny cane. Ou iiis breast a penny chain," and so forth, as they so unblushingly sported their penny-a-packet cigarettes. The young ladies from Garnant will know who I mean. Incidents of an Excursion to Swansea. Loud complaints are being made as to, the inanv annovances to which the Ammanford iind Bettws Church Excursionists were put during the railway journey of their annual outing. It was raining in the morning, and there were about 300 at Tirydail, where the "waiting room" (save the name!) accommo- dates about thirty. That was the beginning of it. The light dresses, you know, and the nice hats, you see Shocking, there Then, in the hurry, the overworked, anxious, and Homewhat excited porters bundled a lot of jicopla into the guard' s van. although there was room in some of the carriages. It was a "special train," and yet, when it reached Pontardulais. it was stopped to enable some extra passengers to get into the carriages which ought to have been occupied by those who were herded like cattle in the stand-up compartment of the guard's van Of course, the Ammanford people protested, and. equally of course, there were some retorts and re- sponses from railway porters. Now, rail- way porters are no worse than other folk, but these "platform debates" are very catching, and the tempers of Churchpeople and Non- conformists are pretty much alike*—apt to be peppery on such occasions. Adding Insult to Injury. I But this was not all. Seeing that it was raining, and that the fare to Swansea Victoria was the same as to Swansea Bay, the Am- manforditea dwided to pronaad to AJUerta-we so that they might shelter under the bridges and the arches for which the town is so famous. In short, it was a case of "any- where, anywhere, out of the rain." Then came the "unkindest cut of all" (as the Welsh hard, Shakespeare, once said), for the Swan- sea Bay Station officials demanded, and ob- tained, "excess" from everyone of the 600 passengers for the extra ri4ie from the Bay to N, ictoria I will not go so far as to say that anybody actually .did recite the "Charge of the Light BrigaHe," hut in the very air around you, you could feel the hum of many voices, saying "Forward the Light Brigade- noble six hundred," and then followed a general opinion that "someone had blun- dered. The excess fares were paid, but I a in told that an interesting correspondence has been going on since then between the Vicar of Ammanford and Mr. John Rees, the Divisional Superintendent of the railway. Excess Fares Refunded, or Guarantee Limit ? "When Greek meets Greek, then comes the fug of war," is an old saving, and when two such cool correspondents as the Rev. J. "VV • Jones, B.A., and M*. Rees enter upon an arbitration case, you have to watch for points. Now I believe Mr. Rees was inclined to direct the refunding of the excess fares of the six hundred, feeling that. in any case, there had been no need to be quite so okaeting, under the circumstances. But, the Vicar held that the circumstances were such as to warrant bizyi in claiming something else. The train had been guaranteed by the Church Sunday Schools. The responsible parties would have had to pay the difference if the passengers had been less than six hundred. As it happened, they numbered more than six hundred and the Vicar claimed that they ought not to be called upon to pay more than for the strict number guaranteed, as the railway company had not provided ac- commodation for all that went. As they had had to "chance it," they ought not to have to pay. The refunding in that case would have been of a more substantial character. I have not heard the end of it, and probably the railway people have not. Been to Every Street in London. An Ammanford man who has recently been to London for "a short stay returned with the surprising statement that he had been to every street in Ldndoii. The number of tramcar, 'bus, and other tickets which he had collected almost convinced his audience that he was speaking the truth, until he told them there was a thoroughfare in London named "Every "-street. It was his first visit to London, but it is evident that he knows his way about.

INTERESTING PRESENTATIONS AT BRYNAMMAN. -♦ SEND-OFF GATHERING AT UPPER COUNCIL SCHOOLS. MR. AND MRS. EMMANUEL'S DE- PARTURE TO SOUTH AFRICA. A farewell gathering of a very interesting character was held on Friday night at the Upper Council Schools, Brynamman, on the occasion of the departure for South Africa of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Emmanuel. There was an exceptionally large attendance and the well-wishers of the departing friends were enthusiastic in their hopes and affection for a "bon voyage," a pleasant sea voyage, and a long and a prosperous life in the colony. The schoolroom was packed almost to suffo- cation, as is usual at meetings of this nature. Mr. T. Morris Walters ("Butts"), was voted to the chair, and he discharged his duties in his customary racy style. After an address from the Chair, Mr. Fred Harris, the popular young pianist, enter- tained the company with a skillfully manipu- lated pianoforte solo. Master Haydn Williams, our youthful "Eos Dar," sang very takingly some "penillion" composed for the occasion by his father, Mr. Dd. H. Williams, Lower Brynamman. Miss Annie Davies very sweetly rendered a solo, followed by Mr. Dillwyn Williams, with a nicely executed violin selection. Mr. Jack Wil- liams contributed a very touching song and was applauded for his effort. Mr. A. G. Williams, the popular "Gem" comedian, "brought down the house" with his perform- ance. A solo was very nicely given by Mr. Owen Jenkins. At this juncture, the departing Bryn- ammanites were presented, on behalf of the gathering, by Mr. E. Davies and Mrs. G. H. Davies-Mr. Emmanuel with a handsome fountain pen, and Mrs. Emmanuel with a very useful and vaulyble travelling bag. The recipients very feelingly responded with words of gratitude for the kind manner with which they had been treated. After the presentation Mr. Garfield Roberts very-sweetly rendered a solo which was followed by a very humorous recitation by Mr. Oliver Edwards, the popular local elocutionist. Verses were read by the Chairman, from his own pen, and also from those of "Gwilym" and Rees Jones ("Cwerydd"). Mr. A. G. Williams proposed a vote of thanks to the Chairman, who, in turn, warmly thanked all who had participated. The meeting ended amid the -straitis of "Hen Wlad fy Nhadau."

DEATH OF MR. R. C. JENKINS, I LLANELLY. TRAGIC CLOSE OF NOTABLE CAREER. I A painful sensation was caused in Llanelly on Monday night when news spread that Mr. R. C. Jenkins, the chairman of the Llanelly Board of Guardians, had died under tragic circumstances at the Masonic Hall. The meeting of the Prince of Wales Lodge of Free Masons was in progress when the de- ceased gentleman, who was the organist, fell from a chair to the floor as he was playing the organ, and before medical aid could be summoned he had breathed his last. Mr. Jenkins, who had complained of feel- ing unwell for the past few days, was one of Llanelly's foremost citizens. Eearly in his career he became a member of the Board of Guardians, and ere long his knowledge of Poor Law administration was second to none on the board. When Mr. Thomas Seymour tendered his resignation as chairman some years ago, Mr. Jenkins, who was then one of the oldest members, was elected to the vacant position, which he has since filled with dis- tinction. Throughout the Principality "R.C. as he, was popularly named, was a well-known vocalist, conductor, and adjudicator. He was I a born musician, and nothing delighted him more than the cultivation of this divine gift. Born at Llanelly in 1841. the son of the I late Mr. Hughes Jenkins, he soon came into prominence as a baritone vocalist, winning many eisteddfodic prizes. He entered Aber- ystwyth College, where he studied under the late Dr. Joseph Parry, whose memory lie always cherished. While at Aberystwyth he gained an exhibition and scholarship of £ 20, and subsequently entered the Royal Academy of Music, where he continued his studies tinder Signor Manuel Garcia, and eventually settled in his native town.