The Amman Valley Chronicle and East Carmarthen News

== LS-VENSON8S = FOR CHRISTMAS PRESENTS .?? ??? Ct?il???x? s J?B???B?t? Frocks 6 Pinafores, <|jk .??? Flocks  Ladies' Gloves, Handkerchiefs, Furs jit J 1 WttBmMk and Muffs, Umbrellas, &c., &c. fj Gents' Mufflers, Ties, Seeks, Scarves, &c., ^■R and Heaps of other things suitable for Presents. PliEASE SEE WINDOWS. 6 & 'hE LEVENSON'S, H.iSMSkr. Ammanford. P. S.—BOXED CHRISTMAS CARDS—Several Dozen Boxes to Clear Cheap. -P.S.-BOXED CHRISTMAS CARDS-Several'Dozen Boxes to Clear Cheap. ^a—p——e—■* ■II Ulilii III I III I THERE'S A GOOD TIME COMING I fer yea. Although at present you are sufferin g from a disordered digestion j and other distressing ailments and, in consequence, are inclined to take a j somewhat gloomy view of things, it need not be long before you recover J year beakb and your usually hopeful and cheerful disposition. All that is j required to bring about this desired change is the beneficial influence of j Beeeham's Pills. This reliable medieine stimulates the liver, strengthens the stemeoh, cleanses the bowels and purifies the blood ;—hence it is easy j to aaderstand why health may be maintained by taking j BEECHAN'S PILLS ia Sold everywhere in boxes, labelled ls-3d and 3s-Od. | IMPORTANT FACT. The Centre for c vi ly R M A PRESENTS suitable for Ladies and Gentlemen. Leather Goods a Speciality. All Highest Class Briar Pipes kept in Stock. WALTERS, Tobacconist, The Square, AMMANFORD. Great SALE of MILLINERY and HEAVY GOODS. • Enormous Reduction in Prices. Exceptional Bargains of all kinds of Winter Goods. W. ANTHONY, High Street, Ammanford. WHEN YOU BUY A PIANO HAVE THE BEST. Thompson & Sbackell, Ltd., Invite Inspection of their Splendid Stock of BRITISH-MADE PIANOS OF WORLD-WIDE FAME, Including Instruments by the following Celebrated Makers:— dOHN BPINSMEAD & SONS, j. & J. HOPKINSON, AJELLO & SONS, MOORE & MOORE, CRAMER & COMPANY, CHALLEN & SONS, J. H. CROWLEY, BROADWOOD PIANO-PLAYERS JUSTINE BROWNE, COLLARD & COLLAPD, And others too numerous to mention. UNSURPASSED FOR TONE, TOUCH. AND ELEGANCE OF DESIGN. All Pianos Warranted, and Exchanged if not approved. FULL VALUE ALLOWED FOR OLD PIANOS IN EXCHANGE. 25, QUEEN STREET, CARDIFF. AUUEtSS: 60, Stepney Street, LLANELLY. |

Our Poultry Column. I The cost of food and the trouble of getting it has caused many people to ask lately whether there is any money in poultry, and if they will ever be able to make it pay in future. Let me point out first of all that, though food has been dear, there has been an equivalent rise in the price of eggs and birds, whether dead or alive, so that there has been some recompense for the outlay on food. Those who have had plenty of eggs must shew a good proht, and where there has been a shortage the quality of the food was blamed, and yet I wonder if more could not be done in the matter of attention. By all means keep them dry, provide grit and green food; then the eggs should be forthcoming. But for the present, let me say that I think there is a great future tor the poultry industry, and those who have kept going must be in for a share of the plunder. Many new beginners are often troubled as to the best way to start, and they are the folk I want to help now. Anyone can start by purchasing eggs, day-old chicks, or a breeding pen; then hatching the eggs from this pen. First of all, then, you can buy sittings of eggs, or hundreds if you want them, and when gpt from a reliable man they will hatch out successfully, and you have the care of the chicks right from the shell. If sending away a long distar.ee for them, there are sometimes a few breakages, but these can be claimed for from the railway company or the shaking up in transit will cause addled eggs, and these are not counted as infertiles. But, considering the thousands of eggs which are sent away for hatching, the failures from transit are very small, and they appear more in the imagination than in reality. During the past few years, the I selling l of day-old chicks has stopped a lot of eggs being sold, for then the buyers are sure of their hatch without all the trouble. These can be booked beforehand, and then when the youngsters come cil, they are despatched at orxe, and thus travel a long journey without taking harm. Most novices know that a chick should not be ted for the first twenty-four hours, and they are better when left for thirty or forty hours; so that after hatching they can be packed and sent on a long journey, and reach the end safely. The hatcher will usually gauge his time according to the journey, and those farthest away can be sent first and catch the best night trains. I have known chickens to be sent from London to Ireland; only by catch- ing the right train they arrive in the morning, and come out as fit and as perky as just from the machine. These can be had in any quantity, and depend upon whether you in- tend raising under hens or in a foster mother, most of which will take up to a hundred. by doing this you are in the hands or the seller, but if he is a respectable man, you can rest assured he will treat you fairly. The other way of proceeding is to get a pen. and thus hatch from your own eggs. Thi 4 is a plan I favour most, because you I can then see what the parent stock is like, and form an idea of what to expect; and also there is no fear from carelessness in transit. Should you get more eggs than you need, I sornt of the neighbours would take some, or they will come in for eating, and these will mora than pay for the cost of food. This pen need not be large, for a cock and four hens would be -enough, unless you want to raise a lot of chicks; then increase the hens up to six. The first outlay would seem heavy, but I have known the eggs sold, pay for the pen, besides enough being left for home hatching.

Christmas for the Little Folks. ¡¡; A DREAM. I It was after the Christmas party; Percy I had gone to bed and fell asleep at once, for he was very tired. Then he felt a sharp peck on his arm, and he saw a great big- turkey sitting at the foot of the bed, glar- ing at him. "Come along with me, Percy," it said. Percy had to get w, and it took him away into a wood and pn t- him down on the ground with severa. -ther children. Then it said "You have had y,r turn, and now it is ours! You have vaten us; now we are going to eat you. Come along!" Then there came r number of queer little figures with round bodies, and he saw that they were plum-puddings. Each one had a spoon and a fork in his hand and a piece of holly stuck in the top of hi", head. They all came rushing at Percy and the other children, and these began to "run as fast as they could. The turkeys and the plum-puddings came nearer and nearer, and shouted louder and louder, and at last one of the turkeys caught- hold of Percy's knickerbockers, and all the plum-puddirge gave a great about or joy, and then—Percy woke up He was so glad to find it was only a dream. A SURPRISE. liert and Ethel had a splendid time in the Christmas hülidays-they went to stay with Grandpa Clarke. They thought it would be horrid before they wont, and were very sad indeed about going; indeed, Bert said he very nearly made tl-- his mind to go and be a cowboy (he had thought of doing that for a long while), but he was rather short of pocket-money, and was afraid he had not enough to pay hi<- fare to -the Wild West— he didn t know how it would be, but he thought it would W sure to be more than one and sixpence-h-altwnny—so they went to Grandpa Clarke's nstead. And when they got there they found that they had a splendid time they stayed up to late dinner w ith ^rowu-ups, and had crackers and pm-orvc.! fruits and all sorts of things, and after dinner they went into the library and sat round the fire with the big people, and they all told stories-Bert ,I l(I that some of them were "ripping"—and in the day-time they h: d skating and snow- balling and all kind" of games, and they went to the pantomhw, and altogether they never had such spkr.did holidays before. Bert said when he came back that he thought it was bettejf even than being s pow}:>oy. So lio nnrijofclf BETTY'S HAPPY CHRISTMAS. I Betty rubbed her e\es hard to make sure she was not dreaming -she could hardly be- lieve it was really Christmas morning—and snowing fatrt, too She looked all round, and there, at the foot of the bed, was the biggest stocking ever seen, and crammed full of dolls and other t-oys "Oh, how lovely .exclaimed Betty as she pulled them out. "Santa Clan", has been eo good!" Then she thought a minute. "Mammy! Mammy she called, I give some of these to the poor children in the hospital?" V cry we II, dearie replied her Mother. So after breakfast their motor came and whizzed them to the hospital, where Betty and her Mother got out laden with toys, and hurried up the steps and into the hos- pital. Then Betty went round and gave each sick child a toy. How delighted they were, and how happy Betty was in doing kind deeds for others MY CHRISTMAS. When l was asking all my friends To tea on Christmas Day. I thought p'r'aps Santa Claus would like To come along and play. And 130 I c;eii,'a iittIQ note To ask him any way. He never wrote to say he'd come, But when we were at tea He tip-toed down the chimney place As quiet as could be. And brought a lot of splendid toys For all my friends and me. k. MOLLY'S MISTAKE. It was only partly Molly's fault. It all came about through the people next dooi to the Browns giving a party on the same night. Molly had an invitation from Kitty Brown to a Christmas party, and, of course, biie accepted. She get a nice new frock for it, and her sister Grace lent her a fan 60 Molly was sure of enjoying herself. ISow, Molly was so proud of her new frock and her lovely fan that she could think of noth- ing etsc. So when sh^ came to the houst- net to Kitty's, and saw other children going into it in party dresses, she went with them. But when she got into tlie drawing-room she eouid not see Kitty any- w here, though everyone was very nice to her and saw that she joined in the games. Molly asked for Kitty at last, and then she found that she had joce to the wrong hOllse Kitty's party Ni-a-4 next- door. They all had a good laugh over it before Molly went to the Browns, and she had a really nice evening there af ter all. She thought it was a good adventune, but sh e has made up her mind always to look where she is going now. I MAKING THE BEST OF IT. J aok and Ted came home-for thoholidays in high spirits. But when their father met them he told them that two children of an old friend had come to spend Christmas, too, a girl of thirteen and a boy of seven.* "A girl and a kid!" grumbled Ted. "What a bore!" But Jack said, "Ob, well, let's make the betrt of it and give them a good time." So. earlv on Christmas morning they went into little Harry's room with presents and merry greetings. Then the" found that he and his sister had been thinking of them, too. There was a fiiie ewoid for Ted. and a postcard album for Jack. So the day be- gan with kindness and pleasure all round, raid the four youngsters were soon the verj best of friends.

Christmas Chatter. — — FIRST CHRISTMAS-CARD. I In 1844 one Christmas-card was entrusted to the Post Office, and from that one have sprung all the various and beautiful speci- mens that form such an important feature, both socially and commercially, of this season of the year. This particular Clirist- mas-card ia believed to have been sent by W. E. Dobson, R.A. He had a friend from whom he had received many kindnesses and attentions during the past year of which he j wished to show his appreciation in some way. After some thought, he painted a small picture, symbolising the spirit of Christmas, and sent it by post to his friend. It WAS a sketch of a fainily-gatftefing drink- ing a tonst to "Absent Friends," and sur- rounded by all the comforts and luxuries of Christmas-time. COSTLY CRACKERS. I Perhaps Jthp largest Christmas crackers were thC)serl orclereti some years ago by an Iriah peer. They were 10ft. long, and each contained nearly 200 toys and other articles, These crackers, however, which cost about = £ 10 each, are by no means the costliest which have been made; for many a bashful lover has sent a valuable token of his adora- tion to a fair one under cover of a merry cracker. The costliest cracker on record seems to be one which was constructed of ,-old in such faithful imitation of a sheaf of wheat that its modelling kept an industrious goldsmith hard at work for six months. Tucked away in this gold sheaf was a ring 13M with rare and perfectly-matched pear's The sum paid for this king of crackers, which only measured 4in. in length, was +400. A few years ago a firm in the Mid- lands were ordered to prepare a special pre- sentation box of crackers for a well-known millionaire. The box took the form of an elecrant silver casket, the handiwork of an eminent firm of London silversmiths, which contained six crackers, the wrappers of which were composed of figured satin edged with valuable old lace. The centres of the crnekers were formed of octagonal aperture-; with tiny silver doors, each door being fitted a tiny silver took. and a tinv silver kev hung suspended from the body of the cracker by a silken cord. Each cracker contained a valuable ring or bTooeh, and they were duly presented to the bridesmaids at a fashion- able Christmas wedding. It was undoubtedly the most expensive box of crackers ever pro- duced, having cost over .£250. PICTURESQUE SYRIAN CEREMONY. I An old tradition of Christendom is ob- served in the Ssvrjjn Phmvb-, serviecH are celebrated in a little chapel in an ob- ocuce corner of Constantinople. Legend has it that on the morning of the Nativity the weather was bitterly cold, and the shepherds brought their little contribution of sticks to make a fire to warm the new- born Babe. And so every Christmas morn- ing an iron tray, piled with wood sprinkled with oil, is placed on a table in the body of the church. Every worshipper carries a lighted taper, and at a given time the wood is set alight, the flames soaring aloft. This is the Syrian method of expression of "Glory o God in the Highest." IN THE NAVY. One of the customs of the Navy on Christ- inas Day is to give the nippers a little tran- sient authority. The posts and duties of the principal petty-officers are handed over to the sm.allest boys of the crew, and it is great sport to see the youngsters swaggorin round, giving orders to their superiors whom they have eyed with awe during all the other days of the year. Another old custom is that whilst the band—if there be one—plays "The Rrn,ct Beef of Old England," the captain and h> nfficers pay a state visit to each mess. Two of the biggest men aboard stand at the head of each table, holding out samples of the fare. Captain and officers sample the Christmas pudding, wish the men a Merrv Christmas, and retire, leaving Jack to fall to on the good cheer provided. HOLLY AS MEDICINE. Prone to over-eating at Christmas time, our ancestors had a remedy very near to hand. As they drove, or walked, back from their good old-fashioned parties in the gl s tening snow, the head of the family plucked a good branch of holly-berries from the way- side, and next morning those suffering from the various maladies resulting from a mix- ture of rich foods—for they could eat in those dayg--w,-re dosed with the holly- berries. Ten berries before breakfast were the prescribed medicine, and as they are stated to be "violently emetic," there i- little doubt that the country-folk fonr.-l them a far healthier and less expensive medicine than many present-day antidote. It is probably due to their medicinal effects that holly-berries are disliked by birds. TV feathered tribe only peck at the holly-ber:v when they are very pressed for food dpil" a particularly severe winter. The mi-stl- thrush is the one exception-he rather like- it. I PRETTY NORWEGIAN CUSTOM. Swedes and Norwegians keep Christmas mainly as a family and religious festival. They have one very prettv custom which i- distinctively their own. (3n Christmas Eve they put every pair of boots and shoes in the house together in a Ion- row as a symbol that the family or household shall live together all the coming year in peace and happiness. Here and there, in dull London streets, there are little families of Norwegian emigrants from remote v-alloys. such as the Alten in the Arctic region, the Aardal, and Lairdal, who keep up in a foreign country ancient customs that have died out in the more populous and educated places, even in their own land. They put out meal cakes on their window-sills on •Christmas Eve, a, custom which started as a superstition centuries ago, when people b. lieved that the Christ child passed throng* their street that night, and they feared lr-i vhe should be hungry; afterwards it becaa-e an offering for the birds. Some of tber: put candles in their windows on Christians Eve and kept them burning all night give light to and guide Kristine, the bringer of gifts. This last custom is a parallel to our Farther Chriftmas and the stocking on our children's beds.

 How Savmg helps I TO LOWER PRICES WHEN everybody wants to buy, prices are sure to W go up. That is common sense, is it not ? And I it is equally true that when people are more anxious to 8 save than to spend, the prices of many things will have | to come down. 1 Clotties-furniture-travel-rent-those and hun- dreds of other things are dear enough as it is. But thDk I! how much higher the prices might have risen if millions of pounds had not been saved' and invested in War Savings Certificates. Every shilling lent to the country in this way I helps to keep prices down. That is one reason why it is still a patriotic duty to- keep on buying WAR SAVINGS CERTIFICATES Try to *et aside something —1  LTry to »et aside something p [ | every week to7ards the War Savings Certificates cost 15,'6 each. pure a,e of t? he?e f. Their value in five years' time will be I | | purch, ase of th, ese t»overn- Mc), |B ment ?,curities. It is the You can give notice at any tim- t?? t ".u >1 best way of making sure wish to withdraw your money in ?ti wi < awsii that you will always have any interest which is due. You en L:y tbat you will always have ?? ise: h;iateUfu!o:n:' Y a bit of money in reserve Order Post Office, Bank, or Shop?e f ..i.t t acting a* Official Agent. when you need it for any acting as Officie?l Azent. purpose. i| ——?————— nuMM—mi H ii r—n~^

Llandilo Rural District Council. A special meeting of the above Council was held at the Union Offices on Wednesday of last week, Mr. John Richards, Chairman, presiding. The object of this meeting was tc confer with Mr. Chappell, Inspector under the Local Government Board, with regard to the housing needs of the area, and the steps it was proposed to be taken to meet those needs. It was stated that 112 houses were required within the district, and the Inspcctoi explained at length the conditions under which the Local Government Board would be prepared to make them an advance to meet the expen- diture to the extent of three-fourths of the costs during the first seven years. Loans ior the building of houses would be made re- payable at the expiration of 60 years, and, in the case of land, 80 years. The maximum number of houses that could be built on i%r. acre of land in the agricultural districts would be eight, and in the towns twelve. He urged the importance of their making their appli- cation and formulating their scheme as scon as possible. Mr. Evan Jones, the Building Inspector, stated that there were 99 empty houses in the district, of which a goodly number will have to be pulled down. It was stated by members that where cot- tages formerly occupied by labourers had been uninhabitable they had been pulled down, and others had not been built in their place, and the land belonging thereto had been added to the adjorning farms. A discussion took place over the acquisition of common land on the Black Mountain for building "purposes" and allotments. The Inspector advised the Council to com- municate with the Local Government Board and ascertain from them the teorms upon which they would obtain such land. In the result, a Committee of the whole Council was appointed to prepare a scheme in conjunction with the Building Inspector and Clerk, to be laid before the Local Government Board.

The Chronicle will be sent by post to any address at 4/4 for the half-year. or 8/8 pet annum, payable in advance.

I "For the Blood is the Life." | If it is any such Disease j „ Eczema, &?reula, J9?? Legs, as ?&<'??<, ??c??. 6'7?K?M?y- E S Swellmgl, ??7?, Pimples, Sores 5 and Eruptions, Piles, Rheumatism, Gout, $c., don't waste your time and money on lotions and ointments which cannot get below the surface of the skin. What you want and what you must have is a medicine that will thoroughly free the blood of the poison- ous matter which alone is the true cause of all your suffering. Clarke's Blood Mixture is just such a medicine. It is composed of ingredients which quickly attack, overcome and expel the im- purities from the blood, that is why so many truly wonderful cures stand to its credit. success. /???  star ^]ar^s\| ■4 Blood ) Pleasant Mixture i &! by I chemists AND BE CURED. I and Stores, Refuse AN I,, EVERYBODYS B Substitutes BLOOD PURIFIER."

VISIT OF EX-GERMAN SUBMARINE I "U 112" TO MILFORD HAVEN. The ex-German Submarine" U 112 arrived at Milford Haven on Monday last for exhibition purposes, and will remain about a month. o. She will be berthed in Milford Docks, and will be on view to the general public daily at a charge of 6d. Children will be. admitted halt-price. Men and women of the Naval, Military, and Air Forces will be admitted free. During her stay in the Haves sbe will I visit Pembroke Dock, and remain there foi about a week or ten days. U 112" was built at Kiel and com- pleted during the present year. The follow- ing details of her armament, &c., may be of interest:— Armament.—One 4.1, one 22-poundor; one machine-gun; tix torpedo tubes and twelve torpedoes. Speed .—Sixteen and a half knots on surface and 9.1 knots submerged. Endurance.—Seven thousand miles at 10 knots on surface; 100 miles at 3 knots sub- merged. Length, 220 feet; breadth, 22 feet. Complement.—Seven officers and 31 men (when in <^mmission).

Liver Trouble Is the cause of much suffering. Headache, Biliousness, Constipation, Sour Stomach, Indigestion, Flatulency, Wind, Despondency, and much Ner- vous Excitement follows derangement of the Liver. HUGHES' BLOOD PILLS Have a most beneficial and immediate effect upon the Liver, though acting upon and eradicating ejery viti&mw elements from the. Blood wwch cir- ? ) culates through it. NOTE.—Bad Blood cfistmbs the action of every Organ in the Body. I have cof- fered agonies from Lumbago or Rheumatism in my Back and Limbs, a I so Piles. Hughes's Blood Pills cured me in a short time. Also my wife from Headache and Liver Trouble." The People from all parts testify to the wonderful power of these Pills in restoring sufferers from Skin Disease, Rheumatism, Backache, Constipation, Piles, Skin, Liver, Stomach and Kidney Troubles. TRY THEM. They will soon paove their great value. Sold by Chemists and Stores at 1/3. 3/ 5/- (including War Tax). Ask for HUGHES' BLOOD PILLS with the trade mark —shape of a heart, thu Take no other, or send value in stamps or P.O. to- u JACOB HUGHES, M.P.S., L.D.S. MANUFACTURING CHEMIST, PENARTH, Cardiff.