The Amman Valley Chronicle and East Carmarthen News

BROKEN HEARTS MADE SOUND AS EVER All you have to do is to get married and then Furnish the Home from the Immense Stock held by that well-known old-established Firm by far the Largest Furnishers in the Principality BEVAN & COMPANY, LTD.: Swansea, Llanelly, Cardiff, &c. They hold at their numerous Branches everything required for Complete Furnishing from Tea Spoons to Pianofortes, warrant every article, sell at most moderate prices, and deliver free up to 200 miles from all Branches. I I I I ——MM

AT EIN GOHEBWYR AC ERAILL. Ysgrifau, Barddoniaeth, Nodion, Hanesion, a Gohebiaethau i'w han/on cyn G Y N TED YN YR WYTHNOS ag y byddo modd i'r GOLYGYDD, CRONICL UYFFRYN AMAN. I AMANFORD. I

[Er ein bod yn rhoddi pob cyfleustra i ohebwyr ddatgan eu barn ar gwestiynnati Ileol, nid ydyw hynny i olygu ein bod un cydsynio a u daliadau .GOL.]

Atgofion Eisteftdol. I Soniais yn fy ysgrif ddiweddaf am yr alferiad o hawlio enw priodol yr ysgeisydd o dan sel i ysgrif eimydd yr eistedafod. Pe cedwid yr enw o dan sel hyd ddydd yr eistedfod, a pheidio gwneud bwch diangol o absenoldeb y cyfryw, os byddai yr y nig ei sydd buddugol yn bresennol, ni buasai nemawr o le i achwyn: ond nid dyna fel yr oedd pethau. Yr wyf yn cofio fod Dyfed a mianau wedi gwneud rhuthfgyrch ar raglen eisteddfod a gynheLid ym Maesteg yn 1884. Cyrhaeddasom yn fore, ac aethom i gael ychydig iuniaech i ryw westy, cyn dechreu llogellu y gwobrwyon. Pan oeddem yno, daeth ysgrifennydd yr eisteddfod i fewn, ac amryw o'r pwy Vigor gydag ef. Wrth gwrs, nid oedd neb yno yn adnabod Dyfed a minnau. Wrth diafod rhagolygon pethau, tynnodd ysgrifnenydd yr eisteddfod lyfr o i logell, a chyhoeddodd pwy oedd yr ymgeis- wyr ar y gwahanol destynau-a Dyfed minnau yn eu plith. Dyna oedd diben yr enw priodol dan sel y pryd hwnnw-i gael gwybod pwy oedd yn cystadlu. Cyhoeddodd Dyfed a minnau ryfel yn erbyn yr arferiad; a bu Gwasg y De yn dan gwyllt am wythnosau: ond lladdwyd yr arferiad yn gelain ond y mae yn dechreu codi o i Iwch eto, a rhaid i rywrai ei daro yn ei ben ar eto, a r ha rywra el I unwaith. Pe buasai Dyfed a minnau wedi cael rhan o'r yspleddach, buasai yn hawddach dioddef yr haerllugrwydd ym Maesteg: ond tir sych a gawsom ein dau. Robyn Ddu Eryri oedd y beimiad; Rhydderch ap Morgan aeth a'r Gadair am Awdl Farwnadol i'r diweddar Howells Abertawe Dewi Afan eniillodd ar gan Y Gomant." Nid wyf yn cofio 4eth oedd y testynnau eraill. Credaf mai dim ond Dyfed a minnau sydd yn aros o'r holl gystadlleuwyr barddol oedd yn ymgodymu yn yr wyl honno. Yn airai- bynol ar helynt yr enw priodol dan sel," ni ddigwyddodd y fath drychineb barddol i'r un ohonom, na chynt na chwedyn>—colli ar bob testyn! Mae colli yn hanfodol i bob ymgeisydd; ond mae colli ar ol ennill yn beth nad ydyw yn digwydd bob yn ail flwyddyn: ond dyna fel y bu amaf fi un tro. Anfonais englyn i eisteddfod a gynhelid yn Ystradowen, tua'l' flwyddyn 1874. Yr oeddwn wedi gwastraffu ychydig o fy amseI a fy nawn carwxiaethol gyda geneth o'r lie, cyn yr eisteddfod; ac anionais ati i fy nghynrychioli—gan nad oedd fy noson garu yn disgyn yn wythnos yr eisteddfod. Trannoeth i'r wyl daeth llythyr j mi oddiwrth yr eneth yn dwgyd fod yr englyn wedi ennill. Dyma fi hanner penadur yn gyfoethocach, meddwn wrthyf fy hun- cyn darllen y llythyr ymhellach: ond wedi troi y ddalen gwelwn fy mod wedi cyfrif fy nghywien yn rhy gynnar. Dywedai ei bod yn mynd a' r hanner penadui i'r gemydd, i' w osod wrth gadwen ei horiawr! Eithaf da, meddwn wrthyf fy hun wedyn. Meddyliwn fy mod yn sefyll yn ffafriol yn ei golwg, ac fod gobaith i mi gael yr eneth a' r hanner penadur gyda'i gllydd. Ni fum yn hir cyn mynd i Ystradowen i weld fy mhethau tlysion; a dyna lle' r oedd fy hanner penadur ar fynwes fy ngeneth yn fy nhemtio i' w gwasgu yn dynnach nag erioed. Teimlwn fy hun mor hapus a Phwnch," ac yn llawer mwy dedwydd na. phe buasai yr hanner penadur yn fy llogell—gan nad faint o'i eisiau oedd amaf. Ymhen tipyn aeth llythyrau yr eneth yn fwy traethodol nag arfer; ac o dipyn i beth gwawriodd y drych- fcddwl arnaf nad oeddwn gystal carwr a' oeddwn o fardd, ac fod yn hawddach enr hanner penadur yn Eistedfod Ystradowen nag ennill caløn yr eneth oedd yno. Heb fod yn hir drachefn daeth blwch bychan gyda'r llythyrgludydd; ac wedi i mi ei agor, teiser. briodas oedd ynddo, gyda dymuniadau goreu fy nghynrychiolydd a'j phriod! Ac i gorotu y cyfan, yr oedd nodvn persawrus yng nghyigod y deisen yn fy hysbysu nad oedd gan ei phriod yr un gwrthwynebiad iddi Larhau i wisgo fy hanner penadur wrth gadwen ei horiawr! Mae yn beth rhyfedd i mi fyw wedi cael dau ergyd mor drwm—y naill air fy llogell a'r Hall ar fy nghalon: ond yr wyf wedi byw am dros bum mlynedd a deugain wedi y ddau drychineb !-(" Bryn- fab," yn y Geninen, prif gyhoeddiad y genedl)

PENILLION. I Ar yr achlysur o gyflwyno tysteb i'r Parch. John Morris (lay reader), Uandyran. Hawdded yw rhoi anrheg fechan I hen arwr hardd y fro, Fu' n bendithio ardal gyfan Drwy'r blynyddoedd ar ei dro. Nid oes un nad yw am chwyddo Salm ei glodydd brwd ax gan Mae pob calon yn anwylo Efengylydd Llandyfan. Bu'n rhoi balm ar clwyfau galax Dan yr ywen lawer gwaith; Bu yn Honni'r ieuainc hawddgar Yn eu gwleddoedd ar ei daith. Breintiwyd ef gan Dduw a chalon Wyddai am y gwliih a'r tan Dirifedi fu bendithion Cymwynaswr Llandyfan. Boed ein teyrnged fechan iddo Y n oleuni yn yr hwyr, Tra'r pren almon" yn blodeuo Am ei ael inewn tangnef Ilwyr. Erys eto drwy'r blynyddau Sydd yn dod fel rhosyn glan, I wasgaru peraroglau Yn hen ardal Llandyfan. D. R. GRIFFITHS. I

NADOLIG. I Croeso calon i'r Nadolig Ar 01 Hedd ordoi ein tir; Haleliwia, Bendigedvg, Canwn, canwn ar ol hir Ddyddiau r amdo, Gwae a'r wylo, Am Waredydd byth i Dduw. Gylch y bwrdd mae llu o'r meibion Fu yng nghoch ferwadau' r gad; Dros Gyfiawnder hwnt ï r eigion Safent dros eu hannwyl wlad; Ar Nadolig Cysegredig, Cydfoliannwn Aer y Nef. Os dan dyweirch glas yr allfro Bell yn gorwedd yn eu gwaed Y mae cewri gynt yr henfro, Yn yr wyl clywn eco'u tr; Mewn gogoniamt Cyd-foliannant A ni am Waredwr byd. Os vw'n byrddau'n meddu Hawnder 0 ddanteithion drudfawr bras, Y mae bord y tlawd dan lomder- Cofiwn ef fel gwrthrych gras; Yn garedig, Ddydd Nadolig, Dyna wnaeth ein Iesu ni. At y Baban awn hyd Bethl' em, Fewn i'r llety llwm, dinod; Gadawn iddo'r V yn eurem, A dychwelwn dan Ei glod; Heb yr hunan Fydol anian, Mae addoli Prynwr byd. Rhoddwn ninnau enedigaeth I fendithion ar y dydd Ylcha ymaith hen elyniaeth Sydd yn bla ar Iwybrau ffydd: Ar i fyny Y mae'r Ilety Welir ynddo oreu Duw. DYFFRYNOG..

Nineteen Years! I have been free from lumbago and kidney weakness for fully nineteen years, and have excellent health at this date- 1 5,h April, 1919-thaiks to Doan's Pills," says Mr. Chas. Bloomfield, of 177, Convamore Road, Grimsby. How different until 1900 On 10th March, 1900, Mr. Bloomfield said:—" For several years I had painful bouts of lumbago and kidney complaint. I nevcrr had rest from the torment, and was laid up on occasions for weeks at a time-unable to turn in bed, and helpless every way. The dread of these sudden lumbago pains upset ray nerves and kept me from sleep. I had frequent attacks of headache and dizziness, LOO, and my sight got alarmingly dimmed. Kidney disorder was also made plain by the urine, which scalded and cast a sediment. No relief came my way till I tried Doan's Pills, but then a great change was apparent. Every day I got better. The kidneys and bladder wen plainU* fie!pci; I felt the headaches and dizziness passing off, the pains left my back, and my muscles lost their stiffness. One mon-iV- boxes of Doan' s Pills—r;d me of lumbago and of ever; <;11,igr A kidney weak-I :?ss. (??. s?) Chas. Bloomfield."  Don't os? ?or ? Jne? pills or 6ae?acne piZ:. 1 Insist upon DOAN'S Back ache Kidney Pills —the kidney medicine Mr. Bloomfield recom- mends. All dealers, or Ts. 9d. a box from F ?!r 'I,Clellan Co., 6, Wells Street, ".itr,-et, London, W.I. "VirjMmmsi By People For ths People",

Nodion Teithiwr. I Pan yn gwibehedeg ein teithiau thamantus, daethom yr wythnos ddiweddaf i bentref swynol y FELlNWEN. I Cawsom y lie hwn yn Hawn cyffro—y gwragedd a'r mamau, ac ami i eneth lygad- lon, yn ymdyrru i'r Llythyrdy a'u sypynau gwerthfawr, i'w danion yma a thraw i'w hoff gyfeillion a' u perthynasau, er iddynt fwynhau Nadolig llawen. A hynod ofalus oeddent oil am sicrhad yr anrhegion i w hiawn berchen- ogion, drwy eu cofxestra un ac oil. A gallaf sicrhau mai Igwaith caled gafodd Mrs. Phillips, meistres y Llythyrdy, tra y buom yn aros yno. Rhaid yw ymadael yn awr, gan wynebu at godiad haul, a chyda ein bod yn gadael y pentref goddiweddwyd ni gan y boned<iwr caredig, Mr. Jones, Llwchgwyn, Llanegwad, a Mjss Jones yn eu cerbyd ysblennydd, a rhaid oedd gosod Teithiwr ar ei sedd, a chlustog esmwyth, fel y cyrhaeddasom bentref swynol NANTGAREDIG I heb yn wybOd i ni. Wedi diolch i r caredigion am eu caredigrwydd, tynnwyd ein sylw at gapel prydferth y Trefnyddion Calfinaidd, a chawsom fod Mr. William Davies, Penrhiwmeredth, Llanegwad, a Miss Mary Evans, Penybryn, Abergwili, trydydd merch Mr. a Mrs. Evans, i gael eu huno mewn glan briodas yn y lie. Yn was priodas yr oedd Mr. James, Brondawe, ac yn gweini ar ei chwaer yr oedd Miss Mar- garetta Evans. Sicrhawyd y cwlwm ym mhresenoldeb y cofrestrydd gan y gwein, idog, y Parch. Isaac bavies. Rhoddwyd yr anrheg i'r gwr ieuanc gan ei thad, Mr. Evans, yr hwn a fagodd y trysor iddo. Dymuna pawb briodas dda a iechyd a hawdd- fyd i'r par ieuainc. Ymadawsant, ynohanol banliefau cymeradwyol, er treulio y mis melys yng Nghaerdydd. Bu'r enwog William Davies Am amser hir cyn hyn Yn chwilio am ytrysor Cyn dod i Benybryn; Pan welodd ef Miss Evans, Bron dotio bu y gwalch; Ac wedi ei chael yn eiddo, Mae heddyw'n teimlo'n falch. Eiddunwn iddynt gysur, A llwyddiant ar bob awr; Ymhell o' u tY. bo gofid I Tra byddont ar y llawr. Penrhiwmeredith fyddo, Ar ol yr undeb hyn, A chor o blant yn canu Fel cynt ym Mhenybryn. I LLANEGWAD. I Yr wythnos ddiweddaf, bu cyfarfodydd j diddorol yn y pentref hwn, sef cyfarfod i drefnu elusen y tlodion, a chyfarfod arall i rannu y cyfryw, yr oU tan lywyddiaeth y ficer parchus, y Parch. E. Lee Hamer; a gwnaeth efe ei ran yn ganmoladwy a di- duedd. Clorianwyd yr Eglwyswyr a'r Ym- neilltuwyr yn gyfartal ganddo; pwyswyd a mesurwyd pawb yn ol yr angen a'r eisiaiu. Ymddengys fod y fferm perthynol i'r elusen hon wedi bod. tan adgyweiriadau eleni, yr hyn a gostiodd i'r gronfa tua £ 35; a gofynnid doethineb eleni i rannu a boddloni y derbyn- wyr, ond trwy bwyll a doethineb y eadeirydd a."r medrus ysgrifennydd, Mr. D. Jones, Blaengoleu, pasiodd popeth yn dawel a di- gyffro. Gwnaeth Mr- a Mrs. Davies, y Llew Coch, eu rhan yn ganmoladwy, ac y mae y diolchgarwch mwyaf gwresog yn deilwng iddynt. Yn cymeryd rhan yn y gwaith hwn llawer tro cyn hyn bu JOHN F. JAMES. Llwyncelyn, Llandeilo.

ADDRESS ON WORK OF CHURCH ARMY AT LLANDILO. Llandilo-fawr Ruridecanal Chapter, i presided over by the Rural Dean (the Ven. Archdeacon Robert Williams, M.A.), was addressed by the Rev. E. Hughes, B.A. (organising secretary of the Church Army), who emphasised that the work of the Church Army did not cease with the war. He referred lo its many social activities, appealing to the parishes for their help and co- operation. The Rev. E. Thompson Jenkyns, M.A., vicar of Manoraiio, was ap- pointed organising secretary of th Church Army for the Deanery. The Rural Dean explained in detail t1-e work to be done in the various parishes between now and Easter pre- paratory to the new constitution of the Church in Wales. The Rev. E. D. Aldred Williams, B.A., vicar of Golden Grove, pre- f anted tho annual accounts of the 11 Deanery Magazine," which showed a deficit balance. It was decided to I increase the price of it next year.

My Christmases in the Army I [By A PRIVATE.] I The Yuletide festivities recall to me many occurrences, both joyfful and depressive. During the past four or five years, many of us have experi- enced instances bearing memories that will dodge our very footsteps during the remaining years of our lives, and undoubtedly will follow in the records of those in the hereafter." Christ- mas, to one and all of us, proclaims a period of gladness generally, and the long looked fcttward to occasion stands alone in the contemplations of the participant. Well do I Remember those dark and dreary days of war, when the majority of us were called upon to defend the very existence of our country. Circumstances at the time were such as to interfere with our ambition to be among those dear and near to us. Although the cannons roared, the bayonets flashed, the machine-guns rattled, and the bombs endeavoured, and succeeded in most I K 11 11 cases, to play Merry riell with us, our thoughts turned to those sharing the good things Nature had provided, and the warmth of a cosy fire. I for one tried to forget, but there appeared something mystical in the atmosphere consistent with the uniqueness of the occasion; although on one Christmas there did not arrive the usual greeting —the mail, through the treachery of the enemy, lying at the bottom of the sea. Yet all these things only added to our determination to celebrate Yule- tide. My first Christmas with the Colours I spent at a little village on the coast of Pembrokeshire. Referring to this village, it recalled to me Oliver Goldsmith' s beautiful words on the Deserted Village Sweet Auburn, loveliest village of the plain, Where health and plenty dwell." We were only a few, but enough to combine our military duties with plea- sure. The cold blasty winds, the drizzling rain, and the occasional rasp of a foghorn now and -again, gave out the signs of winter. None of these failed us, none of the fears of the long- expected invasion piayed upon our consciences. All had been forgotten for the while, for was it not Christmas —Merry Christmas? On Christmas Eve I did my usual two hours "stag" and four hours off. In vain did we search for those enemy Zepps. and aeroplanes supposed to be on the way to attack us. Let it be remembered, we did our duty. Christmas to the enemy did not tend to cease their activities. It might have been that a rare opportunity would have come their way. But let us for the moment leave alone these matters of desolation, and confine, ourselves to the splendour of the little village in Pembrokeshire. Let us at the same time make a comparison in the idealism of that wee village to the smoky surroundings of our larger cities, true in the words of the poet: The loveliest village of the plain, where health and plenty dwell." Dependent on its vast agricultural facilities, the average toiler proved con- tent, and discussed not the pros. and the cons of a living wage. I recollect one cottage in the vicinity, where very often I partook of a nice cup of tea. (Maybe that I noticed a different flavour in that humble cup of tea to the contents of a grease-bespattered "dixy "). That small dwelling pro- vided accommodation for six robust children in addition to the man and wife. Perhaps a little too inquisitive, but I enquired the princely weekly earnings of that homely and generous handy man." He proudly informed me that, with the exception of a few privileges, his wage (inclusive of war bonus) amounted in all to fifteen shillings. He was then satisfied; I wonder if he would to-day? Of the different characters I met in the vicinity, chief amcny Was the old boat- man. Yes, 'twas in his humble dwell- ing that I did justice to a nice fowl sent !(1 horn?. 'Twas in his boat, too, ii wc bray-xl the element?, and after drifting on the open sea for many hours, eventually landed somewhere near Milford Haven. The tide had been good to us, or perhaps I would not have been able to write this short article to-day. Well do I recollect my pals telling me of his anxieties concern- ing the whereabouts of his old craft. (I may be wrong in stating that we commandeered the boat). Much to the boatman's joy, the boat returned, as well as ourselves, to observe the Yuletide festivities. To revert to my subject, the officers had offered a sub- stantial prize for the best decorated hut, and in fact everything possible had been done to cater for our jubilation. The- tables had been tastefully deco- rated, and were laden with all the good things procurable. There was goose, turkey, plum pudding, sweets, and beer served to us. Some of our comrad es may not have fared so well, but it was our first Christmas on active service in England. The occasion recalls to me fond mementoes. Many of those fore- most in the preparations have since laid down their lives for a noble cause. To these I say, Greater love hath no man than this*" &c. Recollections of my second Christ- mas with the Colours take me back to far-off Alexandria. At the time the weather was similar to a beautiful summer's day in dear old Blighty A I had by now become accustomed to the native habits and the quaint customs of that land. (To deal with the many different customs would involve a good deal of space). After a trying period on the Peninsula, I was sent to hos- pital at Cairo, and from there drafted back to what they called the lines of communication at Alexandria. From here I was promoted to a fully fledged hospital orderly. Most of my many readers know full well the duties apper- taining thereto. With me I had a Llan- gadock boy. Strange, but my signal pal-a St. Peter's boy-had been sent back to Blighty. The hospital, called Orwa-el-waska, was attached to the 19th General ospital, situate a short distance away. Our patients consisted of those suffering from different fevers, chief among them being malaria, dysentery, and even a rare case of cerebral meningitis (spotted fever) Under my care were two natives, strong and lofty, but rather afraid of so-called work. Their duties mainly consisted of scrubbing out the wards, a task which generally took them a whole day. With them one's patience was taxed to the utmost degree, but I just managed to run along smoothly. Some day I will recall an evening I spent with them at their favourite cafe. Well, to return to my Christmas Day at Orwa-el-waska. There happened to be no serious cases in the wards at the time, and matters were rather quiet. The evacuation had taken place, and the attention of the troops had been called to the Western Front, where the Bedouins caused a little mischief. The natives had observed their Christ- mas previous to this. (Their Christmas came earlier). At that time we were confined to our own quarters, and like- wise on the 25th December. There was an excellent fare provided the patients, those of them who could defy the medical orders for that day. The matron had seen to it that the wards were bedecked with bunting, and around the walls hung seasonable greetings. In the afternoon a concert party attended and catered from a musical standpoint. In the afternoon, the band of the South African Black Watch played on the terrace, and quite a good old day was celebrated. Oh, no, we did not forget ourselves, the hospital orderlies. I was fortunate enough to be served with a Christmas dinner similar to that of the previous Christmas. A whist drive was held in the evening, and valuable prizes were offered by the colonel in charge, the matron and the staff of sisters. Again I was fortunate and won the second prize. In addition, a capital evening concert had been arranged, and all ended in a Perfect Day." These are my recollections, readers, and now I close with the good old wish, 6' A Merry Christmas to You All."

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,Old Characters at llan. dovery Fairs. The moving pictures which the travelling showman helped so much in bringing to the notice of the public have proced the means of practically ending his business career. The adver- tisement which he gave them has led to the establishment of cinema halls in most of our villages. These, with a weekly, or oftener, change of pro- gramme full of exciting incidents, have elbowed out many a quaint, humorous and interesting character who formerly enlivened our fairs. The Punch and Judy show is the only old-time attrac- tion which seems at the moment to be regaining its old-time placeas a peri- patetic exhibition. Now, I can recall many of the old characters who visited our fairs 35 or 40 years ago. One of these was Dai- Try-Your-Strength, who was generally accompanied by an old woman known as Mary Cacks. Dai's stock-in-trade, from which he would have made a, very coir/fortable living had he not been such a devoted disciple of John Barley- corn, consisted of a long narrow board bearing numbers, which was attached to a box containing a block which, on being hit by a mallet, drove an indi- cator along the numerals. The man whose blow resulted in the indicator reaching the highest figure was voted the strongest. Dai had a way of his own of encouraging competitors and thereby garnering a rich harvest of coppers. Try your strength! Try your strength The best machine now travelling England, Wales, Scotland, France he would bawl out, and then add, Y bachgen a fwro ucha geith y gyflog fwya leni." The last words never failed to draw at November fair- time, when lusty young men about entering on a new year's contract were taking their holiday and' spending a little of the past year's earnings. To- wards evening, Dai usually got help- lessly drunk. On one of these occa- sions some mischievous lads packed up the Try-Your-Strength machine, pulled it along and threw it into the river. Dai's grief the following day was pitiful to behold. His means of liveli- hood was gone. It is pleasant to record that on being informed of Dai's plight, the chivalry in the boys asserted itself, and they not only showed where the machine was, but assisted in getting it out of the river. Mari derived her name from the fact that she sold little cakes at the fair. Another fnuny old pair who some of your readers will doubtless remember were the old man and woman who were the owners of an enormous swing boat. Both were dirty, and the old man's whiskers would look a good deal better after a visit to a barber. They drank, snuffed and smoked. Poor old souls, they also suffered at the hands of the young bloods. The appliance now used for bringing the swing to a stop had not been invented then. So a long board held on the slant was used. Strong folks prolonged the ride by the vigour with which they pulled and rendered hopeless the efforts of the old people to bring the boat to a stop. On one of these occasions the pulling was carried on with such energy that the boat overturned,, and most of those ..1 I- 11 inside tell and sustained injuries, bo that for once the old 'uns got a little of their own back. Another character who always suc- ceeded in drawing a crowd was old Phillips, the Cheap Jack. The landed gentry invariably gathered round him. He spoke politics, you see, from their point of view. I remember how he used to shout, "See! I have here a knife which has been the admiration of all beholders wherever shown. I have sold some of them to the crowned heads of Europe and Cabinet Ministers. Lord Beaconsfield bought one, and old Gladstone would have bought one, too, only he happened to be out of office, and having no small change I was afraid to trust him. Jawl ah muster, how much? How much, you beef-faced yolcel there? How much? Old Phillips would then glare at some innocent countryman who understood not a word of what he said, and fire joke after joke in quick succession, much to the amusement of the on- lookers. Poor old Phillips! he was a familiar figure at most fairs in South Wales. The roll of years have long since gathered him in to his forbears. Twm Careon (Twm Laces), who hailed from Carmarthen, was a char- acter who exuded an atmosphere of religion wherever he went. Were it not that the impression was blurred by his shabby attire, Twm with his mealy- mouthed airs might easily have passed as a Methodist minister when he cajoled you to buy his strong leather laces. But his expression entirely changed when he was met with a curt refusal. His language on these occa- sions would horrify a native of the neighbourhood of Billingsgate. The last was John Jones, of the old Swansea firm that never breaks or bends. He died suddenly whilst attending a fair at Llandilo. T. D.

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Y.M.C.A. for Llangadock. The Y.M.C.A. has taken over the St. David's Institute, Llangadock, and has opened a Red Triangle Club there. In the presence of a large gathering. Miss Yseulte Peel, Danyrallt, performed the opening ceremony, Mr. Mervyn Peel, who presided, appealed for unity in order to make the club a success. He had done his bit in connection with the previous institute, his object being the improvement of village life in order to pre- vent people deserting the village for the town. He hoped they would go full steam ahead in the true spirit of brotherhood and sisterhood. (Applause) Mr. F. S. Higman, Welsh National Coun- cil secretary, said there were already 135 re- quests to hand for huts for villages in Wales. The most hideous thing in the world was a long,faced Christian. Why should all the mirth of the world be confined to our music- hails? They should have some of it in insti- tutions like the Y.M.C.A., which stood for inter-denominational relationship, and was a place where all could fraternise. Mr. G. W. Thomas (Welsh National Field Secretary, Y.M.C.A.) and others also-, spoke..