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TO-DAY'S SHORT STORY.] How…
TO-DAY'S SHORT STORY.] How Scott Backed the Winners. 0 THE STOHY OF A TURF FRAUD. I "Back in ninety-six," said my friend, Detective-insTJector IVeptwood, If-,ittbewl-, an old comrade cf mine, who is now chief- constable of Rockbridge, WTOte and invited! me to rpend a portion of my holiday with him at has place, a sleepy little town. wlio-le only claim to distinction is that some rather important rates are held there for a week, every yeatr, arid th'y are patronised by Royalty. The racecourse is on a ridge of! hills forming a sloping table-land some three miles to the north-west of the town, so that it,, is quite easy fcr the inhabitants to go on the roofs cf their houses and watch the racing by the aid of a iield-glass. I accepted Matthevre's invitation, for he' a jol-ly fellow, and keeps a go-cd cellar. Besides, I wanted a rest. But I wasn't destined to g-er math. Ic happened that the races oegun two days after I got there, and on the night preceding the first day of the racing, the p-o;,ot-otlice--whieh iF just opposite the police-station and cii i c- f-cons table's house —was burglariously entered, but, remarkable to relate, no attempt had been made to open the safe or tamper with the mails, or take aiuyiuiug whatever, me object or tne entry I certainly did not appear to be plunder. j 'The most careful examination of the pre- I miSoeS by Matthews an.d myself failed to j roveal any clue, and but for the forced lock and bolts, and the 'jemmy' marks on the I door, it seemed ditiicuJt to realise that bur- glary had been committed at all; so empty J harded had the perpetrators gone away. í "We could make nothing of the matter, so I gave it up, for Matthews\s men had plenty I to do in looking after the swarm of rogues who follow every race meeting and make hai) est people rather -nervous as to the safety of their peiiions and valuables. "A3 I said, I wanted a rent, so did not go I tck either of the. raof*; but, as the weather I W8 gloriously fire, I amused myself by going on the roof of my host's house, and watch- iiig the racing through my glass. I got a splendid view of the proceedings on the! whole, but occasionally the rays of the sun i were reflected in my eyes by a mirror of some kind on the racecourse. This was j rather diseoncertiug to my vision; so I I turned my attention opposite, to the roof of ( the house adjoining the post-office, the occu- pant of which, I observed, was evidently I doing the same as myself—watching the 1 racing. I "But the flashing of the mirror seemed to npset him a bit, too, for presently he I descended from the roof in a hurry, and a moment or so later I heard the door bang, as if he had left the house. Mrs. Matthews j informed me that the house he lived in had I been unoccupied for over a year, but was rented by this old gentleman and his son a j little while back. She had ascertained that the tenant's name was Martin. | "He had the reputation of being feeble and I eccentric, and certainly seemed the latter, for on two consecutive days I saw him pn his roof, watching the racing, until the; flashing of the mirror seemed to fill him with j rage, when he occasionally went behind tbt, chimney-stack and waved his arms—perhaps to relieve hi.3 feelings. Then he hurriedly I left the roof again, and a minute or so later I heard the door slammed as befo'-e. "On the evening of the third day's racing Matthews entered the house and said to me: j 'I wish you'd come into my private office a' minute, old man. Old Monty the book-) maker and moneylender 01 North-street.> wants to see you hadiy. £ ays he's been j swindled (though how anyone can swindle a bookmaker passes my comprehension), and has pitched a long, ram-shackle tale into me about being rained, and all that sort of! thing. Come and hear whai he's got to -ay, just to oblige me," I followed Matthews into his offi. andl there saw an ugly. wizened little man with a hooked nose; greed oni cunning stamped on every line in his brown-paper-coloured face. He commenced at once:— 'Ah. Mr. IVectwood; I heard you were here. Do help me? Ycu are a Hever man. I am old and poor, and have been swindled three times this week; I am positive of it. I shall be ruined and die in the workhouse! No one has over b&st?d me of a penny before, and to think I should coiae to this!' and then he fairly commenced to sob. Af.ter £ giM?t trouble I elicited the following: — t?t That be was a bookmaker and commi- sian agent, who accepted bets or sums of money from his clients to put on such  horses as they should direct. He sometimes did business by telegraphic instructions sent I to the racecourse (where the post-office wires ran direct from Eockridze, and some opera- •tor* were stat.onei to receive and despatch messages during race week), provided the time the message was handed in at the receiving office was at least foar minutes ^before the particular race it referred to was run. x "The day before the first race, a young tourist, named Scott, who was staying at the George Hotel, had deposited E2OO with I him, instructing him to u,,? it as directed, ?oott to wire instructions each day. Read pointed out that this course was somewhat unusual, but readilly accepted the commis- sion, and gave a receipt for the deposit upon I Scott explaining that he dared not attend! auy race meeting, under penalty of forfeit- ing a very substantial legacy which had been left him under the will of an anti-racing relative, who. however, had fortunately not forbidden him to make bets! "Perhaps you can remember that in that particular year all the important e-Tents were won by rank outriders. As you can imagine, there was a lot of money dropped over it, and people got riled. The winner of the Melville Cup was Saucy Jane, against- whom the odds were 50 to 1. No sooner bad the! race (Which was run at two o'clock) con- j eluded, than a telegraphic message from ,Scott imltructe Read as fellows: 'Put £ 50 at starting price on Saucy Jane for me.- fecot.t.' "The message vAls inscribed: 'Handed at the Rockbridge office at 1.54 p.m.' That, was six minutes before the race w.a.s run, though Read, did not get it till after. Rear: was. furious, hiving already lost heavily,! but, as th-e instructions were in perfect order, he had tg pay the sum or £ 2, £ 00, less I commission, to the lucky Scott. The next day the unexpected again hap- p?ned The JarTiss Purse w?s won by j another ?utsidc-r, who was guaranteed not to win by 50 to 3. Again, after the race Read received from Scott a t,elegrant dated this time seven minutes before the horses ran, instructing him to put £ 50 on Doctor Jack, who i roved the winner, and that evening Sootfe was richer by another huge sum, while I the unfortunate bookmaker was in despair. But when the same tiling happened the next day he was almost demented, and re- fused to pay. He vowed that the messages had been tampered with; that some of the post-office officials were in collusion with Koott. helping, him falsify the telegrams; .and alleged all aorta of wild and improbable thing-. The old fellow seemed quite crazy over his enormous losses, and begged us with 1 tears in his eyes to expose the swindle ant recover his money for him. 'It is absurd as well as libellous for you to make unproved charges against pogt-offioe officials, Mr. I said. 'Possibly there was an error in timing the telegrams, or the stewards' watches and post-office clock may not tally. Come over to the office, and we'll øeoe.' So over we went, when Matthews inter- viewed the postmaster and explained the matter to him. "'As mo&t peopic wer? at the races there only one clerk in the office at the time, and ¡ in him I have unbounded confidence,' said the postmaster. However, you can question him, if you like.' We did so. He most emphatically declared that the times at which he received the messages were thos« to a minute stated on the-m, and to this he adhered like a rock. That the time at the post-office and racecourse tallied almost to a second w'as verified by telegraphic inquiry, and the idea of collusion between Scott and I either of the post-oftice clerks was dispelled by the landlord of the George, who said that (Scott kept to his rooms sketching and writ- ing each day, only going out to the post- Olllce just before the times of the races. I "The whole charge of fraud seemed a baseless one, conjured by the excited brain of 'Read, whom Matthews strongly admonished, t-cllivig him to be careful he didn't stir up a j I hornet's nest of liboel cases. ? "The next day I again went on the roof to ¡ watch the racing a? before, and again the! j bothering mirror on the racecourse ci,- j J traeted me. Sudenly I became aware of a j I distinct order in the na?hes of light, and then the truth dawned upon me. The flashes constituted a message, sent by a heliograph in the Morse code of telegraph, which, j iuckiiy, I knew quite well. that was it j —dots and dashes of light, and—yes! they spelt the name of a horse: 'Pride of the South, and that horse was entered for the big event of the day! That was all; merely the name of the horse repeated twice. Per- j haps it denoted tha t that was the favourite i or the winner. If so, to whom was the mes- 1 sage sent? Alter all, there might be something .n Read's declaration that he had been swindled. But then how about the times the telegrams had been handed in? Just then. on looking down I happened to see a young man leave the house opposite, and enter the post-office. So presently I desceiided, a.nd going over to the almost deserted post-office made my purchase, still thinking of the stzn-flaahed message. 'Funny affair altogether,' thought 1; 'that race was timed for three; what is the time now?' and glancing up at the clock on the office IN-all I sa\¡' something which made me start and explain, 'By Jove!' What's up?' asked the clerk. 4"Oh. iHwnething just struck me,' I replied, evasively "Then I went home to think over the matter. There seemed to be some connection between the Hashing of the mirror and what 1 had seen at the post-office, and the more I thought the more I became convinced that I Read was light, a<nd fraud was rampant. "I took Matthews into my confidence, and both of iL;, had an interview with the POST- master thai, evening, with the result that during the dead of night we all three stealthily entered the post-onice. and cau- tiously removed the dock from the wall. Two small and apparently elastic threads came with it, for ag we lowered the clock the threads oc.ommodaÜngly lefn?thened. and I laying it on the counter we silently and I almost in darkness opened the glaes door. "Then we noticed "that the steel minate hand -was not a fellow of the hour hand, but the square in it which fite on the minute I wheel stem protruding through the centre of the dial was much too large, so that the I hand was quite (sloppy, and shifted from side to side to the extent of nearly thirteen minutes of the clock face's circumference. "Proceeding farther, we removed the dial, and there, anderneath, between works and I face, with the wheel stems which hands fit on running through it, was a flat, short ring I of iron, like a piece of pipe, wound tightly round with silk-covered wire, the continua- tion of which proved to be the obliging 'threads' I have just mentioned, which 'threads,' or electric wires, ran through the wall into the house adjoining the post-office. Then the whole plot was laid bare before us. The mysteries of the bur- glary the flashing of the mirror, and Scott's marvellous luck were all explained at once. The burglars Martin, 'son,' and Scott—had confined their attention to the clock when they broke into the post-office, and substituted the large hand for the pro- per one; put the short ring of wire-bound iroh-—whiclr wa'S a powerful electro-magnet— behind the dial; bored a tiny hole through the waD. a.nd so pushed the wires from the  magnet into the next house. Then the clock ) having been carefully re-placed on the wall I and set going, everything was ready for their j ingenious swindle. < Now. owing to the minnite band being thirteen minutes loose, it would point to the figure VI. for thirteen minutes before it com- j' menced to move, and so be that amount slow until.it had passed the XII., when it would safddeitfy fall forward thirteen mimites and show cored time till it again reached the VI. So you see how Scott's telegrams I were always thirteen minutes slow, provided he despatched them after the half-past any I hour. "But the swindler9 did not wish the hand to perform its erratic feat more than once a day—once would only be noticed by the merest chance, as scarcely any persons I would I.,(- abotit just at the time they desired the ckckto be wrong. So to obviate the risk of detection they devised the clever plan of inserting the powerful electro- magnet, which was connected by the wire to a battery in the house adjoining, in which they lived. When the battery and wires were connected, the magnet powerfully attracted the end of the minute hand, Md kept it in position on the square. &o that it showed correct time all the way round. Just before the race, however, the. bat- tery was disconnected and the magnet ceased to attract the hand, which then being about five minutes to the hour fell back thirteen minutes. Consequently the clock was then that much slow. Then when the race was concluded-and it seldom took more than five minutes-one of the gayjg on the course helio- graphed the resrult to the man I had noticed on the opposite house roof. who in reply waved his arms to denote that he under- stood. which signal the man on the course saw through a telescope. The swindler on the roof then descended, and taking a Sul itably- worded telegram-into the post-office, said to the clerk. Put the time on this and despatch it immediately, please. It is a bet for the race just to be run, and it is most important.' The telesrram despatched, the man would wait till the hand had dropped over the hour, and then once more connecting up t.he battery, the clock would F-how correct time until manipulated next day as required. It was this dropping of the hand after it had passed the XII. that I noticed in the post- office. "We obtained a warrant and raided the house next door, arresting the occupants on charges of burglary and falsifying tele- grams; we also arrested Scott at the George for complicity. There was much of interest in the house: a heliograph disguised as a camera to eeeape detection, as well as a lot of electrical apparatus, batteries, Ac. Martin '-wasn't fully dressed when we called. Instead of being a, feeble old man of 65 we found Ilim to be a hale and hearty young one of 130 years less, looking very different with the white locks and beard adorning a table instead of his head, 'cott' was his twin- brother, the two being as alike as peas. Martin's 'son,' the confederate who attended the races, -proved to be a well-known i'weIRher' of a few years back. "Of course* 'Scott' never went near the post-office; but Martin, upon receiving infor- -nation as to the winning horse, instantly eft the roof of his house, took off his false heard and wig. and entered the office as ;3eott whose image he was-and thus suc- ceeded in deceiving the clerk as to his iden- tity, as I have told you. "The rascally trio are now in retirement down in Devonshire, well provided for at I the country's expense for a period of five years.
Advertising
i' Provost Competition No. 1. 50 Cash Prizes of £5 each 50 Cash Prizes of f-3 each 100 Cash Prizes of £ 1 each You may be the winner of one of the above prizes, which we offer for the 200 best letters or essays giving reasons "Why British cereals are best for British people." Anyone can take part in this competition. -There is only one simple condition each competitor shall have tried both Provost and Provost Oats Nuts and coupons from three 7d. packets of Provost Nuts and the name and address of the Grocer who supplies you with Provost Oats must accompany each letter or essay submitted. Buy Provost Oats and Provost Nuts to-day-and learn (if you do not already know-how much superior these foods are to the foods prepared from foreign grown cereals.. Then sit down and tell us, in not more than 500 words your reasons" Why British cereals are best for British people." Correct spelling, punctuation and literary style are not important. Essays will be examined and awards will be made by a Committee of competent judges, selected by ns, their decision to be final. -Your contri- bution must reach us not later than April 30th. List o £ awards will be published in this paper on or about Saturday, May 22nd, and the prizes will be paid on that day. Children who have entered for our Special School ? Children's Competition [No. 2] (full details sent free on request) may take part in this Competition also. Acidress-R. ROBINSON & SONS, Competition;Dept., ANNAN, N.B.. V I WW-———■—BB1P-——— 4
. For Women Folk.I
For Women Folk. I I HOMELYJHINtS AND DAINTY DtSHE. Black kid gloves that have become worn and rusty-looking egn- -be, restored and made to look well by ar^plyftnfr a little black ink mixed with a. tea6pe6rdtLI of olive oil applied to the tips with a traalS paint brush. Roast Ox Heart I Well wash the insfcle of the heart and remove the fat from tlie top, put the heart into a pan of boiling water, and boil for twenty minutes. Take, or-t and drain, and stuff with breadcrumbs, met, parsley, and lemon, blended with egg. Roast for about I two hours. Boiling it first prevents it having I that greasy tia'vouc'that.ia.a.t timea objected tu. Good Vegetiabte Soup Seven ounces of carrut. lOo-z. parsnip, lOoz. potato cut into thi:» slices, Hoz. butter, 5 teaspcontuls of flour, 1 ;easpoonfal made oju-tard, salt and pepper to taste, yolks of 2 egg's, 2 quart ? of water. Boil the vegetahle", ip the water for 2\ hewre• stir often, hut do -M?i' x in a. basin the not let it boil away. Mix" in a basin the butter and tiatir, -m-ustztrAL ;salt, ami pepper, with a teacupiul of cold, water. Stir in the soup and hail ten minutes. Have ready the | yolks of the eggs in the tureen, pour soup on, stir well and serve. A head of celery added is -also an rbprovement. To Cook Calf's Head l Boak in water, take out tongue 'and brains, throw brains in cold water, afterwards tie in cloth separately irom head. Tie up head and ton-true in lar-re cloth and boil in cold water. When the head is nearly cooked put brains in for quarter of an hour. Chop up braicsr with parsley, putting them in the middle of g<'para.te dT?i with the tongue round as garnish, i??e head on a;nother dish quickly, as it most important that this dish should be served very hot. Boil gently from two and a half to three- hours, accord- ing to bize.
Passing Pleasantries.
Passing Pleasantries. Editor: Well, did you see Mr. Nabob? Reporter: Yes, but he refused to talk. Editor: Very well. Make the interview about two columns. A lady who is a little deaf goes shopping. "IlDw much is this stuff?" Seven shillings." "Seventeen shillings? I will give you six- teen." Seven shillings, madam," replies the honest employe. "Seven shillings! Then I will give you five I" gLOW LITERARY l-RODUCTIOX. I suppose hardly believe it." said the oolonel. who is writing1 the libretto erf a comic opera, "but I beg-an work right after dinner last night and worked hard till three o'clock this morning on eight linc-jugt eight lines." Thàt's nothing," calmly remarked the major. A friend of mine has been working for the last six years on one sentence." A CUTE GAOLER. -1 I Before the adoption ot the ponce m Airarie I a worthy named Geordie G- had the sur- veillance of the town. A drunken, noisy I Irishman was lodged in a, cell, who created I an awful noise by kicking at the cell door I with his heavy boots. Geordie went to the l cell, and, opening the door a little, said: "Man, ye micht pit aff yer buits, and I'll gie 'em a bit rub, so that ye'll be respectable like afore the bailie in the mornin' The prisoner complied with his request, and saw his mistake only when the door was closed upon him, Geordie crying out: "Ye can kick as lang as ye like, noo."
STRANGE TYPHOID CASESI
STRANGE TYPHOID CASES I Two strange ca?e of typhoid fe"èr have ? bf?n admitted to the corporation sanal?,?lll at No?'p?rt. One was the mate of a. vese? which had a?rriv?d from I oeland. WbHe the veesel wan at Oork a child fell into tbe I 'harbour. The mate, who was on the deok of the vessel at the time, jumped into the water and succeeded in rescuing the child. The fever was suppoeed to have resulted, from t-he I fact that the mate swallowed some of the water, which was mixed with the fc £ wag-e of the city. and that the polluted water set up typh«oid. Inquiries sut Cork showed that the re&oued child was also laid up wtul typhoid. Representatioos were being made to the Royal Humane Society with a view to getting their medal for bravery. The other case was that of a lad who had eaten come sweets which had been thrown with refuse on the river bank at Newport. These srweets had become polluted by the sewaare, and the pollution act I up typhodd fever,
DESTITUTION AT CARDIFF_I
DESTITUTION AT CARDIFF The Cardiff Doeice soup kitohen committee inet on Thursday and decided to re-open the soup kitchen to-day. Sir W. T. Lewis will gliso be fupproached with a view tolwilowing one of the cattle 5!hed to be used for the accom- modation of dwtitute seamen. It has, been suggested that the place ahonld be thoroughly heated by stoves and strewn ritlx a good supply of urt.raw, on which the men can lie. Subscriptions jn aid of the soap kitohen may be sent to Mr. William T-owler, Sailora' Home, Stuart-street.. ■-
CHILDREN WELL CARED FOR
CHILDREN WELL CARED FOR ¡ Dr. E..T. Griffiths," the medical inspector of I school-children, submitted an interesting report to the Pontypridd Education Com. mittee on Thursday evening covering the period from his appointment in May last to the end of the year. Dr. Griffiths stated that practically all the children examined were well clothed, while the standard of nutrition was well maintained, there being scarcely an instance of insufficiency of clothing and only a few cases below normal in point of nutri- tion.
A MIRACULOUS ESCAPEI
A MIRACULOUS ESCAPE David Thomae, a collier., of 13. Bank-street, Maesteg, working in Oakwood Colliery, was under a fall for nine houre. He was taken out on Thursday, and had a wonderful escape from being crushed to death. When he was rescued it was found that he only had a few bruises, but is suffering from shock. Dr. Curtis was down in the pit wait- ing for the man to be taken out a.nd to give aid if necessary.
I WELSH RAILWAY MANAGERI
WELSH RAILWAY MANAGER I M-r. T. B. Grierson, formerly general manager of the Manchester and Milford Rail- way, which is now merged in the Great Western Railway, was made the recipient of a presentation at the Town-hall, Aber- ystwyth, by a number of friends. The chair was occupied by Mr. A. J. Hughes (town- clerk), who handed to Mr. Grierson an illuminated address and a valuable gold I watch.
LOCAL TIDE TABLE I
LOCAL TIDE TABLE I H • II ? UH J 1 I ?g —' 1 O N 1 •« frB I V- 2 C "I: j t. "1 I ¡ = I « ;<t'  ? :£ ? <S ? .?? Ii j I so ) Fri- « M. I 5 13 5 c3 I 5 3 5 15 j 6 111 0 14 E. 541 6 0 5 52 1 54? 1 6?7'64t dar1. 9 ? Ht 1 1 ??5 3 8 24 1130 10 33 7 34 0 33 7 Feb 9 68p721 7 6 t:!aturJ I 61 6 2u 5 [;9- ór2T76 b,Lttxr!. l M. 1 36 65? 30 2 1 24 IU36 2 ;5 9, 1 6 33 1 7 23 1 7 30 Ffelaby2, ON i 9 34 6 ? 6) 36 bun- ( M.; 6Mt?Mib?j6?)7M,7M day. 7 16 I 7 36 7 12 | 7 18 814 8 15 tEM. i 716 1 7 36 17 1217181 8 141 3_7 8 9 Fdeaby2. 1 Ht 135 6126 1134 2 6 1138 4 ¡ 37 9 U.OU- 1 ill. | 7M I 7"58 TH 7~40 8 35 I 8 36 dl\ E.. 8 0 8 20 7 55821 388 516 11 8 57 <!)).T.?? BK? 385 1.0 610 1 34 713610 11 38 3 Feb22 TueiTM. j 8 i2 8 42 8 16 ¡ 8 24 9~l8 9 18 d??E, 844 9 3 837 1 845 1 939 137 9,359 Feb23 Ht! 35 6 26 9 3311 36 5 38 1 ?7 5 "Wed- ( M. 9 5 1 9 24 §!S 9~a 9 59 9 59 I E. 9 26 I' 9 44 9 » 9 26 10 18 10 18 Frfenby2. 4 vHt 34 2,5 240 4 ? 32 7 35 2 36 5 1 1-o6 0 18 K. Dark £ H1L t Bo>Ui Bafta. t Aloxaodra Do*k.  Bill. t Ro.'A Bq¡¡a. Alex.a.DdIra,Doù.
-FOOTBALLI
FOOTBALL I JVEACUE WIXJTEE.S V. CARDIFF RESERVES, Car- diff Arms Pa.rlt, Sat., l'eb. 20th. Kick-off 3.1S p.m. a2913 pllAj HABBJEBS R.F.C. reoaire home match February 27th; guarantee given.-Apply Hon. Sec., 11, Mariborough-roa<l, Xewport..e54ipi9
MANUFACTURERS & NEWPORT
MANUFACTURERS & NEWPORT A Lough borough firm of electrio crane manufacturers have made inquiry at New- port (amongst other plaoes) respecting a aite of 150 acrte npoon which to erect new works. Some inquiries have also been made at New- port from America.
Advertising
In your journeying to and fro, You'll ooine across the name of Hoe- Hoe who makes Hoe'3 Sa-oce I mean. The finest eauce the world has eeen. [el61 DUTCH OAFE. near Qoeec-street Station, one of the quaintest in the world. Afternoon Teas witto oar delicious Bread and Batter. Stereos, Confectioner, Limited, Cardiff. o4542 lbr Chronic Opest Complaints, Wood#" Grrewt Peppermint Onre. l11t. — £ L £ 490
Golden Weddi-ng I
Golden Weddi-ng I TRIBUTE TO MR. & MRS. R. THOMAS I 'TRIBUTE TO MR. & MRS, R. THOMAS Mr. Richard Thomas (founder of the firm of Richard Thomas and Co., Limited) and Mrs. Thomas were at the Hyde Park Hotel, London, on Thursday made the recipients of a presentation from the eeven thousand men engaged in the associated works owned or controlled by the company. The occasion was the fitlieth anniversary of the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas, and it was I a source of unalloyed satisfaction to all con- cerned to find the venerable couple able to be present at the ceremony in the enjoyment of excellent health. Luncheon was eerved prior to the cere- mony, the family party including Mr. and i Mrs. Richard Thomas, Mr. and Mrs. R. Beau- mont Thomas, J.P., Mr. and Mrs. Frank Thomas, Mr. and Mrs. Harold Thomae, Mr. and Mrs. Hubert S. Thomas, Mr. and Mrs. Wyndham Thomas, Dr. and Mrs. Macmullaa (Penarthi, and Mr. and Mrs. Brand. The deputation was introduced by Mr. E. P. Lewis, manager of the South Wales Works, I Liauclly, who acted as secretary of the move- MR. RICHARD THOMAS. M.R8. RICHARD THOMAS. ment, and claimed that that gathering was unique, not only on account of the rarity of golden wedding celebrations, but also from a commercial point of view. At any rate, he was not aware of another instance in the tin-plate trade of a great army of workmen and officials being able to congratulate the head of their firm on the completion of 50 years of wedded life. (Cheers.) When it became Known a short time ago that this auspicious anniversary was approaching1, the unanimous desire was expres.sed by the workmen and the officials to do something to mark out the day above alL other davs. The matter was ta-xen up heartily by the men at the various works, and as the result of the free-will offerings of an army of seven thousand workers, sufficient funds were available to purchase a matmi- ftcent gold dessert service for presentation to Mr. and Mrs. Th-omas as a small town of thoir esteem and affection. (Applause.) Accompanying this was an illuminated 'A.cc*mUanyi,n.- t h, s was an illumin,.itcd THE ADDRESS. Mr. Robert Da vies, a veteran, who l?;ti3n? associated with Mr. Thomas for ov&?<0 y r.r,? then formaJdy made the presentation, and read the addrces, which was couched in the following terms: TO M'R, AND MRS. RICHARD THOMAS. On this, the happy occasion of the fiftieth ann iversary of your weddfiig day, we, the managers, staff, and employen of the undermentioned works and some of whom have been associated with you for nearly 40 years, unanimonsly unite in offer- ing you our heartiest congratulations, and in expressing the prayer that God may grant you the enjoyment of many more bavpy and prosperous years together, and bless you and yours in the future ai3 He has done in te past. We look with great pleasure and admira- tion on your progress in the world of tin- plate and steel manufacture, from the time of your acquiring, in January, Wl, the Ly-Jbrook Tin-plate Works, containing two tin-plate mills only, up to the present time, when the various undertakings with which you are associated comprise 100 tin-plate mills, two large steelworks, a colliery, iron mines, and blast furnaces, altogether employing about 7,000 persons. This is. indeed, a great business record, unpar- alleled in the tin-plate trade, and shows what can be accomplished by industry and perseverance, combined with ability. We beg you to aocept the accompanying deseert, service as a token of our esteem and regard, hoping that you may experien-ce as much pleasure in receiving: the gift aa it affords us to make it. In making the presentation, Mr. Daries, who spoke under deep emotion, said the principles that had always animated Mr. Thomas in his business and in his relations with tre workmen were perseverance, I indomitable courage, and a deep-rooted determination to deal equitably with all thoee with whom his business brought him into contact. The interest,s of the employes had always been dear to Mr. Thomae, and during the whole course of his commercial experience he had n-ever loet eight of the men who were in his employ. Mr. Da-vies went on to pay a tributo to the part played by Mrs. Thomas. MR. THOMAS'S THANKS. JNr. Hichard 'mourns, upon rising to return thanks. was reoeived with applause. He thanked those present for coming all t. at way to see him, and said that the senti- ments contained in the address had touched him very deeply. He could assure them that the beautiful dessert service a;nd the addref-fi would be taken great ca.re of, a.nd. that they would be valued heirlooms in his ¡ family. We heard a great deal in th-eee days of unemployment, but he thought they! could claim that the tin-plate trade, in which I they were all so deeply intere«rted, had fewer unemployed than any other trade in the country. In concluding, Mr. Thoamy said that he was sending to every subscriber a letter of thanks. Mr. R. Beaumont Thomas also returned thanks on behalf of the family of Mr. and ¡ Mrs. Thomas. Whatever success had been achieved, he said, had come as the result of a virtuous, straightforward lite. Mr. Frank I Thomas, who foito?ed. spoke in generous terms of the good feeling and affection dis- Mayed by the men on thi3 occasion. That wa? what touched them as a family very deeply. He had nlway? felt that the work- men deserved as much credit for the deve10pment of the firm aa anyone else. Much was said IIowaday of capital and labour being antagonistic. He did not believe it. Aa the" Weatern Mail" very happily put it recently, it was a case of being knit together in bonds of mutual esteem, and the result achieved was a credit to all concerned. (Applause.) MRS. THOMAS CUTS THE CAKE. The golden wedding cake was then cut by Mrs. Thomas amid a chorus of congratu- lations. This cake was a beautiful creation, and was much admired. It was formed of five tiers, representing the five decades in the married life of 'Mr. and Mrs. Thomas. THE GOLDEN WEDDING CAKE. The lowest tier was Jettered Lydbrook." at which place the foundations of the success of the firm were well and trulv" laid. There were also spaces for all the other works with which the family are associated, and on the ledges between the tiers were representations of tin-plate mills, rolls, blast furnaces, mines, and the celebrated water- wheel which is such a conspicuous object at the Melingriflith Works. The cake was adorned with golden bells and figures of Cupid, and there were seven large banners representing the children and seventeen for the grandchildren. The cake weighed nearly 3cwt. The artists Vere Messrs. Stevens, French confectioners, Cardiff, who have quite a London reputation. They treated it throughout in a manner. which was most interesting to those who were permitted to see it. • •
I NEWPORT CELEBRATION I
I NEWPORT CELEBRATION I Recollections of the Chartist Riots I Mr. and Mrs. Edward Jenkins, of Preston- avenue, Newport, celebrated their golden wedding on Wednesday. Mr. Jenkins, who is a native of Newport, remembers when a boy of six straying from his father's house towards the scene of the Chartist Riots, on November 4. 1839. "When I was getting up to the centre Off the town," he told a Wes- f tern Mail" representative, I saw trades- men shutting up their shops, and people were. runmng a-way in all directions. A man who was in the employment of my father (who was an agent" for one of the coal shippers) recognised me. gave me a cuff on the side of the head, and sent me home. I thought it was unkind at the time, but I have ever since reflected that he was cruel to be kind." M r. Jenkins, who Was for many years in business as a provision merchant at New- port, remembers many changes in the town. He remembers in his 'tc',eng going to a Welsh chapel where more than a dozen women used to wear the distinctive tall silk hat. For half a century Mr. Jenkins has been an official of Commercial-street Baptist Church, Newport. The venerable couple, who are still pretty well in health, have two sons and five daughters living. MR. AND MRS. EDWARD JENKINS.
I BARRY HANDWRITING TEST I
BARRY HANDWRITING TEST I In connection with the gold medal offered through the local press by Mr. R. Wenlock. F.R.G.S., fcr a writing competition among Barry elementary schools, to test on behalf of the public the efliciency of the hand- writing. owing to the severe stricture3 recently passed by the Barry Local Educa- tion Authority, we are now able to publish the names of the adjudicator?, who will pre- pare a report for publication. These com- prise the Editor of the "Western Mail," Mr. R. Wenlock, F.R.G.S., author of "Public School Modern Handwriting," Ac., Barry Oouirty School; and Mr. J. K. Grebliy, examiner in handwriting and correspondence to the Iloyal Society of Art?, London, and late private secretary to Sir Francis J. S. Hopwood, K.C.B., G.C.M.G., Permanent Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies.
Advertising
For Influence take Woods' Great Pepper- -«un$ jr* JtorMuXaito- 2/2«r *,am"
HOSPITAL EXTENSION I
HOSPITAL EXTENSION I Dr. R. W. Johnstone, one of the inspectors of the Local Government Board, held an inquiry at the Town-hall, Merthyr, on Thursday into an application made by the -corporation for sanction to borrow £ 3,800 for the erection and furnishing of an additional pavilion at the Mardy infectious diseases hospital. Dr. Duncan gave statistics as to the number of cases admitted into the hospital during 1908. and it was explained by Mr. Harvey that the new pavilion would contain a female ward, 48ft. by 25ft., with eight beds, and a male ward, 36ft. by 25ft. with six beds, besides two special wards, each 13ft. by lift. 6in. At the close of the inquiry the inspector visited the hospital, and he will report in due course.
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Woods* Groat Peppermint Cure for Cbuirbg.1 uid Colds never takte. 1/li 2/9. LIA494
I Public Trustee i
I Public Trustee I CHILDREN AND CONVICTS' PROPERTY The first general annual report of Mr. C. J. Stewart, the Publio Trustee, whose office came into existence at the beginning of last year, was issued on Thursday as a Govern- ment White Paper. During the first year the office han been open for the transaction of business 9,000 inquiries have been retxrived and 28,000 letters written. Up to December 31 the Public Trustee had accepted 325 trusts, of the approximate value of over £ 2,000,000. With regard to the expenses of the depart- ment. the Trustee hopes tha.t the deficit for the financial year ending March 31 next will be only £ 2,000, instead of £ 3,800, as originally contemplated, it being anticipated that the fees will yield a return exceeding what was estimated by i.1,300. The inoome arising from tlfe trust estatefc administered by the Public Trusteo is estimated at £ 61,000, givinc an j average return of EZ lfe. 5d. per oent. I The Trustee has 46 children under his care, for whom he has taken season tickets, "fixed their pocket-money, and provided Christmas presents. In the case of persons of full ago he has provided a hospital or nursing home, a companion for an infimn person, let and taken houses, including a boarding'-ho-jse, and re-claimed iuoome-xax. Deahng with the question lately dtisoutaed 'I of sharing brokers' commission in the oaae of Stock Exchange transactions, the Public Trustee distinguishes^ between puroisasing stock and selling stock. In the former case I he charges i per cent. against the trust, and then comes to an agreement with the broker to halve the ■commission with him, and credits the half commission thus obtained to his department. In the caee of sales no fee is charged to the estate, and if he can get half commission returned, that is credited to the estate of which the stock formed part I The Public Trustee has disposed of four busine.ies during the year. The Public Trustee has been appointed in Ifive oases to administer convicts' property, the capital value of Nwlich was £1.300. and the fees payable £ 13. He is appointed by the Home Office, and can pay the convict's debts, make compensation out of his property to persons defrauded, make allowance for the twpiport of wife, child, or other dependent, or for the conviot himself while at large under licence. Mr. Stewart desires to thank toh6 press for l' their support both in London and in pro- vincial newspapers. Notices appearing therein have been of great assistance to the public, who have on many occasions expressed their thanks for having seen accounts of the department in the news- papers.
CARDIFF SATURDAY " POPS "
CARDIFF SATURDAY POPS For the eighteenth of the popular concerts of the present series organised by the Young Men's Christian Association a flue pro- gramme has been arranged for to-morrow (Saturday) evening in the Park-hall, Cardiff. The first part will he of a miscellaijeoua character, the artistes appealing being Mi.9 Maria Yelland, who created each a favour- able impression at the Cardiff Musical Sooiety's concert this week; Miss Carrie Janoeley, the Australian soprano, who has already won golden opinions in the oity; Mr. Wilfrid Hudson, a tenor of good repute, and Mr. Stuart Edwards, a baritone who was formerly in LI a. ml aff Cathedral choir. Mr. W. H. Jones will recite. Mr. C. H. Wyman, F.R.C.O., will again give an organ recital. The second part of the programme will con- sist of selections from Gounod's "Faust."
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:i'- 'fJjtPîf-y,i'" "t:I; 'i:1;}r.t'¡"f(";¡;,}'" <A:)'Č: 'ii,' < ';{,i:¡'î!tf,I'\¥; ?Q.UAHT? ORAWS RL ?-J??? ? ? ?UAUTY of I R .69 J. BEST II FLAYPOU? MBl BEST I 1 ITS PRICE PULLS, TOO S I t j  g FOR THE VERY BEST I "MA YPOLE" TEA I COSTS ONLY f WHY PAY MORE? I I MAYPOLE DAIRY CO., LTD. I II Over 600 BRANCHES now Open. H rik.> j7Jt;tr "f;> ':}> <\r< "n'.t,l t;r¿tjf /l:: i"J¡.1J) 'i¡;};ff::>j;f ??.f:JE1t" "tÅ.¡.r' '< SPECIAL TO-DAY, HOLBROOKE I SAUCE Mother calls me her Oxo boy!" We have never had any sickness in our house. Mother says it's because we use such a lot of OXO. Father has OXO for supper, mother likes it for lunch, and I like it as sften as I can get it. "Mixed with hot milk, OXO is just lovely, and mother says it makes big bones and muscles. I like OXO spread on brown bread and butter, too: it's awfully nice that way." A town child fed on OXO is as healthy as a seaside child. Every parent has wished the children could live at the seaside. And no wonder! Who has not admired the sturdy little sunburnt lads and lasses who live at the sea- side all the year round ? They are pictures of health and happiness Are your children as sturdy and strong as you would like them to be ? OXO will make them so and keep them so. A proud father of three sturdy little boys living in the smoky at- mosphere of Burnley, Lancashire, writes to OXO as follows:—" We have had OXO in the house jpr many years, and my three boys aye living testimony to its value as a builder of muscle and physique." But take care it is OXO. Nothing else is so good. OXO has peculiar properties I which make it valuable as a nutrient. It is rich in the extrac- tives of beef which aid digestion: and it is also rich in the nourishing proteids of beef which feed you. Every ounce of OXO is made from the OXO Company's own cattle. I OXO, 4, LLOYD'S AVENUE, LONDON, E.C. ?.?.?-?-?-?-.————   ¡ Anty Drudge Saves Gussie's Moustache. Mt-.r. Triie-" It's no use talking, Augustus, your moustache will have to come off. I cannot possibly get these coffee stains out of the napkins without scrubbing the skin off my fingers." Åugtutus-" What Take off my moustache Why you used to say you'd hate to be kissed by a man without a moustache." Mrf. Bride—" Well—I'd rather do without kisses than go without ftagers." ,dt;ty- Drudge-" You foolish dovelets I'll wash the stains out for you in no time. Fels-Naptha soap and lukewarm water, and Gussie's moustache is saved 1 the napkins will be whiter than they ever have been since they came from the shop." Boiling clothes makes them tender. There is a scientific reason for it. You take advantage of this natural law every time you boil a piece of touglr, beef. It becomes tender Decause water at a high temperature weakens the fibre. The same thing occurs with clothes when they are scalded or boiled week after week. Cloth es that are washed the Fels-Naptha way last twice as long as those that are scalded or boiled. Then there isn't much washboard rubbing-—and that too is harder on clothes than the roughest wear. Why not let Fels-Naptha do it ? Fels-Naptha wsU da it.  Isn't it worth trying ? —«■ Tjjw '.J -'J'" -f;J;Y" I' STOPPED WITHOUT HARMFUL DRUGS. jy* UFFEREBS whose chests are torn and hacked    ?t? ? if 'W by a dreadful cough wfiich is worst in the *?-????. ? ?)U? 1 night-time will find in Peps the relief and  ?M? W' ? soothing long awaited. The unique qualities of ey?'w ] Peps likewise appeal to those whose throats are blocked -i I j by long stringy phlegm which painful and prolonged Jr /fill J j | I coughing often fails to dislodge. Ijf jj m Kemove the preserving silver wrapping nom a Peps 1 f JM t tablet, and let the tablet dissolve slowly on the tongue. — iPPk,19 ? Wonderful easing fumes at once pass through the throab ? and down the breathing tubes, into the lungs. InnammatMn  j in the chest caused by coughing is soothed, and troublesome 3 mucous and phlegm easily come up. Hence, che&ts torn by coughing ?s? | fits are healed, and strengthened against future attacks. ■ While yet novel and new, Peps' great success is based upon perman- ■ 1 ent features in the medicine—freedom from hurtful drugs, marvellous 1 1 curative and soothing powers, pure ingredients, unique, invigorating, ? germicidal and medicinal qualities which are conveyed by the natural |  process of breathing direct to the seat of chest trouble. |jj Pops are of incalculable benefit for that night co.gh associated with bronchitis with the resnk of recant inflti- ? enza, pneuinonia, amd pleurisy, or even with con- (.o. jjj 8umption. Thousands of regular users j V The wonderful Send this CoapQB wftb ???????S???????? bre?th?-?  ?. ata.m? (f? ?t?  to rep, ariton H1H. i(ble from chemists tt 8&Jnyle ?f 1), 1/1 Ë or 2/9, or post free I from Peps, Carïton > eard11T Hiil, Le?ds. 9ee tte 1 ::E.v.em:¡iTIg EJ.P'N'!15. > guara:ntu-P(ps-on? .Foo. l9. 19Oi. )  every box. ,o .) SALE OF THE SEASON. P. E. GANE GREAT I STOCK-TAKING SALE. I FURNITURE, CARPETS, I BEDSTEADS9 BEDDING, I I EVERYTHING REDUCED. 1 H °AJDDBESS— 38 & 41, QUEEN-ST., CARDIFF. I II SEND FOR SALE CATALOGUE, POST FIIEE. ,-II;r _I!I'm 'M!  1^1 J GRATEFUL AND frE- ? B™' H"* nQk COMFORTING. Is first among Cocoas on account of the quality and delicacy of the material used. It is a fragrant, delicious, and healthful beverage, and is particularly suitable for children, as well as grown ups, on account of its nourishing and strengthening qualities. NUTRITIOUS AND C 0', C 0 Ai ECONOMICAL. DEAKINS I LUNG HEAURI la will immediately arrest the course of the fln disçase and guard against all ill eff'cts. It 8S Era possesses marvellous healing and tonic prop- H| erties. and gives instant t,clie to COughs, Hoarseness. Bronchitis, Diifi. in S3 j Colds I of Breathing, etc. It is very 9 M culty of Breathing. etc. It is very ■I beneficial, and has proved for many years a B nm boon and blessing to thousands of sufferers, ffl H REMEMBER 1 Neglected Coughs and B ■ Colds frequently turn to Bronchitis, Afthhm, Bi H etc., and are often the forerunner of that Bel Ka dreadful disease—Consumption.. SR £ 1 Pricos 1/14 and 2'3, of ail Chemists and Stores. ■ jfflj the sole proprietors and inventors ( p G. DEAKIN & HUGHES. If" |§ « THE INFLAMMATION REMEDIES CO., f| SLAENAVON. PJION. THE WVW FRENCH REMEDY. THERAPION  suc«ss.ful p? H E RA P 10 N lar ???y.. used ;'n Hgp!ala byloiord, Ecetan Job?ert- ?al au, and uth&K. 6urpMae< evc t g hitbFrt2 E?plov? tor impurity of bt??, \8. u¡otches, paW. and swelling of joints, kidaey, bladder, and n?n?ry diseaSe. stricture, dischargeR, piles, gravel, pains in liaok tout rh«omatism, exhausti.n, sleepl n s. t •' .?ea forms, Ho. 1 2, aad ?, according to diseases- 29rut;rÎg1!J 2'ld=t:p>cenreo iiSt .?ritain f r Gm Tho Le Clerc Mealcina Co., HaTer.¡to rvad, Hampstead, Loudon, and principal QieuiiatJ. rjjlHE ^TEEKLT Lib rrEE WEEKLY !I.IL ONE PENNY- _,ji i i Vrinled and pnblisueil *:v Thomas rones Tor the proo privets, t St..u.4ryti?ftt in t.b? City o £ (fiS; by J?meii CZ?itlWsui*t, Swa«s»; H. 0. Wi'iiam, UtebftELud-?treet. Merthyr Tyd:U. the shop of ilr. Wesiey Williams, tiridgend-all ID the Ccunty ot Glamorgan; by Jal>er. Tiiomaa, u* 'W¡;h'5treet, Newport; at the shop of Mr. J. C-t?tey, Moamouth—both Ia the Couaty of Mom moutii: at the shop 0; Mr. David tohu, HMeUy, "J tlm County of Carmarthen: and u the nfBM9? Ur, 'i. A. D^vies, Xliu ijuiAarJi ?tt?n, ta? t;i)ua4y of Breaknock.