Llangollen Advertiser Denbighshire Merionethshire and North Wales Journal

Oswestry Rural Rates. I .11, 3s. 4d. IN THE £ The overseers of Oswestry Rural Parish met bn Saturday, when a statement was presented, showing a, balance, in hand equal to £ 85. The estimated amount required for poor rate, county .rate (special), and higher education, cookery classes, and police, comes to P,2,999, compared with £ 2,306 the previous half-year. The Rural District Council rate remains the same, with the exception of a small item for special expenses. The Parish Council require £ 20 this half-year (there was nothing asked for last half-year), equal to a farthing rate; the expenses of the overseers and extra ser- rices bring the total sum required up to ,rices bring the half-year, and the overseers lisive been reluctantly compelled to make a rate of 3s. 4d. in the £ on buildings (only half this rate is levied on agricultural land) to meet the estimated expenditure, and this rate will leave an estimated balance of 9110 at the end of the half-year.

FIGHTING FOR BREATH. Extremely Severe Whooping Cough Qured by Veto's Lightning Cough Cure. I Mrè. Peck, 96, Station-road, Penge, London, Mrg. Pdck, Some time ago my little boy Fred I had whooping cough. The attacks were simply awful; he was positively fighting for breath while fchey lasted- And, if possible, they were worse at night. He uaed to bring up blood, and bled at the nose too. At last I got Veno's, and am thankful I did, for in a. day or two he was easier, and the improvement continued until he was cured. Veno's has since cured my little girl also. Vertojs Lightning Cough Cure. is the world's supreme remedy for Coughs and Colds, Lung Troubles, Asthma, Bronchitis, Nasal Catarrh, Hoarseness, Difficult Breathing, and Influenza. Specially recommended for Whooping Cough and other Bronchial Troubles in children. Prices: Is, 3d. and 68., the 3s. size being the more economical. Of Chemists and Medicine endors everywhere. Insist on having Veno's, -Md_reíJ1

r WAR MEMORIALS. UNVEILING CEREMONIES AT ISYCOED AND BETTISFIELD. The unveiling of the Isycoed war memorial took place on Friday, in the presence of a large number of parishioner the ceremony being performed by Mrs. Fletcher, Marchwiel Rectory. The proceedings opened with a service in the church. conducted by Arch- deacon Fletcher, assisted by Rev. Trawscoed Jones (curate-in-chaxge. The hymn For all the saints," was taken as a processional hymn, I and at the end of the third collect, the anthem i The foe behind, the deep before," was rendered. After the reading of the sen- tences from the Burial Service, the Arch- deacon gave a very helpful address based on the words, And thus this man died, leaving his death for an example of a noble courage, and a memorial for virtue, not only unto young men, but unto his nation." After the singing of the hymn, Ten thousand times ten thousand," and the playing of the Dead March by Mrs. Thomas Shone, the organist, a procession was formed headed by the clergy and the choir. The school children followed, and then came the demobilised men. After the unveiling ceremony by Mrs. F letcher, the. school children sang the memorial hymn, The men who have died for England," and the Last Post was sounded. The fine memorial, situated in the new portion of the Churchyard, is a cross on a solid block of marble, with a stone base, and the height of it is 8 feet 6 inches. On the cross is carved a palm of victory, uid on one side of the marble slab is inscribed the names of the men who have fallen, another side depicts two rifles locked, and on the opposite side, an anchor, typical of the deaths of the men on land and sea. On the fourth side is the in- scription In grateful memory of the men of Isycoed who died for their country in the Great War, 1914-1919, erected A.D. 1919." The front of the stone is inscribed as follows For King and Country: Stoker Philip Jones, drowned, June 9, 1917, aged. 23; Sergt. Joseph Parry, R.W.F., fell May 15, 1917, aged 22; Pte. Robert Ellis Cunnah, 1st Cheshires, fell January 15, 1917, aged 22; Trooper Percy Parker, Welsh Horse, died January 23, 1916, aged 20; Trooper Ernest Albert Holmes, D.H.Y., fell at Lens, August 2, 1917, aged 20 Trooper Stanley Powell, D.H.Y., felt in Pales- tine, October 1, 1917, aged 23. Greater love hath no man than this." Around the memor- ial a number of beautiful wreaths were placed by relatives and friends. The hon. secretary to the committee was Mr. John Lewis, Talwrn House. There was quite a. large congregation pres- ent at Bettisfield Church, on Oct. 23, when the war memorial was unveiled by Archdeacon Fletcher, Rector of Marchwiel. The memor- ial is a most graceful cross standing upon three steps with a large base. From this base springs a tall, slender, octagonal shaft with an embattled cap and, as a crowning feature, the whole terminates in a beautifully carved Calvary and Cross, covered by a canopy with an embattled cornice the pose of the cruci- j fied Saviour is based on the early Gothic treatment, the arms being horizontal and the feet separated. The total height of the Cross is 19ft. roin., and is worked out of Derbyshire stone. The design is adopted from a cross in Somersby Church yard, Lincolnshire, the birthplace of Alfred, Lord Tennyson. The introduction of bronze has added a richness of tone and is most pleasingly decorative. On i the bronze panel are the names of the men belonging to the parish or closely connected with it, who gave their lives in defence of their country.' The inscription runs as follows: To the Glory of God and in grate- ful memory of these men who gave their lives for us in the Great War, 1914-1919." Then follows the following names F. Leslie, Barry Roberts, William Beckett, John William Crump, Herbert Hallmark, Ernest George Harper, John Ernest Kelsall, Walter Lang- ford, Walter Maddox, Joseph Henry Smith. Edwin Speakman. There was shortened evening service in the church, at which the hymns Through the night of doubt and sorrow and On the Resurrection morning," were sung. The dedication service in the churchyard was taken by Archdeacon Fletcher, who delivered an inspiring address. At its conclusion the hymn When I survey the Wondrous Cross," was sung. The clergy present were Revs. F. B. Roberts, vicar of Bettisfield; F. C. Chambers, vicar of Han- mer; W. Edwyn Jones, vicar of Bronington; H. Eaton Jones, Lyneal; and W. B. Hughes, chaplain to the Forces, Oswestry. J

RHOSLLANERCHRUGOG. CONY ALESCENT.Dt. J. C. Lawton Rob- erta is now convalescent and able to leave, home for a necessa. change. .for a necessa. ? SOCIETY.—At LITERARY SOCIETY.-At the meeting held at Hill Street, on Thursday, instructive papers were read by Messrs. J. F. Owen, Bert Jones, D. Edwards, and H. Reid. Mr. R. R. Jones occupied the chair, and a very' enjoyable even- ing was spent. PARISH COUNCIL.—At the- last meeting I of the council, when Councillor R. Roberta pre- sided, a communication was read from the Wrex- ham District Council thanking them for the action they had taken with regard to the removal of refuse, and promising that the sum suggested by the council should be paid the contractors. A letter was also read from the Ruabon Joint Burial Committee asking them. to agree to the abolition of a 5s. fee for additional inscriptions on head stones and tomb stones. This was sanc- tioned. Other communications regarding repairs of streets were discussed, and it was r =ed that the road surveyor be requested to meet the property owners for the purpose of arranging the same. It was reported that the Allotment Committee had met a deputation from the Rhos Allotment Association and had made them an offer of land near the Lodge for allotment pur- poses, but they had refused it on tho plea that it was unfit for the purpose. Thev requested the council to make efforts to secure land forming part of the Rhos farm. It was resolved to re- auest the attendance of Mr. J. Owen. Bersham, the Commissioner for North Wales, at a meeting to discuss means to secure the land The council contended that the land near the Lodge was quite suitable.

There has been an increase of 100 per cent. in the number of tramps in South Wales. The North Wales Motor and Aluminium Company hnve let a, contract to Messrs. Mac- alpine and Co., Glasgow, for the making of a lake four miles long by four miles wide, be- tween Maentwrog and Trowsfynydd. A large number of workers from Glasgow and else- where are seeking houses at Blaenau-Festiniog, where many hundreds of houses have been emptv for years, owing to the depression in the sbte trade, which is now beginning to

I THE; N E S S I A H I SUCCESSFUL performance AT OSWESTRY. (From a Musical Correspondent). An event of considerable importance in the musical annals of this music-loving district took place on Thursday evening week, when Handel's Messiah was performed at Os- westry. The fine old Parish Church was fittingly chosen as the place for the Thanksgiving Ser- vice, and an hour before the commencement of the oratorio, the interior was completely filled, presenting a most inspiring spectacle. The Vicar (Rev. M. Lutener) opened the pre- liminary service with prayer, and again closed it with the Blessing. The choir, numbering in all over a 100, acquitted themselves admirably; and their work reflected the greatest credit on the conductor, Mr. F. C. Morris, to whom the highest meed of praise is due for the excellent results obtained at the per- formance, upon which he had expended a vast amount of labour. Great disappointment was felt at the inabil- ity (on account of sudden illness) of Lady Howard de Walden to sing, as announced, the soprano solos; but this was forgotten as we listened to Miss Mary.Sproston, A.R.M.C.M., of Congleton, Cheshire, whose services the II promoters were fortunate enough to secure. Throughout Miss Sproston was excellent, particularly so in "I know that my Redeemer I liveth." Speaking for a great many the writer is sanguine in asserting that, though this was her first, it will not be her last appearance in Oswestry. The contralto, Miss Helen Anderton, Man- chester, also charmed everyone with her sing- ing. Especially may be mentioned her de- lightful rendering of the air, "0 thou that I tellest good tidings to Zion." The tenor and bass soloists, Mr. Ernest Ludlow (Birmingham), and Mr. Joseph Lycett (Sheffield), respectively, proved themselves artistes of the first-class; and, here again, the promoters are to be congratulated on ob- taining their services. The orchestra, included in which were several local players, was under the leader- ship of Mr. P. A. Ball, and played through- out with perfect taste, and they are worthy of special meed of praise. In the air, The trumpet shall sound," the trumpet obligato Mr. C. Anderson was really finely given. Mr. Robert Head, Mus. Bac., F.R.C.O., A.R.C.M., the organist and choirmaster of the Parish Church, who has but lately made his advent into the musical circles' of the town, has already established a high reputation. With conspicuous ability he presided at the organ on Thursday evening, and the tasteful combination of voices, orchestra and organ, added considerably to the finish of the per- formance. The secretary of the choir, Mr. Oswald Jones, has rendered from the commencement of the rehearsals, some six months ago, very excellent service. IMPRESSIONS BY AN OLD CONDUCTOR. ¡ I was one of the large congregation which I gathered in the Parish Church, on Thursday evening, to listen to thisnaterpiece of the greatest composer of oratorio music ths, world has ever seen. Wriiten in the fircfc instance in behaJf of charity, it has ever since been used for the same object, and it was only fitting that it should be part of the peace celebration pro- gramme. And although, for reason well found- ed, it was not advisable to give it during peace, celebrationa in August, it came none the less welcome laet week. and the vast congregation which gathered proved that as a work it still I holds a tremendous sway over the public. One could have wished that more had taken the op- portunity of singing, for i believe it was con- sidered to be the peace effort of the various choirs in the town. and, surely, Oswestry can boast of more than 50 or 60 singers, when one of the chapel choirs in the town is known to have membership of between 40 and 50. This being so it was a disappointment that the chorus did not consist of at least 100 to 200 voices; but to those who did take their pa.rt it is all the more gratifying that such a splendid peifonnanco was given. One ot the most famous prima donnas of her day once said in conversation that be- fore vou can make the world understand what a beautiful thing the score of the Messiah is you must wash it clean," by which she was referring to the many changes from, the original that have been made by various people. In 1789 Mozart wrote his famous Additional Accompani- ments," which Hauptmann naively compared to "stucco ornaments on a marble temple." These additional accompaniments" are what is known as the hand parts generally played by the orchestra. In the original Handel only provided an accompaniment by the organ. Other people since then have endeavoured to "im- prove the work of Handel 6° that the various editions now number some half-dozen different settings. The setting, given last Thurisday was Dr. Prout's. and is believed to be the nearest to the original score, and if one may be allowed to in- dulge.in a little friendly criticism, let me say I never felt fuch an inspiration or felt myself eo lifted out of the" ,sordid thing's of earth as I did whilst listening to the rendering on Thurs- day night, and my experience both as a singer ,and conductor extends over a period of 45 years. The enthusiasm which Mr. Morris imparted to the performers wa,s magnetic, and the way they responded was excellent in every way. Certain- Iv there were weak spots occasionally, but they I did not ?mar the performance. The s&pranpa r were rich il tone. aa were also the contraltos, whilst the basses were verv fine. indeed, almost a little too powerful for the rest of the choir. The te10r6 were the weak spot, and at time? I their efforts to reach the high G and A jarred on one's sensitive feelings. What a.. pity there is such a, scarcity of young tenors. in Oswestry. I We can n-ius ter basses • in plenty, but tenors—-> well, they are a, negligible quantity." How- ever, what they lacked in tone they compensated I for in earnestness, and one could not but admire, I the way in which they stuck to their work. The most impressive renderings were "Behold the Lamb of God and the two quartets, Since by man came death"* and For 85 in Adam all die" (both of which were BUng- by the choir). I These two latter were perfect in balance of tone 1- and rendering. I was delighted with the orchestra, though I am old-fashioned enough to wish that on this occasion the whole accompaniment had been left to Mr. Head and the magnificent organ at which he presides. Then. indeed, we should b. and not a combina- have Handel's Me&siah." and not a, combina- tion of Handel and Mozart. However, this did not lessen the splendid work of the orchestra and their beautiful playing. Tilie principai-s were all good, and I wish to hear no better rendering of He was despised and He shall feed His flock," than I listened to on Thursday evening. To Mr. Morris. I tender my heartfelt (Continued at bottom of next cclamn.1

I SHREWSBURY DIVISION. MISS BILLSON AS CANDIDATE. 11 There was a largely attended meeting in the Wyle Cop Schools, Shrewsbury, on Wed- nesday week, of the Liberal forces in the Shrewsbury Parliamentary Division. The business of the meeting was the adoption of Miss Mabel Billson, elder daughter of the late Sir Alfred and Lady Billson, formerly of Rowton Castle, as prospective Liberal candi- date for the Division. The Chairman of the Divisional Liberal Association (Councillor C. S. Woollam) presided, supported by Miss Bill- son, Councillor Frank Gladstone. Mr. Wm. Fairbairn, Mr. Wm. P<pry, of Hinton, and others. Miss Billson, in the course of an exhaustive and able address, said she felt very sensitive of the honour they had conferred upon her in asking her to come there that night to ad- dress them with a view to her being adopted the Liberal candidate for the Shrewsbury Division. It was quite a new departure to ask a woman to represent a constituency, but she believed that there was a real definite work for women to do in the government of the country. She said she need hardly say that she stood as a Liberal. She was born and bred in Liberalism, and she saw no reason to change her views now. She was a Liberal without any label, and she thought it was for Liberals to stand on their own footing with- out being mixed up with any other party. It seemed to her that Liberalism stood first and foremost for the freedom of the people, and although the Liberal party was eclipsed at the last election, the principles of Liberalism were as alive as ever they were and were the same old principles which had stood the country in good stead in the past. (Applause). NOT A CLASS CANDIDATE. The other political organisations, the chief of which were the Tory and Labour parties stood for a particular class but the Liberal party, she claimed, was the only true democratic party in the country. Miss Billson went on strongly to criticise the Coalition Government and said that such a Government was unsatis. factory unless it was united as it was during the war on some definite policy. The Coali- tion Government did not represent the views of the country now. This fact, she said, was clearly indicated by the results of the recent oy-elections, which showed in unmist4kable terms how unrepresentative the present Parlia- ment was. Mr. Lloyd George was an oppor- tunist, and if he so desired, could, at any moment spring an election upon them. It was, therefore, important that Liberals should hold themselves in readiness and see that they --re not caught napping as they were on the past occasion. In this connection she congratu-, lated them on their zeal in looking out ior a candidate. Most of them no doubt felt that they had never been so badly governed .than they were by the present Government. The finances of the country, she said, were going from bad tp worse, and the Chancellor of the Exchequer had told them that they were on the verge of bankruptcy. It was because they, as Liberals, were not satisfied with the way the present Government were carrying on the affairs of the country that it was essential thev should have a change. She condemned the interference of the Government in regard to affairs in Russia, and she argued that the Russians should be allowed to settle their own internal affairs. They had wasted a vast amount of money over this question, and from what she could see, of it the Government were in a hopeless muddle in regard to it. I THE LIBERAL IDEAL. They as Liberals wanted to have our Empire on a peace basis, so that we could seriously re- duce the Army and Navy, on which, she con. tended, too much was being spent. As to their leader, as a party, so far as she knew, Mr. Asquith had never given them a.ny Word that he would not be their leader. 1 What they wanted to see was Mr. Asquith back againin the House of Commons. (Applause). She thought it would be for the good of the country if he was back again, and they as Liberals were prepared to fight under his banner. Miss Billson went on to speak of the various topics connected with current politics. In regard to Nationalisation she said that she would not commit herself on this question at the present time but it seemed to her that it was up to the railwaymen and miners to bring out a definite scheme and lay it before the country. She spoke in favour of the establishment of an Industrial Council to settle disputes, and concluding, said that they ought to promote happiness not only for this nation of Ours but for the brotherhood of all nations, and it was because she believed in those great doctrines that she stood before them as their prospective candidate, and she asked them to adopt her as sue h. (Applause). The hon. sec., Mr. P. Wigley, spoke, aid the meeting ended with a vote of thanks to Miss Billson, and in her reply she thanked the meeting for its confidence, and said she would accept the invitation to be the pros- pective candidate for the party. —.—— Lady Astor has accepted an invitation to stand as the Unionist Coalition candidate for the Sutton Division of Plymouth, rendered vacant by her husband's succession to the peerage. ■■*■' -rr—

BANGOR ISYCOED. OBITUARY. -The death took place on Thursday of Mr. William Wilson, Whitchurch t & UTCY I Road, in his Pt6th year. He was a faithful mem- ber of the Presbyterian church. PENLEY. SOME POTATO-—Mr. Evans. Lower Grange, farm, has grown a potato weighing 3 lbs. A dozen apples gathered from one of Niis bs. A weighed close on 9 lbs. one of them actually weighing over/1 lb.

—' v .1 .M j thanks for giving us such a performance, and t Mr. Head for his work on the organ, and, i1 conclusion, let me say: If Oswestry can give eucr: a performance as waa given by a mere handful of its singers, what could it do with all its forces combined. One lives upon the glories of the past, and what the old Philharmonic did, uad<&R that prince of con ductora—J oh n Robertar==can be done again, but there must bet a combination backed by enthusiasm. What is the future to be, singers of Oswestry? Will you not rise up from your lethargy end once more hold your place in the front røb of the musical world? I hoge 10.