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BY THE WAY.I
BY THE WAY. Christmas Toys and Christmas Joys. There is some reason to fear that this Christmas will lack something of its gaiety and seasonable hilarity. Even during the war, though to us elders too often a season of. sorrowful memories and of wistful wonder- ing how much longer the time-honoured mes- sage of "Peace on Earth" might be sus- pended over the so-called civilised world, to the children it was still the same old Yuletide of fun and frolic, Santa Claus and stockings, holly and mistletoe, plum pudding and crack- ers—especially crackers. At no other time of year was there the same joyousness in their boisterous bang, or the same pleasure in un- folding their mysterious contents. And now, such is the topsy-turvy-dom of Fate, just as we are recovering our national spirits and looking forward to a Christmas of general re- union, so far as the ravages of war permit, a blow is struck which will leave the festival of this year an empty mockery to many a youngster. For I read in the papers the pathetic news that owing to a shortage in material there is likely to be a famine in false 'noses i for Christmas crackers. Crackers and no false noses inside to frighten the Kids and make the servants scream! Why to many a small boy the announcement, if he is Uot too dazed to realise its signifi- cance, must appear positively appaling. No false noses and only those silly paper bonnets and sentimental mottoes, which are all right for a girl perhaps, but 'altogether beneath the dignity of Tommy Tucker to don in Society No false noses Bah the thing is preposterous. It cannot be true. It must not be true. Somebody must right it some- how, but who and how? Oh this terrible war, which has rid us of all our old landmarks and left us still groping in a strange world, where nothing is quite what it used to be," always a, shortage of something, even of the necessary, the absolutely necessary, ingredients of false noses! Tommy's world reels under his feet, and for the first time in his young and soaring existence perhaps he dimly realises that the war and all its economic consequences, means something gone out of his life—for ever! For, by next year, what good will false noses be to him? He will have grown out of range of, their use, and possibilities, and may prob- ably prefer a more grown-up form of cele- bration. Other toys and other joys, np doubt, may enliven his winter holidays, Cut that delicious moment, to the repetition of which he had been looking forward for weeks, when, having donned his dreadful nasal disguise, he could shout boo at other little boys, tiny enough to find it difficult to determine whether to pretend they were not alarmed out of their irits or to rush off in tears to sympathetic maternal arms, or to meet Sarah Jane on the Stairs and hear her exclaim "Oh Master Totil. how you did frighten me,"—that a Ithing of the past! The idea eeems really hardly possible, as everything does seem when, for the first time, we recognise how irrevocable its dis- appearance is. No more of those happy fam- ily gatherings around the old home fire. The old home is broken up and its various mem- bers must needs for the future make fresh centres of celebration of their own. No more of those hilarious gatherings of old friends at the festive board. Some of the company are beyond the call of human voice, and one by one, others are growing too old, too infirm, to enjoy themselves as they did in the good old days." If they meet now it must oe around a shrunken table, and with many a melancholy thought of the what-has-been. Yet what gatherings they used to be, and, as we dwell on them thus in reminiscent mood, we catch for a moment something of the old spirit, and we tell some of the old stories that used to go so famously, but— weIr, well; it is the way of an ever-changing world. w or; Nevertheless, let us not be too despondent about it all. If one door closes it is generally the signal for another to Open, and something may yet fill the voids. Ingenious craftsmen may perchance still furnish us with some sub- stitute for false noses, and, anyhSw, those little boys who come for the first time into the arena of Christmas party gaiety this year will not know what they are missing. They may perhaps listen with awe to the- stories of other little boys, just a year older than them- selves, of what Christmas was like last year before the spectre of famine stalked through the land, and they will probably think that Christmas must have been a jollier thing be. fore their time, just as we do when we turn to the pictures of Mr. Pickwick and his friends at Dingley Dell. But they will furlt, as we do also, with some contentment to the sort of things that mark the Christmas merri- ment of our days-mord, subdued perhaps, but not without their compensating virtues. Or they may, like us again, adopt the philo- sophic view that there is a good deal of ex- aggeration about the joys of the past. Even in Ur. Pickwick's time there may have been people who were deploring the fact that one never gets a real old-fashioned Christmas nowadays, in the I same,waytha.t we have done every year since I can remember. Pictorially (as someone said not long ago], the White Yule holds its own and cartoons in the Illustrated Papers and such Christ- mas cards as are not wholly given to Eccle- siasticisrn, delight to represent the typical landscape of Christmas as a strange mixture of blue skies, bright sun, green trees, and deep snow. Father Christmas and Santa Claus always arrive in snowstorms, and even the Shepherd of Bethlehem, as de- (Contiaued at bottom of next column.
ITHE CHURCHES. !
I THE CHURCHES. I ST. ASAPH PATRONAGE BOARD. 1 At St. Asaph, on Friday, Chancellor Harold Edwards (returning officer) declared the re- I sults of the election of representatives on the Diocesan Patronage Board under the new constitution for the Church of Wales. The results are as follows :—Clerical members: Canon T. Redfern, rector of Denbigh; the Dean of St. Asaph; the Rev. Lewis H. 0. Pryce, vicar of Colwyn Bay; the Rev. J. Silas Evans, Llanrhaiadr-yn-Mochnant; Canon C. F. Roberts, rector of Llanddulas; the Rev. F. S. M. Bennett, Hawarden. Lay members. Lord Justice Bankes, Mr. D. rE. Pennant, St. Asaph Sir Watkin Williams Wynn, Mr. W. B. Yates, Cilcen Hall; Major-General A. E. Sandbach, Mr. Josesph Lloyd, St. Asaph; I Lord Mostyn, Colonel T. A. Wynne Edwards, Denbigh; Colonel S. Sandbach, Abergele. The first two clerical members and. the first three lay members take office immediately,. I the others being placed on the supplementary list. I ST. ASAPH ORDINATIONS. ] The Bishop of St. Asaph has ordained the following :—Deacons Eaward John. Jjioyd, University College, Bangor; Paul Philip I Levertofi, of the University of Petrograd; Arthuc Samuel Postance, Downing College, ¡ Cambridge; Llewelyn Jerman, Lichxield Theo- logical College. The Rev.. Ed.ward John Lioyd has been licensed to the curacy of Llanycii with Bala, I MONTGOMERY AND SALOP PKaSBYTiiRY. The following business was transacted at the meeting at Liaaymyixech on Thursday week, 1U addition to that reported m our last issue:— Oswald iload Church was given permission to borrow CSOO on the Manse. Bemew Church re- ported that it had extended & call to the Hev. Christmas Jones of Newtown to the pastorale, and the Rev. O. Matthias and Mr. W .R. Thomas, Abermule, were asked to attend the inaucti.011 Service. A message from Abermule for permis- sion to erect a schoolroom was referred to the Building Committe, who will visit Abermule and advise as to a more suitable site for the erection of a Chapel and Schoolroom. Albert Road Church reported the election of four deacons, viz. Mr. H. Williams, G. Llowarch, R. Phillips and J. Ellis. Tha Presbytery decided to welcome them 't the April Presbytery, when they will be ex- amined by the Rev. R. M. Roberts and Mr. J. T. C. Gittins will deliver the charge. The Mod- erator welcomed as visitors to the Presbytery, Rev. T. W. Reece and Miss Lloyd (missionaries home on furlough). Rev. G. A. Edwards, and Kev. W. M. Jones, Llansantffraid. Llanymynecli Church reported an increase of 12 in membership and that its foreign missionary collction had doubled that of previous years. The testimonial to the Rev. G. 0. Evans was reported to have reached £ 310 5s. 6d. and it was decided it should remain open until December 31, and after that a list of the subscribers will be published. The Maintenance of the Ministry Committee recom- mended that all appeals for assistance should be in the hands of Mr. J. M. Edwards by January 15, and it is expected all Churches will be able to show substantial increases in their own efforts and will produce their books to the Committee. An appeal will be made for subscriptions to form a fund at the next Presbyterv. The. next Pres- bytery will be held at St. Davia's Church, Shrews- bury, on Thursday, February, 12th, 1920, the Rev. R. Pryee Janes to inquire into the state of the cause. Votes of sympathy were passed with the family of Rev. Ellis James Jones and with Mr. R. Roberts, Montgomery, in his illness. The Rev. 1t. J. Barber Owen Curate of Gresford since 1902, has accepted the living of Isycoed near NVrexham. Arra.ngements are being mad-e for a special meeting of the Governing Body of the Church in Wales to be held at Rhyl in the first week I of the new year. The Rev. J. Christmas Jones, Newtown, Mont., has been appointed pastor of the Pres- byterian Church at Berried, vacant owing to the resignation of the Rev. John Davies. Mr. Jones was a chaplain in the Army, and after- wards took up a civilian post at Newtown. Mr. John Owens of Chester, moderator of the CaJviniftic Methodist Assembly, has re-I ported. to the Reconstruction Committee of the Connexion that anonvmous friends have offered to provide £ 100,000 towards the min- isterial funds. The amounti to be divided equally' between North and South Wales, and the gift is made on condition that the deno- mination raises a similar sum within the next I three years. It is understood that Mrs. and the Misses Davies of Llandinam have given £ 50,000 towards the fund, that Mr. John Owens has promised £ 500 a year for Ave years, and that Sir R. J. Thomas, M.P., has promised £ 200.
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Sir John A1 cock, D.S.C., who was the first 1 airman to fiy across the Atlantic has died from injuries received in as aeroplane orashr-ear Rouen. Mt. J. H. Thomas, M.P., states that he in- tends to explain the Government's offer with regard to the standardisation of raitway men's wages at a mass meeting in Birmingham on Sunday, January 4, and a special delegate meeting will. be called on Wednesday, Jan. 7, to consider the. Executive's report on the subject. 9
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Replying to the toast of his health at the Mansion House, on Thursday, when he was entertained by the Lord Mayor on his return from Canada, the Prince of Wales said the duty of the country was to work together m goodwill, so that everyone could enjoy the fruits of their labour. It was up to us, he said, to show the world how to overcome inter- nal troubles. 1-
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FACTS AND FANCIES ,
FACTS AND FANCIES I The Privileges of the- Press. Mr. Rernard Shaw was coming out of his house in London when an Italian organ grind- er, turning his instrument, looked appealingly at the great man and gave obvious indications of his willingness to receive some reward for his entertainment. G.B.S. with char- acteristic quickness, merely said Press and passed on. I. < < Mother Shipton and Lady Astor. With the entry of Lady Astor into Parlia- ment, no one seems to have called attention to Mother Shipton. Some of her prophecies which have matured are :—" Carriages with- out horses run," Airships sail the sky like boats," and Ironclads on the waters float." And now the latest is Men's thoughts around the world are sent, and women enter Parlia- ment. • ,¡¡. I More Aii- Force Reform." I I The Royal Air Force uniform is again to be changed—to one of a more modest and sober character," says Mr. Churchill, but the old uniform, even if it were not the blue but the original khaki, should be worn out before anything new was obtained by any man or officer. And yet Major-General Seely de- clared, the other day, that no Secretary of State could find time adequately to control i the War Office and the Air Force at the same time! ■ # 41 I Entering Heaven in a Dry Shirt. Apparently there was one canny Scotch fisherman who fully believed in the prophecy that the world was to end last Wednesday. Certain as to his ultimate haven, this fisher- man is not a Jittle worried as to the condition t of his habiliments when he approaches the Bar. Hearing the other day of the impending catastrophe, he decided at once to lay up his I boat until the fateful day had passed. When pressed as to his reason for so doing, he re- plied: A'm nae ga'n tae rin the risk o' enterin' Hivven wi' a we?t sark, onnyw(e 'j < j j [ How the Parson Beat the Prince. A new story of the Prince of Wales in America is told in the Evening News," The Prince was resting at a very quiet spot, a little resort, and on Sunday went to the local church. The parson was equal to the occa- sion, and produced an old prayer book of the time of the Queen Victoria, from which he proceeded to pray for our Royal Family. He made some necessary alteration from Queen Victoria to King George, and this safely ever glibly continued praying for Edward Prince M Wales, the Princess of Wales, and all the Royal Family." The Prince's comment to one of his suite as he left the church was, "I've become some hustler lately, but they've got me beat here." The Vogue of Velvet. Velvet is always a popular material for I winter wear, if only on account of its warmth (says the Liverpool Daily Post and Mer- I cury"); but this season the vogue of velvet applies not only to dresses, but also to millin- ery. It is remarkable, too. that black is the most popular colour, though the dark shades of blue, red, and green run it close for favour, wfiile plain velvet, which was the mode at the beginning of the season, is now giving way to corduroy and ribbed effects. A not- able dinner dress in black velvet had the cor- sage and panniers embroidered in silver, and the panniers also were trimmed at the edge with monkey fur. The general effect of the dress was bizarre and striking—rather too striking for the average drawing-room. An- other model combined velvet and tulle, both of black, the tulle forming the hem and also I adorning the right side and collar of the I gown, while round the waist was an old gold I silk cord. I The British Final Blow. The question who delivered the final blow which compelled the Germans to retreat at the I first battle of the Marne has for five years I been a matter of acute controversv. The Secret has been closely kept hy the German Staff. It has now been divulged by the publi- cation of the instructions issued by the Ger- man Supreme Command on Sept. 10, 1914, which prove that the advance of the British caused the German retreat. This i? no way derogates from the magnificent achievement of the French Staff and troops, who bore by far the heaviest-burden in that terrific strug- gle and covered themselves with undying re- nown. Die Marnesehlachf," a book recent- ly published in Germany bv General Baum- r gM-ten-Crusius, who himMlf served on the ? staff, of the Third German Armv, thus des- cribd our "vbit About noon of Sept. 9 I strong British forces thrust towards the < Marne in the gap between the First and Second (German) Armies. As the result of this (British) thrust, the Second Army wai also compelled to retire its right wing, not- withstanding the excellent progress of the at tack which its left was conducting, strengthen, ed by half the Third Army. Mrs. Gladstone's Activity. In her recently published Memoirs f the late Mrs. Gladstone,. Mrs. Drew gives an account of a specimen day in her mother's life when she was more than eighty. She had been to early church, nearly a mile uphill, walking both ways," and she had read family prayers at home and was at breakfast when she heard that a nurse who was looking after typhoid patients in a distant part of the estate had caught the fever. Mrs. Gladstone hurried off at once in her pony carriage to make arrangements for the nurse's removal, came back to the Castle to explain to her family, returned to the station, and whipped the nurse off by train to Chester." Arrived there she supported the patient up and down the long stairs at the station, carrying her bag and parcels in a fly with her all round Chester, in vain seeking admittance to a hospital. This was at last gained, and Mrs. Gladstone "returned to the station, with a sandwich, from the matron," reached home about four o'clock, set to work to prepare a stage and other arrangements for her grand- children's entertainment in the evening, flew across to the Orphanage and Home of Rest to charter an audience," end then put the children through their pacet, and helped them through their performance Afterwardf she presided at their tea-party and finished up by playing spirited dances for them Premier's Favourite Hymns. The Church Family Newspaper recent. lv had an article on the Premier's favourite hymns. After mentioning that Mr. Lloy*d George is very musical and the possessor of a fine tenor voice, the article goes on to state that, Welsh hymns are very beautiful and demonstrate the Welsh love of plaintive Melodies. The difference from the English hymns is very marked in this respect. The Premier has several favourite hymns; the chief of which is Jabez," and which bf 11a,s been persuaded to translate into English. The first line reads: "If e'er I cross the wilderness." "Brynhyfryd," "Dymuniad," Dorcas," and Dvfrdwy are other hrmns for which Mr. Lloyd George has a special liking. In addition to these, the Prime Minister is particularly fond of the great min- ing hymn, "Cwm Rhondda," which is full of force and fire, and is sung everywhere 115 Welsh miners. Another favourite is the weirc and mournful Moriah." "Dwyfor" it another hymn to which the Premier is ven attached. This is the name of the mountain stream at Llanystymdwv, where Mr. LIQyd George spent his boyhood and he says that the tune of this hymn is like the music of the water rippling over the rocks. Mr. Lloyd George not only takes a keen interest in the preservation of the old Welsh hymn tunes, but encourages composers.
BY THE WAY.I
picted in sacred art, seem to be making a wintry bivouac of it; but we are disposed to dismiss it all as figurative ang syipbolic of an age that is dead and gone; and, in real- ism, the Green Yule holds the day. So far at any rate, has disillusionment carried us towards a contented acceptance of modern ways. w So this news about the scarcity of paste-board, or whatever the material may be out of which these nasal atrocities are fash- ioned, may'be read with a certain amount of equanimity nevertheless. Or, peradventure, it may be only one of those scares with which what Mr. Lloyd George calls the stunt Press delight to make our flesh creep from time to time and, when the Christmas parties arrive during the next few days the false noses will be there after all. Well, I hope so, indeed, for, as I have said, it will be the last year that Tommy is likely to find in them the old delight, and we are wise to cling to the joys of childhood as long as ever we cgn. I A PHILOSOPHER ON THB PROWL, j