The Welshman

DISTRESS IN CARMARTHEN. Town's Meeting. Last Saturday nigt. L, a public mtJting, convened 'by a requisition to the Mayor"was held at the Guildhall, Carmarthen, to consider the distress prevailing in the town, and whit steps, if any, should be tak-n to mitiuate the s ime. There was a fdirly uood attendance The Mayor (Mr H Brunei White) presided and support- in? h m were Mr Morgan Griffiths, J.P., Mr R M Thomas (town clerk) and Mrs Thomas, Rev T R Walters and Mrs Wa ters, Rev G H Roberts, Rev D J Thomas, Rev E U Thomas, Rev A Filler MIlls, Mr Thomas Thomas (Di-gw:lfa), Mr W R Edwards, Mr Jonah Davies, Councillor Jamts John, Councillor D Jones, Mr Thomas Barker, Superintendent. Smith, Mr Ben Spivey, Mr Evan Evaas, Mr J F Morris, Mr David Williams, J.P., &e. The Mayor, on rising, said that perhaps he had not given the matter the consideration he ought to have given it. and po-sibly there were some with a fr greater knowledge of the prevalent distress in the town, who would be able to s peak with some authority as to what means should be adopted to relieve the same. He might say that this was not the first occesion on which the inhabtauts bad responded to the ca;] upon their benevolence during this inclement season. He mentioned the noble work that had been done by the soup kitchen (applause), and he tegged to thank those ladies and gentlemen in Carmarthen who bad so liberally responded to the calls made through the Press and by private circulars which he bad sent to them (hear, bear). Not onlv so but in some cases they bad doubled and even trebled their subscriptions so ttiat it had been possible to supply, in addition to soup, from 250 to 300 lua-es twice a week 10 the poor. Superin endtnt Smi,h-350 elioh day, sir. The Mayor, continuing, said that the liberality of the townspeople did nor stop there, for in Priory- street he was informtd during the past fourteen days, over 900 meals been given to the poor ohildren in the district (applause), which showed that Car- marthen was alive to the fact that the children in that part needed food. He might refer to the lady who had started a beoevolent speculation of her own, Mrs R M Thomas (cheers), she gave three free breakfasts the week before last at ther own cost, and, having received an invitation to attecd the distribution, he wa* pleased to say that he saw some 300 ohildren partaking of what had bten supplied through her generosity (hear, hear) Since then she had appealed for funds to tarry on her uoble work, and he was glad to say that she had received no less than JE45 for the purpose (load cheers). He might mention ofher public benefactors, among them Alderman C W Jones, who bad befn kind enough to give a large quantity of coal, and Captain Turner, through whose instrumentality over 200 were fed at the English Baptist Chapel. There were others who did not want their right hand to know what their left hand did, and had contributed liberally towards relieving distress. Be (the Mayor) had not come forward with any ssbeme of his own, because he had not given the matter sufficient consideration. But he had an agenda which contained several sugges- tions as to what should be done, and therefore he bad simply to call upon those gentlemen whose names he had before tim to "peak upon the distress in the town generally. Before they proceeded to discuss a scheme the Mayor said he had received a letter of apology from Principal Evans, Gre.n Hill, who was unable to be present all he could not get out of doors. If they thought fit to devise s-,me movement to relieve dis.ress he (Mr Evan") was willing to do his part if a public subscription was decided a pon. The Bishop of Swansea sent a letter in which he regretted his inability to be present, bat would be one of the first to subscribe in case it was decided to have a public subscription. He saw that a good deal had been done by various movements. Toe Vicar and Churchwardens bad been supplying children with over 900 meals, but with the change in the weather be bad noticed that (here bad been a marked tailing off in the number of applications. His Worship then called upon Mr Evan Evans, who stated that in the building trade there were eight families of masons and plasterers numbering 40 persons, and 16 families of tabourers numbering 128, who were actua ly in need of relief. The average wage of thb former was 24s to 30t3 a week, but they had not worked 20 hours-a week since Christmas. The labourers received from ]5s to 18s, and there were some 20 young men who were dependent upon their parents. Mr Ben Spivey said that the number of persona employed at the Tinworks was about 180. There were 120 families numbering 450 pers ns, and of those about 20 had obtained some employment in the town in shops, but iu many cases did not set sufficient to maintain them. Of tbe450 there would be quite 130 who w,¡uld not be likely to require relief, bot of the remainder there were 20 families of 120 persons who were in acute distress, while there were 200 not so badly off, and who wuuld be able to tide over the bad time with some assistance. He might etare that since the work had been slack Mr Thomas Lester had not insisted on pay- ment of rent, and there was :about £ 100 in arrears, and Mrs Lester had assisted several cases of acute distress. Mr David Williams read a letter from the member for the borough, Major Jones, who asked to be informed of the nature of the present depression in the tinp:ate trade, and sug^es-ed whether it would not be well to make a representation to (he Royal Commission now sitting at Westminster. Mr Williams then spoke in Welsh, alluding in sympathetic terms to the generosity of the tinplate wotkers when they had employment, the noble contributions they bad made to the cause of charity, and their manly independence. Replying to the Rev Fuller Mills, Mr bpi-ey said three mills had been working since Welnesiay, that was a portioo, doing three days work of six hoars each. The tinhouse had done two days work, but that was partial, and there was no prospeot of a return to anything like full work for the next few weeks. Replying to Mr John, Mr Spivey -aid that one or two cases were due to improvidence, but the majority were due to misfortune or accident, and there were large families. Mr Morgan Griffiths moved, "Tbat this meeting considers that in the exceptional distress which exists at present among working-men owing to cessation of work, the severity of the weather, and depression of the tinplate trade, a Mayor's Fund should be opened to alleviate the distress." He explained that this was not a rival scheme to any of the benevolent plans that were already in operation for relievingjdistress, like the soup kitchen, against which he, at first, entertained some prejudioe, but which he was glad to know, under the administration of the Mayor, had done incalculable good the last few months (applause). It would not be invidious to mention, among other cames that stood out prominently in connecti on with the works of the benevolent, that of Mrs Thomas, the wife of their esteemed Town Clerk—(applause)—who had started a movement that was novel in Carmarthen, and bad done great good in ministering to the necessities of starving children. Directing attention to Priory-street, which was almost like a distinct municipality, ldr Griffi,hs said the working-men there never cared about seeking for charity, unless th-y were driven to it by the hard hand of necessity. This ..a04 an exceptional time, and the tinplate industry had become so slack that the depression could only be described by the one word- chronic-it was so in South Wales. According to Mr Spivey's figures they might take it that there were in round numbers 300 people in Priory-street, who were in want of the common necessaries of life, and these could only be supplied out of a common fund formed for the purpose. Mr Griffiths made an eloquent and touch. ing appeal on behalf of the hardworking, industrious, poor, who were suffering privation through no fault of their own, and said he hoped it would go forth that Carmarthen, though many had done nobly already, was determined that the poor people in Priory-street should be placed above their present necesitioos position. Statistics spoke volumes, and no oratory was needed when starving families were in our midst. Mr Thomas Thomas (Disgwlfa), seconded, remarking that there had not been so much distress in Carmarthen for years, as there was now, and he did not think that nobler efforts had ever be«n put forth to relieve it (applause). Mr Williams had said that, during his 45 years' experience of the tinplate workers, he had never known a class more ready to assist others than they were, and it was only fair when they were in need that others should help them (hear, hear). Mr D Lewis put in a plea for the fishermen who, he said, had had only 16 weeks' work in the year and now had to live on the stones which the Corporation gave them (laughter). Mr W R Edwards, in supporting the resolution, alluded to the benefactions of the Mayor distributed by the churches and chapels, and also to the kind work of Mrs Thomas and other ladies. The resolution was then put, the words and other tradies being incorporated, and this was carried nem. eon. The Rev T R Walters said if a fund were opened they could not expect the Mayor to work it himself, and as the ramifications of poverty were numerous, he (Mr Walters) had a resolution put into his hand to move tbat a committee should be appointed consisting of the mayor, town clerk, superintendent of police, clergy and ministers, with one representative from each denomin- ation, the master builders, guardians of the parish of St Peters, manager and cashier of the Tinworks, and six members of the town council, three from each ward. The Rev G H Roberts seconded the same. As to the generosity of the tinplate workers, he stated that they had contributed £ 14 or L15 a year the last two or three years to ibe Icfirmary. Mr Spivey— £ 70 in the last five years (applause). Mr .toberta ad led that one half "f his conjugation were tic-plate workers and a friend told him that 30 families were in need, but that 10 out of 20 did not press for relief. There was a difference of opinion as to the size of the committee, a smaller one be'ng suggested by Mr Spitey. Ultimately Mr John moved, and Mr D Lewis secon- ded, that the committee consist of the mayor, town clerk, superintendent of police and clergv and ministers of all d'nomina i"ns with power to add, and this wa* carried, Mr Morgan Griffiths being appointed treasurer and Mr Thomas E iaos (assistant to the town clerk) secretary. A suiccription list was at once opened Mr Morgan Griffiths head ng it with L5 5s the Mayor gave £2 2s; Mr J F Morris X2 2a; Mr Thomas (Diegwilfa), El Is; Mr W R Edwards, XI Is; Mr Thomas Edwards, £1 Is; Dr Edwards (Barry), It Is; Mr J,nah Davies, El Is Mr T Walters, 91 Is Rev Fuller Mills, 10s 6d Rev G H Roberts, 10s 6d Mr T H Phi lips (representative of Messrs Weaver and Co., Swansea), a sack of flour. A vote of thanks was tendered to the Mayor pre- siding at the close.

SOCIALISM. I TO THE EDITOR OF THB WELSHMAN. I SIR,-Into the merits or practicability of Social- ism, I do not (at present, anyhow) intend to enter but I write to protest against the loose way "Klarionette" writes, to say nothing of his per- fectly wrong and untenable premises. I will simply take one instance. He says: "England and Wales to-day belongs to a few thousand individuals." As a matter of fact, there are in England and Wales, excluding the Metropolis, at least one million land- owners; there are in the county of Carmarthen alone over 8,000. "Klarionette," like a great many more faddists in these days, should examine facts a little closer, and not.allow his hobby to blind him. Yours, etc., VEINCUTRY. I

TO THE EDITOR OF THE WELSHMAN." I SIR,—Recent events should open the eyes of all honest working-men struggling to live to the Social inequalities of this country. What see we ? The richest country in the world supposed to be, yet whe.i a few weeks inclement weather come upon thousands starving. I heartily sympathise with "Klarionette," and endorse much he advances; things are not what they ought to be, and it is a stinging shame on our boasted civilization, much lest our religion with all its hollow pomposity. All honour to the noble men and women who have as the cost of self-denial come to the rescue. I attach no honour to the noble Marquis of Bute who stumps out his paltry S50, when be could have given £ 5,000 with less sacrifice than the .widow's mite. Put the said C50 again to the fact that appeared in a Cardiff paper last week, that he paid X6,000 more in rates (and, of course, could afford to do) than he had ever paid before in one year, and then look upon that picture of C50 and look upon this. In the name of common sense, what has the Marquis of Bute done to become the possessor of his enormous wealth ? The bulk of it, as in the case of the Duke of Westminster and others of our nobility )(?), is simply unearned increment. In fact, the only effort by some of these fat landlords is how to spend it, not how to earn it. It appears to ordinary mortals as viewed from the present aspect of things—" the earth is the landlord's," the rest of humanity being the slaves thereof. What see we in this cry of the landlords about the reduction of their incomes, simply this that the shoe pinches because they cannot go to their usual lengths of profligacy and prodigality. There are exceptions, noble exceptions, of Nature's true gentlemen who have eyes to see and hearts to feel, but there are landlords in these hard times who dole out the miserable pittance of 5 per cent, and blaze it abroad in the papers as though they were of all men most liberal, and, at the same time, waste thousands per annum on gambling and race- horses. Poor tenants living on cawl, while their wine-cellars are full, and their eyes stand out with fatness. The dogs at their table live in luxury, while the poor tenant starves in penury and want. Every man who works honestly ought not to want, and should at a reasonable age be able to do without. As a remedy, I propose a change of position for one month only of the pampered few with the sons of poverty and toil. I guess by that time our nobility would sing another tune. Run back our little aristocrasy and make them prove the genuiness of their titles to the lands they hold. It would be an eye-opener. Not a few things I would be found "to be rotten in the state "of II Denmark." By your permission will follow up if the landlords will reply would prove interesting. Yours truly, OBSERVER.

■ ■ ) next board. I have an application to make for an in- crease of salary. They have taken away £18108.-The Chairman: Yon are not qoite in order now.—Mr Ellis Edward* But allow me to explain my position.—The Chairman That has nothing to do with the case in band. You had better confine yourself to that.—Mr Ellis Edwards: All I have got to say is that I could not, without running a great riak of the patient's life, leave the case I bad in hand that morning, bat I started in the evening, and then I could not find any one who would show me the way. It was a place on the common, and I did not know the way to go to the house. One person said he would not take 10s, aod others are prepared to prove what I have stated. If the people ia the district would not go with me on such a night, you could not expect me to go and find the place.—The Chairman Bot bad yon not a deputy who would have attended ?—Mr Ellis Edwards He lives in town.—Mrs Thoroas Would not the certificate be in existence, and would it not be better to ask to see it ? — The Relieving Officer aaid he conld show bis book (in which there was the entry: cause of death—probably old age).—Mr David Bowen: I see she was 74 last year, and this year she is 84.—Mr Jonah Davies • Have we any control over the registrr ?-Tbe Olerk: No sir. The Clerk added that the registrar had not, as Mr Davies supposed, committed any irregularity in registering the eAuse of death without a certificate. — The Registrar said that was so.—The Rev Thomas Jones Ia that one of the rules?—Mr Jonah Davies If it is I shoold like to have it read.—The Cltrk I think the registrar can do so.—Mr Jonah Davies remarked that it would be more satisfactory if this complaint were sifted to the bottom, and he thought it would be better to get all the light they could upon it. The woman said she had a certificate; the doctor said he did not give one; and it would be better to have both of them there face to face.—The Chairman: Then it is ad- journed for a fortnight.—The rClerk and Mrs Lewis to attend.—Mr Jonah Daviea And produce the certificate she says she has got.—The matter was thus adjourned. The Clerk aaid he had divided the board into fair divisions for visiting purposes, and he read out the list j of Dames. The House and Out-door Relief. I The total number in the house last week was 88, against 96 the c Tresponding wefik last year, while the vagrants the s-ime week numbered 49. In the 5'h week 1,2-56 were relieved out of doors -a decrease of 38 at a c st of £ 149 Oa 9d —an increase of £ 1 7s 9 i, and in the 6th week 1,250 an increase of 41 on the corresponding week of last vear -were relieved at a coet of £ 13-5 9a 6d a decrease of L17 3s.

THE CARMARTHENSHIRE HUNT STEEPLE- CHASES. A New Fixture. A meeting of the subscribers to the Carmarthenshire Hunt. Steeplechases and Hurdle Rices was held at the Boar's Head Hotel, Carmarthen, on Saturday last, to consider the advisability of making a fresh fixture after the abardonment of the last owing to the continued frost. There were present —Mr W J Buckley, M.F.H (in the cbair) Mr H Brunei White, mayor of Carmar- then Major Glascott, Wenallt; Captain Moreton Thomas, Lletherllestry Dr Lawrence, Waungron Mr Gwyn Saunders-Davies, Pentre; Mr A Brigstocke, Ferryside; Mr T Parkinson, Castle Pigyn; Mr T Jenkins, The Friary, Carmarthen Mr J Anthony, Cilveithy; Mr W V Howell Thomas, Starling Park; Dr R Thomas, Parke Mr J F Rees, veterinary surgeon, Carmarthen; Mr A Th itm-As, Maesyprior; Mr David Davies, Cwmaubach Mr Thomas, Danyrallt; and the joint hoc. sees., Mr Grismond P. ilipps, Cwmgwili, and Mr John Francis, Myrtle Hill. The Chairman said the chief business wan to decide whether or not a fresh fixture should be m-de, and, on the motion of the Mayor, seconded by Captain Moreton Tboma*, it was unanimously resolved to make arraoge- ments for a new meeting. Major Glascott said they ought next to consider whether it should be a one or a two days' meeting. Mr A Thomas (tenant of the land over which the courso runs) said that last year he found no difficulty in allowing the races to be held late in the season, but thib year he was going to sow corn in a field through which the course went, and he would not be able to delay the work until after the 25th of March. Mr Grismond Philippe proposed, and Major Glascott seconded, that a one day meeting only be held, with two steeplechases, two banking races, and two hurdle races, and that the stakes be increased. The MaJor- Will that be a precedent for a one day meeting in future! Ctptain Moreton Thomas —Oh, no. Mr Vincent Thomas-There is great objection in Carmtrthen against a one day meeting, as the town would not then get a pull from the races. Dr Lawrence Does the town sabsoiibe anything? Mr Vincent Thomas—Yes, they have subscribed the Licensed Victuallers' Plate this year. Mr T Jenkins-We would be establishing a very bad precedent it we belda one day meeting. I, for one, will not take the trouble to collect subscriptiouti for a one day meeting, and we shall be aure to lose more by it then by a two days'. Mr J F Rees said the question was whether they woold be able to get a two days' meeting, and Mr Grismond Pmlipps added that was the difficulty which prompted him to propose one day. Diaries were then consulted, aud Mr G Siun(feri-Divies said that Tuesday and Wednesday, t2,-h and 13th March, were open, the Pembroke meeting being on the following day. He proposed those dates. Dr Thomas seconded, and the original motion having been withdrawn, the amendment was carried nem. con. The Challenge Cup. I The following letter was read by Mr John Francis:— 10, Queea-street, Mayfair, Feb. 2lst. Dear Sir,—I have been very much disappointed with the way in which the race for the Coallenge Cup filled. I con- fess I waq somewhat doubtful at the time I promised it, having in mind similar cups which have been given before, especially Mr Lort Phillips's, for which only two or three different owners competed at any time. I had hoped, however, from the central position of Car- marthen, and the conditions of the race, that it would have filled, all it was my hope to get up a really good race over banks-a s .ft of Welsh National. I see, however, that a cup does not attract entries. The race had to be re opened, and oat of the seven horses enl,ered then fi,e were the property of three owners, 11001 too her only pat in under pressure to help the race. Under these circumstances, if the committee think it advisable, I will give instead this year X25, wbicb, added to the L40 given by the food, would make £65, and could be given E50, £ 10, and J65 respectively for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd, thus taking the place for another year of Lord Cawdor's Plate. I only put this forward for the consideration of the co mittee, and perhaps you will read them this letter. I will, of course, give the cip if tsey so decide.-Yours faithfully, JOHN V. COLBY." The Chairman and other gentlemen remarked upon the fairness of Mr Colby's offer, and a discussion arose upon the suggested alteration of the programme. On the motion of M-ijor Glascott, a conded by Captain Moreton Thomas, it was decided to stick to the old programme in its entirety, and the Secretaries were asked to write to all owners asking them to allow the entries for the abandoned meeting to staud good.

TO THE EDITOR OF THB "WELSHMAN." SIR,-I hope yon will not consider that an extract from Ruskin placed beside the one quoted by you will upset your reasonable decision to refrain from replying to Socialism at present. There are two theories on the sublect of land both false. The first II that, by Heavenly law, there have always existed, and must continue to exist, a certain number of hereditarily sacred persons to whom the earth, air, and water of the world belong, as personal property; of which eartb, air, and water these persons may, at their pleasure, permit or forbid the rest of the human race to eat, to breathe, or to drink. This theory is not for many years longer tenable. Ricbes-so far from being necessary to noblesse-are adverse to it. So utterly adverse, that the first character of all the nobilities which have founded great dynasties in the world is to be poor—often poor by oath-ftlwaya poor by generosity. And of every true knight in the chivalric ages, the first thing history tells you is that he never kept treasure for himself." You will see the ideal John wishes the busy rich to have when they watch and rebuke the idle rich. He condemns no man for enjoying noble things that alone constitute true wealth, but the man who grasps an no- necessary proportion and thus becomes rich and makes many poor. I am glad that you allow that property in land is very different from ownership and other randane goods Toe difference between the landlords' thriving and the so-called sudden thriving of the merchant is this: The landlord baa received a greater portion of wealth actually produced; the merchant has received a greater share of money because wealth has decreased. Money itself is not wealth; it only represents it. Sup- pose that the world contained but one sack of floor. Now, if you printed notes or struck off coinB till all the paper and metal were exhausted, Ion would still have but one sack, and be not a wbit wealthier. On the con- trary, the destruction of all the money would not make you poorer. It you raised more flour you would be wealthier; and this is how the landlord thrives. Of course, a merchant could enjoy a greater share, as in time more wealth was produced, bot the landlord reaps first, and we are dealing with the land. The merchant would be governed by the same law as the land- lord. I cannot see that the two reasons yon gave remove the analngy between possession of the sun and of the earth. To answer the first, if I had possession of the sun I could charge what I liked for each sunbeam, and without them this earth would be useless. The fact that the son requires no human aid does not affect the injustice of my possessing it, because the argument would still hold good if it did require it. I should only have to make everyone do what was necessary, that is all. The second objection is true theoretically, but you know, Sir, how diGSoult it is to work. Here we have a world and people capable of producing unlimited wealth, and yet thousands of those people are literally starving. Ignorant, toil. worn, and hardened, they sit in judgment upon Sooialism, aud cry hastily, "Away with it, crncify it; and let us have oar hard tasks and our scant bread." Ah. me! I am making enquiries into Tenant Farmer's statement respecting the decreasing value of land. Meanwhile, may I point out to him that that atstement is contradictory to the one made in bis letter of 21st I December last, in which he spoke of the great demand in WAl,-s for laod" continoilljl; and that the farmers were paying scores of pounds more rent" and that there were "innumerable cases where rack rents are offered for f<rma already o»er-reDted" and, "men offer to take farms at increased rents, &c." He also stated in th-»t le ter that railway companies should be "compelled to charge foreinners a higher rate. When I pointed out to him that he had justly condemned capitalism in the railway company, he replied on 18th January that I erred in making that statement. In his last letter, does he not arpiin justify my remark ? I shou'd be gifid if be could make bis point clearer. Whether labourers ate bappy ar d anle to live a full and worthy life ill, of coarse, a matter for each oce to de- oide. Personally, I think not; and I am quite sure that they have little if any leisure. Nor must we re- gard :hose who recruit "the arasy, navy, and the civil forces," and set off their privilewes-real or fali;e -as in any way affecting the farm labourer. I willingly admit all the latent good in him, but say that he doee;not have opportunity of developing it. "Children of men not that your age excel In pride of life the ages of your sires, But that ye think clear, feel deep, bear fruit well, The Friend of man desires." I am, Sir, your obedient servant, J. H. M. JAMES. Victoria Embankment, W.C., M. JU[Ès. Feb. 18, 1895.

I THE GAS COMMITTEE OF THE CARMARTHEN I TOWN COUNCIL AND THE GAS COMPANY. I TO THE EDITOR OF THE WELSHMAN." I SIR,-In your last issue, Mr Rogers writes to say the above committee, of whom he is a member, had no opportunity of seeiog the books of the Gas Company, th,t nothing can be done without an examination of these books, and that he proposed an auditor for a dis nteresied examination of them. I would only remark on Mr Rogers's statements :— That he undertook a public task which be was not able to do, or why propose to efoploy an auditor? The auditor on behalf of the Town Council Committee was to examine the books of the Gas Company, which the committee bad no opportunity of seeing Mr Rogers says truly nothing can be done without an examination of the Gas Company's book@, yet his committee, not having seen the books, make their report on the Gas Company's accounts to the Town Council! Yours obediently, LucK. Feb., 1895. SIR,—Mr Rogers, one of the committee appointed to inves-ig,itb the accounts of the Gas Company, paid, in your last issue, that the committee have neither seen the Gas Company's books nor had the opportunity of doing so." In the presence of two other directors of the Gas Company, anl with their assent and approval, 1 told the Town Clerk that the books of the Gas Company would be open for inspection at any time by the committee. The Town Clerk tells me he conveyed this message to to the committee. 18m, YOllr8 tnl" I am, yours troly, C. W. JONBS. I Chairman of the Gas Co. I

LLYTHYR HEN WEITHIWR. AT OLYGYDD Y WELSHMAN." Syit,-Dywedais yn fy llythyr diweddaf mai y gweitbwyr bJnya nflogir gan amaethwyr, fel rheol, sydd yn gweithio fwyat 0 oriau'r dydd, ac eto yn derbyn lloiaf am eu llafor. Maeot yn gweithio yn galed o foreu hyd yr hwyr. Oil daw afiecbyd i'w than, mile newyn a thlodi yn canlyn. Dyma'r dosbartb sydd yn cael yr ymborth gwaelaf yn mhlith gweithwyr yn gyffredin. Yr ydwyf yn gwybod yn brofiadol am ymborth Uawer amaethdy mewn gwahanol ranan 0 siroedd Penfro a Coaerfyrddin nad ydyw yo gyfaddas i onrhyw gylla ddyool eu treulio. Er byny, nid wyf yo thoddi pawb yn y dosbarth hwn, oblegid mae gan lawer ymborth gwerth ei alw yn ymbort.h i'w gweith- wyr. Ac fe ddylai fod gan bawb felly. Tri pheth bydd yn angenrheidiol ar bawb mewn yetyr anianyddol yn eu bywyd presenol, sef dillad, ymbortb, a chysgod. A beiddiaf ddweyd nas gall eyfoetb y millionaire ddwyn dim mwy i'w feddisnt na'r tri hf n. Dywed nn o'r New York millionaires unwaitb wrth ei gyfaill eiriau fel hyn "What is the use of all this wealth to me ? I cannot take a cent of it with me when I die, and here, after all, it brings me nothing bot food, clothes, and shelter." Trueni meddwl fod onrhyw ddyn yn oael ei amddifadu o un o'r petbaa hyn, ac yntau ddim ond gwneyd ei yrnddangOBiad nnwaith ar lwyfan bodolaeth ei Grewr doeth. Mor helaeth mae y Creawdwr yn darpara ar gyfer yr aderyn a'r trychfilyn creadoriaid distadlaf natar. Chwaitbach dyn, yr hwn a woaetb yn ben ac arglwvdd y greadigaatb. Gallem feddwl, wrth weled llawer yn byw mor gybydalyd ac yn gwasgu eu gweithwyr, eu bod yn bwriadu oymeryd rhan helaeth o'a cyfoeth gaoddynt ar eu hymadawiad oddi yma. Mae ereiU yn ein synu wrth ea gweled yn gwario miloedd yn flynyddol i gynal cwn hela a cheffylan i redeg mewn rhedegfeydd, a'r arian sydd gaoddynt wedi dyfod o ddwylaw meibion llafor. Mae llawer o gwn a cheffylan yn byw ar foetban wrtb eu cyferbynu a bywioliaeth llawer 0 weithwyr tlawd rhai yn pentyru cyfoeth i'w coffrao, a'r 116ill yn eu gwsstraffo ar bleserau diangen, tra see ugeiniau o deuluoedd yn dioddef oddiwrth eisieu bara. Dymunem ofyn, a yw hyn yn onest a tbeg, ac yn weithred y dylid ei efylcha Honan-aberth sydd wrth wraidd Criation. ogaeth, a chyn gallwn bytb fod yn Gristionogion IDee yn rhaid bod yn hanan-aberthwyr. Heb fod tal na chlod yn ein symbyla, tawaf eto gan aofon fy oghofion gorea a "Billy," "Clarionette," a phawb o'a cefnog- wyr. Yr eiddoob, HEN WEITHlWR.

A DISTRESSED ARTIST. TO THB EDITOR OF THE WELSHMAN." SIR,-Probably many of yonr readers have reoeived, or will shortly receive, from an unknown artist residing in the suburbs of London, a water-coloor drawing, purporting to represent some locality in Carmarthen. shire. This work of art is invariably sent without payment of carriage, and is accompanied by a letter, asking for sums ranging from S5 to J650, according to the estimate formed by the artist of the intellect and pecuniary position of the recipient. Kindly allow me to mention that the character and antecedents of this artist have been repeatedly ex- plained by writers in the Lordon Press, e.g., in Trutlt of 9tb November, 1893, and 15th February, 1894, and in the Standard of 25th of May, 1892. In October, 1893, the artist was so infuriated by recent exposures that be challenged Mr Labouchere, M.P., editor of Truth, to fight a duel in Belgium, with revolvers at thirty paces, six shots being allowed to each." This oballenge ends with the following words My wife I to second me; I have no other friend. I am going I aad, and shall soon be insane." I have too much regard, Mr Editor, for your bodily and mental welfare to ask yon to poblish the name of this formidable person. I will only add that tbere is no It gal objection either to purchase or return auy picture which is sent to a total stranger in the manner I have described. Any who may wish to corresi ond with the artist will find that his epistles are bitter, abject, and whining, or scurrilou- and offensive. Haviog regard to his mental abemtiens," as Trutl" politely pots it, I reaommend that his works of art be returned to him by the recipients, and that they imitate him so far as to dispense with the formality of paying for the carriage thereof. Your obedient servant. RICHARD E. JENNINGS.

I Pembrokeshire. At last meeting of the old school board at Pembroke, the Chairman (Mr Jonas N Traylor), Mr John Jones, and the Rev D Bowen, spoke of the admirable way in which the Clerk (Mr W C Harries) had done his duties, and the Chairman said the outside public bad DO idea, he believed of how extensive the Clerk's work had become. Mr Jones said be had not missed many meetings for six years, and he know something of the heavy work that fell upon the clerk, who was certainly not sufficiently paid. At last meeting of the Pembroke Guardians, Mr Bircham, Local Government Board Inspector, sopported the remarks of the Chairmao in praise of the way in which Miss Twigg has trained the children, and added that there was not a workbouse in the whole of Walea and Monmouthshire where the children were brought up and came out better than the children of that union and Narberth. Mr Wcthington, Glynymel, has sold his two-year- old entire Shire colt by "Harold" out of" Goldel1 Crown to Mr Parnell, of Rugby, for E160. Hie half. broiher "R.M.D." is however, kept by Mr Worthing- ton for the benefit of the farmers around Fisbgoard. We regret to reoord the death on Tuesday evening, last week, of the Rev William Owen, for many years pastor of the Middle Mill Chapel, Solva. Mr Owen, who was 82 years old, was a prominent figure in Baptist circles. Commencins his ministry at Canton. Cardiff, he later removed to Narberth, and after remain- ing there a few years, accepted the pastorate of the Middle Mill chapel, which he retained ootil compelled by old age and physioal infirmities to resign. On Sunday afternoon, whilst Mr Alfred Mabe, of Templeton, A as walking through a field near Narberth Union Workhouse, in the parish of Narberth South, he found the dead body of a child in the snow. It ia supposed to have been there 14 days or more. The rain and thaw on Sunday morning brought it into sight, as it was not to be seen a few days before. The body is now in the care of P.S. Phillips, at the police-station awaitirg an inquest. At a representative meeting of Liberals, held at Fish- guard, and presided over by Mr W S Jenkins, presi- dent of the Liberal Association, it was resolved to contest the seat, the present councillor (Mr Worthington, C.) having decided not to seek re-election Mr Walter L Williams, Cefn-y-dre, was unanimously selected as a candidate. The following gentlemen spoke in support of the candidature the Chairman, Mr George Morris (proposer), the Revs J Lamb (seconder), and William Jones, Dr H Lawton Swete (C.) will oppose Mr Williams. The Burton Patish Council met on M< nday night. Sir Owen H P Scourfield, Bart., was in the chair. A number of applications for allotments was received and considered. A great many of the applicants are dock- yard employees, and it was questioned whether it was the intention of the framers of.the Act that such men should avail themselves of the provisions relating to allotments. The sub-committee of the Pembrokeshire County Governing Body, appointed to receive applications, recommended to the meeting on Tuesday the names of Mr T L Williams, B.A., Gellygaer School, and Mr V Butler Smith, West Hampstead.-Af ter some discussion a vote was taken, with the result that Mr Williams was appointed.

RUSKIN AS A SOCIALIST. 1- TO THE EDITOR OF THE "WELSHMAN." SIR,-It IS not my intention to "talk back" to you like that brazen Yorick." He is too cheeky by a long way. If I were an Editor I should soon put the extinguisher upon him. But last week, Sir, you gave us a quotation from Ruskin, but which in no way dals with the question in hand. The question is not whether landlords and rich men are busy or idle people, but whether they have any moral right to tneir riches. It must be admitted that Jay Gould was a hard-working man and it is possible that he possessed a kind of bovine happiness, but surely we must hesitate to assert that he accumulated all his wealth by just means. The quotation you gave us is from the Crown of Wild Olive," one of Ruskin's best books, and one of the books I prize most. My object in writing this letter is to give a few more extracts, which may be of value to those who have but little leisure to read such books. But, after all, a quotation is a quota- tion. You cannot judge a book by merely picking a piece out here and there. But quotations may be useful. Here then are a few:- "The first of all English games is making money. That is an all-absorbing game; and we knock each other down oftener in playing at that than at foot- ball, or any other rougher sport; and it is absolutely without purpose; no one who engages heartily in that game ever knows why. Ask a great money- maker what he wants to do with his money—he never knows. He doesn't make it to _do anything with it. He gets it only that he may get. it. What will you make of what you have got?' you ask. I Well, I'll get more," he says. Just as at playing cricket, you got more runs. There's no use in the runs, but to get more of them than other ) people is the game. And there's no use in the money, but to have more of it than other people is the game." The lawful basis of wealth is, that a man who works should be paid the fair value of his work; and that if he does not choose to spend it to-day, he should have free leave to keep it, and spend it to- morrow. Thus an industrious man working daily, and laying by daily, attains at last the possession of an accumulated sum of wealth, to which he has absolute right. The idle person who will not work, and the wasteful person who lays nothing by, at the end of the same time will be doubly poor-poor in possession, and dissolute in moral habit; and he will then naturally covet the money which the other has saved. And if he is then allowed to attack the other and rob him of his well-earned wealth, there is no more any motive for saving, or any reward for good conduct; and all society is thereupon dissolved, or exists only in systems of rapine. Therefore, the first necessity of social life is the clearness of the national conscience in enforcing the law-that he should keep who has justly earned." [The most im- portant sentence in this paragraph is the latit.1 "There will be always a number of men who would fain set themselves to the accumulation of wealth as the sole object of their lives. Necessarily, that class of men 19 an uneducated class, inferior in intellect, and, more or less, cowardly. It is physi- cally impossible for a well-educated, intellectual, or brave man to make money the chief object of his thought; just as it is for him to make his dinner the principal object of them." [It will be remembered that John Ruskin spent all the fortune he inherited from his father in philanthropic objects.] Comparing the modern power of the, Capitalist with the ancient power of the Barons he says The poor vagrants by the roadside suffer now quite as much from the bag-baron as ever they did from the crag-baron. Bags and crags have just the same result on rags." Here, then, is your chief duty, you workmen and tradesmen-to be true to yourselves, and to us who would help you. We can do nothing for you, nor you for yourselves without honesty. Get that, you get all; without that, your suffrages, your reforms, your free-trade measures, your institutions of science are all in vain. It is useless to put your heads together, if you can't put your hearts to. gether. Shoulder to shoulder, right hand to right hand, among yourselves, and no wrong hand to anybody else, and you'll win the world yet." "Conclusively, you will find that because you are king of a nation, it does not follow that you are to gather for yourself all the wealth of that nation, neither, because you are king of a small part of the nation and lord over the means of its maintenance —over field, or hill, or mine-are you to take all the produce of that piece of ihe foundation of national existence for yourself." You object, lords of Englands, to increase, to the poor, the wages you give them, because they spend them, you say, unadvisedly. Render them, therefore, an account of the wages which they give you; and show them, by your example, how to spend theirs to the last farthing advisedly." When there is really necessary debate respecting reduction of wages, let us always begin not with the wages of the industrious classes, but with those of the idle ones. Let there be honorary titles, if people like them, but let there be no honorary in- comes. I will quote no more. The last lecture in the book on the Future of England is excellent, and ought to be read carefully. As I said before, it is impossible to form a just estimate of the value of this book by quoting a few passages here and there. But that Ruskin is a Socialist no one possessing a little knowledge of his life and writings will deny. I am, Sir, yours very truly, QUERKUS.

I Cardiganshire. It seems that the Rev Dr Herber Evam, principal of Bangor Theological College, is not the first Welsh Non- conformist minister who has been raised to the magisterial hench. That distinction is claimed for the Rev D Davies, Congregational minister, Zion's-hill Church, Pembrokeshire, long since deceased. The notice of resignation of membership of the Lian- dvasul School Board,lwhich Mr C Lloyd, J.P.. and the Rev W G Jenkins have given, has now expired, so that the school board is now defunct. Mr E June-, Tyssul Castle (the clerk), wrote on Monday to the Education Department, London, to apprise them of the fact. The instructions of the department are awaited with great anxiety in the parish.

A BROTHER IN MILTON. I TO THE EDITOR OF THE" WELSHMAN." I "Tenant Farmer "seems terribly anxious that he should not be convicted of the capital charge ot slang "—and, at all costs, he seems determined to tell a very funny, bot wholly irrelevant, tale be had just heard about the editor of a Weekly Magazine. This is a harmless weakness, and, if we had more leisure, we should desire to cultivate the acquaintance of a man who with such art can work off a tale upon us. One good torn deserves another, and I will therefore tell him another, whicb, though less fanny perhaps, is not much more to the point than bis. "Jack," said a man to bit partner one day, "halta ever seen the Qoeen ? No," replied Jack, •'but I have a brother-who ooce-very nearly-saw the Prince of Wales." With the proper modulation of voice, and when re- tailed to the right person, (for the saccesa of a jest lies in the ear of him that hears it aa much as io the tongue of him tbat makes it) this toes not fall flat. Try it next rent dinner, Tenant Farmer there's no royalty to pay. As for Milton's being blind when he wrote Lycidas, this mast have been an oversight of Tenant Farmer's." And granting that Milton was blind, I do not think "Tenant Farmer" would then be josrified in quotinig him as an authority on plants which grow on mortal soil." And tbea besides, air, it is well known thnt in his greatest work Paradise Lost," Milton said some strange thingti-as, for instance, when he says that Ewe was the most beautiful of all her daughters. (And, by-the-bye, sir, if the worth of a thing is what it willl fetch in the market, "Paradise Lost" was worth £ 15.) No, sir, we cannot allow everything to pass current that Milton said. And it should be borne in mind, too, that with the decline in agriculture, pastoral poems are somewhat out of date. We have now advanced to The Man that Broke the Bank at Monte Carlo "-and other places. But now, air,-to bring Milton apto date-I most "Twitch my macintosh, To-morrow to fresh fields and pastures new." Yours sincerely, YORICK. [Note I.-Save the K for "The Bounder," and place the accent on the toølt, please.] P.S. I should be glad to know if "Tenant Farmer has any explanation to give of the origin of the Vaoghan-Williams-burglar-myth. [Yorick also encloses the following note — I is vain to talkf of landlords as I distributors 0 surplas produce of the soil." Yon point out yourself that farmers daring (certain periods woold have been unable to make a living out of the land bad it been given to them for nothing. I believe this but if the farmer cannot make a living out of the land, bow can there be a surplus produce of the soil ? And there being no surplus, where is the need for a distributor P'

I Carmarthenshire. The Whitland monthly market was held on Tuesday week, and turned! out well, in spite of the Arctic weather. There was a good supply for thia season of the year, and nearly all were sold. Pigs, and cows with calves, sold well, and all round there was good business done. The case of extraordinary traffic at Kidwelly is to come off very soon, bat no doubt it will oe kept back ontil after the eleotioo. Some ratepayers talk of calling a meeting to protest against a repetition of the last .lawsuits. Mr and Mrs Barrett, of Crossvale, most liberally entertained the children of the ddy school and numerous neighbours, at Alltwalis Board School on the 15th ult, to a substantial tea. Among the ladies who lent their assistance were the Misses Jones, Derl myn, Miss James, Llwynglas, Mrs Daniels, Clyn- adda,'and Mrs Daniels, Floshelig. After tea, buns and oranges were distributed to the children by Mrs Barrett. Mrs James, of Llwynglas, generously distributed sixty packages of sweets. In the evening a very enjoyable coovpetiiive meeting was held in the Chapel under the presidency of Mr Barrett. The Rev T Eynon Davies has been selected the Glasgow University preacher for Sunday week. Mr Davies is a brother of the Rev J Ossian Davies, of Bournemouth, and is one of tbe very few Welshmen who have been honoored with an invitation to preach before the Glasgow University. The rent audit of the Puxley estate was held at the Railway Tavern, Whitland, by Mr J Thomas. No reductions were made, bat.the tithes were allowed, and an intimidation given that thiy will be paid byl the landlord in future, Mr Morgans supplied a capita dinner. The Carmarthenshire County Council consists ot 6S members—51 councillors and 17 aldermen. Of the latter, eight will retire before the election. The present council is composed of 69 Liberals aod nine Conserva- tives. It is probable that the coming election on March 4th will be fought entirely on political lines. The half-yearly reot audit of Henllys estate, the property of Mr D W J Thomas, solicitor. Brecon, was held at the King's Head Ino, on Tuesday. Mr John Devonald Morse, of Llandawke, who has from the first been the member for Laugbarne district in the county council is again a candidate. At present there is no one mentioned as likely to oppose him. Mr Morse is a Nonconformist and Liberal. The proposed county councillor for Brynamman is Dr Rees, J.P., Tirbach, who has represented the parish up to the present. He was again proposed at a recent meeting, and warmly supported. Afterwards Dr Rees addreased the meeting. At the Whitland weekly provision market on Friday, there was a fair attendance and supply. Butter in casks realising 12d to 12d per lb; whilst butter in round rolls vary from 12fd to 13d per lb; beef, 7d to 8d matton, 8d to 9d; pork, 6 per lb. Eggs 14 for Is, live ducks and fowls, 38 6d to 58 6d per couple.