The Cambria Daily Leader

THE LIBRARY. Swansea Library, in common with other municipally-supported libraries in the country, is feeling the pinch of high prices. Limited as it is to a penny in the pound rate call, it is now at t-he parting of the ways. Salaries have had to be 4"1!- creased to give their recipients a 1 living wage, and, with the extra maintenance expenses also in- curred, l&ss and less is available for the first function of a library—;tbf purchasing of books. The com- mittee face shelves that are pain- fully depleted. It has been impos- sible to replace worn-out books; the department of juvenile literature has become kn absurdity; and as for keeping up with the stream of new books, those who had high hop s i some time ago, because they had managed to secure £ 250-in the esti- mates for book and periodical pur- chases, are beginning to despair, so many encroachments have ben made, or are being foreshadowed, upon this sum. Presently, the total income of the Library will be swallowed up in administrative costs. In other words, the Library will have ceased to carry out its reai work. The public must c.ome to a deci- sion whether it wants a Free Library, an up-to-date Library, cov- ering all modem activities in litera- ture or whether it is content to run what may be called a book museum of works published up to a certain date. We believe that the readers of Swansea will say that if the Library is to be of any use it must be modem, and that a generous sum of money must be available for th^ purpose of stocking it. The econo- mies that have now to be practised are pitiable, considering the eize and importance of the town. BooSa of first-class value cannot be bought until they figure in the second-hand list's at a lower price. Works that ought to be immediately upon ths shelves have to he added to the long list of books deferred for second- hand purchase. Some volumes there are which it would be folly to buy upon other terms, but all have to be treated alike. A book has to be of exceptional interest, if its price runs into double figures, before the committee is reckless enough to order it! The solution of the difficulty is to remove the limitation of rate. We know that the burdened citizen looks askance at every proposal which will add to his financial troubles; but if he is a reader—and most of us are readers nowadays-— b will see that his own personal in- terest is best served by securing an up-to-date Library with a fair amount in hand to expend upon now books. At any rate, it is either this, or the realisation of the fat that the Library is gradually becom- ing a museum of dead works.

MUMBLES AND FOOI). I Branch Office Scheme for Busy Season. Mr. J. Victor Evans, the executive offi- cer of the Swansea ± <uxl Control porn- ioittee pbid visit to Mumbles on Wed- nesday, and addressed a ipeeting of grocers and others on the food question. Air. Evans said that despite the small al- lowance of butter dolfd out, there were at the present time 10,000 cases of but- ter in the cold storage; In fact, had been there for three months. Jio spoke of the ditticultics the grocers had to contend with regarding sugar, and inci- dentally remarked that the price of sugar would not be reduced for some consider- able time. Councillor J. J. Jones moved that a letter be sent to the Food Controller re- senting his action in removing the whole- sale prices of bacon, lard and cheese, and allowing the retail prices to remain as they were.-This was carried. Mr. EVans gave an instance of the wholesale price of one article being fixed at Is. 6i4. per lb., and the retailer not al- lowed to charge more than Is. 6d. per lb. Much discussion ensued over the prices charged for milk, especially in the Mum- bles, where 75 per cent, of the milk is produced in the district. The retailers were now making lOd. per gallon profit, and the local farmers who retail milk are making a. higher profit. j In reply to Mr. C. P. Bell, Mr. Evans said that there would be plenty of food available for visiton, providecl they pro- duced their ration books. He also said that a competent person would take charge of the Mumbles food Office during the btisy season. The chairman of the meeting was Mr. E. A. Presdee.

iFLAT TRAGEDY. I ———"——— Society 'Beauty I Found Shot. I )fN:1. Arthur Eliot, the divorced wife of Colonel A therton, was found shot dead just after midnight on Tuesday at hfr residence, -17, Curzon-*str«et, Mayfa'r. Only last April ha marriage to Ovpt-xn Arthur Eliot was announced. About five mihut?s after midnight lihe household/tvas alarmed by a Shall) report from Mrs. Eliot's h?droom. The room door wa& locked, and on an entry being made, Mrs. Eliot '.vas found seated in an armchair by her bedside. She wae fully dressed. Part of her head was blown off, and a sho; £ un, which hod been dis- charged, was found on th? floor. Two letters- in the handwriting of Mrs. Eliot, were found, one of the-m being ad- j dressed to her husband. What'led to her j act is at prwnt unknown, but the r^fcd- j ing of the mentioned and the other «virion^ which will be given at the Coroner's inquest, which is to be held at 11 o'clock to-in or row morning at the Westminster Coroner's Court, may reveal & motive. Mrs. Eliot was fully pressed, ) and was \v<?rin? a thm-rope pa rl neck- j&ce in addition to "Oth^r jewellery. j I THE BOLTED DOOR. Mrs. Ej i{lt"s maid, in conversation on Wednesday, said that, although her mis- ttoss's bedroom door was bolted. and it took about an hour and a half to force an entrance, it was not barricaded in any way. I ha door had merely been boUM. Mrs. A!cherton, she stated; went cut oil Tufisday afternoon, and relumed shortly alter 5 o'clock. She did not leave the houstl again. She had no engagement to dine out on Tuesday night, and, in fact, did not. dine at all that ev,-ning. The mRÙI said 1-hat Mrs. E'iot had been greatly d?prc-?t-d aad tro?h!pd rccpnth-, ? ith r?,ird to domestic m?f ?r' A?k-?1 as to Mrs. KJot's state of mind whtWl she j returned home late on Tuesday afternoon, ) I the maid sai l: How could anvonc who j suffered as e>h* had suffered for the h-t few weeks be happy nnd in her u^ia1 | spirits?" She, however, iffu.d to di- close what was the cause of the mental suffering on Mrs. Eliot's part to which s h e referred Mrs. I.Vot'sj body was removed by motor hearse to Westminster Mortuary, in Horeetferry-road, last night. I DIVORCE CASES. I Mrs. Eliot wa« a, daughter of Sir Ed- ward John Dean Paul, the fourth baronet, by his second ornrri.ag« with a daughter of Major-tJeneral Jamos Ramsay, brother of the twelfth Earl cf DAlhausK'. In 1892 she married Co" on el Thomas Jam? A ther- toa, of fie If Mi Lancers, a son of Sir W. Atherton, I" torn o 1. There was one son. Colonel Atherton obtained n divorce -,n when the co-respondent was Captain the Hon. Hegianld Loues "> arrlo-Enlier, of the Scow Guard?, now I/ord Chursiion. In tha foliawinr year" Mrs. Atherton brought an action for breach of promise of marriage a-rainet Captain Ya!-de-.Bu]j<?r. At that time the decree nisi in the cV.vor'e suit had not been made absolute, and Mr. Justice Darling said thnt it was a qu1?*- don whether the pr?mi? had bÐn made -?hila the pla.int.?' wa <?ii? a m;IlTid woman. Mrs. Atherton waiy,i"{\ her claim tor damages, and judgment was antered for her, with costis. In that mic Sir Edward Careon, K.C., and Mr. L1!o:.11. K.C. (now Mr. Justice Eush), ajypeared for Mrs. Atherton, and Mr. K.C. j (bhe present Lord Chief Justice) for 'Ca.pt. Yarde-Bullier. In the fame year Captoin Yarde-Buller married Miss DmÙse Onn-e, the actress. o'\frs. Athertons w -as again brought before the publ i !n WV9 in cross- ,Qchon for divorce which cams before Lord Guthrie in the Court of Sej^ion, Edinburgh. In the action by Mrs. Clara Elizabeth Stirling it was alleged that her husband had been unfaithful Mrs. Atherton In Mr- Stirling's action alle- gations were made that Mrs, Stirling had committed adultery with Lord Northland (eldest eon of the Earl of Ran furly), who was killed in action w11 i1 serving with the Coldstream Guards inWl5. Lord Guthrie found in favour of Mr. Stirling and Mrs. Atherton in a judgment vrtuch wmarked by a good deal of mordant critic'sm of certain phasses of social Irie and ox .6Clii5ht idig people." A SLANDER ACTION. I Once more, in 1911, Mrs. Arbt-i-ton ap- peared in Court. She then brought a &Ian d ,-?r action aga i n,, blander action against Sir Aubrey Dean Paul and his wife. Mrs. Atherton al- leged that Lady Paul had stated of her that s-he had been turned out of a hoel in Caiiro, and that he was a disreputable woman. The jury awarded one farthing damages In that action Sir Edward Carson, K.C., and Mr. Ronvlatt (now Mr. Justice Kmviatt) appeared for Mrs. Atherton; and Mr. Duke, K.C. (now Lord Justice Duke), and Mr. AlcC*rdie (now Sir. Justjce McCardie) for the defendants. Towards the end off 1917 Mrs. Atherton obtained JJ332 damages for personal in- juriss which she received through being knocked down by a motor-car in Regent- 6ir?et. Mr& Atherton was married in April la-st to Captain Arthur Ernest Henrv Eliot, e-on of the late Colonel the Ron. Charles Eliot, brother of the fifth Earl of St. Germans. This »a« Captain Eliofs third marriage. Ilis first wife was Florence. Maude Parks-Smith, from whom ho obtained a divorce in 1902. In 1911 ho married Elizabeth, widow of .1ir. W. A, C. Cornell. She died in 1913. Captain Eliot served in the South African War as a lieutenant in Kit- chener's Horse. He served in thft early days of the European War, and was en- gaged later on recruiting duties in the City of London. He produced, as joint I author with Captam Bairnsfathor, Tira BeUer 'Ole" at the Oxford Theatre. I

LLANDOVERY COUNCIL. I The monthly meeting of the Town Ooun- cil was heki on Wednesday, the Mayor, Mr. Daniel Jones, prodding. The roadtman's salary was inai-eaee-d from 55s. to £ 2 a week, and that of the &ravendor frowi £ ? 106. to £ 2 156. Out of this sum he has to feed and maintain a honse. Opinions eif. fered es to the cost in the summer 'jiouths of feeding & .horse, the figures ranging from 155. ,to 50s. a week. A report was. read from Mr. Gom.er Hep oounty surveyor, on an inspection of the bridge near the White Swan. Hip con- clusions Wère that tbe spituoa under tie arches of the bridge was sufficient for the flow of water. Mozubere disagreed, and "'b!d that it was the, duty etf the County Council to erect a new bridge of sufficient span tc take the water at the highest flood. It was decided to write to that effect. The fiub-ccanmittee aptpointed to report re pro-vise on of dieir.fectin^ fetation and a maternity and chiid welfare establishment recommended that Dr. Morgan, M.O.H., be a»k«d to ftirnish fuller paita-ctilars on the ambject at a"meeting to be held at 84 early i. ,dJato ae possible.

DEARER COAL. ■ — 6 a Ton More. As we briefly announced overnight, coal i is to be 6s. a ton dearer from next Wed- j nesrlay. This follows on shorter hours and higher pay for the miners under the Coal < -emmiss-ion's recommendations. I Sir Auckland Geddes, in tho House of Commons, admittetl that the outlook is serious for our manufactures and our ex- port trade. But it no good imagin- ing that we cm Id get our coal cihea per by paying fcr it out of taxes. It was better that the public should know ex- actly what is the caw. I I THE DEBATE. [ Sir Auckland Geddas made his state- ment on coal 'prices at question time in j the House of Commons. Mr. J. Leng-Stitrrock (C.L., Mon+rose) fAkerl the President of the Board of Trade vfberher be could now state in conse- quence of the estimated deficiency of the working of the coal industry, it was in- tended to ra.i1-:û the price of coal to the I consumer, and if what would be the effccit on our general export trade and ma n uf¡:<:t ure. Sir Auckland Ge<Mei8 replied as follows: The Gov'ormnant iiav-s decidcd that the price C: coal to the consumer must be raised by es. a ton from the 16th of this month. (Cries of OlJ, Oh.") It is hoped that this increase will meet the incr-Wised cost due to the pavment of the higher wage recommended in the Sankey Report, the coming reduction in hours, and the diminished output of each man. 1 am able to givo any estimate in detail, but it must be obvious that the increased cost of fuel will severely ham- ppr our manufacture for export and must affect employment. VERY SERIOUS OUTLOOK. I M;\ A?b.y (! \V'? Su.lford): Is he ?warf.'t.?Mtt.tth?iuc?-t.?isputonit wiU c!<? UM?t oi our mauuvnefuring cosi- c"rn? m ?ncn-hjr?, and if that is the CÜèe will he see that ieas c«;? is ex?rtfd in order that cur home industries may be kept going, and go allow us to employ the huge numbiM' of uliemployed men ? Sir A. Gc,dde- As to the rise in price, I can only say that 1 the effect as very i-erious; but it is no good imagining that we are getting coal cheaper by paying for it out of the taxss. (Cheers.) Cvd us going to cost more, and it ir, itiuvh better that the people should know it. (Cheers, i Mr. Richards (Lab,, Ebbw Vale): May I ask whether this increase lies been arrived at a.3 the result Of representations by the coal owuere, and whether the con- tinuous of their profits has been taken into consideration by the Govern- ment ? A MISAPPREHENSION. I Sir A. <.rcdd-v>: Tho hon. rubber cp- p€-ars to he u;idler a oomplete mis-.ip.pre- hensidn. This increttse in price is required to meet the ccst oi coal after the profils have been limited in accordance with the report of the Sa n key Commission. This has nothing whatever to do with profits. Mr. Adsra.von (Lab., W. Fife): May I ask if greater care lias been taken in ex- amining all the factors that enter into the necessity tor increasing the price by f. a ton was dono in 1018, when the I Government, ckci-d^il to inrrea^ the cost by 2s. <?d. a tf?n, M? !?f on had to cMi- ?s that there was no necessity f<?T in- t ,?ss th-at f,b,-re ii A,j-tf) T BLAMING THE WINERS. I Mr. Canton iN.D.P., Ah(\Tdar. and a former miners." age-nt.,»: Does the right hon. gentleman consider that two wrongs will make one right ? If, it any good reason, because tho Governuient did wrong before, why they fdtoald now pander to the miners for the so of votes—(Opposition cheers) and allow theni to exploit, the whole British public? (Cheers.) Even in the best interests cl the miners theinselres, I <1_"k you to fa.e^ this. It should not 'be allowed- (Opposition cheers.) .Mr. A eraon Ha.rtshorn (Lab., Ogtnore. and a present miners' agent): Is it not the fact that the deficiency on the industry at present is cine largely to the decreased out- put, and have the Government ta,kèn any steps all to romedy that? Is it not a fact that the Miners' F»derat#>n arc anxious that there should be an investi- gation into the causes of the declining out- put? W, ill he make arrangements for a thorough investigation with a view to avoiding the necessity for this increase, and will this House have an opportunity of discussing the whole question hef<ro the increase comes into effect? (Cheors.'i Mr. Stanton: An inquiry-on both «ides ? MT-. Hartshorn: Certainly, and full dis- cussion. Sir A. G-eddes: There are three points raised. The 2s. 6d. was absolutely neces- sary to cover the increased cost. As to the reason for the latest increase of cost, ,diminished output is one factor, and in- creased cost of getting is another factor. It is impossible that the co-t of minerals should remain the same when the wages of the men who hew the mineral are ris- ing, at all events, until such time (as I foreshadowed in the Sankey Report) as compensating improvements can be made in the method of getting it. No one li;,s ever suggested that it would be possible to make compensation improvements as quickly as it. is possible to raise wages. Mr. Stanton: Will the right hon. gentle- man remember also i nat on the oppoint- ment of this Commission the Government permitted well-known Bolsbevifa and anti-British to Bit on it?—(laughter)—and will he kindly consider the fact that the whole country looks for a fair Commis- While everyone is prepared to give fair pla.y to the miners, we do not think it is right that they should ho pandered to any more thwn any other trade or in- dustry. (Cheers.) NOT A HASTY DECISION. I -lir. Bonar L-tw (who intervened at this stage) said- The Government quite realise the seriousness of the position, and also that it is natural that it should be d's- cus-sed. We cannot give time especially for it, but it could be taken next week in sr.srply. Mr, Hartshorn said that, next week all the miners' representatives would be at the National Conference. Mr. Pcnar Law Fai(I he wished to do what the House desired, and if there was a general feeling thaI; the discussion should not take place in the absence of the miners' representatives, the debate mi-sht be held over till the following week. Mr. Hartshorn: Am I right in assuming that the increase will not come into opera- tion until we have discussed the niatteir" Mr. Bona.r J..<a,w: Ob., no. This is not a -hasty decision. We have been consider- ing this for a. lopg time, and I am sura the House will agree that it is utterly im- possible that an industry like coarl should be subsidised out of the taxpayers' money. We have corns to the conclusion that we had no altsraative except to ma.ke the price assimilate to the cost of produotiorf. No amount of discussion can alter that fact, and the Government must abide by their opinion. After discussion it was agreed- that Monday next should be allotted for the discussion.

I SWANSEA'S DUTY. I Swansea, so far, has not dono very well for the, Joy Loan, and if even the million total is to be reached, there will have to be very much greater activity before Satur- day. The non-success of the Loan would be a very serious injury to British credit, and, as one writer points out, the effects of that injury would be felt both immediately and for a long time in all departments of the national life. Briefly stated, those effects would be higher prices and lower incomes. That is the interest of everyone in the country in the Loan. The duty is not less urgent, for the Loan represents another call upon that national spirit whose fortitude alone has en abled us to win the war. But it is not enough to win the war if, by holding back now, we. forfeit the jp port-unity to reap the reward of victory: and that is what we should. be doing if we left this Loan to fail. Two prevalent ideas must be dis- missed. The first is the idea th-4,1, this Loan is not every man's affair, and can safely be left to the big people. The second idea is that holding aloof from the Loan will punish the Government for past ex travagance and promote present economy. As the Morning Post shows, it is not the Government but the nation that stands to suffer if abundant subscriptions are denied; and as for economy, it is vain to look for it until the disorder whirh war exigencies have introduced into our national finances has been straightened out. The success of this Loan is the beginning of national recovery. The security behind the Victory I Loan is well illustrated 'by Sir I Robert Kindersley, K.B.E. In the first place, this Loan is secured en the whole of the accumulated wealth of t-l-io British nation, amassed during hundreds of years. All t-he houses, tories and buildings of every de- scription in London, Glasgow, Bir- mingham, Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds, and scores of other cities: all the farms and gardens of t-Ke kingdom: all the thousands of miles of railways, with their rolling stock and equipment: all the power, plants, shipbuilding yards and l machinery, of every description fear every kind of production: all these are the security behind the Loaa: for fcha Loait is made to the British nation, and the whole accumulated assets of the nation are pledged for its repayment. Kor is this all. This is what may be called the tan- gible security for the Loan, and by itself is sufficient ten times over. But there is also a further security which may be eailed the intangible security for the Loan which is eVll more valuable. This intangible se- curity lies in the earning capacity, in the industry, in the honesty of; 45 millions of British citizens.

The Ammanford journeymen tailors have tH i-s Reek-been gran'el an increase of 2d. in the log rate, which now stands at 8d., or doIQbl6 the Deco-war rate, < I

TOWN TALK. I Poiitardula.is will be at S-wanse-a Bay on Monday—Sunday Schools out tag. -M:- Swansea is to have a "plane" hint to-day as to her duty in the matter of the Victory Loan. A horse named Tin entered to run at Bibury to-day is appropriately owned by a Mr. Potts. — ."O r— According to information received bi4 erele thieves Rare been putting in a little overtime at Swansea of late. -:0:- The acerage yield of hay in the Vale of Neath is 15cwt. to the acre. But the Vale farmers never grutnble( r) I OC The suggestion that eggs should be weighed is a good one. But the diffi- culty with some people we knoif is to get them laid. -:0:- There can be no shortage of beer in the Vale of Neath. It was stated as Neath on Wednesday that boer held up the traffic every week-end. Strong rstuff — so:— At Wednesday's meeting of the Neath Rural District Council the member for Cwmgtvrach said his parish had been ;1\ the dark since the days of Adam. No one denied it! — <K — The single ladies of Wesley Chapel must be of the Amazon breed. At tho outing yesterday they not only defeated the married ladies at tug-oi-war, but also beat the men! I believe Smillie and Hodges are both Co:u<iervativos—they don't believe in Parliamentary Government. Their sys- tem will be a tyranny."—Mr. D. H. Williams at St. Thomas. The officials of the Wesley Sunday School were fortunate in their choice or Wednesday for their" treat." More perfect weather for a day in the country could not be possible. o- — Now that bare arms a.re the fashion with, the ladies, a well-known expert recommends housework as the best method of beautifying the arms I There's nothing like elbow grease! -:0- And so our coal and our soap are gofiftz to cost us more. Well, with less coal to handle, we shall not require go much soap anyway. A consolation tbat-toO those who are easily consoled. -,4 ex- A Mount Pleesant man was heard to declare last night that he had only tasted margarine onoe in his life, and that he knew several people who had not tasted it at all. How do they manage it — -O:— Six months ago a journalist was left £:!H,OOO. Two weeks ago he died. We understand threwa5 no hope for the poor fellow from the outset, and although lie lingered, the shock was too much for him. :0 A Union-street costumier sports outside iiis premises a huge thermometer, doing its own business for the edification of the public. The tradesman's ^comment is cos- tumes for all temperatures; highest de- gree of value; no fit, no pay. -;0:- An advert i-sem^st of Government hoots for sale bore the words "Nothing like leather." Ah, well," gighod a Sand- fields man who purchased a new pair a fortni gM ago, I wi^h the boots .1 bsaght had been something like leather." -;0:- An excited plaintiff at Neath County Court remarkod that the defendant was a pervetrter of the truth. I can't stand it." he said, and I want, your lordship's permission to go outside. I can't stand it. I can't And the court official shoutod, Sit down! Co-imsel a. liesty mnaek nasty smack in the mourth yesterday at Neath County Court. Quite unintentional, thoagii. He was waxing eloquent, and with a wave of t.be hand, wliich was intended to be dra- matic, he landed one on the face of his legal friend. It was funny! —-so?— At a local cinema. last evening a black cat was making great friends with the patrons-in fact some of the ladies were highly delighted to see it. They said it was lucky, but the young hoy who stopped to see the show twice around, and consequently arrived home very late, doesn't believe itl -.4 Cc Scores of Swansea housewives are com- plaining bitterly of the continued high prices Of potatoes. Meanwhile Jersey growers are boasting that they are making enormous price*, and that last year's j values have been doubled. No wonder some of our local plotters are contemplat- 1llA" going in exclusively for earlies 1 rext season. —lot — Alderman James tokl a Swan,sea com- mittee that what he saw in the Pra-s was "a lot of nonsense." An upset press- man retorts that sometimes when we report: Alderman James's remarks we publish soma nonsense; but we happen to know that the alderman is fond of talking through his hat r-iirl at bottiam is very fond of the press. — *»;— Local Volunteers will be interested know that the Army Council hav-e decided that, in order to afford some compens £ U tioxi for the wear and tear during Volun- teer training of boots which were the prjvat^ property of Volunteers, every Volunteer shall be given the opportunity purchasing one new pair of Army boots at the rate of 26s. 6d. per pair! We do not anticipate a rush for them at this price 1 It is evident that dancing is coming into its own. It will be one of the features of the Peace celebrations in the Metropo- lis, and classes are already being held with the idea of reviving old country dances. A well-known divine, who be- lieves in dancing as an antidote to dull- ness, is organising all-night dances out- side his church for Peace-night. This is the only way, he contends, to save our young people from morbidity. -:0:- There is a custom pertadning in country places in Wales of holding r'Vic in the room where a corpse is laid?out, which. fmm a sc.i?njtiSc point 0& view, cannot be iphold as being healthful. But at last a medical officer from LID udyssul naf; had the courage to condemn these funeral ou- toms, which are, he say, a crude remnant of the oustotna of previous ignorant ages, and is not only extravagantly wasteful, but ix pestilential and conducive to the spread of disease. As one who attended such$erricee in his youthful days, we heartily support: the medico in his views. [ A Swansea tradesman, who like all others, has suSered from railway delat% asked a railway ?a?d the other evening wh?t was the reason for the delays in th? fMivery of goods. Now, look here, old chap," replied the guard, I'll tell you the real reason; it's like this: We've got a lot of our fellows in France working in the Railway Battalion on soldier's pay. We want these incn hack. We are not going to take on fresh men; we want those men back who are now working on i soldier's pay." So now we kfiow. t