The Cardiff Times

A DAY IN A SIGNAL-BOX. At the moment when I arrived in the box, a.nd took a humble seat where I was well out of the way, I was told by my rustic friend that he expected the nine o'clock express from Paddington to pass through in a few moments' time. She has just left Reading," he said, and I asked him how he knew that. "I know that, sir," lie re- plied, because the man in the station between here and Reading has just sent four rings on that bell there." I looked at the bell he pointed at, and saw that it was attached to one of the "down- line instruments; that is to say, to one of the instruments on the line away from London. "What do the four rings mean?" I asked, and he replied, They mean that an express train has left Reading, and is coming towards the next station to this. The man in that station sends four rings to ask if my line is clear, and I know that it is clear because the disc there says so." I looked at tho disc, and, true enough, it said, Line clear." While I was doing this, however, my man pressed a key four times in answer to the four rings he had received, and then he set the disc swinging by touching a knob. In another second it changed its face, and was fixed by the man in the other box, who did it by touching a knob also, at the words "Train-on- line." Then we received another single ring and answered it with one. This meant that tho express had passed the station next to oura, and was coming on to us. My man pulled his levers over, and then repeated the operation on the next station beyond us. That is to say, he rang four times to ask for' Line clear. W hen he received fOur1 rings back h.e fixed tip the other disc at the words "Train on line," pulled down his starting signals, and all was ready, fcr the express to dash through. And here she comes, roaring, rolling, the engine bounding through space, the wheels of the carriages humming with the paCe they are revolving. She is travelling at a speed of sixty-five miles an hour, and as she dashes through the station the paper on the line whirls in the air, there is a shower of dust; and particles, we catch a glimpse of a fireman shovel- ling coals into a glowing incandescent furnace, of comfortable passengers reading newspapers, of old men slumbering, of children looking at the picturesque woods around, and I know that the fives of all depend on the stout honest fellow at my side, and admire him the more.

ETHEL How do I lookin this dress ?" FITZ-NOODLE Charming. Isn't IT wonder- ful how much a dress can do for a girl (And he wonders he doesn't get on with the dears !)

ANCHOVY SAVOURY.—Take one ounce anchovies and one ounce butter, pound together in a mortar. place the mixture in a lined saucepan. As it gradually melts add thelyolks of two eggs, well beaten. Stir till it thickens. Serve- on small squares of fried bread. Dust each lightly with cayenne, and serve very hot. Mrs Binks Horrors Uncle John has sent a gun for little Johnny. He'll be sure to kiH him- self.—Mr Binks Indeed he will. Don't let him see it.—Mrs Binks But what shall I do with the thing ?—Mr 33tuks Give it to that boy next door.

Our Mercantile Marine. ,=. Proposed New Legislation. [BY A Bill has been introduced to amend the law regarding the use of certificates of competency in the mercantile marine service. It is originally promoted and drafted by the Shipmasters'Asso- ciation. As the question is one of great interest to such poits as those of South Wales, where so many thousands of ships' officers frequently visit, we make no excuse for referring to the matter. It is unlikely to pass this year, but it is a subject which is bonnd to be treated legislatively very soon. The question first arises, is it a judicions bill in its details and one likely to pass through the turmoiland criticismof our Legislature ? Secondly, is it one to meet the approval of the Colonial Legislatures in all its parts ? To understand the subject aright we must "cry back" a little. About half a century ago an agitation arose, either begun or largely fomented by the late Sir Wm. Mitchell, for the better test of the education of masters and mates in our Merchant Service. In 1850 an Act was passed making it imperative for all foreign-going vessels to have a certificated master, either by examina- tion or by service. In vessels of 100 tons register and upwards the mate was also obliged to be a certificated man. The vessels were those clearing from a British or Irish pott, "nd regis- I tered to sail under the British flag, the only exemptions being (1) those vessels belonging to the Colonies which traded to the United Kingdom and the particular Colony at a port of which they were registered. This exemption extended to the Channel Isles. (2) Those vossels which traded within home trade limits, as defined by the Act, namely, Continental ports situated between the Elbe and Brest. There were also separate certificates for home trade passenger vessels, which certificates were not made to cover foreign-going vessels, but, on the other hand, "foreign going" certificates of competency could entitle their holders to command the home trade passenger vessels. These regula- tions are still in force after a lapse of forty-two years. Then, again, the Act of 1862 applied similar regulations to the case of engineers of steamships. It is unnecessary to go into the modification which has taken place in the nature of the ex- aminations and the grades of certificates. This is a matter within the purview and power of the Board of Trade. Suffice to say, speaking gene- rally, that the curriculum of examination has been stiffened from time to time that the per- sonnel of the examiners, has been im- proved that the holders of certificates of service are getting extinct; and that a distinct and telling movement has again appeared to increase the quality of the examinations, and to take advantage of the technical school giant to found nautical oolleges and schools, and to give increased facilities for the acquirement of a higher nautical education. That such a "move- ment is reasonable is sufficiently sustained by the fact that the registered tonnage of the United Kingdom has increased from three to eight and a quarter million tons in 50 years that the aver. age size of the ships has increased from 125 to 371 tons; and that the value thereof has advanced from about fifteen to over a hundred millions sterling. Moreover, the steamships, includ in the above statement, have increased froin 109,000 to 5,307,000 registered tons, their' average size from 126 to 686 tons; and that such immense vessels as the Campania, of 12,500 tons gross, are now leading the way in ocean traffic. To meet the educa- tional demand, Liverpool has nobly led the way in founding a nautical college, which was opened last December by Lord Brassey, and which already gives token, by its acceptance and attendance, to be a success. Cardiff is now dis- cussiuga similar scheme, and other ports will follow, in all probability, on the same lines. As regards the proposed Bill now.,before the House, it will he observed thlit ft ohlv deaU with the "deck officers." This is a defect. If vessels require one class of certificated men for vessels clearing from any port of the world, they surely need the other class of certificated men as well. The application of the power proposed to all ports and all vessels of the British Empire is rather too previous." Once imperial federation is un fait accompli, and the real Imperial Parliament lodged in London, the'proposition would be quite a politic one, but to force it on Colonies without their legislative consent would lead to uproar, and perhaps, rupture. The next obvious weakness of the Bill is the confused terminology of clause 4. In this it certainly follows the existing statute (section 136 of the Merchants Shipping Act, 1854), and exceeds it.. Surely a legal draughts* man could give its clearer phraseology. It is perfectly German (if not Dutch) in its long and involved sentences, containing about 200 words. Mark Twain in his German imitations, has scarcely eclipsed it. If it were cut down to half a dozen crisp periods, some clearer notion of the meaning might be attained. In the case of & ship going to sea from a port of the United King- dom, if she have no certificated oiffcer orbfficers as required by lay,she-is blocked when "clearing" at the Custom-house, and offending parties are liable to a penalty as well. But in the case of clearance ab a foieign port (or non-clearance, as the case may be), where does the block come in? It rests with the penalty, say its promoters. Exactly; but in the case of a shipowuer sending such a ship to sea, he is the real offender, and no penalty is attached to him. The penalty only bangs over the head of the needy employee, whose necessities, perhaps, have tempted him to run tho risk. This is not altogether fair. Another serious objection to this clause is the great hardship that will be imposed on the pre- sent race of masters of home-trade ships above 50 tons. It is to be enacted that only those men who have home trade passenger certifi- oates can navigate those vessels. There is no provision made for certificates of service to be issued up to the present time. Of course, those certificates of service issued up to 1854 will do. but there are thousands of men in the coasting trade who have no certificates at all and are these men to be deprived of their living by a stroke of the draughtsman's pen ? It cannot be meant. Nor is it so meant, judging from the first part of the .clause. But the latt?r part of the clause entirely overrides the former. This should bo adjusted. Yet another jumble! In the Act of 1854 the certificate for foreign-going vessels is superior to the home-trade passenger certificate. "The greater contains the less, as per Euclid. But Under clause 4 of the new Bill the less overtops the greater, for it is held that only home trade passenger certificates are voted for home-traders above 50 tons. Therefore, the captain (who has a, certificate of service for foreign trade) taking a coasting cargo from, say, Glasgow to Liverpool there to load upon a foreign voyage, would have to vacate his post ad interim. Can this really be the meaning of the promoters of the Bill ? Clause 6 confines the employment in British vessels to British subjects. As a matter of policy this is doubtfnl. It is true wo hold half of the shipping of the world, but the Scandinavians arc forging ahead, and America is waking up to the necessity of increasing her mercanbile marine. The policy cuts two ways. If foreigners are excluded other nations will follow m the same track, and our men will be excluded from service in foreign ships, which .is nob so .slight as is generally supposed. It will also limit the area of supply to the British shipowner, and this in cases of necessity abroad may be a potions matter. After all, it will not debar tho foreign Bhtish sliip^ ta be h?i8 only to get himself naturalised as a British subject:, And he becomes qualified uncjer the measturei fcne-teaiftf' courts abroad (vide clause 7) the mini- mum number is three, but two of these must be masters of British ships. This leaves the odd one to be the consul. Will there not be a difficulty in many oases in empannelling such a court? And would it not be better to make the clause more elastic ? It is very doubt- ful, too, if Sub-section 4 of Section 242 of the present Act should be repealed or. at all events, that some substitute for it be incorporated, to affect extreme cases. Clause 10 is vague; The master signs the contract with the crew, no doubt as agent for the owner, and his grave responsibility is now to be swept away as such. His care for the men will be weakened. The clause should be more explicit, and a definition of the liability of owner, freight, ship, and (or) cargo, to the crew for wages might well be stated, unless some other words defining the master s position be adopted. Altogether the Bill is well meant, but it re- quires modification in harmony with the spirit of the time and our commercial needs; and, doubt- less, will receive amendment in committee of the House. We wish it success. The Act of 1850 was wholly repealed by, but its provisions continued by, the Act of 1854.

TR TEARS.-—Styngo (to barber, during shaving operations): I say, you've dropped a tear on my face. What in creation are you crying for ?—Barber (lackadaisically): Just afore you come in I was a-readiiig a case of a wumming wot set about 'er husband an' three sclns jolly nigh scalped acd it affected you to tears, did it ? Well, you've got a tender heart.—Barber: Tender 'art be blo\ye«U I'm a thinking wot's a-going to become of our trade if such'ussies as'er is to go ieatrin' ill the 'air offer v- r, <

Songs for the People.

A DREAMER. A dreamer aropp'd a random thought; 'Twas old, and yet 'twas new- A simple fancy of the brain, But strong in being true. It shone upon a genial mind, And lo its light became A lamp of life-a. beacon ray- A monitory flame. Tb6 thought was small, its issue great, A watch-fire on the hill; It shed its radiance far adown, And cheers the valley still. A nameless man, amid a crowd That thronged the daily mart, Let fall a word of hope and love Unstudied from the heart. A wh.sper on the tumult thrown, A transitory breath, It raised a brother from the dust, ( It saved a soul from death. CHARLES MACKAT.

The Household. -? A Girl's Library. Nothing more clearly indicates what a person is than the books he or she reads. How many books one is to have, or what kind of books, depends quite as much upon one's tastes and purpose in life as upon one's purse. It is hard, indeed, then, to say just what a girl's library should contain. There are books selected from the various classes of literature which are helpful to every girl and boy, whatever their occupation or place in life-books that develop all the good sides of their mind and heart. True libraries grow up with persons; beginning with one or two books, they increase and change as their owners' characters become developed. But this growth should be slow to the most service. able and enjoyable. Books are best appreciated and known when bought singly. It is a good plan to keep on hand a list of such books as we hope to have-when our pocket-money will per- mit of their being bought, or when some kind relative or friend asks tie to choosaA Christmas or birthday gift In forming a library it is well to have a few elementary works on science, geology, physiology, and physical geography, or some stories, told to teach scientific truths something which will help us to knuw how the earth is made, and the creatures which live upon it, such as Charles Kmgsley's Madame How and Lady Why," also his Glaucus." The book- shelves can be enlivened by stories from history, or a few histories of differ- ent countries will be an interesting addition to the library, which ought also to con- tain some outlines of ancient history, such as Epoch Series of Ancient History." This is, however, an American work, but there is no difficulty in getting it here. And last, and decidedly not least, are tale books, and books of travel. It. would be wrong to say that story. books are not valuable to a girl's library, and it is not surprising that so often they constitute the main part of it. There are so many excellent ones that it is very difficult to make a choice, but the following are a few of those which ought to find a place, even in the smallest collection. Any of Miss Alcott's, but particularly Little Women" and Little Wives." Miss Mont- gomery's are all more or less delightful; but Misunderstood," Thrown Together," and The Story of a Short Life certainly take the first place. Strive, if possible, to possess a few books of reference, these make a library of great usefulness but one can ramble on about books and a library without ever considering there is anything necessary for the purchase of literature except wishes, and more and more talk.Farm and Home. Hints.' BITS OF SOAP.—Gather together all the pieces of white soap that you may have, Castile, ivory, and any others that are known to be good. Cut them into small pieces and dissolve in boiling water in the proportion of a teacupful of watT to half a cupful of scraps. As soon as the scraps have melted, and while the water is still hot, stir in ground oatmeal to make a stiff batter. Grease some old cups and pour enough of this mixture in each for a small cake, and set it aside to harden and dry. You have now a very nice soap that is excellent for daily use in the nursery; or the mixture may be made just a little thinner and kept in a tin cup to be brought out as soft white soap at the children's baths. For the boys' and girls' hand-scrubbing, stir the batter very stiff with oatmeal bran or wheat middlings, and mould into flat cakes. These have a roughness jthat is necessary to remove ink-stains, pitch,Jand the manydefihn substanoes with which every healthy boy and giri seems to come in contact. GOOSEBKUEY AND BATTER PUDDING.-Make a light batter with a pint of skim-milk, three table. spoonfuls of flour, and two eggs; break the eggs into the flour, beat them with a spoon, and l then pour in a little milk, stirring briskly until it is a smooth batter. Well butter a pie-dish, pour in the batter, and mix in a quart of picked goose. berries, with a heaped teacupful of brown sugar; put a few pieces of butter on the top, bake in a moderate oven three-quarters of an hour. BAKED ONIONS.—Select largo, firm onions. Trim, but do not peel, put in a kettle of boiling water, add a teaspoonful of salt, and boil one hour drain in a colander wipe each one dry. Put them in a baking-pan and bake slowly for one hour; take up and peel the onions, put in a heatiM vegetable dish and ptiur over melted butter. Dust with pepper and salt and serve hot. RAISIN WINE.-To one gallon of water allow 10lbs of raisins and lib of sugar. See that the raisins are the bet-largo and sound pick them very olean, and chop till fiq. Pour, hot water over the raisins in the abovejproportion, and press the liquor through a bag. Let it stand for 12 hours, when add the sugar and leave it to fer- ment. When this process is over cask it, bung it, and let ib remain for about three months. At the end of that time draw it off into another cask, quite filling it bung quite closely, and let it stand for 10 months, when it will be ready for bottling, and will be fit to drink in a year. TREACLE POSSET FOR A COLD.—Put half a pint of millc 10 a clean saucepan. When it boils pour in half a'teacupful of treacle, stir it until it curdles, strain into a jug and drink hot at bed- time. RHUBARB JAM.—There is no more useful or wholesome jam for family use than that made from young fresh rhubarb, and the following recipe for making will be found a good one. Peel the fruit and cut It into pieces about an inch in length, and to every pound of fruit add one pound of lump sugar and a teaspoonful of lemon juice. Boil very gently for half an hour, stirring occasionally, and skimming carefully all the scum as it rises. HASHED POTATOES.—Cut the potatoes as for a pie put them in a pan with It chopped onion, pepper, and salt, and a quarter of a pint of water. Cover the pan, and let them stew moderately about 30 or 35 minutes.

I !!T Fan I know a girl who can do the serpentine. —Nan That's nothing I know a girl who can stop into a trolley-car without climbing tip on her I hands and knees. If people were:is careless about what they eat as about what they read, dyspapsia would be much more common than now. Is is a good deal a matter of luck what falls into their vands to rle4

ECHOES FROM THE CALENDAR. JULY. 9. SUNDAY—6th Sunday after Trinity. 30. MO.VDAV—Calvin horn, 1509. 11. TUESDAY—Alexandria bo-ibaided, 1882. 12. WEDNESDAY—Bisley Camp inaugurated, 1890. 13. THURSDAY—Votiug'by Ballot became Law, 1872. 14. FRIDAY-Bastille taken, 1789. 15. SATURDAY— St. Swithin. A Child of the Revolution. The sanguinary fanaticism of the French Revolution has no representative of such odious and repulsive figure as Marat, the original self- styled "Friend of the People." By birth a Swiss, of Calvinistic parents, he had led a strange, skulking life of five-and-forty years— latterly a sort of quack niediciiier-when that great national crisis brought him to the surface as a. journalist and member of the Convention, t Less than five feet high, with a frightful countenance and maniacal eye, he was shrunk from by most people as mea shrink from a toad but he had frantic earnest- ness, and hesitated at no violence against the enemies of liberty, and so he came to possess tli- entire confidence and affection of the mob of jParis. His constant cry was for blood he literally desired to see every well-dressed person put to death. Every day his paper—L'Avii du Feuple-was filled with clamorous demands for slaughter, and the wish of his heart was but too well fulfilled. By the time the summer of 1793 had arrived he was wading in the blood of his enemies. It was then that the young enthusiastic girl, Charlotte Corday, left her native province for Paris to avenge the fate of her friend Bar- baroux. She sought Marat at his house—was admitted to see him in his hot ba.th-nd stuck a knife into his heart. His death was treated as a public calamity, and his body was deposited, with extravagant honours, in the Pantheon but public feeling took a turn for the better ere long, and the carcase of the wretch was then igno- miniously extruded. Royal Weddings. Among these must be recorded that of the Princess Louise of,Schleswig-Holstein to Prince Arlbert of Anhalt, all officer in the Prussian Army, which took place at Se. George's Chapel, Windsor, on the 6th July, 1891. The presence of the German Emperor and Empress, their first visit to England since their succession to the throne, added interest to this event. The bride is the younger daughter of the Princess Helena, better known as the Princess Christian, and the bridegroom's father is the reIgning Duke of Anhalt, a small German territory of forty-two and a half German square miles, with a population of-214,000. The Royal Silver Wedding anniversary of the marriage of Prince and Princess Christian (Prin- cess Helena of England) was on July 5th, 1891, and the wedding of their daughter would have taken place on that day, but being on Sunday, it was celebrated on the next day. A large number of presents were given in honour of the double event. They reside at Cumberland Lodge, Wind- sor Great Park. A Wet July. July, 1891, was, in the British Islands, one of the coldest, wettest and most thundery of recent years. Eight thunderstorms occurred the rain- fall was 62 per cent. above the average; the temperature was so low that on eight days the thermometer did not riser above 65 degrees. The Chilian Civil War. This disastrous Jvar terminated in the end of the summer of 1891. Tha battle of Valparaiso having decided the fate of the President, Balmaceda, the victory remaining with the Con- gressionalists, one of the causes of whose success was the use of smokeless powder and the Mannlicher rifle, but the main factor seems to have been that regiments of the regular army went over to the enemy before the battle was actually decided. The fight was on the Vina del Mar, situated on the bay, about six miles north of the city-it is really the playground of the people, who go there in great numbers on Sundays and liolidays-.tbe wood-Et.bing inland is a favourite resort, with its c<j»ol walks and drives, and on a plain is the racecpilree, where the desperate struggle took places^ This finally settled the civil war, as the city of Santiago submitted ab once when the result of the battle became known. Though Chili is a country rich in its natural resources, it will be a long time before it recovers from the effeots of this disastrous war.

JOHN LEECH AT HOME. Great as was, however, his gift of caricature, Leech was never tempted to make offensive use of it. Severe and sharp as were his cuts when he chastised a cheap trade sweater or a bill-dis- counting Shylock, he dealt gently with the shams and follies of society, and, powerful as they were, his political cartoons never fvero ill-natured. He had the art of making merry without giving offenoe, and could ridicule a statesman without hurting his feelin gs. He poked more fun at Lord Tohn Russell than at mot men of his time, yet his lordship was so little wounded by the ridicule that he wrote the kindest sympathy to the widow of the artist, and gave her boy a presentation to the Charterhouse. The like good-nature and good-feeling were observable throughout the course of his home-life. There never was a man more courted and caressed when he ventured in society, yet there never was a man less spoilt by such caressing. He could have dined out every evening of the week if he bad chosen, but he rather shunned thanconrted frequent invitations. As for being worshipped a3 an idol of society, he was far too sensible to let such fate occur to him, and he had too much self-respect to figure as a lion in a fashionable menagerie, where tame bores idly congregate. Staircase life and conversation were little to his liking, and the idea of going out to an At Home" at nearly midnight wasa species of folly which he held in great abhorrence. Loving fresh air as he did, he naturally detested all those stifling crams and crushes which seem, as Bulwer says, convened for the practical parody of Mr Bentham's famous proposition, contriving the smallest happiness for the greatest number." But though be shunned all social "functions," as the fashion is to call them—how the shade of Dr. Johnson would shudder at the word i—Leech greatly loved to meet his friends, and took great pains to entertam them. A few dishes well cooked at home he pre. ferred to costly dainties served lialf-cold from the confectioner's; and although he never bragged about the value of his wine, his guests were always sure to get the best that he could give them. There was never any empty show about his little feasts, but there was always an enjoyable supply of solid comfort; and if any extra luxury happened to occur, it was made a theme for fun. and not for snobbish ostentation. Of this Dean Hole gives a good instance when he tells how, at dessert, he wa.s handed some prize strawberries, and how Leech, who was the host, avoiding any compliment, very solemnly selected one, and bade the waiter go and carve it at the sideboard. Nor was he less careful in the point pf mental catering. You were always sure to meet some pleasant talkers at his house, and you had the rarer certainty that none woald talk too much there. Leech hated needless noise, as already has beon hinted, and few men more annoyed him than a ceaseless tittle-tattler. Yet he liked talk to be general, and not divided in duets, as is now the dinner fashion. For this reason he objected strongly to large parties, besides their further faults of crowding and discomfort. "Notfewertban the Graces, nor more than the Muses"—such, except on rare occasions, was the rule at his festivities.—From The Magazine of Art."

ALARMING FOR MR BRIGGS. I Miss SCATTER (who is learning how to fire a re- volver) «• Shall I fire now or wait until vou tell me r me r

Welsh Tit-Bits. .0- Neu Wreichion Oddiar yr Eingion. [BY CADEAWD ] PICTCRESQVE LLANBLETHIAN. Continuing Mr D. Jones's account, about forty years ago the village ball-room was a thatched, wattled and dab erection, in the ground in the front of the Picton. A better room was offered him (the Welsh dancer) when the St. Quentin's Loyal Lodge of Oddfellows took up their quarters at Mally's long room. My very first attempt at tripping the light fantastic toe" took place here. The whole scene is very distinctly im- pressed upon my miud, none the less so by reason of my receiving a heavy tread on my foot as Betsy twirled me round—an Englishwoman who had not long been in Wales, and was taken by a friend to a villago mabsant." Dancing took place in a baru, cleared and swept and lighted with candles huug in sconces round the walls. The respectful portion of the neighbourhood, some of the 'squire's and parson's families, had taken part in the recreation, and everything went on very pleasantly, much to the stranger's delight, when, about the close of the entertainment an awful discussion arose among the male portion of the company which the one strange visitor did not understand, and made her to feel rather uncomfortable, but the breeze passed without any harm being doue to anyone. Dancing for some years has been discontinued, and the revel has sunk into a mere annual sottish carousal. Our host of the Picton enters the test with his neighbour, Shon y Gwehydd. as to who shaH have the best" tap," and the competitors for the honour cause each of them to add an extra bushel of malt to his brewing. To gratify the village topers, the thing is finished off with a little 6ghting at least, it is a portion of the standing annual gossip of the village to inquire, after the event, Has there been any fighting? The General Picton, by far the best house of the two, close to the church, derives all the benefit that bell-ringing, marriages, and burials can bring it, as well being the place of meeting for all parish vestrios. But Shon-y-Gwehydd's is the oldest house, and down in the village must b9 considered the village alehouse. Shon-y- Gwehydd's name is quite a household word at Llanblethian, and popular comment has con- ferred his name on the little "public," instead of the name it bears on the sign. If you wanted the house you might ask 20 people in the village for its whereabouts, not one of whom at first thought could tell you anything of the King's Head; but ask for Ty Shon y Gwehydd, the youngest child that plays at the roadside will tell you. Johnny is a village character. Far advanced in years, his physical strength has survived his mental. His delusion, which has been slowly creeping on in one form or other for many years, is that the whole parish belongs to him, and ho goes on acquiring fresh estates year after yesr. Those who should know better, and whose duty ought to prevent them from playing with the old man's weakness, encourage him in his delusions for the fun ot it So he goes on harmlessly about, collecting his imaginary rents, delivering his imaginary notices, threatening refractory tenants, applying at the bank for money, his tenants treat him with a seriousness and earnestness that would surprise and astonish those unacquainted with his weakness. Poor old fellow, on any other sub- ject he is sane enough, and understands passing events as quickly as anybody. He is over 80. The Llanblethian Ghost. Llanblethian House is a large roomy old place, at that time occupied by a family named Donne, or, more properly, Dwn," of thoroughly Welsh extraction, and firm believers in all the superstitions of the Principality. These were Mr and Mrs Donne, the elder people, who had been in farming business at St. Donat's Castle, and afterwards at Llanmihangel-place, but now decayed in circumstances their youngest son, who rented the house and land, and his wife, to whom he had not long been married, and an elder son, Thomas, who had been thrice married —each time to women of some fortune-his third wife and his only daughter by his first wife. Mr T. Donne and family occupied the best part of the house as lodgers. Mrs T. Donne, who had been accustomed to the gaieties of a watering-place, found Llanblethian dull, and her step-daughter, wishing for "life" and "society," thought ifcdull likewise, but the papa enjoyed best the quiet of the country, and preferred remaining there. The question was how to get him to remove to town. Now the elder Donnes believed in ghosts, and required no persuading at aU to believe that the Ty Mawr was the favourite haunt of some of them. Mr T. Donne and family" then had been but a short time at the Ty Mawr, when sundry unmis- takable noises began to be heard at unseasonable hours of the night, to the intense alarm of the old folks and others who heard them. Miss Donne and her stepmother seemed to be the persons whom the ghosts bad a special fondness for, the noises not being heard except when they were present. Spiritualists nowadays would doubtless claim for them the distinction of being mediums, and I daresay they possessed the gift quite as fully as those who practise the science in the presence and with the full consent and approbation of some of tha intellectual people of this later half of the 19th century. The room where the noises were mostly heard was the chamber at the western end of the house, and midnight the time, for the ghost was exceedingly orderly in his habits, and stuck most strictly to the rules and laws which are supposed to govern ghostland. So midnight was the time when the knockings and scratchings began. (To be continued.) The Book of Baglan. Wheferig had tho mansion house of St. Ralf Maylor, for that hee was the younger brothere, and according to Howell Dda his lawe, that the younger brothere should bye the same, have the mansion house. The name thereof is called Rhiwperrey, and his posterities enjoyed the same unto this day. Thomas Lewis, of Rhewperrey, now living (1606), is heire thereof. He is a man of faire possessione to the value of a hundred pounds bye the yeare. There was another da. of Sir Ralf Maylor, ma. with Sir Gyon lo Grant, mothere to that noble knight Sir Gwrgye le Grant,, of whome issued all the Grants in Gla- morganshire. The Buttons of Glamorganshire also paternallie descended of the Grants, saving that they altered their names in Edward the Third his tyme, for one of them in the battle of Poetters recovered a baner of goulde in a field azure, wherebye hee and his posterities were hence called Buttons. Gwngenay aforesaid was fathere to Gwngenay, the fathere of Llywarch Gronwy. This Gronwy ma. with Catherin, the da. of Roger ab Howell Felyn [the pedigree of this Howell Felyn is to be found in this beak written.] Gronwy ami, Ct\lerin had issue, Goronwy Vaughan. Goronwy Vaughan ma. Catherin, the da. of Madoc Vaughan ab bbqwe Q Cynhaithwy ab Herbert, and they had ipgue, Ryn ab Gronwy. Ryn ma. with one of the da. of Aron ab Hoel Vaughan, lo. of Brigam, and sister to that worthy knight, Sir Thomas ab Aron. They had issue, Madoc ab Ryn and Gwillym ab Ryn. This Ryn also had a da. m. with Morgan ab Llewelyn, of Tredegar, of whome came all the Morgans of that house, and oneoftheire daughters was ma. with the Lo. Barcley.and other da. of Ryn was ma. with Ivor ab Llewelyn, surnamed Ivor Hael. Madoc ab Ryn ma. with Ane, one of the da. of Ryn ab Sioillt, of Singhenydd, and they had issue Howell ab Mstdoe. Howell ab Madoe ma. with Gwenllian, the da. of Llewelyn ab levan, of Rhadyr, by Lhvndaff. levan was son to Llewelyn ab Cynfrig ab Caradoc ab lestyn ab Gurgeni, Kinge of Glamorgan, and they had issue Morgan ab Kowell.

About four years ago I went to a lady's house to nurse an old lady invalid. They had a new servant girl, who came while I was there, from Old Ireland. She was real Irish. The first day she was there the mistress went to the railway station in the afternoon to moet some friends that were coming to tea. As she left, she called to Mary and told her they would have sausages for I tea. When the time came she set tiie table. The company assembled, and sat down, The mistress told Mary to briug in the sausages. Mary replied, If ye plaise, ma'am, they're in thetaypot." "In the teapot! exclaimed the mistress, Whatever have you done, Mary?" "Well, if ye plaisa, la'am, yon said ye would have sausages for tae." She had mashed the sausages ia the teapot.

GOSSIPS' CORNER. Great Britain owns half the ocean ships. The daughters of Mr J. G. Talbot, M.P., mi great cricketers. George Sand used to take to sowing to soothe her nerves when excited by writing. The deer parks in England exceed 300. Tb# largest in the kingdom is Windsor. Lord Bute has contributed £ 105 to the fund t for the relief of the sufferers hy the Victorit « disaster. j In Russia there is one telephone to 18.30C 'i inhabitants in Sweden there is one to every 300 inhabitants. Cycling is now very popular in Cyprus, many young natives having devoted themselves to thil healthy exercise. Mr Harry Furniss has been down with fever. The attaok is abating, however, and the artiat it progressing favourably. Prisonert; in our gaols doing hard" Mid light" labour do not receive tho same diet; < the former are allowed 51%oz. of food daily, v and tho latter 47oz. < The Empress of Austria, when she (nNh -j incotjnita, uses indifferently the three following'^ names Mdme. de Tofna," 4< Mdme. NiohoU ;<4| son," and Miss Simpson." w son," and Miss Simpson." w .Two Lincolnshire landowners—the Earl of Ancester and Mr Edward Stauhope, M.P.— have each all ov, ed their tenants an abatement of j 20 per cnt. off their half-year's rant. In Heligoland, Sabbath begins at 6 p.m. 08 1 Saturday, when the church bell is tolled, Md ends on Sunday at the same hour. F, ormerly to vessel could leave port between these hours. A recent census of the Geographical and Static J tical Institute of Spain establishes the fact thafc>|| out of the 17 million inhabitants of that country, M exactly 11,045.870 are ignorant of the art of ''<J reading and writing. | The Liberals of the Montgomery Boroujfbs < have decided to invite Mr A. C. Humphrey* Owen, of Glansevern, Montgomerysbiro, to ooa. test the seat at the next general election, subjaofc to the approval of the county association. The Executive Council of the Ancient Order of Foresters state that the Queen has signified her consent to be patroness of a female branch of the > Order in connection with Court Duke of Argyll London United District, to be called, with her i Majesty's consent, the Victoria. >. J Dr. Nansen, who has just sailed from Clhss- 1 tiana for the purpose of finding the North Pole, J has with him a phonograph, into which bis wife J has sung all his favourite songs, and in which th# 1 iittlo baby he has left as her only comfort has also J uplifted his voice in a less musical manner. All eaormous supply of provisions has been taken fot > this expedition—provisions that will keep good for at least seven yeare. The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to v; Children during the last recorded month invosti- i gated 1,24-2 complaints of ill-treatmefit, neglect, .« and other wrongs, implicating 1,489 offenderemd < affecting th i welfare of 2,899 children. In 796 < cases warnings were given, in 145 prosecutions J were necessitated by the gross nature of the 1 offences (resulting in over 97 per cent. convio* < tions), and the rest were dealt with in other ways. | The inventor of the now important art of litho- graphy, Alvis Senefeldcr, was an obscure indi* 4 vidual, born in Prague in 1771. He died, almost unknown, at Munich in 1834-, having, we are told, benefitted little by his discovery, which has aiøet, been the means of bringing fortunes to thousands. ? A monument has, at last, been erected to SetMh felder, at Berlin, a tardy acknowledgment of the great benefit his art has conferred upon his fellow* ? men. -> ] The programme of the forthcoming Ohurah Congress, to be held in Birmingham from October 1 3-6, has just been issued. The committee may be congratulated on a striking list of subject! « chosen for discussion. With regard to the | speakers there appears to be. a great majority j tho Evangelical party. Tho preachers at th* 1 opening services are to ba the ArcUyig|i^p qf M Canterbury, the Bishop of Durham, auu Aicu- deaccn Ftrrmr. Miss A. M. Clarke, the lady astronomer, has j recently o-stimated the distance of the Pleiades, J] that little group of stars which Tennyson hat II compared to a swarm of fireflies tangled in < n silver braid, and which are vulgarly called th. < Seven Sisters. Her estimate is that light coming 3 from the Pleiades takes 250 years to reach tht 9 earth, and, as light travels at the rate of 190,006 miles a secoud, or thereabout, the actual dtstaoct J may be left to the imagination, or the curious. y The Due d'Uzes, whose death while on an exr j ploring expedition in the Congo region is just report-A, is not the hushed but the son of tltr I Duchesse d'Uzes, who was mixed up with thf. Boulangists. He was or.ly 25 years of age, and J went out to Africa little more than a year aco- ? He will be succeeded in the dukedom by hit younger brother, now serving as a noll.cotamig. sioned officer in a cavalry regiment at Fontaiue« bleau. As some doubt appears to exist as to who hot provided the funds for Dr. Nansen's great Poll* expedition, it may be well to state that the NOt': wegian Storthing voted a large sum for thei purpose, and that the King supplemented tbili from his privy purse. Various learned societiei made grants towards Dr. Nansen's preliminary expenses, and the Storthing voted an additional sum to complete the expedition, towards whilst object Baron Oskar Dickson also made a libent < donation. The Queen has been pleased to confer the nity of a Peerage on Sir Arthur Gordon. AlT i Arthur is the youngest son of the Earl of Aboo, deen, who was Prime Minister from 1852 to 1866t j He was born in 1829, and has filled several iropoft tant posts under the Colonial Office, including the,, I Governorship of Mauritius, the Fiji Islands, NeW Zealand, and Ceylon. In 1865 Sir Arthur ac. i don married a daughter of Sir J. G. tthaW Lofevre, by whom he has a son and daughter. Sit- 1 Arthur became a widower in 1889. An experiment in feeding imported and lionw i bred cattle has just been tried in Sootlantf, v Twelve homebreds were put up in competition against twelve Canadians, the former weighinf 7 cwt. live weight, and costing 34s 6d per owl* the latter weighing 8 cwt., at 25s per ctvi. AfW eight months' feeding, the home-breds realises 37s per cwt., and their rivals 34s 9d but tlx, latter gained far more weight than the furm«v < and the gain on them was £ 10 7s, against M IS 6d, leaving a balance of R4 14s 6:1 in favour 0I < the Canadians. i Honey-dew" has made its appearance 01 many of the trees and shrubs around Patill tbif summer, probably because of the drought. It fc a shining, gum-like varnish, and has a, suM taste, but no smell, and cattle like to eat tJw I leaves. Honey-dew was formerly thought to bf an exudation from leaves, but is now considered a secretion of the plant louse. It is commoner on lime and maple or sycamore leaves, and is not very wholesome for cattle; in fact, oak lea vol with honey-dew on them have been interdicted for feeding cattle in the Department of tilt 1 Dordogno.. ? Although there has at way f gpjae doaV about the exact date of the death of Orlando Lassus, the Belgians have decided to ctilebrafcr < next year the tercentenary of the great sixteantt .Century composer who founded the Aluniol j school, and who in his day was deemed one of th4 most progressive of musical reformers. The Bel. gian Government have contributed rlz,oqo t* wards the expenses of the celebration at DI i Lassus' native town of Mons, and the festival ji to last two days, the first being devoted to a choral contest open to all comers, and tho &gogo to a monster concert and historical procsssion, j

A SATURDAY SERMON. Your god, your great Bel, your fish-taitei lj Dagon, rises before me as a demon. You, .flj such as you, have raised him to a throne, put oV Sfl him a crown, given him a sceptre. Behold host 1 e hideously he governs! See him busied at tin. Jm work he likes best-malcing marriages. He bindt M the young to the old, the strong to the imbeoilQ He stretches out the arm of Mezentius and fe the dead to the living. In his realm there it I;, hatred-secret hatred there is treaeliery-fanitts treachery; there is vice—deep, deadly, domestw .< vice, Iu his dominians children grow unlovinf < between parents who have never loved; infantl «[ are nursed in deception lrom their very birth t they are reared in an atmosphere cofrupt witk i lies. Your god rules at the bridal of kings. Look at your royal dynasties. Your deity is the tJt:#' j of foreign aristocracies—analyse the blue blood of ) Spain. Your god is the Hymen of Frr-r-cp. What is French domestic life'! Ail that surround a him hastous to decay; all (ieclines and degpAieratei under his sceptre. Your god is a masked | Death. CHARLOTTE BRONTE. j

V AMBER ALE \M>\ PALE ALE, VVX & STOUT y Bonso Xx „ AGENTS 0ASK Apply for /> AND TEaMS^ X ^OTTLE I BOTTLE STORES & OFFICES— 6i, WESTGATE-STREET, \^vj>\ CARDIFF • 15048 X

r THE LARGEST PROPRTBT A,R* PUBNISHING ESTABLISHMENT IN THE WORLD. ESTABLISHED 1848. HAlIIPiTEAD ROA. (Near Tottenham Court-rd.) y^sy/ LONDON Carpets made up Fme of Charg, and when prepaid sent Carriage Paid to any Railway /C>7 Station in England »r Wales. ■>• *v — «(». IrXUSTRATKD CATALOG UF.PoST F"P«, %j

WELSH GLEANINGS. By Lloffwr. The, Welsh Congregalional Union. The meetings of the Welsh Congregational Union at Holyhead were an emphatic success. The feature of the gathering seems to have been 4he address of the chairman (the Rev. E. Aeron ''ones, Manordeilo). It was an unusually power- fol one, and was delivered with singular vigour tod earnestness. The Tyst (which devotes nearly "11 its space this week to the Union) says':—"The chairman's address exceeded even our expecta- tions. All who know the chairman are aware feat he is a man of versatile gifts, and that he Occasionally soars into the highest regions. His Address was full of vigour and enthusiasm, tod kept his audience in a constant state *f laughter or applause." D.S.D. in his Account of the meeting in the Celt, describes it as a very timely and practical address." The wit and humour of our brother "Coci Manordeito are infinite. His natural and Unaffected manner crowned everything. We had be man in his full nature before us. His subject Was an exceedingly interesting one, and he dealt With it in a manner which would give offence to ■done." The Baner thinks that "nothing could be more opportune than the excellent address delivered from the chair of the Congregational Virion by the Rev. E. Aeron Jones. When the feverend gentleman sat down, after speaking for "n hoar and ten minutes, the applause was long, ioud, and hearty, for it was felt by the enormous congregation that the oration was not only worthy of the best traditions of the chair, but Wiat it was a powerful exposition of the funda- mental principles of Nonconformity in a time when there is need of plain speaking." The fftnedi says that though the expectations of the »udience were high, "none were disftppointed- ^tr Jones was singular!}' fortunate in his subject, tnd his treatment of it was wonderfully able and toteresting." An Itinerant Bishop. The bold step taken by the Bishop of Bangor Si closing his palace and in deciding to take up lis residence alternately in the various parishes Nithin his diocese is creating a great sensation in "he Welsh papers. They are for the most part J.oud in the praises of the bishop. The Genedl ievotes its first leading article to the subject "We are at last on the brink of seeing a new 4hmg in Wales—an itinerant bishop. Not a /•ishop in a gorgeous palace, but a bishop con- stantly on the move, wandering about from Alace to place among his flock. That is what Ae Bishop of Bansror will be henceforth. We yjave only the highest praise to give to the Sishop of Bangor in this matter. He is perfectly tight. He will, in future, be more of a shepherd "0 souls than ever, a bishop in truth and reality. We congratulate him on his courage in breaking through the hounds, and we wish him great suc- cess in his new spher. The Goleuad thinks the •iahop's plan an excellent one. The bishop will kecome personally acquainted with every place in lie diocese. There will be new life in every Curate under bis charge after bearing of the bishop's plsn" The Bangor correspondent of Ghealia thinks the contemplated step will be of tteat advantage, and will- be the means of leading io a general revival." The Mwald and the tymrQ refer also to the subject, and the Celt flidulges in some remarks of very doubtful taste. The Government and Wales. The attitude of the Government towards Wales, the failure of the Suspensory Bill, and the Want of any promise whatever that Disestablish- ment is to be taken in hand, is not regarded with ■favour by a section of the Welsh papers. The Honer is especially vehement in its remonstrances -¡tb Mr Gladstone. In its leading article it asks What is Mr Gladstone's intentions towards us? Why does he not tell us? Why does he not reveal his plans ? We have reached such orisis that it is impossible to refrain from ask. lng, Is it the difficulties of his position or what that is the cause of his silence on the subject of disestablishment ? What we would like to know is this-why are we not told something ? We acknowledge his difficulties with the Irish question; but, as far as we can judge, Mr Gladstone has done what he could to overcome these obstacles. Whatever they are they cannot he so great as to prevent his saying just one word to us. The tension is rapidly getting unbearable. Mr Gladstone ought to know by this time that Wales is tired of waiting," The London cor. respondent of the same paper says: "If it be true that by moving slowly we go farthest, it toust be acknowledged that the Welsh members are on the way to go very far indeed. It is slowly -wonderfully slowly-that they proceed with the Disestablishment question. The first reading of the Suspensory Bill was allowed to diminish their ardour; but lately a revival has taken place." The Llan says that the future of the Disestablishers is as gloomy as Egyptian darkness. The begging letter sent to Mr Gladstone will be only a mountain bring- ing forth a mouse.' At present the Welsh Members are like dogs in a fair, not knowing what direction to take." "Eynon," in the Celt, states that we have; all of us, profound respect for the G.O.M. but we know that as an ecclesiastical politician he is not sound in the faith. Has not the time come for us to strike the blow? Should not Irish stew* be replaced by a Welsh dish ? Where is the Welsh Parnell?" Echo answers, Where ? where ? Mr Gwenogfryn Evans' Pension. The Welsh papers are perfectly unanimous that 110 grant was ever better deserved than that made by- the Government to Mr Gwenogfryn Evans to Carry on his researches in Welsh literature. Lhe Gcnedl describes it as a i-eaifavour to the Welsh nation. We have as yet only a faint ideu of the value of the services of Gwenogfryn to our Country. By publishing classical editions of our ancient literature he is labouring strenuously to felevate his nation. It is to some of the young Welsh members that we owe this philanthropic deed." I understand, however, that Professor Ithys had something to do with it, though without Mr Thomas Ellis's generous assistance the pension might never have been obtained. Gvsalia, in a short leader, is glad to know that this financial help will enable Mr Evans to labour i% the future as ha haa done in the last ten yens, ■l-'he Gymr4,i-10 Atidrouicus," in, the- Geitedt, the &crai4, and other papers, all rejoice, and wish Gwenogfryn long health to carry on his noble work. •Themw Welsh 7 The transference of Judge Beresford and liis replaccmont by Mr David Lewis give unmixed 4atisfaction to the writers in the Welsh papers. There is no complaint against Judge Beresford, excepting only that he was ignorant of Welsh; and .e is said to have carried on his work with singular ability, with inflexible impartiality and j 'Utegrity, and with a dignity worthy of his exalted office. "But," as the London corres- pondent of the Bantr writes, knowledge of the language of the common people will henceforth a tine qua non for this office in rnral Wales, It is of no importance that Lord Herschell has Appointed one who belongs to a party other than that of the majority in Wales. The great point that the Welsh character of the people is nop or henceforth so be recognised in the ad- ministration of justice in Wales. In Mr David Lewis we have a zealous Welshman, nd an excellent lawyer." Mr Gee says that the Appointment has given general satisfaction. It J £ no great importance that Mr Lewis is a oily. The important point is that he is a skilful javvyer and a good Welshman. We do not blame he advocates who appeared before Mr Beresford "0 praise him their tongues will be equally free welcoming Mr Lewis. They are lawyers. They lan speak on the two sides of the question. They ould s)>eak on the third side, were there one to J had." The GoUuud and the Gcnecll also ^minister t rebuke to the lawyers, and seem to tie very glad of an opportunity of dealing a. blow as the editor of the Cambrian News. The Cyniro vlso expresses joy at the appoint ment; but the is only moderately satisfied. But then, fjothing less than the appointment of a red-hot Radical, a Socialist, a Welsh Cougregationalist, ''tnd,be of the "old school," vtould probacy satisfy the < v

Musical and, Eisteddfodic BY MAELGWYN. BUILTH EISTEDDFOD. Thursday is rather an unusual day 011 which to hold an eisteddfod, but when we come to think of i it is a capital day. It is the tradesmen's half- holiday in most places on the hills," and the eisteddfodwyr in those places will no doubt be glad of an opportunity of going into the coun- try to attend a meeting which promises to be remarkably successful. I refer to the eisteddfod to be held at Builth on the 20th of the present month. Builth at that time, we may be sure, will be crowded with visitors, and an eisteddfod will he a delightful relief from the monotony of life at the wells." The eisteddfod is being promoted for the purpose of raising funds to erect a permanent pavilion for the use of the visitors to, and general public of Builth. The local board have taken the matter in hand, and are seeking the co-operation of the enterprising people in the town. Mr T. L. Jones, of the National Provincial Bank, is chair- man of the committee, while the secretarial work is being done by Mr H. Thomas, Brecon-road, and Mr S. D. Evan?, Glan Irvon-terrace. The popular singer, Llew Bualit, is interesting him- I self in the musical part of the undertaking. As to the programme of the eisteddfod, I may say at once, it is one of the best I have ever seen, and such an one as tin directors of much more ambitious gatherings would do well to take a lesson from. Nothing seems to have been for- gotten, and no class of competitor has been over- looked. To be sure, the prizes on the whole are nob so large as at some of cur South Wales eisteddfodau, but, everything considered, they are decidedly good. In the chief choral competition the prize is £25, and the test piece is "Blessed are the men," from Elijah. Choirs must not number less than 40, nor more than 50 voices. There is another mixed voice choir contest for a prize of £10, and a similar prize is offered to the male voice choir numbering between 16 and 20 voices that will give the be-t intarpretation of "The Soldiers' Chorus," from Faust. There aro solo competi- tions for soprano, alto, tenor, baritone, and bass voices, and the prize in each ease is a guinea. A juvenile choral and a brass band competition are also included, and there are violin and pianoforte playing contests. The musical portion of the pro- gramme also includes the offering of a prize of £2 2i for the best part song to be composed on a given set of words. In the literary department a. prize of £5, supplemented by a carved oak bardic chair of equal value, is offered for the best poem on Llewelyn," and a prize is alsn offered for the best translation into Welsh of Longfellow's Psalm of Life." Then we have a. guinea offered for the best set of four englynion to the "Mineral Waters of Builth." But probably the most interesting of all the literary competitions is that in which a prize of five guineas is offered for the best essay on The early History of Builth," with an accouut of its antiquities. Artists are asked to compete for a prize—with the promise of anothar—for the best oil-painting of a land- scape, and there are two freehand pencil drawing competitions—one for those under 18 years of age, and the other for children under 14. There are likewise prizes for needlework, knitting, and the best made walking-stick, and last, but not by any means least, jB5 will be given for the best carved oak bardic chair. Collections of wild flowers in the form of bouquets are also invited, such collections to be brought in on the day of the eisteddfod. Such in brief is the programme of competitions of the Builth Eisteddfod, and surely he must be bard to please who would pronounce it anything other than an excellent one. It is satisfactory to know that the efforts of the committee to get up a really good eisteddfod are likely to be crowned wiUi i|igna;I sftoeess. ínthe chief choral competition entries have been received from Hereford,, Newtawn, Dowlaie, and Builth, and three Welsh choirs are expected to compete for the £10 prize. No fewer than 13 male voice choirs have signified their iutention to compete, and of these no fewer than seven hail from Glamorganshire. The vocal soloists number in the aggregate 70, and it is no ecret.that in that number are included some of our best known competitors, who will thus combine business with a. pleasant journey to Llanlairmuallt and its romantic surroundings. The instrumental competitors total 12, but un- fortunately only one juvenile choir has entered. Still as that choir will be conducted by a lady, it will no doubt evoke a good deal of interest. No fewer than 21 musicians have sent in part-songs for the prize of two guineas. No candidates for the chief bardic prize have come forward, but the moat noteworthy feature of tho literary contests is that only four sets of englynion have come to hand. Down here in the South almost every man you meet can make—or thinks he can make—an englyn, and why only four have competed is a, mystery. Three bardic chairs have been received and three historical essays. In all the other com- petitions there is a. goodly number of entries. When it is added that the eisteddfod will be con- ducted by Gurnos, it is necessary to say no more than that the success of the gathering is'practic- ally assured. It u confidently expected that the eisteddfod will rank with the best ever held in Central Wales. Cheap excursion trips from all parts are now being arranged for.

THE SURRENDER AT SEDAN. At five p.m. (September 1st, 1870), the heads of all the German columns pushed forwards, and commenced to bombard Sedan with field pieces. It is a small town of 15,000 inhabitants, without detached forts, and powerless to resist artillery. The whole French Army being now pent up with- in its walls, a scene of indescribable confusion arose. Shells fell and exploded upon houses and in the streets and the shrieks and groans of the wounded, the execrations of the infuriated soldiers, the cries k of the miserable inhabitants, the helpless clamour and hubbub that reigned everywhere, combined to form picture such as only a Virgil or a Dante could paint. Wimpffen desired to resign his command into the Emperor's hands but to this Napoleon naturally would not consent. However, the Emperor him- self caused a flag of truco to bo hoisted over the gates of Sedan. To this it had come; and the sun of France. as the first military Power in Europe, set on that fatal day. The Emperor desired to surrender his own person into the hands of the King of Prussia, and sent to the latter, by General Reille, who accompanied the German envoy on his return, a letter thus expressed -.—"Sire, my Brother,—Not having been ab!e to die in the midst of my troops, nothing remains for me but to place my sword in the hands of your Majesty. The King sent a courteous reply, in which he prayed the Emperor to nominate an officer of rank to negotiate with theofficor whom he had tfamed on his side, General Moltke, for the capitulation of the French Army. Wimpffen undertook the sad and humiliating duty, and met Moltke at h. Prussian headquarters, in the vil- bvge pf Donqhery. The jrewMW!* trie^bardvto obtain terms that fell short of unconditional surrender. But the logic of facts was against him, and Moltke, calm as fate and oold as the fV, unfolded to him wifcb pitiles? accuracy the full horror of his situation. The terms of sur- render were settled at six o'clock on the morning of the 2nd of September, and, being ratified by the King, soon afterwards came into force. The Freneh Army became prisoners of war and all arms and material of war, whether belonging to the Army or to the fortress, were to be handed over by a French to a German commission; tho officers were to retain their freedom, their amis, and their personal property on giving their word of honour not to serve against Germany during the continuance of tho war. There were many officers, however, who preferred tie nobler part of sharing captivity with the men rather than renounce the right of bearing arms against Germany so long as the war lasted. The wild excitement, rage, and grief chat seized upon the soldier-s when they knew that they were to surrender their arms and go into captivity, surpass the power of description. By batches of about 10,000 at a time, they were transported, during several days, by rail, to Saaer- brttck and thence to various parts of Germany.-— From Cassell's Illustrated History of England."

An amusing incident occurred in one of our churches recently. The resident clergyman, being called away from his pastoral duties, had to get a substitute to preach for him on the Sunday. This brother clergyman, hot being so tall as some of his brethren, had to stand on a buffet whilst preaching. Ho took for his text, Verily, verily, I say unto you, in a short time ye shall not see me." After repeating his text he slipped off the buffet amid tho laughter of the congrega- tion. He determined to do without the buffet at tho evening service, and, his head just above the pulpt, he called out in timid accents the text, "It I is It be not afraid," which again raised the smiles of the congregation. t

FARM AND GARDEN. I1 The Importation of Adulterated Butter. Mr Harold Faber, agricultural commissioner to the Danish Government, writes to the Times As I have' had good opportunity to watch the trade in bfrtter, and to see the demoralising effect of the importation of adulterated butter, will you kindly grant me spaco for a few remarks in sup. port of the suggestion of the Duke of St. Albans that some international action should be taken to check this importation. That such action would be in the interest of butter-producers is self- evident ;:but ulso the trade, as represented by the provision;stion of the London Chamber of Commerce, the Home and Foreign Produce Ex- change Company of London, the Produce Mer- chants' Association of Manchester, &c., have not only iep. atedly asked for protection for honest dealers against the unfair competition of those who import adulterated butter, but they have even, at considerable trouble and expense, ca vised consignments of foreign adulterated butter to be seized and confiscated, and the offenders abroad to be severely punished. Lord Playfair's defence for the so-called Ham- burg factory butters seems very strange. The Manchester Association has called the attention of the Board of Trade to the fact that these butters^aro frequently loaded with water. Now, thi4 is an offence for which in August last tetalriali farmers were prosecuted at the Cork- Police-court. I have lately pointed out to the Bo^rd of Agriculture how the adulteration with marcj|rtne of tho Hamburg factory butters can in mafiy oases be proved by chemical analysis, and when* requested to do so I have furnished samples of the butter, which upon analysis were found to be unmistakably adulterated. Still, these butters are imported marked "guaranteed pure butter." These and similar scientific mixtures are manufactured abioad with the chief object of being shipped to this country; therefore, the difficulty of getting at the real offenders. One shipper abroad represents many hundred retailers in this country; therefore, and because of the severe Continental laws against adulteration, the advan of stopping the fraud at the makers' or shippers' place. This reasoning caused me, 'about a. year ago, to lay before the Danish Govern- ment a plan for an international convention directed against this trade. The Danish Govern- ment has since communicated with the Govern- ment of #iis country about this matter, which is still, I think, under consideration. Lord Play- fairs argument against such a convention, that "the experience of the Suear Convention must have shown that it was perfectly hopeless to try such a pian," is far from convincing. It is useless for some countries to join a convention for abolishing bounties on sugar when some other countries, by keeping aloof from the convention, get aiK'unfair advantage in disposing of their ^urpjfpproduotion. By refusing to join a con- vention against adulteration of butter a country tVppuldgeb no such advantage, but would only ^lowic the reputation in the market for its ?Krod(icts. Harvest Drinks. fine oatmeal, one gallon of boiling water, J«P$ablespoonfuls of lime-juice, sugar to taste •TOTjfc^tand till cold mix the oatmeal very and stir continually, so as to prevent the becoming lumpy. It is much appreciated n, being both palatable and nutritive. THBSjfepared lime-juice can be had from any chettKt. (2) During the hay and harvest seasons of lSfcfe, in a little village in Hampshire, I rented a sfng!-»»rcomed cottage, and, assisted by the villagers, made and sold harvest drinks at 4d per gallon, or %d per glass. The favourite was the local ginger-beer—6}i gallons water, 41b coarse brown sugar, l%o best hops, 4oz. brown ginger well bruised, a pennyworth of barm from the baker's—cost, Is 4%d. Boil, and when boiling keep on for 20 minutes, then strain into pans, and when lukewarm add barm then stir gently for a few minutes. Next morning bottle, in stone jars by preference, or in a barrel for con- venience. Fuel cost me for .200 gallons, 6s; kettle, sieve, crockery, etc., 12s 5d; materials, JB2 10s 10d But my accounts (published in the county paper) showed a profit of 7 per cent. for the six weeks.-Fa", and Home. Vegetable Garden. Now that peas are becoming plentiful, discon- tinue cutting asparagus—in fact, in the case of weakly beds, cutting should have ceased a fort- night ago. If anyone wishes to save asparagus seeds, leave the seeds on the strongest stems. The seeds should never be permitted to drop about on the beds and left to grow there. When- over the beds are choked up with young seed- lings, the grass will soon fall off in size and quality. Something may be done to give strengbh and tone to weakly plants by the use of artificials, or, in some cases, salt and soot may be used with advantage. The plants of winter greens, such as Brus- sels sprouts, savoy, cabbage, broccoli, etc., are scarce this year. Where the seeds were not watered or shaded, many of them did not grow. AH the above should be set out now, and watered till established. Sow a bed of the rosette colewort to fill up spare bits of land by-and-bye. Winter greens may probably be valuable in December. Plant out celery, and transplant leeks. Sow the Queen onion for pickling. The seeds will grow if we have rain soon. Otherwise, water and shade will be necessary. This has been, all through, an exceptional season, and the only people who have plenty of plants are those who, in addition to good culture, have watered and shaded their seed-beds. And the shading is more important than the watering. A good breadth of turnips should be sown now. These usually follow the early potatoes, but in a season so dry a patch of turmps might be sown in a north aspect. Plant dwarf French beans for successional bearing, and sow salad plants of all kinds in the coolest spot available. This 18 splendid weather for tomatoes, where mulch and water are used Its required. Greenhouse. FinÚh thinning grapes; the variety and the FiDi, length of time they are to be kept should be con- sidered in thinning. I generally reduce the large bunches a bi". a compactness is a valuable quality. When a.bunch of grapes is laid on a dish, it should retain its shape firmly; not sprawl about. And, in the case of large bunches, the shoulders and the ends of the bunches may be reduced with advantage. Tuberous begonias are making a fine show low. These plants areeasity raised fromS, but it is useless to buy cheap seeds. Get a supply frorna good grower, and then something worth having will be obtained. I don't think anyon* oan have too many begonias, &ES those plants not required in the greenhouse make beautiful masses in the garden. Seeds Rgjvb sahdV » fchorrirrglrljr moistened before sowing, covered with the merest sprinkle, of ,flilvor, sand, and placed in a shady corner of the frame, and covered with a bell- glass, or a square of glass laid on the top of the pot. Where there is a stove or hothouse, sow in February; but where there there is only a small greenhoi-se or frame, sow in June. The plants will not flower this year, but they will make little tubers that will make good flowering stuff next season. WINDOW GARDBN. This resolves itself chiefly now into watering and syringing. When the pelargonium! cease to be presentable place them outside to npen the growth. Double zonals in variety will make a fine show now, and the petals will not dtOP about in the same way that the single flowers do. Campanulas are very pretty now, the Mount Gargano harebell (C. garganica) and the Ligurian harebell (C. isophylla) are such graceful, charming things in the window. Both are hardy; so if they are once obtained, they will not be killed by frost as geraniums are in a cold win Give window-boxes outside plenty of water now.—Gardening, The Weather and the Crops. i • The weather has backed to drought and scorch- ing heat, Saturday being one of tho hottest days we have had for years. Wheat and barley oil ,Ynll-drained And strong spils will often be a fine- quality crop, bat such lands form but a small area of the whole, so that it is nbi too much to say •that at the present moment half tho wfat&t crop ^aizdiwo-tirdStp be very ,4' I. :4 L;), deficient. Oats are being burnt up, and in many districts will be only half a yield. It is surprising, with the crops of the country short all along the line, that markets have been dull for feeding stuffs, and positively weak for wheat. Foreign wheat is 6d lower on the week for Australian. The spring corn trade, out of two dozen leading markets, shows eleven dearer and eleven cheaper; for barley, 21 dearer and none cheaper for oats, sixteen dearer and two cheaper for pulse, nine dearer, and twelve cheaper for maize the other markets were unchanged. Oats will be seen to have been the best trade by far, while barley has been uncertain, and maize rather inclined to retrograde.

-r —■ A JEWEL There's a shining little jewel That sparkles in the rough; Refined and polished oftpn, It glistens quite enough To cause good people oft to rise And struggle for this sun-dipped prize. Ib is not found in deepest mine, Nor is its home in mountain side. Nor yet the sea the pearl doth hold Nor forest deep the treasure hide. Quite round the world we often roam To seek this jewel in its home. But ah we make grand mistake. In seeking for the gem to lure Deep-bedded in the ore -if life This shining jewel lies secure. Oh, seek it not till life is spent, But wear it now; 'tis sweet Content I I.

I Andrew Fletcher, .t Raltsun, in a letter to th* Marquis of Montrose, wrote I knaw a, very wise n that believed that if a man were permitted ta maki all tho ballads he need not care who should make the laws of the nation."