The South Wales Star

OPEN LETTERS TO WELSH LEADERS OF OPINION. No. XVIII. THE RIGHT HONOURABLE LORD ABERDARE, G.C.B., P.C., D.C.L., F.R.S., F.R.G.S., F.R.H.S., &c., &c. MY LORD,—The South Wales Star is a democratic paper, and it is is only by the utmost squeezing and cajoling that I can persuade the genial editor to print all the orders and dlstmctlOnsithat follow your name like the tail of a comet. In fact, to to declare the square-toed truth, he called them bosh and nonsense. He warned me that I would have serious trouble in arranging- them in their proper order, and that I would be sure to offend somebody or other. I asked Gurnos' opinion on the matter, for he is great in Dynion Od," and he told me to jumble them up anyhow; it didn't matter at all, for there was no LL.D. among the lot; while Iwan Jenkyn threatened me with his eternal displeasure if precedence was not given to the F.R.H.S. It was most unkind of the editor, and hurt my feelings very much, as I have been saving up for some time to buy an American degree. I know full well that your lordship does I not regard the string of titles and degrees that swagger after your name as bosh and nonsense. ¡ Oh no you are as proud of them as a peacock of ¡ his tail. And why not? They sound mighty large and imposing. To hear them pronounced is like the roll of musketry. And though you would fain have us simple souls believe that, in the greatness of your majestic mind, you soar above the vanities that afflict weak and grovelling mortals, the cloven hoof will not hide. You are very human after all. Aye, and though you revel, with pardonable pride, in the dis- tinctions you have honourably won, you delight also, with less pardonable vanity, to parade the trophies of rankling ambition. But such is the humiliating record of sinful flesh. And it seems to me that, were it not for the selfishness that often- times fills the loftiest minds, the world's greatest triumphs would be unachieved and unrecorded. But for" a' that and a' that," we do not like a lord to be inordinately puffed up with vanity. It is a wicked thing, and tarnishes the glitter of his distinction. And if lords, and earls, and dukes. and the whole train of that dazzling ilk. are going to reveal weaknesses as glaring and common-place as those which fill such ordinary individuals as myself, then. after generations of weary waiting, may we read in Welsh the handwriting en the wall. The sceptre will depart from Judah and not before time. For I should like to know what advantage your clas." confers on mankind at large if you do not show an example worthy of emulation —something to be attained by the few who acquit themselves more nobly and more heroically than the rest. I am not much in favour of the aris- tocracy myself. You and your class seem but to clog the wheels of progress. You have not given great advantages to the world. When I look at yourself, and think what you might have been and what you are. I say Austin Bruce for my money." For it is known and re,)(1 of all men that it was as plain, unadorned Austin Bruce that your spurs were won. Whether it was the title "that spoilt you, or you had become an extinct volcano, I know not but the bald-headed fact re- mains that no sooner had you stepped from the democracy to the aristocracy than ycu withered like an autumn leaf. There is no deny- ing the fact that, in your day and generation you did some good. eren excellent work. But t'hut day has long passed away, and speaking in a public political sense you have for years only hung about to save funeral expenses. On your vener- able face I have read traces of sorrow and regret. Sorrow that you have survived your political posterity, and regret that like a stranded hulk the wave has left you to corrode on the sandbank. What you are and what you might have been fills us with pitying admiration. For however much we lament your political decadence, we can never forget wha.t you once were and did. The time was when you were the rising hope of neglected Wales. Even Henry Richard, in the unmingled patriotism of his great soul, looked to you as one born out of due season to emancipate his down- trodden country. But you gave up to party and narrow ambition what was meant for your own nation and Wales; and though you had your reward, it is not the reward that brings satisfaction. You are a member of the British aristocracy, but you hare not the entire confidence of the Welsh people. Think for a moment on your own position and the position of our mutual friend. Mabon. I know you look upon Mabon as small potatoes, and you despise his horny hands because they have been besmeared with black in honest toil. You don't care much for black hands. Do you remember that meeting at Aberdare when you were plain Austin Bruce, some hands were held up in favour of a motion against yourself, and you re- marked, They are only black hands." I have no doubt your remarks was sincere though it might only be the result of a momentary annoyance and irritation, but however that may be, it cost you your seat in Parliament. You have not forgotten that touching incident. It tamed your haughty spirit for a while, but it did not" eradicate the pride that rankled in your breast. I spoke of Mabon and yourself, and perhaps you may think the comparison odious. Perhaps it is, but it is the sturdy representative of the Rhondda miners who may complain, not your lordship. He wields a power you might have had but do not possess. You allowed the occasion to slip. he took occasion by the hand, and has a position that a prince might envy. You are regarded, and justly regarded, as an old fogey lagging far behind. Wales has gone ahead, but you have stood still" like Joshua's moon in Ajalon." and now you are out of all sympathy with the political demands and aspirations of your country. It is often whispered that you are Tory enough for a primrose daine, but out of regard to Mr. Gladstone's kindness, and what the Liberal party has done for you, you still float the old flag. Well, gratitude is an admirable quality, my lord, but sincerity is better still. You hate the march of progress that has left you like a derelict on a trackless ocean. You see nothing but ruin and disaster in the methods of young Wales. When you were younger than you are to-day, and occupied the re- sponsible and exacting position of Home Secretary. you did some good within a narrow sphere. But I presume you were then, and always have been, aware that to call you a Statesman would be a misnomer. You were an excellent politician, a good, safe party man, and an able and active ad- ministrator. But you lacked the faculty which ministrator. But you lacked the faculty which enables some few men to become Statesmen. You were not clever at deciding. That is an important factor in one of Her Majesty'* principal Secretaries of State. To be able to decide promptly has enabled some men to achieve a distinction which those of far superior talent have failed to attain. The truth must be told. You tried hard and made yourself useful, and did some deserving work but your tendency to let things remain as they are spoilt you for a lieutenant of Mr. Gladstone's and so you were shunted into the House where the wicked are not troubled and the weary are at rest. We regretted your removal it was your political funeral, and yet it is my belief that Wales has not suffered greatly from your denouement. Absence makes the heart grow fonder, and in the gilded chamber, far from trouble or annoyance, we have ever continued to think kindly of you. And look- ing back on what might lave been, I see that from the day you ceased to be an anxious, active Welsh office-hunter in the Commons the prospects of political Wales began to improve. Things mended from that hour. We had looked to you and trusted to you as a mighty man of valour, and we found, after all, that you were but a bruised reed. So we sent a different stamp of man to Parliament. We did not send any more five thousand a year patriots, but we looked about us for men who loved their country and gloried in their race and language, and though they were hard to find at first, we alighted upon them by degrees, until we have a band, everyone of whom is a leader, who swear they wilr do or die for dear old Wales. And, honour bright, my lord, they have accomplished great things and so sure as the cloud that Elijah's servant saw rising out of the sea presaged rain upon the earth, so sure am I that the deliverance of Wales is nigh. -To all intents and purposes, your lordship is an Englishman. Nor do I think any less of you on that account. I love the English race when they do not come the conquering and governing dodge. But I like a Welshman to be a Welshman and no Welshman is worthy the name who is not pre- pared to sacrifice and suffer ior his country's sake. And that is just what you would not do. Being a Welshman has been a gold mine to you. It has brought you honours and rewards in abundance. For we all know that it was because you were a Welshman of prominent ability that Mr. Gladstone exalted you to an important office in his famous '63 ministry. And it follows, as night follows day. that it was the same quality that made you a lord. But for these blessings you have not shown gratitude to your country. You have shown gratitude to Mr. Gladstone and the Liberal party, as in courtesy you ought, but had it not been for the fact that you were a. Welshman Mr. Gladstone would never have looked at you. But though you have failed us in the great National cause, though your heart is not with us in our efforts to secure political and national emancipation, and though you stick In the mud as a Whig of the Whigs, we have yet a kindly feeling towards you, for you have done in a non- political way some excellent and useful work. In our efforts to obtain greater educational advan- tages and facilities, you have done yeoman work, and still stand in the forefront of all our edu- cational movements. And when we erect a monument to you at Mountain Ash, we will have it carved on the pedestal that. whatever were your political faults, you were ever earnest for the higher education of your countrymen. That is a noble work, and we will never forget what you have done for the colleges at Cardiff and Aberystwyth. You have not spared yourself in the movement. But you never were a man of the the movement. But you never were a man of the people. You have always been tainted with snobbism. When the Ballot Dill was on the way, I remember that you. after considerable wrig- gling and twisting, announced that you did not believe in the measure, but rather than lose your seat in Parliament you would refrain from voting against it. You did not put the matter in the same way as I have put it, but I have put it cor- rectly all the same. You are inordinately proud of applause. You fatten on it as does the wild ass on the wind of the desert. I have often been pained to see how you despise the masses on the one hand and eagerly strain your ear to catch their applause on the other. At all gatherings you must preside, or you feel like a sow in the dumps, Some people say that you are somewhat of a jobber, but I don't see why a man cannot make honourable provision for his family. And if one's son is cut out for a good parson, I don't see why a father's influence should not be used to raise an estimable archdeacon to a bishopric, and a pro- mising son to the richest living in South Wales vacated by the appointment. Nor do I see why a father can b 3 expected to help everybody but his own son. No I don't agree with these grumblers who are always on the look out for faults to pick. I know you have been very kind to many a young Welshman, struggling with difficulties, and Owen Edwards in certain moments of re-action against the democracy speaks enthusiastically of you. But then Owen alsvays is an aristocrat at heart, and dedicated his Tro yn Llydaw" to Sir Watkin, though he said nasty things of the squirearchy in the book. I am really sorry to hear though that you acted as you did at Shrewsbury. I'm told you allowed yourself to be made the tool of a Caucus, and that you turned quite nasty when there was an attempt at free discussion. That was a mistake for which I am sorry for your sake as well as for the sake of the Welsh University you hare so much at heart. But these are small blemishes. You have borne a good reputation all through life. During the six years you practised at the bar. while you sat as stipendiary magistrate at Merthyr, and in all the subsequent important positions you have occupied, you have discharged your duty according to your lights with rare integrity and blameless fidelity. You have figured as an author, but the Life of General Sir William Napier" and the •'History of the Peninsular War" have told the world, at least that limited portion which read your works, that literature was not your forte. Your strength does not lie there. Your compositions are dull and flabby, though you are a nobleman of wide reading and large information. I should like to see you improve in many re- spects, for I have an excellent opinion of you but I fear the old inquiry, Can the leopard change his spots, or the Ethiopian his skin 7" may truth- fully be applied to you. However that may be, I am sincerely grateful to you for what you have done, and are still doing for the higher education of Wales. And when I hear you spoken of approv- ingly I will not forget that you are a Welshman. Among the many who will drop a tear when your honoured grave closes on a long and useful life will be your friend, THEODORE DODD. Next week Theodore Dodd will address an Open Letter to Sir JOHN H. PULESTOX, M.P.

PRESENTATION TO MR. PETERS, COITY. THE SCHOOL BOARD STILL ON THE WAR-PATH. A correspondent writes :—Monday last was a fearfully boisterous day, but no weather can damp the ardour of the people of Coity. In spite of the weather the village presented a most animated appearance on the day named, and all seemed to be out and about, and the occasion was doing honour to Mr. E. E. Peters, the late master of the Board School, and the present master of the private school held in the village. The pupils at- tending the latter school to the number of 85 were regaled with excellent tea, cake, &0.. at three o'clock, in the lodge room of the Oak Inn. Tea being over, the chil- dren, accompanied by a large number of ratepayers, and, headed by the Coity Brass Band, paraded the principal thoroughfares of the village. In the meantime a meeting of the School Board, presided over by the Rector (Mr. Edmondes), was being held at the Schoolroom to gravely discuss the educational interests of about half-a-dozen youngsters. The clerk (Mr. R. H. Cox) read a letter signed by a large number of ratepayers, asking permission to hold Mr. Peters' presentation meeting at the school that evening. The scene that followed the reading of the letter, it is said, baffles description. One member, at the mention of Mr. Peters' name, flew into a towering passion and hopped about the room on one leg: two fainted right away two slunk under the table to faint privately, and of the whole body one alone remained—the clerk, to preserve the dignity of the high and mighty tribunal. The member who hopped on one leg muttered between his teeth, that the worst of it was that the room had so recently been lent to a straggling company of Primrose Leaguers that nobody knew whence they came nor whither they Ivent. But let that went, cried he, the room must not be let." The room was, therefore, not granted, and Mr. Peters' presentation meeting hp.d to be held, there- fore, at the Lodge-room of the Oak Inn. The room was crowded to its utmost capacity, about 250 being accommodated, while some scores failed to gain admission. The presentation took I the form of a purse of gold, consisting of ,e22 10s., and was handed to Mr. Peters on behalf of the committee, by Miss Phillips, late pupil and pupil teacher of Mr. Peters, and now assistant mistress at Pencoed Board Schools. Mr. Griffith Edwards. Llwyniwrch. chairman of the Coy- church Higher School Board, made a very happy and able chairman, and the following programme was gone through. Mr. J. H. Lewis made a capital accompanist. Selection, Coity Era; Band (con- ductor, Mr. J. Richards); address, Chairman; song, Breuddwyd y Morwr Bach," Mr. J. H. Lewis, Tondu soug, The Cows are in the Corn," Miss Hopkins, Tondu song. Mr. Rogers, Parc- gwyllt song (comic), "Hi-tidly-hi-ti," Mr. J. Smith, Tondu song," The Song that reached my heø.rt," Mr. J. Richards, Coity recitation," Llon'd Dwy Lwy Gawl," Miss M. J. Williams, Coity; song, Y Fam a'i Baban," Mrs. Rogers. Parcgwyllt; presentation to Mr. Peters, Miss Phillips. Pencoed address, Mr. Peters address, The Chairman address, Mr. John Evans (Oenyn) duet, Betty Wyn." Messrs. Jones and Roberts, Coity song, Chwyfio'r Cadach Gwyn." Mrs. Thomas, Heoly- eyw song (special), Rhai dewr yw gwyr y Coity," Mr. D. Roberts, Coity: duet. "X 0, Sir." Miss Hopkins and Mr. Smith. Tondu song, The Little Hero," Mr. J. H. Lewis recitation, "Y Tren," Mr. T. W. James, Heolycyw; song (comic), "Welsh and English medley," Mr. J. Smith, Tondu song, Hiraeth." Mrs. Thomas, Heolyycyw song, Oh. I say," Mr. D. Roberts, Coity song, Mr. D. Jones, Coity finale, Hen Wlad fy Nhadau." One and all acquitted them- selves with great credit, and an excellent enter- tainment was brought to a close shortly before ten with the usual votes of thanks to the chairman and others. One enthusiastic speaker delivered the following fiery address :— Mr. Chairman, Ladies, and Gentlemen.—I would not. if I could, detain you with any lengthy re- marks. Yon will, however, bear with me while I say that I am proud to be the witness of what I see here to-night. What, then, have we come forth to see to-night at Coity ? Oh. a scenQ worthy the description of the best and most eloquent word-painter. A parish of people, witn a few inglorious and ignoble excep- tions, rallying around him upon whose neck the Board placed its foot and swore that he must be sacrificed upon the altar of prer judice and personal spleen. Men and women of Coity, shall he be thus sacrificed.' No and no ten thousand times over. Stand fast, therefore, in your liberty, and be not en- tangled again with the yoke of bondage. For the last six months you have run well, and who will hinder you that you should not run likewise for 11 months more. The whirligig of time will soon bring November here, and then you can turn upon these men who now so independently ignore you, their real masters, and tell them, Give up your stewardships, for you cannot be stewards any longer, and return in sackcloth and. ashes unto that obscurity which you so well deserved, and whence you should never have emerged."

WELSH HOME RULE CON- FERENCE. MR. ALFRED THOMAS'S BILL. The resumed Conference on Mr. Alfred Thomas's National Institutions Bill has becu summoned for Wednesday, the 16th inst. The place of meeting if Cardiff, and the Conference, which will be presided over by Mr. Abraham, M.P. (Mabon), will be held in the Lesser Park-hall, the proceedings com- mencing at two o'clock in the afternoon. Circulars have been sent out to representative men in all parts of the Principality, and to leaders of Welsh opinion in other parts of the kingdom, inviting them to attend and take part in the proceedings and every effort is being made to ascertain the opinion of those interested upon the provisions of the projected measure. Already a carefully prepared and comprehensive set of questions, bearing on the National Institutions Bill, have been addressed to public men and leaders of opinion throughout Wales, and the answers which have been returned show a marvellous unanimity of opinion in favour of a tentative measure of Welsh Local Govern- ment Reform. The Conference at Llandrindod, in August last, as will be remembered, un animously approved the general principle of the National Institutions' Bill, and the resumed Con- ference at Cardiff next week will consider in detail the leading provision of the proposed measure. Those who desire to submit resolutions or amendments to the Conference are requested to communicate with the secretaries, Mr. William Johnston and Mr. D. R Williams, at 5. Arcade Chambers, Cardiff, not later than Thursday, the 10th inst., giving the terms of the proposed mo- tions. As this will be the last opportunity before the next session for fully considering and com- pleting the draft of the Bill, we trust that every- one who has a useful suggestion to offer will co-operate in making the Bill as workable and comprehensible as possible. It is the desire of Mr. Alfred Thomas and his parliamentary colleagues that the scheme may truly represent Welsh opin- ion, and obtain for Wales that administrative au- tonomy which her natural characteristics and special circumstances require; and to secure this they are anxious that all practical advioe and assistance calculated to improve the fruits of their efforts may be freely forthcoming. This is the beginning of a great movement, and a clear ex- pression of the popular opinion at the Conference, will be of immense advantage to those who are striving to secure to Wales a legislative reform equal to her requirements. Everyone who is in sympathy with the morement will be welcomed- at the Conference whether they have been for- mally invited or not; and they may obtain full particulars of the proposed gathering by writ- ing to the secretaries. Persons from a distanoe will be entertained by friends in Cardiff, and they are desired to send notice of their in- tention to attend the Conference as soon as possible. After the conference a great public meeting will be held in the Park-hall in the evening, at which Sir Edwaid Reed will preside, and Mr. Bowen Rowlands, Q.C., M.P.. Mr. Alfred Thomas. M.P., Mr. S. T. Evans, M.P., Mr. W. Abraham, M.P. (Mabon), and Mr. C. P. SoottT editor Munchrstcr Gua rdian., will deliver addresses. The balcony will be reserved for ladies, for whom free tickets may be obtained after Wednesday, on application to the secretaries, or to Mr. R. N. Hall, at the Liberal Association Offices, Queen-street, Cardiff. A pleasing feature of the conference will be the rendering of Welsh airs by a band of chosen vocalists under the direction of Mr. Jacob Davies.

PENCOED NOTES. LBY ROVEB.J LIOOKIXG- FOR AX U>'LOST TREASURE. Many years ago several men came across the late witty and intelligent Thomas Rowlands, better known as Twm y Sharpwr, under Craig y Ddinas. There had been a great flood the previous day. the roads were covered by sand several inches deep, and there was the Sharpwr, with tucked up sleeves, wading through the sand in search of something. The passers-by naturally inquired of the diligent searcher what he had lost. "Haner coron," was' the curt reply, and thereupon the passers-by tucked up their sleeves also and joined in too search. The band of searchers searched diligently for an hour, and then one of the company suddenly asked, Coll'soch chi haner coron, Thomas V (Did you lose half-a-crown, Thomas!) I didn't say I had lost half-a-crown I only said I am searching for one," was Tom's ready reply. Sold again was the chorus of the passers-by. and they went their way. Poor and rare Twm y Sharpwr Like all of us, he had his faults, but taken all in all we can safely say that the Rhondda Valley will not see his like for many years, if erer again. He waff an unpolished gem, and for the sake of the deep intelligence and noble heart that were his charac- teristics, I hope no irreverent foot will ever tread upon his grave. A SIMILAR CASE. I was reminded of the above incident by the following case, which came under my observation on Saturday night last. The queen of night had descended below the western horizon, and had left. the neighbourhood of Brynau Gwynion, as I thought, to darkness and to me. Not so, however, for near the bridge I noticed a light for a moment, and then it disappeared. Several times again it appeared, and as often again vanished. 'Twas a mystery, but a mystery that I was resolved to solve. It was a man lighting matches and search- ing for something, and of course the somewhat stiff breeze that blew at the time accounted for the frequent appearance and disappearance of the light. When I reached the man he had exhausted his stock of matches. The following conversation occurred between us :— Who is here ? '• So and so." Oh, it's you, What are you searching for ? For something that I have lost." Yes, I daresay but what may that thing be Well, the top of this umbrella and 'twas here, or at least within- a few yards, that I must have lost it." I therefore struck a match myself, and in the glare of the light I noticed that the top of the umbrella was safe and sound where it should be. Why, W said I, the top is on the handle right enough." My friend looked hard at his gingham, and then joyfully burst forth, "you are right! I have been feeling the small end of the handle all along. Another note for the Star, but never mind, I will go home happy now, for there will be no hot tongue for supper." My friend went forth rejoicing. ENOUGH FOR THE DAY, THE EVIL THEREOF. In a neighbouring- village there is an old man who is geniality personified, and who is dear to all the country round. He bears upon his shoulders the weight of more than three score years and ten, but in spirit and in bodily health he wiU outshine most young men on the right side of thirty. He is afficted with rheumatism in his leg, and it is strong men alone that bow themselves. One day last week the good old soul was in luck's way he met two public-house land- ladies in the village, and the both paid for a pint each to him. The old man swallowed the contend of the pin's, and then went home loudly praising human nature. He told the tale to the man he lodges with. His landlord expressed the surprise that the old man had drunk the two pints the same day, and suggested that it would have been better if he had drunk but one, and reserved the other for the morrow. Reserve the other for the morrow, indeed ?" chimed in the old man goodness knows whom will I meet to-morrow." Perhaps the world would not be richer, but I believe it would be happier, if it bothered its head less than it does for the morrow. Anyhow my old friend's opinion, it is evident, is Enough for the day is the evil thereof." FORTHCOMING POLITICAL MEETING. My readers will be glad to learn that our popu- lar member, Mr. A. J. Williams, will address his constituents in this part of the division at the Board School. Pencoed, early in the next month. The electors here need no strengthening in the Liberal faith, but they want to see and hear their honourable member, in order to show him how much they appreciate his able and faithful ser- vices, and give him an earnest of what they will do for him as soon as the opportunity is given them by the party that clings so pertinaciously to office through honour and dishonour. Before we only knew Mr. Williams only as a member; now we know him as a member and a neighbour, and we wish not to, and will not, exchange him, especially for the value now offered us, which is ridiculously small.

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