The Merthyr Telegraph and General Advertiser for the Iron Districts of South Wales

7 [N THE HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE. CHANCERY DIVISION. PURSUANT to a Decree made in a cause JL MARGARET JANE THOMAS, an Infant, by SAMUEL POWELL THOMAS, her next friend, Plaintiff, against HENRY WATKIN HARRIS and RERS TII^MAS, Defendants. The Creditors of RICHABD THOMAS, late of the Court House, in the Parish of Merthyr Tydfil, in the County of Glamorgan, Esquire, who died in or about the montH of April, 1872. are on or before the 20th day of January, 1876, to send by post prepaid t > .A?i:ssrf:rrs SIMONS and PLEWM, of Merthyr Tydfil nfo esaid, the Solicitors of the above nanned Defen- I dants, their christian and surnames, addresses and descrip- tions, and the christian and surnames of any partner or part- ners. the full particulars of their claims, a statement of their accounts, and the nature of the securities (if any) held by them, or in default thereof they will be peremptorily excluded from the benefit of the said Decree. Every Creditor holding any security is to produce the same before the Vice-Chancellor Sir JAMES BACON, at his Chambers, situated at No 11, New Square, Lincoln's Inn, Middlesex, on Thursday, the 27th day of January, i870, at Twelve o'clock at Noon, being the time appointed for adjudicating on the claims. Dated this 18th day of December, 1876. C. HARWeOD CLARKE, CUIEF CLEBK. SIMONS AND PLEWS, SOLICITORS, Church Street, Merthyr Tydfil. 7332

NOTICE TO CORRESPONDENTS. J. K. in our next.

PITY THE SORROWS OF A POOR CLERGYMAN. IT IS not often that clergymen of the Church of England write begging letters to the newspapers. If they are poor they keep the fact to themselves, and trust either to the benevolence of wealthy dignitaries and pluralists, or to some charitable organisa- tion, for the means of augmenting a scanty stipend. There are societies for the gather- ing in and distribution of old clothes, founded specially for the benefit of indigent parsons, and it must be highly edifying to see a right reverend father in God going down in his carriage to one of the Exeter Hall Committee-rooms for the purpose of giving the institution the benefit of his advice and presence. Curates are aided by small doles wrung from laymen, and bene- ficed clergy unable to pay their way are occasionally helped from diocesan funds in a small way. The unequal division of ecclesi- astical spoils is one of the greatest scandals of the day. It is not enough that livings should be bought and sold, as commissions are no longer permitted to be in the army it is not enough that calculations should be made as to the precise time at which the old shoes of an aged incumbent may be picked up for next presentation, but working-parsons must be forced to beg, and reveal the miseries of their lives in order to excito popular sym- pathy, and draw open the purse-strings of the affluent. The latest specimen of this kind of clerical mendicancy is afforded by the letter alleged to have been written by the Rev. J. T. RAYMOND, Rector of Eglwys Cummin, St. Clear's, Carmarthenshire. The tone of the epistle, as ARTEMUS WARD would have said, is slightly "ironic." A sneer runs through it, and it is evident that the writer considers himself to be very much aggrieved by the piece of preferment given him by the LORD CHANCELLOR. He is tired of his white elephant, but does not like to give it up. Let us state his grievance as nearly as possible in his own words. First of all the rectory house is "a worthless erection," the windows are not water-tight, and the walls are damp. No doubt that is a very uncomfortable state of things, but we fear it is by no means uncommon. Worse tenements are occupied by artisans and labourers, whose lot it is to have large families and to work from early morn to dewy eve for daily bread. For this a rent of Y,22 per annum is charged. The income of M r. RAYMOND is X200 15s., with three and a half acres of grass. If the rev. gentlemen made inquiry he would find that with a wife and two children he is not so badly off as many of his brethren in Wales. However, it is not a large sum to live on, but when X55 has to be deducted for pension paid to the former rector, who has retired, and some J635 disbursed in the shape of taxes, rates, and first-fruits, less than two pounds a week is left for Mr. RAYMOND'S share. Out of this he has to keep a rickety parsonage in repair, and maintain himself and family in decent style. All thig is very pitiable. But why does not Mr. RAYMOND leave the church ? Outside the pale of the establishment he might find plenty to do, and he would be permitted to augment his income by secular labour. No doubt the charitably-disposed have responded heartily to his appeal for help. It is not difficult to imagine what has taken place since his lachrymose epistle made its appearance. Turkeys, geese, barons of beef, hogsheads of wine, barrels of beer, dozens of natives—the aristocracy of molluscs—plenty of winter clothing, tons of fuel, and perchance a few boxes of regalias have doubtless been delivered at the damp rectory home of Eglwys Cummin during christmastide. What a good time the agri- cultural labourers in the parish must have had, how well they cannot but have fared on Christmas Day! What beef and pud- ding, and flannel, and tea and egg-flip, and other exhilarating beverages, they must have enjoyed. The picture is really too realistic for contemplation, Happy Mr. RAYMOND, who, with the touch of his pen, like ALLADIN with his magic wand, could conjure up a splendid banquet for himself and the poor souls whom he is pledged to cure! Will the example bo followed by dissenting ministers of small means ? Is there a virtue in the voluntary system which makes such appeals unnecessary? These questions will naturally arise, and may exercise a disturbing effect upon the public mind. It is sad to tbink that while the superior" clergy possess great wealth and revel in plenty, that the interior77 are compelled to accept charitable aid, and to send the list round for money and goods in augmentation of their stipend. The fall of a church in which such things are possible cannot be long delayed, and the majority of the clergy would do better to trust wholly to the voluntary system than to depend upon it only as an auxiliary. Fortunately principles are eternal, and have a perpetual future. Hurrjan institutions may perish, and the ecclesiastical hierarchy is destined to pass away. Voluntary effort, however, may be ;'ejie4 P1} as long as the world lasts, and the doctrines of Christianity inspire men with regard for those who seek to lead them in the right way. There is no fear that the deserving labourer will fail to receive his due reward, if only he throws himself un- reservedly upon the community he serves. It is only when one section of an exclusive class receives abundant pay and another is left to starve that people look with doubt on them as religious teachers, and suggest an equi- table division of spoil as the best of all ways for bringing about an entire dependence on the vuluntary system founded by C-nnisr. Meanwhile, pity the sorrows 01 a poor Car- marthenshire parson.

LuCAL iNuIES, BRITISH IKON TRADE ASSOC'ATIOST. FURTHER evidence of a determination to form a com- pact association for the defence of mutual interests has been afforded, on the part of ironmasters generally. At a meeting recently held at the Westminister Palace Hotel, it was resolved to found a British Iron Trade Association, for the purpose of providing means of communication between mem- bers of the iron and steel trades of Great Britain upon all matters bearing upon the 'commercial interests of those industries to procure and circulate detailed statistics of the iron and steel trade both at home and abroad to attend to all matters connected with foreign tariffs, commercial treaties, and home parlia- mentary business that may have a bearing upon the position of the iron and steel trade excluding ques- tions of the regulation of wages, or of a purely local character and generally to take all proper measures for advancing the interests of the British iron and steel trades in all their branches." It will be seen by this definite statement that the society is not to be regarded in the light of a masters' union. The promoters have no desire to interfere in the question of wages, and have in contemplation mainly the conservation of those interests which have reference to the trade in a strictly commercial sense. The competition of other countries has no doubt had no inconsiderable influence upon English industry generally, and in the case of the manufacture of iron, much of the depression so justly complained of is due the fact that the market has been supplied to a large extent from abroad. This society is formed for the purpose of defence, and the opening-up of communi- cation between its members on points of general interest. The board of management consists of thirty- six leading manufacturers, and Mr. Clark, of Dowlais, has very appropriately been elected pre- sident. All persons, firms, and incorporated com- panies connected with the iron and steel institutes of Great Britain, her colonies, and dependencies, are eligible as members. The project is certainly one which is calculated to meet with general acceptation, and the results anticipated will doubtless largely advantage the community, as well as the industries immediately concerned. In the United States, France, Germany, and Belgium, similar institutions have long been in existence, and there can be but little doubt that the society founded in London under such favourable auspices, will contribute to the pros- perity of the trade whose interests it is designed to subserve. EISTEDDFODAU. THE Welsh are to be congratulated that among their characteristic customs should be numbered such admirable reniuons as Eisteddfodau. The im- provement of the masses of the people in a know- ledge and practice of music, poetry, and art, has long been looked upon by thinkers as a great desideratum, and various means have been adopted in the shape of free, or almost free, classes and lectures to bring about the desired end-which means have met with varied success. But here we have a system which has taken such a hold upon the people that they will flock to a public repetition, pay their enttance money willingly, and compete after careful preparation, with results which have made Wales renowned for her soul of song. Eis- teddfodau are calculated to do a great deal of good for us, to elevate our minds, to improve the intel- lectual powers which have been given us, and eventually to make an impression upon our character far deeper than may at first sight appear. Just one instance; at an eisteddfod held at the Tem- perance Hall in this town on Christmas day, a prize was given for the best extempore speech on the life and character of the late Ieuan Gwynedd. Now the obvious effect of such an offer as this is, that each competitor would in the first place make himself acquainted with something of his subject's career; and as a consequence, this brings us the picture of some half-dozen or dozen young men mentally following step by step the pattern life of a great and good man, and eminent patriot. We might continue by means of a number of such illus- trations to point to the religious and moral benefits which our national method of amusement brings in its train, but here conclude by saying that there is not much to fear for a nation which can claim an Eisteddfod as its national institution, IMPROVEMENT FOR THE I'EOPI/B. WE notice with pleasure that a series of free lectures for the people are to be given at the Abermorlais Boys' School, by the Science Teacher of the School Board, For the purpose of diffusing a knowledge of natural science through the district In con- nection with the Cambridge Extension Scheme, lectures have, or are, being delivered at Cardiff, and although these are not free, and relate solely to the commonly believed to be dry subject of geology, still the success they have met with hitherto is some- thing marvellous. We hope a similar result will re- ward Mr Lyons' efforts at Merthyr. Classes are formed to aid the study of a variety of interesting subjects, some of them being particularly valuable to a mining population, but the lectures will tring them more into notice, and may increase the num- ber of students. Any effort of this kind whereby r/e can teach the unthinking to think, and remove that animal-like humility which compels a man to suy I am no scholar," must be welcomed, and ought to be supported. We heartily wish it success, and hope on Thursday evening next there will be a crowded audience at Abermorlais School. GLAMORGAN'S SOCIAL EVIL. ALTHOUGH of late not much notice-beyond the ordinary routine work of repressive agencies-has been taken of the wide-spread habitual drunken- ness existing among the inhabitants of this county, g 11 by a side-wind attention is now drawn to the same, and the facts we have now before us are certainly most startling. The Chief Constable of Chester in writing to one of the Metropolitan dailies a short time ago supplies somo interesting statistics showing the proportionate number of cases of drunkenness disposed of by the magistrates during 1874, in dif- ferent counties, in comparison with the various populations. In England the four counties which can boast of more than 1 case of drunkenness in the year per 100 inhabitants are the following-Durham, 16,709 cases, equal to 1 in every 41; Lancashire, 56,482, being 1 in overy 49 Northumberland, 7,204, or 1 in every 53; and Monmouthshire, 2,066, or 1 in every 94; the Metropolitan Police District Courts, 25,814, or 1 in every 147 but Essex (outside the London boundary,) strange to say, counts the lowest being only 404, or 1 in 961. In Wales, Glamorgan- shire gives the highest proportion, 4,952 cases, or i in every 80 of the inhabitants whilst Breconshire, which justly prides itself as the most picturesque county in the Principality, has also the soberest population, having only 89 cases, or a proportion of 1 in evero 672. The statistics give further informa- tion of g. like engrossing character in the shape of the proportion of licensed houses of all kinds to the population. Cornwall has the least number in England, having 1 to every 360 inhabitants the Metropolis comes next with 1 to every 345 Durham 1 to every 211 Monmouthshire, 1,198, or 1 to every 163 Huntingdon sustains the most, having 612, or 1 to every 104 of the people. Breconshire keeps more licensed houses in proportion to population than any other county in Wales, having no less than 512, or 1 to every 116 inhabitants. Glamorganshire, however, supports more public-houses than four average counties of Wales put together, having up- wards of 2,414; or 1 to every 164 of the people. Now the first reflection after perusing such statistics as these ie, that there is nothing in the cry which we have heard so often, to the effect that an enlarged number of licensed houses means a greater amount of drunkenness. The complete list-and figures are like facts, stubborn things "-which he have now before a very different tale, but the story told by Brecon county, as given above, is a sufficient index, for in this case we have the largest proportion of public-houses among the counties of Wales, and the very least amount of drunkenness. But what of Glamorgan ? Not mnny months ago at a Temperance Conference held at Aberdare, we believe, a speaker pointed out that the old plan of giving licenses, to p would-be sellers of exciseablo liquors, had left its mark among us. We are afraid it has; at any rate if we care one fig for the reputation of our county, we have cause in the first place to regret that our drinking inducements are so numerous, and worse than all that our proportion of drunkards outvies that of other counties. We are known as a most industrious community; our manufactures; our scientific discoveries further, our general religious and moral character, point to a very different con elusion to all this The only excuse one could plead to so grave a charge would be the class of employ- ment by which the surrounding thousands gaiu their bread. To some extent such a plea may be said to be plausible, for on looking to other districts we find that in England proper, two of the counties which give the largest proportion of drunkenness—Durham and Nothumbcrland-tho same kind of industry mainly flourishes. But this would be a cowardly subterfuge, and a libel on all our local colliers and ironworkers. Monmouthshire, which may almost be called our sister county, figures very unfavourably in the above list, and the question naturally arisos, has this moral miasma swept like a dark cloud -L across the Rhymney Valley from the larger to the smaller community, and made one as bad as the other? But what of our own county's drunkenness ? Are we not intellectual ? do we not take delight in social entertainments of an elevated character:- is it one of our leading features to mouth and gibber over the inebriates' destroyer ?_ In Merthyr it has long been a complaint that public spirited men, who would set afloat, and would occasionally lend a helping hand to some continuous system of public entertainments for the people, are not to be found among us. In the winter there is no commodious free library and reading-room, gymnasium, cheap skating rink, or anything else at all adequate in size or accommoda- tion to keep our men and lads from the beer-house In the summer no park with tastefully laid out flower beds, and open air gymnasium, no free and open cricket ground, no local patrons to work us up in athletics On the whole we have to fall back upon a subscription library, a temperance establishment known as the Leisure Hour," which may be all very well in its way, but is most woefully cribb'd, cabin'd, and confin'd" in space; our local rifle corps; and the occasional al fresco fetes given by licensed victuallers and others to keep our men and boys from thinking of the beerhouse, and the last-named may hardly be said to do us that favour. Perhaps our readers by this time may have hit upon an answer to our question, whence comes our drunkenness ? There is undoubtedly a good deal in the fact that our local beer-houses are frequented in a great measure by men who would rather go anywhere than to their wretched squalid homes, while at the same time they do not care for the drink itself. This solution is said to apply in other districts, and may in this. However, if our temperance friends have any other reasons to bring forward we should be glad to be made acquainted with them.

ADVICE TO MOTHERS !-Are you broken in your reat by a sick child suffering with the pain of cutting teeth ? Go at once to a chemist and get a bottle of Mas WINSLOW'S SOOTHING SYRUP. It will relieve the poor sufferer immediately. It is perfectly harmless and pleasant to taste t produces natural, quiet sleep, by relieving the child from pain, and the little cherub awakes "as bright as a button." It soothes the child, it softens the gums, allays all pain, relieves wind, re- gulates the bowels, and is the best known remedy for dysentery and diarrhoea, whether arising from 2 ething or other causes. Mrs Winslow's Soothing Syrup is sold by Medicine dealers everywhere at Is lid per bottle.- Manufactured in New York, and at 493 Oxford-Street London 7225

LOCAL INTELLIGENCE. THE PLYMOUTH AND ABERDARE IRON COMPANY.—In the Bankruptcy Court, on Tuesday, Mr. Phipson Beale applied to Mr. Registrar Brougham for the confirmation of certain resolutions which have been come to under the failure of Messrs Fothergill and Hankey, who carried on business in the City of London and at the Plymouth and Aberdare Iron Works. The main object of the resolutions was to preserve the business from dis. integration by making it over to a company in which the creditors were to take debentures, the mortgagees to postpone their rights for a certain period. It was hoped that ultimately the whole of the creditors would be paid out out of the profits of the company. His Honour confirmed the resolutions. MRS. HARRY CLIFTON'S ENTERTAINMENTS will com- mence at the Temperance Hall, Merthyr, on Wednes- day evening next, and be continued each evening during the remainder of the week. The company consist of not less than six eminent artistes, and the programme is so arranged that each artiste will be able to appear in his characteristic Miss Fanny Edwards (Mrs. Harry Clifton) possesses talent as a vocalist and actress of the first order, and if the company forming her troupe are equal to those who accompanied her late bus- band, we can entertain no doubt but that their songs, character illustrations, and operettas, will delight the audiences who may attend their entertainments. The public press speak in the highest praise of this talented company. BULLOCK'S ROYAL MARIONETTES. — The greatest nightly attraction of the week has undoubtedly been the marionette performances at the Drill Hall, where crowds have attended on each evening-the throng being so great on one or two occasions that, although the Drill Hall is so large, many were unable to gain admis- sion. The extraordinary manner in which these little figures are managed, and the strong resemblance they have on the stage to living aotors, are really marvellous, and show with what skill and ingenuity mechanical appliances have been so directed as to produce such astcnishing results. The dresses, stage decorations, and the general get-up, especially the transformation scene in the pantomime, do great credit to the enterprising proprietor, who furnishes an entertainment which the aged as well as the young may appreciate, and which of its kind is unequalled in the United Kingdom. CHRISTMAS WITH THE DEAF AND DUMB In accor. dance with his annual custom, Mr. Rowland, the deal mute missionary, in order to provide a free tea for his afflicted brethren of Merthyr, Aberdare, and vicinity, made an appeal to Mr. Thomas Williams, of Goitre, who generously responded by a handsome donation, which not only provided the wherewithal for tea, but also for a good Christmas dinner to some of the deaf mutes who could not very well afford to pay. The tea took place on Christmas-day in the schoolroom belonging to Horeb Chapel, and thirty-one member* of Mr. Rowland's flock, including a few friends (all deaf and dumb) from Swansea, Cardiff, and other places, assembled. The room had been tastefully decorated for the occasion by the Rev. J. Bowen, pastor of Horeb, and local secretary to the Mission, assisted by his friends. When it is considered what long distances some of these people had come in order to spend Christ- mas with their fiiends, who can converse freely with them, it must be a source of pleasure and gratification to all who aid in any way in alleviating the deprivations which they have to endure. All the deaf mutes pre- sent expressed themselves highly gratified with the results of their benefactor's generosity. After tea a lecture was delivered by the missionary upon The Rev. W. Grimshaw his eccentricities, life and labours." CHRISTMAS DAY AT MjERTHTR. —Not less than 2;00Q excellent dinners were supplied to the poor of Merthyr ne' and neighbourhood on Christmas Day, in addition to which, the inmates of the Workhouse had also their accustomed dinner of roast beef and plum pudding, followed by other small luxuries, such as fruit, tobacco,' ale, &c., which they enjoyed most thoroughly. Mr. and Mrs. Meredith must have bad a toilsome week, for they not only provided and cooked for the inmates of their large establishment, but we understand a great portion of the food and puddings for the St. David's dinner was prepared by them. The subscriptions for this latter were collected for the most part by Mr. Rees Thomas, chemist, and to his almost unaided seal is due the fact that so many ppor amongst us were provided with a dinner on Christmas Day. The Rector and several other gentlemen spent the whole of the after. noon in catering for the numerous applicants, and we are sure the pleasure depicted on the countenances of the grateful recipients was an ample reward for so much trouble, and so long an absence from the assembly of family and friends usual on Christmas Day.—The eisteddfodau at the Temperance Hall and Drill Hall were complete successes. The two halls were crowded at each meeting, and the most harmonious and satisfac- tory results followed every competition.—At Pont- morlais Welsh Chapel religious services were held throughout the day. When we state that the Rev. Professor Jones, of Trevecca College, and the Rev. Mr. Saunders, of Swansea, officiated, it will suffice to show that the sermons were, in respect of profundity and eloquence, the work of master minds. NONCONFORMIST BURIALS IN CHURCHYARDS.— Another illustration of the need of amendment in the burial law is reported. A few days since a child who had not been baptised died at Milford, in Surrey, where the only burial ground is the churchyard. The father, who is a member of the Dissenting chapel in the village, applied to the rector of the parish for the interment of the body, but was told that, though a grave might be dug for its reception, the burial service could not bp read over it." The nearest cemetery is four miles away, and the expense of the funeral there would have beeu more than six times as much as in the parish graveyard. Uuder these circumstances application was made to the Rev. J. Marshall, Congregational minister in tjr- neighbouring town of Godalming to perform ceremony. A spot was selected for the grave within- few feet of the wall which separates the churchyard at Milford from the public road. Here on Friday last the body was interred, Mr. Marshall standing just out- side the boundary and conducting the service in the way usual among Nonconformists. Considerable irritation was created in the neighbourhood by the indignity arising from the existing state of the law, but it is needless to say the service was conducted with the simple decorum and solemnity befitting such an occasion. THE INTEGRITY OF DOMESTIC SERVANTS. -One great virtue, however, which, as a class, cannot justly be denied, but which we hear little about, is their integrity. In fact, so common is it that we take but little notice of it; yet it is well worthy of remark. Let us reflect but for a moment on the immense wealth contained in the houses of the aristocratic and wealthy in the metro. polis alone, and how vast a portion of it is more or less in the custody of these girls, and how rarely, in propor- tion to their numbers, are acts of dishonesty perpetrated by them and he must be uncharitable indeed who dtfes not on the score of integrity consider them worthy of high commendation. True, it ma.y possibly be urged that our maid-servants aq a class are not exposed to the terrible privations of the needle-women and others having families dependent on them for their daily bread, and where, as before stated, the feminine instinct to provide for their offspring adds greatly to the temp- tation. That they are well housed, and have more than sufficient wages to provide themselves with clothes, so that with moderate economy they might put yearly something by in the savings-bank, is true enough, as far as it goes. On the other side, however, it should he taken into consideration that of the temptations to Is which the maid-servant is exposed, there is one above all others calculated to have a strong effect on the female mind—that of the means of personal adornment. Apart from the attractions of dress, let us reflect on the thousands', probably millions' worth of jewellery in London alone, more or less in the power of our maid. servants, and then consider how rarely through their means is a single article of it purloined. And even in the comparatively very rare exceptions which take place in the integrity of our female servants, it appears, on the authority of the police, that the girl has been the victim of some plausible thief, who first made her his dupe, and afterwards his accomplice, generally leaving her to bear the punishment of the crime, while he—for the time, at least-esoapes with impunity.— Q<weU'f Fmily Magnum*