Papurau Newydd Cymru

Chwiliwch 15 miliwn o erthyglau papurau newydd Cymru

Cuddio Rhestr Erthyglau

22 erthygl ar y dudalen hon

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AT EIN DARLLENWYR.*

COLOFN Y BEIRDD.

LLINELLAU 0 GLOD

BANTG.

KNGLYN CEIRIOG I'R AFR.

"LONG JOHN."

| " CYMRO RHYDYCHEN."I

Y MABINOGION.

Y "SLIDING-SCALE" YN TYNU…

YOCXG MEN AND liEJJGION.

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ITHE GELLIGAER CHARITY.

POPULAR AMUSEMENTS. !

j DICK'S JDIAR\.

Newyddion
Dyfynnu
Rhannu

j DICK'S JDIAR\. I>aat week I was spending the evening at a friend's house at Aberdare, when a well-known gentleman j offered a prize for the l>est impromptu toast on any subject. This was the successful one: "The press, the pulpit, and petticoats," the three ruling powers j of the day. The first spreads knowledge, the second eprpads morals, and the last spreads considerably. J Humour has it that the author of this "dry" toast, a [ married man, got buttered well when he reached j home. r I Old Rees Lodwick, the tiler, of Aberdare, bad the reputation of being a good humorist in his day. In the year 1853, while drinking at the Traveller's Rett, Penheolgerrig, he was asked by a wag, named Jim, the Archer," Rees, do you know what is the distance I! between us and the moon?" "No," waa the reply, I have left that for you to decide, for I know full well that you are light enough to ascend with the wind to see aud measure the distance." Had old 'I Lodwick lived until to-day, he would find that some of our local and Parliamentary rulers were far more competent than "Jim, the Archer," to" measure the I distance," judging by the quantity of gas they bold. Most people will admit that it is a pleasure to give ear to an articulate and sensible speaker. But to sit and listen to a mouth-clogged jabberer is more than a reasonable being can endure. It was my lot, for a limited time, at a recent political meeting not many miles from Merthyr, to be thus tortured. I would strongly advise that would-lie orator to do as Demos- thenes did. He used to put pebbles in his mouth whilst practising articulation upon the sea shore, but be took them out again when addressing the Athenians The first Local Board of Health for Aberdare (1854) consisted of twelve members, and it is a remarkable fact that only two of the elected and two of the six non-elected are now alive. Elected, Messrs. Richard Fothergill and R. H. Rhys, the present chairman of the Board. Non-elected, Messrs. H. A. Bruce, M.P. (now Lord Aberdare), and Thomas Williams (now of Gwaelodygarth, Merthyr). St. David's Church, Merthyr, has sittings for 1,250 people, but comparatively few avail themselves of that accommodation. The Parish Church can accom- modate 800 worshippers, but their number has dwindled down very considerably indeed. Thereby hangs a tale." It may not,be generally known to the present gene- ration that the first attempt to manufacture iron in the AberdareJValley was made at Cwmaman, over 300 years ago. It was initiated by three brothers, one a I stonemason, the other a blacksmith, and the third a j turner. Tbe enterprise, however, turned out an utter failure, and two of the disappointed speculators left the place to seek more feasible and profitable work elsewhere. The turner, whose name was Pater Hughes, remained there to follow his prior occupa- tion as turner and chairmaker, and exhibited wonder- ful skill ia that useful capacity. It ia said that a I chair of his curious workmanship is still at the resi- dence of Mr. R. H. Rhys. J.P., Llwydcoed. A gentleman who has travelled a good deal through the kingdom stated the other day that the peal of bells of St. El van's Church, Aberdare, is one of the finest he ever heard. I have also a note in my diary, showing that this church, whose tower is 189 feet high, was built in 1850, at a cost of £6,100. To witness the large congregation in this sacred edifice on a Sunday evening would be a rare treat to many of the clergy who preach to more empty seats than full ones. Passing through a rural district in Glamorgan a few days ago, I called at a very primitive but prepossess- ing domicile, with a scrupulously thatched roof and white-washed walls, to ask for a glass of water to quench my growing thirst. At the entrance of the enclosure, which served as an outwork to this minia- ture "castle," I met an old dame, who readilv served me with what I required, and with whom t bad a very interesting conversation iu Welsh, concerning the longevity of some of the rustic toilers. And what is your age!" I ventured to ask. "I don't know, air; mother is inside, she may be able to tell YOIl." I entered the humble and cleanly cottage, and warmly saluted an aged, crook shouldered couple, seated at a round table, who feebly responded. They were the old dame's parents. In reply to my press- ing interrogations, not one of this antiquated trio knew his, her. or each other's age, the old man adding as an explanation, You see, my boy, Sally (alluding to his life partner) and I are going down the HL1 of Time so fast that we cannot see the milestones." The above incident reminds me of an aged pair who had spent the greater part of their lifetime in the same old cot. A stranger, of Pickwick's turn of mind, called in to see them, and asked the old dame how long they had lived there. "Since wo were born," was the prompt reply. What does that man want to know interfered the lord and master," who was very hard of hearing. lie wants to know how long wo have lived in this cottage," answered his better half," shouting in his ear. And what did you tell him V I told him that we have been here since we were born." "Of course we have, and many years before that too," added the old man, with a countenance that silently said, "and you cau't dis- prove it." By the way, people frequently "forget themselves" iu a certain sense, but very seldom do we hear of them living so old as to totally forget their own identity, and cannot find even ona kind friend to inform them who they really are. There aroi two men in this singular predicament not far from Merthyr. They are Itfichelors. Ye maids of single blessedness," "have compassion on them and make a match. At a certain marriage service the officiating parson solemnly observed, "Matches are made in heaven." "VerT likely, but they are often dipped in that other place added a wag in the congregation. He probably meant the place of fire and brimstone. The above remark may he appropriately applied to matches of another sort, namely, those that are made between churches and young students fresh from college. It may be admitted that these matches are made in heaven, but, unfortuuatelv, they are often dipped in that other place." To the wisest and best of men I dedicate this observation. Those for whom it is intended will accept and receive the compliment those for whom it is not will do the same. Some ministers of the Gospel are notably dilatory in the fultilment of their engagements or "cvhoedd- iadau." Let motive you an instance that occurred many years ago, when temperance was not as much in vogue as it is now, and when radwavs were a uoveltv in the land. A minister of the old School was called "Dai Too Late" owing to this failing. On one occasion, having run with all his might and perspired profusely in his effort to catch a tram, he was coolly greeted at the station with the familiar words, Too late train gone long ago." Bitterly disappointed, he resorted to tho nearest "pub" and got uncon- ] sciously drunk. While he was in this deplorable con- dition some playful rascals carried and locked him up in an undertaker's shop. In the middle of the night the hot-headed and thirsty victim of this practical joke partly roused himself from his comatose state. Dis- covering that he was lying in a coffin, and surrounded by several other empty coffins, he cried in despair, Dyma fi yn too laic yma eto mae'r udgorn diweddaf wedi seinio, a phawb wedi codi ond fi

ELECTRIC LIGHTING AT ABERCAXAID.

MONDAY.

MF.KICAI. RKFOHT.

IKON AND STEEL WOKKERS SLIDING-SCALE,

•MR. D. A. THOMAS AND THE…

. Y CONFFRENS.I

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