Merthyr Times and Dowlais Times and Aberdare Echo

STATE v. VOLUNTARY I SCHOOLS. INTERESTING DISCUSSION. At tho Merthyr School Board on Friday, in iituor- dance with previous notice, Mr. David Davies moved: That this Board memorialise Parliament in favour placing all schools in England and Wales receiving public grants under popular control." lie said that the motion a very simple on?, and he believed it would meet tho views of the majority of tho members of that Board. No one who had rvarl tho amounts of the grants paid to denominational school.-j which were governed by no representative body. could find any fault with thu terms uf thy motion. The^e schools wc.*e sometimed under the control of two or three manafjerH, and often they were entirely under th<? .jiiriddiction of one jjerson. Tlii* tho ca-c ho thought the time bad arrival vvhen thev should en- <Tidearour to place- all public schools iu nx-oipt of jrrant* from tho Government under tho control of a iwpularly-elwterl body. From tbo Blue Book for 1S&3 4 he found that the ,-jhoob throughout England n.ud Walts wer« hh follows:—Church of England, 11.P28 number of children on registers 2,27»,609 average attendance, 1,313.073: Weslt-yan, 522 num- her on registers, 173,885; average attendance, 1a5,206. Roman Catholic, 970; number on regis tern, £ 73,7il; ftvera-go attendance, 215,521. Britit-.h, 1,290; number on register; 318,444: average attendance, 262,522. Board, 4,972 nuui'oer on registers, 2,111,563 average attendance, 1,704,130. Receipts from Govern- ment grants Church of England, £ 2,676,769 lis,, or £ 1 5e. T^d. per child. Wesfeyan, £ 200,4^1 Si. 5d., pn-jei (M.OM per child. Roman E312,841 &». 6d., or £1 fr. 2Ad. per child. British, £404,278 15s. M., or £ 1 6, lid. per child. Board, £ 2,546,768 0s. 5d., orjBl 6s. 5jd. pér child. The Board Schools «?imed about lOd. child more than the Church of England School. Ot course he did not wish to draw any comparison. between the education imparted at the Board .School and that given at the denomina- tional Behoof, beeauso by dotnsrso he might be tread- ing on someone's tender corns (laughter).—Mr. Thos. Jenkins It would not Ix: the tirst time for you to do that.—Mr. Da vita, continuing, t-aid be bad no doubt he would be told that these voluntary schooh were partly supported by generous people who con- tributed towards them. However, be found that in England and Wales there were 1.007 voluntary schools which did not receive a single jwony from any contributor*, and were entirely dependent upon Government grants. There were 643 of these schools in which the private contributions did not reach Is. per child per annum, and 1,038 where the private subscriptions exceeded lA., but were under 2s. 6d. per head of tho children attending. He thought tney would easily see that it was high time for these schools, which were receiving auch onormoui Kumd frum public monies, should he placed under the control of a bofly elected by the people, in order that all the schools throughout tho country might be placed upon an equality. It might be argued that tbe.se Kf-honlo would fall very heavy on the rates, but he ven- tured to say that tho managers of these denomina- tional schools bad not very much real regard for the irtt'.Tests of the ratepayers. These managers had a right as ratepayers to seek election upon the School Boards throughout the country, and he did not con- sider it at all fair for these gentlemen to act in a dual capacity and endeavour to do everything in both jx*itioria for the interests of the denominational trhool. Tn these days they were going in for religion* fquaHty, and hu believed they were on tho eve of ob- ta.ning this great boon. Ho would like ako to ;:00 all Fublic dchoois placed on the same footing, and if their "hurch, Catholic, and Wesley an friends desired to hare certain tenets taught to their children, let. them do eo at their own expense, and not at the expense of the ratepayers generally. Ho hoped that this matter would bw taken up strongly by all the School Boards throughout the oounty. Mr. Reca Price said he did nut ulwavs a^rec with Mr. Da vies, but ho was bound to say that upon this rjuestion ho quite acquiesced in all that had been c-aid by the mover of tho motion. IIo would second the motion because he thought it waa unfair for the State tn contribute towards the support of any religion. He thought that public achools should only teach tlmae subjects which were calculated to make the children Frow up good citizens of this great country. Mr. A. Wills taid ho had great pleasure in moving tho previous question, and in doing to ho would eay ho felt very much surprised to hear tho ptatcmenta made by Mr. Davie. If thev only looked at the Imperial aspect of tho question a^ it affwted i taxation, they would see that it would t>e a sorry (hy for the country at laNe if all the schools wero priced under what Mr. Dav ies called popular control. The voluntary tchouis throughout too country had accommodation for 3,659.251 children, or twica the accommodation afforded by the Board Schools. If these voluntary schools were doue away with-and that waa what was meant by popular control—tha taxpayers would havo immediately to provide for 3,600,000 children, which would cont fc40,000,000. If the average attendance was taken as a basi", which was about 25 per cent, less than the number on tho b>x>k.s the cost to the country would be f 28,000,000. In addition to this the State would have to fpend £ 1,684,000 per year in maintaining those schools, and be would like to know whether the Britirh taxpayers wera prepared to pay this enormous sum simply for the purpose of extinguishing voluntary school*. Tho present Government bad fought shy of question because they knew that the vo«ted interest in volun- tarv schools on both sides ot the House of Common* and amongst all political partis. The mover of the motion seemed to be more daring than the leaders of the Government, aud seemed to carry out the words of a popular adage, which said, Foots rush in where angels fear to tc-ad. When the Fro Education Act was passed tho Government treated all scIkk'Is alike, and made no distinction between wets fr I denomination;-). Mr. Daviea was a great Radical, and ^fitting tho shaky condition of the present Government he (Mr. Wills) felt suqmsed that attliis juncture Mr. Davies bhould desire to send up petitions to Varlia- merit. Ferbaps Mr. Davies'x action might be the means of wreckinsr the Government—(laughter}— and indeed he wondered that Jlr. I>avies did not go to 'ardiff to tho recent demonstration and induce Lord Koseticrj' to come up and lecture the members of the Merthyr Schocl Board upon the question of voluntary schools. The Chairman: I am afraid yon are wandering away from the subject.—Mr. Davies Oh he can t help it. Continuing Mr. Wills said he would now come to thl) question of local taxation. Let them look at what had been the result of that Board taking over the Dowlais Board Schools two years ago, which had been brought about by this cry for popular cootrol. At that time the average attendance at the Board Schools in the pariah of Merthyr was 4,&t>8 children, and Htwe-en tho years 1870 arid 1891 these children coxt the ratepayers £ 89,520. The average attendance at the voluntary schools waj 3.629, and these children lwid been educated without costing the ratepayers a single penny, in fact in the 21 years between 1870 and 1391 tike voluntary schools had saved the ratepayers of Merthyr a sum amounting to £ 71,275. Since they had been burdened with the Tloow};¿is Schools—and the«o schools had pro -ed a ^ry hea%-v burden—the rest to the ratepayer* had been greatly increased. It was a t'orry day for the ratepayers when these ^tiools camo iuto the hands of the School Board. T^iirln^ the last threo yearv—from 1891 to 1894—that Board bad come upon the ratta for £27.000. and yet the average attendance at tho Board Schools was otdy 7.402. During the past 24 years—from 1870 to 1894-that Board had taken from the local rates the enormous sum of £ 117,020. During the past threeyears the avcrago attendance at the voluutary schools in the parish of Merthyr had been 1841, and the education of theie children, instead of costing the ratepayers a single farthing, had been a saving to the rates of £ 5,500. So that the facts were these During the past 24 years the Board SehooLs had cost the rate- payers £ 76,775, and yet the School Board, after having taken their proportion of the half-crowu rate—the School Board rite for the past year being h. lid. iu the £ — with an outstanding debt of was anxious to incur the increat«ed burden of maintaining the \o!unt»ry schools and placing more i rates upon the shoulders of thr alreadv overburdened ratepayers. Mr. r)-.1\îd Da\ies bad 1"-en wise in his jreneration, for some few yrars ago 1"1 had -old his property, and he api^arcrl to liavo no thouglit for the misery caused to the working classes by h.tving their rents raised 2s. or 4s. a moiitii in con«e<jueneo of the heavy School Board ite. Tt'Mr. Dan>-> t-ou!d ha\e his wish the St. Da a id's, T'cntre'^di. and the Roman Catholic School- would bo ahvlished, and the rate- i>aycra would ha'.e to pro\ido a^ camrnodation for l.f?00 children. which would mean au immediate e\- i penditure of £In,r)i)O, besides the cost of maintaining the schools afterwards, and at prc-cnt the Board had to come upon the rates for each child 13 the amount! of JM õ". At present that Board had as much as they could do to mind their own business without interfer- ing with people who maintained the volunt-ary schools out of their own pockets, and paid their fair share of ) < tho School Board rates a8 well. Mr. Davirs had referred to the managers of voluntary schools act- ing in a. dual capacity, but ho (Mr. Wills) claimed tho right as a ratepayer to sit upon that Board in the interests of those who bad to find the rates. Did Mr. Davies want to go back to the dayB prior to tho Cathclic emancipation and deprive all Catholics of a vote or seat upon elected bodies: Did Mr. Davies t dasire to exclude from the School Board all men who a] I n sn happened tu '*> Catholic*, Churchmen, or WesleyM" ? t "bintary .^hoo'o could be conducted economically, I b-cau e the iuhu.v," is were to a larje ext-Out speudinjr J < their own money, and did not "t in tftesame estrara- gant manner as School Boards often did with public money. 1..f the voluntary schyols were thrown on the rates it would mean increased rents for the working classes, and the wives and families of the working men would have to suffer. The children would tJ6 (rent to school with empty etomaehe because wk- renting landloi-ds would raise the rentP to meet the heavy rates. The votuntary schools had saved the ratepayers an enormous amount of money, and he was surprised that Mr. Davies should bring this matter on at the eve A an election. But he (Mr. Wills) tvel- corned the motion at this juncture, because he Ijtlieved that the next School Board would go in for saving the ratepayers' pockets. During the time J he had sat upon the Board he had received tho great- est courtesy from every memlter with the exception of Mr. David Davies. He had nevt-r intr*xiuced a single motion which could bo regarded as detrimental to tho Board Schools or to the bust interests of tho parish. If he had dififered in denominational matters from the other member?, he had to the very 'wst of his ability endeavoured to keep down the expenditure, and at the pame time maintain the efficiency of the schools. He could look i>ack with satisfaction to the time he had spent on tho Board, and he hoped to como biick after the forthcoming election to ",it amongst them for another term of three yea re. R-ev. R. S. Williajns, in supporting the motion, said ha knew of caws where landowners who were interested iu voluntary schools absolutely refused to sell or lease any land for building a Board School. The advocates of these voluntary schools were now waiting to get a Government in ofBco which suit*si their views, and the Hiveral schemes, such as those propounded by Cardinal Vaughan and the Bishop of London, would be brought forward for the purj>ose of getting more money from the State for the mainteu- ance of these schools. One scheme was to get the State to pay the salarie-a of all the staff, so that noth- ing would I* asked for out of local rates, but he thought that it was too late in tho day to talk about this sort of thing. He believed that all in receipt of aid from the public purse shonld be at once placed directly under popular" control. A good deal had been said by Mr. Wills alxmt the cast to private subscribers for these denominational schools, but it was a fact that at various times large grants had been gi\en hI. the State towards wilding such schools. Mr. Wills had expressed a hope to come back to that Board after the next election, Rud ho (\rr. Williams) hopMl that a good many more of them would also j come back to keep Mr. Wills company, because they were all fond of hiui (laughter). Mr. Gray supported the amendment, and said it was a fact which no one could deny, and which was verified beyond a doubt by the figure* given in the last, triennial report of that Board that the taking over of the Dowlais Schools had caused a \ery great increase in the rates. The ratcpayerf ought to feel thankful that there were people public spirited enough to pay money out of their own iwckets,aa they undoubtedly did, tosupport thesoechoolsthroughoutthecountry. In a case where there waa any voluntary echool in a parish, he quite believed that a School Board should too formed, so that the peoplo rnicrht choose the school for their children. But even in Merthyr a large nun- ber of parents pVeferred seuding their children to the voluntary schools, and they haa a perfect right to do so. If the parents were prevented from making their choice and were compelled to tend their children to one particular school, it would be a very unjust t'tate of things. He represented a company which paid a very large amount in rates, and be was pleased to say that the working classy of the parish were waking up to the fact that thesocalled frao education did not give their children free education at all, l>tcause they had to i*iy dearly for it iu high rates. Ho hoped t-hat at the forthcoming election the electors would show what thoy thought on these matters. Rev. D. C. Edwards said ho should vector tho ruotiou n,s a general principle, although he did not altojjether agree with the nrguments which had t>eea used by t-ho mover. There was u great deal to l>e -aid 011 both sides, and ha questioned the advisability of bringing the matter forward at too present time. He thuughtthev should endeavour to adhere to the compromise inaile in Mr. Foreter's Act for the preseut at any rate, but as a general principle to be worked out in future years ho must support- the motion. He would not like to see any iujus-tice done to the volun- tary schools, or any unfair treatment meted out to those who bad carried ou public education before the Hoard Schools came into existence. At any rate lie did r.ot belie\e in rousing fleepiugdogs and stirring up old prejudices. The people wero beginning to regard the Free Education Act as a bit of a farce, but lie should like those who complained to bear in mind that the Act was passed by n Tory Government, so that if th"y intruded to ^sit the authors of the measure with any punishment, they might remember the right party to ieeei\ e the chastisement. Mr. C. IT. Jtti lies said ho had determined, aft»r flue consideration, not to vote at all on the question. However, ho would say that ho thought it a f,-rt!a t hardship that in many parishes throughout England and Wales tb"re was no place for the children to go, except to a national school, so that in these cafes no boy or girl could become a pupil teacher without !*4ongin«/ to the Church of England. He certainly thougtit that there should lie an unsectarian school in every parish throughout tho country.—Mr. Gray x ngrree with you, but that is a very different matter.— Mr. James, continuing, said that iu Brccoushire the hardship he alluded to was felt, very keenly. If the motion had simply advocated the estahli-'buient of ft non-M-ftarian school in every parish, he would mast certainly have supported it. The Chairman, in supporting the motion, said hy was strongly in favour of religious equality, hot he had no ill-feeling against any member of the Church of England, Roman Catholic, Wesleyan, or any other denominations. Mr. Wills had said a good deal aixrjt the great increase rn taxation and School Board raten which would take place if the voluntary schools came nnder the Uirisdiction of the School Board. Mr. Wills had also alleged that the Merthyr School Board was very extravagant in spending public money, but he (the chairman) was the oldest member of that Board, and be felt proud of the work which they had accomplished. He and others had been very much abnse<i iu connection with the half-crown rate, but he most emphatically denied the statement made by Mr. Wills that the School Board rate Tva3 Is. lid. in the £ .—Mr. Wills Very well. then. I can prove it.- The Chairman said be 'I'. ould not argue the question now but he would bay that the Board bad never even expended Is. 4d. in the £ in educating the children, It had often been said that the ratepayers suffered by the taking over of the Dowlais Scnoolx, but before these Fchooh came into their haudathe Dowlais work- men had to contribute towards their support, in addition to paying their share to tho School Board ratre. so that these workmen gained by the taking over of the schools, because toey only had to pay through one channel for the education of their chil- dren instead of making two payments as formerly, With regard to the cost to bo entailed by tho rate- payers in Drovidiug schools in the place of the volun- tary schools he would dtaw the attention of the Board to the fact that a British School was erected on the Abertnorlara Tip, and maintained there for years, However, when the School Board came into existence, the managers of that school handed the building ov er to the Board without the transaction costing the rate- payers a single penny. Let the of the voluntary schools do the same thing, and theu they emld go on hand in hand together, and educate the children of the country in schools which were placed under the jiopular control of the ratepayers. The Board then divided as follows — For tho motion: The Chairman, Revs. R. S. Williams, James Williams, I). C. Edwards, Messrs. David Davies. Isaac Edwards and Rees Trice (?). Against: Messrs. V. A. Wills, Thomas Jenkins, j and H. A. Gray (3). Mr. C. H. James remained neutral, and the motion was carried.

MERTHYR MAGISTRATES. Business at the Merthyr Police-court was at a standstill for a very considerable time on Monday in consequence of the non-arrival of the magistrates in tho morning. The only justice who arrived in time j was Mr. Chariee Henry James, and as he could not try all eases, much time was wasted. Mr. North, J the stipendiary, ha\ing last his train, was unable to appear until the afternoon. Dr. Wcbrter was went for, but could not come, having l>een summoned to attend a brother magistrate, at Dowlai*, but even- tually Mr. W. Mo.pn the rant, was iind the Im^rnesS was pincecded with.

KAMAVAYMEX AND GOOD FRIDAY. j The amalgamated railway servants of tlie district have decided to approach both the mine owners and ) the Min^r-' Association v\"ith the object of getting ay abstention from all work of the collieries on Good Friday. Tt is one of two holidays of the year on which railwaymen can all meet together, as other workmen can do every week. When the pits are kept going a great number of railwaymen are kept ou duty, and deprived of the much-valucd privileges of Good Friday.

ABSENTEE JURYMEN AT THE ASSIZES. 0n Saturday altbruocu a number of juryaien failed o respead to their namss at the Glamorganshire k. z-s, and w-erehned jES each. Among them were he following local pmtlemen Robert Snape, a^Pnt, Jowlais, and Thomas John Joit's, retired grocer, Lberdare, I

TREDEGAR 40 YEARS AGO. < In looking over an old directory published some 4-0 years ag>3 I was unich interested in reading the chronicler's account of Tredegar asitexisted during that pern>d. The facts recorded therein serve to illustrate chronicler's account of Tredegar asitexisted during that pern>d. The facts recorded therein serve to illustrate | the rapid progress the Urwri has made since that time. We are told that Tredecar waa then a market town of modem date," and that it was only withiu a comparatively few yearw that Trede?ar had Resumed the regular features of a town, and which importance has !>een obtained from the immense ironworks of Sirhowy, and those of the Tred'-gar Iron Comiiany, under the management of R. P. Davis, Esq., of Bedwellty House, which, together with the collieries, furnish a great number of the inhabitants with employment." We are further told that the public | schools organised by the irtfn com))anit)a are of a. very superior description and that a peculiar feature in connection with the Tredegar Iron Company's school is that as vacancies occur in their works, the prefer- ence is jp'ven to thaso educated in their schools. The mpulation of the town is put at 8,305. At tho present day it is more than double that number. The schools of the period were tho companies schools at both Tredegar and Sirhowy. The master of the former was Frederick Serjent, and of tho latter James Green, There was no railway at the time, but we arc told by the chronicler that the prorxjsed new line of tho Abergavenr, Brynmawr, and Merthyr Railway will come close by here, opet1 ing up a speedier facility for travelling cither east or west. The mode of travel- liny was very primitive compared with the excellent facilities which we now enjoy. A mail-cart ran from tho Talbot to Brynmawr, Nantyglo, and Blaiua ever.- morning at eight. A mail-cart also ran to Ebbw Valo every morning from tho eamo place. Carriers ran to Abergavenny andMerthyraeveraltimesaweek, Then there waa the romantic old coach known ae tho Roval Mail," which ran through the town from Mertbyr to A'wrgavenny daily, and Thomas' omnibus which ran to Brvnmawr and Merthyr also Morgan's omnibus and Richmond's omnibus which ran to Merthyr. The newspaper press of the period was very scanty indeed compared with the many largo and cheap newspapers now found at our tables. The principal paper at Tredegar was the Hertford Timrs, for which Jonn Crosswefi, Morgan-street, was agent. Then there was the St<7r of Ovynt, price 4d., ana the Cardiff Ti-me8, price 2d. An advertisement of one of the pa;)cra staged that no sooner was the stamp duty abolished than an increased demand was felt for newspaper literature." To meet the demand, the cheap press has gradually extended itself all over the country, until at length it has become one of the j great facts of the age. The tendency of things point to tho conclusion that newspapers must adapt them- selves to the practical requirements of tie times— economy in time and money, withont depreciation in value or utility. A paper called the Me-rthvr Tc!ij- I frrtiph, now defunct, was also circulated in the neigh- bourbood. It was published by Mr. I'eter Williams, High-street, Merthyr. A description of the tnwn clock would not be out place for, according to the chronicler, it was a use- rul addition to the ornaments of the town. It was erected in 1836. The pillar in of cast iron, ornamented with j»rou}» ef figures, and hearing the following in- scription Erected fiom the proceeds of a bazaar promoted by the late Mrs. R. P. Daviss. Th« oanks were a branch of the West of England and South Walra District Bank, of which Mr. O. Harrhy was manager, and the Savings' Bank at the Town llall, of which Mr. F. Serjent was the actuary. The places of worship of the period consisted of a braueh of the Church of England, two Baptist, two Inde- pendent, two Cahinistie, and four WesJej-an Churches. There was also a Roman Catholic Church, and tho Latter Day Saints worshipped in Mount* etreet.

MONTHLY MEETING AT TREDEGAR. The monthly meeting of the Calvinistic Methodists | of Monmouthshire was held at Park-place Chapel, Tredegar, on Thursday, under the presidency of Mr. R- Morgan, IVntnewynrdd.— Mr. Benjamin Wil- liaros submitted a rcj>oi-t of the state of the church at ( Park-placo, which was highly gratifying.—The report was supplemented by the nev, D. M. Rees, and the Rev. J. Pugh (Cardiff), who was the pioneer of this chmth, gave au interesting resume of its pro- gress s-inc« its fornvatiou. On the motion of the Rev. Aaron Davies, Pontlottyn, the heartfelt, pleasure of the meeting was expressed at the flourishing state of the church.—On the request of tho Rev. C'eitho I>a vies, pennission was given to renew a note for j £ 200 on Jvazareth Churth, Abercarn. It was also statetl tliat £ 50 of the chapel debt, through the f generosity of a certain gentleman, had Ix^en recently paid, and the note was destroyed. — Messr*. Watkins (CarclifF), Davies (Blaina), and (Six Bells) were reported eligible for ordination at the next asso- eiation. Evangelist S;nit!i (Abertarn) .was received into the monthly meeting. On the motion of the Rev. J. Evans (Al<eream), neconded by the Rev. Aaron Davies, and supported by the Rev. T. Wiiliams (Aliertillery), and Mr. R. W. Jones, B.A. (Pengam), | it Wi:! decided to ieque.it the association to adopt some scheme to meet the evangelists connected with the Forward Movement, with a view of seeuringtheir recognition a» fully ordained ministers.—Mr. Roger W. Jottf*, B.A., called the attention of tho meeting to the need of changing the pertcmnc' of tho various cornmittetF. Thj mcmljers of these committes had not lx-en chancred for vears, and he | thouglit that tho iufusiou of now "blood into their constitution would enhance interest in the work. This was seconded and agreed to. It was decided to hold the next monthly meeting at Rock, Blackwood, on I February 14th next.—A vote of condolence was passed with the Rev. Aldermau Aaron Davies, Pout- lottyn, on the death of his wife.—The following deacons recently elected at Bargoed Church were j esatniutd by the Rev. D. Roberts (Garnvach), aud were received as members of the monthly meeting j Mestr?. Thomas Joues, M'illiam Lewis, and David Harris (Gilvach).—It was announced that the church I at Gam vach had paid £ 50 of the chapel debt.—On i the request of Mr. S. N. Jones, J.P., Abertillerv, permission was given to change two notes for £ 100 each on the church at Six Bells.—Mr. Benjamin Wil- liams, county treasurer for the Forward Movement, Bubmitted a^ report of the subscriptions received towards the Forward Movement. On the suggestion of Mr. S. X Jones, J.P., it was decided to issue circulars to till the churches on the subject.—Permis- s;ou was given the Blaiua Church to inaugurate a new cause and also to erect a house in connection with the church.—The following delegates were elected to represent the couuty at the ne*t association to be held in Pembrokeshire:—Rev. D. M. Rees (Tredegar), Rev. D. L. Jenkins (Newbridge), Mr. Beniamin Williams (Tredegar), and Mr. James Miles (Blat-n- ayon).—The routine business was followed by a discuaifion on How best to conduct Church Meet- in £ 3j>rofitab]y," introduced by the Rev. D. M. Rees

DISTRESS AT TREDEGAR. j Whät with the severity of the weather and slack* ness of local trade there is a vast amount of distress at Tredegar. At the last meeting of the Bed well tv Board of Guardians the Master reported that there were 54 able-bodied men in the Workhouse, the majority of whom l>elou{jed to Tredegar. After tome discussion the Board decided to discharge the whole of thy men in question, and subsequently ZO cf them appeared before the Guardians ana in reply to ques- tions, etated that they would be only too glad to work if they could get It. They were informed by the chairman that work would 1XJ found by the District ConnHl for a portion of them, and the remainder | would be employed in breaking stones at the Work- house.—The unfortuuato men were very thankful for the opportunity thus afforded them. • .i »

44 THE TIP GIRL." Sotuo veal's ago, when "Spinther," the well-known Bar >tist minister of Llandudno, waaenteringthe village of Rhymnev, on a dreary winter's eve, in coinpanj' with the Rev. Charles Davies, he was witness of a scene which inspired the following pathetic poem, aud which we feel sure will bo perused with interest by our readers:— In Rhymney, on a winters eve, Through blinding sleet and hail, The workmen wended to their homes By moonlight dim aud pale. A tip girl from her work pasired by, Lonely and v et was the, Plaintively singing to herself Her doleful misery Her piteous strain disturbed tny heart, This weird and dismal sound Qlr I'm the poorest, loneliest lass On God's earth ever foaud Her humble nJien proved this to 1). Her lot, and not her choice Deep sorrow qui, ered in her song. And tears were iu her voice. Unconsciously she breathed a sigh, Her heart was in the sound 0 I'm the poorest, loneliest lass On God's earth ever found Ye maids of Cymrn, who arc blessed With parents' care and lore, Who lirll and movn in fenr+une's ?mile:, And H'ju?h!ne from above O fehed a tear of pity when You hear the mournful sound Of this, the paorofcf1, lorfsliett 1*3.- On God's earth ever found

1 THE DOWLAIS LIBEL CASE. ¡ At the Glamorganshire Assizes on Wednesday. before Mr. Justice Vaughan Williams, Richard Williams surrendered to his bail and pleaded not ffuilty" to having "unlawfully ana maliciously written and published at Merthyr T}*dfil on the 6th of January a certain defamatory libel of and concerning January a certain defamatory libel of and concerning one Evan George, with intent to injure him, well knowing the same to be false." The details of the case were published by us when it was heard before the Merthyr Tydfil Petty Sessions. Mr. Allen Upward (instructed by Mr. D. W. Jones), appeared for the prosecution, and Mr. Benson (instructed by Mr. Beddoe), for the defendant. Mr. Upward described t' ease as a simple one, arising out of ) family quarrel. Defendant was I tbe brothut"-iu-. t the prosecutor, and the quarrel originated in dei iant's feeling that undue prefer- ence bad been unfairly gained by prosecutor in the distribution of his mother's furniture, bbc having decided to close her shop, divide her furniture, and live with hor friends alternatively. On the 15th and 16th of December two postcards were received by Srosecutor in tho handwriting, prosecutor believed, of efendant's eon, a youth of about 16 or 17. Defend- ant's son was in the habit of transacting his business and doing all his writing, and his Lordship would allow him to tell the jury that under those eircum- stances defendant was tho true author and publisher of the libel?. His lordship after a short consultation called defendant up to him, and was giving him advice, when Williams denied he had any knowledge of tho letters, and w hen i t was put to him that he bad pleaded guilty, lie said he had been under a misapprehension. At his lordship's suggestion he was advised to have a consultation with his counsel and in the result he said, I thank your lordship'for vonr very kind and good advice. I will act up to it all. Thank you, my lord. J Defendant was then formally bound over, Subsequently Mr. Upward applied to his lordship for an order that the costs of the prosecution should be paid by tho treasurer of the county.—His lordship declined to make an order, the costs therefore of the prosecution will have to be borne by the prosecutor. —— ■; DOWLAIS WOUNDING CASE. At the Glamorganshire Assizes on Friday, hefore Mr. Justice Vaughan Williams, John Brian, a youth, was indicted for wounding and also for assaulting Mary Millighan at Dowlais on the 19th January. Mr. Kelly prosecuted.—It transpired that the injuries were inflicted with a poker in a Saturday night row. Windows were alleged to ha.\e been broken by the families of prisoner and prosecutrix, and the quarrel was due to interference by Mrs. Millighan's husband in a fight that Brian was engaged in on Christmas nijfht.—Prosecutrix, her husband, and a youth named Linaghan swore that prisoner bad struck prosecutrix with a weapon resembling the poker produced.- Prisoner stated that he was the aggrieved party, and that on going out of his house to remonstrate with prosecutrix, who was throwing stones through the windows, she aimed a stone at him, and he simply pushed her down. An amusing incident then occurred, for the foreman of the jury, announcing his verdict, said "Guilty." Objection was raised by several jurors immediately, and the foreman acknovv- lesdged he had made a slip, for the jury was unani- mous in finding prisoner not guilty,—-Prisoner was discharged.

FONI) OF BEEF. Nicholas Cohill was charged at the Merthyr Polite- ] conrt, on Monday with stealing beef, the property of Stephen Thomas, on February 2nd.—Prosecutor said he was a butcher at Pontmorlaix. Tho beef was hang- ing outside his shop, and was worth 25s. From what a lit tle girl told him he gave iuformation to tho police. { —Charles Queen, Parrot Inn, Ynysgau, said that on the sauie evening defendant came into his house. The gas was turned out in the passage, and witness went aud lit it. He then saw the prisoner with a leg of lieef, and he ordered It in out, and prisoner obeyed.- Richard Williams, a little boy, testified to seeing prisoner going from the direction of Mr. Thomas' shop with a piece of bed over his shoulder.—Mary Ann Kelly, (11). Brewery-street, Merthyr, said she saw a luan tako the piece of beef off a hook outside prow'cutoi'a f-hop. -P.O. Morris said he met prisoner in Beth'^a-street, and asked him where he got the beef. The reply was that he picked it up. Thinking this unsatisfactory witness arrested him.Prisoner said he picked it up, and called Margaret Dacey to corroborate this«.—Ellen Burke and Mary Christopher gave evidence for the defence.—Mr. James (to prisoner) You must take your trial at the Quarter Sessions. — Prisoner That's justice that is, I expect I'll have fair play where I am going. I won't get it here.Prisoner was then committed for trial.

THE THOMASTOWN BURGLARY. llcnry Williams (19), collier, and Frank James (15), collier, were charged, at the Glamorganshire Assizes, before His Honour Judge Chalmers, on Saturday, with feloniously and burglariously breaking and entering the dwellitig-ho;ise of Thomas Jones and stealing therefrom 12 cakes, a bottle of sweets, jam saudwichp, and ricc cakes, on the 5th of Jauuary. Mr. St. John Williams prosecuted.—James pleaded guilty, and Williams not guilty, the latter, after hearing the evidence, which was of a contradictory character, I)c,iiig discharged. A relative of James then came forward and said that his mind was defi- cient, and that he was unable to understand the meaning of the questions which had been put to him respiting the charge.—Tlie Judge, in sentencing him to one month'd imprisonment with hard labour, said j that ho would see that he did not buffer punishment until ho ba.d been examined by the prison doctor, who would report to him on the matter.

A STORM IX AN EGGSHELL. ft'- :es Jones was summoned at the Merthyr Police- court on Monday for assaulting James Jones.—Mr. Beddoo defended, aud there waa a. cross-summons.— PrCEecutor said that defendant accosted him on the road, and threatened to bit him down. He pulled witness back several times, and followed him for a, long way.—Mr. Beddoe: Are you a little thin- skinned If—Witness I can take a'joke.—Mr. Beddoe afterwardu cross-examined witness, and elicited the fact that he bad summoned defendant for insulting and threatening, while tho summons was made out for assault, aud submitted that defendant was clearly out of court on his own statement. He described the affair as Ices than a storm in a tea cup; it was a storm in an eggshell (laughter).—By the Bench Defendant shook him by the coat, and held a stick up to his face.—Further cross-examined He did not know that he was trespassing on defendant's field.- George Taylor wan also called, and ultimately both summonses were dismissed.

ROBBERY WITH VIOLENCE AT TROEDYRHIW. On Saturday, at the Glamorganshire Assizes, •Tonkin Lewis (13), collier, and "Robert Horton (18), collier, wore indicted for feionionsly as-vaulting and robbing Jonathan Davies, and stealing from his person a watch, pur-e, box of matches, and 13s., at j Merthyr, on the 25th November. The case for the piosecution submitted by Mr. S. H. Kelly, was that prisoners met prosecutor at Merthyr, and went on to Trocdyrhiw. They had some beer there for which proseeut6r paid but on the way back a quarrel ensued, in tho course of which prosecutor was knocked down. Then it would seem as if by pre- arrangement both prisoners set upon him, taking his property, and at tho same time nsing considerable violuuee towards hitn. Evidence having been given, Lewis was found (pilty, but a verdict of not guilty was returned against Horton. Lewis was sent to prison for six months with hard labour, Horton being discharged.

MR. LEWIS MORRIS AND KILSANOS." The author of tho Epic of Hades," who has long been spoken of as the successor to Tennyson when tho interregnum of time deemed necessary hasjelapsed, writes respecting "Kilsanos as fo!!owa :— Peubryn. February 7, 1895. Dear Sir,—I thank you for sending me IK IsalloB which I have road with interest. I think it is written ill a good and simple English style, and with a. play of fancy which is very rarely found in English or in Welsh books, reminding 000 of the American Thoican. There is much room for the illustration of our Welsh mountain life in the realistic fashion which you have adopted, aud, it Keems to me, with marked success, and I shall be glad to welcome othor works from your pen of a similar character. -Faith- fully yourp. Lewis Moreis. Charles Wilkins, Esq., Merthyr Tydfil. -z.

FATAL ACCIDENT AT PONTLOTTYN. On Sunday, while Zachariah Edwards, of Havards- row, was engaged driving a pumping engine in a lodgoroorc in the shaft of tho Rnitlottyn lSt, he fel l to the bottom of the pit, a distance erf about 100 yards. He was killed injtantaneoujiy. Deceased was a married man, and waa about 27 years of age,

Wfoat: these spoiled hands are caused b,a!hin; Dai*. I Aw eurpijgirt, set MATCHLESS CLEANSER SOAP at ence, Tpray,

THE TREHARRIS TRAGEDY. TRIAL AT THE ASSIZE3, At Glamorgan Assizes on Satnrday niotn'ng David Jonef, collier, 23, was indicted for feloniously kiUing and slaying Daniel Williams, «t Trebairis, on the 10th of November, 1394. Mr. Rhys William* (in- structed by Mr. I). W. Jones, Merthyr) prosecuted, and Mr. Allen Upward (instructed by air. W. Beddoe, Merthyr) defended. In opening the case, Mr. William;; said that prisoner was indicted for a serious offence. He was charged with having caused the death of of one of his fellow men. On the 10th of November there was a quarrel between the prisoner and a man of the name of Morgan Williams, who was a brother of deceased. These two men were gliglitlv-oi-, perhaps, more than ¡ that—under the influence of drink, and after quarrel* ling in tho houso of tho deceased man, Daniel Williams went out into the back to fight. There Morgan Williams and the prisonei had a fight, and Morgan Williams remained in the back while the prisoner came round to the front of the house. While in the front of the house the deceased came out and spoke to him and told him to go away and not to make i IOTV. When he was speaking to him Morgan Williams, the man with whom lie had been fighting, camo round the house, and they be,-an to quarrel and and fight again. Prisoner left for a short space, and came back again, and, as they would hear from John Evans and Griffith Lloyd, ha struck the deceased man, Daniel Williams, on the head with something tha.t he had in his hand, which was a hard substance, and Daniel Williams fell to the ground in a sitting position. Ho was taken to the house, and ou the 20th of November, ten days afterwards, died from injuries, which the doctor would describe to them, and which ho would tell them was the canse of death. Morgan i Williams was the brother of the deceased, and they would have to weigh whether what he said was not in some way prejudiced by his relationship to the de- ceased man, but the other witnesses in the case were not relations of the deceased man or the prisoner, and they would tell the jury what had occurred. Man- slaughter was the unlawful and felonious killing with- out any malice expressed or implied. In tins case the prisoner was not charged with having had any malice beforehand towards the deceased man. When two persons suddenly fought, and one killed the other, that was manslaughter, and that was the charga against the prisoner in this ease. Morgan Williams, Woodland Cottage, Trelvarris, brother of tho deceased, was the first witness called, and described the fight that took place betweca hifu lbs and prisoner, and subsequently between prisoner and deceased. It was a moonlight night. By Mr. Allen Upward: Witness was blind drunk on the day of tho affray. He took his brother's part in tho row. Prisoner* mother was struck in the eye. It was raining during the night. John Evans, repairer, of Woodland Cottages, said ho lived next door but one to the houne of the prisoner. lie rotuemljered the occasion of the affrav. Daniel Williams told prisoner to go homo, and prisoner said he would fight Daniel Williams with ono hand. Morgan Williams then came on, and David Jones strnck Morgan Williams. Prisoner then ran away twenty or thirty yards, and stood still. Morgan Williams followed after him. and Daniel Williams went to bring Morgan Williams back. The two Williamses wero returning, when prisoner followed them to near tho house, and prisoner threw something at them. lie heard the sound of a blow, and saw deceased raise his hand to his head. Prisoner did not say anything. Deceased, after being struck, got into a sitting posture against the wall, and groaned. Prisoner then went back into a field by Williams's house, and threw stones in tho direction where Mor- gan Williams was etandinsr. It was a moonlight night, and he could see what happened. By Mr. Allen Upward lie heard prisoner say One foe one." He did not think that a blow might have been given by Morgan Williams to his brother ) without witness seeing it. Deceased did not in his sight fall on the steps. Re-examined by Mr. Williams As prisoner said One for one," he saw him mako a motion with his hand as if throwing something, and then he heard the noise of a blow, and something fall on the ground. From the time deceased came out of bis house ufltil then he was in witness's sight. If he had fallen, ho must have seen him—but ho did not fall. Griffith Lloyd, EmiynHousf, Quaker's Yard, said that ho lived not far from the house occupied by Daniel Williams. He heard a row and a disturbance. Ho was then in the front room. David Jones wanted to fight with the best man, and Daniel Williams came out. and begged prisoner to go home, and not kick up a row. Morgan Williams came out after that. and David Jones said ho would fight Morgan Williams. Morgan Williams and Daniel Williams were then at the bottom of the steps. Prisoner went towards the wall ancl stooped down. Ujxin rising he made a motion as if of throwing something. By Mr. Rhys Williams He hoard Morgan Williams &ay to prisoner that he would give it to him when he camo back from the field. He fell sideways towards the steps, but ho could not see whether his bead struck, as when he fell his head went out of sight. Dr. Leigh, of Treharris, said that the wound vvhieh he found on the bead of the deceased could havo been caused by a stone or hv a fall. From the position of the wound, however, it was unlikely, though possible, that the wound was caused by a fall. If the wound was caused by a fall the man must have fallen on tho top of his head. Thero was no fracture of the skull, but the post-mortem examination disclosed a clot of blood on the brain and death was due to that. By Mr. Upward The wound may have been caused by a fall or by a blow from a stone. He removed a portion of the clot of blood, but could not rcmovo it all, as it was such a large one. Police-constable Milton Davies deponed to arrestin" prisoner on the 27th of August. Ho had alisconded which accounted for the delay in arresting him. In auswer to the charge he said, I did not do it." This was the case for the prosecution. For the defence Mary Ann William?, widow of the deceased and mother of the prisoner stated that Morgan Williams struck and gavo her a black eye Prisoner then interfered aud the subsequent affray ( took place, the fight being between Morgan Williams and prisoner. Mr. Allen Upward submitted that the deceased commenced the fight in bis mother's defence. He was not guilty of unlawful conduct when he tried to prevent Morgan Williams from abusing his mother. I hat was the way the fight commenced, and as long as the fight was going on, and as long as prisoner was actuated by the first impulse, and did what he did under the provocation he received inside the house, ho had everv excuse in his favour. The fight was between Morgan Williams aud prisoner, and thero was no ill-feeling between Daniel Williams and prisoner on that night. The witnesses outside Morgan Williams had testified to that. If by the purest accident prisoner did strike deceased in aiming at. his brother ho could not be I guilty in a criminal court. Morgan Williams first threw a stone at prisoner and prisoner had no desire to injure the dccpa-icd. He asked the jury to say that the prisoner had acted in self-defence in whatever he had doue-for whatever applied to defence of self applied equally to defence of parent. With reference to the manner in which the injury was inflicted, it might have been caused by deceased falling against the steps. Mr. Rhys Williams having addressed the jury. His Lordship summed up at considerable length. The jury having consulted, found that prisoner was guilty of manslaughter, but the jury were anxious to btrongly recommend the prisoner to the mercy of the court under the circumstances of tho case, the impres- sion on the jury being that the prisoner had no intention of throwing the stone at the man he hit, and that he had received some provocation, and was under considerable excitement at the time. Evidence was given to the effect that prisoner was a quiet and respectable young man, although two years ago he was imprisoned for three months for striking a man with a shovel. He wi?s a married man and had one child. The Judge, in passing sentence, said that there was no doubt that no one in court was more sorrv for the death of deceased than prisoner, and the evidence had gone to show that he had thrown stones wildiv and at several jxople. But an offence of that kind could j not be passed over, and the sentence of tho court would he eight months, with hard labour.

GONE TO JERUSALEM. On Saturday last, Alderman Thomas Williams, J.P., Gwaelodygarth, left Morthyr by the one o'clock train (Taff Vale) for Palestine and the East. A number of friends assembled at the station to see him off. Some days ago a rumour obtained circulation j that some disturbances had occurred in some parts of Palestine, but Mr. Williams, through Cook's agency, telegraphed to Jerusalem, and was informed in reply that the rumour was entirely without foundation. Mr. Williams will be accompanied by Mr. J. E Mills, Aberdare Dyfed, the Welsh bard and other South Wales gentlemen. On Sunday evening se'nuight, the church at Zion, of which Mr. Williams is a deacon, passed a resolution hoping the journey to Palestine would be a bource of pleasure and renewal of health.

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