Merthyr Times and Dowlais Times and Aberdare Echo

Glamorgan County Council. TO THE ELECTORS OF MERTHYR VALE DIVISION. LADIEW ASH GENTLEMEN*, In response to the earnest wishes of the Workmen's Committee who represent the majority of my fellow Klectors I most respectfully offer niywlf as a Candb f!at-e for your suffrages at the forthcoming Election of » County Councillor for this Division. 1 have aH you are aware resided amongst you for a long period. My interests are all identified with the l>iviaion, and I have represented you for many years on each of our Local Councils, and my efforts have always been in the direction of everything tending to "fneMt the district. During my residence of 28 years I claim that you have had every opportunity of judging by mv pas* services that my efforts have been progression with *fiic:e,ney, but on strictly economical giounds, as only upon this and this alone can we expect success. You are, I (tm pure, conscious that our rates arc lucreahing by rapid strides, aud in the administration of the affairs of our county it requires a competent person, well trained and qualified to cope with this increase. The management and regulation of our Police force and Asylums, County Assessment, and more Itnportant still, the conduct of our Roads and Bridges, are all branches of work required to be done by our County Council. The Roads and Bridges are again placed under the control of our County Council, and I consider Ulat CShould 1x3 represented by a person qualified to after your interest in these alone, and see th»(- our district receives its fair share of attention. I claim that I have always been considerate of the "uteresta of my fellow Electors, and that I have at all times gi ven my best attention to any complaints or suggestions that I consider founded on a good basis, and eeeii them righted at the first favourable oppor- tunity, and if you do me the honour of returning me as your Representative, I promise you I will faith- fully and honestly do my utmost to look after your interests in the future as in the past, and therefore venture to solicit vour vote and interest upon day of election. Believe mo, Ladies and Gentlemen, Your obedient Servant, Ynysowcn House, WALTER BELL. Merthyr Yale, February, 1895. (2882

Merthyr Urban District Council Election. ADDRESS OF THANKS. TO THE ELECTORS OF THE TOWN WARD. IjAniKs A;n GENTLEMEN, At the request of several numerous and influential reputations, a* well as a great number of private "tends, I consented to become R candidate for the ^aeaney caused bv the lamented death of Mr. Henry Lewis. Being the largest ratepayer in the Ward, :|nd having been in close contact with the district for period of 34 years, and so being able to watch the development of local affairs, I thought that. I had a 'laim to the seat and wa- qualified to discharge the unties of the post. For those reasons I consented to allow my name to be laid before the electjrs. As .stated in my address, I was in favour of the establishment of a free library, so as to give our young people equal advantages with the youths of other towns, and thus enable them to become Quipped with knowledge for the battle of life." I should also have given my support to all necessary reforms, whilst at the same time exercising strict economy in the expenditure of the Council." It would have been my "endeavour to carry out the work of the Council in a fearless and straightforward banner, and my thoroughly independent position ^v'ould have enabled me to carry out my duties uuin- "uenced by party, sect, or creed." But after further consideration I taw that my business engagements were such that I could not hupe to be able to devote the necessary time to the Jvork of the Council, and therefore I was regretfully forced to the conclusion that I could not conscien- tiously allow myself to be nominated. In my opinion lIo m:\n should seek public dignities unless he has the requisite time for the due discharge of the important duties devolving upon him. I heartily thank all those who have interested them- selves on my Ijehalf. I fully appreciate tlwir kind- ness, and hope that in the future I may have an opportunity of serving ny fellow-townsmen in a I'ublic capacity. I remain, ladies and gentlemen, Your obedient servant, ISAAC SARYIS. Castle Hotel, Merthyr, February 20th, 1895.

Merthyr School Board Election. TO THE RATEPAYERS OF MERTHYR TYDFIL. LAIUK.N ANI> GK-VrXJCMEN", At the request of a number of influential rate- payers, I have decided to seek your vott* again as a Candidate for the School Board. If elected, I hope to endeavour, as I have done in y? past, to promote the highest interest of Free tj* lcation in the Parish, without partiality, and at e 'cast possible cost to the ratepayers. I remain, Your obedient Servant, D. CHARLES EDWARDS. February 14th, 1895. [2899

Merthyr Tydfil School Board Election. TO THE ELECTORS OF MERTHYR TYDFIL. SADIES AXD GENTLEMEN, ( < ask you to once more elect mo a member of the jV'ove Board. It will ljo for you and not for any 'ctiirian Committee to decide how far I am fitted to "11 eucli a post. If elected my only promise is that I will not repre- sent any sect, denomination or party, but that in the 'rue interests of the children, I will, as far as I can, ?uvocate efficient and non-sectarian education at our '-eliool Board. I am, Ladies and Gentlemen, Yours faithfully, C. HENRY JAMES. 8, Court land-terrace, Merthyr Tydfil. [2901

Merthyr School Board Election. TO THE ELECTORS. J'AIMKS AND GENTLEMEN,— I disagree with the past policy of our School '■oard, and, in common with every ratepayer, cotn- P'»i», with, I consider, no little reason, of the extra- x(aSfance and favouritism of the expiring Board. Considering a change imperative, especially if our local taxes are to be reduced, I have consented to seek ■Vour votes. My views are known, and the policy I advocate, I think, is familiar to most of you. My past conduct shall be my recommendation, and confidently apix^al for vour votes as an 1N'1 >FJ\ENDENT anI »FEARLESS CANDIDATE. r remain, your obedient servant, DAN THOMAS. Plymouth Arms Inn, Merthyr, February 19th, 1895. [2906 u"-

Births, flDaniaocs X IDcatbg. DEATH. ASKEK.- Febiuary 20th, at Moriah-street, Morgan- town, Merthyr, Jane, wife of George Tasker, aged 55 years. Funeral on Monday at 2.30 p.m. No wreaths, by request. MARRIAG E. Oil Wednesday, 13th in.it.. at Bedwellty Church, by the Rector, Mr. David Bevan, Lawn Shop, Rhymney, to Miss May Mauud, l'riuee of Wales Inn, Dowlais.

NOTES AND COMMENTS. Ini; Aberystwyth Convention, to be held early in March, will be an important event in the history of Welsh Liberal organisation. Both the Cymru I' ylrl League and the Liberal Federations will then and there cease to exist, and from their ashes will arise the new Plucuix of a fresh organisation, to be 15 called "The Welsh National Federation," The business of the Convention will be to consider, amend, and finally adopt a draft constitution drawn out by the League and the Federations. All existing branches 9 of the League and the federations arc requested to communicate with the secretary pro. tan., Mr. Beriah Gwynfe Evans (sec his letter in another column). It is to be hoped the Convention at Aberystwyth will be it success, that, the representation will be adequate and complete, and that solid, substantial work w ill be done. Liberals and Nationalists of all shades should heartily co-operate to attain this object. Without this co-operation and complete representation the attempt to place the Liberal organisation of Wales 011 a firmer basis will inevitably fail. Glamorganshire has a special reason for sending the full complement of delegates to the Convention. A day will be set apart to discuss the provisions of the Disestablishment Bill. Now we may expect virtual unanimity to prevail with regard to all the provisions save one, that one being the distribution of the tithe fund. In the Bill as it stands, the unit of distribution is the county. The tithe of every county will be paid to the council, and the council will distribute tho fund as secnicth good unto it, having regard to the requirements of the various parishes. A more equitable alternative is to pay the tithe into a national fund, as was done in Ireland, and dole cut the money to the various counties according mainly to population. This is the method by which the teeming thousands of Glamorganshire would receive their due share of the money. and by which the money would go where there is most Jiml of it. At the Aberystwyth Convention the county will have an opportunity ofTmaking its I claims known. The voice of that Convention will carry great weight with the Cabinet,*aa i: will, we hope, represent the collective opinion of Wales on the measure. It may be that Glamorganshire I does not take the interest it ought to take in the allocation-of-tithe question. Inuecd it looks very much as if this were the case. Mr. I). A. Thomas has piped unto us time again, but nobody has danced. No other M.P. (dumb dogs are they, I most of them) has condescended to refer to the subject, no resolutions have been passed by public bodies or meetings. Very well if Glamorganshire I is satisfied with the Bill no other county will complain. j

FORWARD .s-; further remarks in proof of the thesis that trade flourishes under Tory and declines under Liberal Governments are not quite to the point. Our contention is that governments do not a fleet trade to any appreciable degree. Commerce fluctuates continually, no matter what party is in power. Sometimes it has a spell of great pros- perity under Liberals, and sometimes under Tories. Forward gave figures to illustrate the latter, and we gave figures to prove the former. We may be allowed to give just one more table, which will be found very interesting. It shows the average share, per head of population in the United King- dom, in the imports and exports during the decade 1874-83. Be it remembered that the Tories came into office in 1874, and the Liberals in 1880. The Liberals had been in power from 1868 to 1874. Here are the figures £ e. d. 1874 20 110 1375 20 04 1876 19 111 1877 19 6 9 1S78 18 I 6 1879 17 18 3 1810 20 410 1881 19 7 5 1882 20 7 10 1883 20 11 3 1 lit Tories began well, reaping what their prcde- I cess^g gown. But the figures show a steady decree during the whole time they were in offiee, until, in 1879, they had dwindled down to i'17 Hs. 3d. Then the Liberals came in, and there is a vemarkable bound to £ 20 4s. HId, By 1883 tl^ figiirea had reached the mark they were at when the Liberals handed over the reins of governm*nt to the Tories in 1879. We do not say that this prosperity was due to the fact that the Liberals wtre in office. What we point out is a certain d%de in which commerce throve under Liberals auq dropped under Tories. But apparently Forward is at one with us on this matter up to about 1885. Then Mr. Gladstone knuckled under to the H lris\ rebels," and yielded to "Russian aggression in Central Asia." Ever since trade has been going to the dogs, whereas previously the figures show <. steady advance under both Tory and Liberal ryje, and the growing power of England." If IWie Rule is the death-knell of our commerce, we do not -see how auy Tory Govern- ment can save it Vom destruction. Nor is it clear how any goveriiny,nt> Tory or Liberal, can ever rescue us from the^ectg of the so-called Russian aggression." The whole nation is bound to bear the burdens laid upon it by the policy of whatever P^Ay is in power. Next week "Forward promises to prove *hat "trade must of uec^^jty decay under Liberal Governments." If so, the parting wall of ISSI-P must be abandoned. For if Liberalism is of necessity inimical to t'ltùe, it is always and every- where inimical to Vade, hoth hefore the "surrender to rebels \t home and to Hussian aggression in Central Asi, as well as after. We claim to have proved the negative the contrary we have not tried to prove, as it ii not fi contention put forward by us. "Vorward" doubts the accuracy of Progressive a fjgUres about foreigu contracts. This is a point we have a right to touch upon. The figures of .< pr0gre6Sive' were those given by Mr. 1). A._A>onias, M.P., in his Penydarren speech in Oct, 0f jRst vear "Unionist" produced oth^ figures totally different. Which are right, we do not know. Mr. Thomas' figures were coiyjiej from bbm books. A fortnight ago we ask^j "Unionist" to specify the sources of his inforni^joB( but he has not dee .:ed it wise to gratify o< curiosity. At present then we have no alternating to stick to the blue books, Air. 1). A. Thomas, and "Progressive" as against "Inward" and "Unionist." Of course w« are open to conviction.

LAST week we predicted that Mr. Chamberlain would not feel bound to abide by %e letter he wrote the other day about Disestablisl^gnt. We did not think our prediction would be-fultillecl so quickly. In his Friday night's speech t\.g hero of Brummagem consigned that letter to o^cr dark- ness. It was not meant for publication though addressed in reply to a loading article Ua news- paper editor. Does Mr. Chamberlain wr\^c one thing for publication, and another thing for p, jvate use ? His code of honour has ever been all q&stic one. A man of integrity attaches as much vtti"llt, to what he whispers in the ear as to "W'h^c)ie proclaims from the housetop. But such an etliical standard as that is too exalted for Brummag<rili Mr. Chamberlain was pleased to sneer at the vernacular press of Wales. If there is any enthi^j. asm for Home Rule in Wales it must exist, he saj8 in the vernacular press it is not apparent^ the eye of an ordinary Englishman." Such airs oj haughty superiority do not at all become the erst, while leader of the democracy. The vernacular press of Wales is a force with which all politicians must reckon. It represents the opinions and the aspirations of the great majority of the nation. If we were asked where the views of Welshmen are most faithfully mirrored, would we point to the daily press of Cardiff and Swansea? No, but rather to the Tariati, the Baaer, the C'ymro, the Oenedl, the Iferald, aud other organs in the vernacular press. If Mr. ChamberTain could read these journals he would soon find out that Wales believes in Home Rule not only for Ireland, but for all the other nationalities that go to make up the United Kingdom. We were Home Rulers long before Mr. Gladstone. Mr. Chamberlain's speech was a dis- appointment to his friends. It had less than usual of the dialectical smartness characteristic of its author, and mote than usual of the pettifogging smallness and narrowness of vision. Mr. Asquith's rejoinder was a masterpiece. In half-an-hour the Home Secretary demolished the hero of Brum- magem, and covered him with ridicule. His facts were crushing, his logic merciless. When the welcome end of the idle palavering arrived on Monday night the Government had a majority of fourteen. The Opposition would have gone on proposing still furtneramendinents, but the closure, carried with a slender majority of eight, put a stop to their game. The bout of 'talk had lasted long enough j n all conscience. There is a House of Commons as well as a House of Lords problem how to reduce the talk and increase the work.

WHEN this Parliament dissolves South Wales will lose the services of Sir Edward Reed, and North W ales of Mr. William Rathbone. In some respects both men are alike. The two are Euglishmen who have never been able to take kindly to the senti- ment of Welsh nationality. To that extent they have failed to do full justice to the country then- represent in St. Stepheu's. Mr. Rathbone beara an honoured name in a city famous for its many honoured names, a city of world-renowned merchant-princes. In the commercial life of Liverpool the name Hathbone stands second to none. William Rathbone enjoys universal respect for his sturdy integrity and humane philanthropy. In the Avorhl of politics lie occupies a unique position. His cry is not often heard in the streets, but he is one of the small band of men whose opinions carry weight in the highest councils of the nation. He has thrown himself into the serious study of politics with Spartan devotion, and is recognised as an authority on financial, municipal, and temperance questions. He never spared time, trouble, or expense in order to collect data for the thorough study of a subject. A few years ago lie sent, at his own expense, a barrister over to America to report on the licensing laws of the United States and Canada, and that report was published in a volume, which to the tcmperance reformer is a perfect mine of facts and illustrations. He did not come to Wales early enough in life to assimilate our national sentiment, and he looked askance at all recent national movements. In education, however, he'was throughgoiug enough to satisfy the niost ardent patriot. By pen, speech, and purse he did all that in him lay to develop our system of intermediate and higher education. As president of Bangor College he has been a generous benefactor to that institution, and lie has liberally assisted intermediate and technical education in his constituency. His retirement from public life will be a distinct loss to the cause of Welsh educa. tion. But one generation goetli and another cometh, and the old order of M. p, changeth, giving place to new. William Rathbone, the wealthy merchant-prince, will be succeeded in Arfon by a young Oxford Welshman, rejoicing in the plebeian name of William Jones, and with nothing but his oratory and his enthusiastic patriotism and intense nationalism to recommend him to the electors. By what manner of man will Sir Edward Reed be succeeded in Cardiff?

TUE denominational method of fighting the School Board election is veritable aboiniuation of desola- tion. The strength of the. Unseetariau candidates is frittered away on irrelevant trifles, and the real question at issue is not laid before the electors. The Sectarians arc a solid phalanx, working iu perfect harmony, and understanding each other's manoeuvres to a nicety. Their false crv of "economy" is essentially hypocritical and'dis- honest, and covers a Jesuitical design to rcduce the efficiency of the Board Schools, to the end that the competition which the schools of their sects have to eontend with might be lessened. "DigglcisUl" is as rampant now in Merthyr as it was recently in London. The London Unscctarians joined their forces together, aud after a valiant light gave it a castigation from which it will never recover. Here in Merthyr the Unscctarians arc divided among thcmsclvrs, and adopt tactics which arc ridicu- lously ctlctc and inadequate. They should meet the cucmy with a united frout. The cant* belli should 8e explained to the electors. So far this is not done, and it ie feared that the Sectarians will have a majority on the new Board. If the voters I clearly understood what the fight was about, and j if they realised that tho education of the children ¡ "a,s in peril, the Sectarians would be defeated and disgraced on the day of the poll. But as laid before them at present tho electors look npon the contest as a matter between Methodist, Baptist, Congregatioualist, and so on, and it will be no I wonder if they go astray. The greatest interest probably centres round Mr. C. H. James' can tida- ture. By his fellow-sailors on his old ship he has heen made to walk the plank." But he is going tn make a plucky attempt to save his life, and is striking out with all his might for the shore. He is oue of the very beat members of the old Board his address on Monday erening, printed in another column, breathes a true and lofty educational spirit. An authority on the question, the great plank in his platform is efficiency. Ho is the very man to grapple with the champions of the Sectarian schools and to defeat their designs. Therefore it is to be hoped the voters will have the good sense to return him on the new Board. We single him out for mention, not because we wish to cast any reflection on the denominational candi- dates, but because, standing outside the pale as he has been forced to do, he deserves, in a special degree, the encouragement and the support of all who seek to enhance the true cause of education.

IT is to be hoped that all Liberals, in the forth. coming County Council Election, will be true to their colours. This contest is now universally regarded as a political one. Some Tory candidates, however, lack the courage of their convictions, and sail under false flags. They dub themselves independent" candidates, a.nd eftect to disclaim politics. It is a safe rule to lay down that candi- dates of this species are invariably Tories. Once j within the doors of the Council they consistently vote with the party of reaction, with the upholders of sectarian oppression, capitalistic, and alcoholic privileges. An independent candidate, when- ever and wherever met with, is to be looked upon with suspicion. Not a single Libera) vote should be cast except for ciudidHtes who openly a.vow their creed, and whose political record is blameless.

WALKS is creeping on steadily and sui,ely. The latest achievement is the appointment of Dr. John Rhys to the principalship of Jesus College, Oxford. His claims to the headship of the Welsh College were overwhelming. He is the one Cymric scholar of our day who has won European fame. Thou"h he has climbed up very high lie still remains'a Cymro from the crown of his bead to the sole of his foot. He talks English with a brogue fit to blow your head off. If you are a Welshman vou can't ¥ get him to talk anything but Cymraeg, colloquial, idiomatic Welsh, racy of the Cardigan soil. There is no humbug about John Rhys, no Dio-Shon-Dafyddiaeth. All Wales to-day rejoices in the honour conferred upon him by the University of Oxford.

THE address on Christianity and Socialism delivered on Sunday by the Rev. E. Cornwall Jones, and reprinted in another column, deserves thoughtful perusal. In a lucid manner, and with a firm grasp of the real problem, Mr. Jones deals with the most momentous questions of the day. Christianity has not &aid its last word on the relations between capital and labour. No one will have the hardihood to say that the toiler receives a just share of the wealth he produces. He is huddled away in grim, cheerless, and unhealthy hovels, insufficiently clad and meagrely fed, denied the material comforts and the intellectual luxuries of this world, while the privileged few bask in the sunshine of ease and wealth and plenty produced by the bitter sweat of his brow. This cannot be right, and will not be tolerated for ever. It is directly contrary to the spirit of the religion of Jesus. The question is steadily forcing itself on the attention of religious ministers, statesmen, and municipal author ities. It it is to be a vital force, Christianity must address itself to rescue the perishing sons of toil in this world as well as in the world which is to come. A very good way of saving souls is to succour the toiiing, down- trodden masses, to assist them on securing their economic right-s, to give them decent food to eat, comfortable clothes to wear, good books to read, and healthy homes to dwell in.

SPARKS FROM THE ANVIL. n f JoE HAMMERSMITH. I was havinjf a quiet chat with Dai, Jim, and lanto Gocb about the School Board elec\ion the other evening, when Mrs. H. rushed into thfc house, flying a newspaper to the breeze, and looking quite excited, At la^t, she gasped, "I've found out the great secret of it all. \V ho'd ever have thought it ?" We had no idea. what she was referring to, and 60 wo respectfully asktd her to explain herself. She took a seat and uplifted her parable. "You know, gentlemen," she said, "about the discovery of the new gas called argon." Yes, we had heard of it. Argon plays an important part," she proceeded, "in our municipal affairs and local1 polities." You may look flabbergasted, but I shall prove my case to the hilt. There are many things here which we fail to understand, many difficulties which we cannot overcome, nianv problems which we cannot sohp. Argon is the key to the whole mystery. Lend me your ears, and I will tell you wonderful things- Argon is a gas which consti tutes one per cent. of our atmosphere. Hitherto its existence was not known. Jiut Lord Rayleigh, a learned scientist, found it out. Now I want you to note three Characteristics of this gas. "In the first place, argon is confoundedly W.v and "ent. ou can't stir it up iuto action, or make it "Jblo. It is twenty times as dense as hydrogen, vrtn hydrogen is dense enough. Here, gentlemen, | "have our District Council of to-day, and the have* Board of a former ]>eriod. The members must ffreat deal of argon in their constitution. That f li! k1s for t"e "acfcward state of our town, our lack h ILNies. reading-rooms, baths, proper slaughter- That accounts for our badiv l*ived and y lighted thoroughfares, which are a disgrace to ci\ ^\tiou. >i(/\ rkr characteristic of argon, gentkinen, is ttiat u rtiv. tQ coin(,|ne with anything else. It is f.I'Asluggish, apathetic, sulky, and seems to J5e 1 ,«■ ail, and lead a kind of solitary, good- ter-l There' 1 !a-v> h^-e the Liljeral p. > jn t|,e }|Vrtbyr Borough. We Liberals are watte .j K|nioat entirely, I am afraid, of argon. "A thirçl at.feristic is that the molecules of argon, unlise kll other molecules, do not revolve round their ow axjs- Lord Rayl#igh savs they are like cricket balls. d not like billiard balls. What do I find here Ni-ily, I find absence of originality or independence (> taught, a peculiar feature of some members or oui J<Vj jJ0dies. These men have no axi*, no baekwne, ana fci,nj>]y whither they are driven by outMue influences. They have too much argon. All this, we a(!fitted, was very ingenious, but still we were not 'ijyerted. We ventured to ask whether there was m^e argon in our neighbourhood than anywhere eJse. Aivl ^Irs. H., rising to her feet, and turning t0 a J^s5age in the paper she held in her hands, bade us to the following words Professor Roberts-Au^n tabulates that 1,000 cubic feet of argon are passed though the molten metal in the charge of a bessemer^eej converter." There., gentlemen, re.'¡Ijl1lcd the missus, "1 hope that satisfies you. Tha- puts the whole matter beyond question. 1 his neighbour^! jR simply smothered with argon. I !ea\ e you to tft|CUlate how much arcon is thrown into our atmosplj^ and how much of it we inhale, every twenty-four j^urs. The effects are terrible." We diseased the matter jts various aspect" But we saw no remedy exo^ shutting up the bessemers, and where would \(1 and our town be then ? The only practicable method we could think of was to supply our local administrators, and the leaders of tho Liberal rarty, A,,itli argon-pumps, which might rid them of this gas v>{,ich so completely paralyses their ev.ergy, destroys t'u,j{ backbone, and robs them of the power to camThe question arose whether the taps should be u»^e or out, and—. But no mortal pen can adequately dt.scrjbe the con- fusion which followed. Very interesting are the statistic showing ',h8 increase in the drink con?uuwl atM the tobacco smoked now as compared with looi. If ile increase in the non-alcoholic beverages has gone> by leaps and bounds, being 189 per cent. 1 V satisfactory, as most of these beverages by people who formerly drank-something stronger. PeoPie Not so satisfactory, N&i'ti,Remarkable increase in tobacco and te^- ^Hmount of tobacco consumed was 19 ounces pet^ s ifc js now about 26 ounces. Tea has d°u'tied, shows a slight decrease, and cocoa remains 8 ation^ The statistics for Bome encouraging features. £ £ a j5", brandy, ami gin show ade«ej«sandSpan.gjj"^ are giving place to light I r n on the othei hand, has iner»ased from > head to about 50 gallons. Bntis- i tvin^vits, since 1875, are on the decrease. fpole will they had better drink beer than the spirits and the wines sold to the multitude ne abomination, the chief ingredient being vitnol. While the amount of drink c^umrd per headI L i»ir'rr»«ifcpfl Hriiiikc'inie^s has declined. J ho tttOv flagrant form ofalcobolfcm has given place to modera^ drinking. Thirty vears ago drunkenness .was son, thing to boast of. Now U i-; looked upon as ban form. In our dav the alcohol hero is he who can put himself outside the most ]k,uor without getting drunk. Whether an occasional old-fashioned spree, or cor.- tinual dram drinking, is the less pernicious form of alcoholism, I am not competent to decide. It cer- tainly a good thing, however, that vio.ent drunken- ness has gone out of tashion. On an aveiage every one of lift drinks 30 gallons of beer in a twelvemonth. fheavf-rage of spirits is 8 pints. Considering there are so many of ns who never taste a drop of thrse things, there n.u-t be t-omo who drink a darn sight more than 60 gallons of beer in a year, or the R pints of uht!!Ke\. j he souls of some of us are thi.My with a vengeance. 1 wonder what the alchohol statistics of thirty year? hcuce will bo like. With length of day we get knowledge, and by o wervatio i we attain to experience aud wisdom. It is not all at once that we fu!Jv discover the exquisite beauty and usefulness of our lauder-pipes. The recent f:t),ty weather has brought out new glories mtherto unsus;-H'Oted, aud we are prouder than ever of these pipe*. In ordinary wet ■weather, wjen the sweet rain «CS<ifnc^ on- H r°J^' *i'e water is vigorously spurtrd forth at a distance of at couple of feet from the pave- ment. This is an ingenious device to aid us, esjjecially the ladies, in getting wet. When the --now softly falls and covers the earth, these pipes are exceedingly useful. The sua melts the snow on the roof, and the water is deposited on the pavement, producing slush of the most approved sort, the never-failing delight of peuestrians. King I ro.it comes along, and pouuees down on this slush, converting it into a miniature skating-rink, a source of great joy to young and old. Then the bell-man goea round, and bids all householders clear away the snow and the slush in front of their dwell- ings. The pavements are onCf) more clean and passable. Still there is snow on the roofs, which melt# under the action of the sun, and the water thereof trickle-s down on the pavement. King Frost takes hold of it, turns it into a sheet of slip[>ery ice, and leaves it ther-.1, firmlv fixed to the flagstones. This also is a valuable acquisition. See how beautiful the present arrangement is Jt you had pavement conduits to convey the watt-rto the gutter, you would be deprived of the i-ushin- spouts of water on rainy day. of the slush when the snow falls, of the treacherous skating rinks in the midst of the snow, and of the sheets of ice on the cleared pavements. Prom the blessings of civilisation in the highest and most convenient forms, commend me to the local authorities of Merthyr Tydfil. Onr requirements are consulted in every particular.

UNIONIST MEETING AT DOW I, A18. j COL. LEWIS ON SECTARIAN POLITICS. A meeting of the members of the Dowlais Unionist Association was held on Tuesday evening in the Assembly Room of tho Oddfellows'' Ifall. Mr. Thos. Jenkins, J-P., high constable, presided, atid there was a fairly large attendance. Capt. Hotehki.- the Unionist agent for Glamorganshire, having delivered °? i Pr8anisatioii," Col. D. Ree* Lewis said that he had been taunted bv some of tho Radical 1 arty on account of his having taken so long a time to make up his mind on political matters. But theie need be no surprise in that, for until quite recently there was absolutely no politics in the Merthyr xJerough. taking the irord in the «*nse in which ife was generally understood. There was nothing even remotely resembling free discussion of any question ¡ e very thing wassettied by the particular Nonconfonni-it s-et which happened to be in ascendancy at the time. If the Baptists happened to he in -a majority then I they had Baptist politics; the Baptists pulied the strings and governed everybody else in their own raJ*'i^he! Methodists had the majority, then they had Methodist politics; the Methodists swept the strings, and everybody else had to dance to their „ *?? ? so on with the other denominations. 1 oil tics m Merthyr meant the rule of the ehan„l and notning whatever besides. Now, he was one who objected to have ail political authority in the hand of the preacher or the teetotaler he wanted politics to be studied by the whole mass of the people, so that they might form their own opinion on the "Teat questions of the day without being forced °into accepting the opinions of the chapel men, if tho-e opinions were antagonistic to their own judgment. And when he saw politics degraded in the manner he had referred to, was he to be blamed because he like many others, got sick of the whole thing, and be!d a,!?° ..H1 •' rejoiced that the working men of this district were beginning to think for themselves He remembered and would never forget, the historic very Imilding when Mr. (now Sir) William 1 nomas Lewis could not say more than "Mr. Chairman, and of all the meetings he had ever attended in any pa,.t of the country that was one of the most scandalous of any (loud applause). Yet although that meeting was the crowning triumph of Radical roob law, he could not help thinking that it won a couple of hundred votes for the Conservative candidate (hear, hear). That meeting common, ed at seven o clock, and lasted until nearly two o'clock next morning, and the friends of free speech, who only wanted to lay their side of the question before the jieople, steadily refused to yield their place* on the platform to the howling mob, which though it could prevent them from speaking cculd not terrorise tliem from retreating (hear, hear). Many a thoughtful man, noting what had happened that night, must have &lid to himself, "Well, trie Radical case must be ,„r bad one since they have taken such disgraceful methods of silencmg their opponents." Disgraceful though that meeting was undoubtedly, it had, lie (the speaker) firmly believed, done the Constitutionalists a vast amount of good (hear, bear). Coming to present day politics he said he wanted all Unionist workinsr men to discuss political questions with their fellow workers. Discussion could not fail to be bene licinl to both sides. The Radicals had pinned their faith to the destruction of the House of Lords, and the Dis- establishment of the Church but let the Unionist working man ask his Glad-itonian neighbour in what possible way would those proj>osals help them ? W ould the working classes bu placed on a higher social and political footing if the Hou-o of Lords were done uwuy with V And the Dis- establishment of the Church would not put a penny into the pockets of any man in Wales. In fact it would take vast sums of money out of Wales stilli, into England, sums that l>eing now in circulation tended to quit ken industry in the Principalitv. The Radicals could not make any reply to the plain and simple question, "How will the downfall of the House of Lords, or that of the Church, benefit the working men of Britain ?" He trusted that every good L nioni^t would drive that question home (hear hear). He hoped that the working men of Dowlais would not give their votes for any abstract measures which could not possibly do them any good if they were passed to-morrow. Let them rather study their own interests, and vote for that party which was likely to bring about the prosperity of the country (applause). lie did not say that any Government was completely responsible for the prevalence of srood or bad trade. There were sue!, things as bad hS vests, wars abroad, &c matters which no British Government could control: but given fair conditions which party was the most likely" to do good to the trade of this country ? He said the Unionist Partv unhesitatingly (loud applause). Loid Rosebery's two years rule had, he said it deliberately, lost thousands upon thousands of pounds to Dowlais by their timidity or want of foresight in Africa, Had Mr Cecil Rhodes been proprly supported in South Africa tuinga would have tieen infinitely l^tt'-r than they were at present, and 11110 the East African Com- pany been supj>orted as they ought to have been sup- jJorted, we should ere this have been on a fair way to establish direct railway communication between the coast and the interior (cries of Bravo" and cheers). But the halting policy of Lord Rosebery had resulted in a great railway enterprise not having been carried out, and consequently thousands, ay, tens of thousands of pounds had been lost to Dowlais. The opening up of the line to Uganda would have been of inestimable benefit to the people of this country, and the haltine- weakness of Lord Rosebery's Government was responsible for the loss of that benefit. Thero was nothing on earth so disastrous to British trade as a weak government at home, a government whose halt- ing policy undermined the confidence which the name of an Englishman inspired abroad. He trusted that the working men would not forget how British industry and British enterprise in East Africa had Ijeen paralyzed by the very people who were alwav* boasting of the interest which they took in the welfare of the working classes. Let every elector carefully study the position in Africa and vote for that party that was patriotic and fearless enough to maintain the interests of England abroad, whether .our enemies liked it or not (great cheers). The meeting then proceeded to the election of officers for the Dowlais Branch of the Association and Messrs. W. Lintern and H. M. Bradford were appointed respectively to the posts of chairman and secretary. Four representatives of Dowlais and four of Penydarten were chosen to it upon the representa- tive council board, the election in all cases being unanimous. The Chairman said that it was weu known that a good deal of dissatisfaction existed in the tpwn owing to the very serious delay that had taken place in regard to the Dowlais Constitutional Clull. He had to aunounce that the last difficulty had been overcome that day, when the lease was passed by him into the Dowlais Office. The work of fixing up the club building would be carried out as speedily as possible, and so far as he (the speaker) was concerned nothing should be left undone that would tend to the speedy opening of the club. Mr. Herbert C. Lewis proposed, and Captain Hotehkiss seconded, a vote of thanks to the chairman, and this having been carried the proceedings terminated.

MK. BRACE AND THE PLYMOUTH COLLIERS. Sotne misunderstanding has evidently taken place regarding the words used by a Plymouth delegate at K recent conference held at the Globe Inn. The i legate remarked that Mr. Brace had refused to f ?ftree to a separate district being formed in the ^terthyr v alley unless the men were ballotted, and then- decision in favour of such a scheme, and as M i"- Brace seems to have takeu it, that lie was ,vtK)si'd formation of a separate district for the ^thyr alley.

j'u.t i ji,ese foiled handi arr causwl bv Washing 1>; v surp™«l, jret MATCHU^B CLEASSbR ai oUee, I pray. Al| .K* of ww'ert in m v home had « uu U< MAICHLliss CWASSEK W.\I> J Ulc.j.

BY THE WAY. It is ruwoured that Mr. Dan Thomas intends | publishing A new edition of "Brewer's Diotionmy of t Phrase and Fable." A letter wa* received at this office this week addressed as follows —" Editor, Tanta Office, Mer- thyr, near Aberdare." This is a bit off, ell i" This is good old Ab Gwilym's description of the snow Alelin Ne yn malu i ni Blawd o liw blodeu liii. A Mountain Aeh solicitor at a local ball held recently was asked "Do you dance Mr.. "No," replied the limb of the law, it is my duty to make other people dance." And he does it. Some of our contemporaries are cultivating the'gift of prophecy. One of them speaks of dropping a little in mid-Pacific in the month of June, 1893. Still that's not going so very far ahead, after all. A well-^nown tradesman v;hispered to our man about town yesterday Now, don't say a word; bat last night I dreamt that J. W. teat Alfy by 15 votes." The perspiration ran down his face, and our man left. ¡ There is a boy at Aberaman who is partial to term. He drank three pen'orths of that article the other day. and the effect" were tragic. He got a sound thrashing from his mother. That boy evidently mean- to rise in the world. Tiie Pontypridd stipendiary gets £$00 and the clerk JE720 per annum. The Merthyr stipendiary's salary is also -0900, but that uf the clerk to the Merthyr district is JB170 1es. than the remuneration of his confrere in tho Pontypridd stipendiary district. I Mr. Price lectured the members of the Tredegar Chamber of Trade on their lack of punctuality.sayiny ¡ that a Jot of gas was wasted before tb" meeting com- I menced. We dare say there is also mere gas wasted I after the proceedings started. Miss Maggie Moses, the talented young soprano at the Royal Academy of Music, who sang at the Temperance Hall, Aberdare, on Thursday evening, is an Aberdarian. She is a student of Sir..Shakes- peare's, and bids fair to become one of our best Welsh sopranos. sopranos. When an Anglesey schoolmaster Dr. John Rhys used to go every Saturday to the rector of a neigh- bouring parish tu take lessons. One day a farmer asked him if he was going to be a parson. "Xo," replied Rhys, I mean to be something tetter than that." To-day he is principal of Jesus College, Oxford. A speaker at Mr. Charles Henry Jatnes" meeting on Monday night declared that the schoolmasters of old day-, could create more colours on the back of scholars than could be seen iu a lainbuw, and more bumps on their heads than an orflitodo,, phrenologist could define. And all this WtlS due by means of a ruler. J The people of Wales are good friends to the South I Walt' Ed/o, and it was the acme of ingratitude, to say nothing of injustice, on the part of that journal to speak of its patron; as possessing "mora Celtic imagination and zeal—for which they are justly famous—their discretion, regard for truth, or experi- ence of tho world." That is only a genteel way of calling U8 liars, fools, and ignoramuses. I wonder (writes an Aberdare Philistine) who were those two young ladies who were seen keeping up a ■ few hours, patrol in front of a certain house in^M street? They gave au occasional yell sufficient to arouse their supposed admirers from the drowsy sleep that bad unfortunately overcome the young men. j Tired and cold, these ideal teaux left niv loreV street, and hied them away to the comforts of a lintel parlour, from which place they emerged at midnight, Guess in what state. j In Septemter 1851 the Yale of Neath Railway was opened to Aberdare. At thai tittif there wa? a station tetweeii Aberdare and Hirwain, at the spot ] where the railway is crossed by the ntaiu road from Hirwain to Merthyr, known ai Hirwain-road. Thence to Merthyr the pas-angers where driven in a I brake by .John Hobhouse, of Merthyr. Two vears afterwards the Merthyr tunnel, which was then the longest in the kingdom, was ojiened, and the 1jr"t passenger train ran in October. 1253. On the date t the first train ran, a grand breakfast was provided. Politics set-m to have a good hold on some people. The other Sunday night a deacon in a chapel in the Merthyr Valley rose to address (he "GyfeiHach" aftt'r the evening service, and began tdlinq what Judge Vaugbnu Williams thought of Wales, and how backward Wales wa in comparing it with England and Germany, and that must wake up, ur John Jones would be left tehiud. The respected deacon is talked of as a candidate for the forthcoming County Council election. The other day an Aberdare party of weu Id-be toffs, f consisting ef bank clerks, embryo lawyer*, e.. went a-skatiug down ^lount&in Ash way. On the return journey, at Mountain Ash Station, each one had a I third-class ticket, but neverthe less entered a second- class carriage, and insisted on staying there, although the station-master requested them to clear out. The official then took their names aad addresses and undoubtedly would have made it distinctly uncoiu- for the young aristoe-rati, but for the fact that the Aberaman official charged theescess, thereby spoiliug what would be an interesting police-court case. On a dark night about 35 or 40 years ago, a man witli a e-art and a team of horses lost his way nf-ar Sataddan Lake, which was frozen over, the winter being an exceptionally severe one. When morning dawned the man found himself right on the middle of the lake, whence he emerged with the horses and cart safe and sound. The story is told of a man losing his way near Bala Lake, which was then frozen over. ■ After wandering about through the snow for many horn" he at last reached a house. "What wa" that I flat piece of ground I crossed ?"' he asked. It must have been Bala Lake," he was told, and so great was his fright that he dropped down dead. Mr. Griffith George, J.P., of Aterdare, publishes in Wales, his translation of Dewi Wyn's ode on "Charity" (" Elusengarwch "). We reproduce the well-known passage beginning Gwel y gwr yn ymguraw A'i dylwyth yn wyth neu naw,v Ac. This is Mr. George's English rendering: The husband with his nine all told, Himself belabours in the cold, Benumbed his heavy shovel wields, Aye, dinnerless through toilsome fields. Often feels he on his nail, The keen bite of wind and hail See how bare his cotton gpar, To his blood cold is austere. Faint at eve, home see him pa.<s, With a bosom cold as brass, There to find his children bright, In a starving fainting plight; Brings his pence with many a whine, Share's one's need between the nine Gazing on this mirrored view, Will a strong heart subdue, Open cells and purses wide, j Burst door-locks on every side.

THEATRE ROYAL, CARDIFF. Few dramas of a sensational type hare attained the wide popularity of the "Grip of Irsn," which has for its central theme the doings and eventual smart capture "f the ringleader in the historical gang of ruffians known as The Stranglers of Taris. This piece is occupying the boards at the Royal this week, andcrowded houseshav# been the order, and frequently was their appreciation made manifest. The piece is produced by Mr. John A. Atk;n's powerful company, now in its eighth yearof tsnr. -fagou, alias Simuionett, the chief of the stran^leis, is admirably pourtrayed by Mr. Fred Powell, who has now enacted the charac- ter nearly 3,000 times, and never other than excellently. Loustalot, known as "The Smiler," is splendidly taken by Mr. Andrew Liston, ond the company was well balanced R411 a whole. Specialty painted scenery is introduced, the mechanical effects ars perfect of their kind, aud as evidence of the all-roirod thorough- ness of the production, it is worthy af note that the costumes were coerect in detail to the fashions pre- vailing at the period. The incidental music was well t-endered by the orchestra, and the Patrol of the Woden Soldiers" played during an interval was a. feature of the evening. Visitors to Cardiff should not fail to book at the Royal. See advertise- ment in another column.

THE GRAND THEATRE, CARDIFF, j Patrons of Mr. Sounes's house in Westgate-stie; t have this week the opportunity of enjoying the repre- sentation of a drama, "The Lights "of Home,by Messrs. George R. Sims and Rotert Buchanan. Although of the Adelphi style in construction, it is somewhat mild in character, and, without containing the blood-and-thunder dement to te found in man? modern dramas, i* thoroughly realistic. The main part of the stoiy tells of the wrong done to a fisher- man's daughter, how the wrong has teen avenged, and how all is put to rights and we need only refer to the names of the authors to show that it is well told, and the plot evolved in a superior and uiasterlv dramatic way. Mr. Ruburi Lyn ton's com pa it v i^ a capable and well-balanced one, and gives a"vi\id pourtrayal of the various scenes, and the enthusiastic reception accorded it by large hou-e.- everv e\ eniri" was richly deserved. The effect of the representation is materially enhanced by the splendid scenery and the incidental sonsrs which have been specially'com- posed for The^Lights of Home." We would again remind our readers that the pprfultuance is over in time to meet the train for the Merthyr Valley. j

PAUPERISM JX THE MERTHYR UNION. Mr. F. T. Bircham, the Local Government Board Inspector for Wales, reports that there has been a marked increase in pauperism m the Merthyr Union, chiefly due to the depression iu the iron and steel trade:, where unskilled labour is and has teen paid at a very low rate for years pas», consequently little ur no provision tan te made sickness. ur no provision tan te made sickness.

MERTHYR. PERSONAL. —As will he peon in our advertising: columns, Mr. T. Howells, who for man." years has been managing clerk to Mr. T. L. Wbite, solicitor, has commenced business as an auctioneer and valuer. His office is located in Victoria-street. [2917 THE LATE ME, IIFNRY LEWIS.—It will be seen on reference to our advertising columns, that Mr. G. Alec Lewis, eon of tiie late Mr. Henry Lewis, will carry on the business as auctioneer, valuer, and estate agent. We may say that Mr. Lewis had for eight years assisted his father in the conduct of his important affairs, so that he has acquired a thorough knowledge of all brunches of his profession. [2914 «T. JEBEMIAH. the only agent for Samuel Mason's Prize Bar Fittings anil liar Engines, for Merthyr, Dowlais, Aterdare. Pontypridd, Mountain Ash, Bhcmdda A aiify. Rhvmnev, Tredegar, Ebbw Vale, Brynmawr, Blackwood, &c., &c.— Address, J. Jere- miah, Bar Fitter, Plumber, and Decorator, 36, H igL- siroet, Merthyr, and 2, North-street, DOA1;U*. Estimatw free distance no object. To PARTIES FCRXISHING.—Messrs. J. G. Maddox and Son, auctioneers, will sell by public auction at the Auction Mart, ^-5, Duk^-strp^t, Cardiff, on Tuesday Thursday, February 26th and 28th, an immense j assemblage of very superior household furniture, The sale will commence at two o'clock precisely each day. Further particular; will te found in our adver- tising column or may be obtained by writing to the auctioneers at the above address. [2849 J. F. DOCTOX, Sanitaiy Plumter, Hot-water Jfingmeer, Bar-fitter, Gas-fitter, Bell-ficter, and General House Decorator, has just received a choice and well-assorted stock of Pajwhangings—sale price from 2-id. per piece. Hundreds of job lots of paper- hangings must lie cleared out regardless of price to make room for our new stock of iwperhangings. Our gold paperhangings, from 9d. pf)- piece, i), a marvel of eheapae.ss. A stall of experienced workmen regularly employed. [ADVT. MEKTUYR WORKING )11:5 Li'ILDINU SOCTETY.— An appropriation, by ballot, inconupt-nutt with thi; Society, took place last Tncsdav evening, pt the Market-hall, when Messrs. A. Priw and J. Maddocks were the and Miss Sarah John drew out the nallot block No. 9, the owner of which is Miss M. L. Jones, 11, Court-terrace, Merthyr, who is thus entitled to a loan of £100 for 16 y.-ars. free of interest. A vote of thanks to the chairman, Mr. J. T. Docton, closed the meeting. [2908 i LOHD RO3KBERY AT C'rarfFr.—O.ir readers will te j glad to know that in view of the above visit a large stock of Rosetery Collars ready for Disestablishment have just arrived, and nre now selling at .1. W. MORRIS'S, 10, Pontmorlais, Merthyr. Special lines in winter suitings and overcoatings are being otfered at j great redactions in order to effect a clearance for our new Spring Goods. Specialities, 39; 6d. Overcoats and suits, 58s. 611. All otders executed on the premises by experienced workmen. Don't forget the Rosetery Collars in 4 fold linen, and the address. J. | W. Moiiiti*, 10, Pontmorlais. Hallo! What's this! Genuine sale of hats, caps, shirts, ties collars, gloves, mufflers, umbrellas. ete.| etc., at Kl>Mt\vns', 35, High-street, Merthvr. On Saturday next and to continue for 14 days. Every article reduced. The stock of Gents' Merccrv—-of the best manufacture—which is eomparathelv new, must be decreased to make room for the latest production of the British Iconn. Sale (^notation being oftentimes misleading, no enumerations of the various bargains will be made, but customers v,iH find a genuine and honest reduction all round, Ko job lots teucrht for sale purpoaea. J. EDMUNIXS, The Hatterv and Hosiery, 35, High-street, Merthyr. POOLE'S MVRIORAMA.— This well-known and evrr- podnlar entertainment is drawing immense audiences to the Temperance Hall this week. THE CTEARTHPA CONCERTS.—'Tiie fo'nth of the annual series were held at tiie Georgetown School- room, on Thursday. Mr. D.J. Evans occupied the chair, and a very interesting programme was yone through. THE 1 RADE. —No progress is reported ill the iion and steel works, and very little work is teing done. The trade is bad, and the demand small. Few of the collieries are working tail timp, and in all respects the industrial condition is depressed. Yet the colliers are planning to end the Sliding-scale. PLRUC MEETING.—On Thursday next (February 28th), a public meeting, nnd- r the auspices of the Merthyr Conservative and Unionist Association will te held in the Drill Hall. Tie- principal speaker* will te Mr. W. Ellison Macartney, M.P. (South Antrim), and M r. A. P. Saunders-Davies (Unionist candidate ] for Pembrokeshiie*. for Pernbrokeshin-t. FUNERAL OF MKRTiiYRYN.On Monday the funeral of Mr. I ooiik's Rees (" Merthyryn ), whose death was recorded in our columns last week, took place, The funeral was a public one, and a large numter were present, including several of the deacons of Pontmorlais. Rev. D C. Edwards officiated at the Cefn Cemetery, where deceased was interred. It SHOCLII EVERY MAX BE TRAINED AS A SOT.D!KH." —On Thursday evening last-, Colonel D. Rees Lewis delivered a lecture at the usual weekly mee'ing of the Hope Mutual Improvement Class, on the above subject. Rev. II. C. Edward-, M.A., presided. Messrs. Jones, orwerlii, W. Edwards, :\1. H. JI. Lloyd, (;iiidamJ,L Beddoe, Percy Williams, and D. Jones, took part. Col. Lewis replied, and finally the meeting declared itself in favour of every man teing trained as a soldier. RKV. J. M. GIBBON. — In connection with the centenary of the London Missionary Society in South Wales it has just been announced that one of the s[>eakcis will be the Rev. ,1. M. Gibten, pastor of Stamford Hill Chapel, London. Mr. Gibbon is the most prominent of the younger Welsh ministers in the Metropolis, and his visit to Merthvr will be looked forward to with general interest. He has not teen here sinco he has reached his present I igh jxisition as a pastor aud preacher. IRISH NATIONAL LEAGUE.—The u-ual weekly ;r,e_t- ing »f the W. E. Gladstone Braneh was held last Sunday in UpjK-r Taff-street. The president, Mr. H. Coughlan, presided. Subscriptions were handed in by the canvassers, and thetttinutes confirmed. The following resolution was unanimously passed — That we condemn in the strongest and most cm- phatic manner the stupid aud treacherous conduct of Mr. John Redmond, M.P., aud his eight followers, in attempting to destroy the first Home"Rule Govern- ment, and we call upon their constituents to repu- diate their action, and at the general election to return true Nationalists to represent them. A good attendance is re.i'iested for next Sunday. ° MEBTHYK POLICE COURT.—Monday, before Mr. W j M. North (Stipendiary I, Mr. C. H. Jauies Mr. T. Jenkins, and Mr. W. Morgan. The folluwmg were fined for being drunk and disorderly Joel Evans, Aberdare; James Hetcher, MertSivr A'ale Rees Jones, Twynyrodvn Jane Powell, David Evans, and William John, Penydarren Mary Shea, Penvdarren; Emmanuel Johnson, Merthyr Vale; Wm. Vanston, Troedyrhiw warrants were issued against Michael Thomas and David Thomas, Brecon-road, who did not ap|>ear. Daniel Edmunds, Abercanaid, was also fined i> 1 add costs, or three weeks.—David Jones and Thomas Richard Powell, Penvdarren, were convicted for obstructing the highway at Penvdarren, aud filled 5: each.

THE MERTHVR HOSPITAL. The annual meeting of the governor.- of the Mer- | thvr General Hospital was held on Thursday uHit Mr. John I'ew< in the eha'r. Mr. R. R. Davi hon.' > rcretary, read the report of the executive Board" from which it appeared that 170 p-itients had been admitted, of whom 152 had been discharged, cured or relieved, and at the end of the vear there were 13 patients left in the hospital. The ho--pita I balls lately held had resulted in a surplus of JS15 6s. 3d. concerts by the Cyfarthfa band, £ 13 6s. 2d and the living whist party from Cardiff, JE;9 Os. 7d. Reference was made to the fact that the proffered gift by Sir W. T. Lewis, of £ 1,000, liad been accepted,' :.nd plans were tern* prepared for the < rcetion, as desired by Sir William, of an accident receiving ward. The loss which had been sustained in the death of Mr. Henry Lewis, one of the secretaries, was alluded" to j with deep regret. The accounts showed there was in hand at the end of the year a balance of £ 279 lis. 3d., and in addition, several gifts and allowances had been made by various ladies and gentlemen. The 1 endowment fund showed there was in hand. £ 6,277 invested in the Barry Dock Railway and I lie Swansea Harbour Trust. There was £ 510 on deposit in Lloyds Bank. The report of the medical staff, as juv*u-*nt'*d by Dr. Webster, was also read^The Chairman moved the adoption of the repoii and accounts This was seconded by Mr. W. L. Daniel, who, allwl- i to the very handsome gift of Sir W. T. Lewis, said that it was almost impossible to over-estimate the i teon which would be conferred by the provision of a separate accident ward. —The report was adopted miaitunously.—The Marquis of Bute was re-elected president, and the v;<;e-prcridents. abo were re-elected. Alderman Thomas Williams, J.P.. was! re-elected treasurer.

LIMOX IX PARTS. 100 MILES RACE. The 100-mile race arranged between Linton aud Huret, the British and French cyclist champions took place in Paris on Sunday, aii(I i-t-siilted in a vic- tory fer the Frenchman, who covered the distance in 4 hours, 7 minutes, 47 3-5 seconds, beatin all prc- vious records and Linton's own time fur the f the previous best, by 6 minutes, 51 4-5 seconds' Linton was net at all in good form, having tee-i deeply affected by a telegram which he had i-ee -ived only that morning informing him of his mother's •' death. At the outset he would not run and lost the laps in the ifrst three miles, and it was only on the i repeated insistance of his trainers that he set to work in a half-hearted fashion. He made a spurt towards; the end, ind in the last lap beat Huret by 20 lengths! 1 he result was a gu-at di.-sappoinfment. as it confidently exacted that Lintonwoutd have beaten all previous records by at least 15 minutes. DEATH UF LINTON'S MOTIlKic We regret to announce t!^ death, after a short I iliners, of Mrs. J. M. Lintem, the motina- nf th" i champion eyelist of the world, and the WVJsl, rein- sentativ e triplet er-vv at Paris. Deceased and her husband kept the. Loyal Oak Imi, A te ram an, b^ttela-.t few j cars, and had been there for some i;nie previ* ij. having migrated from Somerset. Tbe- funeral of Mrs. Linton fs tü take place on rhursday. I lie threw arrirveel here on Monday night.

METEOROLOUlCAl, IiEGisTER. Recorded at Brynteg. Approximate hei-ht a'.ove sea level, 635 feet. Pate. I'irec'.ien of T^:a- Ti.rnnemrtiT Rc^in-s. iiid fall. M«\. Min. Wcl. f»r\ Feb. 14 SE -0 27 ?3 ?.5 2s | IS h -0 ?.r, iD y. ) M l '0 ,v*> ^7 '^7 „ 17 K -0 .\S ?\ K *0 33 *5 In v '.i 34 » 20 L Q ciS 52 52

FOOTBALL NEWS Lteyft' T! V.f.-i r«K>el»ll T.'nion «,t at Car dirt OTI J norsday her. and the draw fL,r the \'nipontvam;"K'l'<M,» 1' Hovvs: 1st Round, A, Jrontvm>i-»'r 'i. } u u a Llanellv A; C, P. i'-eT-*n ri' (ixxrmnt V n' V, Llacnau of i:,s ronnd the winner* of B and A,. «na t C and D will be h "• rl^ round the farst-mention-d ju!, v..j) f ,-ehoice of ground, but the ground for ;he ibad m.-tei, will te selwted bv the t mon. J 1. (,f Elibw Vale have preat confidence in ti.r o;!ntes winning the cup. At any rate, jnoging m* tl.t-h- form during the present victo" f5Un ;1' J' 1 1 ch*uce of wining out MEI'.TRM: Burcm-Bs v. POI.I<T..—The qbm-c C?n°U T•'alMday ftfcm00n at the GWynne's Field^ V 6 covered with snow, and there to the- advisability of plav- ffi:hxt"rc- t'tit itwas finally decided io do so 16 Pr<)-1^ were in aid of the General Hospital and here was a fairly large gate. The ,x,licS S the Lather in motion, and a poor reply being made scrim- mages v1 ere tor mod m the slaughter house 25. A free PI MI- 1 butchers was more than equalised bv K'turn' to of Sloos coming'" the boblues swept down the field and secured several minors. hen halt tunc was called the sphereroid lay in no man's erntory. The policemen won by two "llhiSdracrgJd^0 thenmteh botl1 teams had their pliiz;; 1^-fc.P.iIi I C KE Ol A 3XKKTHYn }'V>OTr M T ri* TI Mtrtliyr 1-oottall Ctol. h al,™t to »ar,fc the pr.-M, cf Mr. H. Walter Ji°L jff Davies is leaving our nndst to take np Jiis residence in Lhtvnjiia, and we Mncerely hope he will te lavoured with a place m the Rhondda combination Merthyr!' C'ai*a,ned 'v formedy of

| PAINFUL DEATH IX A DOWL US HOTEL. I T A f"I t of the funeral of Mr. Thomas ones, 1 he Hafod, was the sudden death of one of j those who had intended it it lmf *it) Mr T, hn ifev," 09 •1'° ;le'OTd ^ntleman. -Ur. J„hn nvprmaii m the Besse;ntT dt-^rt I Kn'SS" T1 '»<>«•« • ■ Toui Dav ie. Pontyberem. was seem InGdliV °f he:lltl' r'"Vl liC lcft residence iell uelog-terrace, on 1 riday afternoon for tlet pur{x>se of attending the funeral of Mr. Jo-V, H. naturally chose the shortest route, whicii lav through Cwnirlmlyliedd, and ,vl,icl,, as llo.-laia |.e„V,l"k»Sr, "ifTS- f"t nvl,°lre |,K,c'hed«'« the bar of the Ivor Castle Hotel j'i told Miss Price that he felt exhausted havin- liiirri(,d ii,,) tl)e Ci%-rii in oi,,Ier to I)e At the flitlel-:il ill 'C'o(I tuliti, ordt-it-d a cif liot," liax,in,; I)Iaef-d wl¡i"key h(.fore him, J!ft t}l(, room tu p!<X:llre the hot ut vvi-en si ,<( nt: ("e'y for a couple of moments, wLfii she returned, she found Davies lvtn-- appauntly dead 011 the floor of tiie bar. She at om-e M .,„™,d wSi'^T™ tlvV «r M«Sa"„ -uoi an ;>t.d ilii.an .Tatnes. the latter of who»>, liv,. ] lS'l T°rH '0Ue tU ,>aVV-' '"to th« bar. D, r; r 1 i «rnved 011 the scene almost imme- diately, and prononnccd life to e extinct The body w_as then earned into another room, and later in the afternoon just in time as some of those who ted been present at the funeral of Mr. Jones ™ .LlL. L mg—it was placed „pon a stretcher, and carried bv a number of men to the residene-. i-i 1 i-- e.ght^n to u ve, to 111 oui n his loss. The new< of the tragic event was bromdft to those v' „ 1 1 ot the the Jlafoil for th(. t.ie most pro.ound sensation, as indeed it did in even* part of the town. C.\ui)infr so ^rxin « n' nUthC" dfcillh °f ?fr" Jonos' and surrounded bv'sncfi J athe.ic c.reuiiistance?, the ev ent was heard of with a feeling of horror everywhere, and fru^iie r^t of the da\, it and th<» funeral remained the only tonic of conversation ,n the town. It eeems that the dSas'S m'iSi^ iiv w*rrion^ !,iidsath t^t"d "Id evert riL ^H' 'T' «'?d*rren, and after the ^entien an' thJ 1 c;i'n"'lIt;uion that g.nt.cn a 1, the result teing that a certifier v-,s granted showing that d.ath was dn to sVneo, I here was thus no necessitv- for holding an mqnest' I, being common l:nowledge that the binlv re-Tn somewhat straitened circumstance, Mr D W Jones, solicitor, K.-uf down five guineas 'for ttei. ass,tinee, and on Monday morning Couneilior Evan Ife'^l-H^r-a e-'fu f,Skl"? — v1'Ptic,i's for them, lie wa., a K.c^.oful m ootainiumg about £ 20 in the course of the day. Mr. John Lewis, iVnydnrre f ^l^cted su! s^nptions in hi, division, but we have not been able to a-certain the amount coi'e -ted If h"'1- I he funeral of the deceased took place on o^d'irnrv 1 n^T^Thi ° P •0(-e^'on, of t..Xtm- o.oinai v j. ngi it. I he service in the chanel it- was to loueted by the L'ev. J. Thomas, HorehChiml .and at the graveside the burial service oftheOd^i' feUovvs Society was read. It should be stated that t!je cofliii ftine,i-iii out 'a' .6 zid

All JdurI.s of prhti, e;Jn don!: ncatly, and N. peditiousi, at "he I'¡'j:¡tjng- Worh, !lIertll.yr. APPIY t-o thf,

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