Merthyr Times and Dowlais Times and Aberdare Echo

Merthyr Urban District Council Election. TO THE ELECTORS OF THE TOWN WARD. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.— Having been requested by a large number of Electors to offer my service^ to the Electors of this Ward to fill the vacancy caused by the deeply- lamented death of Mr. Henry Lewis, I have con- sented to comply with the request. To further the interest? and prosperity of Merthvr, and to see its Local Administration carried out in an Efficient and Economical Manner, have ever been my aim and desire and my practical knowledge, coupled with JOy long Business experience and intimate acquaint- ance with the requirements of the Town and District, would enable me, if elected to your Council, to more fully achieve that object. In soliciting yoiir Votes and Interest, I promise that my best efforts shall be Jfivento the interests of the Electors Faithfully and Fearlessly. I am, L.ulics and Gentlemen. Your ohedient Servant, 138, High-street, Merthvr. T. DOCION. -————-— ——————————

IN the special St. David's issue of the (.'£!lil/Æ/l there ai,eseyeral articles of interest to people in this immediate neighbourhood. One is W atcyn Wyn'a biographical sketch (or rather what W alter Pater would call an appreciation ,:) of Caeronwy, who was at one time pastor of Adulam Chapel, Lower Thomas-street, Merthyr. Watcyn writes in a strain that is at once kindly and critical. He dwells on the good points in the poet-preacher s character, and gently lays bare his shortcomings. To Caeronwy life was a feverish dream, a thing of many emotions rather than of effort and accom- plishment. If not a great poet, he had a passionate admiration for peotry. He died a comparatively young mail, and lies buried in Cefn Cemetery. Pity W atcyn Wyn did not draw his pen through this one sentence in the article: "He was a thorough South Walian. a man without deceit or malice, careless to an excessive degree." These words are a reflection on our North Wales brethren, and, coming as they do from so eminent a pen, they are sure to wound many a heart. This is an age in which North and South are gradually drawing together in mutual sympathy, seeking to know and to understand one another better than of yore, and to banish the petty jealousy that was the fruit of ignorance. Our literary leaders should do all they can to hasten this consummation, and not by unkind words to retard its progress. Another article of local interest in the Otniuea is that on the Rev. W. B. Joseph (Y Myfy 1. a Methodist minis- ter who live: here in the 'fs, and married a Miss Sibbering. Part of < .,ketch was quoted in our Welsh columns last ■nwk. There are several other strong and well-written articles in the Uemnen, notably, from a literary point of view, those on Bardd l)u, by l)r. Cefni Parry, Eifioneilydd by Authropos, and Onllwyn by the Rev. Ben Davies.

SPARKS FROM THE ANVIL. By JOE HAMMERSMITH. Blessings on the heart and the head of those who are now thinking to such, good purpose of the higher education of our poor young men and maidens. Tnere is many a lad in South Wales who would go to Car- diff College if he only had the wherewithal to keep body and soul together while there. Now a fund is being formed to meet such cases. Money will be lent to poor students, to be refunded when they are able to do so. It is a glorious idea, and I trust our men of wealth will contribute handsomely. Had this been done when I was a young man (now, alas many, many years ago !) I might have been to-day a Doctor of Divinity. Bismarck is now 80 years of age, having been born on the 1st of April in the year of Waterloo. He says he has not been really happy for more than 24 hours duri .ig all those years. What could he expect, having been born on »uch#a day in such a yearBut very likely he is mistaken. We all experience much more happiness than we aresometimesapttothink. SirWm. Harcourt said t'other night in the Heme of Commons that we are never happy until we die. Even then, I fear, all of us are not happy. The Chancellor's dictum may be true of OUL* Commoners. I cannot see how men who talk when they ought to be working can be happy. They have no claim to happiness. They make other people miserable, and they ought to be miserable themselves. My friend, don t bother your head about happiness. Never ask yourself the question, "Am I happy?" What matteis it if you are not? You cannot ask yourself too often, "Am I doing mv dutv ?" That matters everything. That is eternally important. Take care. of duty, and the happiness will take care of itself. Andif youaresupremely, hopelesslv miserable, grin and bear it. Defy the devi) and all his hosts to do their worst. Resort neither to alcohol nor to prussie acid to end your misery. That is cowardice. Are there many gamblers down Merthyr Vale way ? I see from last week's Merthyr l'illies that certain politicians wanted their opjjonents to lay odds on the result of the election. The other side refused, fearing the chapels would come to know of it. Hurrah for the chapels, say 1. If they keep their people from gambling they are doing very good work. I am going to crack up these chaps in a poem. Two verses have already come out of the mill. My bardic mills, you should know, grind slowly, and, as a rule, they grind exceeding small. That is why Mrs. H. says I am a minor poet, very much minor, more of the minor, perhaps, than of the poet." She has a kind way of putting things, has Mrs. H. But my verses. Here is the first to the Merthyr Vale hero He s a Merthyr Vale young man A gambling, betting young man, A ricketty-racketty, end-of-the century, Awfully wicked young man. Then the hero from Treharris, which place, I saw in last week's By the Way," has been called B Treharris by a revivalist preacher :— There was a young man from Trehan is, Who worked in the deep eolli-er-ies," No letting he'd do, for fear of the screw Of the chapels in b Treharris." To all men 1 would say Beware of gambling I Especially would I say this to young men. It is wrong to take any money but such as you earn by honest toil, or such as you may be fortunate enough to inherit from people who have come by it in an honest way. There is too much gambling going on everywhere. I am tald, on what I believe to be good authority, that football gives rise to a great deal of gambling. I aID not against the playing of football. But for the life of me I can see no virtue in merely looking at others play. It would not be ùifficlllt, to count all the actual players in South Wales, though the lookers-on are a multitude which no man can number. And if these multitudes win and lose money over what they have norhing at all to do with, then I fear the pastime, on the whole, does more hann than good. I see the C.tfwro (one of the be-it little papers ever printed) has been complaining that the South Wales Daily JTeirs does not gi\e as much attention to Welsh matters as the Western Mail. What nonsense Take last Saturday's issue as an example. In the South Walt* I)cil'i Neir* you'll find a long report, with a four-line heading, of a glove fight at Swansea between two eminent men known as Chaffy Hayman and Mike Sullivan. Not a word aliout it in the 'Western Mail. As a set-off to the glove-fight report, the readers of the South Wafts Dailp Ne"-? were given in another part of the paper a long leading article on The Religion of Humanity." A few parallel extracts will not he uninteresting THE RELIGION* OF HCMANITV (p. 4). "Statesmen and politi- cians, not to mention the Christian Churches, can- not without serious results overlook, much less ig- nore, those fresh factors in the development and progress of the nation." "Religion is unques- tionably the basis of morality, and an indis- pensable instrument for the regulation of con- dnct, and for the building up of character, Rnd for the stability of our national life." The lesson is one for the churches to ponder over, but as the purely religious aspect of the subject lies outside our sphere of comment [glove fights do not lie outside that sphere] we abstain from any criticism on this phase of the great social question." CHAFFY HAYMAN V. MIKE SUVLUAN (p. 6). A four-ounce glove contest took place at Swansea last evening for a purse of £ 20 and a £ 10 a-side between Chaffy Hnyman and Mike Sulli- van. About 250 well- known sports attended. The watch was held by Patsy Perkins." "First Hound.-BPth men sj arred cautiously for an opening, Hayman having the best of the round. Second reund.— Hayman led off with his left beautifully, and was countered by Sullivan, &c." Fifth Round.—Both men in this round had the claret freely flowing. Anybody'* fight. Ninth Hound. -Both men fought for all they were worth, and Sullivan, when half- time had elapsed, knocked Hayman out with his right, after one of the most stubborn contests ever witnessed in Swan- sea." Looks rather funny don't it ? But I suppose this mixture is good enough for the people of Wales, whom the South Wales Echo deseri!>ed the other day as having more Celtic imagination and zeal than descretion, regard for truth, or experience of the world." On Monday, however, the position was reversed. Two gentlemen had l'eeen fighting in London, and the Jlail gave a full report of the event, while nothing appeared in the South Wales Daily News. The two papers, it would seem, take these things in turn, an arrangement which is very satisfactory to the public. Between the two we are kept fully posted up in the annals of ruffianism. I doff my cap and drop a tear on the grave of Lord Aberdare. There have been greater men (than he, but none more faithful and valiant. He lived, as it were, in the clear, rarifled air of the hill-tops, far away from the mist-covered valleys of sordid ideas and mean motives. His was a noble life, devoted without stint to the cause of others. He died in harness. The last work he was engaged in was the report of the Aged 1( Poor Commission the last honour conferred on hill) was his election to the Chancellorship of the "Welsh University; both were fitting term in "-i<-»ns to a career flf 0valtJl usefulness. He «--»s buried on a Welsh hillside on St. Uav. This, too, was as it should be, for he loved our country with intense patriotism. Bear in mind another incident in his history his fall as a Home Secretary was brought about by the alcohol party, who were "too strong for him, as they have been for many another reformer, as, I hope and pray, they will not always be. A defeat like that is a thousand times more honourable than many victories. I should like to see engraved on his tombstone the words: "He fought a courageous battle against the hosts of alcohol." The Saturday Itcviev:, an organ whose Toryism is beyond reproach, warns its friends m London against their association with the dregs of the sporting world, the drinking world, and music hall world, and the world of jobbing vestrydom." This sort of thing, according to the P«U Mall Gazette, another Tory journal, is calculated to utterly destroy municipal politics." The Daily Chronicle deplores the fact that publicans and salaried party agents are fighting their way to the London County Council, and describes these gentry as the party of Tammany." I quote these words, thinking they might not be altogether uninteresting to Merthyr readers. They may serve as a warning. We have a new species of politicians," said a friend to me in the Smithy the other day, making their appearance in our midst nowadays. I call them SwissvMercenaries, because they seem to sell their services, their oratory and their tuasive pawer, to I anyone who pays for them." My friend gave me a mass of facts which, I must admit, looked rather sus- picious. But I have not y3t been altogether converted to his views. I have gone more than half way, how- ever, and I must keep my eyes open and watch further developments. We have heard a good deal lately of Catholics and Tory Churchmen. Do you know what the Catholics and Tories of Germany are trying to do ? They have brought in a bill to the Legislature "imposing severe penalties on all who publicly deny the existence of God, the immortality of the soul, or the religions character of marriage and the family." The Church of Rome, it would appear, has still a hankering for the Inquisition and the stake. It would an it could." Inctitutions, like men, are hard to cure of bad habits. The curse of the Ciiiii- It of Rome is priestcraft. No priest ever was tolerant when strong enough to be the contrary. What a grand system of religion Catholicism would be, how poetical, how beautiful, how devotional, could you only pack off the priests to Siberia. I read Nonconformist's lamentation in your last week's issue. There is much truth in what, he say-. But he gives his whole ease away in one sentence. At the Reformation," he says" Great Britain threw off the shackles of the Pope. To-day Wales has not one Pope, but hundreds in the persons of ¡ nearly every Baptist, Congregational, and Methodist minister, and all their tribe." Granted that all these ministers are Popes, we have the privilege, if we do not like one of them, to leave him and go to another, or keep away altogether from all their tribe," The essence of Popery is the absolute spiritual sovereignty over all people of one man, oue rope or iiM0 ru^es his followers as though he were a t i6 ^OU bave many Poiies the sovereignty not absolute, thereby ceases to tie a tyranny. One Jrope many Popes therein lies the whole difference. Many Popes mean no Pope. Are our ministers ropes Do they rule their congregations with a rod of iron No, a thousand times no. They are and can l>e Pcjpes only in the sense in which Martin Luther said that every man was a Pope, which is something quite different from the Roman Pontiff.

BY THE WAY. The late Lord Aberdare was Prince Bismarck's junior by a fortnight. A Cardiff paper has gravely shifted Principal Reichel from Bangor College to Bala College. Members of Y Conffrens" are now busily occupied with electoral matters in various distriots. They are expected to meet on Saturday night to discuss results. Outside of England itself," say., the Speaker, the Anglican Church can scarcely claim the devotion of more than five per cent. of the English-speaking peoples." They are getting quite military in some offices down Cardiff way. Penrhiwceiber has been transformed into Penrikyber, which is a compound of Scotch and Hiid jo Koosh. The Stipendiaty to a witness at the Aberdare Police-court: Did you speak to prisoner when you saw him in the morning?" "Y&s, your worship." Stipendiary Well, what did you Hay?" "Nothing, sir." A Dowlais man, when he heard the result of the Merthyr Town Election on Monday night, sent to a friend in Merthyr a post-card containing the one word, Hooroo." There was an encyclopedia of meaning in that simple word. Watcyn Wyn, in his Geainen article reproduces lines from a Temperance poem by Caeronwy. He also speaks of that poet going to a hotel and ordering a glass of drink. The two things do not seem to fit in very well the one with the other. Perhaps Watcyn will kindly explain. Some of the Cardiff Scotchmen seem to be under the impression that the Celtic chair at Oxford was founded by the late Professor Blackie. They ought tr know their own country and their lieroea better than that. It was the Celtic chair at Edinburgh that Blackie founded. Mr. Bell, the organising secretary ot the Amalga- mated Society of Railway Servants, is a very effective public shaker, and is extremely popular with all grades of railway men. He is a Merthyr boy, his father being Sergt. Bell, who was buried a few weeks back. A Liverpool critic was asked what he thought of a certain young preacher of some eminence. The reply, according to the Cymro, was as follows Mr. has three heads to his sermons 1, Do you see me ? 2, Do you hear me ? 3, What do you think of me?" "L p to now," says the ever-breezy Linn, "the Church has conducted the unpleasant Disestablish- ment contest in an honourable way, and her spirit and demeanour has exercised a strong influence on the world outside." What world can that be ? Must be Venus, or Jupiter, or perhaps the Moon. John Stual t Blackie was an intense Celt. He loved the Gaelic language, and put himself to as much t trouble to acquire it as the snobs of Scotland take to forget it. He was the means of establishing the Celtic Chair at Edinburgh University, and collected £ 12,000 for this purpose. Last Monday week a goods train with a set of men," that is, driver, fireman, and guard, left Aber- dare (Great Western), and before the week's work was finished the following Sunday the distance of 800 miles had been covered. This probahly beats the record. Your man." said one canvasser to an opposition ditto during the election, Your man hasn't got good principles." Well, yours has none at all, for he culls himself 'independent' forsooth." "Yours has far less than that." What, less than nothing Yes, and a great deal less than nothing, too." The speaker was a New Logician. A few Sundays ago the Rev. Mr. Field, of Alwr- dare, was preaching nt the Wesleyan Chapel, Treharris. He took as his text the verse, This night, liefore the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice." No sooner were the words read than a cock outside the chapel set up a ringing cock-a-doodle-doo. A smile broad enough to hang a coat on passed round the pews. A certain young couple, is .is reported, were seated in the Registry Office in High-street on Tuesday morning of this week, awaiting the attendance of the registrar to unite them in wedlock, when in walked the father of the youthful Rwain (who, by the way, was very young), picked up his offspring, put him under his arm, and marched home with him. The young man is evidently not under petticoat govern- ment yet. This is a fact. The Hon. Anthony Howells is evidently a non believer in the durability of John Jones' (Dou-lais) illumination work. Mr. Jones designed the address to Mr. W. Morgan, and Mr. Howell, in concluding his address, said that when the grand-children of Mr. Morgan's grand-children would look upon that address they would say, Well, our ancestor had only a common name, but he must have been a great man, or else the people would not have given him so grand a. testimonial." The Hon. Anthony Howells, the old Dowlais boy who has risen to eminence in the Land of the Setting Sun, was never in better form than at the meeting held last week to do honour to his old schoolmate of fifty years ago. His speech was an admirahle one, and many people have wondered whether the phrase, True friendship is like good wine it becomes better with age was original or not. We do not remember to have seen it before, although Young" certainly tells that Friendship's a wine." The "great and only Evan" wants us to inform aspiring candidates for County Council and similar honours that he has a large stock of electioneering ammunition for which he expected to find use last week. When it was stated that he would have to fight for the seat in Gellifaelog Mr. Lewis cudgelled his brain for election squibs, and the printers did good business. But the opposition was withdrawn, and now the great and only" wants us to dispose of his stock of election literature. Advertisements of this sort are charged for at 7s. 6d. per line. Here are two English englynion by Merthyr bards. The first is by Tydfilyn, the second by Y Myfyr, and they are taken from the Gcninen article the latter:— Vigour and sur. seeking on the moor, In tit.. juorn we're strolimg; Vcar Sker lands on sands we sing, Our glee for ever glowing. Brave William, a factor of brick,- parted With the port for traffic Pity that man poetic, To clay stuff mistakely stick. A candidate for a seat on the County Council for one of the Aberdare divisions, the other night gave I some very interesting descriptions of his canvassing experiences when contesting a School Board election some years ago. He and two of his supporters had visited a house on the outskirts of the town, and were engaged in trying to convert the voter residing there. His better half took part in the debate, which at last I became animated. At this point one of the children rushed in and threw his arms round his mother's neck saying, 0 mam, mam, a'n nhw ddim a'r celli nit nw ?" (Oh mother, mother, they will not take the furniture, will they-fiyer since, that candidate has been afraid of canvassing lest he should again be mistaken for a bum-bailiff. "Cladius Clear" in the British Weekly describes the increased attention and space given by the great daily journals to literature. In London the Chronicle leads the way, and the Manchester Guardian in the provinces. The South Wales dailies cannot afford space for literature they want it all for football and (some of them) for glove contests." What's the use of talking about new books to ignorant Taffies who, according to the South Wales Echo, have neither regard for truth nor experience of the world ? Laud was appointed Bishop of St. David's in 1621. Dislant St. Davids, writes Mr. Simpkinson, Laud's latest biographer, was hardly a diocese to which in those days are ecclesiastic full of ambi- tion was likely to banish himself. Laud lived in London and the neighbourhood candidates for ordi- nation had to travel up to the capital to their bishop confirmations must have been few and irregular."

METEOROLOG lCA I. REGISTER. Recorded at Brynteg. Approximate height above sea level, 685 feet. Date. Direction of lUin- Thrrmolllctcr Readings, Wind fall. Max. Mill. Wet.Drv. Feb. 28 NW -0 45 26 32 35 Mar. 1 W -05 46 38 40 40 2 NW -09 42 31 33 35 3 N -0 39 23 29 30 4 N -06 40 23 31 32 5 N -0 39 30 34 34 „ 6 SE -0 38 32 34 35 Total -20 I

A L'M.MOTH r. KI.AVOHI. Cracroft's Are<-a-Xut Tooth Paste. This delicious Aromatic Dentrifrice mnken the Knanicl of t.he Teeth white, sound, and polishrd Vkeivorv It is exceedingly fragrant. Cracroft's raste is now sold in ó:1 rots.

FUNERAL OF LORD ABER- DARE. On Friday the mortal remains of Lord Aberdare, whose lamented death we chronicled in our last week's issue, were consigned to their la<t resting- place in Mountain Ash Cemetery. The scene was a mast impressive one. Though orercast and threaten- ing in the morning, the weather improved rapidly as the day advanced, and by noon, the hour at which the oijsecjuies were arranged to take place, the eun was shining brilliantly in a clear sky, and with a genial warmth, There were, however, on the tops of the mountains surrounding Mountain Ash evidences of the terribly hard winter through which we have just passed, and which has been answerable for so heavy a I death-roll among the rich and the distinguished, not less than among the poor and the obscure. It had been arranged that the funeral should he of a strictly private character, in conformity with the wishes of Lady Aberdare, but aerreeably to the expressed desires of a deputation of residents of the district which waited upon the Hon. W. N. Bruce, son of the late peer, it was decided that repre.sentati ves of public and semi-publir- bodies and general friends be per- mitted to attend the ceremonial. In consequence of this decision the attendance at the church, and the cemetery was unusually large, the entire Principality tieing represented while all the larger and more valuable institutions of South Wales, as al-o its industries and its trades, sent their contingents of respectful sympathisers. A striking feature of the scene was the large contingent of friends and pro- moters of education in Wales who attended, every grade, from the newly-formed University, of which the deceased nobleman was the" first I II I cnanceiior, to tne humbler, but. not less useful, elementary board school, sending its deputation. Nearly all the tradesmen of Mountain Ash closed their premises at an early hour, and in the majority of the private residences on or near the principal street" the blinds were drawn. So numerous were the arrivals from Cardiff and Pontypridd by the half-past 11 train that a procession was formed from the station to St. Margaiet s Church, where the second portion of the burial service was conducted, the introductory sentences having been read the previous evening 01: the remains being conveyed into the mortuary chapel. A few minutes before 12 Lady Aberdare, who drove from Duffryn House in her private carriage, entered the church, being conducted to her seat by the Hon. Henrv C. Bruce (now the second Baron Aberdare). Her ladyship was, of course, attired in the deepest mourning, but she dispensed with the long thick veil of crape usually seen on such occasions. The other principal mourners were the Hon. Mrs. Vernon Harcourt, the Hon. Mrs. Wynne Jones, the Hon. Caroline L. Bruce, the Hon. Mrs. Mackeuzie, the Hon. Mrs. Russell, the Hon. Elizabeth Bruce, the Hon. Pamela Bruce, the Hon. Alice Bruce, the Hon. Mrs. W. N. Bruce, Miss M. Vernon Harcourt, the Hon. William Napier Bruce, the Hon. H. Lyndhurst Bruce, Mr. Douglas Richmond, Mr. Bruce Richmond. Mr, Bernard Harcourt, the Rev. J. W. WvnneJone< Mr. H. A. Whateley, Mr. C. B. Russell, Capt. W. St. P. Bunbury, M). O. H. Jones, Mr. Charles J. Bruce, Brynderwen, Uhk Miss Isabel Bruce, Col. Beadon, the Lady Plowden, and Mr. Bruce Pryce. Several choirs were present, and sutig English and Welsh hymns. Suitable pieces were played on the organ. The Rev. B. Lloyd, vicar of St. Margaret's, read the lesson of the burial office. The service in the church over, a procession was formed, consisting of a great number of deputations. The venerable the Archdeacon of Monmouth, and the Rev. B. Lloyd, walked at the head of the pro- cession, and among the other clergy who attended in cassock and surplice were the Rev. D. Lloyd Rees. Rev. T. W. Moore, and the Rev. D. T. R. James,' with Mr. J. Hughes, lay reader. The deputation from the University of Wales, of which the late peer I was the first chancellor, comprised the following gentlemenDr. Isambard Owen, Principal J. Viriamu Jones, Cardiff College; Principal T. F! Roberts, Professor Lloyd, Mr. Ivor James, the Yen. the Archdeacon of Llandaff; Mr. Bulkelev Priced Bangor; the Rev. J. Morgan Jones, the Rev J Douglas Watters, M.A., Mr. Edwiu Grove, and Principal T. C. Edwards, Bala, members cf the executive committee. Mr. Tom John, Llvvynypia, was present as representing the National Union of Elementary Teachers. Mr. T. E. Ellis, M.P., Mr. William Rathbone, M.P., and Mr. W. CadwaItKh Davies attended the memorial service held at St. Margaret's Church, Westminster, simultaneously with the funeral. Mr. A. C. Humphreys-Owen, M.P., and Mr. D. Brynmor Jones, Q.C., M.P., were both prevented by attacks of influenza from joining the deputation from the University, as was also Principal John Rhys, Jesus College, Oxford, who was suffering from a severe cold. Amongothordeputationsthatmaybe named wasoneof 12studentsfrom the University College of South Wales and Monmouthshire, their names being :—Messrs. F. T. Lewis. R. S. Forester, 1). O. Hopkins, D. E. James, W. G. Rogers, C. J. Thomas, B.Sc., Walter Kendriok, Ivor B. John, Carlton T. H. Riches, D. F. Davis, WT. Fiddian, and J. P. John. Among the professors were Professor C. M. Thompson, Professor G. C. Richards and Professor J. B. Haycraft, repre- senting the Senato of the University College of South Wales and Monmouthshire; and Professor J. M. Angus, Aberystwyth College. There were also pre- sent either in the church or in the procession, among others, the following gentlemen The Rev. Canon Thompson, D.D., Cardiff; Sir John T. Dillwyn Llewelyn, Sir George Walker, Mr. and Mrs. Nicholl, Merthyr Mawr; Mr. W. Williams, Chief Inspector of Schools for Wales, Aberystwyth Mr. C. T. Whitmell, Cardiff Mr. Godfrey Clark, Revs. C. A. H. Green, M.A., vicar of Aberdare Morgan Powell, vicar of Aberaman; B. Evans, Aberdare; J. 0. Reilly, Aberdare; T. Anthony, W. James, Aber- dare J. Howell, Mountain Ash; Dr. Ro'>erts, Cardiff; W. Thomas, Cwmdare; D. R. James| Mountain Ash T. T. Hughe-, ,T. Edwards and R. Thomas, Penrhiwceiber J. Williams (C. M.), Penrhiwceiber; Alderman Aaron Davies, Pont- lottyn W. L. Powell, Mountain Ash J. Rowlands, minister to the Deaf and Dumb Mission for Gla- morganshiie; Owen Jones, Mountain Ash; E. Morgan, vicar of Penmark; Dr. Evan Jones, J.P., Tydraw, Aberdare; Dr. E. P. Evans, J.P., Moun- tain Ash Captain Bell, Merthyr Vale Dr. T. W. Scule, Aberdare Dr. J. Kent Jones, Mountain Ash; Mr. J. Edwards Penrhiwceiber; Mr. R. Thomas, Penrhiwceiber; Captain Morgan Morgan, J.P., Mountain Ash, his lordship's agent; Mr. Arthur Laurence, Cardiff, his lordship's mineral engineer Judge Gwilym Williams, Mr. W. M. North, Mr. D. Williams, High Constable of Aberdare; Messrs. H. W. Martin, Dowlais; Egerton Phillimore, London I). T. Phillips,' solicitor, Mountain Ash II. P. Linton, clerk to the Mountain Ash District Council W. H. Thomas, Mountain Ash W. Hopkin (Bryncethin), Capc-oeh Jainea Lewis. J.P., Aberdare; T. G. Dowling,' Duffryn Schools W. Bevan, Mountain Ash E. M. Hanll, Aberaman Henry Eynon, Walter Hogg, secretary of the Glamorganshire Technical Instruction Comniittee J. Williams, surveyor to the Mountain As 11 L roan iJistrict Council; .J. 1'mner, AI>erdare; James Davies, manager, Mountain Ash S. Shipton,' clerk to the Llanwonno School Board C. H. James, J. P., Merthyr: J. E. Robertson; Isaac H. George, Mountain Ash; T. Davies, C.C., AbercwmboV: Roger Williams, Capcoch G. A. Evans, Mountain Ash; Evan Owen, J.P., Cardiff; George Harland, stationmaster, Mountain Ash John Howe, district secretary, representing the Llandaff Diocesan C.E.T.S. Louis Tylqr, Cardiff; T. Edmunds, Mountain Ash; R. T. Phillips, Cardiff; J. Nether- way, Mountain Ash Rhys Williams, Miskin J. Llewelyn, Abersychan D. Williams Mountain Ash T. Net-herway, Lewis Oxetihaxi, J. H. Davies, Cardiff; John John, Mouutain Ash; Evan Jones, W. P. Eynon, Thomas Evans, J. Evans, Mount Pleasant T. Pringle, J. Mulbey, Henry Eynon, Mountain Ash; E. Burge, Aberdare; J.Coilier. Mountain Ash W. J. Merry man, Aberdare ? -Tames W. Williams, Mountain Ash Ta!fz Long, T. Williams, chemist, Mount- Ash James Davies, Mountain Ash Ow. Lindsay, chief constable of Glamorgan » tl,e Hon. Aubrey Vivian, Singleton, Sw;>«c5ca; Messrs. E. Morris, Penrhiwceiber; W Phillips, member of the Aherdare School Board Mrs. D. M. Richards, member of the Merthyr Board of Guardian-; Messrs. F. X. Mertz, Aberdare G. Evans, Mountain Ash George V. Jones, Castle Hotel; Thomas Davies, builder, Mountain Ash D. Williams, draper, Mountain Ash. Mr. John Cory, Cardiff, was among those prevented from attending owing to illness. Mr. Louis Tvlor and Mr. Evan Owen represented the Miners' "Peruament Provident Fund Inspector Warr, Cardiff; Inspector Lovejoy, Weston super Mare and Inspector Herniman, Carmarthen, took part as a deputation from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, of which the late Lord Aberdare was for upwards of 15 years president, only quite recently having resigned that position in favour of H.R.H. the Duke of York. Among the private carriages in the cortepe were those of Mr. K. M. Hann, Aberaman: Major Bell, Merthyr Vale; Mr. James Lewis, T. P. Aberdare; and Mrs. James Lewis, Plasdraw. Those who acted as bearers were :—Mr. w. Walters (Penrhiw'rangor), Mr. Richard Walters, Mr! Evan Walters, Councillor Davies (Abercwmboy), Mr. Thomas Rosser, Mr. J. Davies (Blaencwmbov), Mr. Common, gamekeeper. Mr. Phillip Rosser, Mr. J. Rees, Mr. J. Thomas, Mr. Thomas Evans, and Mr. Thomas Thomas, all being tenants of the Duffryn estate. The grave was a plain earth one;, bu; the in- side was lined so completely with ivy and other ever- greens that none of the newly-exposed earth could be seen. Round the edges was a wide border of moss, and flowers, primulas, yellow tulips, and narcissi being plentifully used in its formation. Ouly three wreaths were placed upon the coffin, namely, those from Lady Alierdare, H.I.M. the Empress Frederick and Miss Isobel Bruce, Brynderwen, niece of the deceased gentleman. The latter was com posed entirely of violets, and was dropped into the grave after the lowering of the coffin .The concluding portions of [the burial service were read in impressive tones by the Ven. A rchdeacon Bruce at the words Earth to earth, dust to dust," Mr. W. Dally sprinkled a few handfuls of earth over the coffin. There then followed the hymn, Rock of ages, cleft for me sung with great sweetness and feeling by the unite'd Church Choir, and tho religious ceremony terminated some little time afterwards with tho hymn, Yn y dyfroedd mawr a'r tollaij," to the tune known as Alexander." The coffin, which was of massive polished English oak; with brass mountings, bore oil the breastplate the following mscriptiun:- Hv. AUSTIN, First Baron Aberdare, G.C.B. Born 16th April, 1815. Died 25th February, 1895. The churchwardens—Mr. Morgan Morgan, vicar's warden, and Mr. J. Robinson, people's warden -and the sidesmen made excellent arrangements for the ceremony in so far as that portion of it which took place in the church were concerned. Mr. Morgan Morgan, the vicar's warden, could not a ttend to the superintendence of arrangements in the church, as, being tho-agent-to his late lordship, many other duties devolved upon him. The mourning coaches employed in the funeral were supplied by Mr. J. Wiltshire, Mountain Ash. Owing to Mr. M. Morgan, J.l' agent to the late Lord Aberdare, having the control of the family and private arrange- ments for the funeral, the Hon. W. X. Bruce, accom- panied by Mr. Morgan, waited upon Mr. W. Dally, and desired him to carry out the public arrangements for the funeral, which Mr. Dally undertook to do. The following gentlemen kindly assisted Mr. Dally as marshals: Mr. J. Long, Mr. A. Clark, and Mr. F. -J. Mills. At St. Margaret's Church, the marshals were assisted by Mr. M. Morgan, J.P., agent, vicar's warden, Mr. J. E. Robinson, people's warden, Messrs. C. Jenkins, S. R. Netherway, W. Went, and J. K. Brooks, sidesmen. The decorations at St. Margaret's Church were arranged by the Hon. W. N. and Mrs. Bruce, Hon. Mrs. Mackenzie, Hon. Mrs. Russell, Hon. Mrs. Wynne Jones, Miss Lloyd. Mrs. M. Morgan, Mies Colston, Miss Lonpr, Colonel Bunbury, Rev. R. Lloyd, vica-i, Revs. T. W. Moore, D. T. R. Jamef, J. Hughes, Mr. A. Morgan, Mr. W. Dally. The decorations at the Mortuary Chapel were arranged by the Hon. W. N. and Mrs.' Bruce, Mrs. M. Morgan, Miss Lloyd and Mr. E. Jenkins. Just before dusk the whole of the family, with the excep- tion of her ladyship, visited the grave, atter which it was filled in. A memorial service was held at St. Margaret's Church. Westminster, London, the same afternoon, where the officiating clergy were the Ven. Archdeacon Jarrar, the Rev. W. J. Somerville. and the Rev. Newman Bennel. disAtrt icnte, arrley feaPrlelUn, ciBf es LnoIwC t earRle l EthmFe EapdRle aEcfeNrs oCm of ESwth.oe rsphuip lpiin t tohne Sunday to the late nobleman's death. Among others wo may mention the followingThe Rev. B. Lloyd, B.D., vicar of Mountain Ash, at St. Margaret's Church, the family of the late lord toeing present Rev. John Thomas, Zoai Rev. D. C. Edwards, Hope Chapel; Rev. ,T. G. James, B.A.. Market- square Chapel; and the Rev. Alfred Hail, High- street Chapel, Merthyr. At the mass meeting of railway men, held under the auspices of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants on Sunday afternoon, at Bent- ley's Central Hall, Merthyr, Mr. J. O. Jones, Mtrthyr Times, in the chair, Mr. Bell, the organis- ing secretary of the society, proposed a vote of condolence with Lady Aberdare and the family on the lamented death of Lord Aberdare. This event had cast a gloom, said Mr. Bell, over the whole country. It is true that politically the late peer belonged to an assembly which was not very friendly towards railway men, and that they as working men could not always endorse everything he said and everything he did. I But they desired to forget ail those things to-day. After all Lord Aberdare was a nobleman in every sense of the word, and had done a great deal of good serv ice to the country in many directions. His death inflicted on Wales an irreparable loss. The vote was seconded in a few sympathetic words by Mr. Oliver Jenkins, and passed in silence, the audience rising to their feet. At baturday s meeting of the Merthyr Guardians the chairman (Mr. D. P. Davies) said that before pro- ceeding to the ordinary business of the Board he thought it was only fitting for him to make some reference to the lamented death of Lord Aberdare. His lordship had been a member of that Board for many years, and he was as they all knew the greatest man Wales had raised in the present generation (hear, hear). No one had done moie to bring about beneficial legislation for his country than Lord Aberdare who had dealt with the licensing law, Factory Acts and Education. He was intimately connected with the poor law, and it might be said that lie died in harness whilst in London, where lie had gone to complete a report on the question of the aged poor. His lordship had died full of years and they could not do less than expres their condolence with Ladv Aberdare and her family in their bereavement.— liev. A. Davies seconded and said it was strange that at the last meeting of the Court of Governors of the Cardiff University Lord Aberdare himself seconded a vote of condolence with the bereaved family of the late Lord Swansea.—The motion was carried in silence, all the guardians stand- ing. At the St. David's banquet, held at the Aberdare Liberal Club, Mr. Griffith George, before the toast list was proceeded with. referred in most feeling terms to the death of the late Lord Aberdare. He pointed out that we could not forget that Lord Aberdare was in love with this town. When he was elevated to the peerage, he took Aberdare for the title by which he would be recognised. He (the speaker) would never forget the fatherly love with which his lordship received them when they visited him respecting obtaining ground in Aberdare for an intermediate school. All knew what difficulty had been experienced in that matter. But Loid Aberdare not only gave us the ground, but also assisted llfl pecuniary by the sum of JS250 towards the erection of that building. They also knew his general interest in the Liberal Club, and how he helped them to find land for the premises. At the formation of this club in Aberdare, his advice was to maintain the reputa- tion of the club. Thab had been done up to the present time (hear, hear). He (the speaker) hoped they would continue to keep up the Liberal reputa- tion which Lord Aberdare asked them to do. I have in my mind (said Mr. George) an idea which is perhaps I very fRr from reality but considering what the late lord had done for this town, I think we should have a statute of his lordshiperected here in Aberdare. The tovvnsjjeople should go in for it and lav claim to its erection here. Not the Literal Club, or the Con- servative Club, nor any particular party or creed but we should go united as one body, independent of creed or politics, and have a monument worthy of the man that we shall always miss. I have broached the subject in another council, and they are willing to co-operate with any public body to have this realised (hear, hear).—A vote of condolence with the widow and family was then passed in silence, all standing with bowed heads. At the annual mess of the non-commissioned officers of the Merthyr Yale detachment of volunteers, held at the Alterfan Hotel, on St. David's Day, Sergeant- Instructor Murphy in the chair, a vote of condolence with the family of the late Lord Aberdare was passed in silence, 011 the motion of Captain Bell. At a meeting held at Aberdare Junction on Tuesday week in support of the candidature of Mr. Thomas Morris, Thorn Hotel, the Chairman, Mr. R. Powell, proposed a vote of condolence with Lady Aberdare and family on the lampnted death of Lord Aberdare. Appropriate and sympathetic remarks were made, and the vote was carried in silence. At a meeting of the Tredegar Council, on Friday, Mr. H. Bowen referred to the loss that Wales had received through the death of Lord Aberdare, and he thought that the chairman should move a resolution to that effect.-The Chairman (Councillor Reynolds) said that it was his duty to do so. There was not a man in the two counties who had done so much for education as Loid A-berdare had done. He was very much loved amongst the people where he had lived, and when a man was so much respected by the people amongst whom he lived, it spoke very highly of him. —Mr. Bairett seconded, and said that he was a splen- did educationalist and a gentleman who was always ready to assist forward any go-,d work and to stand in the front rank on IK-half of the people.—The reso- lution was carried in silence.

EXCITING FOOTDAI.L MATCH AT THE MERTHVR V,0!;KHOUSE. OLD v. NEW :jl*Al!i!l ANS. A fojtl)ail ii)at,-Ij on Saturday morning la-t un 1;j»- V, '-ikliouse Grounds between the representative oi lie Old and New Guardians. The bid] v. a- set milirsr from the Train- ing School end by the Old Git'U'flia; .•. who, at the outset, allowed the a^gi-e->> Se\ e.i ] .oints having I)een T. punt, and knocked stuifingout <■' h.s "pponcuts. This put E. Lewis, the ski:i: j new team, on his mettle, and repeating ta<had found successful on former occasions, he rushed blind!}- up the field and looked liked scoring, "hen tbe "Popular Guardian came to the rescue, and smartly tackled the Great and Only. This only enraged the captain, who vigorously continued the attack; but 1 opular (¡unrdiall," to whom evidently the post ot honour had been given, defended the citadel right heartily. Some smart kicks followed up and down the field, and for awhile the result seemed doubtful, but it eventually resulted in the sainine of sliedit advantage by the Old Guardians. Backed up by the New Woman." the Great and Only once more buckled on his armour, and renewed his attack on the posts; lint this time the hero of Glebeland, the victor of a hundred matches, came to the relief of the full oack. The Great and Only played off-side, and on an appeal being made to the referee, a free kick wa" awarded to I). Davies, Glebeland. Evan Lewis, the New skipper, smartly returned, and J. W. Morgan securing, kicked into touch. The referee at this *tage ordered a scrimmage in the place where there was 110 mud," but the Gellifaelog bov again secured,and punted far into the Old Ciiarclians" terri- tory. He was just on the point of scoring when he Wa:3 once more grassed by T. Thomas, the Popular Guardian," and from a scrummage which took place at this stage, the Old Guardians' forwards, headed by D. Davies, Aberdare. rushed down the field. This pJayer gained considerable ground before he was pushed into touch by Dan Thomas, the leading forward of the New team. On the ball being thrown out, T. Harris secured, and essayed to run, but being confronted by Dan Thomas, he'threw to .1. L. Smith, who passed to D. Davies, Glebeland, who, with a rattling sprint-, landed the oval right between the posts. The;place kick was taken by L. P. Edwards, who dropped a neat goal. The filial result was a win for the Old team by five goals, three tries, to three minors. As the teams left the field the Oldsters were heartily cheered by a big crowd of spectators, because this was the first time for the New team to be defeated since the cinb w as established.

The Glamorganshire County Council Election. TO THE ELECTORS OF THE PENYDAliREN ELECTORAL DIVISION. LADIES AM» GKXTLKMKN, Permit me to return you my very sincere thanks for once more electing me a* your Representative. Arrayed against me there were the combined forces of the drink traffic, the Tory Party, with their followers, and others from whom we could have expected hetter things. I piomise you that I shall do all that lies in my power to carry the Liberal flag, while T shall have the houour to .speak and vote in your name. I remain, Ladies and Gentlemen, Your obedient Servant, DAVID DA VIES, Maenycoed, March 6th, 1895.

The Merthyr Urban District Council. TO THE TOWN WARD ELECTORS. SADIES AND GENTLEMEN,— The untimely and lamented death of Mr. Henry Lewis has created a vacancy in the representation of the Town Ward. I have been induced to offer my services to the electors, and do so with some diffi- dence. I have resided among you for some 20 years, and during that period have identified myself with every movement tending to the public benefit. As a ratepayer I have, in common with yourselves, had to complain of the past extravagance of our ruling authorities, and I shall, if elected, direct my attention and energies to having oar town more efficiently and economically managed. In this direction there is ITlueh work to perform, and having the time to devote to your services, you may rely upon my doing every- thing for our mutual benefit. Every progressive movement for the advantage of the ratepayers and the town generally will receive my active support. In appealing for your votes, T again promise that nothing shall be wanting on my part to I serve you satisfactorily and faithfully. I am, Yours obediently, ANGUS MACKINTOSH. Upper Castle-street, Merthyr, 20th February, 1895. [2910

Merthyr Tydfil School Board Election. TO THE ELECTORS OF MERTHYR TYDFIL. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, I ask you to once more elect niu a member of the above Board. It will be for you and not for any ^ctarian Committee to decide how far I am fitted to fill such a post. If elected my only promise is tlMt 1 will not rcpie- Sent any sect, denomination or party, hut that in the true interests of the children, I will, as far as I can, advocate efficient and non-sectarian education at our School Board. I am, Ladies and Gentlemen, Yours faithfully, C. HENRY JAMES. 8, Courtland. terrace, Merthyr Tydfil. [2901

Merthyr School Board Election. TO THE ELECTORS. SADIES AND GENTLEMEN,— I disagree with the past policy of our School Plmrd, and, in common with every ratepayer, com- plain, with, I consider, no little reason, of the extra- vagance and favouritism of the expiring Board. Considering a change imperative, especially if our local taxes are to be reduced, I have consented to seek jour 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 I confidently appeal for your votes as an INDEPENDENT AND FEARLESS CANDIDATE. I remain, vour obedient servant, DAN THOMAS, Plymouth Arms Inn, Merthyr, February 19th, 1895. [2906

Merthyr School Board Election. TO THE RATEPAYERS OF MERTHYR TYDFIL. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, At the request of a number of inlluential rate- Payers, I have decided to seek your votts again as a Candidate for the School Board. If elected, I hope iu mai, —, i i.„ .1..1\C ill tj1" Tirniimte the highest interest of Free Education in the Parish, without at the least possible cost to the ratepayers. I remain, Your obedient Servant, D. CHARLES EDWARDS. February Hth, 1895. [2899

NOTES AND COMMENTS. + I HE mass meeting of railway men at Beutley's Central Hall on Sunday afternoon was a magnifi- cent success. The attendance was far better than the expectations of the most sanguine, which must be very gratifying to Mr. Bell, the cnergctic organising secretary of the Amalgamated Society, H|'d all those faithful workers who have laboured diligently for many years, hoping as it were against hope, to develop their organisation. A reassuring feature of the meeting was the presence "f many railway men who were not members of the society, but who, let us hope, will soon join the ranks of their comrades. We would not say a single word to hurt the feelings of those w ho arc still outside the pale of union. They stand aloof, 110 doubt, for reasons that appear to them to be adequate, and their conduct is dictated bv sinccrc Motives. It docs seem strange, however, that there should be any ncecssity. at this time of fia.v, to preach the gospel of combination to so intelligent a class of men as the railway employes. e would respectfully commend to their notice the facts, and especially the figures, given by Mr. Bell in his very able and convincing speech, which is reported at length in another column. Sunday's niceting would appear to indicate a. revival of interest in the society by the railway men of this district, and we would fain hope that the day is far distant when the names of all tlie men of a" grades will be found on its roll of membership. *f the resolutions passed, the most (immediately important, ig that condemning the action of the ^rent cstern Company iu refusing leave to dele- SW 1 '° attend the various society meetings. ould this refusal be persisted in we would advise it- men to resort to the block system," and get -< some of the Welsh members to do all they can to hinder the progress of Great Western Bills in Par- liament. We have new plenty of members who will readily do their best, on the floor of St. Stephens, to shield the toiler from the tyranny of the oppressor.

CurKfi) defenders claim for their establishment the credit of giving our nation the Welsh version of the Bible. In the current issue of Young J( ales, Mr..J. H. Davies, B.A., investigates the matter, and brings out some rather curious results. The facts may be briefly set forth as follows :— Early in the sixteenth century it was seen that the best way to destroy the power of the Papists in Wales was by circulating, among the peasants, the Bible in their own native tongue. This task was first undertaken by laymen. Sir John Prys translated the Commandments, the Lord's Prayer, and the Creed, in 1546. Twenty-one years later, j William Salesburv published his first Welsh Testament. In 1563 the Welsh bishops were com- manded, by Act of Parliament, to issue a Welsh Bible. As is well known, they did not obey this command. In 15SS, Bishop William Morgan pub- lished the whole Bible in Welsh, and this was revised and published a second time bv Bishop Parry in 1620. But note this fact these Bibles were only for use in churches, and were Hot circu- lated among the people. Another step forward was taken by Sir Thomas Middleton and Rowland Heylyn, two patriotic Welsh laymen, who issued an edition which was sold at four sl mings. No trouble, however, seems te have been taken to place this edition within the reach of the masses the bulk of it was circulated Inter on bv Vavasor Powell. Now we come to 1634, when Noncon- formity began to take root in the country. In 1641 the Nonconformists secretly (note that word) issued an edition of the New Testament. From that time onward the number of editions multi- plied. Eight editions were brought out before the end of the century, during which period only one edition was published by the Church. Thus we arrive at the following conclusions From 1546 to 1641 the Church had a free field for a century two bishops did translate the Bible, but no means were adopted to circulate the translation among the people for putting the Welsh Bible in the hands of the masses, we have to thank the early Nonconformists. We must bear in mind that, at this time, the Nonconformists were very few and scattered, while the Church had all the wealth and all the aristocracy and all the learning of the country. All honour, then, to those sturdy and faithful pioneers of the religious revival who, poor, persecuted, without influence, weak and scattered, performed the work which the Church, despite all her wealth and learning, and despite the express command of the Parliament, failed or neglected to perform

MK. WILLIAM MOKCAX, J.P., Pant, lias played a prominent part in the public life of Dowlais for the last 45 years. His influence has ever been on the side of truth and justice, and he has done what in him lay to uplift the masses socially, religiously, and politically. His career and his unselfish efforts in every good cause were acknowledged on Thursday evening by the people of Dowlais iu a worthy fashion. A little more might lrivo been said about his literary achievements. His History of Vaynor" is a remarkable book, show- ing much erudition, and the result of a very con- siderable amount of painstaking research. His "Album Williams Pantycelyn is known through- out the Principality, and jealously treasured by all lovers of the "Sweet Singer of Wales." Mr. Morgan was also a contributor to the Anise,-an, which is a link that joins him to a brilliant circle of Welsh literature, of whom the best known are Hiraethog and Ieuan Gwyllt. He fully deserved the testimonials presented him on Thursday, and the eulogistic remarks made by the various speakers who took part in the proceedings. We wish him a long life to serve his country and to enjoy the honour and esteem in which lie is universally held.

THE results of the County Council elections are far from being satisfactory. The grand victory of Mr. David Morgan in Aberdare, it is tuie, is verv gratifying. Mr. David Davies has also secured a triumph in Penydarren. The Liberals, however, have sustained grievous defeats. In Treharris a seat has been lost, and Mr. Arthur Daniel failed to oust Mr. H. W. Lewis, whose politics are so mysterious a problem, from the Plymouth Ward. In the Cyfarthfa Ward Mr. Thomas Thomas has been defeated by Mr. Wat kin Moss. This unfor- tunate result is due, in a great measure, to the fact that Mr. Thomas already held seats on various other public Boards. His opponents relied almost entirely, as far, at least, as their public utterances went, on the one ..an one Board" cry. We must admit that, in this respect, they had a strong case, and we hope the Liberal Party will take the lesson to heart. The tide of public opinion is setting in with unmistakable strength against a monopoly of offices, and it is only our strongest men who are able to stem the current. But the elections in Merthyr were influenced by another powerful factor, to wit, the beer barrel. In the Town, Cyfarthfa, and Penydarren Wards the publicans strained every nerve to secure the return of Messrs. Lewis, Moss, and Morgan respectively. In Penydarren Mr. Davies was too strong for them, but in the other the Liberal candidates were swamped by the alcholic floo(l. This is a fact which the Liberal Party had better look straight in the face, and that without delay. Not for a moment would we desire to debar publicans from fully exercising their rights as citizens. But that alcohol should develop into such a powerful electoral factor in our midst, and that public-houses should be turned virtually into active political centres, is a thing which the community, in the interests of 11 progress and liberty, is bound, sooner or later, to take into serious consideration. And the sooner the better. Ten thousand times preferable is the L- <i1 £ > mux uie capitalist, or even the supremacy of the three com- bined, to i",uit uf P.nnir. Another lesson taught by the recent election is the deplorably demoralised state of the Liberal Party. The Town Ward was lost, if the figures are to be relied on, simply on account of Liberal apathy and abstentions, these again being due to lack of organisation. The other side did. their best, and the votes they polled show their mauimum strength. Yet their majority was only 100, though the Liberals had acandidate that was not as strong as might be desired, and absolutely no organisation. The moral is obvious. W ith an efficient organisation and a strong candi- date the Liberals would sweep the board, and defy the Tories and the publicans to do their very worst. We have preached this evangel over and over again. But a far more effective ministry is needed, we fear, to bring about the desired result, the ministry, to wit, of further defeats, and still more serious disasters.

THE approaching crisis in the coal trade is regarded in many different ways. Some think it is only a dodge on the part of the masters to hasten the termination of the present Sliding- scale dispute. Others see in it a diplomatic intrigue to bring Mabon back into influence and power, the Rhondda. hero having of late declined somewhat, it is thought, in favour among the men. The general public arc perhaps apt to exaggerate the gravity of the situation. A strike or a lock- out would be a serious thing, and it is to be hoped that such a calamity will be averted. It seems to us that the thick end of the stick is in the hands of the masters. On a falling market they can pretty well dictate their own terms. They are united, and the men arc thoroughly disorganised. How the colliers, without anything like an efficient organisation, can hope to fight a battle, it is difficult to sec. Attempts have recently been made to form, a general union for whole of the South Wales Coal-iield, but without success. It is conjectured that some of the men's leaders in various localities arc under the influence of the masters. Certain facts lend colour to that theory, and if it be true, then the prospects arc desper- ately gloomy. The men should at once set them- selves in battle order, and dismiss all leaders whose fidelity is not beyond suspicion.

D.%y -its t,iiix vcai,, as usiliki, f(,t, t,lic most part a, gastronomic afik:r. Merthyr Cvmro- d or ion had a dinner so had the Aberdare Liberals and (he Merthyr Vale Volunteers. In caeh ease I the (ceding was followed by floods of oratory, which it were crucl to examine too critically. I Unfortunately it happened that, when our saint- day came round this year, the air was charged with electioneering electricity, which is not con- ducive to the flow of patriotic sentiment. The eating of a dinner, however well cooked, and the delivering of or listening to flights of pawkv, namby-pamby eloquence are not the most appro- priate way of honouring the memory of our Patron-saint. The spirit of festivity was clouded o'er this year by the death of Lord Aberdare, one of the most eminent benefactors our nation has ever seen. He was laid to rest on St. David's Day. His life was a blessing to Wales, and his memory will be honoured by generations yet unborn.

PRESENTATION TO AN ABERDARE JUNCTION DOCTOR. The whole of the members of Dr. A. J. Griffiths' class have pas-ed a careful examination conducted by Dr. Wallace of Cardiff. A smoking concert was held at the Thorn Hotel on Tuesday, for the purpose of presenting their esteemed instructor, Dr. A. J. Grif- tiths, with a twenty guinea gold watch, subscribed for by memhers of the class and a few outside friends. Mr. K H. Battram was unanimously voted to the chair, supported by several gentlemen. The Chair- man, after a few introductory remarks, called upon Mr. J. Finan, a member of the to make the presentation. The embraced all the rece.it improvements, and would record the time to the fractional part of a second. Mr. Finan said if the intrinsic value of the watch was compared with the esteem in which their instructor was held, it could not be seen by the greatest magnifying power of the day. He then re:td the following inscription, which was engraved upon the watch Presented to Dr. A. J. Griffith by the members and friends of the St. John Ambulance Class, Navigation, Glam., as a token of esteem and gratitude for professional services. March the 4th, 1895. (Signed), J. F. Williams, J. Aust, .1. Finan.Dr. Griffith, in reply, said that when he formed the class he little thought that he would be the recipient of so handsome a present,and he assured the meeting that he felt fully compensated for his services by the energy and excellence displayed by the class, who in stretcher practice cohld not be excelled even by the Army Hospital Corps. The present would always he the greatest treasure in his possession, for which he felt highly grateful.—Several speakers then addressed the meeting, the general tenure of whose speeehes was the hopf that the doctor would live to wear out the watch, and being the first resident doctor in the district, the wish was generally ¡ expressed that he would long remain amongst them to grace his profession. Sougs were then rendered by Mr. Evans (schoolmaster), Mr. fman, i>i. A. j. Griffiths, and Mr. George Martin, Post Office. Recitations were also delivered by Messrs. D. J. Price, A. Slade, and A. Wyndham. A vote of thanks I to the chaiman, whose wit and versatility rendered such good service, brought an eminently successful gathering to a (dose.

Correspondence. THE PERILS OF COURTLAND-TERRACE. SIR,-I was much amused in reading in your last I issue of the adventures of "Pedestrian" in Court- land-terrace. It far exceeds the populous career of Don Quixote for Don Quixote's was in accordance ¡' with the age in which he lived, and also had his head turned by the adventures of others at that time. But unless we will take it that Pedestrian was a rejected suitor that night, and did not know what he wa" doing, or perhaps did not care, only wanting to be revenged upon the world at large for his misfortune, we will find it difficult to understand, why he should begin to butt a plank which was put up to support a wall. There is a gas lamp not ten yards away. I suppose "Pedestrian" knows that a wall of that magnitude can't be taken down and put up in a day, and it would scarcely pay the municipality of Merthyi to put up a ten thousand candle-power searchlight for the convenience of rejected swains like "Pedestrian." However, he ought to be thankful that he had not the power to knock down that prop, or else it is very likely he would meet a g:catcr mis- fortuue in having a b 11 for damages from the same municipality for voluntary damaging public property to the danger of more rational beings. —Yours, &c., A. Me. P. RABBIT COURSING AT QUAKERS' YARD. Sili,—On Monday last the above event came off in a field on Birch Grove Farm. A large number cf young men attended, accompanied by their dogs. The sport was most cruel, and was condemned bv many eye-witnesses. A rabbit would be let out of a box, and immediately a number of dogs would be set after it, before it had the least chance of escape. A tug of war between two dogs for the possession of a rabbit could be frequently seen. I am astonished that respectable tradesmen and profe. sing Christian-- should identify themselves with 'his 1 utfianlv sport. Trusting some al.It,. pen than mine will take this matter IIp.-1 am, yours, Ac. Treharris, March 4th, 1893. HVMAMTV. (Several letters croi'.xlcd uat.J

[ CAMANFA GAXC AT MERTHVR. The annual musical festival of the Merthyrand District Welsh Baptist Musical Association was held on Monday last at Zion Chapel, when Mr. Rees Abraham, A.C..and Mr. Dan Davies led the singing. in the unavoidable absence of Mr. R. C. Jenkins", Llanelly. Councillor David Davies introduced the first meeting, which was fairly well attended. Th«=- singing of Galwadau and Erys y Ffigysbren deserv e special praise, though the singing throughout was of a high order. The chairman of the uiornin- meeting was Mr. Evan Davies, Cefn, and addresses were delivered by the Rev. H. I. Jenkin., Bethel, and the Hey, D. Price. Bethel. In the afternoon the chair was occupied by the Rev. W. Griffiths, Ebeue- zer, and the meeting was introduced by the Rev. H. Jenkins, of Ainon. Addresses were delivered by the Rev. H. Jenkins (Ainon), Mr. Joseph Owen, and the Rev. J. G..Tames (Market-square). The rendering of the anthems Mor Hawddgar yw dy Bebyll and the Hallelujah Chorus was something magnifi- cent. In the evening, Mr. Joseph Owen presided. The meeting was introduced by the Rev. W. B. Griffiths, Cefn, and addresses were delivered by Alaw Brvcheiniog and Mr. William Thomas. In addition to the excellent congregational singing, which was listened to. solos were given :—" Yr Arglwydd yw fy mugail," by Mrs. Mary Miles Bey- non and Coronwch Ef yn Ben," by Miss Cassie Davies, Miss Price, Cefn, and Mr. D. Williams. Much of the success of the cymanfa is due to the energy of the secretary, Mr. J. D. Price, Tabernacle, and the treasurer, Mr. W. Griffiths, Kljenezer.

ALLEGED HORSE STEALING AT ABERAMAN. Thomas Allison was charged at the Aberdare Police-court on Tuesday with stealing a ponv from rix?"n-S T>ViIliarns' Pt Pengwelly Farm, Aberaman. — v\ llliams stated that prisoner was in his employ on Sunday morning, and in consequence of his not- coming in to dinner a search was made, when it was discovered that Allison had taken a horse and bridle, value £18. Information was laid with the police] and on Monday morning P.C. Thomas Edwards, Mountain Ash, apprehended prisoner on the highway coming from Nelson, and going in the direction of Alwrdare. When charged with stealing the pony he stated that he had been to Nelson to see his mother on Sunday, and in consequence of her illness he remained overnight. He told the constable whose pony it was, and that he was then on his way to tho farm.—The story had a truthful appearance, and the Bench discharged Allison.

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