The Cambrian

{Copy right.} HEALTH AND HOME By W.GORDON STABLES, :\I.D.,R.N Author of "Sickness and Hiialth," "The People'* A.B.C. Guide to Health." "The Wife's Guide to Health and Happiness," &e:, &c. IX THE LONG AGO. I looked far back into other years, And lo in bright array I saw, as in a dream. The forms of ages passed away. That is poetry, but the price of this pape- still remains the same. It was the volunteers I was dreaming about. In the earlier 'sixties;, being then little more than a boy, I joined the volunteers, and determined to carry a rilie for the Queen, just for the romance of the thing. ] liked the drill very much, especially the bayonet, and have never forgotten it. But I must sav that discipline was exceedingly lax in our uo- piny's ranks. I have heard a private tell nM lieutenant: "You needn't give yourself airs. You're only a bloomin' tailor, after all." And rougher language than that has often passed between privates and their officers. I shall never forget my own experience of the first great Edinburgh review, when 20,000 troops (volun- teers) were marched past the Queen in the park. I had been travelling all night, and was on my legs all day. This would not have mattered so much, but I was marched out of my own batta- lion to help to strengthen another. This parted me from my companion, who carried the food and drink. It was all a wearisome, tiresome day, and when late in the afternoon we wound out of the park four-deep, and I found I was being marched towards the station to entrain without bite or sup for Aberdeen, I simply brought my rifle from the shoulder to the trail and took French leave. The officer in command tried to remonstrate. I told him to "get," as he was no officer of mine, and then swung off. ] met a kind old gentleman after that, who asked me to dinner, and as he had a nice family ol girls the evening, you may be sure, dear reader, passed very sweetly indeed. This may seem a long preface to all I have to say, which is that at every Board school boys should be trained as soldiers, and that trained so young they will never forget it. We should thus have a force ever ready to fall back upon, which could very soon and easily be licked into the form of .1 good field force. But there should be no half- measures. Do the thing perfectly, or leave it alone. BIRD'S-NESTING. I am writing at my open window, in the middle of April, net having bean able to leave my sick- room yet. There is a blackbird fluting in the copse just beyond. There is a thrush or two also -the mocking-bird of these islands—and up till yesterday there was the sweet wee song of cock- robin but his nest, which is in the wistaria just under my window, is to-day filled with young, and he has something else to do than sit and sing. The cold has kept all other birds silent as yet, and I have not heard the cuckoo, nor a single garden warbler. I want to call the attention of parents and school-teachers to the sin of bird's- nesting. What we owe to birds is incalculable. Were it not for these sweet singers, nature in the country would get off balance, and everything would be eaten up. We should have neither grain nor fruit. I fed certain that it is not through cruelty, but ignorance, that children take to bird's-nesting. I beg for assistance, therefore, and urge upon all who know to do what they can to check this terrible sin. THE HANDS. This is a paragraph addressed more to ladif than gentlemen. Nothing looks better thu. beautiful white hands, and they are not difficult to obtain. Be sure to wear old gloves when doing any species of work. That is one of the great secrets. Get a small manicure case and clean the nails with this. Never use steel to clean the nails, as this will leave an uneven surface, which speedily gets black. Keep the skin that l' grows up over the nail well back. Sleep in gloves with the tips of the fingers cut off, and wash always in oatmeal and rain-water with the purest of soap. Soap has much to account for ugly hands. These rules are simple, but mos4 effective. THE COMPLEXION AND VEILS. I grieve to see ladies with their faces covered closely with veils. These are generally black and spotted. I must be candid and say that it is generally ladies of an uncertain age who weaj thos»', and that they do so with the intention ol hiding/gathering crows "-feet. But the very fact of these veils being thus worn is suspicious, Moreover, what is there to be ashamed of in advancing years ? The sweetest lady ever 1 bivouacked with in my caravan some years ago was Miss Charlotte Yonge, the novelist. Hel hair was as white as the snows in Perthshire, but nothing could ever make her look old. But veils worn closely over the face not only destroy the complexion and produce black-heads and pustular disfigurements, but they injure the health by impeding the breathing. This is simple fact. I cannot force ladies to give them up, my province is only that of the guide and advisi r, but I must do myself the credit to say that I have the courage to speak the truth, whether it gives offence or not. PUBLIC LIBRARIES AND INFECTION. I have several times called attention to the dangers from these. M n or women suffering from infectious or contag;ous diseases get books from the public libraries, and these are left lying about on beds until they are thoroughly infested with the microbes of disease. The results when these; books are handed to healthy people may easily be understood. But I make no apology for quoting the words of Mr. Andrew Lang, who, in Longman's Magazine, deplores the fate of authors, and puts in an ingenious plea for the reading of his own works: Wretched men that authors are, the public has found out a new and scientific reason fcr not reading our books. If borrowed from a library they disseminate infection. Microbes are found at the rate of 2,400 to the square centimetre on well-thumbed books like Miss Marie Corelli's and Mr. Kipling's. The moral is, try unpopular authors. My own works are free from moral taint and microbes, not bf-ing well-thumbed. It is the public that con- tributes the thumbs, and the micrococks, and other fearful wildfowl. Moreover, the public has the remedy in its own hands. Buy our books; do not ask for them at the circulating library, where the odds are that you will them. Then you will be free from the vibrio^oi the vulgar and the micrococci of the multitude." > SICK NURSING. Unless a girl has a call for this she ought most certainly to try something else, else the work will seem to her all tyranny. She ought, more- over, to be possessed of the sweetest of tempers, and a firm desire to do her duty well. Moreover, even although she may believe that the patient's feelings are not what he describes, she ought to give him the benefit of every doubt, for she cannot really know all he is suffering. A cheerful temper in a nurse is a very great boon, but nothing ought to be done in a half-hearted or begrudging way. Sensitive men are still more sensitive when ill, and when they notice that attentions are not paid to them in goodwill they will either want these, being too proud to com- plain. or they will try to scramble out of bed to do things for themselves, even at the risk of their lives. Happy is he or she who has some loving female relative to undertake the duties of nurse. Yet was Scott right when he said: 0 woman, in our hours of ease Uncertain, coy, and hard to please, When pain and anguish wring the brow A ministering angel thou. FRESH AIR CURE FOR CONSUMPTION. I have written a small book on this interesting subject, which is published by Messrs. Jarrolds, of Norwich. I have not the slightest financial interest in its sale, else I would be the last to mention it. I must say, however, that it embodies the newest treatment, and the only scientific and sure one, and ought to be a boon to many. A t:f TO CORRESPONDENTS. Hoptful One.—You are young, and all you want for the cure of rheumatism is plenty of good food of a non-acid kind, fruit, and life in the fresh air. A little tincture of iron woald not hurt in your case. S. C.-No alcohol; a little ammonia and tincture of cardamoms. F. J. C.—I can only see one thing to help you— the cold tub every morning before breakfast. TroiMed. —No, the reduction of fat is only to be attempted by diet, and in no other way. The food should be greatly reduced, and neither starch nor sugar partaken of. J. F. Wild.— Read answer to F. J. C. J. S.-He must not cfde so much for a. time. Letters ^rorn correspondents touching this column should be addressed to Dr. Gordon E Stables, R.N., Twylord, Berks.

( Copyright.) VAGABOND NOTES By JOHN FOSTER FRASER. Last night I decreased one inch and a half in stature. At a quarter-past six I was two yards in length; by a quarter-past eight I had been reduced to one yarw thirty-four and a half inches. I was standing in a throng waiting to get into a London theatre pit. Of course, the right thing would be for me to write that 1 drove up to the theatre in m'. brougham, thai I was received by the manage- merit in 'vide gloves, and that the leading actor, dist (I in tbe light of my presence, refrained from wearing boots, and conducted me to the royal box in his stocking feet. That is. I understand, the way sreat men who write for newspapers are greeted. But I always go to the pit, for four reasons. The first is, I pay only half a crown the second, I am saved the necessity of climbing into a starched shirt, shaving, and making myself look clean-always a drawback to paying half a guinea for one's seat; thirdly, because I '•ike to mix with my fellow man; and fourthly, because Herbert Spencer always patronises the pit. Herbert Spencer is one of the mighty intellects of the age. He is so full of intellect that his hair gives off electric sparks. I've been told he illuminates the room in which he happens to be in such a way tl at the only use of the gas- fittings is to serve as ornaments. Years ago, when what I call my brain simmered with schemes to regenerate mankind, when I v. anted to alter the basis of society, be a mighty reformer and an oracle to the populace-I was about seventeen years of age then—I was told I should first saturate myself with Herb< rt Spencer. But I'm a lazy beggar, and I've been putting off the saturation every week since. I've never read a line of Herbert Spencer. I've never met a man who has. I've three friends who have his works on their shelves. They are in an ostentatious position and give visitors the impression my friends are "brainy" folks. But the pages are uncut. However, as Herbert Spencer goes to the pit I go there too. Another reason is that it is cheaper than the dress circle. The man who goes to the gallery, price in London one shilling, goes because he can't afford more. There is no humbug about him. He sits on the hard benches and nearly has a fight because the man sitting behind will persist in wiping his boots on the tails of his coat; between the second and third acts he gets a pass-out check and goes to a neighbouring put lie-house to see a man about a dog, and if he has his best girl with him he takes her back two oranges and a bag of monkey-nuts, and they crack the nuts and tpit the shells down the collars of the folks fitting in front, while the poor fair-haired hap- less heroine on the stage is crying: Is there no justice in Hea-ving ?" and they pitch the orange-peel at Jake Johnstone and his wench, and when Jake is hit in the ear with a piece of sucked orange, and the neck of his girl is en- circled with a snake-like string of peel, they laugh uproariously. They thoroughly enjoy themselves. Now, we pit folks go into the pit not because it is really cheap—for we could quite easily afford to go into the orchestra stalls if we liked; it's not the matter of the price, don't you know; that idea is too silly—but because you can see so much better in the pit than anywhere else, and a true theatre-goer doesn't think about price; he—and—oh she—is concerned about art -art with a big A, and occasionally with a big H. Last night, then, I was one of the pittites. I had dined frugally at my favourite restaurant in a Soho back street, where they talk strange tongues; but the soup is good, and the two ounces of filleted steak are a captivating morsel, and the coffee-I am an authority on coffee—is nothing less than divine. Happy with all the world, and happy in my pipe, I stood not far from that pit door. We were an intellectual crowd, as I gathered from the conversation of my neighbours. Peripatetic and sooty-faced minstrels came and twanged to us about "Soldiers of the Queen" and the "Absent-Minded Beggar," and flung at us jokes that were green with age, and rattled tam- bourines, and asked for coppers. But oh how my bones ached and groaned in their sockets during that two hours' stand. At the theatre I am always willing to be deceived. That is why I hate the genus critic. A critic is a bad man with a bulging forehead, and gets paid because of the uncomplimentary things he says about people. The nastier things he says the cleverer critic he is thought. Once I went into training for being a dramatic critic myself. I lived on badly-cooked food; drank bucketfuls of vinegar, and quarrelled with men whom I had formerly respected. I went to criticise a new play. I was paid jES for my article, but the proprietors of the news- paper bad to pay £ 800 in libel actions. Since that time I have never been employed as a critic. But, really, it is tne easiest thing on earth being a critic. I once told a musical critic who was going to write about the oratorio "Saul" that he could write an interesting half-column on Saul declaiming in a starched shirt and a claw- hammer coat, and 80 draw a comparison between the real Saul and the operatic gentleman. He only scowled at me. A good dinner puts you in a proper condition of mind to appreciate the play. There is nobody on earth who has enjoyed a night at the theatre if before going there the soup was cold and the beef burnt to a cinder. After dinner you are complacent; this world is the best of all worlds, and vou laugh at frivolities which at nine o'clock in the morning would send a cold shiver down your back. It was once my fate, in anxiety to see a famous player, to miss a meal. During the four hours of the performance the whole house was rampantly enthusiastic, I was dyspeptically critical. I saw the absurdity. Why, the room in which a secret tiagedy was being enacted had only three walls, instead of the regulation four which all properly built rooms have. On one of the three walls was armour; on another were cases of china; on the third were cases of books. I didn't listen to the wily words of the villain. I was wondering what would have been on that fourth wall, if there had been a fourth wall, and at last concluded it must be composed of windows that looked out on the back yard. When there was a street scene I was obliged to decide the folks in the play were a lot of blithering asses. Everybody met in front of St. Paul's Cathedral. The olive-stained villain made love to the antemic heroine right before the church. I wonder what time of the day that was ? Then, when the villain had dragged the heroine off, the hero, who was accused of killing six people, came on, and smacked his forehead and talked about "this dr-reary search." On his departure the policeman walked on backwards from one side, and the fool of the piece-the man with no brains, but a heart as large as a football-walked on backwards from the other, and then they knocked against one another, and the fool made a fool of the policeman. A stage policeman and a stage curate are the two creatures I always want to kick. All this while violent hammering was going on behind St. Paul's, and when the scene changed the heroine was in a churchyard looking for little Willie's grave. Now, I laughed at that scene, whereas if I had been well fed I might have sniffed and blubbered, and been as sentimental and got my money's worth as well as the weeping shop- girls all around me. Are the people on the stage at all real to you ? You think they are, I know, but have you ever known such a floppy, sloppy creature as the heroine ? Did you ever know a hero that stood making love speeches to the dome of St. Paul's Cathedral ? Did you ever know such a deep-dyed villain as the stage villain ? The stage curate wears goloshes, has no chin, and says: "My de-ar sister." Now, I know a curate or two who are really decent fellows, and I diresay you do. Have you ever seen a stage Englishman in a play on the Continent ? He always wears large check clothes-, flowing side whiskers, tow-bued, has tusks for teeth, carries a prayir-book in his pocket, and gives five-franc pieces to the chambermaids for the privilege of kissing them. But think of the Frenchman on the English stage He knows four words of his own language, paruz-tou*, encore, and sarre; and how he can hiss sacrt between his teeth! He shrugs his shovlders and says: "I do not understand ver much He is a gentleman who gets thrown out of the drawing-room window, and imme- diately afterwards there is a tremendous crash, which signifies he has gone through the roof of the greenhouse. At the end of the act he appears all tattered and torn. Then we appreciate how amusing he is. Now, when you go to the theatre you must make up your mind to be deceived. And if you have dined well and are enthusiastic maybe you won't object to standing for two hours at the pit door. But the standing-it makes your legt ache, doesn't it r

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GARDENING NOTES. If any reader who is in a difficulty with refer- ence to his garden, will write direct to the address given beneath, his questions will all be answered free of any charge, in full de- tail, and by return of post.—Ed. Some correspondents omit to add their names, or merely end with initials. In these cases it is obviously impossible, to reply.-E.K.T. LAWNS. Watering.—We are inclined to think that, watering established with lawn sprinklers is usually a source of positive harm. as the water does not sink deeply into the ground, and so encourages surface-footing. If watering be practised at all it is wise to turn on a stream through a hose at evening, and to move the nozzle to a fre^h position only when the ground watered is thoroughly soaked as deeply as it was previously dry. One or two such soakings during unusually dry summers will do more good than daily sprinklings. Mowing.—Young lawns should be topped with a scythe when the grass is some 3 inches or so high. to encourage the grasses to tiller out as much as possible; and rolling must follow this and every future mowing. By continuing to mow and roll frequently during summer and autumn, the grass is much strengthened, and annual weeds are kept in check. The scythe is to be preferred to the mowing machine for the first few cuttings. Mowing established lawns should be com- menced as soon as the grass is tall enough in spring, and repeated as often as may be ne- cessary to prevent the lawn looking untidy. If this be done systematically, it will never be necessary to sweep off or otherwise remove the mown grass, which will not be long enough to be unsightly, and which is washed into the surface by rains and so returned to the soil. Machines cutting very wide swathes are desirable ;and they should never be set so low as to touch the surface soil. Too close mowing is not advisable1 during hot weather, as it is liable to expose the, roots to a burn- ing SUIl. Rolling.- The immediate objects of rolling lawns are, first, by consolidating the soil, to* enable plants to get a good grip of it; second, to rebury the grasses which are partially up- rooted by the action of alternate freezing and thawing in winter; and third, to level down all inequalities into a good level mowing sur- face. Double cylinder rollers, having the outer edges rounded, are the best implements; and the frequent use of these in different di- rections, excepting when the ground is hard with frost or drought, is highly beneficial to the sward. Weeds.—Perennial weeds, such as> daisies, etc., should be removed whole, if possible, with a two-pronged lever; and more deeply rooted species, likd docks, thistles, plaintains and dandelions, mt.st be cut off at their first appearance a couple of inches under the sur- face of the ground with a spud. If a pinch of salt be carefully applied to the cut roots of perennial weeds, it usually effectually destroys them. A few drops of carbolic or sulphuric acid applied to a root stock with a glass rod or skewer which has been dipped into the bottle containing the chemical effectually destroys some length of it, and prevents fur- ther growth. Of course, these chemicals must not be brought into actual contact with the person or the clothes of the worker. It should be borne in mind that the mere break- ing up of the root stocks in the soil is most in- jurious, because nearly every root fragment vegetates separately. The best plan of clear- ing a lawn is to mark: off a strip some four or six feet wide, and to thoroughly free that from weeds before marking off another atrip, and so continuing to divest successive por- tions until the whole lawn has been gone over. Provided the land be kept in good heat and plenty of seed be sown, the gra.ss will crowd out weeds ;but if bare' patches are al- lowed to remain where weeds have been re- moved, they will soon be occupied by other weeds, so that every bare spot must be filled with soil, and sown with grass seeds. Worm Casts.—These unsightly objects tend to disfigure lawns on which they abound. They are most prevalent on loose soils, and so can be largely prevented by making the lawn very firm with the roller. Casts should be distributed before rolling by sweeping the lawn with a birch broom. Perhaps the simp- lest remedy, where worms constitute a real nuisance, is that of well soaking the lawn with lime water, prepared by pouring about 30 gallons of water over 121bs. of fresh lime. The solution is allowed to stand for some hours, and only the clear liquid is used. An ounce of corrosive sublimate dissolved in a little water, and stirred into 40 gallons of rain water, an,wers the same purpose, but this substance is a very virulent poison, and must be handled with extreme care. Either remedy, if applied in wet weather, or when the soil is soft and moist, brings the worms to the surface, whence they are easily swept. Trimming Edges.—Though turf cutters are usually employed to trim the edges of lawn and grass borders, a straight, sharp-edged spade answers every purpose, as well as an old boe, the shank of which has been straightened and the corners rounded off. THE ROSE GARDEN. Insect Pests.—May is the great month for insect pests, and it is only by constant care and watchfulness that their ravages can be prevented. Every curled and injured leaf should be examined for enemies, but this is not sufficient, for the caterpillars often hide themselves, so that the leaves abov? the in- jured foliage1 should also be examined. Some grubs simulate pieces of dried stick in their appearance, and thus escape in a cursory ex- amination. Hence, the pest causing any in- jury should be sought for systematically and thoroughly, and effectually crushed when found. The ordinary rose aphis or green-fly is the best known of all rose pests, and is the most prolific of them also. It is most es- sential to adopt remedial measures directly the first symptoms of infestation appear, as B few green-fly that could easily be destroyed with the finger and thumb may in a few weeks grow into an overwhelming host if the weather be favourable. In case of a bad at- tack the best remedy is perhaps that of syringing the infested plants with a quassia and soft soap solution, made by boiling four ounces of quassia chips for ten minutes in a gallon of soft water. This is then strained, and, while it is cooling, four ounces of soft soap is added. The preparation is then fin- ally diluted with another gallon or two gallons of soft water. Attacked plants are syringed with this at morning or evening, and 24 hours later with clean water. Under glass the best remedy is found in fumigating with tobacco or wits some commercial preparation of it, such as the XL All Compound, now used in all large; gardens. All loose shoots should be well and firmly tied in with raffia, and suckers should be pulled out as soon as they show above ground. Where fine blooms are wanted a great many buda must be removed. Liquid manure may be applied to trees which have formed a good number of buds. We consider that made from old cow manure, which has not teen washed by rain, to be as good as anything. Our method of preparing it is to put about a bushel of cow dung that has been stored in the dry for three months, in a hogs- head of water, which is stirred occasionally during the next, few days. The liquid is then commonly diluted with thrice its volume of water before being applied. No rule as to th.* application of manure can be given, but the stronger and more vigorous the plant tha greater quantity of manure can it profitably assimilate. Freshly set plants and those in weakly condition may be seriously injured by applications of liquid manure. FRAME CROPS. Ventilation, which is important, especially when the sun comes out suddenly, is gener- ally effected by raising the vpper end of the sash and resting it on a block. Care must be taken to water only in the morning in dull and cloudy weather. To ensure stocky plants the distance' between the bed and the glass should not he too greet. Every plant requires abundant loom for growth; plenty of air is ne'eded, excepting during frost; and water must be sparingly applied during cold, dull weather. E. KEMP TOOGOOD, F.R.H.S.. pro. Toogood and Sons, The Royal Seed Establishment. Southampton.

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I CHURCH WORK IN GOWER RE-OPENING OF THE LLANHRIDIAN CHURCH. « THE LORD BISHOP OF ST. DAVID'S ON ASCENSION FESTIVAL. Though not the most populous, the parish of Llanhridian is the largest of the- Gower parishes, a.nd can also boast of possessing a very ancient church—one of the oldest ec- clesiastical buildings in the country. Llanrhiftian Church, it is said, was founded as far 'lStick as the sixth century by St. Rhidian, but since that time has naturally undergone some changes. In 1853 it was re- opened, after being closed for some time, and a stone tablet over the porch records the fact. Within this past three1 years the an- cient edifice has again been restored, and on Tuesday the re-opening was- celebrated in a manner befitting the growing importance of church work in the peninsula, and the re- storation of such an historic building. The movement was initiated in 1897, when a grand bazaar was held in the grounds of Pen- rice Castle, at which. JE165 was realised to- wards the cost of the then proposed restora- tion. Since that time the Vicar, the Rev. W. Ungood, has received the assistance of a band of willing and practical sympathisers, not only in Llanrhidian, but in the sur- rounding parishes as well, so that the work has now been accomplished in an eminently satisfactory manner, the old church not merely putting on a brand new appearance, that seemed on Tuesday quite in keeping with the dainty spot in Nature in which good St. Rhidian selected for it, but the entire COST, some JB550, being practically defrayed. The restoration includes a new roof to the chancel, a new ceiling to the nave, re-jpaint- mg and decorating throughout, repairs to the tower, pointing of the masonry work out- side, etc. Miss Talbot, of Margam and Pen- rice Ca.* tie, again displayed her great sym- pathy towards church work in Gower in a very practical manner. In addition to subscribing about B30 in money, she bore the entire, cost of fitting out the chancel, which now has a beautifully tesselated floor, a handsome communion table, and teakwood choir stalls. It is safe to say that over E100 has been spent by Miss Talbot on the chancel of the Llanrhidian Church. The Rev. J. A. Da-vies, rector of Llanmadoc ard Cheriton, popularly known as the "Gower Historian," came forward too in an exceptionally inter- esting role. Filling up his spare time between his pastoral duties and history writing—he is now engaged in writing the history of Gower-the rev. gentleman takes off his coat and puts in many hours at wood carving and joinery work, and the manner in which he has carried out the whole of the oarving of the new ceiling of the nave, demonstrates the fact that he is no mere, tyro at the work. There are a number of new stained glass windows, which add to the beauty of the restored building. The east window is in memory of the Gordon family, while another has been given by Messrs. Thoe. Jenkins, London, and Rd. Jenkins:, of Mansels Fold, in memory of their father, who was a churchwarden with Mr. R. B. Christopher, of Gowerton, when the building was re-opened in 1858. A third window has been presented by Mr. Thos. Jenkins, of Birmingham, formerly of Gower. Miss Ann Daiviee, Freedown, very kindly provided a new lectern. Mr. John Williams, of Pantyglas, and Mr. John Williams, of Llan- derwg, carried out the joinery and masonry work, and Mr. Thos. Dartnall, of Llan- ihidian, did the painting and decorating. THE RE-OPENING SERVICES. The gotod fortune which had attended the church restoration during the^time it was in progress was still manifest at Tuesday's re- opening services. The weather was simply glorious, and at each of the three special services arranged there were crowded congre- gations, representing all parts of Gower. The ocoasion, too, was marked by the first visit to Llanrhidian of the Lord Bishop of St. David's, who preached the sermon at the ¡ morning service. His Lordship was accom- panied ly the following clergy: the Ven. Arohdeiaoon Lewis, of Carmarthen, the Rev. Stephen Jenkins, Rural Dean, Oxwich, the Vioar (Rev. W. Unwood), t^e Revs. J. D. Davies, Llanmadoc and Cneriton, R. H. Talbot, Reynoldstone, George Emery, Pen- maen, J. Hughes, Llandewie, J. V. Roberts, Ilston, Lewis Davies, Dunvant, E. Davies, Penclawdd, D. Price, Port Eynon, R. Jackett, Gowerton, and W. Evans, vicar of St. Thomas, Swansea. Lady Lyons was among the congregation, but Miss Talbot was un- abitt to be present as she is in Switzerland. The Vioar officiated, and the lessons were re- spectively read by the Rev. D. J. Davies and the Ven. Archdeacon of Carmarthen. The Lord Bishop based a characteristically able and earnest sermon upon the text. "But thanks be to God which giveth us the vic- tory through our Lord Jesus Christ. There- fore my beloved brethren be ye steadfast, immoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord." (I CoT. xv., 57-58). He pointed out that in the text there was first the thanksgiving and then an exhortation to be steadfast in the work of the Lord. Both were founded upon the exposition of the doctrine of the Re- surrection from the dead, which occupied the whole of that wonderful chapter. And tlien his lordship remarked that the last century had shown very much improvement in re- gard to the observances of the church festi- vals of the year. But at the beginning of this new century there was one festival which had not received, according to his idea, the honour to which it was due. That was the festival this week—the festival of the Ascen- sion. And they must remember that if they neglected Ascension Day they would never understand Easter Day aright, for the A&- ctnsion of our Blessed Lord threw light upon the glorious nature of His blessed resurrec- tion. One of the chief needs of the Church nowadays was, he thought, the restoration to its right place of the festival of the Ascen- sion so that it could be properly understood that Christ's resurrection was but the begin- ning of His purpose that man's life should not end upon earth, but that he would live for ever and ever in heaven. His lordship I roceeded to say that there was another very serious, practical and mischievious mistake in regard to the important fact which occu- pied the central place in the teaching of the Apostle, and that was that people very often thought that by repentance and faith they might holpe at last to be so united with the Lord as to be saved by His infinite merits. We vere saved-and saved entirely-by the in- finite merits of our Saviour, but the mistake was to think that the union with Christ was the end of the Christian life. It was not the end, but the beginning, and in this con- nectio'n the Lord Bishop emphasised the teaching of the sacraments, and then came to the exhortation contained in the text to be "steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord." He urged his hearers to labour indefatigably for Christ in season and out of season, observing that it was not hoW little, but how much they could do for the Church. He was very thankful to see what had been done in the way of restor- ing the ancient Church of Llanrhidian. He questioned whether the roof of the nave had ever been adorned better than it had been by the loving skill of one who had caught something of the aspiration of the 'Apostle to be always abounding in the work of the Lord. He was very glad to hear of the per- sonal interest tha parishioners had taken in the movement. The Church had been re- stored with open hands, so to speak, and there was an especial chirm about a restoration done in that way. It was not therefcre be- cause he did not think they in Gower had not been always abounding in the work of the Lord that he chose that text for his dis- course, but in order that it might serve as a word of encouragement to go on and do still more work for the Church, remembering that their labour was not in vain in the Lord. PUBLIC LUNCHEON. After the service, there was a public lun- cheon, served up by Host Shepherd, of the Welcome-To-Town Inn, in the Church school- room. close by. The Lord Bishop occupied the chief seat at the cross-table, and was supported by the clergy named above while there also sat down a number of ladies and gentlemen including Miss Morgan, Caswell; n, and Mrs. Jones, Reynoldstone; Mr. Pritchard (Miss Talbot's Gower agent); the Misses Roe-, Brooklands, Dunvant: Mr. and Mrs. G. E. Gordon, Penclawdd; Mr. John Holland, Llanmadoc; Mr. R. Jenkins, Man- sel's Head; Mr. F. E. Gordon, Llwynbwch; Mr. J. Gordon, Motley Castle; the two churchwardens (Messrs. Richard Gordon, Walterstone, and Mr. John Lewis, Stembridge); Mr. Richard Parry, clerk; Mr. W. Gwyn, Farmers' Arms, Llanmadoc; and others. After luncheon, the Lord Bishop gave the usual loyal toast, and also that of the Restoration Committee, coupling with the latter the name of "The Architect"—the Rev. D. J. Davies. (Hear, hear.) His lordship thought it was a ^reat satisfaction that the work of restoring the Church had been so well done. In acknowledgment of the toast, the Rpv. D. J. Davies said that the work that he and the others had done was done with willing hearts and willing hands. (Hear, hear.) Their labour had now been brought to a close, and they all had the satisfaction of knowing that they had not only done their duty to their venerable parish, but had left an example to others to follow in their foot- steps. (Hear hear.) Before sitting down, the rev. gentleman proposed the health of the Lord Bichop for giving the parish his bless- ing that day, and in doing so remarked that he knew of no other bishop who' controlled the diooese with so much judgment, tact and good sense. (Hear, hear.) The toast was heartily received, and in reply the Lord Bishop observed that the prospects of the Church in the Gower peninsula seemed most bright and pleasing. AFTERNOON SERVICE. The Ven. Archdeacon of Carmarthen preached the sermon at the afternoon ser- vice, at which the Rev. S. Jenkins, Rural Dean, and the Vicar officiated. Taking his totxt from the, familiar passage of Scripture "Ho, everyone that thirsteth come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money come ye buy and eat; yea, come buy wine and milk without- money and without price"—(Isaiah Iv.1). At the outset, the oreacher remarke I that one striking characteristic of the pro- phesies of Isaiah was the way in which the riophet foretold the universality of the bless- ings of the Gospel. They knew how in the kingdom of Christ the prophet's predictions had been fulfilled and there was. now no lou- ger any wall of partition, as St. Paul called it. excluding any people, or nation, from the blessings of the universal Gospel. In the un- iversal application of it to the world, he thought they could see the1 divine origin of Christianity. And that ancient Church of tJlanrhidian, which he was proud to see so beautifully and judiciously restored again repeated the invitation "to come ye to the waters," which had been for centuries given within its sacred walls. The things mentioned in the text were intended to figuratively represent the spiritual blessings, and his point was that to know the value of God's gifts they must partake of them. Money could not buy what was priceless, and therefore he thought the expression "without money and without price" was so well put as to teach both rich and potor alike the fundamental lesson of the Gospel—salvation by Christ. All that was wanted on their part was for them to have a sense of their thirst—a sense of their need— for it was those that thirsteth who were in- vited to tak3 of the water of life. THE EVENING SERVICE. At the close of the service, there was a public tea ;n the schoolroom, and in the evening there was divine service again in the church, at which the Rev. Anthony Britten, Vicar of Gorslas, preached before' a crowded congregation. The offertories during the day were in aid of the Restoration Fund, and it is understood that nearly the whole of the JB60 required to extinguish the liability was raised by ■.neanH of the special services. Mr. W. Winch preside! at the ofgan throughout the day.

MORE CENSUS RETURNS. GLAMORGAN SHOWS A LARGE INCREASE. Further census returns have been officially issued an an analysis of the returns for the 62 administrative counties shows that in- creases are recorded in 48 and decreases in 14,'the latter including four Welsh counties. The greatest diminution occurs in the case of Oxfordshire .which has lessened its popu- lation by 6,635, while Devon exhibits a de- crease of over 5,000 and Norfolk of nearly £ ,000. The remainder of the counties in this category are Suffolk (Western), 3,815; Mont- gomery, 3,111; Cardigan, 2,399; Westmore- land, 1,804; Hereford, 1,612; Lincolnshire (Kesteveu), 1,404; Rutland, 951; Hunts, 888; Pembroke, 440; Merioneth, 73; and Cambridge- shire, 11. A notable feature of the present statistics is the remarkable growth of the four Metropolitan counties, Middlesex having augmented its population by 249,331, Essex by 238,053, Kent by 128,675, and Surrey by 100,407, but the distinction of having the greatest actual increase falls to Lancaster, which shows an addition of 262,634, and the other administrative counties returning an increase of over 100,000 are the West Riding, 166,434; Glamorgan, 133,126; Durham, 112,517; and Stoffardshire, 108,367. The other important increases are: Derbyshire, 79,105 Northumberland, 67,998; Chester, 65,098; Worcester, 60,968; Warwickshire, 46.281; Nottinghamshire, 42,938; Southamp- ton, 42,927; Sussex (Eastern), 33,992; Hert- fordshire, 31,457; Monmouthshire, 27,366; Leicestershire, 24,256.

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TINPLATE TRADE. MR. WIGNALL AND THE NEW WAGE LIST. On Saturday a conference of tinplate work- ers, members of the Dockers' Union was held at the Dockers' Hall, Swansea. The meeting was large, a representative from every branch tinhouse in the trade being present, and also a goodly number of millmen delegates. A workman having been voted to thef chair, Mr. Jas. Wignall said the delegates had met at a very important period in the history of the trade. No doubt many of the delegates pre- aent, as well as the workmen generally, had been somewhat staggered by the proposed new wage list published in the "South Wales Daily News," but that day they could not directly deal with that matter, inasmuch as they had not received any official communi- cation in connection therewith. Still, they were prepared to receive any expression of opinion with regard to the value of the new waget list. (Loud and derisive shouts of, "We will have nothing to do with it.") Proceeding, Mr. Wignall said the one im- portant matter they had to consider and de- cide upon that day was the demand of the Masters' Association to refer the matter in dispute about the price of working at the Burry pot to arbitration, and he concluded, after a review of the past, by pledging the Union to do its utmost in the future to main- tain the 1874 list in its entirety. Mr. Howell Lewis followed in the same strain. The agenda resolution, to the effect that tinplaiers strongly adhere to the 1874 list with its amendments, was then submitted, and after a brief discussion received the unanimous and enthusiastic support of all the delegates.

BETTER BE SAFE THAN SORRY. We may hear of some wonderful cure ef- fected, at a time when the patient's case seemed hopeless, how incredulous we often are at such times, and if overtaken by illness, we are apt to go on in the old hum- drum way, just because of our unbelief, but depend upon it, you had better be safe than sorry, and if you are suffering from genera] weakness, nervousness, and prostration -,with disinclination to work, without being down- right ill, the safest, the surest, and the most satisfactory remedy is "Gwilym Evans'" Quinine Bitters. Its wonderful powers have proved marvellous in hundreds of cases. When purchasing, be sure you find the name "vjwilym Evans"' on the label, stamp, and bottle, without which none are genuine. Sold in bottles 2s. 9d. and 4s. 6d., or in cases of three 4s. ftd.-bottles for 12s. 6d., of all Patent Medicine Vendors and Chemists, or direct, carriage free, from The Quinine Bitters Man- ufacturing Company, Limited, Llanelly. South Wales.

UNIVERSITY OF WALES. SIR LEWIS MORRIS ELECTED JUNIOR DEPUTY CHANCELLOR. The annual extra-collegiate meeting of the Oburt of the University of Wales was held in the Shire-hall, Carmarthen, on Friday, the deputy-chancellor (Dr. Isambard Owen) pre- siding. In replying to the welcome of the Mayor, the Deputy-Chancellor said that Carmarthen had occupied a most honourable place in the educational history of this country, and they hoped during the course of their visit to pay a visit to at least one of the famous educa- tional institutions in the borough-the Pres- byterian College, which was associated with the University in the constitution of its theo- logical faculty. The University College of Wales, Aberyst- wyth, on the 9th ult. announced that arrange- ments had been made for establishing a fac- ulty of law in connection with that college, and asked the University to give directions for the framing of regulations for the granting of the degree of the University in the faculty of law.-Prinoipal Roberts (Aberystwyth) moved a resolution to the effect that the court instruct the University Senate to frame re- gulations governing the degree of L.L.B. of the University, and report to the next court meeting.—The resolution was adopted. Delegates were deputed ? attend the' Brit- ish Congress on Tuberculosis, to be held un- der Royal presidency in July next, and also for the jubilee celebrations of the Glasgow University. Dr. Isambard Owen was re-elected senior deputy-chancellor ,and returned thanks. Sir Lewis Morris was appointed junior de- puty-chancellor, and was warmly greeted by the deputy-chancellor when he took his seat. The standing Executive Committee pre- sented the yearly accounts, showing that the expenditure of the University for 1899-1900 amounted to £4,160 Is. 2d., the estimate sub- mitted to the Treasury for 1900-1 was JS4 486 2s. 8d., and for 1901-2 £ 4,523 0s. 4d. i.ieut.-General Sir James Hills-Johnes, G.C.B., V.C., as treasurer of the University, presented the annual accounts.—The Deputy- Chancellor regarded the accounts as highly satisfactory. Deficits of previous years had been wiped out, and now it was only JB149 14s. lOd.—The accounts were adopted. The following gentlemen were appointed on the standing Executive Committee for the ensuing year: -Dr. R. D. Roberts, Lady Ver- ney, Mr. William Edwards, Mr. Owen Owen, Professor Angus. Mr. D. E. Jones, Mr. Morti- mer Green, Mr. W. Cadwaladr Da vies the Hon. G. T. Kenyon, Professor A. L. Selby, Professor Angus, Mr. D .E. Jones, Mr. Morti- Brynmor Jones, K.C., M.P. It was agreed that, inasmuch as the present vice-chancellor had been virtually in office since September 1. 1899, and as he desired to retire from that office at the close of the cur- rent academic year, and as Principal Roberts was ready to take up the office on September 1 next-the senate being a consenting party to the change—the resignation was duly ac- cepted. The next meeting of the committee will be held on Friday, November 22, at Aberyat- I wyth.

FUTURE OF OUR GREAT CITIES. It is proverbially dangerous to prophecy unless you know, but Mr. H. G. Wells' fore- cast of the future growth of our great cities has proved wonderfully accurate. The second instalment of his "Experiment in Prophecy" appears in the May "Fortnightly Review," and within a week after itS/I ublication were issued the census returns giving the totals for the Metropolitan boroughs included in the Administrative County of London. These re- turns justify his theory that we have reached the limit in the congestion of our great cities, and show that the centrifugal movement of the population which Mr. Wells anticipated is already in force and the population is mov- ing away from the1 centres of business towards the suburban districts. We may be nearer than we think to some of his other "antici- pations' A sudden development in elec- tricity or other motive' power might solve th? problem of transit, render us independent of lailway companies, and make immediately possible Mr. Wells' picture of England with "every open space of mountain and heather dotted uiot too thickly) with clumps of pros- perous houses." The City man, scorning his present suburban haunts, will then make his journey of a hundred miles twice a day with as little thought as he now gives to a journey of ten, and London, cleansed of grime and relieved from congestion, becomes "a bazaar, a great gallery of shops and places of con- course and rendezvous, a pedestrian place, its pathways reinforced by lifts and moving plat:onns, and shielded fram the weather."

WELSH DICKY BIRD SOCIETY FOUNDED BY UNCLB ROBIN, MARCH. 1899. FOR THE PROMOTION OF KINDNESS TOWARDS BIRDS AND ALL LIVING THINGS. RULES.—MEMBERS' PLEDGE. I hereby promise to be kind to all living things, to protect them to the utmost of my power, to feed the birds in the winter time, and never takp or destroy a nest. I also promise to get as many girls and boys as possible to join the Dicky Bird Society. GENERAL RULES. Every boy or girl is admitted a member on taking the above pledge. Each new mem- ber must sign his or her name to any list 04ent to Uncle Robin. Each list must be ac- companied by a letter attesting the genuine- ness of the signatures, signed by the teacher of the school which the proposed members attend, or by the parents or relatives of the girls and boys who wish to join our Society. The names, when thus guaranteed, will be entered in the Big Book, and printed in The Cambrian. All letters, which should be addressed to Uncle Robin," c.o. Editor, The Cambrian, Wind-street. Swansea, must be written on one side of the paper only.

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THE AUTHOR OF" THE LITTLE MINISTER." Mr. Barrie was forty-one last week-on Tues day. Twenty-five years ago he was scrawling on a bit of paper at Dumfries Academy something like this When you read the following article, I think I hear you xxkiaim, Who is this grate litterary genus appearing before our eyes and taking' our hearts by storm?'" Whether the article in the school magazine ever took anybody by storm or not we do not know. Mr. Barrie seemed a long way from fame and fortune then. But he found an inspiring friend in the village tailor, who taught him to repeat the lines: What can I do to be for ever known, and make the age to come mv own Mr. Barrie made up his mind that the thing for him to do was to write, and he took up his pen and wrote himself into fame through many papers. But Mr. Barrie did not find fame, like Byron, in a night. It was a slow growth. It began in a garret. His imagination ha.d been oaptured by the story of a little watercress-seller which was running in a religious paper. For months the watercress-seller filled his dreams. Then one month the paper missed, and there was a dis- appointed boy in Kirriemuir, who went to bed and dreamed of watercress, and wondered what had become of hie little heroine. But wondering did not bring her, and James Matthew Barrie wrote a story of his own, with something about watercress and shipwreck. It ran into something, like a. three-volume novel, and actually reached theoffi e of a publisher. But its end came before it had a chance of circulation. The publisher thought the writer a very clever lady," and was ready to publish the book for a hundred pounds but Mr. Barrie's autograph was not worth a hundred pounds to him in those days, and his first book remained wrapped np somewhere in brown paper in the obscurity of his Kirriemuir home. There was onee an accidental meeting of two famous men at Waterloo. One was Mr. Barrie, waiting for a train; the other was Mr. Kipling, rushing to catoh one. A glance, a smile of recognition, and a hurried good-bye filled up the moment they were together, and then, as Kipling went, he caught sight of a bundle o f newspapers under Mr. Barrie's arm. Lucky beggar you've got papers," be said, and seizing them, he threw Mr. Barrie some coppers, and ran off. You didn't stop to pick up his half-pence, did you ? asked a friend to whom Mr. Barrie told the story. Didn't I, though F" asked the man who made a fortune by "The Little Minister." "I did—but he hadu't flung me half enough Mr. Barrie is a Liberal in politics, but his political opinions are hardly so pronounced now as in his student days. He had his own way of expressing them then. The first time he saw Lord Rosebery was when he was studying at Edinburgh University, and he tells us that he threw a clod of earth at the noble lord. He was a peer; those were my politics," Mr. Barrie explains and he adds, as though the knowledge annoys him, that the clod missed Lord Rosebery. Mr. Barrie came within an ace of standing for Parlia- ment at the General Election, but somehow the arrangements went agley, and he was spared the worry of polities, happily for bookland. He is not a great euocesa in public life-how many authors are ?. He was induced to preside over a. Burns celebration in Scotland a few years ago, but he said next to nothing, and stole away quietly before anybody had a chance to miss him. The next week a well-known paper had a satirical article on Mr. Barrie in Chair." in which the author was held up unsparingly to public ridicule. Those who .had invited him must have read the article with sorrow, but they will learn some day, if they ha.ve not learned already, that the wiiter of it was Mr. Barrie himself

LANDORE CONSTITUTIONAL CLUB. The annual banquet of the Landore and rlasmarl Constitutional Club was held on Saturday." The commodious club-room was crowded, the tables admirably laid, and the catering of the steward and stewardess won unstinted praise. Colanal J. R. Wright oc- cupied the chair, and was acorded an en. thusiastic reception. He was supported by Messrs. G. Hethey, H. Robinson, D. J. Clark, G. Hamilton, Capt. Naysmith, D. Brice, Dd. Evans, T. Jones (Morjiston), Inspector Mar- tin, etc. The proceeuings throughout were of the heartiest and most enjoyahle nature, and it was quite refreshing to see the energy of Capt. Naysmith (who is chairman of com- mittee) in looking after the interests of the diners. The secretarial arrangements were excellent and reflected every credit oa Mr. J. H. Cann. The Chairman submitted "The King and! Queen and rest of the Royal Family," in. suitable terms. Mr. H. Robinson (Mannesmann House), proposed in a very effective speech, "The Navy, Army and auxiliary forces." He stated that the district had considerable in- terest in the Navy, inasmuch as their efforta at the Mannesmann Works was to produce the be"t of tubes for their warships, while the firm of vhich Colonel Wright was the head gave them the best of steel to do it with. Colonel Wright, in responding, expressed his appreciation of the great honour they bad done him in associating his name with the toast. He said the deeds of the Army and Navy had been gone over times out of number. The opportunity had now arrived when the auxiliary forces could assert them- selves, and the concensus of opinion amongst officers in the field was that they had done splendid work. (Applause.) It was most gratifying to see. the success achieved. They were not an ornamental branch of the Army, but had justified the many good things that had been said of them when occasion pre- sented itself. They had done all their duty in th", fighting line, and had maintained the traditions of the British Army. He was glad that in the future these forces were to be better looked after and receive a better train- ing; that they would receive proper weapons with which to perform their work. Every campaign showed its changes in tactics, and none so much asi theirs. The guns which were used in the present campaign would be useless after the war and tse army generally would require to be re-armed. It was a. strange experience to see that battles could commence at a. range of five to seven miles, and with an enemy who could not be seen, but the spirit which actuated all was the same as ever, and it was this spirit shown by the reserved forces which alone would delay conscription which he feared would sconer or later fall to our lot. Dr. Brice propme-I "The Conservative cause and the Landore Constitutional Club which was ably responded to by Mr. David Roberts. A delightful programme of instrumental ond vocal music was gone through during the evening by "'he following: Messrs. Dd. Evans, Lowe, Ward (comic), violin solo, Mr. Trevor Williams; flute solo. Inspector Mar- tin accompanist, Mr. T. Jones, organist, Morriston. The proceedings tprllinafed shortly after eleven o'clock, with the rendering of the Na- tional Autioou.

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