The Cambrian

*#*#*# | LADIES' GOSSIP. § S (BY "VERE.") Christmastide Once More. Some Reflections on the Anniver- sary. Should anyone assei't that Christmas, though still a picturesque anniversary, has i>eeti so shorn and despoiled of its old-tone decorations that one doubts whether the modern celebration would be recognisable to our grandfathers, he or she is pretty sure to be contradicted. Christmas is and wdl al- ways ba surrounded with the lialo of ideal- ism however thick the slush and drizzling the rain outside the word seems to everlast- ingly recall snow, frost, holly and bells and one makes the best belief possible of evolve those accessories from the deptlis of your imagination. In some featurets the modern Christmas lias degenerated, none will deny. The carol singers of the old times, with their defects hidden and-their virtues magnified as seen through the kindly haze of the past, certainly seem a. thousand times xnore welcome than the miserable anti-cliniax of to-clay-hands of the disreputable Sji.&II Boy trotting forth weird versions of time- worn livinns in the doorways. As against that, who dare contend that thing of ex- quisite beautv, the Christmas card is not an infinite advance upon whatever crude carica- tures served our ancestor s purpose? And the plum-pudding too—into what corner of the earth does it not penetrate, under every clime and scenery; into regions our grand- fathers neither knew nor dreamed of Then we have the Christmas tree, the dark green foliage of its boughs, sparkling with rose, amber and yellow light from its de- pendent fairy lamps, and glittering with its toys and presents. Yes, strange though it 8OUnds, the Christmas tree was also a thing Ðf which three generations ago wotted no- thing. In Germany, ot course, it is as old as Christmas; and from Germany it came, with the Prince Consort, it is said, in 1840 or thereabouts. So we have at least one other innovation to boast of. Many ancient cus- toms, 'tis true have vanished for good but either they were fast booming incongruous, w we have devised something better. But ww essential—the weather has changed for Dm bad. Christmas and frost are insepar- able, and when the natal day dawns on a landscape sodden and slushy, in place of sleeping calmly under the virgin mantle of the wow, all" festivities have much of the make-believe abont them. The Christmas we love is the idealism of the Christmas caid, with. its holly and ice and enurch bells; without the two former ingredients the an- swering loses half its charm. But were it only for the sake of th? child- reD Christmas will alwavs be retained, even if climatic vagaries expose us at the end of Ðecember to a temperature of 80 degrees in the shade. It is doubtful, one admits, whether the modern child still believes in £ anta Claus' descent down the sooty avenue of the chimney that as old an age a its pre- decessors but all children have sufficient of the poet about them to appreciate the in- herent poetry of Christmas a.nd fairyland. JTor them at least most homes -endeavour to Vrighten up with song and play, however •Braserable may be other conditions; and ^paterfamilias and malierfumilias appreciate none of the rare enjoyments that are their's in the course of a year, more titan the ume- ztntined delight from a lapse into naturalism .and a romp on all fours with their young- sters, flushed, panting, and breathless with laughter. Christmas is perhaps the one time when it is possible really to throw off twenty Of twenty-five years of existence, and live again in the spirit of childhood. One may fight against the inclination, but the most xesolnte attempts to maintain a frigid and dignified demeanour soon melt away before the spectacle of a band of happy children at Christmastide, drinking their fill of pleasure while they may. And wherever a desire to dick to the rules of social decorum prevails in the end, in that house, one may safely assert it will be as perfunctory and tiresome a performance as sitting in a empty theatre jita dull play the most irksome and detestable experience which I can conceive Christinas then speedily ends in boredom, yawns, sleep- iDelti and general disgust and ennui, wliere- ever stern views of parental discipline can- not condone any relaxation of good behaviour at Christmastime—though for that matter, what child whie.li really "behaves itself' and "doea as its father tells it" is anything but n. nuisance and a prig in nine cases out of ten, and prematurely grave? ++ Swansea this reason will be as usuial well provided for bv local entrepreneurs. The fcJwamsea Star theatre remairs faithful to the traditions of "Emm" and his favourite type of play, and produces "Honour Thy Father" on* Christmas week. Apropos of Mr. Melville. I heard a good story of on awkward incident at the old "Star" n:any years ago. A fall of snow had to be simu- lated, and boys were accordingly placed in •"flies," if that is the correct technical de- signation for them, to release a shower of fluttering bits of paper at a critical moment, and for that purpose they were prov dbd with a bundle of old newspapers. But alas! when the crisis arrived they had cl'itin for- gotten their duty to rip the paper into suit- ably small pieces beforehand, and presto! a shower of huge half sheets and pIeces-mam- moth snowflakes—of newspaper descended about the ears of the haple:-s actois PooW Myriorama, with its glimpses of lands be- yond the sea, occupies the Albert Hall as of vore. Christmas without Pooles would be shorn of halt its joys at Swansea. At the tJrand: Theatre on Boxing Night "A Me .sage from Mars," the ever welcome, is presented. Perhaps an account of a few curious Oiristmas customs in other land.s may en- tertain vou. In some puts of Noiway mar- riageable girls tluow *hoes (before the wed- ding!) imbo the street at nights, and the husband is expected to come from tho quarter in which the shoe points. Should the toe lie towards the house of ti^e fair thrower, how- ever, it signifies further celibacy for twelve months at leist. In Yienua they open the chops all the Sunday o;>fm-e Christinas, when the fair "\Vie::e;in hausfraus" (to adopt the irerman spelling), do the bulk of their shop- ping. In Germany, pre-eminently the home of the Christmas tree, the Kaiserin presents lier children with a magnificent Christmas tree, hung with presents, which she herself has selected. Nearer at home, Gloucester in 1893 commenced the custom of sending lam- prev pies to the Sovereign annually, from the Mayor. Many of the evening bodices are very Iwvelv. and yet oh, so delightfully simple. Such, for instance, as a dainty sop-white chiffon bodice cut perfectly full, and much pouched at the centre of the front. The fcerthe is cut low all the way round, exposing the top of the shoulders. The beading of this berthe is then closely gauged, white over the shoulders a couple of bands of pistaele— green velvet, hold the bodice in position. Large puffs, soft and falling, form the sleeves, which reach well below the elbows; while, supposing a rather more important-looking bodice be required, this self-same iden could De elaborated by Vandykes of black Chantillv- lace applique to the loVer edge of the bodice, with the points pointing upwards. Further appliques of the same lace should be placed up on each sleeve, with the points pointing Everything at the moment tends to the drooping style of dress. Fichus are charm- ing and generally becoming, and they are just now worn as plain as plain cam lie, al- most like a three-cornered shawl, the point at the centre of the back and the long ends reaching in stole fashion over the shoulders in front. Then there is another arrangement of a kind of handkerchief, with one point at the back, a.nd one over each arm, the final two ends being brought to the centie of the front in the ordinary fashion. Decidedly the mark of the best dressed— the most suitably dressed—woman for winter wear in the streets is the black petticoat; it is also in every way the most economical, for mud-stains will brush off, leaving it none the worse, whereas a light-coloured petticoat is stained and at once loses that freshness which should constitute its chief charm. Under any coloured dress, or under a black one, a black petticoat looks equally well, whilst un- der a very light fawn frieze or cloth nothing is so chic. A black gros silk may be named' for choice, edged with a flounce of broderie anglaise work; you thus get a petticoat with good' hard wear in it for several months. Acoordion-pleated flounces, such as edge so many of the cheaper petticoats, are waste of money, for the process to which they are subjected in the pleating is bad for the silk, and the rub of the dress against the folds of the pleats soon causes holes to appear, with the result that. the flounce is presently in rags. For evening wear an over-flounce of lace protects the silk frill from the rub, and makes it last double as long; but 1 tee on it petticoat for outdoor wear in the winter is now the worst of style. Although as a rule one very much dislikes the idea of any imitations, still the imitation fur cloths of this season are worthy of more than a little notice. Moleskin certainly takes tinlt prize, and would deceived an expert. Not only the colour ,but the texture and depth of the fur have been most excellently imitated. These cloths are being used for making the most fascinating little fur co-it- lets, and also for the now indispensable fur stoles A combination which is very dainty, and perluips a little extravagant, is that of fur and chiffon. Sables 'and brown chiffon are a luxurious and beautiful combination; while often furs already in hand, which would piwe very costly if we went out to match, may be used up in the most delightful way, if lavish clriffon frills are added to their ex- isting shape. I mean, for instance, a fur capelet, which is apparently much too small for fashionable wear, can be made to look handsome and cliarming and quite up-to-dote if we will but add rich accordion-pleated chiffon frills of a sufficient depth. So, too, with our muffs. The small muff is now quite out of date, and a large muff in an expensive fur is an item about which many women have to hesitate before purchas- ing, solely, of course, on the score of expense. If, however, we will but add a plethora of chiffon frills to our somewhat unfashionable fur muffs, the effect will be all that the heart of woman can desire, for by such aid she can enlarge the appearance of her tiny muff to the dimensions of a full-sized "granny," and so keep even with the fashions of the moment at a remarkable small outlay.

r Vila ■ — ■mini— imi—m ———m—^ |SIE¥$|ii ^HtheKIHO I aaiLLSAMT, BLACK, BEAUTIFUL. 1 !■■■ ■IIMIIi,

OUR COOKERY CORNER, RELIABLE RECIPES AND MENUS FOR COOKS. Russian Kolduny.—Here is a recipe for "koiduny," which in Russian houses is ser- ved w.th the soup and eaten with it,. Take lloz. of flour, two eggs, one teaspoonful of salt, one gill of cold water, and make a. stiff dough, wnictt roll into a thin sheet. Cut it into circular pieces the size of a muffin, and place in the middle of each piece of dough a heaped teaspoonful of forcemeat, made tnus: Chop equal quantities of raw beef and beef sut; chop very fine, add salt, pepper, a little grated onion, a pinch of powdered marjoram, and moisten with beef broth. Or take raw veal, salt herring, freed from bones, liard boled 'eggs, chop all very fine, add a. flavour- ing of minced onion, gruted nutmeg, pepper, and' mix and simmer in some hot melted but- ter for five minutes over a slow fire. The forcemeat, being put in place, fold one-half of the dough over the other half, press down, and be sure that the edges are firm. Have in readiness a saucepan with boiling water, salted. Drop into it your "kolduny, allow them to boil for ten minutes, ftien remove them with a skimmer and serve. Baked Apples and Nut Filling.-The ap- plets are first pared, and the cores removed the- are then filled with sugar and walnut meat, sprinkled with cinnamon and baked. Served in dainty sauce dishes, with cream, they make a very agreeable change from the ordinary buked apple. The apples should be sweet ones. They are delicious served with whipped cream. Dates are also nice for a filling; in this case not quite so much sugar is required. Sour apples do not lend themselves so readily to this treatment, ow- ing to their propensity to fall to pieces dur- ing the baking process. To Roast Partridge.—Expose the breasts to a stiff fire to stiffen them so as to lard more easily. Use an ounce of salt dried bacon cut in small, narrow strips for each bird, and roast in a quick oven for twenty- five minuteis. Disli on dry toast and pass currant jelly. An epicure requires no sauce for his partridge, but many ordinary diners will prefer either a brown sauce made by thickening the drippings in the pan, or the ordinary Dread sauce. To make the latter, mince a white onion and cook in a pint of boiling milk Lll tender, thicken with fine, ,tale white crumbs; season with salt, red pepper, and two ounces of butter. At the same time fry a pint of larger white crumbs to a delicate brown in butter drain amd help each guest to a spoonful of the brown crumbs, one of the white sauce, and a smaller help- inQ" of t currant jelly, making a combina- tion as pleasing to the eye as to the. palate. MEMS FOR COOKS. I A good sour apple, with a little salt pork, chopped fine, is splendid seasoning for the dressing of wild duck; use plenty of pepper. Vegetables are improved in flavour by add- in- fl little sugar when boiling, especially groan peas, beans, and turnips. All fruit puddings aie best steamed. This preserves the flavour of the fruit and season- ing. Boil macaroni in strong beef stock until tender and you will find' it well seasoned all through. This dish is much liked. A erood mixing seasoning to have on hand for almost everything is four tablespoonfuls of salt, one tablefspoonful of mustard, one- quarter teaspoon black pepper, ar:d a pinch of cayenne. I Soup stock is better seasoned by stickirg I whole cloves and other spices into the meat while boiling, instead of using powdered spices. Sliced onion fried in butter, or in butter and flour, and rubbed through a sieve and put into soups just before serving, gives a. fine flavour and good colour. Add a few sticks of cinnamon and a little lemon juice when making jelly, taking out the cinnamon before setting the liquid to jell- The flavour is good. To give an appetising flavour to a broiled beefsteak cut an onion in half, rub it over the hot platter with melted butter. To improve sweetbreads and give a fine flavour soak them in mild lemon juice water one hour, then boil in beef stock twenty minutes. Sha.rpen all kinds or fish sauce with lemon juice. Grape ju.ice g:ves a delicious flavouring to mincepies. Pour melted currant jelly over boiled venison steak just before serving. Cayenne pepper, with a mit? of mace, is aji indispensable seasoning for toasted cheese.

1 Treatment oj: V COMSUMPTiON 1 LUNG & THROAT AFFECTIONS, i INFLUENZA, BRONCHITIS. ] WINTER COUGH. ASTHMA. Jr-. =saak ETC. Complete Case of Articles Required I FOR JR§ CARRIAGE PAID. fi Book Free |j rHE5ANITASc.°L° I;CTHNAL r'RE I LONDON. ,!N.

Mr. Graham Vivian's House Party. Included in Mr. Graham Vivan's house party last week, when some excellent sport was enjoyed over the Park Ie Breos estate, were the following: —Duke of Atlhol, Lady Blandfoid, Duke of Winchester, Lord Hur- lingfield, Mr. and Mrs. Arthur AVilson, xion- ourables Averdl, Alberta and Odo Vivian, Hon. A. Stuart, M.P., and Capt. and Mrs. Heneage. On the first day, when the outskirts of Park Le Breos were shot over for the pur- pose of driving the birds to cover, the an" was 240 brace of pheasants. The biggest days shoot was the second, when the covers were visited, the bag beins 460 brace.

Trueman v. Knoyle: To be Continued. The Swansea Police Court case in which Mr. Clement R. Trueman, of Neath, sum- monses Mr. D. R. Knoyle, accountant, Swan- sea, for perjury, alleged to have been uttered in the course of recent bankruptcy proeeed- ings, was continued on Monday. The magis- trates on the bench were Messrs. Hcwel Wat- kins, Simon Goldberg, and Joseph Rosser. Mr. Trueman oonducted his own case, and Mr. R. T. Leyson defended. The reading of questions and answers in the bankruptcy case were continued by Mr. Percy Shuttle- wood, the shorthand writer, beginning at No. 1,130. After luncheon Mr. Leyson arrived. The questions were concluded at 3.5 p.m. Sidney B. Harris, recalled, swore io an order made in the Cwmrhydyceirw Colliery Company winding up ca.sc- that the voluntary winding-up fhouid be continued under the supervision cf the court, and aLo to an affi- davit made by Mr. Nicholas Sampson in sup- port of all application to remove defendant from his position as Jiquidator for the. Cwm- rhydyceirw Colliery Company. At 3.30 ihe court adjourned until Monday week.

Kitchener's Recovery. Calcutta, Friday.—Lord Kitchener has so much improved in health that lie has been able to transact business in his study for the last few days. On, his arrival h^re on Tues- day it is probable that he will be able to discharge his official duties continuously, though be will be confined to the house for 3>me time to come.—("Times.")

I ). )., | "HEALTH, STRENGTH & GOOD DIGESTION. | I THE BRITISH MEDICAL JOURNAL, | II speaking of property-prepared Cocoas as \i |i a means of promoting Health, Strength !| | and Good Digestion, soys:- || |[ Van Houten's Cocoa is admirable, in it "v "flavour it is perfect, and it is so pure l| "and well prepared that it may with great •, i| |j "advantage be largely used in public 'I i institutions as well as in private families." 1 @ | vanQouteri^coa 1 | BEST & GOES FARTHEST, j Ii

MP. CHAMBERLAIN'S COMMISSION Galaxy of Experts: A Daring Step. The following statement, giving some par- ticulars of the work, scope, and composition of the Tariff Commission to which Mr. Cham- berlain referred in his speech at Leeds on berlain referred in his speech at Leeds on Wednesday night, has been issued:—"It has become evident that, should the electorate en- dorse Mr. Chamberlain's proposals for tariff reform, a lengthy period would intervene be- tween the necessary investigations into the many intricate proplems which pr seated themselves, and the actual introduction of the tariff. This period would tend to inactivity and even disorganisation in almost every trade. Evidently, therefore, in the event of a Government pledged to tariff reform ccm- ing into power, it would be of the utmost ser- vice that the preliminary investigations should have been made, (nd that thus the work of inquiry should have been so far com., I pleted as to render the process of arriving at exact conclusions much less lengthy and much less difficult. This work of ascertaining the manner in which the many conflicting inter- ests may best be harmonised will be under- taken by the Tariff Commission. The fallow- in, have already accepted Mr. Chamberlain's invitation to serve — Mr. Charles Allen. Mr. Charles Booth, F.R.S. Mr. Richard Burbidge. Sir Vincent Caillard, K-B. Mr. J. J. Candlish. The Right Hon. Henry Chaplin, M.P. Mr. J. Howard C0II9. Mr. William Henry Grenfell, M.P. Mr. F. Leverton Harris, M.P. Sir Alexander Henderson, Bart., M.P. Sir Alfred Hickman, Bart., M.P. Sir Alfred L. Jones, K.C.M.G. Mr. Arthur Keen. Sir W. T. Lewis, Bart. Mr. A. W. Maconochie, M.P. Mr. W. H. Mitchell. Mr. Alfred Moseley, C.M.G. Sir Andrew Noble, Bart., K.C.B. The Hon. Charles Parsons, F.R.C. Sir Walter Peace, K.C.M.G. Mr. C. Arthur Pearson. Sir Charles Tennant, Bart. Mr. S. J. Waring, jun.

What the Press Think of It. j "A BASTARD REFERENDUM." "Standard": There is no exaggeration in- saying that this involves a complete dhiange in our Conti;neiitail methods, and pomethiiv like a defiance of the authority, alike of the Crown, the OvbiIwt, and the Legislaitiure. It is a sort of bastard "Referendum" worked by a Caucus, for which no parallel exists. "BAND OF FREE RAIDERS." "Daily News" This Commission is a band of Free Raiders iOn the pulblic purse, majiy of whom, at Itptst, want to make something out of the "model tariff" tiiey propose to con- struct. We ask with siome nrnmese—Where is Mr. Alfred Ha.rmswortlh ? Is he not "in- terested," etc. ? And are there no other journa/listic coadjutors in the great scheme for assisting British imdustfrict?. For example, I we recall the useful existence of the Editor of "Isoflbel's Co kery," who represents, under a most fascinating title, a domestic (and aome- wiiat neglected) industry, seriously menaced by foreign competition. HE MIGHT DO WORSE. I "Morning Leeder" Mr. Chamberlain, hav- ing nomiiihted his pseuilo-Roytal Commission, has a.lso nominated liimiself lias own "Ambas- sador" to the Colonies. We are by no means sure that he might not do wense. His trip could hardly be more of a failure than tihat to Siouth Africa—and he has such a lot, to learn. LEADER IN ALL BUT NAME. "Daily Chronicle": Wrhat is happening is this tint the. Government is preparing to go to tlh.e country without any definite policy of its own at all, and that the real issue is beino- tRimed by one who exercises all the function's lof leadership without any of its official res- possibilities. "A PACKED JURY." The "Stanidiard" al-o says :—Instead of a packed jury, let. us have an open court of coni- petettt judges, armed with sufficient power j and proceeding in a regular, legal, and orderly Y fashion. And incidentally, the appointment of this Conimirisi'm would show that there is • fttill a tk)vernmen.t ir1 this country which is not yet preipared to abandon its functions to a private organisation, however active, and an individual statesman, however popular and able lie nil1 v be. A SPLENDID COMMISSION. "Morning Post": It is safe to say that noi such powerful Commission has ever before 'been consttitot-ed, and it is at once obvious that Mr. Chamberlain has tried to secure the most efficient arid typical men of business. The following gentlemen on Friday signi- fied their acceptance of Mr. Chamberlain's invitation to serve on the Tariff Commission: Mr. J. Henry Birchenough, head of the well-known firm of John Birchenough and Sons, silk manufacturers, of Macclesfield, Cheshire. A fellow of the Royal Colonial In-. stitute, member of the Council of the Statis- tical Society, and director of the Imperial Continental Gas Association and of the Brit- ish Exploration of Australasia (Limited). Mr. John Aithur Corah, one of the leading figur,, ;,11 the hosiery trade. Head of the Lticvster firm of Messrs. Cooper, Corah and Co. Mr. R. H. Reade, dhairman and managing director of the York-street Flax Spinning Company (Limited), of Belfast. On the board of the Belfast and Northern Counties

—»ii'^ I GUARANTEED to contain 4% 1 Calvert's No. 5 Carbolic. CALVERT'S No. 5 C I r, Carbolic Soap 9 c'"ans«-s and disinfect-; at tlie same jj time, saving Ubcxir and expense in g the honsehoM and laundry. II izcz. and lIb. Dars, front Grocers ,4(: Stares F I F. C. CAI.VEKT~&~Co.. Manchester. | ■■■■■iiiihi in'^f j

r t .m-iLJ-L. ■ ■ -1^ "FOLLY AND SCANDAL" BCr. Hopkin Attacks Mr. Tuttonl Swansea Town Council I eld a special meet- ing on Monday, Alderman W. Walkins pre- siding. HARBOUR TRUST VACANCY. Mr. D Harris raised the question of the Corporation voting at the Harboir Trast election, jfe thought the Mayor should be authorised to voto on behalf ol the Corpora- tion w ithout naming either of the candidates, and moved a resolution to that effect. I After some discussion the Chairman ruled the matter out of order. I Mr. Hrurris said he should bring forward the matter again. HOUSING OF THE WORKING CLASSES. J The Housing Committee recommended that I Mr. J. H. Hollier, Bristol, be paid JB10 106. for his designs for the ten workmen's dwell- ings at Gibbet-hill, and that the surveyor prepare specifications; that tenders be in- vited, and that application be made to bor- row £ 2,000. Alderman Evans moved the minutes be re- ferred back until they had the specifications. It was unwise to apply to borrow before. This amendment was not seconded. Mr. Hopkin said h" was hoping Mr. Tut- ton would be present, as he bad something to say on the matter last meeting, but be waj away perpetrating another folly in Oardiff. The Chairman said Mr. Tutton was not present, and he did not think it gentlemanly to pass any criticism in his absence. Mr. Hopkin: I won't mention his name now. The Chairman: I think yoj should with- draw. Mr. Hopkin: I said he was away perpe- trating a folly ,and certainly it is the great- est folly and a scandal. The Chairman: In your opinion. I must call upon you to withdraw. Mr. Hpkin: I shall certainly not. The Chairman: If it is your wish, gentle- men, I will put the minutes of the commit- tee. (Hear, hear.) IMtr. Hopkin said a great deal of time hid been wasted concerning the Gcbeme by a cer- tain person who selected the paaticular de- sign chosen. Mr Tutton thought the houses should be built to let cbe&per, and he agreed that in future houses might be erected with only two rooms up and two Jown, to let at 4s. 9d. or 5s. a week based npun the present plan. Mr. Morris sail it was not intended to apply for the money before the specifications were in. The minutes were passed. ««eBSE====SX9Ht

DEAF AND DUMB CHILDREN. Happy Re-union at the Cambrian Institution. There was a very haPP) gathÐng at the Royal Cambrian Institution for the Deaf r nd Dumb, Swansea, on Thursday evening. For some time past preparations have been going en for the annual coldbration of Yuletide, which has to be brought off the week pre- vious owing to the children leaving for their homes to spend Christmas with their parents and friends. Tho rooms in the new wing were taf«tefully decorated, and in the school- room were a couple of huge Christmas tress, loaded from top to bottom with toys and useful articles in endless variety. Proceed- ings started at half-past fcur with a tea, at which there were about 60 children and 20 adultis. Later on there was a prisa distri- bution to the pupils, and tho contents of tJtC Christmas trees were distributed, every child getting well supplied. Thanks to Dr. Ste- phens, who procured a naagic lantern, the little onea th(;n had a Veainmt hour looking at views which instructed as well as amused, and altogether a very happy time was spent before bed-time arrived. A number of ladies were present during the proceedings, including Mrs. Seldon Morgan, Mrs. S. C. Morgan, Mrs. E. J. E. Morris (Gore-terrace), Miss Honnings, Dr. asd Mluss Stephens. Mrs K'rky, Mrfl. Wigley Griffiths, Miss Cook, and Mrs. KendaL At mine o'clock the adultd Christmas suppor took place, and this con- cluded the evening's programme. The best thanks are due to those ladies tfid gentle- men who contributed towards the piesents and prizes to the children, including Lady Llewelyn, Lady Lyons, Sir John Jones Jen- ^kins, Ali-s. Ben Evans, Messrs. Ben Evans and Co., Mr. Geo. Cook, Messrs. Pearse and Brown,. Mrs. Picton Turfoerville, Messrs. George Ne-wnes and Co., Mr. Glyn Vivian, Moisio. Bennett Bros., Mr. John Taylor, Mr. Griffith Thoaias, Miss Rogers, Mrs. Sant (London), Mrs K J. E. Morris, ;\lir Evan Jones, Miss Hennings, Mrs. Dr. Els- worth, Mrs. Matthews, Mr. C. H. J. Benja- min, and Mrs. Daniel (Essex Villa). Mr. and Mrs. Payne left. nothing undone to fur ther the enjoyment of the children.

I Swansea Burglary: d615 in Gold Gone. t I A few nights a.go No. 70, Pentre Fstyll, I Pent re, Swansea, the private residence of Mr. Honry Thomas Weaver, v/as entered and a sain of L15 stolen from tlie bedroom. Seen by a "Daily Pest" importer on Saturday morning, Mrs. Weaver had not recovered from the shock of the dis- covery. She says the money, fifteen pounds I in gold. was kept in a canvas bag in a small money box in a drawer in an upstairs room, and was intended for the purchase of a tomb- stone over the grave of their only boy, who died recently. On Wednesday night Mis. Weaver lift home with the baby, to vist her mother, in Landore, whilst her husband went to chapel. She left the doors securely fastened, but she thinks that tha thief or thieves must have been in the house at the time she left. When she returned about nine f/clock. two back doors were open, and she called in the neighbours. All the rooms were found to have been axmclked. Her first thought was of the money, which she soon discovered to be missing. The back door of her house opens into Eaton-road, and entrance must have been a comparatively easy matter. Mrs. Weaver states that several houses in the same row have been visited and articles stolen of more or less value, and the neighbours are up in arms. The police were acquainted of the theft early. As yet there is not the slightest clue

The ».s.- Ruwsrr is dfedharging the largest consignment of German tinpfate bars yet to be landed in Swansea at the Prince of Wales r»c< k, v-iu Rottert:3«n. The cargo amounts to Bt. 1:1» tl)¡¡lIl} 2,000 too*, arnd is for local works.

POSED AS LORD SWANSEA'S SON I Corespondent's Curious Imposture. In the Divorce Court on Friday Mr. W. J. Haw ken, of Plymouth, a eub-lieu tenant in the Royal Navy, sued fir a dissolution of his marriage with Mrs. Amy Gertrude Haw- ken, on the ground of her alleged misconduct with Mr. Victor Evans, from whom damages were claimed. The suit was undefended. It was stated that the marrltgo took place on the 17th December. 1901. Th3 petitio.vr had to go away on service and according to the evidence the co-respondent iiad visited the respondent while he wcaway, parsing by the name of the "Hoji. Victor Vivian." They had been seen kissing each other, and had been done together in the house -vhere the respondent lived. Whether he posed as the son of Lord Swansea or not it was not known, but, at eny rate, h" certainly was not go. On witness, who }k1.d been a groom to the co-respondent, said he believed the co res- pondent h:td been in the Army, but at the time in question he vas following no occupa- tion. The co respondent told him he was the half-brother of Lord Swansea. The jury found for the petitioner, and as- sessed the damages against the co?reepond- ellt at JB500. A decree nisi was granted —»

CORPORATION EXTRAVAGANCE. Necessity for a Check on Legal Expenditure. Messrs. Wivan and Co. (Swansea) write:- We have read with astonishment the partieu lars of the large sums expended by the Cor- poration on Law Case Appeals as set forth in the statement supplied at the instance of Councillor D. Davies, and we are pleased to find that for once public opinion at least fairly well appreciated, and acted upon. bv a portion of the Council, a-4 instanced by the decision arrived at, indicating that it is- h'h time that more particular attention is given to this class of expenditure, and we join in the generally expressed hope that the demand for closer investigation will be stoutly per- severed with, for, as it at present appears, there is a lack of authority and responsibility that is altogether unbusinesslike and unsatis- factory. The Chairman of the Watch Com- mittee, presumably on behalf of that Com- mittee as well as himself, declines any re- sponsibility, and he is a gentleman who has the reputation of standing bv his guns, more- over, it cannot be credited that he would use the Corporation as a catspaw to further the ends of his partv, and doctrines. Whence then comes this highly expensive belligeren, spirit, and whence emanates the authorisation of this excessive expenditure? We all )--now that lack of charity in private life is often covered by ostentatious trumpet blowing in public, and public rctions at others' expense, but surely there is some definite authorising body whose sanction is necessary to such numerous and heavy expenses. It cannot be that the Corporation coffers are open at all times to the order of Tom. Dick, and Harry, yet there is even a probability in this, as it appears items in the statement exceeding JB100 are to be expunged pending further in- quiry, and it is for this reason that we sav that we sincerely trust a careful examination into the whole subject will be insisted rpon, and in the meantime the items held over should certainly not be charged to the rate- payers until a satisfactory explanation be forthcoming. Much good work has been èr ne for the town by Councillor David D ivies bringing these matters forwird and having them thoroughly examined will not be counted by the public one of the least of his many beneficial acts.

SWANSEA PARK DISCOVERY. "Exceptionally Sad Story at the Inquest. Mr. J. Viner Leeder, the Borough (;o-one! held an inquest on Friday at Swansea Hospital on the body of Owen Davies (28), whose body was picked up in Brynmill Park on Thursday morning. Mrs. Willcams, deceased's landlady, said deceased was a coachman, and she last saw him at 7.30 p.m. on Wednesday. He hil shortly before pa; fed witih his young lady who had gone back to Newpoit, and deceased was slightly depressed. He had a cold. Wm. Agg, park-keeper, deposed to finding deceased's body. There were no signs of a øt.roggle, and he produced a bottle (pro- duced) which had evidently contained sp-rir of some sort, floating in the water. Had de- ceaeed wished to do away with himself by drowning, he could have done so, because f the defective fencing on the Sketty-road -ide of the park. Witness made a practice of opening and shutting the park himself morn- ing ana evening. P.C. Parker said he was called t^ tna park, and saw the body, which he searched at the mortuary. He found gloves, key. pipe, and letters produced (one was to de ceased's mother containing his photon). A letter was also found from a friend at St Fagan's, Cardiff, which thrvw some i ght on deceased's habits. The letter implored deceased to "ktep off the booze." Wr;t<ing ;o has motiher, deceased said he was miserable, being out of work, and grumbling about Ahe weather. Dr. D. R. Edwards made a post-mortem on deceased, and found no signs of foul play whatever. There was a strong odour of al- cohol, and the stomach contained three-quar- ters of a pint of fluid, also smelliing strongly of alcohol. The muxous membrane of the stomach was not healthy, and was congested, parts were slate colour, showing gastric cat- arrh. The liver was normal, exceptang cer- tain congestion the kidneys inddcated fatty degenerat o:i. The right side of the heart was full of dark blood, indicating a narcotic death, possibly alcohol. There were no sym- toms of irritant pocsoning. The lungs showed pleuidsy and acute congestion in t.he right upper lobe. There was no indication of dis ease En the brain, but that wa., also congested. In his opinion deceased took an excess:ve quantity of alcohol, which with exposure, calused coma and his death. Ttfce Coroner said it was an exceptionally sad case. Deceased was evidently depressed, worried, and upset owing to various causes. His young llady had left Swansea, and this caused horn to over-drink himself. He had really committed moral suicude, and it was a lesson to all not to take to drink as a solace. It only showed how foo a young man could be. A verdict in accordance with the medical testimony was returned.

Swansea School Board Committees. Various committees of the Swansea School Board met on Monday. INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL COMMITTEE. Miss D llwyn presided.-It was resolved to commend the schoolmaster and boys for their discipline and promptotale in connection with the recent fiie. SCHOOL ATTENDANCE. Mr. H. D. Williams presided. An appli- cation from Mr. F. Elston, to alter his desig- nation from constable to warrant officer, was granted. SCHOOL MANAGEMENT AND EDUCA- TION COMMITTEE. Mrs. Freeman presided. Miss Eliz. Jane Williams, Miss Ada Carter, Miss E. A. Wal- teris, Miss Abraham, M. YV iI,Lams, and Mrs. G. A. George were appointed teachers. An application from L»Brs. \aughaii, of ths Httfod School, for an extension of sei-vicc tiJi the old building is given up. was, after some discussion, granted. Mrs. Vaughan has connected with the Hafod School for practi- cally all her life She is n.v.v 65. not out.

PHYARCHER*C^li 1 (mDENRETURNS'1 -3^3 REGISTERED V | EKL Fac-simle oj One-Ounce Packet. Archer's ¡ Golden Returns The Perfection of PIpe TO COOl. SwrrT,

—- — -M- ^— FOOTBALL NOTES. BY "OLD ATHLETE." # Neath have Hard Luck at Cardiff. Swansea Win Comfortably over Devonport Albions. Llanelly Rout a Bristol Fifteen. And Maesteg- Crumple Up Aber- avon. There were a couple of surprises in connec- tion with thie Welsh matches on Saturday and the two Eastern clubs, Carddff and New- port. although wanning their games aga net Neath and Leicester, had the better of the scoring, but the worst of tihe play. In the first half against Neath, the Blue and Blacks scored a. goal and a try somewhat lucki! and at the interval they led by eight pointo. The second moiety was all in favour of Neath, who got a try. and left the field beaten by eight points to three after havang the better of the ganif and the worst of the refereeing. Newport found Leicester in form. and it was not until five min'utes to tihe end that Charli Lews opened the scoidng by a dropped goal; and Jenkins added a try almost rin" the 'asi moment of the game. The "Tigers'' mar? than held'their own in front, and it is evident tblat the Newport forwards are not go ng too we!1; jrst at present. Behind the scrums the Usksiiders combined better, and to th s only can tLey be thankful for oulldng through successfully. There was a pleasant surprise at Llanelly. and the Scarlets, wtho wanted a victory very badly, simply romped round a veiv weak Bristol team by 2 goals 3 tries to nothing. The winners' forms was by far the best they have shown on tbtir own enclosure this se.i- Sin. and notwithstanding their in and out form their ground record is still intact. Ab- eravon are going from bad to worse. iif this be possiblte. and went under by three tnies to rvothdivj at Maesteg. Some new blood :s badly needed at Aberavon otherwise they will lose many more matches before the pre- sent seasonexpires. The visit of the famous Devonport Albion team to St. He'en s only attracted a moderatf attendance of spectators, and there were not more tha.n five thousand people present. Pra- bablv LIe dull weather had something to do 1 w.th it. and the signs of raiin no doabt kept many persons from attending wibto would otherwise have been present. Both teams had only previously lost one match, the Al- bions having gone under to Cardiff, and Swansea to Newport. Vivvan was absent from the Albcons. playing for the Rest- of England against Duilham, and hris place was taken by Irvin and Fred Serine from the Swansea side, Hunt of the Seconds filling the vacancy in the Swansea pack. The game opened in the dullest fashion, and for a time all the play was con&ned to the forwards. Several penalties were gdven against Jago, who was so anxious to slop Owen that he insisted upon bein^ on the wrong side of the scrummages, and these en- abled the Whites to keep the game well in- side the Albion quarters. For quite ten min- utes tthere wasn't a round of passing, and it was not until the Devonians reached the Swansea twenty-five that the game was opened up. Then a clever Nil and long s'rew punt by Arnold brightened up mat- ters a bit. and Swansea soon got to work. The first try was got by Jowett. and the opening was made by Parker, who set his thdrd lane go ng, with the result that Dan Rtes cut out a cJear course for his partner, who only had to put on top speed to get over the line. The kick at goal ended in failure, nd 81bsequently Irvin made & great ran. He beat everybody except George Davies. and with Hosktngs in attendance a try seemed certain. Had Irvin given the ball to his wing man the latter could have romped over, but he tried to double the Swansea custo- dian and slipped at thte critical moment. This was the only chance the visitors had up to the interval, and all the play was on favour of the Whites. To Dick Jones belongs the credit of Swansea's second try. He dodge! through h s opponents near the lane, and, throwing out wide in the hope that someone woukl come along, the movement ended in is'tlJoess, Owen gettiing across with a try wihiich George Davies failed to majordse. Thus at the interval the homesters led by six points to love. The second half was brimful of interes and excitement. Playdng with tt:e wind, am.1 infusing any amount of cash and vigour int( their n.ethods, tihe Albions, for a time, com- pcllcd Swansea to act strictlv on the defen- sdve. Th re was. however, no sting in the r attack, and the combination left a lot to be desired. Irvin then secured from Skinner. twentv yards from the posts, and dropped a very fin<' goal, thus putting ids side within two paints of the homesters. This reverse j seemed to stimulate the Whites, and to their credit may it be said. that tfcey played a grand game afterwards. The forwards rose to the occasion, and securing the ball from three scrums out of four. Owen and Jones were kept as busy as possible. Round after round succeeded one another in qmuk suc- cession, and two lovely tries were scored by Pvees and Trew. Had the handling been a bit more accurate, the scoring would have bee.1 heavier, Jowett and Arnold both miss- ing transfers that might have led up to tines. Joseph, with a wonderfullv powerful kick from the touch-line, converted Trew's try, and in the end Swansea ran out easy winners by fourteen points to four, a result that was thoroughly deserved. With the exception of the first ten min- utes, the game was full of brilliant incident*, j Beaten though they were, the Albion at ont time gave the spectators a few anxious mo menti*, and at one period it lo;>ked anyth ng but a snip for the Whites. It was in front that the Devonshire champions showed to the best advantage, and their forwards, a power- ful lot, put any amount of dash and vigour into their methods. Their staying powers were. however, not of the best, and ten min- utes to the end, they were properly beaten. Jago was th3 better of the halves; Skinr.er shining in defence only, but as a pair they weie beaten, and showed too mucit ndividj- allv. to the detriment of the three-quarters. Irvin was the pick of the third lint?, and the mainstay of his side. His kicking was ex- cellent and in tackling he reminded n e his predecessor, Gamlin. Matter* suffered through »ick of o^poitun ti is. a remarrv which also applies to Fergasson and Hopkins. The best men in the Swansea front lank were Joseph, Dai Davies, and Dai 1 IiUllla. Hunt was ever in the thick of the light, and made a capable substitute for Scrir, •. Owen and Jones were quite up to their usual form, although at the outset they took a lot of an- j necessary risk, passing somewh it reckles-H j in a manner that seemed to indicate that thev underrated the opposit on. In the s:c-na half nothing could have been batter than tne display they gave, and I have yet to 5: their equaJs. Dan Reevs was the bec-t threequaue^ on the field, using excellent judgment In aL he attempted, and making some gr,Œd runs whenever he cou'xl' find an cpamrg. Arir.H was inclined to be erratic, and dropped his passias at times in the most irritating fish ion. Jowett -and Trew combined w.th t-lieir c?n- tres, and made some capital individual ru;] Geo. Davies never failed to ward off an at- tack or get in his kick. His field.rg w.i- clean and his fault was a weakness in kicking occasionally. Swansea have two liaid matches over the holidays. On Christmas Day they meet the Watson ans, and on Boxing Day Edinburgh Universitv pity at St. Helen's. The-.? two games will take some winning, (speoial'y the first one. However. Swansea are a great team, and the Scotsmen will, as in former years, find them a bit too clever all r<md. It is haidly likely the ground reeord will g • before the old year is out. and I think we c-an safelv leave'the All Whites to polish off the Northeners. With these few tenia;ks 1 sba.il conclude my notes by wishing my readers a very happy Chr.stma«.

I DRINK H OBNIMAN'S PURE TEA In Packete only, and Full Weight withottfc- Wrapper. Always good alike. Prices—Is. 4d. to 3s. per lb. Sold in Swansea and District by- Taylcr & Co., Ltd., 6, Castle-square; 0.- j ford-stieet; 100, Brvnvmor-road; 99 Walter-road and the" Dunns, Mumble, 1 homas and Co., Wholesale Grocers, Gl>j- cester Buildings. Bonnett, 7. Heathfield-street. Swansea. Co-Operative Society, 9, Portland-street, Swansea. J. Jones and Son, Wholesale Grocers, Goat- street. Swansea. Davies, 167, High-street. Swansea. Da, ies. Groc.er. Rhondda-ro.d. Swansea. Lewis and Co., 8. College-street, Swansea. Jones, Grocer. 64, Llangyfelach-st., SwtnseA. Moore. 14. St. Helen's-roa.d Swinsea.. Watson Bros., Grocers, Brynymor-road, Swansea. Jones, 3a, Neath-road, Swansea. Meredith, 141. St. Helen's-avenne. Swansoa. Williams, Grocer, 58. Oxford-street. Thomas. 41. St. Helen's-road. Jones. Grocer, Bond-street and Rodnev-st. Lewis, Grocer, Herbert-street. P on tarda-.v a- Jordan and Son, Chemists. Pontardawe. Evnns. Grocer, Alltwen, Pontardawe Davies. Grocer. Clva-ach. Jenkin Bros., Ltd.. Drug Stores, dydach. Williams, Grocer. Blacbpill. Davies. Grocer. Llansamlet. Davey, Grocer, Hafod. E^ans and Thorpe, Brvnrnill. Baldwin and NVIRxd. The Stores, MumMew. Evans, Tea Dealers, Mumbles.

Chamberlain as Empire Uniter. Berlin. Fiiday.—Great interest has been- arou ed in Germany by a report Lhat this- Canadian Government ds abowt to invite ten- ders for the constrjction of two cruisers. In commenting on this new departure in- British naval policy and cn the arrangement by which Canadian regiments are to he- drafted for regular terms of service in India, the "National Zeitung" observes ttoat the- cantrallising spcrk of Mr. Chamberlam is gradually permeating all branches c.i tha- British administration. -"Morning Post."

Expedition to Tibet. Calcutta. Friday.—Pu-ndhengong, where iho- Britisdi mission to Tibet and its escort are en- camped. lies within a short distance of drum- bi village. where the Local Tibetan Governor has his headquarters. There are no difficulties along the route, as the only pags to be crossed" is very easy. Colonel Youaigbu&band's per- sonal escort will be 500 men, but a reserve of about 1,000 will be readily available, as the- tr&jps sent to Sikkim number between 2,000 ,md 3.000. with mountain buiterv and Maxim ietudhments and sappers. Expert- opinity liolds that there will be no amed resistance- even if the headquarters of the mission move to Gyungtse. The Tibe-tans have no rifles, only arms of a primitive description.—- ("'Times, "j

Death of Gurnos Jones. The death took place at his residence. High- street. LIanbradach. at 12.50 a.m. on Tburs- diy, of Dr. Gurnos Jones, at the age of 59L Deceased had been ailillg for tome time, but was able to preach at Tredegar on Sunday last, and to discharge his duties as pastor of' the Tabernacle Cha-pel, Llanbradach. up to Tuesday last. Heart failure was the eause of death. The Rev. E. Gurnos Jones, as pvet. preacher, adjudicator, lecturer, eisteddfod1 conductor, was one of the best known men i» Wales. In eisteddfodic circle's he will be- much missed, for in recent years lie Lad figur 00 as conductor at the large majority of the National Eisteddfodaa His last appearance in this capacity was at Llanelly, in August. 1903. A native of Carmarthenshire. Evan Jomee. as was his- Ic baptismal name, was born at Hendre IJyw- arch Farm, Gwernogle. and subsequently lived in his youth at *e village of Guriios. near Y stajyfera. heroe hie bnrdic name. In* early life. depri> of both of his ;-ar<>ntfi,. he struggled h Ard against adverse circum- stances, but be was bent oc entering tibe ministry, and hie indomitable spirit carrioaf him through. He received his early educa- tion at the school at Bnechfa kept by the Rev 't homas Jones, who was a good ckseical scholar. Here Gnrac6 remained for 24 years, among his fellow pupils bean< Mr. R. Morris Lewis, of the Civil Service, Swamsea, whose Welsh renderings of the classic poems of. Greece have riade hs name fun.'liar to Welsfe. readers.

Swansea's Trade Last Week. Swansea, Monday.—The weather, a most important factor in the shipping trade, was,, during the week, disastrous, and caused gratr. detention in the arrivals of tonnage. Its effect on the import trade, in conjunction with the- faot thait no iron ore came to hand, is a de- crease of more than 10,000 tons, compared- with the coireapoi.dir.g week of last year, wtifcn tlK receipt* of iron ore were 6,000 tons. On the ether luaid the exports showed a. large increase over the previous week, and are also in excess of the same week of last year, although 10,000 tons of coal were-shipped for Boston and New York last year. With a.. belter ssupply of the bigger d iss off steamers a. distinct iiuprovament was displayed in the patent fuel trade. The shipments of coaJ for- Frince were 2,500 tons a.bove tfiose in the corresponding week. The tinplafte and general export trade displayed activity. The imports include: France 220 tons general, Portugal- 1,495 tons iioa pyrites, Germany 250 tons general. Norway 1.220 tons iron pyrites, Bel- gium 650 tons general. Canada 930 loads deuls-. The coal shipments were: France 19,420 tons, Sweden 1.719 ions, Norway 960 tons, Den- mark 810 tons, Germany 1,369 tons, Italy 7.200 tons. Algeria 2,000 tons, Brazil 720 tens,. Oape Town 3.040 tons, United States 1.150- tons, and home p its 3.959 tons patent fuel: France 2.910 tone. S1 Jiin 1,720 tons, Italy 4.000 tons, Algeria 2,030 tons, and Tunis. 1,700 ton". Imports amount to 6.793 tons, exports- 65,026 tons, and total trade 71.819 tons; compared with 70.849 tons the pievious week, a-nd 82,096 to-is Jo,t year. Shipments of coal-i 44.159 tons, patent fuel 12.360 tons, and tin- plates and general goods 8,507 tons, the. latter- for Fmnc-e (500 tens). Cope.4uigen and Stet-tin (350 ton-s). tommy (350 tons). Holland (800 tons Belgium (800 tons), Italy (250 tons). 15 t um (2.400 tuns), aud home p "l't.6 (3.037 tons 1. AmtiticMt- fixtures we note the following :— To arrive: &.s. Rinssia. from Rotterdam, with- 2.030 to:" t.in.plate b:.rs and genenaJ s.s. Mk-niar, fiom New lork, tinplate bars and" ofiienl; S. Oaer uoa, from New York, tin- rh:e bars; Tuevelyin. liom Russia, grain; s.s. Milt' a. liam Caile. copper ore, etc., and the Vaubin. tu lead anthnacite coal for Saii- f r n. i.-co. Sh'.p'.neats of tinp'aie 68,998 -t,nxe6. a.nd re- c./p' s fiom w rks 65.262 b xe-. stock in the do„-k wait's; :>vs and vans 118,604 boxes, com art J with 123.540 boxes h-.t week, ani i68.103 b-.xes at this date last year. The fol- lowing t-Uanieis aie <. xpei-'od to load :n thi- cmivnt. we --Minnesota (Philadelphia). Goidelian and Av m (Mediterranean pruts), Lir/aea and Lima (Lisbon and Oporto), Mi'o- (Antwerp). City of Frnnkfort (Hamburg), rid'n (Rotterdam a.nd Amsterdam). Vadso (Copt'nhavsen and St-etiin), and Victorious- lvi\a i Plate).

^&OUT PILLS TVe only renecy in the world for GOUTaBd RHEUMATISM that relieves and cures these complaints. Sure, safe and. effectual. The coirpo-itirn i* purely vegetable No restrain) ofdi,t during UM.